We all see change in different ways. Some change can be annoying, such as having to take off your everyday eyeglasses to put on sunglasses every time you step. Change can also be liberating, such as freeing yourself from always carrying two sets of eyeglasses. In the case of glasses, the solution is simple: Transition Lenses.

Transition Lenses are prescription lenses that adjust their tint based on the amount of UV light exposure. Indoors, transition lenses are completely clear and look the same as traditional lenses. When outdoors, Transition Lenses automatically adapt their tint to account for UV exposure. This does not mean the lenses shift directly from clear to dark as you would experience when putting on sunglasses. Rather, Transition Lenses will adjust within a range, only reacting proportionately to the current level of UV exposure. In bright sunlight, they darken and function as traditional sunglasses might. With lower exposure, the tint level will only be dark enough to protect the eyes from the current environment. For those of us who haven’t found Freedom From Frames with Contacts, Transition Lenses are a nice alternative for “simplifying change”.

Beyond the convenience of only one pair of frames, there are many benefits associated with the proportionate transition to darker lenses. The range of tints offered by a single pair of lenses allows you to see better in any light – not just in the sun.  As fall draws near and days get shorter, we do more commuting at daybreak and dusk. For those who need glasses for driving, you are familiar with second-guessing how dark it is and then fumbling between glasses and sunglasses while trying to keep your eyes on the road. Others find themselves just tolerating the light, squinting to avoid the sun or to see poorly lit signs. While low- to mid-level lighting seems innocuous, its impact on your vision, wrinkles around the eye, headaches, and eye fatigue can be significant.

Switching to Transition Lenses has many benefits to positively change your lifestyle:

• Convenience and increased flexibility – We could all use one less thing to remember as we walk out the door and one less item to carry.
• Lower cost – while Transition Lenses carry a slightly higher cost than traditional lenses, you save the cost of a secondary pair of prescription sunglasses.
• More thorough eye protection – 100% protection from damaging UV rays in any light
• Reduced eye strain – a seamless transition from light to dark and vice versa means less squinting regardless of which way the lenses are transitioning

Talk with your eye doctor today about switching to Transition Lenses. These lenses are available to fit with most frame styles and sizes, and are an excellent choice for most prescriptions. As with traditional lenses, there are a variety of options for customizing the look, feel and weight of your new glasses with Transition Lenses. Change can be very good when you are mindful of the Transition.

Dr. Barrett Martin

Eye Doctor Serving Fuquay-Varina and Garner, NC

Johnson Optometric Associates

Eyeglasses are a great way to complete your look, no matter the style you are going for – from fashionable and trendy to professional and sophisticated, frames help say it all. However, as the summer heat ramps up and you kick your active summer lifestyle into gear, those ever so trendy frames can become more of a hassle than a fun accessory.

Anyone who has spent a summer in North Carolina is accustomed to the thick humidity this time of year.  If you wear glasses, you know this means foggy lenses when leaving the cool AC to go outside and frames that have a tendency to slide off your nose, seemingly encouraged by the slick sweat brought on by our climate. There is an alternative to this frustration.

Free yourself from frames and enjoy the benefits of contact lenses.

There are many different soft contact lens options available on the market to fit just about every need and lifestyle.

Daily Contacts: wear them once and dispose of them that night. No need for cleaning solution or cases!

Daily contacts are a great solution, especially for kids and teens just learning how to maintain their eye health. A new pair each day ensures contact lenses are clean and fresh with little to no risk of bacteria getting in your eyes. Just remember to wash your hands before putting contacts in and throw them out every night. Many types of daily lenses are available to correct a variety of refractive errors including multi-focals (correcting distance and near vision) and astigmatism. Some of the most common brands include:

• Ciba Dailies with Aqua Comfort Plus
• Clearsight Dailies
• Acuvue 1 Day Moist
• Proclear Dailies
• Ciba Dailies Multifocals with Aqua Comfort Plus
• Ciba Dailies for Astigmatism with Aqua Comfort Plus.

Monthly Lenses: wear daily and clean nightly with fresh solution.

Monthly Lenses are another great contact lens option, whether wearing them all-day or just for a few hours.  Nightly cleaning with a contact lens solution keeps the lenses clean and fresh. They should always be replaced at the end of the month and, like dailies, most brands should not be worn over night. There are a number of options when choosing monthly lenses.  Monthly lenses are made to correct most refractive errors (multi-focals and astigmatism) while providing ultimate comfort for the user all month long. Some of the most common brands include:

• Proclear
• Frequency 55
• Acuvue 2
• Purevision 2

Extended Wear Contact Lenses –FDA approved for overnight wear!

