What the Pollen “Vortex” is Actually Doing to Your Vision

It seems that Vortex is the new buzzword for the 2014 allergy season, and thus it is aptly used to describe the monstrous wave of pollen that is hitting the world as temperatures creep higher and winter becomes a thing of the past. As newscasters and meteorologists across America are explaining, because this past winter was so long and harsh – everything is now starting to bloom all at once (rather than at the gradual pace that happens every other year). The sudden blooming of every tree, bush and plant is the leading force behind the exponential influx of pollen that’s driving your sinuses crazy.

It is now down to a science for many people to check the news to find out what days will be good and what days will be bad, based off of which types of pollen are high or low. Many people even started visiting their allergists weeks ago to begin their spring allergy treatments.

Most of us know from experience that when April creeps around, Mother Nature decides to torture our eyes and sinuses. But what really happens when you are suffering from springtime allergies?

When an allergen comes into contact with your conjunctiva (the mucous membrane on your eyes), your body sends out an immune response that produces antibodies to fight off the perceived invader. Histamine, one of the chemicals that are triggered by your immune system, is the culprit for bringing on the allergic symptoms. These symptoms come in the form of itchy, burning and teary eyes that can also make your eyes red and puffy.

Histamine also causes blood vessels to swell and become porous, allowing fluid to pour into the tissue. Runny noses are caused when this fluid leaks into your nasal passages. The buildup of fluid and mucous in the sinuses is what causes sinus pressure.

Did you know that there are two sinus cavities located behind your forehead, behind each cheekbone, behind each eye and within the bones behind each of your eyes?  That’s a lot of places to build up sinus pressure. The upside of sinus pressure is that there are many non-medicinal treatments to help relieve the pressure.

Many people are able to combat their springtime allergies with over-the-counter medicines, regular visits to the allergist, or even just by dealing with their symptoms. If you are worried about how your vision might react to springtime allergies, make sure to speak to the professionals at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley. They can help you come up with a plan to battle the Pollen Vortex based off of your eyes and give you more information on how allergies affect them.

Site for Sore Eyes - Night Vision Contacts

Many spy, sci-fi and military action thrillers tend to put awesome (and sometimes unrealistic) ideas in our minds about high-tech gadgets that our favorite characters use in the field. These can be glasses with computers built into the lenses, or pens that contain tranquilizer darts, or even gloves that can cling onto any surface and allow you to climb any place at all, like…oh, let’s say the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Much of the time, we sit and wonder what it would be like to actually own one of these gadgets (conveniently forgetting how much the price would cost if they were real or how much CGI actually went into making them appear realistic). The good thing about the rapid technological growth that fuels our world today is that the reality of actually owning one of these super cool devices is getting closer each day. 

Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed the first prototype for night vision contact lenses. Rather than turn the darkness into shades of green and white like traditional night vision goggles, the contact lenses contain a thin strip of graphene between their glass layers. Graphene is a form of carbon that reacts to photons, which make dark images look brighter.

The graphene in the current prototype only absorbs about 2.3% of the light, so it will not be until those percentages rise that true night vision will be achieved. Reports have mentioned that the U.S. Army has shown great interest in this new technology. Of course, there is still a tremendous amount of research and development that must be done before soldiers can scrap their old heavy night vision goggles for the replacement lenses – but with the backing of the U.S government, full functioning versions of these lenses might not be that far off.

According to Michigan College of Engineering’s Ted Norris and Zhaohui Zhong, the creators of the lenses, the graphene layering technology can be used for more than just contacts. Developers said that graphene could be incorporated into windshields to amplify night vision while driving.

This new nanotechnology is an engineering breakthrough that is unlike any previous attempt to create a similar result. According to Zhong, graphene requires “a hundred to a thousand times lower [light] than what a commercial device would require.” Rather than testing its sensitivity to light, scientists decided to measure the electrical current running along the graphene layer. They found that as the electrical current hit the top layer of graphene, it will leave an impacting flow of electricity on the layers below it. This flow produces the electrical signal that displays the night vision image.

It’s truly incredible how far technology has evolved from where it was – even just 10 short years ago. If you wear eyeglasses or need to get your eyes checked, and hope to one day try a pair of these night vision contacts, why not visit a Site for Sore Eyes store near you to get fitted with your first pair of regular contact lenses? The vision care specialists at Site for Sore Eyes can answer any questions you may have about your eyes and how to improve and protect your vision (even in the dark!).

