Alamo Optometry Blog

(As appeared in Alamo Today, February 2012)

As your local full-service eye care office, we were finding that all of our patients’ needs were not being met.  To help fulfill that need, we are expanding into more medical eye visits.  We were always being asked about visits for red eyes, ocular allergies, infections, abrasions, etc., but we were not on most of the medical plans that would cover the visit.  We have recently been added to most PPO plans including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, HealthNet, and United Health Care.  These plans will cover your visit minus any office co-pays like it would for your regular medical exams and specialist visits.

            For ocular medical visits, it is always advisable to see an eye care professional.  We are trained specifically to treat eye disorders and infections better than pediatricians, internists, and emergency room physicians.  We see patients of all ages from kids to adults, and have the equipment, knowledge, along with the best treatment options to handle most eye conditions.  Our microscopes, dyes, drops, and tools allow us to fully view and assess the eye to help reach the correct diagnosis and proper treatment.  In our office we routinely diagnose and treat conjunctivitis, corneal infections, foreign bodies, corneal abrasions, and allergies.  These conditions are effectively managed and resolved for the patient within a short period of time.

            Some conditions such as retinal detachments and glaucoma can be diagnosed at our office, but would require a referral to an ophthalmological specialist for surgery or further treatment.  These certain situations would require a visit to a specialist regardless of which type of doctor is seen first, i.e. an optometrist, general ophthalmologist, internal medicine, or emergency room physician.  However, eye care doctors should be the first-line doctor to see the patient as they are more likely to correctly diagnose and manage the patient.

            Appointments for red eyes, floaters, allergies, etc. generally can be seen on the same day.  We ask that you call when the symptoms arise, and we will do our best to accommodate you as soon as we can.  Even if you are squeezed into the schedule and have to wait for a little while, it is better than having to sit in an emergency room for a few hours.  Since the eyes can be very sensitive, a quick diagnosis and initiation of treatment is paramount for a full and speedy recovery.

            In addition to providing primary eye care including glasses and contact lenses, we are expanding our service to our patients by adding more medical plans and medical visits to our practice.  Next time any medical situation with the eyes arises, give our office a call and we will try to get you a same-day appointment to help treat those red eyes.

(As appeared in Alamo Today, January 2012)

As we enter 2012 and embark on a new year, I decided to write my article from the perspective of a small private business in Alamo.  I would like to take some time to reflect on what we have accomplished and what we hope to continue this year and in the years to follow.

            First and foremost, I owe all of our office success and viability to our patients.  You keep the practice alive and thriving.  The office staff and I truly appreciate the chance you have given us to be your full-service eye care office in Alamo.  All of our patients from the ones that stayed with us from the prior doctor and the new patients that have entered into the practice in the past few years have helped sustain and grow the practice.  These patients have then recommended us to other friends and family members.  We all understand and are dealing with the downturn in the economy these past few years.  I am well aware that patients have many choices for their eye care, but am thankful that they have chosen our office. 

            My personal approach with patients and in the management of my office is to provide something that other large corporate offices are unable to offer.  The personal service and attention we are able to give each patient can generally not be found at the larger practices.  I pride myself on getting to know each patient, I generally recognize returning patients as they come into the office and call them by name.  Since we have a small staff, you can also be assured that you are always dealing with the same members of the office, you will not get “lost” as you can in other offices.  The difficult part of having a small staff is that sometimes we are a little short-handed or several patients will come into the office at once.  We understand that sometimes this can be frustrating for everyone, but you can be assured that we don’t rush patients, and that everyone will get the attention and service they need.  Our staff members all have defined roles, but we assist each other to make sure everyone is taken care of.  As an example, if I am not with a patient, I will often answer the phone or “man” the front desk if the need arises.  Patients are sometimes surprised by this, but as they get to know us better, it almost becomes expected. 

            We have also found that our local patient base are loyal people and prefer to spend their dollars locally.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard patients comment that they are so glad that we are here, our office is in a convenient location, and it is so close because most patients literally live “right down the street”.  I can honestly say that my shopping behaviors have definitely changed since I became a small business owner.  I can appreciate the effort and time commitment is takes to manage and prosper as an owner.  I try to make it a point to frequent local businesses when I can; it is the only way these restaurants, shops, and offices can survive.

