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Do your eyes itch, burn and turn red when you wear makeup? Although cosmetics are supposed to enhance your appearance, you may feel anything but attractive as your eyes water and your makeup runs. Luckily, it's possible to look your best without enduring any pain or discomfort when you follow these tips.
Don't Let Makeup Come in Direct Contact with Your Eyes
Makeup can easily travel the short distance from your eyelashes or eyelids to your eyes, triggering sensitivity and dryness. The problem can be particularly painful if you wear contacts because the lenses trap the particles and prevent them from being washed away. If you have sensitive eyes, don't apply mascara to the roots of your lashes and use eyeliner on the outer part of your lids only.
University of Waterloo researchers conducted a study that examined how much glittery eyeliner entered the tear film when the product was used on either the inner or outer eyelids. The tear film is a protective layer of tears that keep your eyes constantly moist. When study participants placed eyeliner inside the lash line, 15 to 30 percent more particles found their way into the tear film in just five minutes.
Avoid Sleeping in Makeup
When you're exhausted, removing makeup may seem like an unnecessary step. Unfortunately, failing to remove eye makeup can clog oil glands, causing infections and styes on your eyelids and pimples on your face. Gentle cleaning products that don't contain fragrances, oils, diazolidinyl urea or sodium lauryl sulfate are the best choices if you have sensitive eyes.
Clean Brushes and Applicators
Brushes and applicators may look perfectly clean, but can still harbor bacteria. Clean them at least once a week with a mixture of warm water and baby shampoo to reduce sensitivity and prevent infections. After your brushes and applicators air dry, place them in a covered container. Never store makeup on a bathroom vanity or the back of a toilet. Every time you flush the toilet, bacteria can travel through the air and coat nearby surfaces, including makeup brushes and toothbrushes.
Wash Your Hands
Clean brushes won't matter if your fingers are covered in dirt, dust or bacteria. Before you apply any product to your face, spend a few minutes washing your hands.
Be Selfish, Don't Share
Sharing makeup increases your risk of developing a bacterial infection. No matter how close you are to friends or family members, the last thing you want to do is catch an infection from them or expose them to bacteria from your makeup.
Contamination can also be a problem if you use testers at makeup counters. Ask if small, personal-size sample sizes are available instead.
Have you ever been tempted to take advantage of a free makeover at the cosmetics counter? Before you do, ask the employee to clean the brushes and applicators he or she plans to use on you.
Eliminate Problem Products
Spend a few days makeup free if your eyes start to itch and burn. Once your eyes feel more comfortable, reintroduce your usual makeup products one at a time. If sensitivity returns, get rid of the product causing the problem.
If one particular type of product, such as brown eyeshadow, causes frequent problems, avoid that product in the future. In some cases, sensitivity may occur if you're allergic to the pigment that gives the eyeshadow its color. Keep in mind that it's possible to suddenly become allergic to a makeup product even if you've used it for years with no previous problems.
Purge Your Makeup Collection
Replace eye makeup every three months to prevent bacterial infections. Pay attention to expiration labels for other makeup products, such as blushes, bronzers, and lip products, and trash these items when the "use by" date arrives.
Keep It Simple
Stay away from products that claim they'll make your eyelashes so thick you'll swear you're wearing false eyelashes or boast that a super special ingredient will make your makeup last for days. These products usually contain a variety of added ingredients that can irritate your eyes. Stick to basic versions of your favorite products instead.
Read Labels
Chose products that are organic, fragrance-free or hypoallergenic. Avoid buying cosmetics that contain perfumes, preservatives, nickel, lead, sulfates, beryllium, added color, cadmium, parabens, talc, selenium or glitter.
Keep your eyes clear and comfortable with smart makeup choices and regular eye exams. If it's time for your next eye exam, or you're concerned about a problem, contact us to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
The Beauty Department: Makeup Tips for Sensitive Eyes
http://thebeautydepartment.com/2014/07/makeup-tips-for-sensitive-eyes/
Makeup.com: Eye Makeup Tips for Sensitive Eyes
https://www.makeup.com/eye-makeup-tips-for-sensitive-eyes
Health: 8 Tricks for Wearing Mascara When You Have Sensitive Eyes, 11/13/15
http://www.health.com/eye-health/best-mascaras-for-sensitive-eyes
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Using Eye Makeup, 1/7/11
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-makeup
University of Waterloo: Study Finds Eyeliner Application May Cause Eye Problems, 4/1/15
https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/study-finds-eyeliner-application-may-cause-eye-problems
Prime: Lifting the Lid on Toilet Plume Aerosol, 3/13
Have you ever wondered why your eye care provider spends so much time carefully examining your eyes? Although they are looking for diseases or conditions that can affect your vision during eye exams, he or she is also searching for signs that may indicate that you have a general health problem. These eight diseases often cause symptoms that can be seen in your eyes.