Extended wear contacts are the best option for “forgetful” wearers. These contact lenses are designed to be worn 24 hours a day for 7 days or with some lenses up to a full month! There is little to no cleaning required with the lenses. They are available in multifocals and astigmatism (except the monthly extended wear night lenses). Most common brands include:

• Air Optix Aqua
• Biofinity
• Acuvue Oasys
• Air Optix Night & Day
• Purevision

Regardless of which type of contact lens you choose or which brand, there is style and comfort to fit everyone.  While we always recommend having a back up pair of eyeglasses, enjoy a little freedom and take a break from your frames with contact lenses. Schedule an appointment with one of our family eye doctors to find out which contact lens is best for you!

Dr. Andrew May,
Family Eye Doctor Serving Fuquay-Varina and Garner
Johnson Optometric Associates

The first rays of summer’s warmth bring about a remarkable change in our daily eyewear routine. Where glasses and contact lenses once resided, polarized prescription and non-prescription sunglasses fashion frames now sit. And while it’s easy to get caught up in the latest eyewear styles and trends, think of your sunglasses as much more than a simple fashion accessory.

Sunglasses first and foremost serve as a barrier between your vulnerable eyes and damaging UV rays, which can put you at risk for eye disease later in life. We all know what a good sunburn feels like. Now imagine that in your eyes.  Your eyes are just as much as risk for damage by UV rays as your skin, so think of your sunglasses as sunscreen for your eyes.

It is important to keep in mind that not all sunglasses are created equal. Give your eyes the protection they deserve by purchasing a high-quality pair of sunglasses that can protect up to 100% of UV rays from the sun. When shopping, look for stickers indicating 400nm or 100 percent of UV ray blockage.

At Johnson Optometric Associates, we urge our patients to protect their eyes by wearing sunglasses all year round but especially, during the summer months.

When choosing sunglasses:

•          Look for 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays (also known as UV 400).

•          Choose sunglasses with lenses dark enough to reduce glare without distorting images.

•          Check that lenses are large enough to block sunlight from all angles.

If you are unsure that your sunglasses meet these standards, come into Johnson Optometric Associates and we can help you pick out a new pair that meets the aforementioned standards (and help you find that new fashionable look you are going for!)

Some other things to make sure you are protecting your eyes:

•          Wear glasses even if it’s cloudy. Rays can pass through haze and thin clouds.

•          It’s particularly important to wear glasses in the early afternoon and at higher altitudes where UV light is more intense.

•          Harmful UV rays can also reflect off of surfaces like snow and damage your eyes, so they are important to wear all year round.

While good sunglasses are typically a little more expensive, you don’t have to go overboard in the price department to find a fantastic pair that make you feel comfortable while protecting your eyes at the same time.

Come in and check out the latest fashion sunglasses and make sure your eyes have the best protection! We look forward to seeing you.

Dr. May,

I have always loved skipping stones off the surface of water. As a child, my friends and I would have a competition involving the number of times our rock would skip before sinking. Understanding if a stone is horizontal or parallel to the water, and how that will effect its ability to skip off the surface, is the key to success when skipping stones. The more vertical or perpendicular the stone is to the water, the more likely it will sink.

Light rays are reflected or absorbed based on the same principle. Most people consider light rays as traveling in a straight line, but they actually spiral in a waveform. Sometimes the wave is horizontal and other times it is vertical. One can imagine the horizontal wave of light reflecting off of a surface much like a stone skips off the surface of water. This reflected light causes glare and visual discomfort.

Polarized lenses are designed to block the horizontally oriented light while allowing the more vertically oriented light to pass through the lens. This technology gives our eyes the benefit of seeing the image without the accompanying reflections and glare our eyes would normally experience. At Johnson Optometric we almost always recommend polarized lenses. The most common example of the benefits of polarized sunglasses involves a fisherman who is able to see down into the water. However, there are several other ways polarized sunglasses can be beneficial. A car hood or asphalt road can be an extremely reflective surface, so for someone traveling, polarized lenses can greatly reduce eyestrain and fatigue. Sometimes people confuse glare with brightness. Often, patients get a much darker tinted lens,
but they actually could use a lighter tint with the benefit of polarization.

