Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley is Thankful for Thanksgiving Dinner

It’s hard to forget that Thanksgiving is less than one week away, with those enticing commercials for Pillsbury Crescent rolls on TV, along with every grocery store full of the traditional holiday staples, like stuffing and cranberry sauce.

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving celebration, keep in mind that there are ways to make this filling feast of food, family and giving thanks, healthier. If your main dish is turkey, you are already nourishing yourself with a low fat protein that is rich in zinc, an important mineral for maintaining healthy eyesight… it’s your side dishes and desserts that you should be wary of. Did you know that candied sweet potatoes and a creamy green bean casserole are considered to be two of the unhealthiest Thanksgiving dishes?

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to provide you with some tips to ensure that your holiday is delicious AND nutritious:
-When planning your holiday menu, consider adding fish whenever possible, as it is a great source of zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.
-When grocery shopping, stock up on your veggies and leafy greens, such as spinach, broccoli and asparagus, which contain Vitamin C and E, and help prevent and reduce macular degeneration.
-When preparing your turkey, don’t skimp out by spraying it with an oil spray; instead, lather it in butter – a surprisingly good source of Vitamin A, which is an important nutrient for healthy eyes.

And remember, not only are you making healthy choices for your stomach, heart and skin…but your eyes, too! Use this resource from your friends at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley when preparing for the holidays, and we guarantee that you won’t sacrifice taste for healthy living.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley CA Asks: How Are You Seeing Your Schoolwork?

To you young people who have gone from high school to college – it’s lesson time. The name of this lecture is “Basic Vision Health” and your instructors are the staff at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley.

University of Berkeley students, you’ve had time to get acclimated to your new classes and professors, and have hopefully had some time to hang out with friends and enjoy campus life.

But let us focus on schoolwork. In days gone by, teachers would stand at a blackboard, talking and writing, or lecture in front of a podium. Students would listen and (hopefully) learn what was being taught. Then, at home or in the dorm room, homework assignments that ranged from reports to term papers would be written in spiral notebooks or typed out on typewriters.

Things changed – you lucky kids, you!

With the technological revolution, computers – whether they are PCs, Macs®, laptops or tablets – have been a prime accessory in education. From researching course-related material to writing those reports – it is a safe bet that every college student has some form of computer device to assist them in their studies. Oh, and let’s not forget socializing with friends after class (well, we HOPE you are not socializing DURING class). Computers and social life go hand-in-hand; Facebook posts and Twitter tweets to keep in contact with friends is a given.

What is not a given, however, is how long your eyes will hold out. No, this is not a scare tactic to make you curb the extent you use your computer for classwork, nor is it an excuse to stop doing your schoolwork. What we at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley are requesting, however, is to keep your eyes healthy. The computer screens you are in front of all day may result in eyestrain – if not checked. Make sure you have the right lighting, that your display is (reasonably) current, and that the settings of the display are adjusted properly. For more details about how to avoid eye strain, check out this list from All About Vision®.

That takes care of the computer. Now let’s take care of YOU. Once a year, please, be sure you get your eyes checked. If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, please make sure your prescription is up to date. Remember that while computers are a luxury that some of us more mature (O.K. – older) people did not have, the risk for eyestrain was also not as great for us as it is for you. Eyestrain may start to creep up on you without you being conscious of it.

When you began college, you more than likely had some form of student advisor to counsel you about school. Well, why not let Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley serve as your vision advisor? We can and will keep you in the know about the health of your vision.

Got Your Eye on Halloween? Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley CA does!

Halloween greetings from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley! May frightful fun be yours this Wednesday.

Anyone who has ever celebrated Halloween has had a favorite type of costume. Some dress as monsters, some as cowboys or princesses, and others parade around in clown costumes.

At Site for Sore Eyes, we’re partial to anything and everything that has an ‘eye theme’. (Shocking right?!) Whether one wears the standard glasses-big nose-mustache-bushy eyebrows, or goes all out for the Austin Powers look (complete with psychedelic costume), funky-looking eyewear can make for an eye-catching look on Halloween.

Now let us get really sophisticated and take a look at costume contacts. Even we were taken aback by the variety of different looks and styles that appeal to the VERY hard-core Halloween fan. Cats of all colors, gremlins, psychos, you name it…it’s out there!

For those who go the more traditional route, there are basic masks, with cutouts at the eyes, so you can see where you are going while on the Halloween prowl. Cover your face, put on makeup, but make sure your eyes are safe! Even if you wear the aforementioned wild contact lenses, don’t get so caught up in your Halloween fever that you do any damage to your eyes (by way of makeup, eyebrow/eyelash pencil, or anything else).

Don’t play tricks with your vision. Treat them to as lasting and healthy a life as possible.

Your Child + An Eye Exam at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley = A Successful School Year

Was an eye exam included in your son or daughter’s back-to-school preparations? If you’re like most parents across the United States, you probably only purchased new supplies and clothes for your children’s return to the classroom. Fortunately, it is not too late to take the preventative measure of an eye exam at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley.

Although it’s only one month into the school year, there are palpable signs that it’s time for your child to see an optician.

