Recently, one of my good friends came down with Pink Eye. When most people think of Pink Eye, they think of young children at school, spreading this contagious disease to one another as they don't wash their hands often enough. The reality is that adults can contract this as well and some of the most likely adult candidates are contact lens wearers.
Why are contact lens wearers more vulnerable to pink eye and what was likely the primary cause of my friend getting pink eye? Poor hygiene in the handling of contact lenses and contact lens cases can contribute mightily to infections of this sort. My friend has a very bad habit of not changing or cleaning her premium contact lenses for months at a time.
So, when she went to get an eye examination with one of our Indianapolis eye doctors, she was told to throw away her contacts, replace her contact lens case and wear her eyeglasses for a few days to help alleviate the symptoms. The problem was that when she put her glasses on, they had a 3 year old prescription in them that was off substantially and her vision was impaired. Since she wears contact lenses all the time, she saw very little need to have an updated pair of glasses. Needless to say, she came back in to one of our Indianapolis locations and ordered a new pair of glasses.
Two morals to this story: (1) contact lens wearers need to follow the guidelines of their wear schedule so as to have the best eye health and (2) even those patients who wear contacts 24/7 have a need to have a back-up pair of glasses.
It was a great fall day in Indiana and I got some sun, which is rare for early November. It got me thinking about how most people are unaware that extended exposure to the same harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that affect their skin can also harm their eyes. While outside on Saturday, all of the children's eyes were exposed to the sun's rays. Some of the parents on the sidelines had sunglasses on, while others were wearing hats, which are both helpful in blocking UV rays from reaching the eyes. When I am outside, I typically wear contact lenses that block UV rays and I also wear polarized sunglasses, which are great for absorbing and blocking UV rays, while also reducing glare from the sun.
The next time you and your children are playing outside, stay focused on the health of your eyes by wearing sunglasses, brimmed hats or premium contact lenses with UV blocking. If you don't have these items available, make sure you go to your Indianapolis Optometrist, Eye Doctor or a local vision eye center.
The Transition lenses of today are much more efficient. They adjust very well to lighting conditions, going from clear indoors to sunglass-dark outdoors. These lenses are great in that they change much quicker than they used to and the lenses will get very clear inside. The nice part about Transition lenses is that they also help reduce eye strain and fatigue as you don't have to squint so much once you walk outside into the sun.
I recommend that anyone who intends to buy eye glasses, and doesn't want to buy an additional pair of prescription sunglasses, give Transitions lenses a test drive. You will be surprised at how convenient these lenses are and how comfortable they are for your lifestyle (assuming you go outside!). The next time you see your Indianapolis eye doctor, ask him or her their opinion on Transition lenses and you will likely find that the best eye doctors recommend them.
I was reading the latest issue of Eyecare Business magazine and they had some great statistics regarding children's vision.
- 23 million children have vision problems
- 95% of vision issues can be corrected if detected and treated early
- 7 - 12% of children have eye problems that may lead to permanent loss of vision if not detected and treated in time
- 2.4 million (or 10.5% of) children between the ages of zero and four are affected
- 86% don't have eyes examined before first grade
- Only 14% have their eyes examined before age 18
-- Source: PediaVision
Of all the statistics, the last one was the most surprising. As a family eye care practice, Dr. Tavel sees thousands of children every year for eye examinations, glasses and lenses and contact lenses. One of our primary goals is to educate families that they need to see an eye care doctor on an annual basis, even if you do not need to buy eye glasses. Looks like we need to continue spreading the word based on that last statistic...
While there isn't a study that can directly prove a cause and effect of increased computer use to early myopia, there is some corollary data to consider. Since 1995, the percent of first graders with myopia has almost doubled.
Given the change in our computer usage patterns over the years, it is important to understand these factors and how critical it is to monitor them. This is one reason that it is absolutely imperative that children have an annual comprehensive eye examination by a certified optometrist. These tests should include near-point and distance examining. A second key is to ask your Eye Care Doctor about computer eyeglasses that can help to reduce vision problems and eye fatigue. Lastly, make sure any computer that your child is using is positioned for a child and not an adult. The recommended distance between the monitor and the eyes of children should be 18 - 28 inches.
Many people have a correctable vision problem known as Myopia or "nearsightedness." This means that an individual is able to see things up close, like the newspaper or a book, while distant objects appear to be blurred or out of focus.
Detection of this issue may seem to be pretty easy without having an eye examination, but to correct it will require glasses and lenses (or contact lenses) customized for your eyes specifically.