Diabetes
When your blood sugar is high for a long period of time, the small blood vessels in your retina may begin to leak, causing a condition called diabetic retinopathy. The retina lines the back of your eye and sends light signals to the brain, where they're interpreted as images. When your vessels leak blood or fluid, your vision can become blurred, and you may lose central vision or the ability to see colors. If diabetic retinopathy progresses, new blood vessels form in the retina, worsening vision problems. Prompt treatment of diabetic retinopathy helps prevent permanent damage to your vision.
Cataracts, a condition that occurs when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, can be another clue that you may have diabetes. People who have diabetes are 60 percent more likely to develop the condition than those who don't, according to the American Diabetes Association. Cataracts may also appear at a younger age and progress more rapidly if you have diabetes.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol occurs when a fatty substance called plaque narrows your arteries, increasing your risk for heart disease and heart attacks. In some cases, fat deposits form a partial or full white ring around the edge of your corneas. The deposits, common in older people, can be a sign of cholesterol problem if you're under 40.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Iritis, an inflammation of the iris, may be more likely to occur if you have ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory form of arthritis. Pain often starts in the lower back but can eventually spread to your neck, hips, ribs, shoulders and heels as the disease progresses. If you have iritis, your eye may be painful, red and very sensitive to light.
Liver Damage
Yellow eyes or skin can be a sign of jaundice, a condition that occurs when your liver produces too much bilirubin in response to inflammation or damage. Damage can occur due to viruses, autoimmune disorders, genetic diseases or alcohol abuse.
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle-shaped blood cells block vessels, causing severe pain, anemia and fatigue if you have sickle cell disease. The blood vessels in the eyes can also be affected by the disease. Common eye symptoms of sickle cell disease include eye pain and redness, peripheral vision loss, blurry vision, floaters and jaundice. Blockage of the blood vessels in the retina may lead to a hemorrhage of the retina or vitreous, the clear gel that gives the eye its shape. It's important to see your eye care professional as soon as possible if you have sickle cell disease and notice changes in your vision.
Myasthenia Gravis
Drooping eyelids are the first symptom of myasthenia gravis for 50 percent of people who develop the autoimmune disorder, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital. The disorder attacks and weakens the muscles in your body under your control, such as those in your arms and legs. If you have myasthenia gravis, you may find it hard to walk or hold your head upright. The condition can also affect your ability to chew, speak and breathe.
Heart Disease
It makes sense that blood vessels in the eye would be just as affected as vessels in other parts of your body if you have heart disease. Minor changes to the vessels in your retina, such as swelling or narrowing, or swelling of the base of the optic nerve, may mean that you're at risk of developing heart disease. Luckily, once you know that you have risk factors for heart disease, you can make diet and lifestyle changes to reduce your risk.
Brain and Nerve Conditions
Eye twitches often occur if you're tired, stressed, or if your eye is irritated. Although most eye twitches aren't serious, the symptom can sometimes be a sign of a brain or nerve condition, such as Bell's palsy, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
Regular visits to your eye care provider not only helps protect your vision, but also safeguards your general health. If it's been a while since you've visited our office, give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
American Diabetes Association: Eye Complications, 11/1/13
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/eye-complications/
Brigham and Women's Hospital: Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
WebMD: What Your Eyes Say About Your Health, 8/8/16
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/ss/slideshow-eyes-health
Readers Digest: Shocking Diseases That Eye Doctors Find First
https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/shocking-diseases-eye-doctors-find-first/
Scribd: Early Chronic Condition Detection: Via Eye Exam Study Findings
Are your eyeglasses streaky and smudged no matter how often you clean them? Try these tips to help keep them clear and smudge-free.
