With the cold weather at our doorstep, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your body for the dramatic change in temperatures, including your eyes. Winters in Michigan can take a toll on your eyes, but there are steps you can take to protect them.
Drink Water
Staying hydrated is important all year long, but it’s often forgotten in the cold months. It’s easy to remind yourself to drink plenty of water in the summer because it is so hot outside, but drinking water in the winter is just as important, even for your eyes. Drinking plenty of water during the day keeps your body hydrated. Drinking water also keeps your skin and your eyes moisturized. Dry eyes can be very uncomfortable; help avoid discomfort by staying conscious of the amount of water you drink.
Use a humidifier indoors
You not only experience dry air outdoors in the cold, but it also follows you indoors. Use a humidifier in your home. Keep it in the rooms where you spend the most time. Using a humidifier while you sleep will also help your eyes adjust to the dry air when you wake up every morning!
Wear Sunglasses
Even though we don’t see the sun as much in the winter as in the summer, harmful rays can still affect us. UV rays are still present in the winter and sometimes can be stronger. The sunlight can bounce off the bright white snow to produce a stronger light in your eyes. There can also be more flying debris in the winter when the wind picks up, such as snow, ice chips, and dirt. Protect yourself from flying debris by wearing sunglasses.
Check out the Sunglass Shoppe’s selection of sunglasses!
Wash your hands often
If it wasn’t drilled into your head over the past two years, we are here to remind you again to wash your hands frequently! Viruses tend to show up more during the winter months than any other time of the year. Viruses are most commonly transferred through hands to your eyes. Avoid touching your eyes and washing your hands frequently to prevent viruses and other eye-related sicknesses.
Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet
Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids help with eye dryness and itchiness. The oils from the omega-3 fatty acids help to produce more moisture in your eyes. Add an omega-3 fatty acid pill to your daily routine to help with discomfort in your eyes. Be sure to always consult with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet, for safety precautions.
The winter season can be lots of fun if you embrace the cold weather and take care of yourself. Use the above tips to feel more comfortable during the Northern Michigan winters!
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.
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.
Now that the days are getting warmer and longer, it’s time to start thinking again about protecting ourselves from the sun. This includes protecting our eyes from the rays, too. Our eyes are very sensitive, and prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to a number of problems.
Here are five reasons why we should protect our eyes from the sun:
Loss of cells in your cornea Believe it or not, your eyes can get sunburnt. Too much ultraviolet light (including light from the sun) can burn a person’s cornea. The cornea is the transparent layer in front of the eye. This can be very painful until your eyes rebuild more cells. Sometimes it can be so severe that a person will need to take oral antibiotics to prevent infection. Wearing ultraviolet-protection sunglasses can easily prevent this from happening.
Skin cancer The skin around your eyes is very sensitive, including your eyelids. Wearing protective eyewear not only protects your eyelids, but it can also protect the skin around your eyes from developing skin cancer.
Protection from flying debris Not only can the sun be damaging to your eyes, but flying debris such as sand or dirt can injure them as well. Getting sand in your eyes can scratch them and be very painful. It can also cause permanent damage.
Reduced headaches Bright lights, including the sun, can trigger headaches and even migraines. This can occur from straining your eyes too much. Wearing sunglasses can reduce the number of headaches a person may get or eliminate them all together.
Macular degeneration Having your eyes unprotected from sunlight can contribute to the development of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. If it gets serious, it can lead to permanent eye damage.
It is important to remember to wear sunglasses all year round, not just during the summer months. It is also essential to wear the right sunglasses when you are outdoors. Wear sunglasses that have UV protection for a lower chance of damaging your eyes.
You can check out some of our favorite sunglass brands such as Ray-Ban, Maui Jim and Zeal, along with lots of others, at one of our four Sunglass Shoppe-Unique Optics locations.
Petoskey 325 East Lake Street (231) 348-4730
Charlevoix 415 Bridge Street (231) 547-4730
Traverse City 137 East Front Street (231) 946-4730
When choosing a pair of eyeglasses, what appeals to you most? A certain color frame, a brand you love? Have you ever chosen based on lens colors and coatings? Here’s a guide to lens coatings to consider in your selection process for eyeglasses and sunglasses.
There are four different types of lens coatings to consider when shopping for a new pair of shades. Each one is specific to your eyeglass needs.
Scratch Resistant: Scratches on a pair of sunglasses can be pretty annoying, especially since they’re often in the line of vision. Although no glasses are scratch-proof, you can get a scratch-resistant lens coating on your glasses. Some glasses have a scratch-resistant coating built-in and for others a clear coating can be applied.
Anti-Reflective: Anti-reflective lenses are pretty common. The thin coating on your lenses reduces glare and reflection in your glasses to better see and show off your eyes. Night-time driving can also be aided with an anti-reflective lens.
Tinted & Blue-Light Blocking: Have you ever bought a pair of sunglasses based on the color lens? There are pastel-colored lenses like light blue or yellow through various shades of gray, but did you know there are reasons behind the coloring? Gray reduces brightness and glare; brown lenses can brighten vision on cloudy days; yellow and orange can increase contrast in low-light conditions like fog, haze, and snow-related sports; blue lenses can reduce blue-light and glare; and red/pink lenses can block blue light and can help with driving visibility.
UV-Protection: If you spend a lot of time outdoors and or in the sun, ultraviolet (UV) protection is a must. Over time the sun’s damaging rays can harm your eyes and cause cataracts and retinal damage. All Maui Jim sunglasses block 100% of UV ray; make sure to ask about others and lens coatings when purchasing your next pair of glasses and sunglasses.
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What is anti-reflective coating, and is it the right choice for you? Keep reading to learn more about anti-reflective glasses, the benefits, and if it’s the right fit for you and your lenses.
What is an anti-reflective coating?
Anti-reflective coating was originally used to improve the view on telescopes, microscopes, and camera lenses and is now used in eyeglass lenses. It is a thin, multi-layered coating that is applied to the lens’s surface. Its purpose is to allow more light to pass through the lens, which in turn reduces the internal reflection and glare that reflects off your lenses.
Benefits of the anti-reflective coating
There are several benefits to anti-reflective glasses; one of the most beneficial is clearer, sharper vision. Anti-reflective coating also allows light to pass through the lens and reduces eye strain, letting your eyes relax and see more clearly.
Other benefits include reducing eye strain due to extended electronic and computer use and during low-light conditions, such as night driving.
Additionally, a final, fashionable benefit: Eliminating distracting reflections can allow others to focus on you, not your glasses. With anti-reflective coating, your eyes are the only things shining.
Is it worth the cost?
For most people, yes, because of the numerous benefits. Many anti-reflective coating products help glasses remain durable and resistant to damage, which can save you money. Consider your budget, how often you wear your glasses, and whether the benefits outlined above make it worth it to you. Are you looking for a reduction in eye strain, sharper vision, and fewer distractions? Then the investment may indeed be worth it.
For more information and help in deciding whether the anti-reflective coating is right for you, please stop into the Sunglass Shoppe; we love to talk all things glasses!