Living with an uncorrected problem like Myopia will prove itself to be quite uncomfortable. Constantly squinting in an effort to see far objects causes eye strain and tired eyes which can lead to headaches. It's very important to pay close attention to your eye care.
What's even more important is to consider the whole family, children most particularly. Kids often are not aware that inability to see the chalkboard at school is a problem or that a headache can be a result of needing glasses. It has been proven by several institutions that undetected vision problems in children can significantly hinder their performance in school.
At Dr. Tavel there are huge savings available this month applicable to your yearly check-up or for back to school check ups. ($100 off frames, Free kids Lenses, 30 pairs of premium contact lenses for only $15, and many more www.drtavel.com/whats_hot.php)
Let our family serve your family. Come in today.
Is your child headed off to college? Dr. Tavel has Indiana vision centers in nearly every Indiana college town. Our Bloomington eye doctor (as well as our Columbus eye doctors) is happy to help the Hoosiers all year round! If your kid is a Ball State Cardinal up in Muncie, we have a brand new location there too! Our Anderson vision center, Fishers location, as well as 11 other Indianapolis Optical locations are all ready to help your student prepare for the upcoming year.
Got Contacts?
You can now have your college kid re-order her contacts online at www.drtavel.com/contacts/order.php.
We want to make the transition as easy as possible for everyone! As we like to say, let our family serve your family. Trust your vision to Dr. Tavel.
Go Hoosiers! :)
But, being around lots of kids all day long can also mean new bacteria...not so exciting. In classroom or daycare environments the spread of bacteria or infection can happen very quickly.
That said, here are a few tips for Pink Eye Prevention this school year:
-Children and Adults should wash their hands often using anti-bacterial soap.
-Don't share hand towels, science goggles, or personal items with other students.
If a child or adult has been exposed to Pink Eye take the following steps to help prevent spreading the infection:
-Avoid rubbing itchy eyes, as this spreads the bacteria to the hand, and then to whatever the hand touches.
-Do not wear contact lenses. Even premium contact lenses with aqua comfort can cause further irritation to an infected eye.
- Stay home! Placing a child or adult into a crowded environment is a very easy way to introduce Pink Eye to a large group of people. It is recommended that people diagnosed with Pink eye stay at home for 3 - 5 days.
-Use anti-bacterial wipes and sprays to wipe down any common areas that may have been touched by an infected person.
Of course, it is always in your best interest to visit they eye care doctors at Dr. Tavel and have an eye examination if you suspect you or your child may have Pink Eye. Better safe than sorry I always say.
Between earplugs and suntan lotion, there is a lot of focus on protecting various body parts, such as the ears and the skin. What amazes me is that there isn't as much of a focus on protecting the eyes. Yes, there are plenty of sunglasses at the Speedway, but most people don't understand the need for UV protection as it relates to the eyes. UV radiation can damage the skin of the eyelids, the outer part of the eye and can also contribute to the development of certain types of cataracts. This can be very dangerous to your eye care so make sure when you purchase sunglasses that you purchase those with UV protection details on the label. The best eye glasses to wear in the sun are polarized sunglasses with UV protection. Not only are you protecting your eyes from dangerous UV rays, but you are reducing glare for better visual quality. Enjoy the race and keep in mind that you need to protect ALL parts of your body while out in the sun.
My 5 year old son Christian is about to start kindergarten in the next month so I decided to have one of our eye care doctors give him an eye examination. Going by the American Optometric Associations guidelines, it was definitely time (they recommend a children's eye exam at 6 months, again at age 3 and then again at age 5 or 6 before kindergarten). The last time he had an exam, he was a bit apprehensive. Not this time; he loved it. It doesn't hurt that he was examined by one of the best eye doctors in Indianapolis who has a great knack for working with kids. The best part about the exam for Christian was when the doctor had him put on the 3 D glasses to test for depth perception. According to my son, that was "so awesome".
The biggest misconception among most parents is that the vision screening done at school is sufficient to determine if their child has vision problems. Vision screenings are great at detecting major vision deficiencies. However, a child can pass this test at school and still have vision problems that will impact their learning ability. In addition to this, vision screenings only test for visual acuity. The optometrists at Dr. Tavel perform a comprehensive children's eye exam that will evaluate eye health, which is equally important. So be sure to have an Indiana Eye Doctor examine your child's eyes at a qualified Vision Eye Center.
