DR WILLIAM SHAFFER OPTOMETRIST

How does an eye chart test a person’s vision? The patient is placed 20 feet from the chart, or through the use of mirrors, looks into a screen that approximates that distance. If you have 20/20 vision, it means you are able to see clearly from 20 feet what a normal person should see from that distance.

Most optometrists agree that for contact wearers, simplicity is best. For example, always inserting the first contact lens in the same eye is a good idea, as it allows you to avoid the possibility of mixing up your lenses for your right and left eyes.

Nearsightedness, medically known as myopia, is the most common cause of poor eyesight, especially in younger adults. It refers to being able to see well at close range, but not objects at a distance.

During World War II, pilots in the British Royal Air Force consumed large quantities of blueberries, which they believed improved their vision especially at night. A recent study in Japan confirmed blueberry juice helped reduce eyestrain and improved weak eyesight.

A variety of new treatments are being developed to correct farsightedness or presbyopia. However, the National Institutes of Health point out that prescription eyeglasses are still the most immediate, effective, and affordable solution for the majority of people.

Did you know that your nose gets runny when you cry because the tears from your eyes drain into your nose?

Did you know that 80 percent of a child's learning is based on vision? Since excellent sight and healthy eyes are critical to your child's development, it is important to have your child regularly visit his or her optometrist.

Nystagmus is a visual condition where the eyes make repeated patterns of uncontrolled movement, which can greatly affect overall eye sight. These repeated eye movements can be either side-to-side or up-and-down, or even be circular, resulting in the eyes being unable to hold a steady view of objects before them.

Do you know what eye teaming is? This refers to the proper alignment of your eyes so that they are working together. Eye teaming problems can cause headaches, eye strain, and other issues, and need to be addressed.

It’s said that 70 percent to 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes, and that one out of every four children has a visual problem that can actually affect their learning. Visual perception and eye movement testing are said to be great predictors of academic performance.

If you work at a computer or similar device for extended periods, you increase your chances for eyestrain. If you are beginning to experience discomfort, schedule an appointment for a checkup and to discuss how specially designed computer glasses can help make work more comfortable.

Did you know that more than 100,000 eye injuries occur each year as a result of using common household products? Regular eyeglasses do not always provide adequate protection like some people might think. When working with chemicals (detergents, bleach, cleaning solutions), consider wearing safety glasses which offer better protection than eyeglasses. Most safety glasses are large enough that they can slip over your eyeglasses.

Did you know that your parents ability to see color could affect your color vision if you’re male? While a man with red-green color blindness can’t pass this onto his sons, a woman with red-green color blindness will.

Did you know that the most prescribed product by optometrists is artificial tears for patients with dry eyes? Most patients are not aware that UV rays can damage their eyes, and not just their skin. Be sure to wear sunglasses when outdoors.

Minerals and supplements are good for the body and eyes in that they help your body metabolize those vitamins you’ve been taking to help protect your eyes. They have an added bonus of balancing your hormones.

If you have a scratch on your eye, seeing an eye doctor is important. If you have a corneal abrasion, it may heal on its own. However, a deep scratch could leave a scar that can seriously affect your vision.

Pinkeye is a condition that is most often benign and goes away on its own. However, some patients do end up with light sensitivity or even vision loss. It’s important to get your eyes checked if you suspect you may have it.

Do you take proper care of your contact lenses? Proper care can protect you from Acanthamoeba keratitis, an infection that can threaten your eye sight.

Why are reading glasses an inevitability for virtually everyone? As we age, the eye lens becomes stiffer. That means the ability to easily focus on objects up close in our youth slowly becomes more and more difficult. For most people, reading glasses or bifocals solve the problem.

Have you suddenly increased your computer usage, and found that you are getting headaches? Reading the bright, pixelated screens of computers can cause eye-strain, and you may need glasses for this purpose. Try adjusting the brightness of your screen to see if that will make it a little more comfortable.

High levels of cholesterol affect more than the heart and cardiovascular system; it can also damage the blood vessels of the retina (the layer of tissue at the back of the eye). If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, we recommend regular eye exams to monitor for retinal damage.

