eye exam

Contact Lenses Wear & Care Do’s and Don’ts

Contact Lenses & Eye Care

Here’s a shocking statistic: According to the CDC, more than 99% of the people who wear contact lenses in the U.S. engage in at least one risky or unsanitary behavior with their lenses!

Contact lenses are a safe and convenient way to correct your vision — as long as they are worn and cared for properly. Engaging in risky behavior when it comes to your lenses can put you at risk of developing eye infections or cause eye damage.

So, if you wear contact lenses, continue reading to learn the correct contact lens protocol. To ask any questions about your contact lenses or schedule a contact lens consultation, call Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland today.

The Do’s of Contact Lens Wear and Care

We can’t stress this enough: Do wash your hands! Before touching your eyes or handling your lenses, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. After rinsing, dry your hands on a paper towel or clean lint-free cloth.
Do disinfect your lenses when you remove them from your eyes, using only solutions recommended by your eye doctor.
Do remove your contact lenses before sleeping, swimming, and showering. Contact lenses and water do not mix due to the risk of infection.
Do clean your contact lens case weekly with warm soapy water and replace it every 3 months.
Do carry a pair of glasses with you in case you need to remove your contact lenses.

The Don’ts of Contact Lens Wear and Care

Don’t overwear your lenses. Replace them as often as your doctor recommends. So, replace your monthlies every month, your weeklies every week, and discard daily lenses before bedtime.
Don’t rub your eyes while wearing contact lenses.
Don’t use tap water or saliva (ever!) to rinse or rewet your contact lenses.
Don’t allow makeup to get into your eyes when wearing contact lenses.
Don’t share your contact lenses with anyone — seriously, don’t.
Don’t wear your contact lenses if your eyes feel irritated or appear red. Give them a chance to de-stress before inserting them back into your eyes.
Don’t skip your annual eye exam. Your eyes will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions with Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D.

Q: What are the latest trends in contact lenses?

A: Many contact lens manufacturers are now producing “daily” disposable contact lenses. These are lenses that are inserted in the morning and thrown away at night. This style of contact lens wear is both convenient and healthy. With these lenses, patients buy fewer solutions and don’t have to keep up with how old their lenses are and when to change them. Daily disposables are also beneficial in causing less allergy and dryness while reducing the risks of infection. Daily lenses are now offered in all types of prescriptions from distance vision to astigmatism and multifocal/bifocal prescriptions.

Q: Is wearing contacts better for sports activity?

A: Yes, wearing contacts provide a wider field of view thus preventing avoidable injuries. Prescription sports goggles work well but when your actively sweating you goggles will fog up and start to move around a lot. I recommend contacts a lot for my active patients.

Contact Lenses – Quality Frames For Prescription Eyeglasses & Computer Glasses In Overland, Missouri. Visit Overland Optical Family Eye Care for contact lenses and trendy eyeglasses that match your style.

Whether you wear contact lenses or not, regular eye exams can help detect eye disease early and give you a chance to discuss all of your eye-related concerns with your eye doctor. To schedule your annual eye exam, call Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland today!

Frequently Asked Questions with Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D.

Q: Can you request lenses made from glass? Is glass still used for lenses?

A: Yes. Opticians still sometimes use glass for lenses. However, glass is not used very often because they aren’t as safe. If these glass lenses breaks, they can shatters into many pieces and can injure the eye. Glass lenses are much heavier than plastic lenses, so they can make your eyeglasses less comfortable to wear.

Q: Can a coating be added to eyeglasses to protect them from further scratches?

A: A protective coating can’t be added to a lens after it’s scratched. The coating is applied when the lens is manufactured and can’t be put on later.

Quality Frames For Prescription Eyeglasses & Computer Glasses In St. Louis, Missouri. Visit Overland Optical Family Eye Care for an eye exam and eyeglasses that match your style.

Are Contact Lenses Safe For Young Children?

Here’s a question we often get at our practice: ‘Is my child too young for contact lenses?’ This is an important question, and the answer may surprise you.

For children with myopia (nearsightedness), contact lenses can be a convenient method of vision correction. It allows kids to go about their day without having to worry about breaking or misplacing their glasses, and enables them to freely participate in sports and other physical activities.

Some children and young teens may ask their parents for contact lenses because they feel self-conscious wearing glasses. Contact lenses may even provide children with the confidence boost they need to come out of their shell. Moreover, these days, it is very popular for children to wear single-use one-day disposable soft contacts, since there is no cleaning or maintenance involved.

