HALLOWEEN EYE SAFETY

HALLOWEEN is just around the corner.  If your children enjoy dressing up and trick-or-treating thru the neighborhood for candy, make sure they do it safely. Many eye injuries are reported every year as a result of Halloween activities.


Masks, wigs and eye patches are fun Halloween accessories, but make sure they don't block visibility. Some masks are very dangerous for children because they block their side vision.

If you decide to disguise your child with make-up instead of a mask, use hypo-allergenic options and keep it away from the eyes. It's a good idea to carry a wet towel or washcloth in case the make-up begins to run while trick-or-treating. Running around in a costume makes some kids perspire, so a quick clean-up around the eye area may be necessary before the night is over.


Some costumes don't seem complete without swords or wands. Still, do not allow your child to carry sharp objects. Sharp, pointed props endanger your child eyes as well as the eyes of other children.


Older kids and adults often complete their Halloween costumes with cosmetic contact lenses. Remember that contact lenses are medical devices and require a valid prescription. If not used safely, contact lens use could lead to vision loss.

PREGNANCY AND YOUR EYES

Pregnancy is a wonderful time when the body is changing rapidly, and it makes sense to nourish your entire body, including your eyes, with healthy foods and an adequate amount of rest. 
 

Many of the changes of pregnancy are well understood — hormonal surges, food cravings, shifts in mood, morning sickness, an expanding belly — but not all women know that vision changes can also accompany those 40 weeks of gestation.  Most ocular changes are temporary and will clear up after delivery.

If you're an avid contact lens wearer, you may have to switch to glasses during your pregnancy. Most doctors advise against being fitted for new contact lenses while you're pregnant as your eyes may be in a constant state of change.  If you normally wear contact lenses on a daily basis, make sure you have a good pair of backup glasses to wear during your pregnancy if you need a break from your contacts!

Beware the Risks of Decorative Contact Lenses this Halloween!!!!

AN EYE INFECTION FROM DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES COULD BE A VERY SCARY SIGHT THIS HALLOWEEN!!!!

Over the last few years you may have seen decorative contact lenses as a halloween costume accessory for some enthusiasts getting completely into character. However, with celebrities such as Lady Gaga routinely wearing them in her music videos, the popularity of these lenses is likely to hit an all time high this Halloween. 

While these contacts may impress your friends or even win you a costume contest, it is important to know the risks involved in wearing contact lenses that are not approved for your eyes. Contact Lenses are medical devices that should not be worn without approval and a current prescription from your eye doctor. 

These decorative contact lenses often have many pitfalls when they are worn or cared for incorrectly, or when they are worn by an individual that should not be wearing contact lenses at all.

Here are some important basics of proper contact lens care to remember:
• Do not buy contacts without a doctor’s prescription. These are medical devices that fit your eye and if they do not fit properly or are the wrong material for your eyes then they can damage your eyes.
• Do not share lenses, wear them longer than the recommended replacement time, or sleep in contact lenses. Remember to wash your hands every time before handling lenses, change your contact lens case monthly, and always use the proper solution for your contact lenses.
• If your eyes are red, painful, creating mucus discharge, or if your vision is blurry make sure to contact your eye doctor as soon as possible. 

Above all remember to be safe this Halloween season, and if your eye doctor has not approved your eyes for a special decorative contact lens – then it is not worth the risk, because you only get one pair of eyes.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

AN EYE INFECTION FROM DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES COULD BE A VERY SCARY SIGHT THIS HALLOWEEN

Over the last few years you may have seen decorative contact lenses as a halloween costume accessory for some enthusiasts getting completely into character. However, with celebrities such as Lady Gaga routinely wearing them in her music videos, the popularity of these lenses is likely to hit an all time high this Halloween.

While these contacts may impress your friends or even win you a costume contest, it is important to know the risks involved in wearing contact lenses that aren’t approved for your eyes. Contact Lenses are medical devices that should not be worn without approval and a current prescription from an eye doctor.

These decorative contact lenses often have many pitfalls when they are worn or cared for incorrectly, or when they are worn by an individual that should not be wearing contact lenses at all.

