By: Jenni Williams

Marion Optician

Summer’s coming fast folks! Have you started looking for shorts and sandals? Sun screens and tanning lotions? Just like with sun block the more SPF (sun protection factor) the better the protection for your skin, right? Well do you have the right amount of protection for your eyes?

Most people wear sun block when they go outdoors to prevent those nasty wrinkles and skin cancer, but do you realize that your eyes are just as vulnerable to the sun as your skin is? UVA and UVB are harmful rays that the sun gives off daily that can not only cause skin aging, burning and skin cancer, but they can also lead to many eye conditions and diseases. Cataracts, melanoma of the eye lids and/or the eye, macular degeneration can all lead to blindness….the list goes on!

If you are ready to invest in a great pair of sunglasses, a polarized lens may be just what you need! There are many different colors of polarized lenses to choose from – it all depends on what and how you are going to use your sun wear that can help your eyecare professional determine what is best for you. Do you hunt? Are you an over the road (OTR) driver, hiker or biker? How about a fisherman or weekend boater? What ever it is that you enjoy doing or do for a living, there is a polarized lens option for you.

Brown and copper lenses enhance your greens and reds while outdoors. This particular color of lens is best suited for driving, boating, and skiing. It blocks “blue light” which is what makes images appear “cloudy” of “foggy”. Brown and copper are my color of choice….could it be yours too?

Grey and grey-green (G-15) lenses tend to work the best for most all lighting conditions. It provides the truest color reception, without causing distortion. It naturally has the best glare reduction on roadways, grasses (golf courses) and water. 8 out of 10 people prefer grey or grey-green (G-15) lenses due to it being the most commonly available. They have been around the longest, causes the least eye fatigue if worn for long periods of time, and have the widest availability in prescription range, lens materials and multifocal lens types.

Yellow polarized lenses are also available, but not as popular. They are primarily used by target shooters and people who participate in dusk and/or dawn activities, such as jogging, running, biking or walking. Yellow allows the pupils to widen – letting in maximum light, which is great for those times of the day that you need light, but want protection….they are NOT good for bright sunny or snowy days.

The newest member of the polarized family is the SolFx lens. This polarized lens comes in two different colors – ash (light grey) and carmel (light brown). This particular lens style has a photochromatic technology combined with superior polarized technology. What does that mean you might ask? Well, this lens is a transition lens, with a polarized property. SO, your lenses change color to the conditions outside. They start off light in the early part of the day, and darken as the day goes on. This lens is the BEST option on the market for motorcycle drivers and hunters.

So the next time you are ready to purchase a new set of sunglasses, think about a polarized pair. Ask any of our Opticians at any of our 4 locations about your options in sun wear. Open your eyes to a clearer tomorrow….your eyes will thank you!

Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis

By Dr. Kimberly Cruise

It’s only March, but allergy season is already in full swing here in eastern Iowa.  None of us are complaining about the unseasonably mild temperatures, but that doesn’t come without consequences, especially for those with seasonal allergies.  For these individuals spring brings with it, redness, itching, watering and swelling of the eyelids.

Allergic conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the tissue lining the eyelids and white of the eye.  The best treatment for allergic conjunctivitis is dependent upon the type and severity of the allergic inflammation.

Eye infections often imitate allergic conjunctivitis, so it’s important to have your eyes examined by an eye doctor.  The optometrists at Iowa EyeCare are trained to evaluate and treat all types of conjunctivitis, including that which is caused by allergies.

Iowa EyeCare has locations in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Robins, and Hiawatha.  Call us now to schedule an appointment at 319-377-2222.

By Dr. David Christensen

New advancements in optical technology have allowed the creation of a new type of contact lens for the correction of astigmatism called “Duette”.  Duette lenses, a product from Synergeyes, combines the comfort of a soft lens with the superior vision of a rigid lens.  The result is all day comfort and ”high-definition” visual clarity for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

The Duette lens eliminates many of the problems associated with other types of contact lenses.  For instance, other soft lenses that attempt to correct for astigmatism can rotate on the eye, causing significant blur.  Rigid lenses correct this problem by allowing your own tears to fill in behind the lens, eliminating the astigmatism, but they can be very uncomfortable and don’t always stay centered on the eye.