Nearly 1 in 4 children has an undetected eye problem that can hinder their performance in school and Dr. Tavel wants to ensure that its not your child. We understand that parents have a busy schedule even during the summer so our Indianapolis optical locations and 11 other locations across Indiana offer evening and weekend hours with our optometrists to ensure that you have time to come see us.
Schedule an appointment at www.drtavel.com/schedule now to beat the back to school rush.
Kevin and I took a break from glasses and lenses and went downtown Friday to visit the American Dairy Association Ice Cream Social on Monument Circle in Indianapolis; lots of fun!
Not only did I get an awesome picture of Kevin with a cow from Purdue University's dairy farm, but I also got a really delicious ice cream sundae served to me by Marlin Jackson of the Indianapolis Colts! Talk about an awesome lunch...
Relevant to vision? Absolutely. There were tons of parents with their children running around in the summer sun, none of which had on any protective eye wear.
Think about this. More more than 75% of UVR passes through a child's crystalline lens, putting the retina at greater risk to adverse effects of UVR exposure... and less than one third of the children in the U.S are adequately protected against the sun. Is your child in the 2/3 being affected?
Any eye care doctors you speak with will tell you how important it is to ensure your child is wearing protective eye wear every time they go outside.
-1 in 4 children has an undetected vision problem that can interfere with learning.
-Simple eye screenings, like those performed at school, only identify 5% of vision problems in children.
www.drtavel.com/schedule/
**Eye Examinations and Disease Prevention:
-According to the World Health Organization, 75% of the world's blindness could be prevented by simply having routine eye exams.
-By just looking into your eyes, a vision doctor can predict whether you're at risk for serious diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and even heart disease (among many others).
www.drtavel.com/schedule/
**Sunglasses for Everyone:
- Only 6% of Americans know that exposure to the sun's UV rays can do just as much damage to the eyes as it can to the skin.
- 80% of UV radiation from the sun can pass through clouds.
-The Average child today receives 3 times the annual UV exposure of an adult.
www.drtavel.com/glasses/sunglasses.php
This coming November, Delta Gamma at Butler University will be hosting its 32nd annual philanthropy event, Anchor Splash. All donations go to Service for Sight, Aid to the Blind; and more specifically, Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, BOSMA, and ORBIS (all local organizations). Since Dr. Tavel is in the eye care industry, we had a very special interest in the event.
BOSMA’s slogan does a great job of explaining the motivation behind the services they provide and the cause which both Delta Gamma and Dr. Tavel so strongly support. We are “dedicated to empowering people who are blind or visually impaired by creating opportunities that lead to the achievement of each individual’s employment, economic, social, and self-determination goals.”
Dr. Tavel creates such opportunities by providing extensive eye examinations, thorough follow up visits, premium contact lenses, and glasses and lenses of superior quality all within an affordable price range.
We feel that the gateway to every day opportunity is the gift of sight; it allows you to live independently, see your children grow, appreciate nature, and so much more.
As a result of hard work by our genuine, caring opticians and extensive knowledge of our doctors Dr. Tavel is able to help you protect this gift and use it to take advantage of all the opportunities of life.
This program began June 22and and will last until mid August. It seems that the Anderson vision is to go green!
On Anderson's city web page it said that this program is intended to "increase ridership and help get youth connected to program offerings throughout the community."
That said, there is no better time to schedule a Children's eye exam (especially if you're in Anderson!). Dr. Tavel offers all sorts of back to school discounts for children...programs definitely worth checking out. With the new school year right around the corner, the appointments fill up fast. So grab your school ID, hop on the bus, and head over to Dr. Tavel for an appointment today.
**Take Route 4 - East Side Mounds Mall Route to get to Dr. Tavel
If you haven’t already, add “attend a really awesome country show" to your bucket-list.
I decided this would be an entertaining way to spend my Saturday night; so I grabbed a couple of my guy friends and drove over to Noblesville this weekend. It ended up being a great idea. Rascal Flatts puts on an amazing show! (You can see we got into the theme a little bit..hats, boots, my belt buckle..it was great.)
While we were waiting in the never ending line to get a cold piece of pizza, I watched an elderly man take his glasses off and use his very 90s teal and orange windbreaker (tied around his waste in the same fashion as most 1993 school kids) and use the sleeve to “clean” the dust and smudges off his glasses and lenses (CRINGE!).
Here are a few guidelines from your vision doctor to cleaning your lenses.
1. If there is loose dirt or little grimy pieces on your lenses its better to rinse them with warm soapy water so you don’t scratch your lenses with any of the pieces.
