Duane Pettit O.D.

Sunglasses are not only stylish, but they can also help to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection offer the best protection. A hat with a large brim can also help in protecting the eyes from sunrays.

Did you know that frequent headaches can be a sign of a vision problem? Since changes in vision occur so gradually, people often don’t notice the changes outright. However, chronic headaches are a sign that it’s time to see the eye doctor.

One of the most recognizable parts of an eye doctor’s office is the eye chart, with its large "E" at the top of the chart. This is a called a "Snellen Chart," named after Herman Snellen, an ophthalmologist from the Netherlands who created the chart to be used to test visual acuity in 1862.

If you wear glasses to see distances, but find you often need help reading small print, it may be time to ask your optometrist about bifocals. On these glasseswhich are often seamless and look like any other pairthe bottom portion of the lens acts as a magnifying glass.

Be careful when putting on makeup and hairspray. Also, makeup expires and should not be kept for more than three months after you open it. Also, do not share makeup with anyone. Following these tips will help you to avoid eye infections.

When playing sports, make sure your eyes are well protected. Sports goggles made of polycarbonate plastic are stronger than regular plastic. The organization Prevent Blindness America recommends sports goggles marked as ASTM F803 approved. Sports goggles are especially important when playing racquetball, tennis, and basketball. If you play softball or baseball, you can find batting helmets with built in polycarbonate face shields.

A person who smokes 15 or more cigarettes a day is three times more likely to develop cataracts. Additionally, a person who smokes is about four times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration; similarly, those who live with smokers double their risk.

Sunglasses should be chosen based upon more than their good looks. Make sure the pair you select blocks at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays and offers UV 400 protection. If you drive, gray-, green-, or brown-tinted lenses are better than yellow or rose lenses, which can distort how you view traffic lights.

Corrective vision contact lenses address vision problems by refocusing light so it enters the eye properly. Spherical lenses bend light in every direction to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. Toric lenses are weighted to redirect light in a specific direction for people with astigmatism.

How popular were eyeglasses in the 15th century? In Milan, dukes gave hundreds of glasses away as gifts to their royal advisers. Historians report that 52 different manufacturers of eyeglasses had shops in Florencethe key city during the period for the production of spectaclesItaly between 1413 and 1562 to handle the ever-increasing demand.

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.

What is astigmatism? This is a very common eye condition in which vision is blurry at all distances. Your eye is sphere-shaped, which is necessary, as the cornea bends or refracts light so you can see things clearly. Astigmatism means the eye is not completely round.

What is glaucoma? It is an eye condition caused by a high level of pressure in the eye because of excess fluid. The condition is serious, but fairly common, affecting about 3 million people in the U.S. Your optometrist can diagnose glaucoma with a dilated eye exam.