Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley and Eye Exams – for Children

The end of May is here. In less than a month, schools will be closed, and children will be running this way and that, relishing every free moment they can squeeze of the summer season. With that in mind, this edition of the Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley blog focuses on children and testing their sense of sight.

To those of you who may be new to the world of parenthood, this edition is especially important to read. If anyone reading this knows anyone who is a new parent, forward this on.

The first topic we cover here is age. What is the “right” age when a child should get a first eye exam? Believe it or not, the ripe old age of six months is the recommendation by the American Optometric Association. Does that sound like it is too young? Not really. After all, kids are brought to the pediatrician for checkups at this age (and younger). Their eyes also deserve this kind of vigilant care. If all is well, the next time they would need an exam is when they reach three years of age. Wait then again until the age of six. From then on, schedule an exam every two years. That 20/20 vision exam for your child should not be neglected.

The above scenario works if everything is (hopefully) good with your child’s vision.

Guess what, though: routine 20/20 vision exams do not provide the final stamp of approval. Being able to see and say the letters and numbers on a big eye chart is all well and good. Take this a step further and be sure that the eye care practitioner who is performing the exam checks the eye coordination of your child. Can your child easily adapt from seeing near and then far? Have they ever complained about not being able to read something because it appeared blurry? Do they lose their place or rub their eyes when reading? Sorry for so many questions, but these all fall into the category of eye coordination.

The importance of checking eye coordination cannot be emphasized enough. As we mentioned before, have the practitioner run some further tests. The good news, when all is said and done, is that exercises in vision therapy can gradually ease eyesight problems your child may be experiencing. These vision therapy exercises consist of visits to your eye practitioner and are complemented by special activities for your child to do at home that are aimed to literally “build up” the strength of their eyes. Treatment lasts for several months, and further maintenance may be needed when finished – but your child's vision will be stronger and healthier.

We realize that some of this may be strong stuff to read, but when it comes to vision – for you and especially the younger ones in your family – don’t you want to see as strongly as possible?

Thanks for reading… and keep your sites on healthy vision.

UV Awareness Month

Spring is finally here, with summer riding hot on its heels. Warmer temperatures mean more time outside in the sun! A little sun is O.K. every now and then, but if you are like many warm-weather-lovers who take every available opportunity to venture outside, make sure you take a few precautions (while still indoors) for these upcoming months.

Inasmuch as May is “UV Awareness Month,” the eye care professionals at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley have shared some important information about UV rays and the effects it can have on your vision. In efforts to increase awareness of how UV rays can damage your eyes, increase risk of cataracts and cancers of the eye, Prevent Blindness America is sponsoring its annual “Ultraviolet Awareness Month.”

If you don’t already know, UV radiation is essentially invisible rays of energy that come from the sun. When UV radiation reaches the Earth’s surface, it is made up of two different types of rays, UVA and UVB. Both types of rays are equally harmful, but UVA rays can pass deeper into your skin while UVB rays are more likely to cause sunburn. UV rays are also just as harmful to your vision.

Just as prolonged exposure to UV radiation can cause sunburn to your skin, it can also cause what is called photokeratitis (or “sunburn of the eye”). Photokeratitis comes with painful symptoms such as red eyes, extreme sensitivity to light, excessive tearing, or a foreign body or gritty feeling in your eyes. Although these symptoms are only temporary, long-term exposure to UV radiation can have harmful, more serious effects on your vision.

Whether it should be small amounts of radiation over a long period of time, or long-term exposure to UV rays, your chances of developing a potentially harmful eye condition drastically increase without proper protection. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, long-term exposure to UV rays can also cause a few different forms of cancer in and around the eyes, including eyelid cancers (such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma ­– usually of the lower eyelid), intraocular melanoma (cancer of the middle layer of the eye), conjunctival cancers, and other issues (such as macular degeneration, benign growths of the conjunctiva, and cataracts).

When you are out in the sun, it is important to wear sunglasses that are 100% UV-absorbent for both UVA and UVB rays, or are labeled UV400. In addition to UV absorbent glasses, wearing a brimmed hat can help block or deflect some of the rays not only from your eyes, but also from the sensitive skin on your face, ears and the back of your neck.

