How Often Do You Need an Eye Exam?

Did you know that about six million Americans suffer from some sort of vision problem? An additional one million Americans have some form of blindness.

Many vision problems could be prevented or caught early on if you were to get regular eye exams.

That might bring up more questions, though- how often do you need an eye exam? What happens if you don’t get an eye exam? How else can you protect your eye health?

In this article, we’ll answer all of those questions and clear up any of your confusion. Protecting your eye health is important, but it isn’t as scary as it seems. Keep reading, and you’ll see just how simple it can be.

How Often Do You Need an Eye Exam?

You’ve probably heard a variety of answers to this question. You need an eye exam every five years, every 2 to 4 years, yearly- what’s the correct answer? The truth is that the answer is different for everybody depending on your age and eye condition.

Children between the ages of three and eighteen need an eye exam at least once a year. If you’re an adult or a teenager who is no longer in school, you need an exam at least every two years.

However, if you’re over sixty-five or at high risk, you should get a yearly eye exam. High-risk patients include those with a history of eye problems, those who have dangerous jobs, and those who take prescription medication with vision risks.

The frequency of when you need eye exams varies so much because your eyes change at different rates throughout your entire life. Making sure you’re having eye exams through these changes will allow you to catch potential problems.

What Happens During an Eye Exam?

During an eye exam, your doctor will first ask you questions to establish your medical history. If you have glasses or contacts, you should bring them so the doctor can examine your prescription.

Your doctor will perform a variety of different tests. Some of these will test your visual accuracy, while others will measure your inner eye pressure. These tests will inform your doctor if your eyes are healthy or not.

Your doctor can use these tests to decide if you need follow-up tests or not. Sometimes you may need multiple tests to rule out possible eye conditions.

Your eye doctor will also determine if you need glasses or contacts. If you already have glasses or contacts, they’ll decide if you need a stronger prescription.

Having an eye exam might feel scary, but it’s really not as complex as it seems. Eye exams are an easy way of maintaining your eye health and your vision.

What if You Don’t Take an Eye Exam?

Skipping your eye exam is a bad idea, so don’t try and tell yourself it’s not a big deal.

Eyes are one of the biggest indicators that something might be wrong with your body. All sorts of diseases come with early indicators that can be found in the eyes. One such disease is diabetes.

Small changes in your eyes can also indicate neurological problems. They can even be used to detect a brain tumor.

In addition, many eye diseases take a long time to develop visible symptoms. Eye exams can catch these diseases early, so they can be managed.

Lastly, your eyes change quickly. Even if your vision and eye health were fine last year, they may not be fine this year. Catching vision changes early on means you can get glasses or contacts, protecting you from eye strain.

If you can’t make the eye appointment you had, it’s better to reschedule than skip it.

Should You Come In Early?

Sometimes, you might notice vision problems that you think can wait until your next exam. Sometimes they can wait, but sometimes these seemingly small vision problems can mean an eye emergency.

The biggest eye emergencies to be aware of are chemical contact and foreign bodies within your eye. If you’ve gotten anything in your eyes, you should be speaking to your optometrist as soon as possible.

However, there are other problems to be aware of. If your vision suddenly worsens or blurs, that’s an indicator of a possible eye emergency. So are tunnel vision and dark spots in your vision field.

Lastly, you should also contact your eye doctor if you’re experiencing large amounts of eye discharge. This could be an indication of a problem you didn’t even know was there.

If you’re wondering if something counts as an eye emergency or not, put in a call to your eye doctor. They’ll tell you if you should come in or not.

Protecting Your Eye Health

In between eye exams, you should make sure to protect your eye health. Taking small preventative measures can make a major impact on your eye health.

One easy thing that you can do is avoid dry eyes. If you spend a lot of time staring at a screen, take a break every twenty minutes. Go look at something twenty feet away for twenty seconds to give your eyes a rest and avoid inflammation.

Another simple measure you can take is wearing sunglasses when you step outside. You should also wear sunscreen on the skin around your eyes. Your eyes and the area around them are sensitive and prone to UV radiation.

Finally, don’t smoke! If you do smoke, consider working on quitting. Smoking increases your risk of cataracts, dry eyes, and eye tissue degeneration.

Reach Out to Us Today

Now that we’ve answered the question “how often do you need an eye exam”, are you ready to book your eye exam? Or do you have more questions that you need answered?

