Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Cheers on Eye Protection in Sports

It’s that time of the year again. Labor Day has passed, school busses are seemingly ubiquitous in your morning commute, and the entire world is showing a return to their regular daily routines. Summer is coming to a close, and fast!

This may not really indicate a change in the usual schedules for everyone, but for many, the beginning of September also means the start of school. The staff of Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley has grown accustomed to getting visits from more people in their late teens and early 20s at this time of year. (Small wonder, 

considering that the University of Berkeley is only a short distance away.) And with school come many different clubs and intramural sports teams. Interestingly enough, September is also “Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month.” Whether you are a parent with kids who play sports, a high school or college student on a team roster, or just someone who likes to stay active, sports-related eye injuries are something to be mindful of when beginning your team’s season.

It is estimated that every year, 100,000 eye injuries are sports-related and of these, 42,000 have required a visit to an emergency room. About 13,500 sports-related eye injuries result in permanent loss of sight.

Wearing protective eyewear can prevent up to 90 percent of sports-related eye injuries, thus providing peace of mind for parents and athletes alike. Basic protective sunglasses and goggles are very affordable, and a worthwhile investment. Whatever the cost, in the long run it is a small price to pay when it comes to protecting your vision – what many would consider the most important of all senses. Taking this preventative measure will also help lower the nearly $200 million a year spent on treating sports-related eye injuries.

In addition to purchasing protective eyewear, visiting your eye care physician for an annual comprehensive eye exam can help slow down and correct vision problems before they threaten your eyesight. Visit your ophthalmologist, optometrist or vision care specialist for critical information about preventative measures you can take to help protect your vision.

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

School Days and Snack Ways from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley

In last week’s blog, the staff of Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley gave a shout out to the students of Berkeley University, saying we look forward to seeing them at the start of the school year. If you are reading this, welcome back!

We hope you take advantage of the fact that our store is in close proximity (there’s an educated word!) to your school, and that you pay us a visit. Do you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses? When was the last time you checked to see if your prescription needs an upgrade? It truly is important for students in any grade – elementary to graduate – that the beginning of the school year mark when you get an eye exam to be sure your vision is in tip-top condition. If you’re one of those lucky people who have 20/20 vision, make an appointment with us to ensure your healthy eyesight.

O.K., the spiel about having your eyesight checked is out of the way. Have you ever heard the expression, “you are what you eat”? There is truth to this saying…and it applies to your eyes. Foods that are rich in antioxidants can benefit you tremendously, in that they help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, among other potential eye-threatening conditions.

Remember the letters A, C, and E, and remember to place the word “Vitamin” before each. Here is a list of some of the foods that contain these vitamins (which in turn, contain antioxidants), that you may want to nosh on between classes or after school:

• Vitamin A: Carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, and oatmeal.
• Vitamin C: Strawberries, oranges, broccoli, green bell peppers, and red chili peppers.
• Vitamin E (this is an especially good one, for in addition to aiding your vision, it helps offset everything from Alzheimer’s disease, coronary heart disease, and certain types of cancer): Almonds, Swiss chard, spinach, kale and collard greens along with a variety of oils, such as olive oil, and safflower oil.

The foods listed above are only a few of many that contain these essential vitamins. To find out other eye-healthy snacks, visit EyeHealthWeb.com.

We hope we have been able to impart some valuable info as you settle into the school year (without it being too much of a lesson). May your studies be enjoyable as well as informative, may the board the teacher writes on always be in your view, and may your note taking be swift and easy.

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

Looking at Labor Day, from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley

Ah, Labor Day! That national holiday which honors the working men and women across America; white collar, blue collar, laborer and professional. Everyone at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley hopes that you all enjoy this holiday that takes place every first Monday in September. This day for many people is one of relaxation. But if you are looking for some things to do, look no further!

Do you own a ‘point and shoot’ camera? If so, today is your lucky day. This evening at 5:30, Looking Glass Photo will hold a class on how to get the most out of this hi-tech shutter machine. Discover everything about ISO, shooting styles, focus, and more from Bay Area photographer Tom Borello. Ticket price is $69, but if you are passionate about photography and want to learn more, it’s worth the price. Bring your camera, a fully charged battery, and instruction book to 2848 Telegraph Ave. To learn more, call (510) 548-6888.

Football fans can get an early start on the season by attending the college game between the California Golden Bears and the Northwestern Wildcats, tomorrow night at 7:30 pm. The game will be played at the University of Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium, at Bancroft Way and Warring Street. For further information, call 510-642-2444. (Take note: since the game is tomorrow, there may not be a lot of prime seating available. If you decide to go, you may be seated near the back of the stadium. Needless to say, clean your eyeglasses or contact lenses so that you can see what you can as clearly as you can.)