Currently, there are two broad categories of polarized lenses. First, sunglasses can have polarized lenses. Second, Transitions Vantage lenses will change tint from light to dark depending on lighting conditions. These lenses are polarized, but the polarization only takes affect when the lenses are darkened.

Although most patients will benefit from polarized lenses, there are some situations where they may not be advantageous. Pilots rely on reflections to spot other aircrafts in the area so wearing polarized lenses could reduce their ability to notice their surroundings. Also, many planes are equipped with LCD’s (Liquid Crystal Displays). LCD’s usually emit polar light. Polar light means the light rays from the display are not a spiral, but instead they are only oriented at a certain angle. A keen observer will notice, if they are wearing polarized lenses, the LCD will “disappear” when they tilt their head.. This “disappearance” can be a major problem if a pilot is relying on instrumentation thousands of feet in the air. LCD’s are also found in car instrumentation. However, I personally wear polarized lenses when driving and the “disappearance” is rarely an issue.

All of that said, Summer summer is here!!! Enjoy the bright sunshine without the glare and eyestrain. Stop by and ask your Johnson Optometric Optician about Polarized Sunglasses. Remember, we can make Prescription Polarized Sunglasses as well.

Optical professionals hear it all the time… “Doc I used to see crystal clear when I was reading or working on the computer, but now MY ARMS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH!!!!” Congratulations! You have reached a milestone in your life referred to as Presbyopia. When you were a child, the Crystalline Lens located behind the Iris (Colored portion of the eye) allowed you to change focus rapidly from distance to near. Over time, the Crystalline Lens becomes stiff which decreases the ability to change focus. This change usually occurs around 40 to 45 years of age. While this is extremely frustrating to patients, there are a number of Contact Lens options.

1: Keeping it Simple

You can continue to wear contact lenses that clear up your distance vision, and use some reading glasses for computer work, reading and sewing.

Pros:

• 100% of light focused for distance makes this option the best for distance vision

Cons:

• Reading glasses lying around your house, car, garage, desk, etc.
• You will ALWAYS need reading glasses to see ANYTHING up close

2: Use Newer Technology

Multifocal contact lens technology has come a long way over the past few years, and will keep improving as our lens options and wear time modality options increase. These sophisticated contact lenses work by having differing power zones in a circular pattern throughout the lens. Some zones are for distance focus, and some zones are for near focus.

Pros:

• Balanced vision as both eyes are seeing at all distances
• The need for glasses is typically minimal
• No decrease in contact lens comfort
• Friends will ask, “Why don’t you have to wear reading glasses?”
• Excellent for leisure activities when glasses are a hassle
• No need for Prescription Sunglasses

Cons:

• 50% of light focused for distance. 50% focused for near in each eye
• Distance vision may not be as “Crisp” as Option 1
• Some patients experience increased glare, especially at night
• Depending on your prescription, you may not be a good candidate for these lenses

3: Train Your Brain

“Monovision” is a technique that has been used for many years, and continues to help presbyopes today. This method uses the same contact lenses as Option 1, but with a major exception. The Non-Dominant eye is focused for near.  As you may imagine, there is some initial imbalance because the dominant eye is focused for distance and the non-dominant eye is focused for near. You must “train your brain” to use these lenses effectively, because one of your eyes will always be blurry.

Pros:

• The need for glasses is typically minimal
• No decrease in contact lens comfort
• Friends will ask, “Why don’t you have to wear reading glasses?”
• Excellent for leisure activities when glasses are a hassle
• No need for Prescription Sunglasses
• After “training your brain” to see with these lenses, most patients are very happy with the comfort and vision.

Cons:

• Reduced depth perception
• Some patients feel “off balance” initially
• Distance vision may not seem as “crisp” compared to Option 1

As children grow and progress in school, they face additional visual demands through increased class work and homework. During these formative years, good vision is the key to success in the classroom. Children’s eyes are constantly in use and when vision quality is lacking, educational motivation and participation can suffer as a result.

The most effective way to identify and diagnose childhood optical problems is by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with your local optometrist. By scheduling regular childhood eye exams, you avoid the adverse effects of visual problems such as headaches, learning problems and self-esteem issues down the line.

Often parents avoid scheduling eye exams because their child passed a vision screening at school. While vision screenings have a place in the school setting, they are not to be taken as an equal substitution for a comprehensive eye exam.