These are some important basics of contact lens care to remember:
• Do not buy contacts without a doctor’s prescription. These are medical devices that fit your eye and if they do not fit properly or are the wrong material for your eyes then they can damage your eyes.
• Do not share lenses, wear them longer than the recommended replacement time, or sleep in contact lenses. Remember to wash your hands every time before handling lenses, change your contact lens case monthly, and always use the proper solution for your contact lenses.
• If your eyes are red, painful, creating mucus discharge, or if your vision is blurry make sure to contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Above all remember to be safe this Halloween season, and if your eye doctor has not approved your eyes for a special decorative lens – then it is not worth the risk, because you only get one pair of eyes.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

FAQ: Are Contact Lenses Right for You?

Do patients experience discomfort or pain when using contact lenses? Most first time wearers are surprised when they experience how comfortable properly fit contact lenses feel in their eyes. I recommend a trial period for first time contact lens wearers and these patients will often comment that after a few days of this initial adjustment period with a properly fit contact lens they no longer even feel the contact lenses in their eyes. Can I wear contacts when I participate in sports? Absolutely, competitors in every area of athletics have discovered the advantages of wearing contact lenses. Unlike eyeglasses, contacts don't steam up from perspiration, don't smudge and don't become foggy when you transition from cold to warm temperatures. They provide distortion free depth perception and allow you to appreciate full peripheral vision. Properly fit contacts stay on your eyes, even during strenuous exercise. Can I wear soft contact lenses if I have astigmatism? Yes. Patients with astigmatism can wear a special type of soft contact lens called a toric lens that corrects astigmatism. Patients with a large amount of astigmatism may also benefit from wearing a specialty contact lens such as a rigid gas permeable contact lens or a synergeyes hybrid contact lens (a contact lens with a rigid center and soft surrounding area). I currently wear reading glasses over my contact lenses in order to read. Is there an alternative so I don't have to wear glasses at all? Yes. Multifocal contact lenses are available both in the rigid gas permeable material as well as the soft lens material. It offers the best of both worlds allowing patients good vision both close up and in the distance with no dependence on reading glasses. Monovision is another option for contact lens wearers that want to avoid reading glasses - where one eye is corrected for viewing distant objects (usually the dominant eye) and the other eye (usually the non-dominant eye) is corrected for reading and close work. If my disposable contact lenses are still comfortable beyond their replacement period, can I continue to wear the same pair? No. In order to maintain optimal eye health, it is important to adhere to the proper wearing schedule prescribed by your eye care professional. Lipid and protein deposits can accumulate on the contact lens over time, leading to chronic irritation. The main advantage of wearing disposable lenses is that you are able to put a fresh new pair of contact lenses in your eyes at a regularly scheduled interval - this leads to healthier lens wear and the most optimal vision possible.

FAQ: Contact Lenses

Do patients experience discomfort or pain when using contact lenses? Most first time wearers are surprised when they experience how properly fit contact lenses feel in their eyes. I recommend a trial period for first time contact lens wearers and these patients will often comment that after a few days of this initial adjustment period with a properly fit contact lens they no longer even feel the contact lens in their eyes. Can I wear contacts when I participate in sports? Absolutely, competitors in every area of athletics have discovered the advantages of wearing contact lenses. Unlike eyeglasses, contacts don't steam up from perspiration, don't smudge and don't become foggy when you transition from cold to warm temperatures. They provide distortion free depth perception and allow you to appreciate full peripheral vision. Properly fit contacts stay on your eyes, even during strenuous exercise. Can I swim with contact lenses? We really discourage patients from swimming in contact lenses. Water, even chlorinated pool water, contains a number of agents that can cause very serious corneal infection, and this risk is increased if you are wearing contact lenses. In the same way, we don't recommend that patients shower with their contact lenses or use hot tubs. Can I wear soft contact lenses if I have astigmatism? Yes. Patients with astigmatism can wear a special type of soft contact lens called a toric lens that will correct your astigmatism. Some newer lenses are also simply called lenses for astigmatism rather than toric lenses. Patients with a large amount of astigmatism may also benefit from wearing a specialty contact lens such as a rigid gas permeable contact lens or a synergeyes hybrid contact lens. I currently wear reading glasses over my contact lenses in order to read. Is there an alternative so I don't have to wear glasses at all? Yes. Multifocal contact lenses are available both in the rigid gas permeable material as well as the soft lens material. It offers the best of both worlds allowing patients good vision both close up and in the distance with no to very minimal dependence on reading glasses. Monovision is another option for contact lens wearers that want to avoid reading glasses - where one eye is corrected for viewing distant objects (usually the dominant eye) and the other eye (usually the non dominant eye) is corrected for reading and close work. If my disposable contact lenses are still comfortable beyond their replacement period, can I continue to wear the same pair? No. In order to maintain optimal eye health, it is important to adhere to the wearing schedule prescribed by your eye care professional. Lipid and protein deposits can accumulate on the contact lens over time, leading to chronic irritation. The main advantage of wearing disposable lenses is that you are able to put a fresh new pair of contact lenses in your eyes at a regularly scheduled interval - this leads to healthier lens wear and the most optimal vision possible.

