It shouldn’t be a surprise to you that most people’s eyesight changes and gets a little blurrier as you age. Most people see these changes starting in their 50s or 60s. However, sometimes your eyesight can change due to other reasons. Here are a few reasons why you might be seeing your eyes change other than aging.
You stare at screens for most of the day.
Whether you are looking at a computer screen or your phone, screen time puts you at risk for digital eye strain. Your vision may get blurry, or your eyes may feel tired from a large amount of screen time. This can happen because when people look at screens, they don’t blink as often as they should be. This can lead to eye irritation. A quick fix for digital eye strain is to make sure you look away from your computer every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.
You are pregnant.
Women’s bodies go through a lot of changes when they are carrying a baby. This includes visual changes. Blurriness and double vision can be very common during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can cause women to become near or farsighted until after the baby is delivered. Moms-to-be are also susceptible to dry eyes, leading to blurred vision or uncomfortable eyes if you wear contacts.
You wear your contacts too long.
The longer you wear your contacts, the dirtier they get. Dirt, mucus, and minerals can build up, causing your sight to become blurry. It’s important to remember to clean your lenses daily and replace them according to their scheduled usage. These days, most contacts that are on the market are either daily, biweekly, or monthly. For the cleanest and clearest vision, daily contacts are the way to go. Or take a break from your contacts, and put on your glasses for a few hours!
You have glaucoma.
The older you get, the more you are at risk for glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when there is a build-up of excess fluid in the eyes, and it causes damage to the nerve, which can cause blind spots to develop. While it’s more common for older people to develop glaucoma, it can occur at any age.
It’s important to get your eyes checked every two years between the ages of 18-60. After the age of 60, you should get an eye exam annually. Regular eye exams can help you keep up with the changing needs of your eyes.
If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting Saugatuck, MI, there is a good chance you walked down Butler Street, which is right around the corner from the Sunglass Shoppe’s newest location. If you did and made it to the end of the road by the water, you were confronted with a restaurant called The Butler, located at 40 Butler St. The Butler brings a mix of Saugatuck living and family tradition to the small town of Saugatuck.
The Butler first opened in 1961 as a two-story hotel with a restaurant on the bottom floor. In 1971, the top floors were removed, leaving only the restaurant standing. For 58 years, the restaurant has been run year-round, including during a global pandemic, by three generations of family.
The Butler is the perfect place to spend a hot summer’s day. Choose from sitting either inside or outside patio seating for lunch or dinner. Listen to live entertainment on the patio while you take in views of the Kalamazoo Harbor. After lunch, take a dip in the pool! If you are a boater and like to spend your summers on Lake Michigan, The Butler can rent one of its 58 dock slips to you for the summer.
Butler Boat Slips are available for rent during the summer.
The Butler restaurant is known for its famous Butler burger! The Butler burger is a ½ pound of ground Angus sirloin topped with grilled ham, American cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise. If you are looking for a twist on the Butler burger, try the Tucson burger, topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, and chipotle mayonnaise. While the Butler is known for its burgers, there are numerous other delicious meals on the menu. Some of my favorites are the Cherry Chicken and Walnut Salad, the Reuben Sandwich, Lobster Mac & Cheese, and Pan Fried Great Lakes Walleye, which is a Butler specialty!
When you walk through The Butler, you will see 58 years of family history. You can learn about the history of the White and Phelps families who started the Butler. Sit at the table with the names of the family’s boats through the years. Spell your name out with the nautical flags they use around the restaurant. Before you leave, purchase a Butler t-shirt on your way out!
If you are visiting Saugatuck, MI, any time during the year, I highly recommend including a stop at The Butler. When you walk through the door, you will instantly feel like family here and leave with a belly full of delicious home cooking. Once you leave, walk off your meal by heading down to the Sunglass Shoppe, which is just around the corner!
Have you ever wondered about the parts of your eyeglasses? Let’s dive into the anatomy of your eyeglasses.
Frames This is the main part of your eyeglasses. It is what holds the lenses in place. They come in a variety of different styles and brands.
Lenses Most people would say this is the most important part of your eyeglasses. The lenses are the clear pieces of your eyeglasses. It usually comes in prescription form. The size of the lenses depends on your prescription and the style of frames you choose.