Some parents may deny their child’s request for contacts due to concerns about eye health and safety. There’s no reason to worry: contact lenses are just as safe for children as they are for anyone else.

At Overland Optical Family Eye Care, we provide children, teens, and patients of all ages with a wide variety of contact lenses. If you’re concerned about the safety of contacts for your child, we’ll be happy to explain and explore ways to ensure maximum safety, optimal eye health and comfort. To learn more or to schedule a pediatric eye exam for contact lenses, contact us today.

What Are the Risks of Having My Child Wear Contact Lenses?

A study published in the January 2021 issue of The Journal of Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics found that kids aren’t at a higher risk of experiencing contact lens complications.

The study followed nearly 1000 children aged 8-16 over the course of 1.5-3 years to determine how contact lenses affected their eye health.

The results indicate that age doesn’t have an effect on contact lens safety. In fact, the researchers found that the risk of developing infections or other adverse reactions was less than 1% per year of wear — which is comparable to contact lens wearers of other ages.

But before you decide that contact lenses are right for your child, you may want to consider whether your child is ready to wear them. During his or her eye doctor’s appointment, the optometrist may ask about your child’s level of maturity, responsibility, and personal hygiene. Since many children are highly motivated to wear contacts, they tend to display real maturity in caring for their lenses. That said, in the initial stages, parents may need to play an active role, as their child gets used to inserting and removing the new contact lenses.

It’s important to note that just as with any other medical device, contact lenses are not risk-free. Anyone who wears contact lenses has a chance of developing eye infections or other complications with contact lenses. However, when worn and cared for according to your eye doctor’s instructions, contact lenses are low-risk and perfectly safe for children and teenagers.

So, go ahead and bring your child in for a contact lens consultation! We’ll help determine if your child is ready for contacts and answer any questions you or your child may have. To schedule your child’s contact lens fitting or eye exam, contact Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland today.

The Importance of Eye Exams for Contact Lenses

Are you planning on wearing contact lenses for the first time? Do you need a new contact lens prescription? Are your current contacts not as comfortable as you wish they were? Your eye doctor will perform a contact lens eye exam to ensure that your vision with contacts is clear, comfortable, and safe, providing you with the right lenses for you.

What is a contact lens exam?

If you wear or want to wear contact lenses, you’ll need an eye exam for contact lenses, in addition to your regular comprehensive eye exam. Special tests are performed during a contact lens exam to evaluate your eyes and vision with contacts.

Are eyeglass prescriptions the same as contact lens prescriptions?

No, a prescription for glasses cannot be used for contact lenses. An eyeglass prescription is for lenses that are positioned approximately 12 millimeters from your eyes, whereas a contact lens prescription is measured for lenses that sit directly on the surface of your eye.

The prescription for contact lenses also includes the brand, lens diameter and curvature, which are not part of an eyeglass prescription.

Contact lenses fitting: One size does not fit all

One contact lens size doesn’t fit all eyes. If a contact lens is too flat or too steep for your corneal shape, you may experience discomfort or even eye damage. Your eye doctor will take certain measurements to determine the best contact lens design and fit for your eyes.

Corneal curvature

This measures the curvature of your eye’s clear front surface (cornea) so the eye doctor can select the optimal curve and diameter for your contact lenses. If your eye’s surface is somewhat irregular because of astigmatism or other conditions, you may require a special lens.

Pupil and iris size

The size of your pupil and iris (the colored part of your eye) is also important in determining the best contact lens design.

Tear film evaluation

This test evaluates the quality of your tears, to determine whether they will be able to keep contact lenses and your cornea sufficiently hydrated throughout the day. If you have dry eye disease, standard contact lenses may not be right for you.

Trial lenses

Following the eye exam, you will be provided with trial lenses to verify that the chosen contact lenses offer clear and comfortable vision. This will allow the eye doctor to make any fine adjustments to the prescription.

Contact Lens Eye Exam Near You

Wearing the correct contact lenses for your eyes allows you to enjoy all of the benefits of wearing contacts, while keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable.

If you’re already a contact lens wearer, visit your eye doctor at least once a year to make sure the lenses are still providing you with optimum vision and comfort.

Contact Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland to book your contact lens eye exam today!

Why Does Your Eye Doctor Dilate Your Pupils for an Eye Exam?

