Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Putting Together an Eye-Catching Halloween Costume

Today’s the day, so Happy Halloween to all readers of our Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley blog, and to residents of Berkeley. Get out the candy, load up your favorite horror movies, and have a fun-filled, safe day. Going “trick-or-treating” or to a costume party, but don’t have a costume? Relax…we can help.

Before we begin, we just want to remind anyone who is going to wear special contact lenses to please reread our blog from October 17. Keep in mind the safety precautions of these special types of lenses. Now, if you are not using costume contact lenses, but want to have some sort of eye-catching eyewear, read on….

We begin with an obvious one that we’ve highlighted before, but it’s still a good one. That swinging, time-travelling swinger from London, Austin Powers, put “groovy” into horn-rimmed eyeglasses. Granted, if you want the full look, the suede suit, shoes, and all other accessories are out of our department. (Oh, and remember to brush up on your British accent.) If you don’t have the time or the budget, get in touch with your inner nerd and pick up a pair of heavy frames, place a pocket pen holder (with pens) in your shirt pocket, and you should be set.

Should you still be in movie mode, here are a couple of suggestions. Ladies might try for the Meryl Streep-as-Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada,” style. (No, you DON’T have to buy a pair of Prada frames…just get a really good lookalike.) Gentlemen, do you have an old (and big) pair of aviator frames lying around? Pop out the lenses and impersonate Gary Cole-as-Bill Lumbergh in “Office Space.” (Granted, finding matching paisley suspenders and necktie will be a challenge, but you can always fake those. Just stretch out saying, “Riiiiight” and no one will notice.)

O.K., let’s say you want to scale back and have a suggestion of a Halloween getup instead of an all-out costume. No worries! And costume eyewear is the perfect item for an economized outfit. In keeping with the Halloween mood, click on this pair of “black cat” frames that can either serve for aspiring Catwomen everywhere, or just add a touch of holiday mystery and fun. For a really alarming look, click on these Cat Eye glasses, which brings to mind an alien version of Holly Golightly. Then, there are also BOO! frames – not very subtle, but they stay with the spirit of the day.

And so…another Halloween is here. If you are venturing out to a party or parade, stay safe and sound in your travels against things that go bump in the night. Staying in to watch some scary flicks? Enjoy. And make sure your lenses are polished, as we are sure you want to see every frightening detail on screen. Oh, and speaking of horror movies, check out this still of Bela Lugosi, who played the title role of “Dracula” back in the 1930s. The special effects at the time were lights shining directly into his eyes to create an eerie effect (ouch). DON’T try that at home!

Happy Halloween haunting to all!

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

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: October’s Omnibus of Events

Our “weekend events” edition is on tap for today’s reading on the Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley blog.  After all, next week is Halloween, which will be a special edition in itself (be sure to check in for that one). So, without further ado…check out what’s brewing in Berkeley. Oh, and Happy UN Day. (That may read like a non-sequitur, but today is UN Day and you’ll find out later why we mention it.)

Anyone who is into apps (mobile, back-end, front-end), along with marketers, students and visual/UX designers – should give serious thought to what’s going on tonight at the Ed Roberts Campus. Today, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, and then picking up tomorrow from 10:00am to 9:00pm, attend the “AT&T Mobile App Hackathon Berkeley – Accessibility” event. (Don’t be fooled by the name…it’s NOT about how to become a hacker.) This two-day workshop will provide instruction on how to build apps, present the latest in cutting-edge app technology, and serve as a place to network with like-minded individuals and possible tech teammates. Dinner tonight, breakfast and lunch tomorrow, with coffee and other beverages to be served. As you eat and learn, listen to guest speakers and get instruction from Alex Gaber, Mobile App Evangelist at Crittercism. (Our guess is that Mr. Gaber knows of what he speaks, as his company manages mobile apps on one billion devices, globally.) Reserve your tickets online. (Oh yeah, admission is free, and prizes will be given to the best newly created apps. It does NOT get better than this.) Once you know you have a space, get your laptop ready and bring it down to the Ed Roberts Campus at 3075 Adeline Street. To find out more, call 510.225.6300. Happy app learning!

