What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Tears provide moisture and lubrication to help you see and keep your eyes comfortable. Tears come from glands around your eye. Dry eye is used to describe dysfunctional tear syndrome. Having inadequate quality of tears affects both the cornea and the conjunctiva.

The chances of acquiring dry eye increases with age and among post-menopausal women. Air conditioning, heat or environmental surroundings could dry out your tears. Dry eye could be a side effect of certain drugs like antihistamines. Some diseases that can affect dry eyes is rheumatoid arthritis, collagen vascular diseases, and Sjogren’s syndrome.

The symptoms are discomfort and sensitivity to light, the eye may become dry, red and inflamed. Your eyes may have a gritty, sandy feeling and a feeling like there is something in your eye. They may feel itchy, and even some blurry vision.

Prescription and lubricating eye drops can reduce dryness. We suggest consulting with Bolduc Eye Care for other tips or help with dry eye.

Blue & Green, Brown & Blue, Green & Brown

To better understand Heterochromia, we should first break down the word itself. Hetero refers to different and chromia refers to color. So, we can say that a person diagnosed with Heterochromia has two different colored eyes. A person with Heterochromia could have a blue eye and a green eye or a green eye and a brown eye, for example. Heterochromia can also be referred to as Heterochromia Iridis or Heterochromia Iridum. Both Iridis and Iridum simply refer to the iris which is where melanin pigment is present and where your eye color is.You may be wondering what melanin has to do with our eye color. The amount of melanin present in the eye determines the color. If your eyes are blue, for example, you have less pigment than a brown eyed person. While two different eye colors may seem like a problem, it really is not. It is not considered a disease and should not have any effects on a person's vision. Do you or someone you know have Heterochromia? What about your pets? Tell us in the comment section below!

The Truth About 20/20 Vision

An eye chart, also known as a Snellen Chart, was invented by Ferdinand Monoyer and named after an ophthalmologist by the name of Herman Snellen. An eye chart's use is to check for visual acuity, and can be found in the offices of optometrists and physicians. By measuring a person's visual acuity, you can check for vision impairments and then properly diagnose and treat. Most people hope to receive the news that they have 20/20 vision which is often believed to be "perfect" vision, but while 20/20 vision is good vision, it is not perfect vision. 20/20 vision means that while standing 20 feet from the eye chart you can read what the average person can. With this being said, some people have vision which is even greater than 20/20, for example, 20/15. In this particular case, 20/15 vision would mean that the patient can see at 20 feet from the chart what the average person would see at just 15 feet from the chart. When is the last time that you had your vision tested by a professional?

Eyeglasses 101

Here are some great (and not so great) things about wearing eyeglasses.

Pros 👍

• Eyeglasses are stylish and popular. They come in a variety of brands, styles, shapes, and colors. Some people without vision problems will even purchase and wear non-prescription glasses (fake glasses). 
• There is no denying that glasses make you look smarter. 😉
• Eyeglasses, unlike contact lenses, are never difficult to put on or remove. 
• They also have not been known to cause dry eyes or irritation. 
• They require little maintenance and cleaning. 

Cons 👎

• Because eyeglasses can get broken, it helps to have a spare handy just in case. 
• Sports and other activities may require you to switch to prescription goggles. 
• Condensation causes eyeglasses to fog up. 
• Some may argue that eyeglasses clash with their style or that they do not like the way that they look in them (we beg to differ). 😎

Eyeglasses, just like contact lenses, are an option for correcting impaired vision. While you consider the pros and cons that we have come up with, as well as your own, we recommend speaking to a professional. They are your best bet for helping you choose the right option for you.

Contact Lens 101

A contact lens is a thin lens that is placed over the surface of your eye. Contact lenses are used to improve visual defects. They have been known to come in both hard and soft textures. Some of the different types of contacts include the following: rigid gas-permeable, extended wear, daily wear soft, and planned replacement. Did you know that contact lenses date back to the 19th century when they were originally glass blown?

Pros 👍

• Improve & increase your field of view 
• Get creative with different color contact lenses
• Typically not affected by different weather conditions like rain
• Will not be an issue when playing sports and other activities 
• No need to worry about different styles and shapes like with glasses 

Cons 👎

• May be challenging for some to apply to their eye
• You could experience dry eyes due to lack of oxygen reaching the eyes
• Increased chance of experiencing "computer vision syndrome" 
• Must be cared for and cleaned
• Contact lenses require replacements
• Chance of experiencing irritation or infection 

* It is important to remember that contact lenses are a medical device. Improper use or use without consulting with a doctor first will be putting your eye health and vision at risk. Schedule an appointment with a contact lens specialist to see if contacts are a good option for you. CLICK HERE!

In The Blink Of An Eye

Eye injuries happen fast, often, and can often cause permanent damage and vision loss. It is estimated that nearly 90% of eye injuries that occur could have been prevented by wearing the proper eye protection. It is also estimated that less than half of people wear protective eyewear when they should. That is a lot of people willingly putting their eyes and ability to see at risk. Some examples of when you should wear protective eyewear such as glasses, goggles, eye guards, and safety shields include: 

• Playing sports such as:
• lacrosse, ice hockey, fencing, tennis, water polo, etc. 
• Working with or around hazards such as:
• chemicals, dust, debris, heat, optical radiation, etc.
• Certain occupations such as:
• welder, carpenter, laborer, machinist, plumber, etc. 
• At home activities such as:
• Mowing the lawn, operating power tools, handling cleaning chemicals, etc. 

If you have questions about proper eyewear protection for your daily activities or if you suffer an eye injury, please contact your local eye care facility for assistance. 

http://www.bolduceyecare.com/eyewear.html

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The Journey Of Light

The journey begins when light enters the eye through the cornea. The cornea bends, refracting the incoming light, allowing it to then pass freely through the pupil. The pupil is a hole located in the center of the iris. The iris is in charge of regulating the size of the pupil as the iris itself changes in size. The size is directly dependent on how much light is traveling through the eye. The next step on this journey is through the lens. When light travels through the lens it works similar to a camera and focuses that light onto the retina. The retina is composed of what are called "cones" and "rods" which are simply named for their shapes. Once the light has reached this point, the cones and rods then send a signal to the brain which produces an image for you.