Make Rinsing the First Step
If you're watching your favorite TV show, you may not want to make a trip to the bathroom or kitchen just because you noticed a smudge on your glasses. After all, why miss a key scene when the bottom of your shirt will get rid of that smudge or smear?
Cleaning your glasses without any water can end up worsening the smudge or may even damage the lenses. Your shirt may feel perfectly smooth to you, but might actually contain rough fibers that can scratch your lenses. Clothing also tends to trap dirt. When you rub the fabric across your glasses, you not only transfer the dirt to your lenses, but also grind it into them, potentially damaging the glass or coatings.
Your glasses aren't the first thing you need to clean. Dirt and natural body oils will be deposited on your lenses if you don't wash your hands first. After you wash your hands, rinse your lenses under lukewarm water to remove dirt and debris.
Apply a Little Dishwashing Liquid
Place a drop of dishwashing liquid on each lens after you rinse your glasses. Gently rub the lenses to distribute the liquid on each side, then rinse them again. Stay away from dishwashing liquids that promise to keep your hands soft. These varieties contain moisturizer that will only worsen smudges and streaks on your glasses.
Glasses may look like little windows, but they're much more susceptible to damage than windows. Don't use window cleaner, ammonia or any other cleaning products you find under your kitchen sink to clean your glasses.
Clean Every Part of Your Eyeglasses
Do you focus solely on the lenses when you clean your glasses and forget about the other parts? Ear pieces and nose pads can retain body oils and may eventually smell a little unpleasant if you neglect to keep them clean too. The next time you clean your glasses, devote a few extra seconds to cleaning the frames, temples, arms and nose pads.
Rinse Thoroughly and Dry
Hold your glasses under a stream of lukewarm water to rinse every trace of dishwashing liquid from them. If you just quickly pass them under the water, you may notice streaks due to residue from the dishwashing liquid. Use soft cotton or microfiber cloths to dry your glasses. Microfiber cloths are often provided when you pick up your new eyeglasses. If you don't see a cloth in your new eyeglass case, be sure to ask your eye care specialist for one.
Paper towels, bath towels and other items may scratch your lenses and shouldn't be used to dry them. Although tissues may feel soft, they often contain rough fibers, just like your clothing. Drying your glasses with a tissue can also increase smudging if the tissue contains lotion.
Cleaning cloths eventually get dirty. Wash your cloth regularly to ensure that it doesn't transfer dirt or dust on to your glasses.
Use Your Case
Many of us place our glasses on our nightstands while we sleep. While this is certainly convenient, it exposes your glasses to floating dust particles. When your glasses aren't on your face, keep them in a hard case. The case will not only help you keep your glasses cleaner, but will also prevent damage if you happen to knock them off your nightstand during the night.
Proper cleaning techniques extend the life of your eyeglasses and help you enjoy excellent vision. If it's been a year since your last visit, or your vision has changed, give us a call. We'll examine your eyes, provide you with a new prescription and help you find the ideal frames to accentuate your face.
Sources:
All About Vision: How to Clean Your Glasses
http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/how-to-clean-glasses.htm
The Wall Street Journal: The Best Way to Clean Your Glasses, 1/28/13
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323375204578269942300847314
Consumer Reports: How to Take Care of Your Eyeglasses, 8/12
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/08/how-to-take-care-of-your-eyeglasses/index.ht
Sunglasses can make us look awkward or chic, but their real value lies in their ability to protect our eyes. Since damaged eyesight is difficult to correct, choosing the right sunglasses is key to maintaining good vision and eye health. Most optometry clinics have specially trained staff who can help you select a pair that preserves your vision while helping you look your best. For now, here are a few tips on finding sunglasses that protect eye health.
1. Look for UV protection.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun damage both the skin and the eye's lens and cornea. As optometrists know all too well, UV exposure has been linked to two medical conditions that degrade your eyesight: cataracts and macular degeneration. In addition, UV light can increase the chances of developing skin cancer and cause premature aging in the form of wrinkles and crow's feet.
For the best protection, choose sunglasses that have a label certifying at least one of the following regarding the lenses:
Block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB rays
Meet ANSI Z80.3 blocking requirements
Offer UV 400 protection
2. Select the right color.
The hue of the lenses doesn't affect UV protection, but it can influence how you perceive colors. Avoid lenses with a yellow or rose tint; these make it hard to read traffic lights. Look for gray, brown or green lenses for minimal color distortion and safer driving.