Saturday’s event is one for serious gourmets, gourmands and foodies who reside in Berkeley. We emphasize “serious” because we will be upfront and let you know that this offering costs more than others – $75.00. If that admission price doesn’t intimidate you, and you have a love of Italian food, you may wish to take in some “Italian Tapas: A Taste of Sicily” at 3:00pm at Playing Life Academy. Still with us? If so, come and meet Chef Maria Capdevielle, who will not only present you with some delicious and zesty tapas (i.e., small plates), but show you how to create them as well. Authentic dishes on tomorrow’s menu include Sicilian pizza with onion sauce, stuffed rice ball, bread with eggplant relish, warm olives with fennel and lemon, and Sicilian cannoli. Sound good? If so, find your way to Playing Life Academy at 1645 Fourth Street, where Sicily comes to Berkeley for one memorable Saturday. You can find out more information by calling 510.528-2133, or you can reserve your space online by clicking here. Mangia!

Now for that reference to UN Day that we made earlier. Although UN Day is today, International House at the University of Berkeley will be hosting “UN Day Celebrations/9^th Annual Global Citizen Awards” on Sunday. For the past eight years, this event has filled International House to maximum capacity each and every time. Partial proof of the importance and respect that local residents pay to this gathering is that start time is 9:00am (VERY early for a Sunday morning). Among the topics of discussion are for contenders who are worthy of being nominated for “Global Citizen Awards.” Do you know of any organizations or individuals who have made a positive difference to East Bay society? If so, they may be deserving of a nomination. So, why not make a difference by attending this celebration of UN Day? Make your reservation online, or call 510.642-9490. Admission by the way is free. So set your alarm clocks, and remember to be at 2299 Piedmont Avenue bright and early for this worthwhile event.

Well, this weekend certainly has a cross-section of happenings. Whether you choose app technology, culinary curiosity, or civic-minded socializing (or something else, as this list can offer), remember – if you require eyewear, please keep your eyeglasses polished or contact lenses clean and ready for wear.

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

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Costume Contact Lenses, Anyone?

Yeah, Halloween is two weeks away, but everyone here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley is keyed up and excited for October 31st! What can we say? Between the ghostly and ghoulish decorations and displays that adorn every door and window around Constitution Square, to the fact that a city that is as arts-and-crafts-oriented as Berkeley is – we are in full Halloween mode.

Within the next couple of weeks, colorful costumes will be put together, assembled, or purchased. True Halloween-enthusiasts go all-out. And we also notice (as well we eye care professionals should), that some fanatics will costume themselves up to the last detail – to their very eyes. Are you one of these individuals? Read on…

Yes, specialized contact lenses that will make you look scary, mysterious…or just different and can stamp some memorable spark to your costume. And the variety! Even we were amazed at the costume contacts that are available. You can find any type of vampire (well, the ones from Anne Rice and “Twilight” kind. We were disappointed we could not locate a replica of Christopher Lee as “Dracula,” but we digress). Additionally, werewolves, zombies, wild animals and ghouls of any sort are available. (There is even a set of contacts for “My Little Pony.”) In short, name a creature of some sort or other, and there is a set of contact lenses to match.

But take care. One very important thing we want to alert you about is be mindful of the place you shop for your costume contact lenses: Be sure that the store sells lenses that are FDA-approved, and that you present the sales person with a prescription. Why is this so important? Keep reading…"

We don’t mean to put a damper on your Halloween happiness, but we must be responsible in ensuring that YOU are responsible when it comes to obtaining a pair of costume contact lenses. In the excitement of getting your ghoul get-up together, don’t just buy a pair of contacts in some souvenir shop just because they look cool (or are inexpensive). This would not only be careless on your part, but it is illegal for a merchant to sell these without a prescription. These costume lenses require the same delicate care and tending that standard contacts do.

So…now you know some facts about finding costume contact lenses, be they fun or freaky. For more detailed information on choosing and caring for contact lenses at Halloween, check out this article on EyeSmart.com.