Does your child…
- Hold a book closer than normal?
- Sit too close to the television?
- Squint often?
- Perform below his or her potential in school?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, it could be a direct result of your child’s vision. Twenty-five percent of school-age children have vision problems, according to the American Optometric Association. If your son or daughter is falling behind at school, don’t let frustration takeover; instead, schedule an appointment with your neighborhood Site for Sore Eyes optician for a professional eye exam.

This healthcare appointment should be treated with as much importance as any other doctor’s visit, since unidentified vision problems can impair the growth and development of children. In fact, problems such as lazy eye are best treated if they are detected and corrected as early as possible, while the child's vision system is still developing.

And remember, even if your children already wear prescription glasses, they should still have an annual checkup by an eye doctor to screen for vision changes.

Things to Do near Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley CA in October

October does not get the credit it deserves as a month of fun and enjoyment. The staff of Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley came to this conclusion after years of witnessing the many kids who come in to our store in September, getting eye exams, glasses, or contact lenses – all in preparation for school. October is just a reminder that school is in full force.

But open your eyes to October, everyone! This is the perfect time of year for enjoyment and excitement! The weather is not as hot as summer and there is no need to stress out (yet) over preparing for the holidays. There are events galore to feast on (and we don’t just mean Halloween candy), so take advantage of some fall fun!

Site for Sore Eyes would like to let you in on an upcoming event that movie lovers (particularly classic film buffs) will love. To whet your appetite for Halloween (excitement as well as candy), take a trip to nearby Emeryville on Wednesday, October 24^thfor a classic double feature, as the AMC Bay Street 16 will play the original Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, courtesy of TCM. These Golden Age of Horror movies have been restored in all their ghoulish glory. Clean your eyeglasses or make sure your contact lenses are properly in place, and enjoy.

And now, for the Halloween holiday itself, get psyched for the Halloween and Day of the Dead goings on at Civic Center Park. Don’t be fooled. It’s not all ghouls and ghosts (although they will be joining in). Farmers markets will have stands set up, and there will be cultural art, and live music and dancing. For more information, call 510-548-3333.

So take advantage of October! There is a lot to do in this one single month, and Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley is at your service, as we are throughout the year, to keep your vision healthy. After all, you wouldn’t want your eyes replaced, a la Mr. and Mrs. Frankenstein, would you?

 

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley CA Roots for the A’s and U!

The Oakland A’s have clinched one of the American League’s two wild-card playoff spots, by defeating the Texas Rangers… talk about defying the odds!

This improbable win comes after a six-year retreat from the Major League baseball postseason. Although the youthful players are happy with their success, they do not take these games flippantly.

If you’ve ever played ball for a school team or simply as a leisurely pursuit with your neighborhood friends, surely you understand the hand-eye coordination that is essential to this sport. Now imagine how these professionals must train to successfully compete in the major leagues. While proper throwing and a strong arm can be developed, it must begin at an early age and perfected by hours upon hours of practice. “See the ball, hit the ball” must occur before factors such as swing, stance, and even hand positioning can be enhanced.

Wondering how these professionals improve their hand-eye coordination? Many teams have their players perform hitting drills again, and again, and again. These include practicing short toss and soft toss with a partner, as well as using a pitching machine set to various speeds and pitches. And for the Oakland A’s, their batting practice has clearly paid off.

Although it’s unlikely that you’re a professional ball player, you can defy the odds just as the A’s did, by defeating eye disease. To start, when was your last eye exam? While most people wait until their eyes begin bothering them before getting a checkup, the experts at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley recommend that individuals with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration get a professional eye exam every year. Next, evaluate your current eating habits and lifestyle. Most people don’t realize that smoking or drinking excessively, along with an unhealthy diet, can significantly increase your risk of eye disease.

So, ensure that you can see your Oakland A’s compete in the playoffs by beginning to protect your most delicate human sense that is particularly prone to disease and degeneration. Avoid this by taking care of your eyes, and you can chalk up one homerun for your sense of health and well-being!

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley CA Celebrates Child Eye Health Month! Are you?

This week, Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley calls to mind a quote by Ron Wild:

“Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child."

Wise words, indeed. We tend to think of glasses, contact lenses, and any other form of eyewear as something “grown-ups” need. Young kids don’t need glasses.

Or do they?

If you are a parent, you no doubt have an eye on the health of your kids, whether you have one or more. You responsibly see to it that doctor’s appointments, vaccines, and flu shots are all scheduled and kept so that your kids stay in tip-top shape. But do they get a yearly eye exam? Don’t leave your child’s vision to chance.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) states that children six months old (yes, you are reading this right), can – and should –have their vision tested. This may seem extreme, but makes sense in the long run. Should there be any problem with your child’s vision (and hopefully there is none), the earlier it is detected means that it can be dealt with and aided just as early.

So as we end the month of September (which, incidentally is Child Eye Health Month), Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley asks that you parents, grandparents and guardians take note of Mr. Ron Wild’s quote. Be wise, grown-ups, and take your kids for an eye exam before that day trip to the zoo, the mall, or movies. You can be secure in the knowledge that you are looking after them well, as they enjoy and marvel the world around them.