We strive to be your hometown eye care office.  We want your family and friends to be welcome and feel comfortable when you come to the office.  We purposely don’t schedule patients every 15 minutes.  Our exam slots always allow plenty of time to meet and learn about each patient.  Good care necessitates learning about the patient and what they do to completely help them; this cannot be accomplished in a quick, rushed exam.          I would highly recommend shopping and dining in Alamo or your local community when you can.  These offices and shops are vital to the community for several reasons.  Small businesses are the livelihood of the local economy through employing the majority of the workforce.  In addition, it keeps local dollars and tax revenue in the community.  Regardless if you are a patient at our office, I would urge all people to patronize local businesses when the opportunity is available.

(As appeared in Alamo Today, December, 2011)

We have reached the end of another year.  We would like to thank all of our friends and patients for helping us sustain and grow our practice.  We feel privileged to work in a great area like Alamo and look forward to serving this great area for years to come. 

In looking forward to the coming year, we unfortunately have to say goodbye to Coach.  The Coach line is moving to another distributor in 2012, so we have increased our inventory of frames and sunglasses.  We are going to discount all Coach frames 20% for the entire month of December.  Please visit the office to look at the selection to get your favorite Coach frame and/or sunglasses before they are gone. 

In addition to preparing for our holiday season, we are constantly being asked during this time of year about flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health spending accounts (HSA).  I thought I would give a quick review about both of these plans and how to fully utilize them by the end of the year.

            A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is one of a number of tax-advantaged financial accounts that can be set up through a cafeteria plan of your employer.  An FSA allows an employee to set aside a portion of his or her earnings to pay for qualified expenses; most commonly for medical expenses but also often for dependent care or other expenses including eye care.   Money deducted from an employee’s pay into an FSA is not subject to payroll taxes, resulting in a substantial payroll tax savings.  The important thing to remember is that any unused money not spent by December 31 will be forfeited by the employee.  As the end of the year approaches, it is paramount that you know how much is left in your account to ensure full utilization. 

            By comparison, a Health Savings Account (HSA), is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to employees who are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for your medical insurance.  Unlike a flexible spending account, funds roll over and accumulate year over year if not spent.  Funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability.

            The government has a wide range of specified expenses that qualify as a medical expense.  These include any office co-pays, any necessary or elective surgical procedures (including LASIK), and many medical devices.  Included in that list is any vision correction device (glasses, computer glasses, contact lenses, sports goggles, etc.) and sunglasses (prescription and non-prescription).  As long as your purchase is made by the end of the year, it will count on your 2011 account balance. 

In addition to these tax-friendly accounts, do not forget to utilize your vision insurance.  At our office, we are providers for Vision Service Plan (VSP), Eyemed (which can include vision coverage for Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna if the plan has a eye care provision), and Medical Eye Servies (MES).  All plans have an exam benefit and have variable material allowances towards glasses or contact lenses.  Some plans recycle on the change of the new year, so this is an optimal time to use your benefits.  Between your vision coverage and your FSA or HSA, most if not all of your charges will be covered.

Finally, in this holiday season and all year round, it is important to think about those who could use our help.  We always collect old frames and sunglasses and donate them to a local charity in January.  They are distributed to people who cannot afford quality glasses.  As long as the glasses are wearable, the condition does not matter.  Regardless of appearance, they will definitely assist a person in need to help them see better.  We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the years to come.

 (As appeared in Alamo Today, November 2011)

            Since November is national Diabetes Awareness Month, this is a good place and time to discuss a very difficult condition.  Because diabetes is a vascular disorder (affecting blood vessels), it can affect every organ and tissue in the body including liver, kidneys, muscles, and eyes.  Obviously, I will only discuss the eyes here, but keep in mind diabetes is a disease of the entire body.

            For many patients, a change in their vision is the first sign of poorly regulated blood sugar.  As the blood sugar levels in the body rise and fall, the prescription usually follows.  I often tell these patients that their blood sugar needs to be in a relatively confined zone to be able to accurately prescribe glasses for them.  Assuming there is no bleeding in the retina, the main cause for this is a swelling of the lens.  The lens swells in diabetics which causes it to change shape, and therefore change the prescription.  Normally, a patient will still be able to see 20/20, but there will be a large change in the prescription from the prior year.  In patients where there is a large unexplained change in prescription without any other risk factors, the number one assumption is diabetes until proven otherwise.