If your answer is “yes”, then you should reach out to us at Cedar Park Vision! Simply fill out the form and we’ll get back to you with answers as soon as possible.

Don’t wait- reach out to us today! You won’t regret it when we help you take care of your eye health.

9 Eye Health Tips to Prevent Blindness

About 12 million people 40 years and over in the US have vision impairment. Approximately 1 million of these people are blind. As you grow older, certain behaviors can impact how you see.

Some could eventually lead to blindness.

Thankfully, a few small preventive measures can have a major impact on your eye health. Here are nine simple ways you can prevent blindness.

With these tips, you can protect your eyesight and potentially avoid vision problems later in life. Sharpen your eyesight by applying these easy tips to your routine!

1. Schedule Eye Exams

Make sure to schedule comprehensive eye exams every few years to catch signs of a potential eye disease before it develops. Scheduling an exam is the only way to catch a problem like glaucoma in time for you to begin treatment.

If you already have vision problems, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at least once a year. Otherwise, schedule a baseline eye exam when you turn 40.

During an eye exam, your doctor will gather your medical history and family history. They’ll also check your:

Your doctor will also widen (dilate) your pupil using special drops. Dilating your pupil will allow them to see the back of your eye. Then, your doctor can check for any damage to determine if you have an eye disease.

Checking in with your doctor regularly can help with preventing eye problems from developing in the future.

2. Improve Your Diet

About 92% of the US population has a vitamin deficiency. The vitamins we get from whole foods can have a major impact on our eye health.

Maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet could reduce your risk of future eye conditions. It’s important to consume foods that are right in vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. Antioxidants can also ward off oxidants that might affect your eye health in the future.

These nutrients include:

Consuming these nutrients could reduce your risk of poor night vision, glaucoma, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts.

You can start adding these nutrients to your diet with fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein.

For example, fatty fish like salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats contribute to visual development. They also ensure the health of the retina in the back of the eye.

Consuming more fatty acids could prevent dry eyes, too.

To add vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc to your diet, consider consuming eggs more often. Vitamin A protects your cornea; the surface of the eye. Meanwhile, lutein and zeaxanthin lower the chance of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Zinc also contributes to the retina’s health and helps you see at night.

Almonds contain vitamin E, which protects your body from unstable molecules that target healthy tissue. Dairy, on the other hand, contains vitamin A and zinc to protect the retina and choroid. Diary can also help with the prevention of cataracts.

Carrots contain vitamin A and beta carotene, which help the surface of the eye. They can also prevent eye infections and other serious conditions.

Try adding these foods to your diet to prevent vision loss in the future.

3. Stay Safe From the Sun

Make sure to protect your eyes by grabbing a pair of sunglasses every time you step outside. Don’t forget to slather on sunscreen around your eyes, too. The skin around your eyes is some of the thinnest on the body.

As a result, this area is more susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage.

Types of skin cancer like melanoma and carcinoma can also form in the eyelids or around the eyes. You could sustain damage to the eye structure as a result.

4. Avoid Smoking

Remove any form of tobacco from your routine. Otherwise, smoking allows cyanide to enter your bloodstream. Cyanide can destroy the cells in your eyes.

Smoking could also increase your risk of developing cataracts, dry eyes, or other eye problems. It also increases your risk of macular degeneration.

If you want to protect your eyes, quit smoking.

5. Prevent Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness in adults ages 20 to 74. It’s the most common cause of blindness in the US.

The tiny blood vessels of the retina can sustain damage, leading to eye problems. Your vision could blur over time before you become blind.

Make an effort to control your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

6. Avoid Dry Eyes

Do you stare at a computer for hours at a time? When working in front of a computer, we neglect to blink as often as we usually do. You could develop dry eyes as a result.

Try to look away from your computer every 20 minutes for about 20 seconds. Stare at something about 20 feet away. This 20-20-20 rule could give your eyes a break, minimizing inflammation.

7. Minimize Macular Degeneration Risk

Macular degeneration can develop when your eye tissues degenerate, eventually leading to blindness.

There are two forms of macular degeneration. If fluids in the retina cause your vision loss, you can receive injections in the eye for treatment. There aren’t treatments available for the dry form of macular degeneration, though.

Make sure to check in with your eye doctor to determine if you’re at risk.

