How often should you see your eye doctor? How often should you with glasses or contact lenses? What about when it comes to children? These are questions we frequently receive when it comes to eye exams. An eye examination is vitally important to your health, as the exam can provide early detection for many eye conditions, diseases and changes in vision.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 40.9 million Americans over 18 wear contact lenses. Even children can trade in their glasses for a pair of lenses. In the past few decades, contact lenses have become highly versatile and there are many options available to the wearers. At Optical Masters, we offer options such as daily disposable lenses, reusable lenses, astigmatic lenses for those with astigmatism, and multifocal lenses.

Nobody plans for an eye emergency, but they happen, and usually not at a time that is convenient. Eye emergencies can be caused by any number of reasons such as allergic reaction, trauma, chemical injuries, injuries to the cornea or foreign object in the eye, and eyelid lacerations. The good news is that many eye emergencies can be treated without permanent damage.

How often do you think about your eyes when you go outside in the sun? Unless you’re sensitive to bright light, you might not think twice about eye protection from UV rays. Many know the dangers of skin cancer and protecting themselves with sunblock. It’s just as important to protect the eyes though as the same UV rays can sunburn your eyes and even lead to problems such as cataracts, macular degeneration and pterygium (white tissue growth) on the eyes.

Optimum eye health throughout your life can be achieved by ensuring you are doing your part. Vision is one of--if not the--most important of the five senses. It doesn’t take much to damage your vision, but it also doesn’t take much to preserve it. Learn what you can be doing to ensure your eye health stays stable throughout your life.

LASIK eye surgery was first introduced more than 20 years ago. Since that time, millions of Americans have undergone LASIK surgery to improve their vision and live free of glasses and contacts. It is most widely used to correct vision such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. During the procedure the eye is anesthetized with eye drops.

Why is a healthy retina so important for overall vision and wellness? Unhealthy retinas are not capable of sending clear signals to your brain which can result in vision loss or impairment. There are many retinal conditions and diseases, but most can be treated when they are found early. Comprehensive eye exams are able to detect problems with the retina early-on to help you avoid serious diseases and complications. We recommend you visit your eye doctor annually or biannually to keep your eyes healthy. With retinal problems, you may not notice any symptoms even when a retina is threatened.

Neurological eye screenings conducted at our Optical Masters’ office provide you and your medical provider with important information about the state of your vision. Evaluating how your eyes and pupils work together and separately can tell your medical provider if the nerves and muscles controlling your eyes are functioning properly or suffering from a dangerous condition or disease.

Vision changes strike everyone at one point or another. Good vision doesn’t begin immediately at birth. Even in infants, vision develops over time. When it comes to recognizing objects and colors, it takes time for infants to see what we see. The eyes continually change throughout decades of time.

Blue light is everywhere in today’s digital world, but 72 percent of our population are unaware of its dangers. Blue light can shine from both natural and man-made sources, many of which we don’t even realize. Besides the sun, much of the dangers of blue-violet light in our modern world come from digital screens. If your profession or hobbies puts you at more exposure to blue light, consider investing in glasses and sunglasses with blue light protection.