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The Link Between Eye Strain and Screens

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As a child, you may remember hearing your parents warning about straining your eyes. “Don’t strain your eyes,” they’d say as they turned on the lamp while you were reading or urged you to sit back away from the TV while you watched your favorite show. While the concept of straining your eyes may seem like an old wives’ tale, it’s very real. And, in today’s world, filled with screens, it’s become more common than ever before.

What is Eye Strain?

Your optometrist in Champaign, IL, can explain eye strain in detail during your next eye exam. But in general, eye strain is a kind of eye fatigue, where the muscles of your eyes become fatigued due to overexertion. Compare it to holding something heavy over your head for a long time. Eventually, your arm muscles would give out because of the strain. That’s similar to what your eyes are subjected to under certain circumstances.

The Link Between Eye Strain and Screens

Today, we stare at screens for hours on end. We look at our phones while we wait in line, peruse a screen at a restaurant to see what’s on the menu, look at the computer screen at work, then come home and stare at a television screen until bedtime. It’s relentless. 

Most light emitted from screens is blue light, which is especially harmful to the eyes. Worse, studies have shown that people blink less often when staring at screens, increasing eye strain. The situation is so bad that a dedicated term has been coined called “computer vision syndrome.”

Your optometrist in Champaign, IL, at Champaign Eye Professionals, can offer you ways to protect your eyes from eye strain. Come for an eye exam and learn how to reduce or eliminate eye strain. 

 

How Can an Optometrist Help You See Better at Night?

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The right optometrist in Champaign, IL, will be able to give you a general overview of your eyesight as well as specific recommendations on how to help improve it. If you’ve struggled to make out your surroundings at night to the point where you worry about your safety both on the road and off, we’ll look at what an optometrist can do to help you balance it out.

Improving Night Vision in Champaign

There are a few things that you can do on your own to help you see better at night, including eating more of the infamous carrots that you may have heard more about in your younger years. This is because Vitamin A is great for night vision, and if you’re not a fan of carrots, you can get it from sweet potatoes, spinach, or red bell peppers. Cutting back on smoking and getting more sleep doesn’t hurt either, as both can improve your ability to see at night.

How an Optometrist Can Help

Your Optometrist may not have a magic wand, but they may know more about which lenses can help you correct everything from farsightedness to astigmatism. They can treat things like cataracts and glaucoma or recommend coatings for your glasses that can fend off the glare from headlights.

Night vision in Champaign, IL, is more than just making out shapes in your home when you have to find the lamp switch. This can be the key to doing more at all hours of the day, whether that’s running a few errands or going to your favorite events. If you’re looking for a team that can help, visit Champaign Eye Professionals to learn more about what’s causing the problem and what you can do to correct it.

Young confident opthalmologist examining retina of mature female patient

When Should I Be Concerned About Flashes in My Eyes?

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Flashing lights in your eyes can happen for any number of reasons, and not all of them require any type of medical intervention. You should be concerned about the frequency and the types of flashing. Learn more about the potential culprits and how the right optometrist in Champaign, IL, can help you treat the issues.

Normal Vs. Abnormal

Your eye is held in a circular shape with the help of virtuous gel. Should that gel change at any point, which is a relatively normal occurrence, you may see either an eye flash or what’s known as a floater. Sometimes, the changes are due to conditions like near-sightedness or recent eye surgery. If the gel changes consistency over time, it will eventually start to separate from the retina. Again, this part is nothing to worry about.

The situation starts to get a little less straightforward when the gel doesn’t separate from the retina. This is more likely to happen when the gel is firmly attached to the side of the eyeball and, in the worst-case scenarios, may result in a tear in the retina if you’re experiencing a lot of flashing, particularly if the flashes look like intense brights spots or cosmic events (e.g., shooting stars, etc.). If you’re getting repeated flashes within a few seconds of each other, that could be a sign of a tear.

Treating Eye Flashes in Champaign

Eye flashes in Champaign, IL, may be the result of little more than the gel in your eye shifting around. However, if the intensity of frequency has been increasing, it might be time for a comprehensive eye exam. At Champaign Eye Professionals, our staff can help you determine the root cause so you can address it before any further damage occurs.

3 Tips for Finding a Better Vision Plan for You

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The right vision plan in Champaign, IL, can significantly impact your health and your wallet. If you’re interested in how you can get a better one for you, we’ll look at how to plan ahead.

Finding the Right Balance

For people with 20/20 vision and good eye health, it would be easy to choose the base plan. This would likely cover an annual exam and not much more. It’s a logical assumption, but it ignores what would happen if there was a hiccup in your usual routine. If you don’t want to be caught off-guard having to pay for additional services, it’s important to consider how different events will impact your vision. For instance, if you need glasses for reading, it’s worth paying a few bucks more per month so you don’t have to pay out of pocket for lenses and frames.

