We’re more than halfway through the summer and I hope you are doing your best to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays.  Here are some essential eye health tips to protect your eyes during EVERY season:

Wear UV protective sunglasses:  Our eyes are affected by harmful ultra violet rays. The best way to protect them would be to wear UV protective sunglasses. Make sure you buy polarized lenses, which protect your eyes from UV rays.

Have your eyes examined regularly: It’s recommended that you have your eyes checked at least every two years, even if you have 20/20 vision.  A routine exam will ensure your eyes are in good health, and if you need vision correction. For kids and older adults, it’s best to get eyes checked even more often, perhaps yearly.

Don’t squint or strain your eyes:  Squinting and forcing your eyes to work hard can cause eye fatigue. When your eyes are tired, you can experience headaches and other similar symptoms. Straining your eyes is usually a sign of poor vision, so if you have tired eyes on a regular basis, you may need an eye exam.

Pay attention to warning signs:  If you experience eye fatigue, blurry vision, trouble focusing, headaches, red eyes, sudden loss of vision, and general eye pain, see an ophthalmologist immediately.

Be cautious of what you put in your eyes:  Read the label before using eye drops. Some eye drops aren’t meant to be used while you’re wearing contact lenses. Other eye drops can actually stop working or cause problems if you continue use for too long. Eye drops should typically be used sparingly.

Eat fruits and veggies:  Include a lot of vegetables and fruits in your diet. They not only help you have an improved vision, but assist in keeping your eyes healthy as well. Carrots are full of beta carotene which is good for eye health.  Lack of Vitamin A can cause severe eye damage, so make sure to increase the intake of foods rich in the vitamin.

Don’t smoke:  Studies have shown that smoking causes cataract and macular degeneration, a condition where cells in the retina die.

Wear goggles when necessary: If you are working with chemicals, harmful airborne particulates, or doing a task that places you at risk of an object lodging in your eye, make sure you take preventive measures. Goggles or any other eye protective wear is a must in these situations.

Limit contact lens wear:  Those wearing contact lenses should not extend the duration to more than 12 hours each day.  When worn for a long time, on a continuous basis, contact lenses might cause permanent damage and discomfort.  Never sleep in contact lenses.

– Dr. Jon Siems

Is your vision getting blurry, do you see halo’s around lights when you drive at night?  If you feel like you’re looking through a cloudy window or if your eyes are growing more sensitive to light, you may be developing cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens.  The lens is made up of mostly water and protein, arranged in a way that allows light to pass through the clear lens.  Cataracts develop when the protein clumps together and clouds the lens.

The two leading causes of cataracts include age and diabetes.  The normal process of aging may cause the lens to harden and turn cloudy. In fact, 90% of all cataracts occur as part of the aging process.  Cataracts can begin to form as early as age 40, and by age 65 about half of all adults either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.  Diabetes, especially when the blood sugar levels are above the safe range, causes changes in the eye that can also result in cataracts.

The only treatment for cataracts is surgery.  Cataract removal is a simple, outpatient surgery that lasts approximately 10 minutes. It is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States, and considered one of the safest and most effective types of medical procedures. In about 90 percent of cases, people who have had cataract surgery reported better vision after undergoing treatment.

Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.  Siems Advanced Lasik and Eye Care Center in Las Vegas is proud to offer our patients the latest in replacement lens technology that allows patients to see both at distance and near, without the use of glasses.  Through the use of a restor lens, you can see near and far once again!  Ask Dr. Siems about the Restor Lens, and find out how you can restore your vision. Call (702) 948-2010  or visit www.siemslasik.com  for a free consultation today.