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! 

Site for Sore Eyes’ Kickoff to Summer: What Do UV Ratings on Sunglasses Mean?

Can you believe it’s the end of June already? It seems like only yesterday that we were observing Memorial Day and before that, bundling up from the freezing winter season. (Our friends on the East Coast can tell us Californians something about that!) Now that the sun is out and the temperatures are more pleasant, you will inevitably be spending more time outside. But when you are outside, make sure to have the usual protection: sunscreen, a hat…and sunglasses.

Make sure to check the UV Index if you know that you’re going to be outside a lot. Understanding the UV Index Scale can be tricky. One good tip is to check your shadow. If your shadow is taller than you are, the UV Index is most likely low. If your shadow is shorter than you are, you are most likely experiencing a higher UV Index. This is common between midday (10am-4pm). Once the UV Index jumps over level 5, it is time to take extra precautions to protect against the damaging and harmful rays that can cause sunburn.

It is also important to wear sunglasses that will protect your eyes against UVA and UVB rays from the sun. One of the easiest ways is to pick glasses with a sticker that says something along the lines of:

• Blocks 99%-100% of UVB and UVA rays
• Lenses meet ANSI Z80.3 blocking requirements
• UV 400 protection (this means they block light rays with wavelengths of up to 400 nanometers)

Since the UV blocking coating is clear, it doesn’t necessarily matter whether or not you get dark or lighter tinted lenses. One thing to keep in mind though is that rose- or yellow-tinted lenses can make it difficult to distinguish between changing traffic lights. This is why green, gray or brown lenses are better for driving, as they minimize color distortion.

If you spend a lot of time on or near the water, opt for polarized lenses. Polarized lenses reduce glare by filtering out the reflected light that bounces off of surfaces such as water or the pavement. If you should choose to purchase a pair of polarized lenses, remember this: polarization has nothing to do with UV filtering. If you are purchasing polarized lenses, make sure they also provide full protection against ultraviolet light.

If you are buying your first pair of sunglasses, make sure to consult the professionals at Site for Sore Eyes. They can help you select a pair that will fit your prescription and are in accordance with UV blocking regulations. They can even give you more information on how to protect your eyes on days when the sun is up and the UV rays are particularly strong.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: What’s Going on in June

Welcome, dear readers. How has your summer been so far? We’ve been staying busy. As is typical for the season, sunglasses are a top seller with us (but we digress). What do nostalgia, comics, and gardening have in common? This issue of the Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley monthly events blog, that’s what!

Does the summer invigorate you to the point where you sometimes feel like busting a move and breaking out into a dance of some sort or other? Are you into the music of bygone eras of bygone eras, and wonder what live performances of these infectious rhythms were like? If ‘yes’ to one or both questions, then tonight is your lucky night! For $13 ($10 for students) you can listen to the tunes offered up by the Stompy Jones band at the Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center at 9:00 tonight. And, as the band plays the melodies of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, you can learn a few new moves from the East Coast swing dance lesson, taught by Nathan Dias. So ring up your reservations at (510) 525-5054 (or order online), slip into your dancing shoes, and truck on down to 1317 San Pablo Avenue for a (literal) night of song and dance.

We all know about comic books and graphic novels, but are there any webcomic enthusiasts in our readership? Are you curious about this new form of comic? If so, you may want to meet up the Webcomic Underdogs as they hold their informal get together tomorrow night, right here in Berkeley. The meeting will be at Café La Renaissance (not too far from us) at 3045 Shattuck Avenue, beginning at 4:00PM. For two hours, attendees can network and learn about anything and everything that has to do with webcomics – from concept and art to marketing and monetization. At 6:00, you have the option of joining the Webcomic Underdogs as they journey to the art haven known as Tr!ckster (2631 Ashby Avenue) for the opening of the exhibit, “Hither and Yon – the Art of Travel.” (Oh, the phone number for Café La Renaissance is (510) 705-1846, and the number for Tr!ckster is (510) 665-8900.)

Our Sunday event is one that will interest anyone who is a gardening enthusiast. Do those of you with ‘green thumbs’ know about wick bedding planters? They are an economical invention that saves time and water in tending to your garden. If you have a garden or plan on starting one, consider registering for the Wick Bed Garden Workshop to be held at Urban Adamah, an educational farm and community center that is located at 1050 Parker Street. The registration price is $25, and covers all materials. Start time is 2:00PM. If this sounds like you’d like to attend call (510) 649-1595 or email nathan@urbanadamah.org NOW, so that your space and materials will be ready for you to learn and go to work. (Yes, you will not only learn more about wick bedding planters, but you will design, build, and keep your own. Happy gardening!)