8. Reduce Cataracts Risk

Cataract symptoms include reduced night vision, double vision, glare, faded colors, and blurred vision. It’s associated with exposure to radiation therapy or UV rays.

Some medications can increase your risk of cataracts. Your doctor can recommend treatments like replacing damaged eye lenses to reduce your risk.

You can learn more about cataracts here.

9. Watch for Glaucoma Signs

Glaucoma can occur if pressure in the eye builds up, damaging the optic nerve. This condition can develop slowly before causing vision problems.

The risk of glaucoma is higher for people who have a family history of diabetes.

Treatment includes using a once-daily eye drop, though surgery is another option.

Eye Spy: Prevent Blindness Using These Nine Easy Tips

Don’t put your eye health at risk. Instead, learn how to prevent blindness using these tips. Remember to visit your eye doctor regularly for screenings as well.

With these tips, you can prevent vision loss and maintain the best possible eye health.

Ready for an appointment with your optometrist? We can’t wait to see you.

Book an appointment today to learn how we can help with your vision.

The Key to 20/20 Vision: 5 Best Vitamins for Eye Health

Do you want to improve your vision?

A lot of things can cause damage to your eyesight, like accidents or age. But today we want to talk about how you can protect your sight by following certain vitamins that can keep your eyes in tip-top shape.

The five best vitamins for eye health are Vitamin A, C, E, Zinc, and Lutein. They can help with night blindness and macular degeneration.

Keep reading to learn more about these five vitamins.

Why is Eye Health Important?

Your eyes are one of the most important organs in your body. They allow you to see the world around you and perform many everyday tasks.

It’s no wonder that eye health is so important! Not only do we use our eyes for common activities like reading and driving, but they’re also essential for more complex tasks such as sports and work.

Plus, good vision is key to a healthy lifestyle. When our eyesight starts to decline, we can experience problems with balance and coordination. This can make it difficult to do things like climb stairs or get around in general.

That’s why it’s important to take care of your eyes by eating a healthy diet and following the best vitamins for eye health.

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important because it can help improve your eyesight and reduce the risk of going blind.

It’s also a great antioxidant that helps protect your cells from damage, including those in your eyes. Vitamin A, or retinol, is found in a variety of sources, such as liver and dairy products. You can also get it from fruits and vegetables that are orange or yellow.

How Do I Get More Vitamin A?

Eat more carrots! Carrots are one of the best sources of vitamin A, containing up to 400% of your recommended daily allowance.

Sweet potatoes are also a good source. You can also find retinol in cantaloupe, kale, dark leafy greens, and other types of produce.

Some foods get fortified with vitamin A, including yogurt and cereal.

Vitamin A is essential for proper eye health. It helps improve vision by keeping your cornea healthy and reducing dryness in the eyes. Vitamin A also protects your retinas from damage caused by UV rays or other types of light.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamins for eye health care like Vitamin C are a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your cells, including the ones in your eyes.

It’s also beneficial for keeping your blood vessels healthy, which is important for maintaining good vision. You can find vitamin C in citrus fruits, kale, and broccoli.

How Do I Get More Vitamin C?

You can get more vitamin C for eye health from oranges and similar types of fruit. They also make a nutritious snack when you’re on the go. Plus, if you have an orange or other citrus fruit with your meal at lunch or dinner, it may help your body absorb iron better.

Vitamin C is good for your eyes because it can help reduce dryness in your eyes caused by an imbalance of fluids. It also protects the cornea from damage, including that caused by excessive UV or bright light.

It’s especially helpful if you wear contact lenses since contact wearers are more prone to developing eye health problems like pink eye and other infections.

Vitamin C is also good for your entire body, promoting overall eye health and helping you fight illnesses.

3. Vitamin E

This antioxidant is great for eye health because it helps protect the cells of your eyes from free radicals.

Think of it as an “anti-rust” vitamin since it prevents oxidation damage to your cells. Vitamin E is also important for maintaining healthy blood vessels. You can find it in leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

How Do I Get More Vitamin E?

Nuts and seeds are among the best sources of vitamin E. You can also get it from wheat germ oil, which you can find in certain types of bread. Vegetable oils like canola oil contain some vitamin E, too.

You can also find it in avocados, mustard greens, and spinach.