Live music, anyone? Local band (San Francisco local, that is) FAT OPIE celebrates their prolific accomplishment of having released five albums (this year alone, mind you) down at The Starry Plough Irish Pub & Restaurant. Located at 3101 Shattuck Avenue (what a coincidence – the street that Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley is on!), show time is tomorrow night at 10:00pm. Call (510) 841-0188 to find out more. Additionally, culture vultures can get their dose of live music at The Hillside Club on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 as Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto takes center stage. The Hillside Club is located at 2286 Cedar St. To learn more, call (707) 864-5508.

As for Monday…well…it’s Labor Day. Take the day off and relax. We hope we’ve given you some interesting options for spending this last weekend of summer. To all of you University of Berkeley students, we’ll see you in September.

Not to belabor the point (yes, we hear you groaning), but be sure to keep your vision needs in order. Like we mentioned before, keep your contact lenses moist, your eyeglasses clean, and, if you are spending a lot of time outdoors this weekend, your sunglasses on.

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

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: New High-Tech Glasses That May Surprise You

At Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley, we stay current on the development of new technologies. When talking about high-tech glasses these days, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely Google Glass. What you may not know is that there are many different types of high-tech glasses on the market.

The first of these is by Adlens® variable focus eyewear. The “Ad” stands for “adjustable,” which describes these lenses perfectly. Their two most popular lenses feature glass that is filled with liquid and cylindrical plastic knobs (which are used to adjust the glasses). Turning the knobs allows for the power to change by adjusting the pressure on a curved membrane. Although these glasses may not be today’s most popular fashion, they have numerous advantages.

First, each lens can be changed independently of each other for different prescriptions in each eye.  Second, they can be adjusted for different settings (tired eyes sometimes need a little more help). One of the last and probably the greatest advantage of Adlens® is that you can adjust them yourself, without the need of an eye doctor. This is especially important in poorer countries. The concept of Adlens® was inspired by the African state of Rwanda, which has a population of over 10 million and only a handful of optometrists. Adlens® also partners with Vision for a Nation via the “Buy One, Give One” initiative, and donates a pair of glasses to someone in the developing world for every pair of glasses purchased.

For those in the medical profession, new glasses may help to give doctors a “clearer view of veins and vasculature, bruising, cyanosis, pallor, rashes, erythema, and other variations in blood O₂ level, and concentration.” These glasses are designed to enhance your ability to see color changes that are created by O₂Amp. They currently have developed three lenses: Oxy-Iso, Hemo-Iso, and Oxy-Amp – all designed to help doctors. O₂Amp’s Oxy-Iso lenses also have an unintended benefit: they help to cure red-green colorblindness. While the glasses do not help all with colorblindness, they do help to amplify weak color sensitivity. It is important for users to remember not wear these lenses while driving, as yellow lights become nearly invisible.

Alas, the expertise of the staff at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley does not so much lie in “high-tech” eyewear. Prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses still help everyone see well. Be sure to still schedule a yearly eye exam as well as keep up-to-date glasses and/or contact lenses within reach and ready to wear.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Brings You Some Awesome August Events.

Welcome to this week’s Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley blog. Instead of waiting for the end or beginning of the month, we thought we’d keep you on your toes and deliver our events blog mid-month. As always, the metropolis of Berkeley is alive and kicking with lots to do this weekend, so don’t miss out!

For those who love music (particularly guitar) and are free to do something tonight, stop on down to The JazzSchool at 2087 Addison St. at 8:00. A Guitar Intensive Performance is going on here, and professionals that include Mimi Fox, Howard Alden and David Gutierrez will be jamming with students of the school. To find out more, call (510) 845-5373. Put on your sunglasses and get your jazz on! (If you wear prescription shades, be sure you clean them before heading out.)

For our culinary fans, there is an exciting event going on early tomorrow night. The Firehouse Art Collective Art Bazaar, located here in Berkeley at 3192 Adeline St., will host the Bay Area Homemade Food Market SELC Fundraiser. The SELC (which stands for Sustainable Economies Law Center), is working to help small-scale eateries and food establishments in California. If you want to take a break from fast-food chains and snack on some interesting eats, this is the place to be. Again, it is tomorrow at 5:00pm. For further information and to buy tickets (between $5-10), click here.