            Since the eyes have the third highest oxygen requirement of all organs in the body (behind only the heart and brain), it has an extensive supply of blood vessels.  In conditions like diabetes, these blood vessels can start to function poorly and leak blood and fluid into the retina.  This fluid accumulation can lead to decreased vision, especially when it is located around the macula and/or the optic nerve.  Diabetic retinopathy (a diabetic altering of the retinal blood vessels) is the main condition that needs to be checked thoroughly at the annual examination.  Because of this, diabetic patients should be dilated annually, regardless of age and medical control of the diabetes.  Since the retina is the only place in the body where the blood vessels can be observed without an invasive procedure, it gives a very good indication on how well (or poorly) the blood sugar levels are being regulated.  If the retina looks healthy, then for the most part you can assume the other organs in the body are also fine.  If there is bleeding and/or fluid leaking in the retina, the blood sugar is not controlled as well as you thought or is poorly controlled.  Depending on the location and severity of the bleeding, a retinal consult might be necessary.  Regardless, a letter is always sent to your primary doctor outlining my findings and any further visits or treatment that is necessary.

            Diabetes is a very serious condition and should be treated as such.  I always tell my patients to follow-up with their medical doctor and to adhere to all treatment prescribed by your doctor.  Annual dilated eye exams should be conducted to monitor vision and eye health for all diabetics.  Depending on the findings, further visits might be required, but a visit to the eye doctor needs to be done at least annually.  For all of our diabetic patients, we look forward to seeing you for your next annual dilated exam to ensure good vision and eyes that are free from any diabetic complications.

Halloween and Colored Contacts

 (As appeared in Alamo Today, October 2011)

            Fall is now here and Halloween is just around the corner.  Since the local school district is not in session that day, we would like to invite you and your kids to come by the office in the afternoon after the Alamo Plaza festival for a little trick-or-treat at the office.  Your child is welcome to come by in costume to pick up a few goodies before the real trick-or-treating begins!

            It is during this time of the year that kids start thinking about their costumes for Halloween.  Depending on your child’s age and costume, some decide that colored and/or specialty contacts are to be a part of their disguise.  However, it is very important to understand that contact lenses that are not fit and prescribed by a doctor can be potentially visually threatening due to a corneal infection and other adverse conditions.

            As mandated by federal law, contact lenses are medical devices that need to be properly fit and assessed by an eye care professional.  All lenses do not fit and breathe the same.  In addition, just because you are currently wearing a particular type of lens, that does not mean that you can just wear and order any type of specialty lens.  If the lens does not fit and wear properly, there can be a lot of potential damage to the eye.  Conditions such as a corneal ulcer are very painful, cause light sensitivity, and cause the eye to become very red and teary.  Granted an infection like this can happen to anyone wearing contacts regardless of care, hygiene, and sleeping with the lenses on.  However, when the lens is not fitting properly, the likelihood of a bad outcome increases.  The other issue with specialty contacts is that if the patient is not familiar with proper care and handling, insertion and removal, and proper disinfection of the lenses, a mishap is more likely to occur.

            In addition to the above reasons, purchasing lenses from an outside vendor without proper prescription verification is against the law (this is also true for your normal everyday contact lenses).  Depending on the vendor, the specifications, material, quality, and sterility can not be verified.  Most of the brand name and mass-produced lenses purchased through a reputable store or vendor are usually not a problem.  It is the smaller and/or foreign companies that produce these specialty lenses for Halloween that can be an issue. 

            It is pretty rare that we see complications from contact lens wear because our patients are educated about proper contact lens care.  However, it is in times of non-compliance including sleeping with the lenses on and poorly fit lenses that these consequences arise.  It is our hope that for those that choose to wear these specialty contacts for Halloween does it the correct way and is able to add to their costume without any visual compromises.

How Do I Take Care of My Glasses?

 (As appeared in Alamo Today, September 2011, pg. 32)

            This question is one I get all of the time.  Since a nice pair of glasses is an investment, it is prudent to know and understand how to best take care of your new purchase.  Most of what is to follow is common sense, but some of these simple things can make a difference in the life and condition of your glasses.

            The first thing to extend your frame life is to either have your glasses on your face or in your case.  Most breakage and frame misalignment comes from glasses that are in bags without their case, left on the couch and sat on, etc.  For the most part they are protected well when they are being worn and/or in your case.  The other thing that most people do is stretch their glasses and/or sunglasses by putting them on top of their head.  Since the upper part of your head is wider than the front, that stretching of the frames will eventually lead to a widening of the temples, stress on the hinges, and a loose fit on the face.  This can obviously be fixed at our office, but if possible, it is best to put your glasses in your case when they are not in use.  Lastly, it is highly recommended that you do not leave your glasses in the car for long periods of time.  It is common for people to leave their sunglasses in their car when they go to work.  The intense heat that can build up in the car over several hours can warp the frames (especially plastic), cause damage to the lenses, and cause the lenses to pop out because they no longer fit into the frame.  If you are going to leave your car in the sun for a long time, take your glasses in with you to your office or home.