3. If you love the water, opt for polarized lenses.
Polarized lenses decrease glare from reflected light, so they're great for boaters or folks who spend a lot of time on the road. However, it might be trickier to read a GPS device, cell phone or LCD dashboard display.
4. Check for good quality lenses.
Inexpensive sunglasses can offer the same level of UV protection as higher-end brands, but those with lower price points may have more quality concerns. Whichever end of the spectrum you choose, try on the pair you're considering and focus on a vertical line or edge. Move your head from side to side while keeping your eyes still; your eyes should sweep across the lens. If you see any wiggle in the line, then the lens likely has an optical defect; choose a different pair and repeat the test.
Sources:
American Optometric Association (2013). Sunglasses Shopping Guide.
WebMD (2012). How to Pick Good Sunglasses.
Routine eye exams are straightforward, quick and painless. Most doctors recommend screening your vision on an annual basis to ensure your vision prescription is up to date (or to determine you need one) and to make sure your eyes are healthy. Regular eye exams are the first line of defense against eye disorders, such as chronic dry eye, inflammation, glaucoma, age-related issues and cataracts.
During a regular visit, you can expect your optometrist to perform the following tests to determine your eye health:
Pre-Exam Tests. A technician will often perform a few basic tests before you see the doctor, including a color sensitivity test, peripheral vision test, a glaucoma (or “air puff” test) and a cover test to determine how well your eyes work together. He or she may also use an autorefractor, which automatically measures your vision prescription, to gain a ballpark understanding of your vision needs.
Pupillary Reactions. Using a light, the doctor checks your pupils’ responsiveness. Your pupils’ response to light is a natural function of the eye and is critical to your vision. While using the light, the doctor will also look at the surface of your eye for signs of dry eye, corneal scratches and bacterial debris.
Slit Lamp Test. During a slit light test (also called a biomicroscope), the doctor will shine a vertical bar of light into your eye to magnify your eye’s surface and inspect for abnormalities on the cornea, iris and lens. This test usually takes a few minutes, and you may be asked to blink or stare at your doctor’s ear so he can look closely at your eye’s surface.
Visual Acuity and Refraction. The most well-known part of the eye exam is the visual acuity test. Your doctor will ask you to read an eye chart filled with numbers and letters with one or both eyes. Your ability to clearly read and identify the numbers and letters helps the doctor further determine your vision prescription needs. To hone in on your exact prescription, your doctor will place a large lens refractor in front of you and ask you a series of questions about which lenses make your vision better or worse.
Pupil Dilation. At the end of your exam, the doctor may ask you if you would like to have your eyes dilated. By dilating your eyes, the doctor can examine your retina and optic nerve more fully. To perform this part of the exam, the doctor will put a few drops in your eyes that cause your pupils to enlarge, letting more light in and giving him or her a better view into your eye. Your eyes may be sensitive to light for up to an hour after the test, so it’s best to avoid being outside in direct sunlight afterward.
Do your eyes feel swollen, itchy or watery? If so, you might want to book an appointment with your eye doctor to have your eyes examined. Although many people automatically attribute their discomfort to allergies, it’s important to leave the diagnosis to a trained professional that is knowledgeable about eye health.
Often, the true cause of a person’s eye irritation is an eye infection. Eye infections are extremely common and can affect any part of the eye — from the eyelids to the retinas. While there are many different types of infections that can affect our eyes, each one can be categorized as fungal, bacterial or viral. Eye infections can range from pink eye (conjunctivitis), the inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye, to blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid that is often associated with an infection.
What Can Cause an Eye Infection?
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are an excellent alternative to eyeglasses, but they can also cause infections if you do not maintain a strict hygiene routine. This is because contact lenses restrict the amount of oxygen that reaches your corneas, transforming the eye area into a potential breeding ground for bacterial or fungal buildup. However, practicing good ocular hygiene habits helps ensure that your eyes receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, bolstering their ability to stave off infection.
Ways you can decrease your chance of developing an eye infection due to contact lens use include:
Washing your hands before placing a contact lens on your eye.
Removing your contacts immediately if one (or both) of your eyes becomes red or irritated.
Always disposing used lenses into the garbage, if you use daily-wear contact lenses. Do not reuse them.
