Check out Flexon in Times Square! Marchon goes to the streets of New York City to see what people have to say about Flexon – the original memory metal eyewear.
Flexon Live In Times Square 1 from Marchon on Vimeo.
Archive for the ‘Eye Safety’ Category
The original memory metal eyewear
Posted on January 3rd, 2012 by Lisa P.Extreme Eyecare: Winter Sports Protection
Posted on December 27th, 2011 by Nancy D
As we experience winter weather conditions, through the flurry of disgruntled travelers and burst pipes, there are those among us who are raising our mulled wine glasses in glee…winter sport enthusiasts unite!
However, as we take to the slopes with childlike abandon, the cold snap brings its own challenges for the outdoorsman (and woman) and one hazard that’s easy to forget—protecting our eyes. That’s surprising, considering eye injuries are a common injury suffered during ski and snowboarding activities, and the glare from the snow can make it very difficult to see where you’re headed.
The surface of our eyes often become irritated by harsh winds, and snow sport enthusiasts should protect their eyes using properly fitted, sports-rated eyewear that filters out 100% of UV light. Those with less than perfect vision benefit from the availability of prescription goggles. In either case, the risks of not protecting your eyes include keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), conjunctivitis, and retina damage, not to mention direct injury to the eye.
While our body is able to repair much of the damage we do it, the lens of the eye can’t repair itself. The risk of irreversible damage is too high to risk. We also have a tendency to think the sun is less intense during the dark winter months, but the winter sun sits lower in the sky and exposure can actually increase.
So, while you raise your glass to toast the winter events, remember it’s a lot more fun when you can clearly see the smiling faces around you celebrating a day on the slopes together.
Visit The Center to learn more about keeping your sight safe this winter.
Contact Lens Wearers are Turning to Strange Solutions
Posted on December 22nd, 2011 by Lisa P.Today’s guest blog comes from our friends at Bausch + Lomb: Dr. Michael Pier, Director of Professional Relations.
After years as a practicing optometrist, I thought I had heard everything when it came to patients and the wacky things they would do with their contact lenses. However, even I was surprised to hear about the results of a recent study conducted by the company I work for, Bausch+Lomb, which found that one in five people confessed to using “strange solutions,” such as beer, baby oil, Coke, butter, water and saliva to rinse and store their contacts.
From the study results, it seems some contact lens wearers are using saliva and tap water as a substitute for a multi-purpose solution. While many may think saliva and tap water are harmless, the truth is that these liquids should never come near your eyes! The average adult mouth contains 500 to 650 different types of bacteria, and both tap and distilled water may contain micro-organisms which can cause irreversible damage to the eye.
For those who wear contact lenses, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to take proper care of your contact lenses. Listen to the advice your eyecare professional shares about which multi-purpose solution you should be using to clean, disinfect, and store your lenses. Today, multi-purpose solutions come in convenient, two-ounce sample sizes that easily fit in a purse, gym bag, or office drawer so you can always have proper care at your fingertips, reducing the need to resort to unhealthy options. To my fellow eyecare professionals, make sure to discuss lens care (including multi-purpose solutions) with your patients, and encourage them to keep a sample size of solution nearby so they don’t have to turn to strange solutions.
For more about this study, please visit www.bausch.com. In the meantime, please take care of your eyes!
Let’s Talk Turkey about Eye Safety
Posted on November 18th, 2011 by Tammi B.
You’re probably planning your holiday meal preparations, and there are many recipes out there for deep fried turkey. Several of my friends have tried this and recommend it highly. They tell me it results in a tender, flavor-infused bird when properly done, and my local stores are moving necessary deep frying poultry paraphernalia to prominent locations in their Thanksgiving aisle displays.
What I would love to see included in these displays is a simple pair of protective goggles. Think about it: a 14 pound turkey lowered into a vat of boiling oil could easily result in a serious back splash of hot grease, and that is a clear risk for the eyes of the cook or those nearby. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that every household have at least one pair of protective eyewear to use during activities that may present a risk of eye injury. They have a guide on preventing eye injuries in the home you may find helpful.
So if you’re frying turkey and don’t have safety glasses, stop by your local hardware store and pick some up. One of my all time favorite songs is Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes. Here’s hoping the song’s meaning remains that of a romantic ballad only!