• Screenings last 3 – 5 minutes while a comprehensive eye exam often lasts 30 – 60 minutes. Given the limited amount of time dedicated to a school screenings they are designed to catch obvious symptoms.
• Vision screenings usually only test for nearsightedness (myopia).  A comprehensive exam tests for both farsightedness (hyperopia) and vision distortions (astigmatism).  These conditions are particularly important for children in a learning environment since these conditions can affect a child’s ability to read.

My child just had a vision screening at school and they passed.  Do they still need an eye exam?

Absolutely.  The vision screenings at school can be good at detecting issues (especially myopia, or nearsightedness), but many times miss other very important problems.  It is very common for school screenings to miss hyperopia, or farsightedness, which causes problems with reading and headaches.  We are able to find this fairly easily if we dilate the child.  Astigmatism is another problem that often goes undetected at school screenings.  Another important part of the exam is to make sure that the eye health is normal (eye pressure, iris, lens, retina, etc.), which only a qualified eye doctor can do.  – Dr. May

One of my classmates in Optometry school recently told me about a patient they saw. The child had no vision complaints, but the parents wanted their child to have a comprehensive eye exam. While performing the exam, my classmate noticed the optic nerves were swollen in each eye. This typically indicates elevated pressure around the brain and a MRI was ordered. The child had a brain tumor. How long would that tumor have continued to grow before being detected if an eye exam were not performed? While this is a rare occurrence, it can and does happen. – Dr. Martin

The bottom line is that comprehensive eye exams are much more effective at identifying problems that vision screenings are unable to catch given the obvious time constraints.  Check with your insurance provider, because most medical and vision insurance companies cover the cost of a routine eye exam as a preventative care visit.

It’s difficult to know when your child needs to have an eye exam for the first time. But most experts agree that your child’s eyes should be checked shortly after birth, before starting school and throughout their school years.

Infants at risk (meaning low birth weight and prematurity) should be seen before age 1.  Examination at early ages is important in detecting strabismus, which is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other.  This can cause one eye to develop amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” and if not corrected permanent vision loss can result.  It is important for parents to know that vision screenings at school many times are too late and may fail to detect strabismus. – Dr. Hartman

Vision Problems in Children
Vision problems in kids, such as uneven focus or a slightly wandering eye, tend to emerge between 18 months and 4 years old. While these conditions may not seem alarming, if either disorder goes unchecked, the child’s stronger eye starts ignoring the images coming from the weaker eye, and stops developing the nerve connections leading to it. By the age of 6 or 7, the vision loss in that weaker eye is usually permanent. Both of these conditions can be stopped and reversed, but they need to be caught early with a comprehensive vision screening.

Another issue is that sometimes the eyes are not symmetrical, meaning there are different amounts of prescription in each eye.  This happened to one of my children.  She was completely symptom-free and seeing great, and we just happened to check her eyes one day while one of her siblings was getting checked.  We found a huge difference between her two eyes.  We immediately got her glasses and were fairly aggressive with patching (to help strengthen the weak eye), and now both eyes are seeing equally and clearly.  We found this when she was 4, but if we had waited and found out later (6-7), it may have been irreversible.  – Dr. May

Early Vision Exams
Your child’s eyesight is important for their well-being and self-esteem. Begin a vision exam regiment early to help protect and preserve your child’s health. If you do encounter a vision problem, eye doctors can address vision problems in young children with corrective lenses or minor adjustments.

Most people underestimate the importance of well-fitting frames. In general, children are more active than adults, and they need glasses that will maintain a good fit during various activities. If the glasses are constantly falling off the patients face or sliding down the child’s nose, the child’s motivation to wear the glasses will decrease dramatically. At Johnson Optometric, we take pride in our quality frame selection as well as our expertise in helping the patient select an attractive and proper fitting frame. – Dr. Martin

This is part 4 of a 4-part series written by Johnson Optometric Associates, specifically focusing on seasonal allergies that affect our patient base in Wake County, North Carolina. This post will zero in on contact lens wearers and seasonal allergies.

First and foremost – if you suffer from seasonal eye conjunctivitis, limiting the hours spent wearing contacts may help relieve your symptoms. Contact lenses provide a surface that allergens can adhere to and create discomfort resulting in watery, red, swollen, itchy and burning eyes.

During allergy season, ensure that you are inserting a fresh, pollen-free lens each day. Allergens and histamines can sometimes become attached to the lens and are difficult to remove. If daily lenses aren’t available in your prescription, review your contact lens solution and care regimen with Johnson Optometric Associates.