Always placing weekly- or monthly-use contact lenses in contact lens solution for the recommended amount of time, to remove bacteria from the lens. Once their allotted time is up, dispose them immediately and replace them with a fresh set.
Sharing Eye Makeup
Another potential cause of infection is using old or borrowed makeup. While keeping your old mascara can save you money, it can also increase your chance of getting an eye infection. Human eyelashes naturally have bacteria on them, which are transferred into your mascara tube with each use. Using old mascara from a tube that has been sitting for a long period of time increases your chance of getting an eye infection, because very little oxygen has been introduced into the old tube over time, contributing to the potential buildup of bacteria.
Borrowing someone else’s makeup can also transfer bacteria. That is why, in addition to replacing old makeup within a reasonable time frame, it is highly recommended that individuals refrain from sharing makeup.
To help prevent an eye infection due to makeup use, you should:
Replace old makeup within the manufacturer’s recommended time frame.
Avoid sharing any of your cosmetics with friends or family.
Always wash your hands before applying makeup on or around the eye.
Avoid using sample products at any retail location. Many individuals apply these cosmetics directly on their face, increasing the risk of spreading bacteria.
Questions?
If you suffer from eye irritation, discuss the problem with your eye doctor right away. Your physician can treat your eye condition as well as share additional ways to prevent future eye infections.
Resources:
http://www.eyehealthweb.com/eye-infections/
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=724
Eyes are your window to the world. Everything you experience is enhanced by what you see. By the same token, eyes can be a window into your body.
When it comes to your overall health, your eyes act like an open book shedding light on your condition. A thorough eye exam with your ophthalmologist or optometrist can uncover clues about the state of your whole body. Your eye care provider may be able to tell whether or not you are suffering from a serious disease or medical condition just by examining blood vessels and nerves in your eyes.
What are Your Eyes Telling You?
Unusual eye symptoms raise a red flag. Your eyes act as an early warning system to let you know when something is wrong and you need medical attention. Diabetes, for instance, can cause blurred vision when symptoms began to flare up. Dim or double vision may be an early sign you are suffering a stroke.
Blood vessels are especially revealing. If blood vessels in your eyes turn from red to bronze or gray, this could be an early sign of high blood pressure or diabetes. Both conditions can damage your retinas by causing excess fluid to accumulate in your eyes. Blocked blood vessels may be a sign you have an autoimmune disease. This can in turn lead to red, itchy eyes, sensitivity to light, eye pain, and vision problems.
If your body is fighting a virus, bacteria or fungal infection, it will often show up in the eyes as well. If the whites of your eyes turn yellow, for example, it could be a sign of hepatitis or jaundice.
Following Up After an Eye Exam
Eye symptoms alone are usually not enough to diagnose an infection, disease, or other serious medical condition. Still, your eyes can reveal the fact that problems do exist. This will make it easier to obtain quick medical care before any problems manifested in the eyes have a chance to do serious damage elsewhere in the body or even turn fatal.
Knowing what steps are necessary to improve your health is easier when an eye care professional takes a look in your eyes.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Diabetes and Eye Health.” 2014.
Protecting your eyesight is an important part of maintaining your quality of life. Here are five simple things you can do to help preserve your vision.
1. Stop Smoking
It is no secret that smoking is strongly linked to many health problems; however, did you know that it can also damage your eyes and vision health? Smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. In addition, smoking increases your risk for diabetes and its many complications, including new blood vessel growth, diabetic retinopathy and permanent vision loss. Cigarette smoke can also irritate your eyes and cause dry eyes. This can cause general discomfort and make wearing contacts uncomfortable.
2. Eat Well
In order to function optimally, our eyes require a wide assortment of nutrients. Certain vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, are instrumental in protecting your eyesight and can be found in brightly colored vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkins. Your eyes also need antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, to protect against sun damage. Dark leafy greens, egg yolks and yellow peppers are dense with these antioxidants.
3. Exercise
Physical exercise is an essential part of maintaining your overall physical health. Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure, release tension and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It can also be highly beneficial for your eyes. Research has shown that regular exercise lowers your likelihood of developing some serious eye conditions, including reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration by nearly 70 percent. In addition, physical exercise can reduce pressure and improve blood flow to the retina and optic nerve. This may help slow general vision loss from diseases such as glaucoma.