Like other vitamins for eye health, vitamin E can help reduce the risk of developing age-related eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. It also helps protect your eyes against damage caused by UV light.

4. Zinc

Zinc is important for good vision because it helps the body to produce a protein called “opsin,” which is essential for seeing in low light.

It’s also helpful in repairing damage to the eye and keeping your eyes healthy. You can find zinc in beef, pork, and lamb, as well as nuts, legumes, and whole grains.

How Do I Get More Zinc?

Beef, pork, and lamb are all good sources of zinc. You can also find it in nuts, legumes, and whole grains. Some breakfast cereals get fortified with zinc, too.

Like other vitamins for eye health, zinc can help reduce the risk of developing age-related eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. It also helps protect your eyes against damage caused by UV light.

Zinc is important for overall eye health, not just vision. It helps keep your eyes healthy and functioning properly.

5. Lutein

Lutein is a nutrient that’s important for eye health because it helps to protect your eyes from harmful blue light. It also helps keep your eyes healthy by fighting inflammation. You can find lutein in foods like leafy greens, eggs, and oranges.

How Do I Get More Lutein?

Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are great sources of lutein. Eggs and oranges also contain this nutrient. You can get it from other types of fruit, too.

Like other vitamins for your eye health, lutein can help reduce the risk of developing age-related eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. It also helps protect your eyes against damage caused by UV light.

Lutein is important for more than just eye health; it’s good for your entire body, including the organs that make vision possible.

Why a Balanced Diet is Crucial for Your Eyes

A balanced diet is essential to keep your eyes healthy and maintain good eyesight. It provides necessary nutrients, including vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin, to your eyes that are important to keep their health intact and prevent eye-related problems like muscular degeneration or cataracts.

When it comes to a diet good for the eyes, the first thing that comes to mind is vitamin A. It combines with a protein in the eye, opsin, to make rhodopsin, which helps us differentiate colors and see them in dim light.

It is also crucial to protect you from night blindness. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach are rich sources of vitamin A.

Besides, antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin that can be attained from green leafy vegetables are suitable for filtering harmful blue light and preventing muscular degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids balance eye moisture, with salmon being a major source.

All these nutrients have different roles for your eye’s health and safeguard your eye from getting any disorders or complexities.

Natural Sources vs. Supplements: What’s Best for Your Eyes?

You might be thinking about the best source of nutrients that fulfill the requirement of healthy eyes. There are two ways to take these nutrients: natural means or supplements.

Natural food should always be your preferred option as there are a lot of nutrients in one fruit or vegetable.

Foods like kale, spinach, eggs, and orange peppers are packed with lutein and zeaxanthin, two powerful antioxidants that reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Fish, nuts, and seeds are wonderful sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which play a crucial role in keeping your eyes moist and helping to prevent dryness.

However, sometimes, people who do not have time to take care of their diet can choose extra supplements. In such cases, eye supplements can bridge the gap.

High-quality eye health supplements containing lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin A provide targeted support for your vision. These supplements can assist in preventing age-related eye issues.

After learning about both ways, the best approach is taking both diet and supplements together to meet the needs of your eyes. Take a diet that is good for your eyes while continuing your supplements to prevent eye-related problems.

Getting the Right Vitamins For Eye Health

As you can see from the above-mentioned list, eye health is important for more than just seeing. It’s important for your overall health and well-being.

Fortunately, you don’t have to do anything major to improve your eye health — just eat a nutritious diet rich in the right vitamins for eye health care. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables every day, especially those that contain vitamin C, E, Zinc, and lutein. You can also get these nutrients from other foods, too.

If you’re looking for other helpful tips around vitamins for eye health, call our expert team!

Presbyopia Causes and How to Treat It

Everyone will experience a vision issue known as presbyopia, and there is no way to avoid it. If you are holding your smartphone farther away to read it or are having trouble seeing the dashboard of your car, you most likely are experiencing presbyopia. Since it is inevitable, let’s uncover presbyopia causes and how to treat it.

The Cause of Presbyopia

As we age our bodies change. Certain physical activities we could easily do in our twenties become more difficult in our forties. It is a fact of life and our vision is no different. We never had any problem changing focus from near to far and back again. All this changes as we age and is a sign of presbyopia.