If you can’t make it to The JazzSchool tonight, you can hear some ‘fusion music’ on Sunday afternoon, when Wrapped in Plastic (jazz combo), along with Pan!c (Reggae group) meet up at the Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, at 1317 San Pablo Ave. These two bands will play a benefit for Global Citizen Year, a nonprofit educational organization which introduces high school seniors to activities and programs that promote the importance of global citizenship. To learn more about this concert, call (510) 525-5054. Already decided on going? Buy tickets here.

You can’t say there’s nothing to do this weekend. (After all, we’ve listed something for each day of the weekend.) Music and food lovers – unite and enjoy (and feel good that you will also be helping causes that these events are sponsoring).

Before we sign off, indulge us with our reminder to keep your eyewear in focus. Keep your eyeglasses or contact lenses properly clean and safe, and ready to see with. We’ve said it before, but the enjoyment of hearing a great concert or enjoying a delicious meal is enhanced by seeing them as well, so don’t cheat yourself!

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

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Smartphones may be harming your eyes

At Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley, we understand that in today’s digital world, using cell phones (and more recently in the past few years – smart phones) consume a large amount of our time. Our phone tells us what time it is, gives us directions, takes pictures, and entertains us in a number of ways. It provides us with apps of all types – from cooking to exercising to shopping. It teaches us skills, and even allows us to upload information and pictures directly to the Internet.

In recent years, however, research  has found that people who read text messages or surf the Internet via their cell phones tend to hold these devices much closer than they would a book or newspaper, and as a result, are making their eyes work harder than usual. The combination of the closer distance, along with the smaller font size on the smartphone, can put added strain on those who already wear glasses or contact lenses, according to a study in Optometry and Vision Science. The study’s co-author and professor at the SUNY State College of Optometry in New York City, Dr. Mark Rosenfield, explains that when your eyes have to work harder, you may suffer from headaches and eyestrain. Other risks include dry eye, discomfort and blurred vision.

The study found that when reading printed text in newspapers or books, the average working distance was 16 inches from the eyes, but for those reading text messages it was an average of 14 inches (some were even as close as 7 inches!). When viewing a web page, the average distance was 12.6 inches.

There is, however, a simple way for smartphone users to minimize eyestrain: increase the font size on your device. For those users who frequently read on tablet devices such as the iPad or Kindle, this suggestion is particularly important. When using any digital screen, you may want to try using the Veranda 12-point font, which is specifically designed for use on computers.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would also like to remind you of the 20/20/20 rule when looking at a computer monitor. After every 20 minutes of looking at a computer screen, take at least a 20-second break and look at objects 20 feet in the distance. Having a comprehensive eye exam is also important for preventing and treating computer vision problems. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, computer users should have an eye exam before they start working on a computer and once a year thereafter.

So next time you’re using your smartphone, tablet, or even computer – be sure to use the tips listed above to help keep your eyes safe!

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Says Goodbye to July.

With the last weekend of July upon us, the summer season has one month to go (man, time flies!). If you are looking for something to do this weekend, Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to offer up a few suggestions of things to do and places to visit.

If you want to do something different and you have the time tonight, consider some Thingamajigs. No, we are not being casual with our English. The Thingamajigs Performance Art Group will present a pastiche of music, art and improvisational theatre at University of Berkeley’s Art and Pacific Film Archive, at 7:30 this evening. For more information, call 510-642-0808.

Kite enthusiasts, young and old, take note: this weekend, the Berkeley Kite Festival will be flying high (literally and figuratively). Between 10AM to 5PM, a multitude of colors, shapes, sizes and types of kites will be adorning the sky above Cesar E. Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina. Click here for further information. If you have never experienced this unique event, take a chance and make a visit (it should be easy to find – just follow the crowd of flying kites). Remember to wear your sunglasses!

School spirit meets local history at the “Glorious Past, Glorious Future: Celebrating California Memorial Stadium” exhibit at the Bancroft Library. This exhibit pays tribute to the arena that has been the home playing field for the University of Berkeley’s football team, the Golden Bears. You can visit this event today, and next Monday through Wednesday. Call 510-642-3782 for further information. (Just an FYI, this exhibit finishes on Wednesday, July 31).

We close this blog with an event that is dear to our hearts, which is Steps to Natural Eyesight Improvement. Again, this is one night event, and it is happening tonight, beginning at 7:00 at Books Inc., located at 1760 Fourth St. As often as we entreat our readers to take care of their vision by scheduling eye exams and keeping their eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions up-to-date, an in-person lecture about eye care can sometimes make more of an impact. For ticket information, call 510-525-7777.

Well, we hope that we’ve given you some ideas on how you can end July in Berkeley. For more choices, visit the Entertainment and Events page of the San Francisco Chronicle.

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