4. Go to Sleep
Getting quality sleep is important for your eyesight. It helps prevent your eyes from drying out and being overly strained. Sleep allows your body to recover and heal from the previous day. This is especially important if you spend the majority of your day sitting at a computer or looking at electronic screens. Aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to counteract some of the strain you put on your eyes throughout the day.
5. Turn off the Computer
In today’s online world, most people spend many hours staring at a computer screen or alternative electronic device. However, technology can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Spending too much time staring at electronic screens can cause discomfort, including dry eyes and eye strain. For many people, it can even cause persistent tension headaches. Although in this day and age, it is difficult to turn away from screens entirely, you can protect your eyes from excessive strain by looking away from your screen for a few minutes every hour to give your eye muscles a break.
Finding frames that fit your face, your style and your budget isn't always so easy. It's tempting to just pick the first pair of frames that are barely acceptable than face the daunting task of sorting through hundreds of frames to find the perfect option. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to simplify the process.
Consider the Shape of Your Face
Although some people look good in any type of frames, most of us aren't so lucky. Narrowing down frame choices is easier when you understand which types of frames look best for these common face shapes.
Round. Square frames help balance a round face, as long as they're not too small. Too-small frames, whether they're square or any other shape, can make your face look rounder.
Square. Oval, round or rectangular frames with rounded edges soften a square face. Do you wish your face was a little longer? Select narrow frames to visually elongate your face.
Heart. Round, oval and rimless frames are also a good choice if you have a heart-shaped face. Stay away from glasses that are thicker on top than the bottom.
Diamond. Both oval and rimless styles are a good choice if your face is diamond-shaped. Cat-eye glasses or frames that contain decorative details can help provide balance.
Oval. If your face is a perfect oval, you probably love shopping for frames. Nearly any type of frame looks good on an oval face.
Find Your Perfect Color
These days, glasses are available in almost any color. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that those neon green specs will look good on you. When you choose a color, consider your eye and hair color and your complexion. Your complexion is probably cool if you have blue, gray or green eyes with silver, gray or strawberry blond hair, or black hair with a touch of blue. People with warm complexions often have brown or hazel eyes and blond, brown or black hair.
Try on blue, purple, black or silver frames if you have a cool complexion and green, aqua, brown, tortoise or bronze if your complexion is warmer.
Pick a Frame Thickness
The thickness of your frames, in addition to the shape and color, is another important consideration when you choose new glasses. Heavy frames can overwhelm delicate features, but can be the perfect choice if you want to draw attention to the upper part of your face. You'll also want to make sure that your frames are thick enough to accommodate your prescription lenses. Although stronger prescriptions generally increase lens thickness, choosing ultra-thin lenses can help you ensure that you can wear the frames you love.
Don't Be Afraid to Break the Rules
What if you follow all the rules but don't like the frames that are supposed to be perfect for you? Frame selection guidelines can help you identify styles that will probably look good on you, but that doesn't mean that they'll work for everyone. It's more important to find frames that you'll enjoy wearing for the next year than to follow rules.
Need a little help picking frames? Our staff can help you find a style that's just right for you.
Sources:
All About Vision: How to Choose the Best Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape and Coloring
http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/eyeglasses_shape_color_analysis.htm
Cosmopolitan: 4 Tips for How to Choose the Right Glasses for Your Face, 1/2/14
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/advice/a17832/4-tips-for-glasses-by-face/
Consumer Reports: How to Get the Best Eyeglass Lenses, 12/29/16
http://www.consumerreports.org/eyeglass-stores/how-to-get-the-best-eyeglass-lenses/
All About Vision: How to Choose the Best Lenses for Your Glasses
Photophobia: When Your Eyes Are Sensitive to Light
Do sunny days and bright lights make you want to hide in a dark room? You may be experiencing photophobia, or light sensitivity. Photophobia can cause eye pain, discomfort, and squinting when you're exposed to bright lights. Fortunately, your optometrist can recommend treatments and strategies to improve your comfort.
What Causes Photophobia?
Photophobia has many causes including:
Light-Colored Eyes. People with blue, green, or hazel eyes may be more likely to experience light sensitivity because they have less melanin in their eyes. Melanin, the pigment which gives your eyes their color, helps protect your eyes from UV light. People with brown eyes have more melanin, while those with light eyes have less.