If you’ve been following the guideline to have regular eye exams, then you’re probably familiar with having your pupils dilated. Why does your eye doctor do this?

By dilating your pupils, the eye doctor can get a better view of your inner eye structures – so the eye exam is more comprehensive and more detailed. While the back of your eye can be seen through an undilated pupil, it cannot be examined as fully.

A full evaluation of your macula, retina and optic nerve is possible through dilated pupils. In many common eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, these are the parts of the eye that exhibit signs of a problem. Also, health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can often be detected on these parts of the eye.

What happens when the eye doctor dilates your pupils?

Your eye doctor or a technician will insert eye drops into your eyes; it takes 20 – 30 minutes for them to take full effect. Then, your eye doctor will use a lighted microscope to inspect your eyes.

Initially, you may feel a slight stinging when the drops are first inserted, but the discomfort is typically minor and short-lived. For a few hours afterwards, your eyes will be extra-sensitive to light and vision may be slightly blurred. Wearing sunglasses can help manage this sensitivity. Dilation usually wears off within four to six hours.

Even though getting your pupils dilated for an eye exam may feel like a nuisance, it enables your eye doctor to check your ocular health and overall body health with much more accuracy. So the benefits are clear! Contact an expert eye doctor near you to schedule an eye exam.

At Overland Optical Family Eye Care, we put your family’s needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 314-423-3874 or book an appointment online to see one of our Overland eye doctors.

Want to Learn More? Read on!

What Are Trifocal Lenses?

How Long Does It Take to Get Used to New Glasses?

Flexible Spending Accounts & Vision Benefits

What Is 20/20 Vision?

If your last eye exam revealed that you have 20/20 vision, you probably walked out of the eye care center with a big smile! It’s a great feeling to be able to see without eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, did you know that 20/20 vision is not the same as having perfect vision? So what is it? What is perfect vision?

At Overland Optical Family Eye Care, when Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D. announces the results of your eye exam, he is reporting on your visual acuity, which is the clarity of your eyesight. These numbers describe how well your eyes can see an object that’s 20 feet away. If you can see it clearly, then your vision is considered “normal” – but not “perfect.” That’s because even if you have 20/20 vision, you could still have problems with peripheral vision, color vision, eye coordination, focusing, or depth perception. To find out your visual acuity and total eye health, book an eye exam with our Overland, Missouri, optometrist near you.

How does my eye doctor test visual acuity?

Typically, every eye exam and vision screening includes having you read the Snellen Eye Chart. This diagnostic tool appears as lines of block letters and numbers printed in progressively smaller sizes. The first line will display one huge letter, such as an “E”, and as you move down the chart row by row, the letters get smaller, and there are more of them per line. The lower down on the chart you can read correctly, the closer you are to being diagnosed with 20/20 vision. The bottom row (eight down) is 20/20 vision.

What if I don’t have 20/20 vision?

Don’t worry, you’re in good company! Statistics say that almost half of US adults don’t have 20/20 vision.

Depending on what your visual acuity is, you may need vision correction with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or LASIK refractive surgery, to help you achieve 20/20 vision, or close to it. But not everyone can get to 20/20 – even with corrective treatment. In other words, some people can only see at 60 feet what others with normal vision can see at 20 feet (=20/60 vision). However, that doesn’t mean you can’t see well enough to function. For example:

If our eye care professional detects that you have 20/40 vision, it’s still enough to get a driver’s license.
If you have 20/80 vision, you should still be able to read headlines in a newspaper and tell the time on an alarm clock placed 10 feet away.
If your visual acuity deteriorates to 20/200 vision, you’ll be classified as legally blind.

Can I have better than 20/20 vision?

Sure, especially if you’re a bird of prey! Falcons see about eight times better than humans, with a visual acuity of about 20/2. All jokes aside, even humans can have vision that’s sharper than 20/20, such as 20/15. That means you can back up five feet during your eye exam and still read the Snellen eye chart the same as a person with normal vision standing five feet closer to the chart.

Why do I need good vision?

There are lots of reasons why it’s smart to invest in good vision by visiting our Overland eye care center near you for regular eye exams. Don’t underestimate the value of sharp, healthy vision in your life! Here are a few important benefits of 20/20 vision:

Reading with ease: reading is essential for day-to-day life, whether you read the newspaper, your smartphone, documents at work, letters and bills, or just want to enjoy a good novel.
Comfort: without sharp vision, you’ll need to squint all the time, leading to headaches and muscle strain.
Safety: activities such as driving and biking become extremely hazardous if you can’t see. Even if you’re just taking a walk, having sharp visual acuity will help prevent you from tripping and falling.
Quality of life: clear eyesight goes far towards your quality of life! Without sharp vision, who knows what scenes and wonderful moments you’ll miss out on?