If you’re using home remedies for your eyes and are only seeing results temporarily, make sure you come in to see us if the symptoms persist for more than two days. It’s not normal for the eyes to feel bad for that long.

Your mother was wrong, at least about one thing: Reading in the dark won’t cause your vision to deteriorate. The worst it will do is give you a temporary headache. Just don’t tell her we told you so.

If you are having problems with your vision and notice that objects appear distorted and blurry at any distance, you may have astigmatism, which is the most common vision problem.

If your optometrist determines you have a visual acuity score of 0.00, what does that mean? The number correlates to 20/20 vision and is calculated using a standardized formula identifying the size of letters accurately read from the LogMAR chart.

While spending eight hours a day in front of a computer for work is hardly comparable to hard physical labor, it can still take its toll on your eye health. If you spend the bulk of your time in front of a computer screen, be sure to let us know during your next eye exam.

Did you know that all babies are born color blind? However, our adult eyes are able to detect around 10 million different colors. They have a skill so subtle that we can even distinguish between 500 various shades of grey.

For those with several vision problems, you can select from bi-focal lenses, tri-focal lenses, or progressive lenses. Depending on your prescription, we will work with you to find a lens type with which you are most comfortable.

A good tip to refrain from eye strain while working on the computer is to look away every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This rule is known as the 20/20/20 rule and helps to readjust your eyes, according to mayoclinic.com.

Did you know that the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that children have their eyes checked by the age of five to rule out lazy eye or misaligned eyes? Periodic eye check-ups every few years is a good idea. A person’s vision can change over time.

Up to 45 million Americans suffer from allergies, which can cause severe eye irritation that may require treatment. The top five cities for fall allergies include Louisville (KY), Wichita (KS), Oklahoma City (OK), Dayton (OH) and McAllen (TX).

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) occurs when there are changes to your macula. This results in a loss of central vision and can occur in two forms: atrophic and exudative.

If you work with computers for long amounts of time, spend 20 seconds every 20 minutes looking at an object 20 feet away to help refocus your eyes and prevent eyestrain.

Check your insurance many of our services are covered by most policies, especially those that center on children’s eye care. Because we work with most insurance plans, we can let you know what is covered by your carrier.

Did you know that your daily habits can be seriously injuring your eyes? Not only does regular exposure to UV rays ruin the eyes, but things like sitting too close to the TV and too many hours in front of the computer will harm your eyesight.

Historians know that, at some point between the 11th and 13th centuries, the first eyeglass was developed a reading glass of sorts, by using the natural magnification power of convex-shaped glass. One of the first mentions of this type of eyeglass was in the writings of Roger Bacon, a Franciscan friar who experimented with eyeglasses during the 13th century.

Myopia or nearsightedness is a vision condition that causes objects far away to seem blurry. This occurs when your eyeball is too long, or the cornea has too much curvature.

Glaucoma can harm your eye’s optic nerve. As a result, you can experience a loss in vision or blindness. Early detection and treatment can help from severe loss in vision. For this reason, it’s important to get regular eye examinations.

Antibiotic drops and ointments can in two or three days relieve the symptoms and discomfort of bacterial conjunctivitis. To eradicate the infection and prevent its return, it’s important to complete the entire course of treatment prescribed by the optometrist.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there are 153 million people around the world with vision problems due to refractive errors. Although refractive errors cannot be prevented, early detection can sometimes help a person's eyesight from becoming worse.

If you’ve been diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis, take steps to reduce the risk of reinfection. Wash hands often but avoid touching your eyes. Pitch or sterilize all cosmetic applicators. Throw away and replace all eye cosmetics (mascara, shadow, concealer, etc.).

There are several different types of eye surgeries designed to reshape the cornea: LASIK, RK (radial keratotomy), or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy). LASIK and PRK use a laser, whereas RK uses a knife to cut slits in the cornea and reshape it.

Acute angle closure glaucoma usually occurs abruptly due to a rapid increase of pressure in the eye. Common symptoms of this condition include severe eye pain, nausea, redness in the eye, colored rings around lights, and blurred vision.