Lehigh Valley Center For Sight

Makeup is used so the person wearing it appears more attractive. When it’s applied around the eyes, makeup can cause eye infections, allergic reactions or injuries, which won’t do anything for your looks. Image courtesy of CooperVision By taking some precautions you can reduce the risk of eye infections, according to Cooper Vision : Before applying makeup, your face and eyelids should be very clean If cosmetics are used longer than the manufacturer recommendations, bacteria and fungi can grow in them. They should be discarded and replaced according to the manufacturer’s suggestions, commonly every three months for mascara Clean your brushes and other applicators regularly. If you’ve suffered an eye infection, discard and replace all eye makeup to prevent reinfection Sharing cosmetics, including using products in stores, can spread infections. Conjunctivitis, the swelling of the membrane covering the inner surface of the eyelid and the outer surface of the eye, can be tra...

In our last post , Dr. Graham Erickson reviewed a few training techniques to improve sports vision. In part three of the series, he reviews another technique that’s less about training and more about eating: nutrition. Nutrition Options Dietary nutrients accumulate in the tissues of the eye and visual pathway in a manner similar to other tissues in the body. There are several nutrients that are beneficial for eye health and function, including vitamins A, C, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene, zinc, selenium, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, and lutein provide protective effects for age-related changes to the crystalline lens and retina (e.g. cataracts & AMD). Nutrients containing omega-3 fatty acids can reduce dry eye effects, and other nutrients protect the retina from sun damage (lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene). There has been significant research on the effects of nutrients on visual performance in young, healthy people. Lutein (L) ...

In the last post , Dr. Graham Erickson talked about assessing visual performance and processing and the different ways of doing so. Now, he’ll get into the ways to help athletes enhance their vision and visual processing to better their competitive advantage. Fair warning, this is the longest post in this series. Let’s get started! The most common options considered for optimizing visual performance include: Refractive compensation Filters Nutrition Sports vision training (SVT) The goal of these interventions is to remediate any vision conditions, such as refractive error, and to enhance a patient’s or player’s visual performance factors when they are less developed than their peers. Sports Vision Training Sports vision training programs operate under the logic that practice with demanding visual, perceptual, and sensorimotor tasks will improve vision, leading to: Quicker sensory processing Swifter and more accurate motor movements Improved athletic performanc...

Winter time is here!! And as most people would expect, the holidays are a very popular time of the year. But the winter also comes with extreme temperatures, humidity and precipitation, so don’t let it affect your vision! Be on the lookout for these common eye conditions this winter and hopefully, you will comfortably enjoy the season without any problems. DRYNESS Cold outdoor air and heated indoor air often have less moisture than other seasonal environments. In the winter, you may experience dry skin, chapped lips, and dry eyes due to this low humidity. Cold winter winds may also dry your eyes out. To learn more about dry eyes, visit the linked website at Dry Eyes . To minimize the drying ability of winter air, keep yourself hydrated. Use non-preserved artificial tears several times a day. Running an humidifier in your home to improve the quality of your indoor air will help as well. EXCESS TEARING While some people experience a lack of tears in the winter, others have the oppo...

Our Favorite 2019 Gifts for People with Vision Loss from Age-Related Macular Degeneration A couple of years ago we wrote our 2017 AMDF Gift Guide , and that blog post still gets hundreds of visitors per month. We were delighted that so many people have an interest in thoughtful and useful gifts for their loved ones with AMD vision loss! Vision loss can negatively affect many areas of a person’s life – independence, mood, isolation/loneliness, and even cognitive decline. But these are not guarantees. With adaptation and the right supports, people can continue to thrive despite vision loss from age-related macular degeneration. The gifts selected here honor the unique needs of people with AMD while being fun, innovative, unique, and inspiring. Gifts to Keep the Brain Sharp Vision loss due to macular degeneration is linked to cognitive decline. In general, it’s a good idea to keep exercising the brain as we age. According to Harvard Health, aside from getting good sleep and eating we...

Your child or teenager may want contacts for a number of reasons. He or she may be tired of wearing glasses, sports may be easier without them or they simply don’t like the look. What’s a good age to start wearing contact lenses? According to Cooper Vision , which makes and sells contact lenses, a review of past research into eye complications in those younger than 18 who wore contact lenses found the risk of eye inflammation and infection is no greater than for adults. For those eight to 11 years, it may be lower. Photo courtesy of CooperVision Here are some issues to consider when deciding whether contact lenses are right for your son or daughter… Interest and Motivation Your child, not you, should drive the issue. Unless there’s a medical need for them (such as slow myopia), wearing contacts should be their idea. Young children normally get used to wearing glasses but as they age they probably want to look better in middle or high school. There could be other benefits as we...

The role of visual performance factors in sports has received a fair amount of attention over the years, but many athletes still have limited access to evaluation and enhancement approaches. In this series, Graham Erickson, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, discusses ways to assess vision and visual processing, how to train for improved sports vision, and the impact nutrition can have on this skill. Competitive athletes are continuously searching for ways to elevate their performance in their sport. Most of the focus is on the development of requisite physical abilities, such as strength, speed, agility, and endurance. The other major focus is on skill development for specific sport applications, often requiring significant repetition with feedback about optimal biomechanics. Depending on the sport, athletes also may work on the psychological issues that can impede or enhance performance. Assessment Options First, the process of optimizing vision and visual processing skills begins with a reliable e...