Your red swollen eyelid could be a sty
Posted on November 3rd, 2011 by Lee Anne P
My son is obsessed with keeping his hair long. As long as I can still see his eyes, I’m good with it, but I came home from work the other day and it was in fact right in his eyes. It was time for a haircut.
I scooped up his hair just so I could see him. Staring back at me was a swollen and red eyelid. “Hey!” I exclaimed, “What’s up with your eye?” He told me he thought he got bit by a mosquito.
In my past career as an optician I had seen this type of angry eye before and knew it was something more than a bug bite. I was 99.9% sure it was a sty. I quickly washed my hands and held up his eyelid to take a closer look. Gross! It looked like a pimple on the inside rim of his eyelid.
What causes a sty?
Sties are usually caused by obstructed oil glands in the eyelid and are infected by bacteria. Reasons include:
- Hormone changes
- Stress
- Outdated or infected cosmetics
- Hygiene
Symptoms
- Swelling of the eyelid
- A lump on the top of bottom of eyelid
- Pain
- Redness
- Crusting of the eyelid
Treatment
Warm compresses several times a day are the most common treatment for most sties. Your optometrist may prescribe antibiotics or pain medicine depending on the situation. In some cases, the eye doctor may have lance the sty to help it heal faster. It is not recommended to squeeze the sty, as this can worsen the infection. Makeup and contacts can also spread infection during treatment.
I immediately set up an eye appointment with my VSP doctor. I wanted to make sure my assessment was correct, and if it was, my eye doctor would know how to treat it.
After our visit he prescribed the normal home remedies and gave us a prescription for some eye drops to help the process along. Within a couple days, he was good as new. The long hair is still there, but now he keeps it just above his eyes.
Colored contacts don’t have to be scary
Posted on October 4th, 2011 by Tammi B.
Trick or Treat is around the corner! Halloween happenings are in the planning stages, and you might be looking for something to give your costume that extra ooomph that could win you first prize in a costume competition. Have you seen the variety of colored contact lenses available that can enhance your look? If you envision yourself as a vampire with amber eyes a la Twilight or you are going gaga over the anime look in the video Bad Romance, here are some things you should know to keep your fantasy Halloween look from becoming a nightmare.
Contact lenses are classified by the FDA as medical devices and it is illegal to sell them without a prescription, even if the lenses themselves are non-prescription. Avoid the temptation to order these lenses online or off the rack. We all come in different sizes, shapes, and colors and this applies to our eyes as well. A properly fitted contact lens may enhance your costume or character, but an improper fit can do serious harm to your eyes.
VSP’s The Center has more information about colored contacts, including makeup tricks as an alternative. But remember, a simple visit to your eye doctor for a fitting and for information on what safe options are available to you will keep your eyes healthy and help you avoid risks like infection, eye damage, and even vision loss – things that are truly frightening!
Mean Irene: A Pseudo – New Yorker’s Account
Posted on August 31st, 2011 by Lisa P.
Danielle DeVoren, VSP member (Hoboken, NJ)
Today’s post comes from our East Coast friend and VSP member, Danielle DeVoren. She shares her experience with Hurricane Irene.
This past weekend New York and the Northeast braced for one of the worst hurricanes in decades to hit its coast line.
New York (and in my case Hoboken, NJ) prides itself on being prepared, but are also often times over confident. However, with the constant warning from city officials there was no mistaking it – it was imperative to lay low!
In the 24 hours leading up to Irene’s visit, grocery store shelves were ransacked and the flashlight became the hottest commodity in town while we braced for her wrath. In Hoboken, the city literally shut down in the early afternoon on Saturday. Bars and restaurants were ordered to be closed by early evening, and ground floor apartments were subject to mandatory evacuation.
Living on the fifth floor, I just waited. There was true calm before the storm. The air was muggy and smelled like the beach. We waited… and waited… we watched the rain stop and start the wind pick and die back down. By early morning on Sunday (when I woke up) the worst was over. In cities like NYC and Hoboken, destruction was really on a block-by-block basis. Some blocks were completely flooded and some left unscathed. My block was somewhere in between, my apartment had a few small leaks in the roof (being on the top floor) and the basement of my building definitely collected some water.
As I watch the news, I realize how lucky I am, as some homes, cars and businesses in the Northeast were completely destroyed. Some of my colleagues still don’t have power. So while for me personally it wasn’t as bad as predicted, I was impressed by how my community banded together to ensure our safety.
