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Why You Should Trust Your Optical Over Online Stores

We won’t argue with you – online shopping can be very easy and convenient. Without budging from the sofa, you can browse a variety of eyeglasses and click to buy. But plenty of risks lurk in every purchase you make from an online optical! Let’s compare the dangers and disadvantages of choosing new frames from a website versus the benefits of buying eyeglasses from our reliable optical in Citrus Heights and Folsom.

Cons of Buying Eyeglasses Online

The whole shopping experience is impersonal. No caring optician or eye care staff will listen to your visual requirements and lifestyle preferences to recommend the best, most reliable eyeglasses options.
You can’t ask an optician for a first-hand opinion of how you look
There’s no eye doctor to check that the fit of your frames is optimal; you’re on your own, left guessing about the right bridge span or pupillary distance.
Many optical stores have special deals with eyeglasses manufacturers, which enables you to receive rebates and discounts that are only available locally. Often, this makes your final cost less expensive.
Not all optical websites accept vision insurance.
Many studies show that over 50% of eyeglasses bought online were crafted with the wrong prescription or fit.

Pros of Purchasing Eyeglasses from Our Optical in Citrus Heights and Folsom

In our friendly local office, we strive to fulfill each customer’s vision needs, eye health requirements and sense of style. Even if your frames become your most favorite fashion accessory, they still need to give you sharp and comfortable vision. Our optical staff will assess your vision in your new eyeglasses, as well as how they fit on your face. Our goal is not simply to make a sale – it is to ensure that your new eyewear flatters your appearance and maximizes your clear and healthy eyesight.

At EYEcenter Optometric, we put your family’s needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 916-727-6518 or book an appointment online to see one of our Citrus Heights eye doctors.

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Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Harm the Visual System — And Self Esteem

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can harm vital communication between the brain and the visual system, bringing on disabling symptoms. People trying to deal with these symptoms may experience depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

They may no longer be able to perform tasks as they once did. After a concussion or more severe TBI, one may experience recurring headaches that necessitate frequent breaks while working or studying, reducing productivity. Or chronic dizziness from a blow to the head could prevent a person from driving, making them dependent on others. A child who’s suffered a TBI may be unable to participate in group sports or activities, making them feel “alone” or “different.”

That’s where we come in. If you or a loved one has suffered even a mild TBI, speak with Dr. Randy Fuerst & Dr. Hannah Mikes about having your visual system assessed during a functional vision evaluation to determine if something can be done to ease your symptoms.

Signs of Emotional Distress Following a TBI

The struggle to read a book or catch a ball due to double vision or eye tracking problems can be demoralizing. A post-TBI patient could experience lowered self-esteem or depression. Be alert for these signs:

Social withdrawal
Persistent feelings of sadness
Lack of interest in personal hygiene or appearance
Negative self-talk
Lack of motivation
Being irritable or moody
Reduced or lack of appetite

How a Neuro-Optometrist Can Help

It can be discouraging to hear from other health professionals that there’s nothing to be done for lingering TBI symptoms. Fortunately, neuro-optometrists can help post-TBI patients in ways that few other health care providers can.

Neuro-optometry deals with the visual system and how it impacts daily functioning. By training the brain to more effectively communicate and control the eyes, symptoms like dizziness, headache, and nausea can be significantly reduced or disappear altogether.

Eradicating these debilitating symptoms can be life-changing and allow you to go back to doing what you love. Children may once again be able to play with their friends on the soccer field or basketball court. Adults may become more interested in socializing and exercising, and become more productive at work. Resuming these activities can boost self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.

At Vision Therapy Center at EYEcenter Optometric, we know all too well the challenges that accompany a traumatic brain injury and how it can affect self-esteem. To schedule a functional visual evaluation and determine if a problem with the visual system is contributing to your post-TBI symptoms, call Vision Therapy Center at EYEcenter Optometric today.

Vision Therapy Center at EYEcenter Optometric serves patients from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Elk Grove, and throughout California .

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Protect Your Eyes From Harmful Wildfire Smoke

Wildfires, including those still devastating parts of the western United States and Canada, can harm your health, including your eyes. The hot smoke, ash, and soot billowing into the air contain a mixture of noxious gases and fine particles of burned vegetation that spread with the winds, sometimes hundreds of miles from the fire.

Wildfire smoke is made up of thousands of compounds, including those used in plastic, dry-cleaning solutions, and solvents. Asbestos, a toxic air contaminant, is also released into the air when buildings burn.

These pollutants can harm your eye’s surface, causing blurred vision and redness, and may also cause y a burning sensation leading eyes to become watery, dry, or itchy. Wildfire smoke also aggravates pre-existing health conditions like dry-eyes and ocular allergies and may make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable—even impossible—to wear.