Do the Research

Vision plans are more than just co-pays and contact lens cut-offs. Riders to your standard vision and ancillary plans can cover different services and products, but it’s important to have all the information upfront before signing the dotted line. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we recommend mapping out what you’ll pay annually for the plans against how much the services for certain conditions would cost individually.

Talk to the Right Eye Doctor in Champaign

The right eye doctor in Champaign will have a staff that can tell you not just how certain plans work, but why one might be right for you over another. If you’re ready to step up your plan (or find one in the first place), contact our office to learn more about what’s available and how it would impact you over the course of the year.

Why Do I Have Black Spots in My Vision?

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Black spots in your vision may be nothing to worry about. Then again, they could be a symptom of more serious medical concerns. The only way to find out for sure is to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor in Champaign, IL. This is the professional who can help you find solutions to those annoying “floaters.” And if something more drastic is happening with your health, they’ll be your first line of defense.

What Are Black Spots in Vision?

Most people call them floaters. They look like tiny particles of dirt or debris that are”floating” across your vision. In reality, however, they’re tiny clumps of vitreous humor. This is the jelly-like substance that makes up the inside of your eyeball. Sometimes, particles of vitreous humor will clump together, forming the unusual specks, flecks, and squiggles you see in your vision. This is a very common condition, and it’s nothing to worry about.

What Causes Eye Floaters to Appear Black?

These types of floaters appear to be black because, as they drift through the eyeball, they cast shadows onto the retina. The brain then reads them as dark particles. They are often caused by normal aging. However, if you’re noticing floaters crossing your line of vision, you should schedule a visit to your eye doctor. These types of black spots are harmless, but there may be times when floaters are not caused by vitreous humor.

When Should I Worry About Eye Floaters?

You should pay special attention to floaters if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or if your floaters suddenly increase all at once. Either situation could indicate that something more serious is at play, such as leaking blood vessels in the retina or even retinal detachment.

Regardless of whether you have diabetes or another chronic medical condition, eye floaters require attention. For help with dark spots in your vision in Champaign, IL, call Champaign Eye Professionals today.

 

Haven’t Seen the Eye Doctor Recently? 3 Reasons to Make An Appointment

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It’s important to see your eye doctor in Champaign, IL if you have glasses or if you’re at risk for eye diseases. Seeing your eye doctor can help you keep your eyes healthy, and can also help you maintain good vision. Below are three good reasons to see your eye doctor if you haven’t had an appointment recently.

1. Your Eye Doctor Can Diagnose Eye Diseases

Your eye doctor can diagnose eye diseases when you get a comprehensive eye examination. During these examinations, your eye doctor will dilate your pupils to see far into the back of your eye. If you’re at risk for conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration, or if you have a condition that puts you at higher risk for eye diseases (like diabetes) seeing the eye doctor on a regular basis is important.

2. Your Prescription May Have Changed

If you have eyeglasses, your prescription may change over time. Seeing the eye doctor will catch these changes, so you can update your corrective lens prescription. This helps ensure that you can see clearly when you’re engaging in activities like driving, riding a bike, reading, and so on. Being able to see clearly is important, and it can be a matter of safety as well. Your eye doctor can help ensure that you’re able to see when you need to.

3. It’s Fun to Get New Glasses

Any time you get a new corrective lens prescription, it’s a good chance to get new glasses. Getting new glasses can be fun, especially if you like to follow glasses trends or coordinate your glasses with your outfits.

Ready for an eye exam in Champaign, IL? Call your eye doctor to make an appointment. Call Champaign Eye Professionals today.

Man holding eyeglasses in front his face

Do You Have VSP Insurance? What to Know

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If you’re going to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, then it’s important to know how you’ll pay for your visit. While some people pay for their vision care out of pocket, many have VSP insurance. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we make it our mission to help our patients keep their vision care affordable. We accept a range of insurances – here’s what you need to know. 

What Is VSP Insurance?

VSP Vision Care is a popular form of vision insurance. Though VSP is often offered through employers, this type of insurance can also be offered to individuals for a relatively low rate. You can see what kind of plan you might be eligible for on the VSP website. Remember that VSP might be offered through your job, so if you aren’t sure yet whether you have VSP, check with your employer. 

What’s Covered Under My Plan?

Every plan varies, so if you choose an individualized plan for you and your family members, review the plan before paying. VSP often offers services like frames, vision exams, comprehensive eye exams, and more. Since VSP can be personalized to your needs, know what you want in advance before signing up. 