Special note to VSP members and doctors:
- VSP Members: If your glasses were lost or damaged due to the hurricane, please call our member services support line at 800.877.7195 for reinstatement of your benefits, regardless of eligibility.
- VSP Doctors: If your practice has been affected due to the hurricane please call 800.852.7600, ext. 7373. We’d like to offer any assistance you might need so that you can provide care to your patients if you choose to do so.
See golf better.
Posted on August 22nd, 2011 by Lisa P.
The sun is out, the days are long—perfect time to grab your clubs and hit the links. But is your eyewear helping make every swing your best?
Golf is a game of precision. That’s why Nike Vision sunwear, in prescription and non-prescription, offers the patented Nike MAX Golf Tint™ to help make the ball “pop” and highlight the contours of the green.
Specially tuned to the game of golf, this tint is ideal for any course, in the sun or under the clouds.
It enhances critical details of the fairway and green and helps you navigate the unique visual challenges of the golf course.
Exclusive to VSP Members
As a VSP member, you can use your benefit towards prescription Nike sunwear. Interested in adding the Nike MAX Golf Tint? Just talk to your VSP doctor.
About Nike Eyewear
Nike eyewear is superior and trusted by the best athletes in the world. Why? Because Nike has developed proprietary technology that allows athletes to see their sport better, such as:
- Nike Max Optics: virtually distortion-free optics
- Nike lens tints: specially tuned for specific sports to provide maximum performance
- Nike eyewear’s fit and function: based on work with elite athletes to gauge their sport needs.
Find out more about Nike Eyewear
Visit The Center at vsp.com for more information and to view the different styles for both men and women.
Relax your eyes and run.
Posted on August 11th, 2011 by MaryBeth
If you’re a runner, you know the strain both your body and eyes endure on long-distance runs. So does Nike Vision. That’s why Nike sunwear, in prescription and non-prescription, offers the patented Nike MAX Speed Tint™, engineered for runners facing both direct sunlight and the harsh light reflected off asphalt. When you run, you focus your eyes on a single spot for extended stretches, so the Nike MAX Speed Tint is scientifically tuned to relax your eyes and body and enhance your run.
Exclusive to VSP Members
As a VSP member, you can use your benefit towards prescription Nike sunwear. Interested in adding the Nike MAX Speed Tint? Just talk to your VSP doctor.
About Nike Eyewear
Nike eyewear is superior and trusted by the best athletes in the world. Why? Because Nike has developed proprietary technology that allows athletes to see their sport better, such as:
- Nike Max Optics: virtually distortion-free optics
- Nike lens tints: specially tuned for specific sports to provide maximum performance
- Nike eyewear’s fit and function: based on work with elite athletes to gauge their sport needs.
Find out more about Nike Eyewear
Visit The Center at vsp.com for more information and to view the different styles for both men and women.
What’s hot this summer? Sunwear, for guys, that’s what!
Posted on August 3rd, 2011 by fashionmavenLast month we reviewed what was happening in the fashion world regarding summer eyewear trends for gals. This month, we’re checking out what some of the hot ”guywear” trends are this summer. Here’s the scoop gentlemen…
Colors: Brown, sand, gray and clear or a combo of color and clear (all about neutrals)
Style: Small round (like John Lennon), small square or rectangle (think Johnny Depp), aviator or navigator (for sunwear)
Details: Keyhole bridges, two tone and for sunwear blue or white to make an impact
So, using all the scoop gathered for both gal and guy trends, I picked out my new frames. Going with what’s happening in “guywear.” Kooky. I know, right? Selected small, square, “geek chic” look for everyday and for sun, decided on navigator (squared off aviator) in shiny silver with “flash” mirror coating (this type of mirror coating still allows others to see one’s eyes through the lenses unlike the true mirror coating that shows one’s reflection).
I can’t leave you without tossing out a tiny word of caution. Please, please, please get UV protection on your prescription eyewear and/or sunwear. Consider polycarbonate lens material, if your VSP doctor feels it’s appropriate, which inherently has UV protection and can be tinted for sunglasses.
For those of you that don’t need a prescription, and are on the prowl for new shades, look for 100% UVA/UVB protection, it’ll be noted on the lenses. Every little precaution helps lessen sun damage…talk about other UV options with your VSP doctor.