Which Eye Glasses Are Best? 4 Tips to Choose Your Next Pair of Specs

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Choosing the right eyeglasses can be tough! Knowing what factors to take into consideration when selecting your eyeglasses in Champaign can make the process easier. Insurance, size, style, type, and shape of glasses are all important factors that can affect which glasses are right for you. If you’re going to be choosing new eyeglasses, here’s what to consider.

1. Consider Insurance

If you have vision insurance, your policy may limit how much your insurance company will pay for frames. Tell the clerks in the showroom about your insurance policy. Very likely, they will be able to show your which frames are fully covered by your policy.

2. Choose the Right Size

Glasses come in different sizes to fit different faces. Some glasses in the showroom may not be the right size for you. The clerk can help you identify when a pair of glasses needs to be a different size. They can help you find the right glasses for your size.

3. Wire Frames or Plastic?

Plastic frames are heavier, less flexible, and more colorful than their wire counterparts. You’ll need to choose the glasses frames that work best for you. Talk to the clerk about the available options.

4. Consider the Shape of Your Face

Look for a pair of glasses that complement the shape of your face. Is your face square? Look for square frames. Is your face rounded? Round frames will complement and accentuate the lines of your face. If you’re not sure, talk to the clerk for advice.

See the Eye Doctor in Champaign, IL

Pick the right glasses for your personal style. See the eye doctor in Champaign IL to get started.

Dry Eyes this Winter? What You Can Do About Them

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Winter is a time of year when the humidity drops and many people experience dry eyes. Dry eyes can be itchy, red, and uncomfortable. If you’re experiencing dry eyes, there’s something you can do about it! By altering the environment in your home and by using products like artificial tears, you can reduce the effects of dry eyes in Champaign. Here’s what you need to know.

Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are sold in pharmacies. Eye drops are also available with a prescription – these eye drops help the eyes produce their own tears. Your eye doctor in Champaign IL can tell you if you need prescription eye drops to rehydrate your eyes. Use artificial tears according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Humidifier

As the humidity outside drops, so does the humidity inside. Use a humidifier to keep your home’s humidity at acceptable levels, or humidify at least one room of your house where you spend the most time, to reduce the symptoms of itchy eyes.

Avoid Use of Hair Dryers

Hairdryers blast your face, hair, and eyes with hot, dry air. They make dry eyes worse and can leave you feeling miserable later. Avoid the use of hair dryers whenever possible. If using a hairdryer, keep the airspeed low and the temperature cool.

Wear Wrap Around Sunglasses

Wrap-around sunglasses shield your eyes from wind that could dry them out. Buy wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes from the worst of the winter wind.

See the Eye Doctor

If you suffer from dry eyes, your eye doctor may be able to identify the source of your dry eyes and recommend treatments, medication changes, or behavior changes that can help. Call today to make an appointment.

Why Should You See the Eye Doctor Annually? 

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Seeing the eye doctor annually is an important part of maintaining your eye health. Many people believe that if they don’t have any known eye diseases or conditions, they never need to go to the eye doctor. This isn’t true! There are many reasons to see the eye doctor in Champaign, IL, even if you don’t have prescription glasses. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining healthy eyes and seeing the eye doctor.

Your Prescription Can Change

Most people who have glasses prescriptions find that their prescriptions change over time. Seeing the eye doctor will help you keep up with these changes, so you’ll always have glasses that match your prescription and help ensure your vision is as sharp and clear as possible.

Your Eye Doctor Checks for Eye Diseases

When you visit the eye doctor for eye exams in Champaign, IL, your eye doctor won’t just check for changes to your prescription. They’ll also check for presence of eye diseases. Some diseases, like glaucoma, are almost impossible to detect until they’ve done permanent damage to your vision.

Seeing the eye doctor is the only way to catch glaucoma in its earliest stages. If you do have a condition like glaucoma, your eye doctor can provide treatments that can slow the progress of the disease and preserve your vision for as long as possible.

Good Vision Is Important

One more reason to go see the eye doctor is because good vision is important for your normal everyday functioning. Whether you’re going to school or work, or just navigating the streets of your town, it’s important to be able to see clearly. Going to your eye doctor will help you maintain the good vision you need to work and play safely!

To make an appointment to see your eye doctor, call today.

4 Questions to Ask the Eye Doctor During Your Next Eye Appointment

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Hopefully, you visit the eye doctor every year! When you see the eye doctor in Champaign, IL, asking them questions about your eye health can help you take care of your eyes. Knowing which questions to ask can help make your visit to the eye doctor more productive. Below are four helpful questions you can ask your eye doctor during your next appointment.

1. Has my prescription changed?

Many people who wear eyeglasses will find that their prescription changes over time. When this happens, they must update their glasses to ensure that their vision is as clear as possible. During your eye exam, your eye doctor will check your visual acuity. If your prescription has changed, your eye doctor will let you know.