Duette lenses are a “hybrid” contact lens, which have the best of both rigid and soft lenses combined.  Duette lenses have a rigid gas-permeable center to provide wearers with unprecedented visual quality and a large soft-lens “skirt” that comfortably stabilizes the lens.

If you are tired of putting up with inconsistent vision and poor comfort in your contact lens, or if you’ve previously been told you can’t wear contact lenses because of your prescription, then you need to experience what the Duette lens can do for you.

Contact Iowa EyeCare today by calling 319-377-2222 or contact us online.

By Lory Hockett, Optical Assistant

Plastic verses High Index lenses

When glasses were first being made Glass and Plastic materials were the only options. That isn’t the case anymore. You have more choices now than ever before.

Primarily plastic is the standard lens material. The main reason plastic became so popular was the fact it is less than half the weight of glass. A few more reasons that glass lenses are at the way side, is that plastic has better ultraviolet protection, tints easier, and less chance of shattering if hit hard. So overall much safer.

Since plastic could essentially still shatter, they came out with a lens called Polycarbonate. We fit almost all kids into this lens primarily for the safety factor. It’s shatter resistant. But a lot of adults choose to wear this lens because of the safety factor but also because it is slightly thinner and lighter in weight than that of even plastic. Another reason this lens is so popular is that is used in safety eyewear as well as rec specs for sporting needs.

Even though Polycarbonate lenses look as though everyone should wear them, there are reasons that people aren’t. Main reason is that of the prescription. Some prescriptions will see better out of plastic material, therefore, they came out with what’s called High index material.

High Index material is thinner and lighter material with better optics than that of polycarbonate. These lenses range from 1.54 to 1.74 of index of refraction. Which means material with a higher refractive index can bend light more efficiently and allow for better vision. These high index lenses are used based on script and frame size. Anyone of our professional opticians at any of our 4 locations can help determine which is the best fit for you as the individual.

Contact Iowa EyeCare by calling 319-377-2222 or contact us online.

By Jenni Williams, Optical Assistant

Here is an example of what anti-glare lenses can do!

Anti-glare has come a long way for both optics and patients alike. Since 1997, over 150 million patients make anti-glare a part of their eyewear needs. Anti-glare has many technological advances that help cut down on smudging, scratching, and keeping lenses free of dirt, oil, and water. Students, toddlers, retired persons, farmers, office workers, TV personalities…the list goes on and on. No matter what your profession or hobbies, anti-glare lenses can help improve your everyday life by allowing you to see the world “cleaner!”

Anti-glare can help you with everyday driving conditions, whether you are the driver or the passenger. Safer, easier, more comfortable conditions by reducing unwanted headlight, street light, tail light, wet asphalt roadways and dirty windshield glare. It might not make you a better driver…BUT it will make you more comfortable behind the wheel!

Cosmetically, anti-glare makes your eyewear appear less noticeable by opening up your “face” and “eyes.” Nobody likes to see a photo of themselves with a bright, shiny pair of lenses on their face. People want to be noticed IN their eyewear, not noticed by the annoying, obnoxious “glasses.” Anti-glare gives off the appearance of “invisible lenses in your frame.” Who wouldn’t like that?

Tired eyes or headaches bringing you down? That is one of the most common complaints that we as professionals hear from our patients. With reflections from over head lighting, TV’s, cell phone and computer screens, along with many other everyday obstacles, anti-glare lenses help eliminate these common problems by allowing 85-95% more light through your lenses to help relieve headaches and eye fatigue.

So, the next time you update your eyewear, think about anti-glare lenses. Ask one of our many opticians at any of our 4 locations for more details. You will be glad you did!

Contact Iowa EyeCare by calling 319-377-2222 or contact us online.

By Dr. Ryan Nelson

Clear Care uses Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide contact lens care systems are, in my clinical experience, superior and I recommend them to all of my patients.   
For the past 3 years I have asked every patient who sufferers from a serious contact-lens related problem, which type of solution they are using.  I cannot remember a single instance when a patient was using hydrogen peroxide.  Instead, these patients are always using multi-purpose solutions, or non-disinfectant solutions. 