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Are You Up for Some April Events?

Hard as it may be to believe, the middle of April is here. Spring has settled in, and if you are looking for something to do this weekend, you’re in luck. Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to give you this write-up of some truly unique happenings. Ready? Here we go…

To begin with, there is one local venue that we have never mentioned in our blog, so we feel it’s about time to give a shout-out to the Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, located at 2704 Alcatraz Ave. (And DON’T tell us you’re going to let the street name intimidate you!) Founded in 1958, this long-standing dance school also presents live dance performances. If you are free tonight and in the mood for something different to do, place a call to (510) 654-5921 and make a reservation for the presentation, “Slices of Life,” which begins at 8:00pm. This production is produced by Dance Up Close/East Bay, and features Angela Demmel and her company. Watch, as life’s seemingly ordinary events become extraordinary discoveries as interpreted by Ms. Demmel and her troupe of dancers. Tickets are $20.

Today, we offer an interesting bit of information about…tomorrow. April 12 is officially known as “Slow Art Day.” On this day, anyone visiting a museum is encouraged to…take…their…time…and slowly study (and thus get a full appreciation of) each and every work of art they gaze upon. True to form, the art-centric city of Berkeley is celebrating Slow Art Day at the Bancroft Library (part of the University California, Berkeley), at 2121 Allston Way. The featured exhibit is “The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life,” beginning tomorrow at 11:00am. Challenge yourself to break from the usual fast pace of everything, and to literally take life slow with a day-long vacation that celebrates art. For more information, email event host, Arielle Tonkin, at atonkin@berkeley.edu. (Eyeglass or contact lens wearers…you definitely want to have your eyewear clean and crisp for this event.)

Finally, does anyone out there fondly remember the ‘80s? Are there any country/bluegrass music fans who are reading this? If so, prepare for some exciting news – Kathy Mattea is comin’ to town. Yes, the two-time Grammy Award-winning songstress, who made her mark with “Love at the Five and Dime” in 1986, will share her love of music at Freight & Salvage Coffee House, this Sunday night at 8:00pm. Be aware: the ticket price is a bit steep ($45 in advance, $47 at the door), but may well be worth it to see and hear a true living legend of music (and so locally, at 2020 Addison St). So if you can spare the cash, and want to have a Sunday night’s worth of entertainment that you will be talking about Monday morning, reserve your ticket(s) now by calling (510) 644-2020, or purchase them here.

We hope that this mid-April edition is gives you a good starting point for stuff to do in Berkeley this spring. Some song, some dance, and some art certainly work for us. To learn about some other goings on in and around town, click here.

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

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Says: “Don’t Strike Out on Your Vision Health”

April is now upon us, which can only mean one thing – baseball is back! After the Dodgers took the Diamondbacks in both games of the opening series at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia, and then lost to the Padres on Opening Night at San Diego’s Petco Park this past Sunday, it’s is safe to say that Baseball Season is officially in full swing. With 13 games scheduled for opening week, we can only wait to see how the teams will write the storyline for the 2014 season.

Besides the official start to America’s pastime, April has also been designated “Sports Eye Safety Month” by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). 

Each year, over 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur. Ophthalmologists and optometrists have named boxing, basketball, field hockey and (ironically enough) baseball as the sports that pose the biggest threat to your eyes. And aside from the estimated 40,000 sports-related eye injuries that show up in emergency rooms each year, there are over 100,000 visits to doctors’ offices on account of eye-related injuries (mostly among children).

Now, this doesn’t mean you should toss the bat or hang up your boxing gloves (or both). The upswing (pardon the pun) about the majority of sports-related eye injuries is that about 90% of them can be prevented with proper eye protection. If you are a regular glasses wearer, we’re sorry to say that eyeglasses just won’t cut it when it comes to sports. Yes, they are good for protecting your eyes from daily threats and debris you may incur from working around the house and yard, but they are no match for a 70mph baseball flying straight towards your face.