2. Are my eyes healthy?

During the eye exam, your eye doctor will also check for presence of eye diseases, like glaucoma and cataracts. If your eye doctor detects any diseases, they’ll be able to tell you what to do in order to preserve your vision. Find out the next steps to help protect your vision.

3. What can I do to prevent eye diseases?

There are many things that people can do to protect their eyes. For example, wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from UV rays. In this way, sunglasses help prevent conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

There may be many things that you can do to keep your eyes healthy. Asking your doctor this question will help start a conversation that could lead to healthier habits and a healthier lifestyle overall.

Start the Conversation With Your Eye Doctor

Find out what you can do to protect your eyes. Start the conversation with your eye doctor at your next eye exam in Champaign IL. Call today to make an appointment.

Are Sunglasses Necessary In Winter?

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Wearing sunglasses in Champaign IL can help protect your eye health. Sunglasses are even important in winter! Knowing how sunglasses protect your eyes and why it’s important to wear them in winter can help you avoid eye diseases. Here’s what you need to know about this important issue.

How Sunglasses Protect Your Eyes

Sunglasses protect your eyes by filtering the UV rays from the sun. UV rays can increase your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts. UV rays can also do temporary damage to your eyes, similar to a sunburn. This condition is called photokeratitis, the inflammation of the corneas.

Why Sunglasses Help In Winter Too

The sun can damage your eyes in winter as well as summer. In fact, one of the ways that people get photokeratitis is when sunlight bounces off of snow and reflects back into the eyes. That’s why it’s important to wear sunglasses when participating in winter outdoor events like skiing, snowboarding and hiking.

Best practices for wearing sunglasses in winter:

  • If buying non-prescription sunglasses, check the label to see that the sunglasses you’re purchasing will filter UVA and UVB rays.
  • If you’re buying prescription sunglasses, double check with the clerk at the eye doctor to ensure that the glasses you’re buying will filter out these rays.
  • Keep multiple pairs of prescription sunglasses on hand, so you’ll always have sunglasses when you need them.
  • Keep your sunglasses protected in a case so they won’t get scratched. This will make wearing them more rewarding.

Get Your Pair of Prescription Sunglasses Today

If you wear prescription glasses but don’t have sunglasses, now is the time to buy some! Make an appointment with your eye doctor in Champaign IL today to get your new prescription sunglasses.

The Different Parts of the Eye, Defined

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When your Champaign, Illinois eye doctor is examining your eyes and talking about the cornea, pupil, optic nerve, and other parts, you may be wondering what these various parts are and the roles they play in helping you see. To help you gain a better understanding of your eyes, let’s talk in-depth about your eyes.

Iris

The colored portion of your eye, the iris consists of fibrovascular tissue known as the stroma. Thanks to the stroma connecting to a muscle, your pupils can dilate and contract.

Lens

A transparent structure inside your eye, the lens can curve both outward and inward. Also able to refract light, a lens that features an irregular curve can result in astigmatism.

Optic Nerve

Arguably the most important part of your eye, the optic nerve is responsible for carrying the electrical impulses from the retina’s rods and cones to your brain’s visual cortex. Essentially, if you did not have a functioning optic nerve, you would have no sight.

Pupil

While the iris is the colored portion of your eye, the pupil is the black circle that’s in the center of your iris, and its job is to regulate how much light actually enters your eye. In case you didn’t know, your pupil looks black because its tissue absorbs the majority of the light that passes through it.

Retina

Covering the entire back surface of your eye, the retina is a sensory membrane. When images are picked up by your lens, they are sent to the retina, which then converts them into signals that are sent from the optic nerve to your brain.

While you now know more about various parts of your eye, never be afraid to speak up and ask your eye doctor in Champaign, Illinois questions you have during or after your eye exam.

What is Nystagmus?

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Nystagmus is an eye condition that is readily detectable. It results in the eyes moving rapidly and uncontrollably. The movement can be back and forth in a horizontal motion, up and down or even circular. Nystagmus can sometimes be treated, and other times it is not treatable. In some cases, a person may even grow out of the condition.

How is Nystagmus Diagnosed?

Nystagmus can be detected simply by watching how a person focuses on an object. However, a professional diagnosis by an eye care professional is needed in order to come up with a treatment plan. Certain diagnostic procedures can be performed, such as recording the eye movement, conducting an ear exam, conducting a neurological exam, CT scan or an MRI. These tests will help to determine the possible causes, as well as treatment options for the patient.

What Causes Nystagmus?

Nystagmus has several possible causes, which is why professional diagnostic tests are so important. Potential causes include:

  • Genetic history
  • Being an albino
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Stroke
  • Head injury
  • Certain prescription medications
  • Substance abuse

Nystagmus often appears in infanthood, in which cases the cause is likely hereditary or congenital.