At Overland Optical Family Eye Care, we’ll help you to see the best that you can see! Contact our Overland, Missouri, optometrist to schedule an eye exam near you today.

Want to Learn More? Read on!

What You Should Know About Night Blindness

COVID-19 – What Constitutes an Eye Care Emergency?

The Crazy Truth About Caffeine and How It Can Help Your Dry Eyes

3 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Vision and Eyes

Did you know that people with diabetes are 20 times more likely to get eye diseases than those without it? There are three major eye conditions that diabetics are at risk for developing: cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. To prevent these sight-threatening diseases, it’s important to control your blood sugar level and have your eyes checked at least once a year by an eye doctor.

But First, What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that is associated with high blood glucose levels. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps our cells get energy from the sugars we eat. Diabetes develops when the body doesn’t produce or respond to insulin effectively, leaving too much sugar in the blood stream instead. Over time, diabetes can lead to potentially irreversible ocular damage and poor eyesight. However, by taking care of your blood sugar levels and your eyes, you can prevent vision loss.

Annual eye exams are recommended for everyone, but routine screenings are even more important for diabetics. Eye doctors may send diabetic eye health reports to a patient’s primary care physician or internist to adjust medication as needed to prevent complications.

What’s the Link Between Vision and Diabetes?

Blurred vision or fluctuating eyesight clarity is often one of the first noticeable signs that diabetes has begun to affect your eyes. Sometimes, fluid leaking into the eye causes the lens to swell and change shape. This, in turn, makes it difficult for the eyes to focus, resulting in fuzzy vision. Such symptoms can indicate that an eye disease is developing, or may simply be due to imbalanced blood sugar levels which can be rectified by getting your blood sugar back to healthy levels.

If you start to notice blurry vision, make an appointment with Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D. as soon as possible.

The 3 Ways Diabetes Impacts Vision

Cataracts

While cataracts are extremely common and a part of the natural aging process, those with diabetes tend to develop cataracts earlier in life. Characterized by a clouding or fogging of the lens within the eye, cataracts impede light from entering the eye, causing blurred vision and glares. The best treatment is cataract surgery, which is very safe and effective.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases characterized by optic nerve damage. Since it tends to impact peripheral vision first, glaucoma often goes unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. However, routine glaucoma screenings can detect warning signs; early treatment can prevent disease progression and vision loss.

Although there is no true cure for glaucoma, most glaucoma patients successfully manage it with special eye drops, medication, and on occasion, laser treatment or other surgery. The earlier glaucoma is diagnosed and managed, the better the outcome.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the small blood vessels on your retina (capillaries) become weakened and then balloon (microaneurysm) due to poorly controlled blood sugar levels. The resulting poor blood circulation in the back of the eye causes more abnormal blood vessels to grow, which also bleed or leak fluid, and can lead to scar tissue, retinal detachment and even blindness, over time.

Often there are no symptoms until the advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy, where patients may begin to see spots and missing patches in their vision. Retinopathy can be treated through surgery and eye injections, but the best way to prevent this disease from progressing is to regularly have your eyes screened.

The good news is that diabetic eye disease can often be prevented with early detection, proper management of your diabetes and regular diabetic eye exams. Contact Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland to set up your eye doctor’s appointment today.

Your Eyes Are the Windows to Your Health

Your eyes aren’t just the windows to your soul — they can also reveal valuable information about your general health beyond whether you need glasses, including: diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. It is not unusual for people to come in for an eye exam just to check their eyesight and then have certain health issues or predispositions picked up by the optometrist.

Eye Exams and Your Health

Eye examinations can help doctors detect general health conditions early enough to intervene. Advanced screenings enable eye doctors to better predict cardiovascular incidents like stroke, and possibly detect signs of mental changes such as Alzheimer’s. Read below to learn how eye exams can unveil a whole lot more than just eye health.

Brain Cancer & Stroke

Because of the similarities between the blood vessels in the eye and brain, an eye doctor can occasionally detect an issue taking place in the brain by examining the blood vessels in the eyes. If swelling or shadows in the eye is observed, it may indicate a serious condition in the brain, like a tumor, or clots that might result in a stroke.

