Updates

If your Halloween plans include scary eyes, beware of costume contact lenses labeled “one size fits all” or “no need to see an eye doctor.” Costume lenses must be prescribed and fitted by an eye care professional, just like regular contact lenses. Otherwise, you may be haunted by an eye infection long after the fun of Halloween is over. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Safe Vision Texas urge the public to buy decorative contacts only from retailers who require a prescription and sell FDA-approved products.

The number of older Americans with low vision is expected to double in the coming years, as more people live longer. Low vision describes poor vision that can't be fixed or improved with glasses, contacts or surgery. People with low vision have blind spots that can make it difficult or impossible to drive, read or see faces. But the tragedy isn’t that people have lost vision, it’s that most believe nothing can be done to improve their quality of life. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Safe Vision Texas are taking the opportunity of September’s Healthy Aging Month to let people know they can retain their independence and stay safe, despite declining vision.

It’s back-to-school time, and parents may wonder whether their child should undergo a full eye exam, also known as a comprehensive eye exam, as a preventive measure. If a child is having vision problems, he or she should be seen by an eye professional experienced in the care of children for an exam.  As an effective safety net, all Texas children undergo vision screenings during their school years to identify problems that don’t always have symptoms.

It’s hot in Texas, and sunglasses are one of the first things that we think about when we step outside. But not all sunglasses are created equal. While the choices are endless, there’s only one thing that tops all sunglass considerations and it has nothing to do with price or brand names. It’s all about the UV protection. Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology want you to know that selecting sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation is the best way to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays.

Even though we can celebrate together this Fourth of July, continue to keep your distance from fireworks – a lot of distance. Every year, people suffer serious eye injuries from backyard fireworks displays. Most of the victims are children and bystanders located nowhere near the pyrotechnics. As Independence Day nears, Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology is working to dispel the myths that put people at risk of blindness.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends an eye disease screening for all aging adults.

When Should You See an Ophthalmologist?

• For people with no eye problems or risk factors at age 40.
• For people with eye conditions or risk factors.

Nearly 30,000 people suffer sports-related eye injuries every year. An astounding 90 percent of these ER visits could have been avoided if the athlete wore protective eyewear. Even the most low intensity sports activities pose some risk for eye injuries. From basketball to racquetball, from youth leagues to the pros, players need to protect their eyes. As kids begin to resume their favorite sports, Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are reminding the public that the best defense against potentially blinding sports-related injuries is wearing protective eyewear.

As home and office space merged during the pandemic, many people said they spent more time in front of screens and suffered because of it. They complained of eye strain, headaches, and dry eye, and worried that they might be doing permanent damage to their vision. Now comes a new survey suggesting that two-thirds of businesses expect that their temporary work-from-home policies will become permanent post pandemic.

Ophthalmologists. Optometrists. Opticians. Osteopaths. Orthopaedists. Otolaryngologists. Obstetricians. The terms can get confusing, and you could say: “It’s all Greek to me.” (No pun intended.)

But what exactly is an Ophthalmologist?