If you don’t already have a pair of UV-safe sunglasses, make sure to visit your local Site for Sore Eyes store to speak with an eye care professional about getting a pair that is right for your eyes and your style. They can also give you more information about how to protect your eyes from UV rays – not only for the summer months, but in the wintertime as well.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Mapping Out the Middle of May

Hello, residents and neighbors of Berkeley, CA. The staff of Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley hopes that you have had a happy spring so far. Can you believe that summer is less than a month away? Where did the time go? Anyway, it is weekend event time. Enjoy…

Whenever we have highlighted live stage presentations, they are either adult-oriented (mature themes and language) or Saturday matinee children’s theatre. We are happy to say that this week’s offering is one that is suitable for all ages. The Live Oak Theatre is currently featuring “Over the Tavern,” a family comedy written by Tom Dudzick, which tells of the trials and triumphs of the Pazinski family of Buffalo, NY, circa the 1950s. The performance is tonight at 8:00, and you may call (510) 649-5999 to reserve tickets or order them by clicking here. The Live Oak Theatre is located at 1301 Shattuck Ave. Does the address “Shattuck Ave.” sound familiar? It should, because that is the street where we live. (If you attend tonight’s performance, stop by and say “hi.” If you haven’t had your eye exam yet, why not multitask and get one before show time?)

Are there any artists or crafters in today’s audience of readers? If so, you will be very interested in what’s going on at the Fourth & Clay Studio + Gallery early tomorrow night. Come and attend a live taping of The Tales of a Red Clam Rambler podcast, as host Ben Carter interview Bay Area artist Whitney Smith on how to successfully promote your artwork via social media, and develop a solid online presence. This event, aptly titled, “Crafting Your Story Through Social Media,” has seating availability for only 40 guests, so reserve your spot soon – like, now. Admission is only $10.00, so call (510) 848-2390, or order online here. Artists, make your way to the Fourth & Clay Gallery at 2370 Fourth St. @ Channing Way (easy to remember, yes?), and discover some ideas on marketing your work. (We look forward to seeing you on Pinterest, Facebook, and any other platform you decide on!)

Aficionados of the piano, violin, classical music (or all three), and culture vultures in general have a treat in store this Sunday afternoon, when John Burke & Michael Jones, Piano and Violin take the stage at the Maybeck Recital Hall. In this small, intimate space at 1537 Euclid Ave., enjoy an afternoon of chamber music featuring selections from Brahms, Mozart, and Bach. There is no set admission price, but suggested donations of $15.00 ($10.00 for seniors and students) are encouraged. Seating is limited, so make your reservations via the Maybeck Studio for the Performing Arts website or email info@maybeckstudio.org for more info. (Sorry ladies and gentlemen, but we cannot find an available phone number.) The concert begins at 3:00, so please arrive on time. Although this is an experience for the ears, your eyes will want to see these musicians in action, so wear your glasses or contacts lenses.

Much abounds at this time of May. (But then again, it’s Berkeley…where there is always something going on. If you check out any of these events, enjoy! To learn about some other goings on in and around town, click here.

Thanks for reading…enjoy the weekend…and keep your sites on healthy vision.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley - Mother's Day Glasses

Mother’s Day is a day that we spend pampering the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and even mothers-to-be in our lives. As anyone can attest, a mother’s love knows no boundaries, and without them in our lives, we wouldn’t be the people we are today. In thinking about our mothers, it seems only fitting that we take a look back at what they were like when they were younger. Their style (or lack thereof), how they dressed, and specifically – the glasses they wore! Sure, we can poke fun at the hairstyles they donned in the ’60s and ’70s, but don’t speak too soon when making fun of their glasses. Chances are the ones you are wearing today are either close replicas of the ones your parents wore, or were in fact heavily influenced by what at one time were popular frames.

In the beginning of the year, Forbes recognized a new look that is growing in popularity. The “Instagram look,” combines lens tints and a bit of 1970s appeal to reflect the look of filtered images that are seen on Instagram. Sepia-toned, rose and gold-tinted lenses have grown tremendously in popularity, and are elements of glasses we haven’t really seen since the ’60s and ’70s. Frames reminiscent of yesteryear are popping up all over, bringing bubbly shapes, wooden frames and tortoise prints back into the limelight.

Made popular by John Lennon, “granny-glasses” are making a somewhat surprising comeback. The small, perfectly round-lens frames (sometimes associated with Harry Potter) are popping up all over. The granny-lenses seen today are more popular as sunglasses rather than as regular everyday specs (which is something that some of us may be a little bit thankful for).