Diabetes

Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye, resulting in Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). If an optometrist detects leaky blood vessels in the eye, the patient would be advised to see a doctor to help control their blood sugar. Changes are gradual, and they start before visual symptoms are noticed. The earlier diabetic eye disease is managed, the better the chances are of preserving eyesight.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, characterized by having too much pressure in the blood vessels, can be detected during an eye exam, sometimes even before it’s diagnosed by your regular doctor. The damaged blood vessels lead to swelling, hemorrhages, and leaking — all of which can be observed in the eyes. According to the CDC, hypertension “the silent killer” affects nearly 1 in 3 adults, and up to a whopping 20% of those don’t even know they have it. So early detection at an eye doctor’s evaluation can be truly life-saving.

High Cholesterol

Eye exams can also detect a buildup of cholesterol. High cholesterol is among the easiest conditions to spot during a complete eye exam, as the cholesterol deposits manifest on the front of the eye, appearing as a thin, gray rim around the cornea. It can also be detected in the retina by assessing artery and vein patterns.

These deposits may indicate the current or future development of Retinal Blood Vessel Occlusion, a condition where blockages restrict blood flow to the back of the eye, causing temporary or permanent vision loss.

Heart Conditions

In some cases, heart conditions associated with a buildup of plaque in the carotid artery in the heart can also lead to deposits that clog the ocular arteries in the eye. If an optometrist detects such changes to the vascular structure at the back of the eye, he or she will typically recommend going to a specialist.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Sudden vision loss may be attributed to Multiple Sclerosis (MS). While the optometrist can recognize signs indicating the presence of MS, such as the color and appearance of the optic nerve, such cases will be referred for further testing to confirm the diagnosis.

Thyroid

Thyroid disease can make itself apparent through the eyes in several ways. The thyroid gland controls the hormones that regulate tear production so some thyroid disorders can cause dry eye disease. Additionally, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can make the extraocular muscles enlarge and stiffen, causing bulging eyes — an indicator of Graves’ disease.

Inflammation

Systemic conditions that are associated with inflammation in the body can have an inflammatory effect on the eyes. Uveitis, for example, causes eye inflammation, redness, and blurred vision, and tends to occur in people with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases.

Cancer

Breast cancer, leukemia, and other metastatic cancers are occasionally discovered during an eye evaluation. In addition to brain cancer mentioned above, melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) can be detected, and eye doctors can also diagnose lymphoma and other eye tumors. Eye exams save lives.

What the Future Holds

Alzheimer’s

Recent studies show that a non-invasive and precise imaging device called Octa (optical coherence tomography angiography) can signal the presence of eye changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Because the retina is in many ways an extension of the brain, the altered blood vessels at the back of the eye offer a glimpse into the changes taking place within the brain.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease can often be misdiagnosed as its early symptoms are characteristic of other conditions. Research has shown that subtle eye tremors, an early Parkinson’s marker, could be detectable using advanced eye exam technology. One day soon, practitioners may send patients to an eye doctor to test for this and other diseases.

Your Eye Doctor’s Appointment Could Change Your Life

So the next time you visit Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D. at Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland, remember that a comprehensive eye exam can do more than determine your eyeglasses or contacts prescription. Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D. can evaluate your eyes for existing or potential health issues, and communicate them to your primary care physician for the best possible care. By knowing that you’re at risk for a certain disease, you can take precautions early on and manage the condition as needed. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Annual Eye Exams Are Essential for Adults & Kids

Expert eye care in Overland

At every age, vision testing and eye health exams are important. But the reasons to visit our center for eye care in Cedar Park differ depending on your stage of life. With babies and children, we inspect the visual system to confirm that ocular development is normal. After the childhood years, we pay more attention to various eye problems – vision conditions, eye disease, and other abnormalities that may occur. Also, regular eye exams may uncover other health problems in your body that you didn’t know you had, such as hypertension and diabetes.

While a great deal of these issues can be treated effectively and do not cause lasting damage to your vision, some conditions can be dangerous and lead to vision loss when not treated soon enough. That’s why early detection of an eye problem is so critical for preserving your quality sight. Value your vision and book an eye exam near you!

