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August 18, 2010
Don’t Forget About Your Eyes When You Get In That Tanning Bed
Ever since Coco Chanel revealed her bronzed models in the 1920s, Americans have been in constant search of the perfect summer glow. Regardless of weather conditions or time spent relaxing on the beaches, we’ve engineered new and increasingly dangerous ways to enhance our natural coloring. For years it has been apparent that increased exposure to UVA and UVB rays is directly proportional to the likelihood of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer and the cause of over 8,000 deaths a year. In fact, indoor tanning has become so detrimental to the health of our country that the United States government is in the process of imposing a 10% tax increase on all tanning salons and their patrons as part of the new health care bill. But there is another disadvantage to indoor tanning, one that often goes unnoticed – the damage it can do to our eyes.
The College of Optometrists in London recently reported that tanning beds are equally, if not more so, damaging to our eyesight than our skin. The human eyelid is too thin to protect the eye from UV rays, both indoors and out. Therefore, by increasing exposure to these harmful rays in tanning beds, we put our eyesight at further and unnecessary risk. Not only is the delicate skin of the eyelid at a higher risk for burning, but it also is not thick enough to protect the eye from potential burns to the cornea, cataracts and retina damage.
Symptoms of cornea burns include eye irritation and conjunctivitis, which can lead to tearing of the eyelids and blurred vision. Cataracts cause a cloudy surface on the eye which must be removed through surgery and retina damage typically requires surgery to alleviate serious vision problems.
The College of Optometrists recommend the use of FDA-approved goggles or “wink-ease” provided at tanning salons, for those that simply cannot live without a bronzed exterior. While this solution protects the eyes from UV rays, it does nothing to protect the body from other harmful effects of prolonged exposure.
So if you have to use a sunbed, remember to be as careful with your health as possible. Always wear protective goggles, as merely closing the eyes does not protect the eyes at all and neither does draping a towel over the face. Avoid excessive use and don’t stay in long enough to burn. When it comes to your health, you only get one chance.
July 28, 2010
All the Benefits of Solar Lighting
As the warm summer months press on, we spend more and more time outdoors savoring the temperate climate and refreshing sunshine. However as the day slowly fades into night, we are faced with one of summer’s most consistent dilemmas: the sun is gone but the atmosphere is still warm enough for outdoor activity. Outdoor lighting systems can be expensive, confusing and sometimes even require the help of a trained professional. An easy, inexpensive and environmentally friendly solution is the installation of high quality solar lights, spotlights and decorative bulbs. The list of benefits of solar light goes on and on, but the following 4 reasons are enough to convince any skeptic of their practicality.
Safety
Solar light bulbs never get hot because there is no electricity involved in their production of light. Therefore, they are completely safe for use on the ground or adjacent to any material. Additionally, pets, children or clumsy guests will not burn themselves on an accidentally touched bulb. The solar lights do not require the use of electricity, so there are no cords to deal with and therefore possibly trip over. It’s impossible to get electrocuted by a solar lamp.
Convenience
As there are no cords and no electricity, solar lights can be placed anywhere outdoors with no regard for a nearby power source. There is no need to worry about surge protector configuration or planning clever cord camouflage. All the bulbs require is direct sunlight during the day and they will shine effectively through most of the night.
Most solar lights have automatic darkness sensors, so they turn on and off on their own. You don’t have to unplug them or worry about leaving them on and wasting valuable electricity.
Cost Effective
Complicated outdoor lighting systems often wind up costing more than their worth in wasted electricity costs. Solar energy is completely free and reuseable. Once the lamp is installed, there is no further cost or maintanence. Most lights consist of one to two pieces so there is minimal if any upkeep and negligible potential for damage.
Environmentally Friendly
Solar lighting units are equipped with a solar panel that “stores” the energy from the sun’s rays during the day and then “reuses” it at night to light the bulbs. As the sun is the Earth’s most readily available and reuseable natural resource, there is never a fear of running out or using up too much of its energy.
Solar lights come in various sizes, shapes and colors, so in addition to being safe, convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly, they are also completely compatiable with any backyard motiff. These versatile lighting options can be used to light potentially dangerous topography, such as rocks or pipes, they look great lined along a walkway or down a staircase and they effectively provide ambient light in any situation. All in all, solar lighting is a perfect solution to the pesky summer problem of wanting to stay outside into the night without expending any additional resources.