Another style of glasses normally worn by elder ladies of the ’60s and ’70s were “bug-eye” glasses. Usually seen with nearly any color lens tinting, bug-eye glasses knew no boundaries. Though they never really went away, they have undergone many changes throughout the decades. Many of the bug-eye eyeglasses seen today are taking a more angular shape, but still reflect the same, take-up-half-of-your-face size in addition to tinted lenses.

One of the last trends in eyewear that were definitely popular when our mothers were younger was the “cat-eye” look. The asymmetrical, tear-drop shape has adapted a little and is now even more exaggerated towards the corners of the lenses than it was in the ’60s and ’70s.

Now, before we leave you, let’s just wrap this up with one eyeglasses trend that (for some reason unbeknownst to us) never took off until recently. Think you know what trend that was? 

You were right if you said “Ray-Ban.”

Originally produced by Bausch & Lomb in 1937, Ray-Ban Aviators were originally made for US Army Air Service pilots who would report that the glare from the sun was giving them altitude sickness and headaches. In the ’50s and ’60s, Ray-Bans gained more popularity as an iconic part of the American-pop culture movement. Celebrities that included Kim Novak and Marilyn Monroe would wear Wayfarers in public and in their movies. The style caught on and soon others such as James Dean, Bob Dylan and even JFK were wearing Wayfarers around. The ’70s, ’80s and ’90s didn’t show much as far as growth or new celebrity endorsements, but the 2007 “Never Hide” campaign sparked up brand recognition and led to an increase in the amount of styles and designs that we see today.

This Mother’s Day, don’t forget to show your mother (or any mother figure in your life) how much you love and appreciate them. You might even want to take the day to get her a new pair of glasses. The vision care professionals and all of the staff here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to every mother out there! Relax, refresh and enjoy your day. You deserve it!

Healthy Vision Month

The sun is out, the temperature is rising and the world is starting to bloom. According to the calendar, the winter months are over, and spring is in full swing! Can you believe it’s already May? We are really excited about this at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley, because May is also “Healthy Vision Month” – one of our favorites!

“Healthy Vision Month” encourages everyone to make his or her eye health a priority. With help and from the National Eye Institute, we’d like to help educate and spread awareness about steps you can take to protect your vision.

The first step you can take towards healthier vision is to get a dilated eye exam. Many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease often have no symptoms – and the only way to catch one of these diseases in their early stages is with a dilated eye exam. During this exam, your eye care professional will put drops in your eyes that will dilate (or widen) your pupil. They can then use a special magnifying lens to examine your retina, and check for signs of damage or other eye problems.

The second step would be to learn about your family’s eye health history. Since many eye-related diseases are hereditary, it is important to know if anyone else in your family has suffered from one of them, as you may be at higher risk of developing an eye disease yourself. If you already suffer from a chronic condition such as diabetes, hypertension or multiple sclerosis, managing your disease with the help of your health care provider can help prevent problems such inflammation of the optic nerve, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma – and even blindness – from occurring.

The third step is about taking preventative measures to protect your eyes. Did you know that every day, 2000 job-related eye injuries take place in the U.S? (And this doesn’t even include sports-related eye injuries.) Protecting your eyes – whether you are on the job, working around the house or playing sports – is of utmost importance. Protective eyewear such as goggles, safety glasses, eye shields, and safety guards should be made out of polycarbonate, a material that is up to ten times stronger than plastic. Talk to your eye care professional when you are preparing to buy protective eyewear to make sure you are getting the best pair.

The fourth and final step is something we should all be doing to help keep our eyes healthy, and that is living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Now, we know that there are many aspects to living healthily, so we’re highlighting the ones that can have the biggest effect on your vision. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthy foods are two things you can do that will not only help protect your ocular health, but will help you live a healthier life, overall. Being overweight increases your chances of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, and you may risk vision loss conditions such as glaucoma or diabetic eye disease. Eating vision-super-foods such as carrots, kale, spinach and fish can also help protect your eyes. Nutrients that include Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in these foods, are extremely beneficial to your eyes.

You might not have though that smoking could be bad for your vision, but it is in fact just as bad for your vision as it is for the rest of your body. Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage – all three of which can lead to blindness.

So this May, make sure to take a proactive step in keeping your eyes healthy. Whether you start wearing sunglasses when you go outside to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, or (finally) make an appointment with your eye care professional, any and all small steps help. The National Eye Institute has even come up with a few ways for you to help spread the word! If you have any questions about your vision, or need some more tips on how to keep your eyes healthy, come down to your local Site for Sore Eyes to speak with one of our vision care specialists.