If you or a loved one suspects nystagmus, the first step is to contact your eye doctor in Champaign, Ilinois. Depending upon what the eye doctor is able to determine, you may be referred to another eye specialist or a physician. Because vision is usually affected because of nystagmus, you will almost certainly need some kind of corrective lenses, such as contact lenses, sclera lenses or eyeglasses. Your eye doctor can assist with this.

Certain treatments may be available for nystagmus. In rare cases, surgery might be an option. Contact your eye doctor in Champaign, Ilinois today to get answers to your questions and assistance with dealing with nystagmus.

Surprising Benefits of Colored Contact Lenses

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When you’re ready to consider contact lenses in Champaign, Illinois, you should know that your choices include more than just hard contact lenses and soft contact lenses. You could also opt for colored contact lenses, when have grown in popularity over the years. Colored contact lenses are now all the rage. If you’re wondering if these are right for you, here are some surprising benefits you’ll get with colored contact lenses.

Increased Self-Confidence

When you wear colored contact lenses, you’ll find your self-confidence increases dramatically. After all, once you insert your lenses, look in the mirror, and see beautifully-colored eyes staring back at you, your self-esteem will hit an all-time high. Best of all, others will notice the change as well.

Easier to Find When Dropped

If you have had standard contact lenses over the years and dropped them from time to time, you know all too well just how hard they can be to locate on the floor or elsewhere. However, you won’t have that problem with colored contact lenses. Rather than seemingly becoming invisible once they hit the floor, their vibrant colors will stand out, immediately alerting you to their location.

Colors Can Match Your Outfits

Finally, if you are into fashion, having colored contact lenses in Champaign, IL can let you become a fashion trendsetter among your family, friends, and coworkers. Once you discover how easy it can be to match your contact lenses to whatever outfit you wish to wear on a particular day, you’ll have everyone you know eager to see just how much you will be styling and profiling while at work, school, or elsewhere.

If you’re eager to find out even more wonderful benefits about colored contact lenses, schedule a consultation with your eye doctor in Champaign, IL to see if they are a perfect fit for you and your lifestyle.

Why Do the Whites of My Eyes Get Red?

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If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and noticed your eyes looked to be very bloodshot, you may have wondered what happened. If so, you’re not alone, as many people regularly find the whites of their eyes turning red. As to why this occurs, here are some of the most common reasons.

Eye Strain

In today’s world where you probably spend many hours per day staring at a computer screen or your smartphone, eye strain has become much more common than in years past. If you think this may be the reason for your red eyes, try spending a little less time on your devices, or at least take an occasional break to give your eyes a quick rest.

Dry Eyes

When you have a chronic lack of moisture on the surface of your eyes, you may develop a condition known as dry eyes. When this happens, the result will be constant eye irritation and inflammation, often resulting in your eyes getting red. To help with this problem, you can use either over-the-counter artificial tears or perhaps have special drops prescribed by your eye doctor for dry eyes in Champaign, Illinois.

Chemical Exposure

If you love to go swimming in pools that have chlorine added to the water, the exposure your eyes get to the chlorine itself will often lead to bloodshot eyes. If you can, try wearing goggles when you swim to prevent this from occurring.

Dry Air

Finally, if you live in an area where the air is dry, find yourself flying in airplanes, or work in an office building where the humidity is very low, each of these situations can dry out your eyes and make the whites turn red.

If you are experiencing continuing problems with red eyes, meet with your Champaign, Illinois eye doctor to discuss your problem and get an accurate diagnosis.

Should I Get Prescription Sunglasses?

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If you wear prescription glasses for everyday tasks, then at some point you’ll probably ask yourself whether you also need prescription sunglasses. There are many reasons to get prescription-strength sunglasses.

Knowing the benefits and what to do if you would like to buy prescription sunglasses in Champaign IL can help you through the process. If you’re thinking about buying prescription sunglasses, here’s what you need to know.

Benefits of Wearing Prescription Sunglasses

There are many benefits of wearing prescription sunglasses.

Prescription sunglasses do double-duty. Prescription sunglasses allow you to see clearly AND keep out the sun at the same time. Now you won’t have to choose between good vision and cutting out glare!

More protection. Wearing sunglasses is good for you because sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays, which can do damage to your eyes over time. Buying prescription sunglasses makes it easier to protect your eyes because they’re more versatile, and can be worn for all outdoor activities.

Aesthetically pleasing. Prescription sunglasses come in a range of colors and styles. They look great while outdoors all summer long!

How to Get Prescription Sunglasses

Are you ready to buy prescription sunglasses? Start by seeing the eye doctor in Champaign IL. Your eye doctor will start by performing an eye examination unless you’ve had your eyes examined recently for a pair of prescription glasses. After you’ve had the appointment, you can choose from your eye doctor’s selection of prescription sunglasses.

Ready to Buy Prescription Sunglasses? Make Your Appointment Today

Prescription sunglasses protect your eyes and look great at the same time! Call today to make an appointment to get your prescription updated, then order your pair today.