This change happens around age forty as the clear lens inside our eyes loses its ability to change focus naturally. Similar to aging muscles, the lens becomes stiff and less flexible. Just like the lens in a camera needs to change focus to obtain a clear picture, the lens in our eyes must be able to make that adjustment for clear vision.

With the onset of presbyopia our ability to see up close becomes compromised. We find ourselves holding reading materials further and further away to regain focus. Many of us laugh about it, but it is a real challenge and one most of us don’t accept easily.

We squint, we find it hard to read labels, and tend to avoid any close up work. But most of us cannot go through life without our near vision. We need our close up vision in our occupations, many recreational activities and hobbies. It becomes a visual disability.

Simple Presbyopia Fixes

Luckily there are multiple ways to treat presbyopia and give us back our near vision. You don’t have to go through life without doing the things you love or are required for your job.

Reading glasses

For many patients experiencing presbyopia the simplest treatment is a pair of prescription reading glasses. For those patients with no other vision issues, this is an acceptable and easy way to treat presbyopia. They only need to use them for near vision like reading.

Patients who already wear glasses for refractive errors now can change their prescriptions to accommodate for presbyopia. Bifocals or progressive lenses will give these patients the ability to see at multiple distances. You can choose either bifocals with a definitive line on the lenses, or without any obvious lens line known as progressive lenses. In both cases you must wear these glasses to see at either distance.

Monovision Contact Lenses

Contact lenses for refractive errorIf a patient already wears contact lenses for a refractive error, then the eye care professionals at Cedar Park Vision may recommend monovision contact lenses to treat presbyopia. In this situation a patient’s dominant eye is corrected for distance vision and the other eye for close up vision.

Not everyone can tolerate monovision so a trial time will be necessary. Depth perception is somewhat compromised but many patients are thrilled with this convenient treatment for presbyopia.

Cataracts and Presbyopia

Cataracts are another result of aging. They normally come later in life and must be removed for clear healthy vision. In addition to losing flexibility and the ability to accommodate, our lens becomes cloudy and yellows as we get older. This cloudy lens is a cataract and it diminishes vision.

Patients who have been wearing bifocals, progressive lenses or even movovision contact lenses for presbyopia for a number of years can get an added bonus when they have cataract surgery.

The replacement lens can provide the opportunity to restore near vision. These artificial lenses known as intra-ocular lenses (IOLs) are available to correct many visual issues. An eye care professional like those at Cedar Park Vision can help you decide on the perfect lens for you and your lifestyle. They work closely with cataract surgeons to prepare you for your cataract surgery and help with the follow up care.

LASIK and Presbyopia

LASIK does not correct presbyopia, but a patient who is nearsighted and presbyopic can decide to have LASIK performed creating the same scenario as monovision contacts. If you already wear your contacts this way, it is an easy transition. If you have never experienced monovision, you will need to try it first with contact lenses to be sure you can tolerate the change.

Only an experienced eye care professional can make the right recommendations to treat presbyopia and your eyes.

No matter your age, you can trust your vision to the doctors and staff at Cedar Park Vision.

If you are having trouble with your near vision and think you may be developing presbyopia, contact Cedar Park Vision for a comprehensive eye exam.

The Most Common Eye Diseases and Treatment Options

Common Eye Diseases

Many patients believe eye diseases are more prevalent among older adults, but that is not always the case. We will review the most common eye diseases and treatment options, and you might be surprised to learn that pediatric patients and those in their 20s and 30s can have eye diseases too.

There are no symptoms with certain eye diseases, and the only way to detect many sight-threatening conditions is through regular dilated eye exams. Consider your own medical history and that of your family as you read further about the most common eye diseases.

Glaucoma

One such eye disease with no apparent symptoms is Glaucoma. It affects the optic nerve and retina as it slowly and silently steals your vision. With glaucoma fluid inside the eye does not drain properly causing increased pressure also known as intra-ocular pressure or IOP.  With this increased level of pressure blood does not reach the optic nerve, and vision is diminished.

The only early symptom of this eye disease is a loss in peripheral vision. Unfortunately most patients don’t even notice this is happening until it is too late. Any damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed.

If you have diabetes you are twice as likely to develop glaucoma. The best way to detect glaucoma at an early stage is a routine eye exam. Once this common eye disease is diagnosed, there are treatments to slow its progression, but early diagnosis is key to preserving your vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy

There are many eye diseases related to diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most prevalent and one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.  It affects the blood vessels in the retina.