Well, to quote the song from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Carousel,” it seems that “June is bustin’ out all over” in Berkeley. We hope that this weekend is a fun one for you, and that you take in one or more of the events listed above. For other options, click here. And (yeah, here it comes) if you do attend one of these events, and you wear glasses or contact lenses – use them! Don’t you want to see how to dance the new steps, view the comics, or examine the gardens? We thought so.

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

For Father’s Day, Help Dad Improve His Golf Game

With Father’s Day quickly approaching, you may still be scrambling to find Dad the perfect gift. (And yes, Father’s Day IS this Sunday, June 15^th.) Finding the perfect Father’s Day gift can be difficult because you need to find the perfect combination of something practical which also says, “Dad, I really took the time to find something great you will love.”  But don’t worry – Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley has some great gift possibilities for Dad.

If Dad is an avid golfer, why not buy him a pair of polarized sunglasses and help him perfect his game? You have probably heard of polarized sunglasses, but you may be wondering what they exactly are and how they can help when it comes to playing golf. Polarized shades were first used by boaters to fight glare and see objects in the water. They help to protect against polarized light, which is a concentration of rays that move horizontally in the same direction. Polarized light causes a glare that can make the golf ball and golf course hard to see, which can possibly lead to eye fatigue, headaches, or even temporary blindness. Polarized sunglasses work to neutralize horizontal reflection by screening through vertical polarizing filters on the lens. This allows only part of the light waves through, so the glare is reduced drastically. A pair of polarized lenses will not only help Dad protect his eyes, but also improve his golf game!

How to choose the perfect pair…

When choosing polarized sunglasses, you should remember to take a couple of things into consideration. It is important to find a pair of glasses that are comfortable as well as trendy. Make sure the glasses are a good fit (so they won’t slip off while Dad at the tee).

You will also want to consider what color lenses to buy, because each color provides a slightly different effect. Grey happens to be the most popular color, as it does not distort color or affect contrast. Red lenses tend to enhance contrast, which can be helpful when looking at the different colors on the course. Brown and green lenses help to enhance depth perception, which may help Dad when putting.

What if Dad is not a golfer? Well, polarized sunglasses are also great for boaters and fishermen. One all-round benefit of polarized sunglasses that everyone can appreciate is how they help protect the eyes while driving. If you’re unsure about which color and style Dad will like best, the experts over here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley are always here to help! We are open Friday until 7:00pm, Saturday until 6:00pm, and Sunday from 11:00am-5:00pm (for all of you last minute shoppers). Unsure if polarized lenses will make the perfect gift? Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley also offers an extensive collection of non-polarized sunglasses, eyeglasses, and even contact lenses. All of us over here at Site for Sore Eyes would like to wish your Dad (and all Dads who are reading this) a happy and safe Father’s Day!

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Catch that Cataract

Just under one year ago, Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley gave you a general rundown of the enemy of eyesight that is the ‘cataract.’ As June is Cataract Awareness Month, we feel that this is a subject that needs attention…and review. (Click here if you want to reread the blog from last year.)

Today’s blog is very timely, because just this week, the Omeros Corporation received approval from the FDA for the use of Omidria™ in the treatment of cataract. No doubt you are wondering what the two foreign-sounding words that begin with the letter “O” are. Very briefly, the Omeros Corporation, based in Seattle, WA, is a biopharmaceutical company that researches and develops small-molecule and protein medicines. Omidria™ (pronounced “oh-MID-ree-uh”) is a phenomenal new treatment which maintains pupil size during cataract surgery and reduces pain after the operation. If you want to read the full, in-depth article, click here. The long and the short of this is that although still serious a threat, a big step has been taken to handle and alleviate the condition of cataract. (Let’s give a special shout out to “Market Watch: The Wall Street Journal” for posting this!)

We don’t want to sound overly-optimistic, but could this be a sign of things to come in the treatment of eye conditions and vision loss? Here’s hoping. As we stated above, the serious damage that cataract can have on one’s vision cannot be understated, and the discovery and approval of Omidria™ is not going to make the condition vanish. This treatment is an effective advance, not a cure. The help in fighting the chances for developing cataract (yes, here it comes), is prevention. Have you had your annual eye exam? When was the last time you had an upgrade to your for eyeglasses, sunglasses and/or contact lenses? If you have taken care of both of these tasks this year – congratulations; you are taking good care of your eyes. For those of you who haven’t…what are you waiting for?

In a perfect world, cataract would not exist at all. We are hoping that breakthroughs from the Omeros Corporation and other research laboratories keep making progress. In the meantime, the secret words are “care” and “prevention.”

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