Headaches and Migraine. You may notice that you're unusually sensitive to light when you have a headache or migraine. Photophobia with headaches is particularly common and affects about 80% of people with migraines, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Bright lights can also trigger migraines.
Inflammation. Inflammation of the iris (the colored part of the eye), cornea (the clear tissue over the iris and pupil), or sclera (the white part of the eye) can cause photophobia.
Albinism. People with albinism have much less melanin in their bodies, which affects hair, skin, and eye color and can play a role in photophobia.
Dry Eyes. Itching, burning, and redness could mean you have dry eye. This common eye condition also increases your light sensitivity. Seventy-five percent of veterans with dry eye reported pain sensitivity to light in a study published in Review of Ophthalmology in 2016.
Corneal Abrasion. A painful sore on your cornea could be the reason that you have trouble opening your eyes in bright conditions.
Blepharospasm. Blepharospasm, a condition that causes involuntary eyelid twitching or blinking, can increase light sensitivity.
Head Injury. You may be more sensitive to light after a concussion or other head injury.
Eye Diseases and Conditions. Photophobia can be a symptom of several eye diseases and conditions, including retinitis pigmentosa, uveitis, corneal neuropathy, optic neuritis, vitritis, and papilledema.
Other Causes. Meningitis, fatigue, depression, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, psychiatric disorders, pituitary tumors, fibromyalgia, measles, and medication side effects are among the other causes of light sensitivity.
Treating Photophobia
Let your optometrist know if you're experiencing sensitivity to light. Your eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye examination that will help him or her determine if an eye problem or another condition is responsible for your symptoms. If your optometrist suspects a medical condition, you'll be referred to the appropriate specialist for treatment.
Treating eye conditions and underlying health problems may improve your photophobia. For example, if you have blepharospasm, Botox injections can stop your eyelids from twitching and improve your comfort in brightly lit environments. If you have keratitis, a condition that occurs when the cornea is inflamed, artificial tears or prescription antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral eye drops may be helpful.
If photophobia is a chronic problem for you, these strategies may make spending time in bright environments more comfortable:
Wear Sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses improve eye comfort by filtering out horizontal light. Sunglasses you get from your optometrist will also filter out UV light that may cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Transitions eyeglass or contact lenses that darken in bright conditions and lighten in dimmer conditions can be a good option if you don't want to carry a pair of sunglasses with you. Although you may be tempted to wear sunglasses indoors, that's a bad idea, according to Kathleen Digre, MD, professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the University of Utah. She told the AAO that wearing dark glasses indoors may actually increase your light sensitivity.
Don't Forget Your Hat. Wear a hat with a brim to keep the sun off your eyes.
Use Eye Drops. Lubricating eye drops keep your eyes moist and may reduce photophobia symptoms.
Keep It Dim. Use dimmers on lights that are too bright. Avoid fluorescent lights if possible. If you can't, ask your eye doctor about special eyeglass lenses. Rose-colored FL-41 lenses can reduce migraines triggered by lights, while blue-blocking lenses may also reduce light sensitivity. Blue-blocking contact lenses are also available.
Turn It Down. Adjust brightness settings on phones and other devices, like laptops, tablets, and televisions.
Are you tired of being in the dark? We can help you with your photophobia symptoms. Call our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Photophobia: Looking for Causes and Solutions, November/December 2005
https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/photophobia-looking-causes-solutions
Review of Ophthalmology: What Can Photophobia Tell Us About Dry Eye, 8/23/2016
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5571866/
Cleveland Clinic: Photophobia, 10/4/2023
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/photophobia
All About Vision: Photophobia, 3/4/2019
https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/lightsensitive.htm
American Migraine Foundation: Photophobia (Light Sensitivity) and Migraine, 12/21/2017
https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/photophobia-migraine/
NCBI: Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology: Shedding Light on Photophobia, 3/2012
Hunter's Creek
- Address: 4101 Hunters Park Ln #400
Orlando, FL 32837 - Phone: (407) 855-6132
Office Hours
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- Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
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- Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday By Appointment Only
- Sunday Closed
Pixon Lake Nona
- Address: 7004 Tavistock Lakes Blvd Ste 146
Orlando, FL 32827 - Phone: (407) 378-2585
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- Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday By Appointment Only
- Sunday Closed
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