In extreme cases, wildfire smoke may even lead to scarring of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the white of the eye and the eyelids’ underside. Scarring damages the conjunctiva and its protective mucous layer.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests the following steps to keep your eyes healthy when smoke is in the air:

Double the quantity of over-the-counter artificial tears you use to address eye conditions and cool the artificial tears’ vials or bottles in a refrigerator before using
Apply cool compresses to your eyelids
Stay indoors and close the windows to reduce smoke’s effects
Use an air purifier or air filter in your home or office
Refrain from drawing outside air into your air conditioner
Refrain from wearing contact lenses, which attract wildfires’ dust particles
Wear eyeglasses, sunglasses, or specialty goggles if you are outdoors

Continue observing these precautions even after the smoke has cleared as particles can linger in the air for up to two weeks.

If smoke-related symptoms or discomfort persist, please contact EYEcenter Optometric. We will examine your eyes and prescribe the appropriate treatment. We treat patients with wildfire-related vision challenges from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Elk Grove, and throughout California .

References:

Can At-Home Learning Cause Vision Problems in Children?

Millions of schoolchildren are studying at home in coronavirus-dictated on-line classes. While squinting at the blackboard is less common for now, remote learning presents students with other vision challenges. The most common problem is digital eye strain — also called computer vision syndrome. Spending many hours indoors has also been linked to the rapid progression of myopia, the elongation of the eye that causes nearsightedness.

These problems are especially worrying because children are spending an estimated 50% more time on-line compared to the days before the coronavirus.

Digital eye strain results from the prolonged use of digital screens. The eye strain then causes headaches, blurriness, dry eyes, difficulties with concentration, and neck and shoulder pain. The effects of digital eye strain are also worsened by any existing eye conditions — such as astigmatism, uncorrected anisometropia, and uncorrected eye movement problems.im

It’s important that your children undergo a thorough eye exam, and to correct or treat eye conditions that can interfere with their learning, both in the classroom and online.

How Parents Can Help

Conditions that contribute to a child experiencing digital eye strain also include insufficient contrast between characters appearing on the screen and the screen’s background, the amount of glare emitted by the computer or tablet screen, being too close to or too far from the screen, and poor posture.

By monitoring your children’s learning environment and recognizing the signs of digital eye strain, you can prevent or at least minimize the effects of eye strain on your child. The American Optometric Association recommends:

Adjusting the device so that the center of the screen is approximately 5 inches below the eyes and 20–28 inches away
Tilting the screen to eliminate glare
Employing proper posture, with feet planted firmly on the floor, back straight, and wrists off the keyboard
Blinking frequently to keep the eyes moist
Taking frequent breaks away from the device (at least every 20 minutes)
Shutting devices at least one hour before going to sleep

Research has shown that children who spend significant time playing in the sunshine experience slower myopia progression than children who stay indoors. So make sure your children get plenty of sunshine, weather permitting.

If your children haven’t yet undergone their annual comprehensive start-of-school eye exam, schedule an appointment with Dr. Randy Fuerst & Dr. Hannah Mikes. We’ll advise you and your children on how to keep their vision clear and comfortable and their eyes healthy during this extended period of at-home learning. Vision Therapy Center at EYEcenter Optometric helps parents and children from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Elk Grove, and throughout California .

References:

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How Can My Child’s Myopia Be Corrected?

At EYEcenter Optometric, we help children like yours achieve clear and comfortable vision, so they can succeed at the important things in life.

Methods of Myopia Correction

Contact Lenses

Contacts can be a great choice, especially for physically active children or teens who don’t want to worry about breaking or misplacing their eyeglasses. In some cases of very high myopia, contact lenses can offer clearer vision than glasses.

Corrective contact lenses are usually placed in the eyes upon waking and removed at night before bedtime. There are several types, including: soft contacts, daily disposables, extended wear, and rigid gas permeable (hard) lenses. Navigating through the differences between them can be daunting. Fortunately, if you’re located in Citrus Heights our eye doctor will be happy to guide you. Speak with Palmer N. Lee, O.D. to determine whether your child is ready for contact lenses.

Prescription Glasses

Glasses are a popular choice among our younger patients. Choosing from an array of styles makes the process fun and exciting! Allowing the children to be active participants in selecting their imeeyewear increases the likelihood that they’ll actually wear them. There are strong, flexible and resilient frames which look great and are comfortable too.