Keep decorative colored contacts from causing a ghastly sight this Halloween

AN EYE INFECTION FROM DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES COULD BE A VERY SCARY SIGHT THIS HALLOWEEN

Over the last few years you may have seen decorative contact lenses as a halloween costume accessory for some enthusiasts getting completely into character. However, with celebrities such as Lady Gaga routinely wearing them in her music videos, the popularity of these lenses is likely to hit an all time high this Halloween.

While these contacts may impress your friends or even win you a costume contest, it is important to know the risks involved in wearing contact lenses that aren’t approved for your eyes. Contact Lenses are medical devices that should not be worn without approval and a current prescription from an eye doctor.

These decorative contact lenses often have many pitfalls when they are worn or cared for incorrectly, or when they are worn by an individual that should not be wearing contact lenses at all.

These are some important basics of contact lens care to remember:
• Do not buy contacts without a doctor’s prescription. These are medical devices that fit your eye and if they do not fit properly or are the wrong material for your eyes then they can damage your eyes.
• Do not share lenses, wear them longer than the recommended replacement time, or sleep in contact lenses. Remember to wash your hands every time before handling lenses, change your contact lens case monthly, and always use the proper solution for your contact lenses.
• If your eyes are red, painful, creating mucus discharge, or if your vision is blurry make sure to contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Above all remember to be safe this Halloween season, and if your eye doctor has not approved your eyes for a special decorative lens – then it is not worth the risk, because you only get one pair of eyes.

Happy Halloween!

Decorative Contacts can be a Dangerous Costume Accessory

AN EYE INFECTION FROM DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES COULD BE A VERY SCARY SIGHT THIS HALLOWEEN

Over the last few years you may have seen decorative contact lenses as a halloween costume accessory for some enthusiasts getting completely into character. However, with celebrities such as Lady Gaga routinely wearing them in her music videos, the popularity of these lenses is likely to hit an all time high this Halloween.

While these contacts may impress your friends or even win you a costume contest, it is important to know the risks involved in wearing contact lenses that aren’t approved for your eyes. Contact Lenses are medical devices that should not be worn without approval and a current prescription from an eye doctor.

These decorative contact lenses often have many pitfalls when they are worn or cared for incorrectly, or when they are worn by an individual that should not be wearing contact lenses at all.

These are some important basics of contact lens care to remember:
• Do not buy contacts without a doctor’s prescription. These are medical devices that fit your eye and if they do not fit properly or are the wrong material for your eyes then they can damage your eyes.
• Do not share lenses, wear them longer than the recommended replacement time, or sleep in contact lenses. Remember to wash your hands every time before handling lenses, change your contact lens case monthly, and always use the proper solution for your contact lenses.
• If your eyes are red, painful, creating mucus discharge, or if your vision is blurry make sure to contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Above all remember to be safe this Halloween season, and if your eye doctor has not approved your eyes for a special decorative lens – then it is not worth the risk, because you only get one pair of eyes.

Happy Halloween!

Read more about safe lens wear by clicking here.