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

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Salutes “World Sight Day”

Good afternoon, dear readers. Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley wishes you a happy-day-after “World Sight Day.” While this is not a recognizable holiday to many (as Halloween is), for reasons we are sure you understand, “World Sight Day” is worthy of our personal recognition and respect.

What exactly, some are asking, is “World Sight Day”?

For those of you who are interested (and we hope more than a few are), since 1998, every second Thursday in October has been designated as “World Sight Day.” Among the forces behind this day of eye care commemoration are Lions Clubs International, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). Together, these organizations work to raise public awareness about everything from blindness to cataracts to any and every issue that is related to vision health. (Oh, were you aware that the World Health Organization is the direct authority for health and wellness to the United Nations? How’s that for credentials?)

In addition to public awareness, other activities on “World Sight Day” include alerting and asking world governments to contribute funding to blindness prevention programs. Additional awareness is made regarding VISION 2020.

What is VISION 2020? SO glad you asked…

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight is a global initiative. Its purpose is to eliminate – worldwide – all treatable causes of blindness by the year 2020. (Interesting play on the term “2020,” isn’t it? Eliminate blindness by the year 2020 – which is also the number ratio for “perfect” vision.)

This is an especially important development in today’s world. Think about it. The “baby boomer” generation is, believe it or not, growing older. Eye-related conditions and concerns are growing right along with this aging generation of the world’s population. The good news is that many of these conditions can be either avoided or treated by timely and proper intervention. (Does this give you enough reason to schedule an eye exam?) And intervention is a result of knowledge, which is a result of awareness. This is why “World Sight Day” is as important as it is to us. We hope that it will be important to you and your family and friends as well.

Here’s to hoping for a ripple effect of awareness – throughout the world – for “World Sight Day.”

Thanks for reading…enjoy the weekend…and keep your sites on healthy vision. (And again, a happy-day-after “World Sight Day” to you…)

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Vision Awareness That’ll Make Your Eyes Pop

Hello, and happy first week of October from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley. So, it is “Halloween Month.” One familiar image that we see in everything from greeting cards to movies to video games is that of a dark, mysterious looking house. What’s inside? Did you hear that door creak? What’s around that corner? Yes…houses can take on a sort of scary atmosphere at this time of year.

You know what? Be afraid, and of not these homes…but your own.

Not only is October “Halloween Month,” but it is also “Home Eye Safety Month” AND “Eye Injury Prevention Month.” Is this a coincidence? Or was October deliberately chosen by vision health experts at Prevent Blindness America as the month to acknowledge home eye safety and injury prevention – as a way to scare people into awareness? Who knows? But the fact remains – and sorry to scare you, but – more eye injuries occur in and around one’s home.

Pick your favorite expression: “There’s no place like home,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Home is where the heart is,” or any other that comes to mind. And yes, we should feel safe in our homes.

This feeling of safety, however, lulls us into taking important issues (in this case, vision) for granted. Let’s say you are doing yard work. This is a chore that we tend not to think about; we just do it. Or, you may be into DIY home improvement projects. Lawn mowers and trimmers can send all kinds of debris ricocheting in any direction – even at you. Paints, staining solution can splatter and sawdust can scatter.

You get the picture? These at home activities may SEEM ordinary and have no risk involved – but they do.

O.K. – Now we go from “scare” to “aware.”

When you perform these tasks, do you wear protective eyewear? If so, great. If not…please pick up a pair. (Oh, according to a most reliable source, “Optometry Times,” protective eyewear should be approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and have should be stamped with a specified seal of approval [“Z-87” logo]).

Remember to keep a First Aid for Eye Emergencies set of instructions within reach, just in case you should hurt your eye.

We’ll stop there. For further information on eye safety within the home (as well as what to do in case your eyes should get hurt), please click here.

We know that this may have given you some serious stuff to think about. We don’t mean to scare you, but let’s be honest…wouldn’t you prefer just being a little bit frightened if it meant you learned something about any potential dangers to your vision – that can happen right where you live?

O.K. Now take a deep breath. Relax, and unwind with a DVD of your favorite horror movie. It’s Halloween Season, after all.

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