The optician can customize the lenses with additions and upgrades like impact-resistant or shatter-proof materials, scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coatings, UV filters, and transition lenses that darken in the sun. For those requiring vision correction for distance and near, we also offer bifocal or multifocal lens prescriptions.

We Can Help Correct Your Child’s Myopia

If you’re located near Citrus Heights, California , an eye exam with our optometrist can determine your child’s exact prescription, and give you the opportunity to receive answers to any questions you may have about your child’s eye health and vision. Progressive myopia, where a growing child’s prescription continues to worsen, is why it’s important for myopic children to undergo eye exams at least once a year.

At EYEcenter Optometric, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to recommend the most suitable method of correcting your child’s myopia to meet his or her individual needs. Thanks to the wide range options available, your child will walk away with eyewear that will not only enhance his or her style but will also be a boost of confidence.

Let us help your child see the world in a whole new light. To schedule your child’s annual eye exam or if you have any further questions, contact EYEcenter Optometric at 916-727-6518 today.

How Can I Benefit from Sports Vision Training?

Sports vision training offers athletes a way to strengthen their visual skills to improve athletic performance. Just as you can’t slack off from cardio and muscle-building exercises, your eyesight also benefits from staying in top shape. Sports vision therapy sharpens your visual focus and more, boosting your speed, coordination, balance and overall performance.

Vision Therapy to Strengthen Eyesight

Our eye doctors in Citrus Heights, Gold River, Rocklin and Folsom use a range of conditioning techniques to exercise different parts of your visual system. We use advanced sports vision technologies to enhance the following:

Dynamic Visual Acuity: enables a sustained focus on quickly moving objects
Coordination: the coordinated processing of hand-eye-foot motor skills
Peripheral Awareness: perception of the sidelines in your field of vision
Depth Perception: fine-tunes spatial judgement
Contrast Sensitivity: helps to differentiate between light and dark shades
Color Vision: precise perception of colors helps with interpreting subtle environmental features

Winning Results of Sports Vision Therapy

The goal of our vision therapy program is to maximize your visual skills, even if you naturally have 20/20 vision. The eye exercises we recommend can help you to:

Stay sharp and focused throughout long games
Make faster decisions under pressure
Boost awareness of what’s happening around you
Strengthen your multitasking abilities
Enhance mental concentration, even at rapid speeds
Speed up your visual processing

What Sports Do You Play?

Our eye care specialists in Citrus Heights, Gold River, Rocklin and Folsom will custom-design your sports vision therapy exercises to optimize the visual skill set you need to excel at your favorite game.

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Are Floaters and Flashes Dangerous?

You’ve likely experienced occasional visual “floaters” or flashes and may have wondered what they were and if they’re a cause for concern. They look like tiny lines, shapes, shadows, or specks that appear to be drifting in the visual field. More often than not, seeing floaters is a normal occurrence and does not indicate a problem with ocular or visual health. However, when floaters become more frequent and are accompanied by flashes of light, that can indicate a more serious problem.

Eye flashes resemble star-like specks or strands of light that either flash or flicker in one’s field of vision. They can either be a single burst in one visual zone, or can be several flashes throughout a wider area. Flashes can sometimes be missed as they most often appear in the side or peripheral vision.

Floaters & Flashes Eye Care in Citrus Heights, California

If you suddenly, or with increasing frequency, experience flashes or floaters, call EYEcenter Optometric and schedule an eye exam with Palmer N. Lee, O.D. right away to rule out any serious eye conditions.

What Causes Floaters?

The vitreous in the eye is a clear gel that fills most of the eyeball and resembles raw egg-white. Within the vitreous are small lumps of protein that drift around and move with the motion of your eyes. When these tiny lumps of protein cast shadows on the retina — the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye — the shadows appear as floaters.

As we age, the vitreous shrinks, creating more strands of protein. This is why the appearance of floaters may increase with time. Floaters tend to be more prevalent in nearsighted people and diabetics, and occur more frequently following cataract surgery or an eye injury.

If seeing floaters becomes bothersome, try moving your eyes up and down or side to side to gently relocate the floaters away from your visual field.

What Causes Flashes?

Flashes result from the retinal nerve cells being moved or tugged on. As the vitreous shrinks over time, it can tug at the retina, causing you to “see stars” or bursts of light. The process of the vitreous separating from the retina is called “posterior vitreous detachment” (PVD) and usually isn’t dangerous.

In about 16% of cases, PVD causes tiny tears in the retina that can lead to retinal detachment — a sight-threatening condition that causes irreversible blindness if left untreated.

Other possible causes of flashes are eye trauma or migraine headaches.

When To Call Your Optometrist About Floaters

If you experience any of the following symptoms, promptly make an appointment with an eye doctor near you for emergency eye care.