Does Champaign Eye Professionals Accept VSP?

At Champaign Eye Professionals, we take VSP insurance and can help our patients navigate their insurance to get the most out of their plans. If you’re unsure what kind of services you can get through VSP, check your online VSP account, or call VSP if you have questions.

You can also call the professionals at Champaign Eye Professionals! Call today to make an appointment or to ask your questions.

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Why Does The Eye Doctor Dilate My Eyes?

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When you go to theeye doctor in Champaign, IL for eye examination, your eye doctor may choose to dilate your pupils. If you’re going to the eye doctor for an examination, it helps to know what dilation is, why it’s necessary and when you can expect dilation. Here’s what you should know about this common practice.

Reasons for Eye Dilation

When your eye doctor dilates your eyes, the pupils widen. This allows your eye doctor to see inside your eyes. This unencumbered view into your eyes allows your eye doctor to see irregularities and potential eye problems that could be developing inside your eyes. Your eye doctor will dilate your eyes to check for diseases that are not easily visible from the outside of your eyes.

Will the Eye Doctor Dilate My Eyes With Every Exam?

Unless there is a good reason to dilate your eyes, your eye doctor will likely not dilate your eyes with every eye exam. If you are at risk for certain eye conditions, like diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor may dilate your eyes more frequently than if you were at low-risk for eye conditions. Your eye doctor may tell you when you make your appointment that your eyes will be dilated, but you can also find out if dilation is likely by asking your eye doctor.

What to Expect When Your Eyes Are Dilated

When your eyes are dilated, you’ll experience sensitivity to light. You may also have difficulty focusing on certain objects. Wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes during this time. Your eye doctor will let you know if you need a ride from your eye appointment.

It’s important to check your eyes for diseases and other conditions. If you’re due for aneye examination in Champaign IL, contact your eye doctor at Champaign Eye Professionals.

How Can I Know If I Have Cataracts?

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Cataracts sound scary, but they don’t have to be. Knowing the signs that you have cataracts can help you determine when it’s time to see an eye doctor. Getting treatment early is important for your vision and safety. The good news is that cataracts are treatable, provided that you see your eye doctor in Champaign IL.

What Are Cataracts

A cataract is just a cloudy lens that gets in the way of clear vision. As the cataract grows, the cloudiness becomes worse. Cataracts don’t necessarily develop together or in perfect symmetry with each other – one eye may have a more severe cataract than the other. To manage this, your doctor may prescribe corrective lenses that treat each eye differently.

Signs of Cataracts

Below are some of the most common signs of cataracts:

  • Cloudy vision
  • Double vision
  • Blurry vision
  • Noticing halos around lights
  • Need for increasingly bright light when reading
  • Colors getting faded or yellowed
  • Need for increasingly strong prescription in corrective lenses

What to Do If You Think You Have Cataracts

If you think you have cataracts, the first thing that you should do is contact your eye doctor for cataract services in Champaign IL. Your eye doctor can diagnose your condition and let you know if you have cataracts.

If you do have cataracts, your eye doctor will likely start by prescribing stronger corrective lenses to help with your problem. As the cataracts continue to progress, your eye doctor may eventually recommend corrective surgery to fix the problem.

For more information about how to manage cataracts and other common eye problems, contact Champaign Eye Professionals. We can diagnose your condition and recommend treatments to help improve your vision.

Can Contact Lenses Get Lost Behind the Eye?

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If you are worried about getting contact lenses in Champaign, IL, you may be concerned about someday having your lens get lost behind your eye. There are stories of people who supposedly lost their contact behind their eye, never to find it again. Of course, these stories are false. It’s most likely that the contact lens simply fell to the floor or down the drain, and the wearer thought it was lost in the eye.

It’s Physically Impossible to Lose a Contact Lens Behind the Eye

Because of the way the eye is constructed, it’s a physical impossibility for a contact lens to get lost behind the eye. It helps to have a little understanding of the anatomy of the eye.

The part of the eye that consists of your eyelids and eyelashes is called the conjunctiva. The upper is called the palbebral conjunctiva and the lower is called the bulbar conjunctiva. From the outside, it appears as if you could slide something—like a contact lens—between the eyelid and the eyeball. But what you can’t see is that the conjunctiva folds back onto the eye, creating a kind of pocket. So even if something slides into that pocket, it can never go any farther than the fold. This is why, when you get something in your eye such as an eyelash, you can usually do an eye wash and get it to come out of the eye.

Now you know that your contact lens can never get lost behind the eye. Isn’t it time that you seriously consider getting contact lenses? They are a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL can fit you with comfortable contact lenses in just one appointment. Contact us today to book your contact lens eye exam.