Summer is Coming! Why You Should Get Prescription Sunglasses Today

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Nothing says “summer” like a new pair of sunglasses in Champaign IL! If you haven’t bought your sunglasses, now is the time. Purchasing new sunglasses will help you get ready for upcoming trips to the pool or the lake, days spent driving to your vacation destination, and afternoons spent sunning yourself in your backyard. If you’re not in the habit of keeping prescription sunglasses in your home, then it may help to know the benefits of prescription sunglasses.

Convenience

New prescription sunglasses are convenient! If your sunglasses are non-prescription, you’ll have to switch back and forth between your sunglasses and regular glasses just to make it through the day. Prescription sunglasses allow you to see everything while outdoors. With your pair of prescription sunglasses, you can visit the beach, go fishing, lay in your backyard or take a trip to a far away place!

Safety

When you get sunglasses with lenses matched to your most up-to-date prescription, you’ll have the eye wear you need to safely drive to summer destinations and participate in summer sports.

If you choose to wear your regular glasses, your eyes could be vulnerable to glare from the bright sun, which could be damaging over time. If you choose to wear non-prescription sunglasses, you could find yourself having accidents because you’re unable to see properly.

Wellness

Because sunglasses protect you from UV rays that can cause conditions like cataracts, getting in the habit of wearing your prescription sunglasses throughout the summer can help protect you in future years. It’s a good idea to wear your sunglasses as long as you’re spending time outdoors!

Have you decided you need sunglasses? Contact your eye doctor in Champaign IL. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we carry the latest trends in sunglasses for our patients! Call today.

Often Overlooked Risk Factors for Cataracts

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Before you have to seek cataract treatment in Champaign, IL, you may be able to take steps to lower your risks enough that you never need the procedure. Most people face several risk factors for cataract development, but most people also don’t know all about the risks. Take a look at some of the most common, but also commonly overlooked, risks for cataracts.

High-Sodium Diet

Research has shown that people who eat a diet with a lot of salt see an increased risk of cataract development with an actual ratio of 2.4. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realize that excess salt intake has anything to do with cataract development. This is a perfect reason to keep your sodium intake in check.

Excessive UV Exposure

When your eye doctor tells you that wearing sunglasses is important to protect your visual health, this is important advice to heed for sure. However, what you may not know is excessive UV exposure can actually heighten your risks of having cataracts. So, when you head outdoors, be sure to wear good UV-protectant sunglasses.

Smoking

In one study, smokers had a 21 percent increase in the risk of eventually having to undergo cataract surgery. Smoking in itself puts your vision at risk, possibly even increasing your risks of other eye health conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and more. Therefore, protecting your vision is an extremely important reason to stop smoking.

Discuss Cataract Risks with a Champaign, IL Optometrist

Even though cataract surgery is highly effective for treating cataracts, it is always best to monitor your risks and take preventative steps. A Champaign, IL eye doctor can help you pin down the risks that are most possible in your personal health situation. Reach out to us at Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule an appointment.

Tired businessman rubbing his eyes during night work

Is It Allergies? Why Your Eyes Are Red

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There are many things that can cause your eyes to become red, and some of those problems are more serious than others. Knowing what makes your eyes red can help you decide when it’s time to see an eye doctor in Champaign IL.

Causes of Red Eyes

Below are some of the most common causes of red eye.

  • Allergies – Allergies can exacerbate the eyes, causing itchiness, redness and puffiness.
  • Dry eye – Dry eye is a condition that can occur for a variety of reasons. Dry eyes can be very itchy. Rubbing dry eyes can cause them to become red.
  • Conjunctivitis – Conjunctivitis is a type of bacterial or viral infection that causes the eyes to become red, inflamed and sensitive to light.
  • Overuse of contact lenses – Overuse of contact lenses can cause eye irritation and may cause the eyes to turn red, so it’s very important to use contact lenses only as prescribed.
  • Other conditions – Some other more serious conditions, like glaucoma, can lead to red eyes.

What You Can Do

If you’re suffering from red eyes, it’s important to contact your eye doctor and describe your symptoms. Your eye doctor at Champaign Eye Professionals can tell you whether you need to see your eye doctor, or if the problem will clear up on its own.

Know When to See Champaign Eye Professionals

If one or both of your eyes are red and you’re experiencing discomfort, contact your eye doctor for an eye exam in Champaign IL. Whether you’re experiencing dry eyes, allergies or another condition, it’s important to get a diagnoses and get help as soon as possible. Call today to make an appointment.

3 Things That Occur within Your Eyes When Your Blood Sugar Levels Are Too High

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From managing diabetic retinopathy in Champaign, IL to tending to changes in your vision, your blood sugar levels can mean more trips to an eye doctor for help. However, you can thwart some of your risks of facing these problems by keeping your blood glucose levels in check. Take a look at some of the things that occur within your eyes when your blood sugar levels are too high.

The lens of your eye can swell

It is quite common for people to feel like their vision is blurry when their blood sugar levels are too high. This may not always be a permanent vision change. In fact, the problem can come about because the high glucose levels in your blood cause the lens of the eye to swell. As blood glucose levels return to normal, the inflammation may subside.

Pressure can build within the eye

The swelling in your eye can make it impossible for the fluids within the eye to drain properly. Therefore, when your eyes swell due to high blood sugar, this can mean the eye also faces more internal pressure than usual. Unfortunately, this can lead to risks of glaucoma.

Small blood vessels in the retina may sustain damage

The small blood vessels in the retina are sensitive to the changes in blood flow and fluid circulation that come along with high blood sugar levels. Over time, if high levels occur too frequently, this damages these small blood vessels, and permanently affects vision. This is what leads to the condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

Talk to a Champaign, IL Eye Doctor About Vision Care and Diabetes

When you have diabetes, vision health management in Champaign, IL becomes even more important. Talk to your eye doctor about steps you can take with diabetes management to protect the health of your eyes. Reach out to us at Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule an appointment.