Why kids need eye exams

You may be surprised to hear that many kids who can’t see the classroom board or spot the ball when playing sports don’t bother to complain about their vision. Children tend to adapt to how they see, and they don’t realize that there’s a problem. However, when kids have an undetected and untreated vision condition, it affects many parts of their life. Without the ability to see clearly, it becomes difficult to learn to read and write, frustration in the classroom can lead to behavioral problems, their sports coordination can suffer, and they often lose self-confidence when socializing. In general, they experience a delay in development. Our compassionate, high quality eye care near you can help kids achieve their potential!

According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) instructions, kids should visit their eye doctor for a comprehensive pediatric eye exam yearly before first grade. If any eye conditions are diagnosed, then it’s recommended to continue with annual eye exams. Your optometrist will provide personalized guidelines about when to return for follow-up visits.

When visiting for pediatric eye care in Overland, parents often ask us why eye exams are needed if their child passed the school vision tests. The reason is because while routine, basic vision screening can detect nearsightedness and farsightedness, it usually fails to catch a variety of other vision conditions. Only a comprehensive eye exam near you will diagnose these problems so your child can get the necessary treatment.

An addition, relatively new vision condition to affect kids is due to excessive exposure to computers, smartphones, and other digital tech. Overexposure to UV blue light can cause digital eyestrain and computer vision and has been associated with a higher risk of many serious vision conditions. Our eye doctor is experienced in spotting the signs of these conditions, and we can recommend several ways to prevent problems and alleviate the symptoms.

Why adults need eye exams

Problems with their vision may be more obvious to adults, but there are many other types of eye problems that adults cannot notice – especially not at the early stages. A comprehensive eye exam from our experienced eye care specialist in Overland can detect ocular problems when they first appear, before they damage your vision.

The risk of many issues that can threaten your sight increases with age, and treatments can help slow or stop vision damage. That’s why regular eye exams are critical for ensuring your long-lasting quality of sight.

If you haven’t had an eye exam in a long while, your eye doctor will first ask you questions about your family medical history and personal lifestyle. These questions will address not just your vision, but also if you have a pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes, which may contribute to ocular problems – such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The specific tests done during your eye exam will be customized depending on your individual situation.

Also, during your detailed eye exam, less common problems that can be symptomless, including ocular cancer or tumors in your eye or brain, can be detected. Early detection of any type of eye problem is essential for a positive outcome.

Advanced eye care in Overland – Where we watch your vision

For both children and adults, regular eye exams are the most dependable way to monitor vision for any changes or abnormalities. Call us to schedule an eye exam near you.

Want to Learn More? Read on!

3 Tips for Clear Lenses & Comfortable Contacts for the Fall

The Power of Tears

Can You Use New Lenses for Old Frames?

Wearing Colored Contact Lenses This Halloween? Beware and Take Care!

Countless adults, teens and even children will be wearing colored contact lenses this Halloween, but few are aware of the risks involved. Ever wondered what those cat-eye contacts are doing to your eyes? If you got them without a prescription, beware of health complications.

Check out the bottom of the article about prescription Halloween contact lenses to really enhance your costume!

Enjoy a safe and happy Halloween by educating yourself and others about the dangers of wearing colored contact lenses without a prescription.

Why Can Over-The-Counter Colored Contact Lenses Cause Eye Damage?

Contact lenses made to change one’s appearance go by many names: cosmetic, theatrical, Halloween, circle, decorative, colored, or costume contact lenses. While it’s illegal to sell colored contact lenses without a prescription, authorities rarely enforce the law — which means they’re still accessible in many places.

Many people believe that wearing non-prescription color contact lenses can cause no harm. This unfortunate myth has led to many contact lens complications. For instance, when a person feels that a contact lens is “dry”, it could be because the lens is not a good fit. Ideally, the lens should follow the contour of the eye, and stay centered, with enough lens movement to allow tear exchange beneath the lens.

Furthermore, non-medical colored contact lenses are often produced by unlicensed manufacturers that tend to use inferior plastic and toxic materials, such as lead (often used in lens coloring), which can get absorbed through the eyes into the bloodstream. These illegal lenses may also contain high levels of bacteria from unsanitary packaging, shipping, and storage conditions.

Therefore, purchasing any kind of contact lenses without a prescription or medical oversight can result in a variety of eye complications, such as corneal abrasions, eye sores, conjunctivitis, other eye infections, vision impairment and, in rare cases, even permanent vision loss.

Even if you have perfect vision, all contact lenses, including colored contacts, require a prescription and proper fitting by an optometrist.