June 1, 2010
Protect Your Eyes for the Summer
The weather is changing and we’re all getting ready to put on our bathing suits, throw a towel in the car and head to the beach. Summertime’s warm, sunny days inherently lead to more time spent outdoors and therefore more exposure to the sun’s rays. While limited sun exposure is beneficial to our health, increasing levels of Vitamin D, coloring our skin with gorgeous tans and elevating our moods, it can also be damaging if we forget to protect ourselves. We’ve all experienced the pain of a sunburn and the fatigue that comes with too much time in the sun. We know to put sunscreen on to protect our skin and to drink enough water to keep our bodies hydrated. However, we often forget how the sun can affect our eyes. There are a couple easy steps we can take to ensure our eye safety, including wearing sunglasses and hats. Here are a couple of helpful tips when choosing sunglasses.
Sunglasses are not only stylish but are also essential to safe driving, playing outdoor sports or even making a fashion statement. However, the level of UV protection provided by your sunglasses makes a huge difference and can ultimately affect the overall health of your eyes. Too much ultraviolent exposure can lead to damage to the skin on your eyelids, the cornea and retina of your eye and can even lead to certain types of cataracts.
As you probably know, sunlight contains various ultraviolet wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye. The two types of we need to be concerned with are UVA and UVB rays. UVC rays also exist but are mostly filtered out by the atmosphere, so we need not be too concerned.
UVA rays have the least affect on our eyes but are still dangerous with prolonged exposure due to their ability to pass through the eye’s cornea to the lens and retina. UVB rays have a higher energy and shorter wavelengths, making them more powerful. In small doses, these rays are responsible for summer tans but overexposure can lead to sun burn, premature aging, wrinkles and even skin cancer.
UVA and UVB radiation is present at all times of the day, but is most intense between 10 am and 2pm, especially during the summer and at higher altitudes. So be prudent about your eyewear if you know you’re going to be outside during these times. Open spaces also tend to have higher levels of UV rays, especially when reflective surfaces like snow and sand are present. Urban areas have lower UV concentrations because buildings and other structures shade the streets.
Our best defense against the sun’s harmful effects is wearing proper sunglasses. When shopping for sunglass, be mindful of the percentage of UV protection offered. High-quality sunglasses will provide up to 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. Avoid glasses labeled “cosmetic” or don’t provide UV protection information. Other lens options exist to make distant object easier to discern, reduce glare, adjust to different lighting situations, protect from impact and block visible light. However, first and foremost, look for UV protection.
Contrary to popular belief, lens tint does not affect its efficacy. In fact, darker lens can distort color and make seeing important signals like stoplights more difficult.
Another important factor to remember when choosing sunglasses is that they only protect the front of the eye. Damaging UVA and UVB rays can still reach the eye from around the sides or top of the frames. Wraparound styles are the most effective way to block out these rays. This style is great for participating in outdoor sports as there are no blind spots or potential to be blinded by the sun. They also fit tighter and are less likely to fall off during physical activity.
Lastly, don’t forget that children’s sensitive eyes are most affected by the sun. Outfit your kids with quality sunglasses and encourage them to wear them as often as possible. Children also tend to spend more time outside than adults, making eye protection even more important.
Whatever style, color, or shape you wind up choosing, remember than sunglasses are our eye’s best defense against the sun. We are especially vulnerable during the summer due to increased UV radiation, but sunglasses are equally important when clouds or snow are present. So equip yourself with glasses with a high percentage of UV protection, look for wraparound frames, wear a hat to ensure maximum protection and enjoy these warm summer months without worrying what the sun will do to your eyes.
March 16, 2010
Visual Edge Media
In addition to providing you with our reading slant board to facilitate reading and writing development, we also strive to be your resource library with a wealth of information for everything from vision care, reading, studying and more.
In our resource library you’ll find documents, reading lists, terms for definitions and articles providing valuable information in regards to reading and writing help.
Here is our informational video in which you can also download on the home page.
February 23, 2010
Visual Edge Laser Etching
The Visual Edge Slant Board can already be used for many purposes including, reading, writing, working on your laptop, studying and so much more. We’ve now added laser etching, to customize your board with your name, school logo or even a music scale to help you practice your notes. Dry erase markers can be used on the board over the etching and can be easily wiped away. Contact us for a quote or with any questions today.
February 16, 2010
Happy Lunar New Year!
It is currently a festive time for many and we wanted to extend to everyone celebrating, a very Happy Lunar New Year! May your year be filled with all the love, luck, fortune and happiness! This year is the year of the Tiger.
February 10, 2010
DAUGHTER’S SCHOOL WOES ARE CAUSED BY DISORDER OF SIGHT
A great post in Dear Abby in regards to sight disorders advice.
DEAR ABBY: Please help me get the word out about a common condition that severely affects children’s ability to succeed in school because it inhibits reading, spelling and concentration.
My daughter, who was obviously bright, tested at first-grade reading level in fifth grade. She had undergone all the school testing for learning disabilities, plus two days of testing at a respected university hospital. None of these tests or specialists revealed what could be wrong with her.