            Now that you have taken care of the frame, now it is time for the lenses.  The first thing is to not clean the lenses dry.  There are always small particles of dust or dirt that are on the lenses, and when these are not rinsed off, they are rubbed into the lenses and will eventually scratch them.  It is common for people to use their shirt to clean their lenses; this is one of the worst things you can do.  Always clean the lenses with soapy water or the lens spray we hand out at the office.  To dry, do not use wood products such as tissues or paper towels.  We always use cotton towels or microfiber cloths in the office and have found that they tend to work best because they are soft and do not leave lint on the lenses.  To wet the lenses, we advise not to use the three A’s: alcohol, acetone, and ammonia.  Any preparations with these ingredients will degrade the lenses quickly, especially an anti-glare coating.  Even though the coatings we use at the office are excellent, they can still be scratched.  We will redo the lenses for you unconditionally (except for loss) for a 2 year period if they are scratched regardless of reason.  I tell my patients that using these ingredients (especially Windex which contains ammonia) is a good way of getting your lenses redone.  Also, keep in mind that a majority of commercially prepared cleaning cloths contain alcohol.  On occasion, this is fine.  However, consistently using this type of product can degrade the lenses, especially if they have an anti-glare coating.

            The cleaning cloths and cleaning solution that we give out with your glasses are the best things for your eyewear.  If you run out of solution, please bring back the bottle and we will top it off for you.  We also recommend bringing your frames in from time to time for adjustment, alignment, and tightening.  As with most things, if you take good care of your glasses, they will give you a long time of comfortable and clear vision.

School Time and Discounted Student’s Eye Exams

 (As appeared in Alamo Today, August 2011, pg. 29)

Now that we are in August, it is the time as parents where we start turning our attention to back to school for kids of all ages from elementary school to college and graduate school.  Besides stocking up on clothes and school supplies, this usually also includes visits to your child’s pediatrician, dentist, and optometrist.  Since we believe strongly in early detection and treatment, we are offering 20% off a student’s exam and glasses in the month of August.  This cannot be used in conjunction with any insurance benefits.  School these days is difficult enough for our kids so we need to make sure they have the necessary tools and vision to start off the year on the right foot.

            Vision at school requires several tasks to manage to be successful.  This includes sharp distance vision to be able to read the board and/or overhead, good near vision and binocular vision (eye teaming) to be able to read and study for long periods at a time, and depending on the class, the ability to go back and forth from the board or overhead to up close to take notes on paper or computer with ease.  In addition to these visual requirements, the eyes also need to be healthy to be able to sustain these demands.  Conditions such as dry eyes induced from allergies or medications, and the itching and tearing from seasonal allergies can hinder vision and thus needed to be diagnosed and addressed. 

            It is for these reasons that your child’s eyes should be checked by an eye care professional.  School and pediatrician screenings usually only test distance vision and does not address health issues of the eye and does not address near vision, depth perception, and binocular vision.  Many times a child (or adult for that matter) has “good vision” but is still having issues with near work which can include blurry vision, double vision, headaches, and overall difficulty sustaining up-close work for any period of time.  Obviously all reading issues are not caused by vision and/or binocular vision conditions, but that should be the first place you should check out to make sure all is well.

            In addition to school and homework, most children are involved in school and/or recreational sports and extra-curricular activities.  Whether your child is involved in soccer, football, dance, or cheerleading, these all require good vision and ocular health to be able to succeed.  If there is vision correction required, many parents and kids are opting for contact lenses.  Activities are often difficult to fully participate in while wearing glasses, and contact lenses allow for good vision as well as peripheral vision, and you are not hindered by the frame.  Most patients are good candidates for contacts; however, since there is work to learn to adapt to the lenses and to be able to put them on and off, motivation on the part of the child is paramount.  If he or she is not really interested in contacts, I recommend starting the process of training and follow-ups when they are ready to tackle it.  It is also helpful if a family member already wears contacts to be able to help out as needed.  However, it is the child that needs to have the responsibility of keeping their hands clean, cleaning and storing the lenses as needed, and inserting and removing the contacts.