2. That said, by soapy, I do NOT mean dish soap, glass cleaner, Windex or anything like that. If you’ve been using these things on your glasses STOP NOW!
a. A huge mistake often made is cleaning with Windex, dish soap, or other glass cleaners. DON’T DO THIS. Using liquids with all those chemicals can cause unintentional removal of any coatings you may have on your glasses! The chemicals in these products can end up eating away at and eventually destroying your anti-reflective coating or any other coatings you might have on your lenses. Use a solution (like Dr. Tavel’s Optical Spray) formulated for lens cleaning.
3. If they’re smudgy its best to use a microfiber lens cloth (available in many patterns, pictures, shapes, and sizes at Dr. 
Tavel) or an old soft T-shirt to gently rub the lenses. This should do the trick.
4. Don’t use a windbreak, don’t use jeans, don’t use wool, and in general don’t use scratchy material. This can cause little scratches in your lenses that will be noticeable when you look through your lenses.
In sum, if you were to go to into any Indiana eye center they would tell you the same thing: soapy water (not dish soap or Windex) and a soft towel. OR. Soft lens cloth or old t-shirt. End of story.
So what is the point of going to the vision doctor anyway? If your eyes are going bad you don't need the best eye doctor in the world to tell you that, you’ll know right? Well, in some cases yes; but did you know that by just looking into your eyes, an optometrist can often predict whether you’re at risk for diabetes, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, stroke, or even heart disease?
This is yet another reason it is so important to go every year (or every other year) and visit your eye doctor. There are so few people who visit an eye doctor before they have symptoms…but by then, it could be a little late. According to the World Health Organization, 75 percent of the world’s blindness could be prevented! That’s huge! All you have to do is go in and have a thorough eye examination. (www.drtavel.com/schedule/) This means going beyond a simple prescription check, but actually testing the muscles of the eye, testing your retina, and even testing for glaucoma, among other things.
You should also remember that bringing in your kids for a complete children’s eye exam is vital to protecting their health as well. Research done by the Vision Council notes that 1 out of every 4 children has an undiagnosed vision impairment. Don't let that happen to your children.
In my opinion, its better (and safer) to start visiting Dr. Tavel's Indiana eye doctors regularly at an early age so that you can detect and start treating any issues even before symptoms start to show up.
A quality eye examination can make a world of difference. Don't wait until it's too late; protect your vision and your health. Check yearly!
There was a great article in 20/20 magazine called “Kids VS. The Computer Screen” not too long ago that really emphasizes the importance of children’s eye exams. As technology has begun to play an increasingly present role in our society, children are spending more and more time looking at computer screens and TV screens.
This poses a new threat to the ocular health of children. As children stare at the screens to check facebook, e-mail, play video games, etc. they tend to blink less causing dryer eyes and sometimes blurred vision. This can cause the crystalline lens of the eye to get “stuck” in the near position and make it difficult for distance viewing. As a result a child would need a little plus power in their eyeglasses. Detection of this issue requires a thorough eye examination by a vision doctor.
Dr. Tavel locations around Indiana take pride in their ability to provide extensive children’s eye exams as well as fashion frames (PEZ, Jalapeño, Major League Baseball, Kidco, and more!) for kids of all ages. Our locations have the best eye doctors and highly professional staff all across Indiana; from South Bend, to Indianapolis, right on down to Bloomington and Columbus.
Most athletes fear injury, but most of those injuries thankfully do not affect vision. Most are sprains, tears, dislocations and breaks of various body parts. For anyone who has had a visual impairment due to injury or otherwise, it can have a lasting effect on an athlete and something that can greatly impact his or her ability to produce results.
The scary part of this scenario comes when I read articles about how people are considering holding off on health care visits and making that an area to cut. This tends to be a short term gain, long term loss. While holding off and delaying a doctor visit will help you to save money in the short term, you are opening yourself up for potential long term harm by not taking care of your body. In terms of your eyes, you need to see the best eye doctor you possibly can and see him or her on a routine schedule. Contact lens wearers need to adhere to an annual schedule more than anyone as they are putting a prescriptive material directly on their eye. Just because your eye "feels fine" doesn't mean that you aren't depriving your cornea of much needed oxygen due to overuse of your lenses and not following the lens wearing schedule. These are the types of things that can be seen during an annual eye examination with a Dr. Tavel Vision Doctor and will help you prevent serious eye diseases.
So as you focus on what is truly important, please don't take your health for granted or as something that can be put off or made out to be a line item on a budget. Focus on your eye care, focus on your children's eye care and see your health as the best investment you can make.
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