Regardless of care system it is important to strictly adhere to the directions on the package insert.  I like hydrogen peroxide is that it forces the user to be more compliant.  When I ask patients who use a multi-purpose solution, many of them fail to remove old solution and instead using all new solution, they “top-off” their contact lens case when they take their lenses out.  This problem does not occur for those using hydrogen peroxide.

Once I recommend hydrogen peroxide to a patient, they rarely switch to something different.  Hydrogen peroxide is easily found at every location that multipurpose solutions are sold and is not more expensive than multipurpose contact lens solution. Additionally, patients are less likely to develop a hypersensitivity to hydrogen peroxide verses other multi-purpose solutions.

One advantage multipurpose solutions have over hydrogen peroxide is storage duration.  It is acceptable to store your contact lenses in multipurpose solutions for up to 30 days.  Individuals should not keep their contact lenses in used hydrogen peroxide for more than 48 hours.  Patients also need to be careful that they do not apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the eyes.

Recent studies by the University of Michigan and the University of Washington, Seattle have linked poor vision with an increased risk for cognitive disorders.

The importance of routine eye care cannot be under stated. Decreased vision due to cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration or other eye-realted conditions have long been associated with poor quality of life, but evidence now suggests that it could be a contributor for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

At the University of Michigan, elderly people with untreated vision problems were found to have a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease 9 times greater than those whose vision was treated.

In Seattle, it was found that visual impairment is associated with both an increased risk and an increased clinical severity of Alzheimer’s disease.

In the United States, an estimated 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and someone develops the disease every 69 seconds. Unless something is done, as many as 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s in 2050 and someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds. In 2010, 14.9 million family members and friends provided 17 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $202.6 billion.

Iowa EyeCare is proud to announce the arrival of “Erin’s World” frames.

The “Erin’s World” frame line is uniquly designed to fit children and adults with Down’s Syndrome.  The bridge between lenses is positioned lower than other frames to better fit individuals with smaller noses.  Erin’s World frames come in variety of styles and sizes.

For more information on Erin’s World visit:

http://www.specs4us.com/index.html

Iowa EyeCare has office locations in Cedar Rapids, Robins, and Marion, Iowa.  We would be happy to fill your current prescription at our office laboratory in Marion.  If you need a glasses prescription, our eye doctors are also available Monday through Saturday.  Please call 319-377-2222 to schedule an appointment for an eye exam.

Blur due to Irregular Cornea

Refractive surgery, corneal transplants, infections and corneal syndromes like Keratoconus are among the many potential causes for irregular corneas. An irregular cornea results in symptoms of blur and distortion that glasses and most contact lenses are unable to correct.  Visual symptoms from an irregular cornea are constant, but often worsen in dim light when the pupil is more dilated.

In the past, some of these individuals were fit with rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses.  RGP lenses do not conform to the shape of the eye like a soft lens does.  Instead the RGP’s rigid structure allows tears to fill in behind the lens and create an optically smooth surface for light to enter the eye and provide improved vision.  Unfortunately, RGP lenses are too uncomfortable for most patients, are easily lost, and can cause scarring to the front surface of the eye.

ClearKone Lens Design

ClearKone is a new hybrid contact lens product that has both the comfort of a soft lens combined with the acuity benefits of a rigid lens.  ClearKone is an improvement upon other similar hybrid products because its unique design is more comfortable and easier to remove than older hybrid lenses.

Special expertise is required to fit the ClearKone lens.  Currently, Dr. Ryan Nelson, optometrist at Iowa EyeCare in Cedar Rapids, is the only physician in  Iowa approved fit ClearKone lenses.  Dr. Nelson gives each ClearKone candidate extensive one-on-one time during the fitting process to ensure a good contact lens fit the first time.

“The ClearKone design is sure to revolutionize the way patients with irregular corneas are managed.  Some of my patients have been overwhelmed with emotion when they experience the ClearKone lens for the first time,” says Dr. Nelson.

To schedule an appointment or to learn more about ClearKone lenses, call Iowa EyeCare at 319-377-2222.

Contact us at www.iowaeyecare.com.