            It is recommended for vision and ocular health changes that patients get an annual eye exam.  The testing we do at the office goes much more in depth and covers more than pediatrician and school screenings.  We hope that if you do not have any vision insurance that you take advantage of our back to school offer.  We are a family-centered practice and we look forward to seeing the entire family in the office soon.

Corneal Abrasions

 (As appeared in Alamo Today, July 2011, pg. 24)

            Since we had a case of a rather large corneal abrasion last week, I decided it should be the topic of the month.  These conditions are very painful and can lead to vision loss if not treated quickly and appropriately.

            To fully understand corneal abrasions, we must first discuss and understand the cornea.  The cornea is the clear front part of the eye, and it does about 2/3 of the focusing of light in the eye (the lens does the other 1/3).  It is made of clear collagen, and it actually derived from the same tissue that makes up the white part of the eye (sclera).  The cornea contains no blood vessels and it receives all of its oxygen requirements from the air and tears.  The cornea is made up of 5 layers, and it regenerates itself in about 1 week.  Lastly, if you wear contact lenses, you place your contacts on top of the cornea, and it is also the tissue that is operated on in LASIK and PRK.

            Now the good and bad about the cornea; like I mentioned above it does regenerate itself in about a week and it heals itself relatively quickly after an infection or abrasion.  The flip side is that it is one of the most highly innervated tissues with nerves in the body.  This means that it is extremely sensitive to any insult.  For those of you that have battled a corneal infection or abrasion, you can attest to the pain that is involved in these cases.  So the bad thing is that you will be in severe discomfort for a few days, but with the correct treatment, the healing time will not be that long.

            It is actually pretty easy to diagnose a corneal abrasion.  When these patients come into the office, their eye is extremely red, is tearing excessively, they have on dark sunglasses because of the light sensitivity, and are in pain.  The vision is usually decreased, but not excessively considering the condition of the eye.  I will put a yellow dye in the eye which will allow me to fully see the extent of the abrasion and to measure it.  I will also look for foreign bodies in the eye (mostly under the top lid), and remove them as these get trapped under the lid and then every time you blink they continue to scratch and injure the eye.  I will also give a drop of anesthetic in the eye which will immediately make the patient feel better as it will numb the cornea.  After this drop, most patients ask if they can just take that bottle home with them.  As much as I would like to, the anesthetic actually slows down the healing process of the cornea.  So you would feel comfortable, but your cornea would turn to mush as the regeneration process would be halted.

            After the diagnosis is made, I will usually apply a bandage contact lens to the eye.  The contact lens acts as a band-aid on the eye; now every time you blink, instead of further irritating the abrasion, you now blink on the contact lens.  For those who normally don’t wear contacts, the slight irritation from the lens is far less than the pain from the abrasion.  This also allows the cornea to heal quicker.  I will also give the patient an antibiotic to help protect against an infection.  Now that there is an opening in the cornea, it is very easy to for an infection to start.

            The only good thing about these abrasions is that the patient is usually in so much pain that they do not wait very long before getting help.  As long as the trauma that caused the abrasion did not fully penetrate the eye (very rare), the cornea usually heals within a few days, and you are back to normal in under a week.  Hopefully this never happens to you, but we look forward to helping you if it does.

(As appeared in Alamo Today, June 2011, pg. 28) 

            Since June is cataract awareness month, I think it is appropriate to discuss this normal aging condition with my patients.  The likelihood that you will experience some visual changes from cataracts increases as you get older.  Assuming you live to normal life expectancy, most everyone will feel the effects and most will need to have them removed.

            A cataract is the maturing of the lens which is inside of your eye; it cannot be seen just by looking at a person.  The lens continues to grow throughout life; as the lens ages, it becomes thicker and denser.  As this occurs, less light is able to pass through it, and thus decreases your vision.  In addition, as the lens becomes more opaque, your vision generally takes on a dulling, foggy, or yellowing effect.  The typical onset for early cataracts is in your 60’s to 70’s.  Everyone develops them at different paces, but such things as long-term UV exposure, diabetes, prednisone (steroid) use, and trauma can cause the process to be sped-up.  In the early stages, your distance prescription can sometimes shift to become more near-sighted.  It is during these times that just a simple prescription change in your glasses can help restore or improve your vision.  However, there becomes a point as the cataract progresses that changing your glasses make little or no improvement.  It is at this time that the limiting factor in the visual system is the cataract itself, not your glasses.  This is the point where I usually introduce the option of cataract surgery.