Contact us at Overland Optical Family Eye Care and make an appointment with Dr. Sara Schmitz, O.D., , and to get properly examined for a contact lens prescription.

The Dos and Don’ts of Colored Contact Lenses

DO make sure you undergo a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist who will measure your eyes and properly fit you for contact lenses.
DO get a valid prescription that includes the measurements, expiration date and the contact lens brand name.
DO purchase the decorative contact lenses from a reliable retailer (hint: they should demand a prescription.)
DO follow the contact lens hygiene directives (cleaning, inserting and removing lenses) provided by your eye doctor.
DO make sure to undergo follow-up eye exams as directed by your eye care professional.
DON’T ever share contact lenses with anyone else.

So don’t let an eye infection get in the way of your fun this Halloween. Wearing decorative lenses without a valid prescription can result in serious harm to your eyes, which can haunt you long after October 31st.

Get your comprehensive eye exam and contact lens fitting by an eye doctor in Overland at Overland Optical Family Eye Care.

Want costume or theatrical contact lenses for your upcoming Halloween costume?

Our contact lens supplier, ABBOptical, has a large variety of customized contact lenses that can be ordered with your prescription! We recommend that you contact us 2 weeks or more in advance to ensure your contacts are on time for the holiday.

https://www.abboptical.com/GOTHIKA-Lenses

VR Goggles Safety Guide for Your Vision

Learn how to use the Oculus and protect your eyes from CVS and blue light

Virtual reality goggles are rapidly becoming the hottest must-have gaming device. They immerse you fully into a different world, a fantastic realm. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be transported to a new and fascinating place?

All you need to do is put a pair of VR goggles over your eyes and you can dash around, battle the enemy, race, and fly away.

However, we also need to face reality and consider the safety of these clever VR goggles, such as the Oculus. Our Overland and St. Charles eye doctors addresses your questions about the effects of this technology on vision and long-term eye health.

Do VR goggles lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS)?

Most types of VR headsets contain LCD monitors that project images at each eye, and the resulting stereoscopic effect creates an illusion of 3D. In order to accomplish this, the monitors must be placed very close to the eyes. As a result, eye strain and the irritating symptoms of CVS are a real-world concern.

Also, especially with young kids who tend to wear headsets like the Oculus for hours on end, prolonged exposure to this unnatural visual position can interfere with the healthy development of focusing, depth perception, and tracking.

Another common symptom of CVS that may occur is “cybersickness”, a type of motion sickness characterized by dizziness and nausea that can continue to disturb you even after you remove the VR goggles. It results from the mismatch of visual information and body posture.

In an interesting twist, while the bothersome and unhealthy symptoms of CVS are definitely a concern, VR goggles can also be used to enhance vision development. When used under the guidance of a qualified optometrist, some VR goggles can improve visual acuity, strengthen eye muscle weakness, and boost eye-hand coordination, reaction time, eye coordination, and depth perception.

What about blue light and CVS?

The jury is still out about the long-term effects of HEV (high energy visible light), also known as blue light, but research indicates that it may raise your risk of developing eye disease in the future. In addition, blue light flickers – which can stress your eyes and lead to headaches and other problems associated with CVS.

Fortunately, these fears about the hazards of blue light don’t have to get in the way of your high-tech leisure. Newer VR goggles are available with protective blue light filters built-in to the lens. Ask our team Overland Optical Family Eye Care about the latest, eye health friendly VR headsets.

How can you enjoy VR and avoid CVS?

Taking a few precautions can enable you to embrace the innovative tech of virtual reality and keep your vision safe. Our Overland, Missouri, eye doctor shares these tips:

Limit your (and your kid’s) time wearing the Oculus and exploring VR. Play for a half-hour at a time, and take a break every 5 minutes to walk around and reestablish your equilibrium.
Choose a slow speed for your main character and avoid making any quick or sudden movements within your VR world
Adjust the lenses of your VR goggles to meet the particular needs of your eyes.
Set your VR goggles for low brightness and a comfortable contrast
Don’t use headsets like the Oculus when you’re feeling sleepy or under the influence of alcohol, medication, or other drugs

Real-life eye exams are essential

Along with listening to the warnings and advice above, we encourage you to book regular comprehensive eye exams in our eye care center near you. Our advanced technology and optometric equipment may not be as exciting as spending time in a virtual world, but it will help to keep your vision healthy!