So, what should you wear to protect your eyes? Luckily, sports eye protection has come a long way in the past few years. What does this mean for you? Well, no more geeky sports goggles (that’s for sure). Nowadays, sports lenses and helmet shields are made with ultra-strong polycarbonate. Ultra-strong polycarbonate is a lightweight, shatterproof material that is 10 times more impact-resistant than other plastics and (luckily for athletes) does not reduce vision. Protective polycarbonate lenses are available for athletes who play sports like basketball, field hockey, soccer and racquet sports. Polycarbonate face shields and wire shields are also starting to become standard on helmets for sports such as ice hockey, baseball and lacrosse.

When buying your protective eyewear, make sure to find products that have been tested by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM). If you are an ice hockey player, also check for the Hockey Equipment Certification Council or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) seal of approval.

In regards to children, the leading cause of blindness is related to sports eye injuries, the majority of which could have been prevented with proper eye protection. This spring, make sure to properly protect your eyes while playing sports. Think about it: is a game really worth harming your vision for the long-term?

If you have questions about finding suitable eye protection for your sport, or are wondering if the protective lenses you already have are safe, come talk to the eye care specialists at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley. We can help you find the right kind of eye protection for your sport of choice and help you protect your vision

Sleeping With Contacts

If you wear contacts lenses, you’ve probably done this at least once in your life. You’re at a party or staying over a friend’s place and whether you get home super late and pass out before you get ready for bed, or you forgot to pack your contact lens solution and carrying case – chances are you’ve probably slept in your contacts. “So what?” you think. “It can’t be that bad, right? One time won’t kill me.” 

Well, in reality, it is indeed very bad for your eyes.

Sleeping with contacts can be equated to sleeping with a plastic bag over your head. When you are awake, your eyes can get oxygen from the air and from your tears. When you are sleeping, your eyes are closed and you are not blinking, which limits the amount of oxygen that is transmitted to your eyes. Wearing contacts while sleeping is essentially like putting a plastic shield in between your eyes and your eyelids, where limited oxygen flow is already happening.

Still not convinced? Here are a few more reasons you should take them out before you go to sleep.

Did you know that when you don’t take your contacts out for a prolonged period of time, your eyes can develop what is called “corneal neovascularization?” Due to a lack of oxygen to your eyes, your blood vessels begin to swell and grow too much. If this is the case, your eye doctor might decide to stop prescribing and fitting you for contacts. They may also decide to fit you with gas permeable-only, hard contact lenses. One additional condition that can arise from a lack of oxygen to your eyes is known as corneal microcysts or “hypoxia.”

If you wear your contacts to sleep, chances are you might also wear your contacts longer than prescribed. This is another no-no. If you do this, you can cause one of two things to happen. The first is developing micro tears in your cornea from misshapen and old contacts. The second is the harboring of a pathogen or germ between your contact and your cornea.

This can even result in one of the most serious complications, which is known as a corneal ulcer (this one is gross). A corneal ulcer is an eruption on the cornea that is caused by an infection. This can lead to blindness. Symptoms of corneal ulcers include vision changes, eye discomfort or pain, eye redness and excessive tearing. If an aggressive microbe causes your corneal ulcer, you could lose your vision permanently, with the resulting scar requiring a corneal transplant.

Is it really worth your vision to sleep in your contacts?

There are however, certain contact lenses that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for limited nighttime wear. Check with your eye doctor to see if you can be fitted for these contacts that you actually can sleep in. Although it may be safe to sleep with this type of contact lens, you should still be aware of the risks that can result from not taking your lenses out when you go to sleep at night. You are resting your body when you sleep; why not give your eyes a rest too?

If you have any questions about which contacts will best suit your lifestyle and sleeping habits, or are suffering from the symptoms of sleeping with contacts, come down to your local Site for Sore Eyes. We’d be delighted to help you solve your eye-related issues and give you tips on how to keep your eyes safe while wearing contacts. 

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: Music, Mutts, and Marriage for March

Good afternoon to the good citizens of Berkeley. We hope that you got through the “Ides of March” and that you enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day. Moving forward, it is that time when your friends at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley have a roundup of some things for you to do over the weekend.