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

A sudden onset of floaters accompanied by flashes (which can be any shape or size)
An increase of floaters accompanied by a darkening of one side of the visual field
Shadows in the peripheral vision
Any time flashes are seen

In many cases, seeing floaters is no cause for concern; however the above symptoms could indicate retinal detachment—which, if left untreated, could cause a permanent loss of sight or even blindness.

If the receptionists pick up the phone and hear the main concern is floaters or flashes, they will try to squeeze in the appointment within 24 hours. Expect the pupils to be dilated during your eye exam, so the eye doctor can get a really good look at the peripheral retina to diagnose or rule out a retinal tear or other serious condition, as opposed to a non-vision-threatening condition such as uncomplicated posterior vitreous detachment (quite common) or ocular migraine.

Please contact EYEcenter Optometric in Citrus Heights at 916-727-6518 with any further questions, or to schedule an eye doctor’s appointment.

Fit & Fog: A Guide for Glasses and Mask Wear

As we all don masks amidst the pandemic, more than just your nose and mouth can be obstructed. Fog caused by your breath escaping your mask causes unwanted fog on your eyewear too. The AARP offers these tips to avoid this annoying side effect.

As more Americans don face masks to venture outside during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those who wear glasses are finding that their lenses fog up. It’s a problem that bespectacled surgeons, as well as goggle-wearing skiers, have long experienced.

Why does it happen? In a 1996 article in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics, Tom Margrain, a professor at Cardiff University’s School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, explained that in general “when a spectacle wearer enters a warm environment after having been in a cooler one, his/her spectacles may ‘mist up’ due to the formation of condensation on the lens surface.” He went on to say that polycarbonate lenses demisted more rapidly than those made of glass.

With that in mind, if your eyeglasses are fogging when you put on a face mask, it’s because warm, moist air you exhale is being directed up to your glasses. To stop the fogging, you need to block your breath from reaching the surfaces of your lenses.

The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England published an article in 2011 that offered a simple method to prevent fogging, suggesting that, just before wearing a face mask, people wash their spectacles with soapy water, shake off the excess and then allow the lenses to air-dry.

“Washing the spectacles with soapy water leaves behind a thin surfactant film that reduces this surface tension and causes the water molecules to spread out evenly into a transparent layer,” the article reveals. “This ‘surfactant effect’ is widely utilised to prevent misting of surfaces in many everyday situations.” Antifogging solutions used for scuba masks or ski goggles also accomplish this.

Another tactic is to consider the fit of your face mask, to prevent your exhaled breath from reaching your glasses. An easy hack is to place a folded tissue between your mouth and the mask. The tissue will absorb the warm, moist air, preventing it from reaching your glasses. Also, make sure the top of your mask is tight and the bottom looser, to help direct your exhaled breath away from your eyes.

If you are using a surgical mask with ties, a 2014 article in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England advises going against your instincts. Tie the mask crisscross so that the top ties come below your ears and the bottom ties go above. It will make for a tighter fit.

Don’t touch your face! Wiping fog from glasses with your fingers could lead to more dirt, germs, and smudges on your lenses. Read the tips below to keep fog away.

Click here for more information or you can read the full article at https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/eyewear-face-masks.html?cmp=SNO-ICM-FB-HLTH&socialid=3674304838.

Two Different Colored Eyes? Let’s Talk About It

While relatively uncommon, it’s possible to have two different colored eyes – as quite a few celebrities, such as Dan Aykroyd, Kate Bosworth, Mila Kunis, Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour, can personally attest! Called heterochromia, this condition is typically benign and has no effects on visual acuity. But it can definitely contribute to an exotic, memorable appearance.

To make sure your heterochromia doesn’t indicate a problem, schedule an eye exam at one of our eye care centers in Citrus Heights, Gold River, Rocklin, and Folsom, California . We’ll check your eye health thoroughly and provide a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, if needed.

3 types of heterochromia

Your eye color is determined by the amount of melanin in the iris. Blue eyes have the smallest quantity of melanin, and brown eyes have the largest amount. There are three types of heterochromia, categorized according to where the different colors are located in the eye:

Complete heterochromia – The iris of one eye is an entirely different color than the iris of the other eye.
Partial heterochromia (AKA sectoral heterochromia) – Only a part (or sector) of one eyes’ iris has a different color; this can occur in one or both eyes.
Central heterochromia – The color near the border of the iris is different from the color near the border of the pupil. Spikes of the central color radiate from the pupil towards the middle of the iris.

