Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Jump Up to Some Events in July

Well, the summer of 2014 is at the three-quarter mark. We at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley hope that you’ve been able to enjoy some time off, or had time to fit some recreation into your schedules. If you haven’t gotten in any recreation (the secret word) read on, because it is time for our events blog…

If you are the sort of person whose favorite holiday is Halloween, or you have a taste for gothic and horror stories, get thee down to the Central Works at the Berkeley City Club , located at 2315 Durant Ave. this evening for a performance of “Dracula Inquest.” This new play by Gary Graves mixes traditional atmospheric chills along with a twist (or two) to Bram Stoker’s iconic vampire prince. Ticket prices range from $15.00-$28.00, and you can call (510) 558-1381 for reservations. Or, you can order tickets (as well as see the full schedule of performances) by clicking here. For the die-hard fans who have scary-looking contact lenses (we know you’re out there!), pop them in for the show!

A famous quote that you will find in the novel and nearly every movie adaptation of “Dracula” is: “I never drink – wine.” For those who do like a glass once in a while, you might be interested in visiting Broc Cellars tomorrow. Beginning at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon, this winery at 805 Camelia St. holds their annual open house, known as “Broctacular 2014.” A wide variety of wine and food (courtesy of Naked Lunch restaurant in San Francisco) will be served to satisfy your culinary curiosity. Oh, just because the food is from Naked Lunch does not mean it is a FREE lunch (as that saying goes). Tickets are priced from $12.50 to $25, and may be bought either at the door, or in advance by calling (510) 542-9463.

If you attend “Broctacular 2014” and choose to imbibe, don’t get drunk, literally. Get drunk in the figurative sense the next day for the appropriately titled “Drunk with Song: A Concert by Barry Warren.” If that name is not familiar to you, his music will be, as Mr. Warren’s compositions have been widely performed by a number of Bay Area singers and musicians. If you are in the mood for an eclectic selection of jazz tunes from yesteryear, by all means pay a visit to this Sunday’s concert at the California Jazz Conservatory, at 2087 Addison St., beginning at 4:30pm. General admission is $15.00, while students and seniors can get in for $12.00. You can purchase tickets online at Eventbrite, or call (510) 845-5373 to reserve your space.

Well, another month is nearly over…but, as always, the happenings in Berkeley NEVER are! There is always a lot to do and see (emphasis on ‘see’). If you have some time (and you haven’t done so yet), consider schedule your appointment for an eye exam with us. You can do this online, so there are no excuses! Oh, and if you want to see some more of what’s going on this weekend, click here.

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

Learn How to Protect Your Eyes in the Summer

 While summertime means more time spent outdoors, it is important to remember to always protect your eyes. Studies show that overexposure to sunlight can play a role in the development of cataracts and even possibly macular degeneration. Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to provide you with some tips and tricks to help you protect your eyes this summer.

1.       Wear your sunglasses

      Sunglasses are much more than just a fashion statement. Sunglasses help to protect and block dangerous UV-A and UV-B rays. (Read more about the dangers of UV Rays in a blog from this past May.) UV Rays can have short-term and long-term effects on the eyes. A large amount of exposure (in a small amount of time) can lead to “photokeratitis,” which leaves a sunburn-like effect on the eyes. Studies show that a small amount of exposure over long periods of time can lead to increased chances of developing cataracts and certain type of cancers.

2.       Wear sunscreen and a hat

Wearing sunscreen on your face can help fight against UV rays, which has not only been linked to an increased chance of skin cancer, but also causes wrinkles. Wearing hats will also help to protect your face from UV rays.

3.       Swim without contacts

      For contact lens wearers, opening your eyes underwater can be very dangerous. It can cause bacterial contamination of your eye. This can result in eye infections, irritation, and potentially sight-threatening conditions such as a corneal ulcer.

4.       Drink water

Drinking water not only helps to keep your body hydrated – it keeps your eyes hydrated as well. Being in the sun (and possibly wind) for long periods of time can cause your eyes to dry.

5.       Keep an eye on the ball

Baseballs, Frisbees and volleyballs are all a part summertime fun. Be sure to use protective eyewear when participating in sports this summer (and always, for that matter) in order to help reduce the risk of eye-related injuries.

6.       Schedule an eye exam

Lastly, we would like to remind you to schedule a yearly eye exam! Prevention is the greatest way to keep our eyes healthy!