Bridge This part of your eyeglasses does precisely what it says. It bridges your nose and allows your eyeglasses to sit comfortably on your face.
Nose Pads Nose pads also help with comfort. They are the small pads that rest on your nose. Nose pads can either be part of the frame or a separate piece that attaches to the frame with a piece of metal.
Hinges Hinges are the joints that allow you to open and close the temples on your eyeglass frames.
Screws The screws of your eyeglasses are what join the two pieces of a hinge together. It is not uncommon for a screw to come loose or even fall out. Most eyeglass stores, such as the Sunglass Shoppe, can help you with replacing or tightening the screws.
Temples This part of your eyeglasses falls on both sides of your head. The temple’s job is to keep your glasses secure when you are wearing them. Temples are made in different lengths to fit different head sizes.
Temple Tips At the end of your temples are the temple tips! Some temple tips can be covered or coated with plastic or a rubber material to make your eyeglasses sit more comfortably.
If you are looking for the perfect fitting eyeglasses for yourself, visit the Sunglass Shoppe and we can help you! We have shops located in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and Saugatuck, MI.
Staying safe on the road also means taking care of your eyes! Wearing sunglasses while driving can help you stay safe on the road and improve your driving experience. Here are three reasons why it is important to invest in the correct sunglasses to stay safe on the road.
Reduces Glare
Blinding sunlight can be deadly when you are driving. Wearing the right sunglasses can help reduce sun glare. Polarized lenses are beneficial for reducing sun glare at peak sun hours. Polarized sunglasses help to filter reflective light that may hit surfaces and then bounce toward your eyes, causing that glare.
Improves Vision
Not only do sunglasses help to reduce sun glare to help you see better, but they can also help improve your vision when it rains or when it’s foggy. Ever see someone wearing sunglasses in the rain? It’s actually a smart thing to do! Sunglasses will help create a clearer picture during this kind of weather. Rain can scatter light and create a glare when you are driving. Sunglasses can help you see more clearly when you are driving in rainy or foggy weather.
Keeps Eyes Healthy
When you are outdoors or driving, and the sun is shining bright, it is only natural to squint your eyes to help block out the light the sun gives off if you are not wearing sunglasses. Squinting your eyes can cause eye strain and headaches, and sometimes even nausea. Wearing sunglasses can help keep your eyes and your body healthy while in the car.
There are many types of sunglasses to consider when you are in the car driving. Choosing the correct lens color, polarized or non-polarized, and comfort are points to consider when looking to purchase sunglasses. Need help picking out the best sunglasses for your face so you can feel safer while driving? Come into the Sunglass Shoppe, and we can help. We have locations ins Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and Saugatuck, MI.
The Sunglass Shoppe carries a variety of brands of eyewear that we truly love and support. One of those brands is State Optical Eyewear. Why do we love State Optical? Here are the top three reasons:
It started with family.
State Optical was co-created by two cousins who had an idea and went with it. They were often told their vision was impossible, but they continued to move forward to find a way to manufacture high-quality eyewear. After traveling around the world researching machinery and techniques to create their own eyewear, they finally partnered with two men who were executives at a family-owned eyewear company who shared their vision. It started with family.
State Optical is based in the U.S.
State Optical is a luxury eyewear brand designed and manufactured in the United States. This eyewear is a first of its kind in the U.S, and the owners are proud of this. Each frame that is created goes through a 75-step process and takes hundreds of hours to create the perfect product.
Not only are they based in the United States, but the company keeps up with current events and how they can help. For example, the company donated all of its online sales from June 19, 2021, to the Open Your Eyes Scholarship in honor of the new Juneteenth holiday.
All Frames are Handcrafted
State Optical designs its frames precisely to fit a person’s style and personality. Their employees are considered artists because of their work and the meticulous attention to detail they execute when creating eyewear frames. State Optical releases two lines a year (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter). Each collection has a unique story behind it. With over 35 eyewear craftsmen on their team, we are never disappointed with what they develop next!
Come and see what we mean about State Optical Eyewear by stopping in one of four Sunglass Shoppe locations in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and our newest location, Saugatuck, MI.