Weekends are, as everyone knows, a time to kick back, relax, and have some fun. Can one have TOO much fun? Not according to “Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun,” the concert that’s going on tonight at the Freight & Salvage Coffee House, located at 2020 Addison Street. Blending (no, jamming is the better word) the sounds of country, Texas swing, rock and roll and honky-tonk, legendary musician Bill Kirchen goes to town with riffs, strums, vamps and any and every form of guitar playing imaginable. Your eyes as well as your ears will never experience anything like this again, so remember to wear your contacts or eyeglasses to see Mr. K in action. Hey, if eyeglasses are good for Bill Kirchen…they’re good enough for you. Showtime is 8:00 tonight. Call (510) 644-2020 for reservations, or you can order tickets here.

Has anybody seen the movie, “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” yet? That question leads to another: are there any dog lovers out there who are thinking of adopting a four-legged friend? If so, you may very well want to check out the Dog Foster Orientation at OAS (which stands for Oakland Animal Services) at 12:00 tomorrow afternoon. OAS has joined forces with Hopalong & Second Chance Animal Rescue in an effort to recruit people who want to shelter and take in puppies and dogs, even if it is for a temporary time frame. And if you decide to keep a homeless pup, so much the better, and everybody wins! This gathering will be held at City of Berkeley: Animal Care Services at One Bolivar Drive. For more information, you can call (510) 981-6600.

The next happening is a one-of-a-kind event that each and every bride-to-be in the Berkeley area will want to know about. “Wedding Wow!” will take place on Sunday beginning at 12:00 in the afternoon. Ladies, for an admission price of only $20.00, you will have the opportunity to meet a host of wedding experts, planners and the alike as you sip champagne and browse through an array of fashions, décor, and floral arrangements to choose from for your big day. The setting for this almost-too-good-to-be-true happening is at the Claremont Hotel and Resort, at 41 Tunnel Road. You may call 510-549-8591 or email claremontcatering@claremont-hotel.com for anything else you’d like to know. (While you’re on the phone, or at the hotel, remember to ask about the “Claremont 4 Star Package.”)

There friends, you have this month’s “Events Edition.” We hope that no one minds that we targeted this blog to specific interest groups, but these DID read as noteworthy events. (Heck, some of us who either do or don’t own dogs, and who are or are not married were impressed.) For more choices of things to do this weekend, feel free to click here to learn more.

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

The Effects That Drinking Alcohol Has On Your Eyes

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, which to most of us means wearing the color green, chowing down on corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and beer –lots of beer. What you may not have considered, however, are the temporary (as well as long-term) effects that drinking can have not only on your vision but also on your eyes.

While you are drinking, alcohol can have many very noticeable effects on your vision. You may experience decreased visual performance through blurred or double vision, which is the result of weakened eye muscle coordination. Your pupils may also develop slowed reactions, which will make it harder to adjust to bright lights (like oncoming headlights). Many people also experience a decrease in their peripheral vision, which can make you feel like you have tunnel vision. These are very important reasons to never drive after having consumed alcohol.

If you are someone who tends to indulge in the special stuff a little too often, you had better start paying attention now. Aside from permanent liver and brain damage from prolonged and excessive drinking, alcohol can also have long lasting effects on your eyes.

The first of these negative effects is decreased contrast sensitivity. This means it is harder to discern between contrasting colors, thus making it a nightmare to drive in the rain, fog or snow. Excessive drinking can also lead to a swelling of the blood vessels in your eyes, making them expand, become more prominent, and also cause eye redness.

If that isn’t enough, drinking too much alcohol can lead to frequent debilitating migraines that are brought on by a visual aura at the onset of the headache. Avid drinkers may also suffer from what is called optic neuropathy. Optic neuropathy is characterized by a painless loss of vision. Decreased peripheral vision or reduced color vision are also symptoms of optic neuropathy. Optic neuropathy can be caused by either excessive alcohol or tobacco consumption, which is why it’s also referred to as “tobacco-alcohol amblyopia.”

Now, the purpose of this article isn’t to convince you to kick the bottle all together, but to be conscious of how much you drink. You can still go out and enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day. Just keep in mind the long-term impacts of alcohol that may harm your vision. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcoholism and excessive drinking, please seek help. There are resources are everywhere!

If you have any other questions about how to protect your vision and eye health, don’t hesitate to stop by your local Site for Sore Eyes location. Their vision care specialists will be able to help answer your questions and give you tips on how to better care for your eyes. We from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley wish you all a happy, safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day!