My child’s self-esteem suffered. Her confidence faltered; she began acting out in school. At home she was a great kid, until it came time for schoolwork. Then the battles began. She thought she was dumb. When studying, she could read for only a very short time. She often begged me to read things to her. When working on spelling and assigned to rewrite the words she missed five times, she often recopied them wrong. We thought she just wasn’t trying.
After much research on the Internet, I came across a disorder called “convergence insufficiency disorder.” This visual condition is the leading cause of eyestrain. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to have her tested at the Mayo Clinic, where her condition was confirmed, and she was successfully treated with vision therapy.
It was as though a miracle had occurred. After six months of treatment, my daughter is almost at her age-appropriate reading level. Her comprehension and retention have markedly increased, and her self-esteem and attitude about reading are much better.
Children with this condition will not benefit from tutoring, special education or extra help from teachers until the condition is diagnosed and treated. My child had 20/20 vision and still had this disorder. It’s not routinely checked with eye exams, and schools don’t test for it.
I suspect that many children out there are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and going untreated. The treatment for convergence insufficiency disorder is noninvasive, effective, and much of it can be done at home. Please help me get the word out so other families won’t have to go through what we experienced. — ANGIE W. IN MINNESOTA
DEAR ANGIE: I am pleased to help you get the word out to other families whose children are struggling to learn. After reading your letter, I contacted my experts at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and was informed that this problem, where the eyes drift too much inward (or outward) in attempting to focus, can also be present in adults.
The symptoms can include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, sleepiness and trouble retaining information when reading. Other symptoms associated with convergence insufficiency include a “pulling” sensation around the eyes, the rubbing or closing of one eye when reading, words seeming to “jump” or “float” across the page, needing to reread the same line of words, frequent loss of place, general inability to concentrate and short attention span.
The good news is: Vision exercises can fix the problem in most cases, some done at home and some performed in-office with a vision therapist. Prism glasses are another option; however, they are more often prescribed for adults with this disorder than for children.
February 2, 2010
Lack of Sleep Can Affect Your Vision
Many of us have experienced the feeling that there isn’t enough hours in the day. Whether it’s work deadlines, projects, errands or taking care of the family, the busy schedules can cut into our sleep hours. It is quite apparent how sleep can affect our ability to focus and other motor skills along with our health, but did you know that sleep deprivation can also affect your vision?
Ophthalmology department at Mayo Clinic, USA reported findings that the continued lack of sleep or poor irregular sleeping patterns can also lead to blurred vision and eye vexation
Other problems include:
- Ischemic optic neuropathy (a vascular optic nerve lesion)
- Loss of vision in a single eye after waking up
- Papilledema (Swelling of the optic nerve)
- Vision Deterioration
There will never be enough hours and there will always be an endless list of things to do, remember that your health comes first and get that much needed shut eye!
January 26, 2010
Get a Free Prescription Pad
Our reading slant board had helped so many individuals through their vision therapy, reading disabilities and rehabilitating various functions of learning and seeing. We wanted to make recommending and ordering our reading slant board easy.
You can obtain and Visual Edge Prescription Pad for free by either submitting an address in which we could send it to, or by downloading our pdf and printing it out. Each pad contains instructions for ordering, contact information and a place for your information for the referral.
We always love hearing from our customers and their experience with our reading slant board, so if you have a testimonial or a question, please contact us and you may even be featured on our next blog!
January 19, 2010
Protecting Your Eyes from UV Rays
There has been multiple reports about the effects of the sun’s UV rays on the skin, from skin cancer, risks of sunburn and more. What we don’t hear about too often are the effects of UV rays and the eyes.
Constant UV exposure can cause the following damage to the eyes: macular degenerations, pinguecula, cataracts and pterygia.
HEV – high – energy visible radiation (aka blue light) can also contribute to macular degeneration.
Since you cannot see UV rays, it is a misconception to assume that your eyes are not at risk, just because of a cloudy day or lack of direct sunlight.
There are three types of UV Rays:
UVC Rays: Considered the most harmful because it is the highest – energy ray. Our ozone layer protects us from this particular ray, but with the depletion of the ozone layer, we are at risk of being affected by UVC Rays. It has a wavelength of 100-280nm.
UVB Rays: Longer wavelengths mean lower energy. Like UVC Rays, we are semi protected by the ozone layer to these rays, but some of the rays still reach the earth’s surface. UVB rays can cause a darkening of the skin (melanin production) and prolonged exposure can cause skin to age, wrinkle and discolor.
UVA Rays: Lower than UVC and UVB rays, these rays are the closest to being visible. These rays can penetrate and reach the lens/retina of the eye. This particular ray is what contributes to eye damage after prolonged exposure.
To protect your eyes, if you think you will be outside for an extended period of time, it’s suggested to wear sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. UV rays are still present even on cloudy days.