            Even though most people are scared or leery of surgery, cataract surgery is a very safe and quick procedure that restores most of your lost vision.  Cataract surgery is the most widely done procedure in the United States, and the numbers will just continue to climb as the baby boomers continue to age.  Keep in mind that even though it is done all of the time, that there are potential side-effects that need to be discussed with your doctor and/or surgeon.  The procedure itself takes less than 10 minutes, and you are not under general anesthesia.  I tell my patients that it generally takes longer in the operating room to prep you for the surgery than it does to actually perform it.  The incision is very small and does not require stitches, thus enabling a quicker recovery.  The surgeon will go into your eye with a tool that breaks up the cataract into small pieces and then remove these smaller pieces from the eye.  The clear implant that is put in folds up very small and can fit through the small incision.  If both eyes need to be done, only 1 will be done at a time.  The eye that is more advanced is generally done first, and after it is healed sufficiently, the other eye is done a few weeks later.

            Recently, there have been many new types of implantable lenses to choose from.  There is your standard single vision lens, which can be done for distance vision only or monovision, which is one eye distance and the other reading.  If you have monovision in your contact lens wear, then going to this setup after surgery should work well.  There are also multi-focal and accommodating lenses that help reduce your need for reading glasses.  These lenses, just like anything else, do have their pros and cons and absolutely need to be discussed with your optometrist and surgeon.  As always, we are here to answer any of your questions regarding surgical and non-surgical options.

(As appeared in Alamo Today, May 2011, pg. 26)

Now that the summer months are coming, it is time to make sure you have a good pair of UV-blocking polarized sunglasses.  To help my patients in this regard, we are having a month-long sunglass sale for May.  Every pair of sunglasses in the office is going to be 15% off in May.  We have many different brands to choose from including Maui Jim, Oakley, Kate Spade, Coach, Gucci, and Juicy Couture.  Most of the frames can also be made with prescription including single vision, bifocals, and progressives.  If you are not currently a patient in the office, we invite you to come and look at your selection and bring your prescription with you.  We look forward to seeing everyone to help ramp up your eye protection for the summer months.

            A question I often get at the office is regarding sun protection and what is the best way to protect the eyes.  My answer is always to have a good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses to be worn year round.  The important fact to remember is that the tint of the lenses makes absolutely no difference for sun protection, and in some cases clear lenses can block as much ultraviolet light as sunglasses.  The UV filter is a clear coating that is applied to the lenses and does not impact the appearance and light transmission to the eye.  For people that do not like the dark lenses of sunglasses, clear lenses will also work if they are made of polycarbonate, which is a lighter, impact-resistant material that comes with a scratch and UV coating.

            For those of you who are outdoor enthusiasts or just enjoy being outside will definitely enjoy the clarity and contrast that polarized lenses offer.  Most prescription and non-prescription polarized lenses come in gray or brown.  However, several companies have come out with several single vision polarized lenses in yellow, pink, green, orange, etc. to help tailor your lenses to a specific outdoor activity or activities that you enjoy.  Some of the activities that can be helped with these lenses include golf, fishing, skiing, and shooting.  In addition, Maui Jim has come out with a new high-definition lens that comes polarized and increases contrast.  A good example for these lenses is for golfers who will be able to pick up the undulations in the greens a little better due to the tint of the lenses.  We have some samples and information guides that can help us aid you in deciding the lens or lenses needed for all of your activities.

            The effects of ultraviolet exposure are generally long-term, but in some circumstances can be quick and painful.  For anyone who has had a UV-flash burn from welding or from receiving a lot of glare from the water or snow will know how painful this can be.  However, most exposure causes premature cataracts, skin melanomas, freckles, and pingueculas (those yellowish bumps on the white part of the area that often get irritated in dry or windy conditions).  Studies have shown that we receive almost 75% of our total UV radiation by the time we are 18 years old; therefore it is important that our kids have sun protection.  Obviously there is no need to spend a lot on these glasses; but keep in mind if your child wears glasses, as long as the lenses are made of polycarbonate and/or have transitions lenses; they have all of the protection they need.  If not, most over-the-counter glasses come with the UV filter in the lenses.  Regardless of age, race, sex, or activity level, we all need proper sun wear to help combat the harmful rays from the sun.  We look forward to helping you look good, see good, and protect yourself this summer and beyond.