Causes of heterochromia – congenital and acquired

This colorful eye condition can be congenital, meaning that it’s either present from birth, or it appeared in early childhood when the iris attained its full quantity of melanin. Congenital heterochromia is benign and genetic, or it can be the result of a genetic mutation during development of the embryo.

When heterochromia develops later in life, it is called acquired heterochromia. Typically, it happens because of a serious injury to the eye, uveitis and particular medications to treat glaucoma. Latisse eye drops, often used nowadays as a cosmetic treatment to thicken eyelashes, can also cause a color change in your iris.

Sometimes, heterochromia appears as a symptom of another health condition, such as Horner’s syndrome. This condition is the combination of partial ptosis, a constricted pupil, and the loss of the ability to sweat on half of the face. All of the symptoms are caused by a disruption of certain nerve impulses to the eye.

Heterochromia: contact lenses vs. eyeglasses

Heterochromia only requires treatment if it was caused by swelling or another underlying health problem. Otherwise, it can be left alone. However, some people are self-conscious about this condition and prefer to hide it by wearing colored contact lenses in one or both eyes. Our eye doctor in Citrus Heights, Gold River, Rocklin, and Folsom, California , can help match you with the best tint of contact lenses to give eyes that show the same exact hue. If you require vision correction to see, both eyeglasses and contact lenses will provide sharp visual acuity – but only colored contact lenses will mask the heterochromia.

Be safe – get an eye exam

Although most cases of heterochromia are there from birth and totally harmless, if you or your child has different colored eyes, book an eye exam to rule out any other serious conditions. Once your eye doctor determines that your eyes are healthy, you can enjoy the exotic appearance heterochromia adds to your look!

If you need vision correction, your eye doctor can fit you with prescription eyeglasses from our trending optical collection, or with premium contact lenses from our full inventory. Bring your current vision prescription to EYEcenter Optometric, located conveniently in Citrus Heights, Gold River, Rocklin, and Folsom, California .

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Diabetes in the era of COVID-19

In a recent research article published in the Journal, Metabolism-Clinical and Experimental, a group of researchers from the UK reviewed nearly 338,000 diabetic patients. They evaluated the percentages who had contracted Covid-19, and compared this to their glycemic control measure, known as hemoglobin A1c. This percentage of glucose in the bloodstream , known as glycosolated hemoglobin, gives a more longer term measure of diabetic control, versus the up and down dynamics experienced on a day to day basis.

Normal A1c is between 5.3% and 5.7%. If a patient’s measure falls between 5.8% and 5.99%, the patient is classified as pre-diabetic. At 6.0% and higher, diabetes is diagnosed. The higher the percentage, the more ‘out of control’ the patient’s diabetes is, and the sooner the destructive impact of the disease will be manifested.

Randall Fuerst, OD, F.A.A.O.

This study found that between March 16, 2020 and April 26, 2020, there were 649 cases of Covid-19 serious enough to warrant hospitalization.

Here is from the study’s abstract:

Multivariable adjusted analyses demonstrated an increased risk of COVID-19 in persons who had undiagnosed diabetes at baseline (defined as A1C ≥6.5%) and in those with poorly controlled diabetes (defined as A1C ≥8.6%). Relative risk was 2.68 in those with undiagnosed diabetes at baseline and 1.91 in those with poorly controlled diabetes.
With increasing A1c—even within the normal range—the risk of COVID-19 increased progressively. Regulation of blood glucose may have a significant role in immune response to COVID-19.

Put in very simplistic terms, the higher the A1c, the greater the risk of not only contracting COVID-19, but experiencing more and more severe complications. So, the take home message for our patients with diabetes is this: Anything you can do to maintain control, and, hopefully in lowering your A1c is worth the effort! Thanks for everything you do to maintain your diet, exercise, sleep and medications in the face of this destructive disease!

Cons of Buying Eyeglasses Online

Pros of Purchasing Eyeglasses from Our Optical in Citrus Heights and Folsom

Want to Learn More? Read on!

Signs of Emotional Distress Following a TBI

How a Neuro-Optometrist Can Help

How Parents Can Help

Methods of Myopia Correction

Contact Lenses

Prescription Glasses

We Can Help Correct Your Child’s Myopia

Vision Therapy to Strengthen Eyesight

Winning Results of Sports Vision Therapy

What Sports Do You Play?

Want to Learn More? Read on!

Floaters & Flashes Eye Care in Citrus Heights, California

What Causes Floaters?

What Causes Flashes?

When To Call Your Optometrist About Floaters

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

3 types of heterochromia

Causes of heterochromia – congenital and acquired

Heterochromia: contact lenses vs. eyeglasses

Be safe – get an eye exam

Want to Learn More? Read on!

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