For those who have more moderate to severe allergies, the best course of action may be to discontinue contact use until your symptoms have subsided. In some cases, you may need to take a mast cell stabilizer/antihistamine eye drop prior to inserting your lenses and after you take them out.

Using a rewetting eye drop 4-6 times a day to flush allergens from the eye can also be very effective. Stay away from products such as Visine or Cleareyes, which are vasoconstrictors. They reduce blood flow to the white part of your eye, which is not healthy.

Allergies are one of the leading causes of chronic disease in the United States, affecting approximately 30 percent of the population (Bielory, 2002). There are almost 40 million contact lens wearers in the United States (Nichols, 2009) and therefore, approximately 12 million contact lens-wearing patients who may suffer from allergies.

If you are a contact lens wearer suffering from seasonal eye allergies and would like to learn more about relieving your symptoms, please don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with Johnson Optometric Associates.

This is part 3 of a 4-part series written by Johnson Optometric Associates, specifically focusing on seasonal allergies that affect our patient base in Wake County, North Carolina. This post will zero in on treating seasonal eye allergies.

Over-the-counter
There are over-the-counter eye drops and oral medications available to help an eye allergy sufferer. This type of medicine is typically less expensive than prescription medications and commonly used to calm mild irritations. Eye drops containing decongestants (and possibly antihistamines), are available to help wash out and soothe the eyes. Oral antihistamines can also be mildly effective in relieving the itching associated with eye allergies. Prolonged use of OTC drops and oral medications may lead to increased swelling and redness that lasts days after discontinuing use of the products.

Prescription
Prescription eye drops and oral medications provide both short- and long-term targeted relief of eye conjunctivitis symptom.

• Antihistamine/Mast Cell Stabilizers – The newest eye drops have both an antihistamine and a mast cell stabilizer to treat and prevent eye conjunctivitis. They are used once or twice a day and provide long-lasting relief of itching, redness and burning.
• Mast Cell Stabilizers – Mast cell stabilizers are eye drops that prevent the release of histamine, which causes allergy symptoms. The drops must be taken before exposure to an irritant to prevent itching.
• Corticosteroids – Steroid eye drops that treat chronic and severe eye allergy symptoms, but continued use of the drops can have side effects, such as a risk of infection, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Allergy shots
If OTC and prescription medications do not alleviate your eye allergy symptoms, allergy shots or immunotherapy may be an option. Tiny amounts of the allergen are injected with gradually increasing doses over time. The shots can actually keep your body from reacting to the allergens. The treatment takes several months to achieve maximum results.

If using over-the-counter remedies are not relieving your symptoms, schedule an appointment with Johnson Optometric Associates to help you find a solution to your seasonal eye conjunctivitis.

This is part 2 of a 4-part series written by Johnson Optometric Associates, specifically focusing on seasonal allergies that affect our patient base in Wake County, North Carolina. This post will zero in on managing seasonal allergy eye symptoms.

Here in Wake County, allergy season is a five-month affair, beginning in April and ending in August. Your first approach to successfully managing eye conjunctivitis should be prevention. Be aware, though, that because many of the allergens that trigger eye allergies are airborne, avoidance is not always possible. With this in mind, here are a few tips for reducing seasonal allergen symptoms.

Avoid the Temptation
Rubbing itchy eyes may provide temporary relief, but this in fact can make things worse. Rubbing your eyes causes the release of more histamines, the body’s chemical reaction that initially caused your eye conjunctivitis. Instead, wash your hands, take contact lenses out (if you wear them), apply cool compresses to your eyes and avoid eye makeup.

Track the Daily Pollen Count
Staying up to date on the daily pollen count in Fuquay-Varina and Garner, enables you to minimize exposure and reduce allergy symptoms. These reports represent the pollen samples taken during the previous 24 hours. Counts are reported as low, moderate, high, or very high. These levels generally indicate your risk of developing allergy symptoms. Weather factors such as air temperature, wind speed, and humidity can greatly affect how much pollen is airborne at a particular moment.

Minimize Your Exposure
When pollen counts are high, wear glasses or sunglasses to keep allergens out of your eyes. In Wake County, tree, grass and weed pollens are the worst offenders during the allergy season. Limit exposure indoors by keeping your windows closed, the air conditioner on and avoiding the use of window fans that can draw pollens into the house. Try to stay indoors between typical peak pollen hours of 5 A.M. and 10 A.M., or at least take allergy medicine before heading outside.