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Summer Safety at Work (Revisited)

Hello, dear readers. We at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley hope you had an enjoyable (and safe) Fourth of July weekend. This week, our blog is something of a recap of one that was posted this past March, and deals with eye safety in the workplace.

Why, you may be asking, would this blog cover (or review) eye safety…and at work, for that matter? Well, some of you may have the luxury of what is known as “summer hours,” meaning that you can cut out early on a Friday once in a while. Or, summer is when you are planning to take some vacation time. And, to any of our younger readers (i.e., high school or college age) who may hold down a summer job, reading about work when you’re away from work is the last thing you want to do. Well, the examples listed above (and they are only a few among many) are exactly why this Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley blog wants to address eye safety in the workplace – yet again.

Maybe it’s the heat (yes, it is rarely cold in California, but still…), or the spike in vacationing, but the summer season has, generally speaking, been a time where a feeling of casualness sets in among many people. Yes, we still go to our jobs, we do what we have to ­– but there is not the same sense of urgency that we feel during the rest of the year. Casualness, however, can translate to laziness…and this means we are not on our guard. And we’re not talking about job performance…we are talking about health (specifically, eye health).

March is recognized as “Workplace Eye Wellness Month.” To complement this, July is recognized as “Eye Injury Prevention Month,” which was covered in last week’s blog. The wording may be different, but the message is the same – don’t leave the safety of your eyes to chance. Please excuse these scary statistics, but it has been reported that approximately 2,000 eye injuries occur every day, half of which happen in the workplace. Those who have “blue-collar” jobs (i.e., factory or labor) are at risk because of any unforeseen accidents that result in falling or flying objects, sparks, glass, or other matter. And, for those who are employed in a “white-collar” work setting (i.e., office or professional), reading small type, combined with staring at a computer screen – for hours on end – can take a more subtle (but no less harmful) toll on their eyesight.

The safeguards against eye injury in the workplace have been listed before, but a brief refresher never hurts. Those employed in the “blue-collar” environments should always have safety glasses or goggles on hand, and be ready to put them on in an instant. The “white-collar” workers should make a conscious effort to look away from their computers after 20 minutes, and focus their vision on an object 20 feet away for a period of 20 seconds. (The operative number here is 20.) At last, but not least, the biggest favor that everyone from every career path can do for themselves is to have their eyes checked on a yearly basis. (Do you find yourself with some free time during the summer? Then you can make an appointment for an eye exam.)

Did any of this sound familiar? If so, good…that means that our blog in March made an impression and that you take your eye health seriously. Sorry for the repetition, but eye safety in the work place deserves repeating.

 Thanks for reading. Keep your sites on healthy vision. And enjoy the second half of the summer!

Fourth of July Weekend Kicks Off “Eye Injury Prevention” Month

As the Fourth of July is upon us, your weekend is probably filled with plans of family and friends, food and fun. Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would first like to wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July, and we would also like you to keep safety in mind this weekend – first and foremost. For many, the Fourth of July weekend is filled with backyard BBQs, trips to the beach and (most likely) fireworks. The staff here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like you remember to protect your eyes this weekend – just in time for Eye Injury Prevention Month. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks accounted for a large number of emergency room visits, many which were on account of eye injuries.

We would like to remind you that fireworks are in fact illegal in the city of Berkeley, so the best way to stay safe is to see a fireworks show. Some fireworks shows that are taking place in and around Berkeley can be found here. For those of you readers who are traveling out of state, it is important to keep in mind that although fireworks may be legal, they are still dangerous. Some of the most popular fireworks that can cause injuries include firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets.

In order to ensure safe use of fireworks, be sure to follow your state and county’s fireworks laws and remember to neither buy nor handle illegal fireworks. Never let children handle fireworks of any kind, even if they are just sparklers. Adults handling fireworks should wear ANSI (American National Standards Institute) – approved eye protection, which can be found at most hardware stores. Finally, it is important to remember to keep your distance; nearly half the people injured are bystanders. Make sure to stand back and wear safety glasses.

Sorry to get graphic here, but we cannot emphasize the risks of fireworks enough. Some typical eye injuries that result from fireworks include detached retina, scratches on the cornea, ruptured eyeball and burns. If you experience a fireworks eye injury, make sure to get medical attention right away. You should not rub your eyes, rinse your eyes, apply pressure, remove any stuck objects, apply ointments, or take blood thinning pain medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

From everyone over here at Site for Sore Eyes, we would like to wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!