Depending on the type of retinopathy it can be a mild case, or lead to retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage or cause macula edema. In the last case vision can quickly be lost.

Any patient with diabetes, including children, should regularly visit their primary care physician, monitor and control their sugar level, and have frequent exams with their eye care professional.

Cataracts

Although more a condition than a disease, cataracts are very common and must be removed to maintain your vision and lifestyle. As we age the natural lens in our eyes becomes yellowed and cloudy. If not removed through cataract surgery, vision becomes compromised and everyday tasks like driving become difficult if not impossible.

There are many artificial lens options available to patients after cataract surgery to improve overall vision including near vision, intermediate and distance vision.

Visit Cedar Park Vision for an appointment if you suspect you may have cataracts.

Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Also known as age-related macular degeneration, this eye disease is so named because it causes the degeneration of the part of the retina known as the macula. As it progresses, it distorts central vision and blind spots appear.

It is the leading cause of vision loss in patients 65 or older and it progresses slowly and painlessly. There are some drugs to slow down the progression of AMD.

Although there is no real cure, there are some ways to lessen your risk of developing macular degeneration or slowing its progression.

Amblyopia

When the eyes do not work together, one eye becomes much weaker than the other, and patients can develop amblyopia. This frequently happens with young children who cannot explain why they are having trouble seeing properly or performing in school. . Sometimes known as lazy eye, amblyopia causes the stronger eye to become dominant.

There are simple treatments like patching the stronger eye to make the weak one stronger. If the case is severe enough and all treatments have failed, surgery may be needed.

If your child is having difficulty in school, it may be a visual issue. Bring them to an eye care professional for an eye exam.

Eye Diseases Can Occur at any Age

Everyone is susceptible to common eye diseases from children through seniors.

As with all eye conditions or common eye diseases, a regular eye exam is the best defense. A routine exam can detect, diagnose and prevent the progression of some serious eye issues.

Keep you and your whole family safe from common eye diseases.

Contact Cedar Park Vision to preserve your vision.

 

The Look of Love

We’ve all heard the saying love at first sight, but did you know that there are actually certain characteristics in our eyes that influence how we perceive each other? Our personal preferences in eye shape or color may vary, but there are some traits that are universally attractive. In the spirit of Valentines Day, here are some of the characteristics of eyes that make us fall in love.Happy Couple

Thick and Dark Limbal Rings

Your limbal rings are the dark division between your iris and the white of your eye. Not only does the limbal ring accentuate the color of your eyes, but it’s also an indication of health and youth. Health and youth are desirable qualities from a reproductive standpoint and are something we unconsciously notice about each other almost immediately. The limbal ring is most noticeable in children and young adults. Its appearance naturally thins and fades with age or the onset of illness. Small subcultures of Japanese women use limbal ring enhancing contact lenses to enhance their eyes by increasing the appearance of size and definition.

Enlarged Pupils

Like limbal rings, people have noted the desirability of people with enlarged pupils and have been finding ways to enhance their pupils for centuries. Dating back to the Middle Ages, women in Italy would dilate their pupils with something called “belladonna” to gain the attention of men. Although “belladonna” is no longer used, because it was found to be toxic and harmful to people’s health, there are many ways in which women still enlarge their pupils to attract men. Models are commonly photoshopped to sport larger, darker pupils and fashion contact lenses also exist to create this effect. Studies have found that men prefer the appearance of large pupils in women because it indicates the woman’s interest in them. Women however, do not seek out enlarged pupils in men, but prefer medium-sized pupils as it indicates long-term interest.

Do you have the look of love in your eyes? If you want new glasses or contacts to give you a new look, contact us and we’ll help you out!

Animals with Amazing Vision

The animal kingdom is pretty amazing! With so much variety out there, some animals can see even better than we could ever imagine! Here are some of the world’s wildest creatures with the coolest visual features.

Hippos

Hippos are incredible at seeing underwater due to a clear membrane that covers their eyeballs and protects them from any debris in the water. It’s as if they have a pair of built in goggles allowing a smooth transition between seeing under and over the water. Hippos are also nocturnal and see very well in the dark.

Butterflies

A butterflies’ eye is composed of hundreds of microscopic six-sided lenses, commonly referred to as compound eyes. This feature is common in many varieties of insects and allows for them to see in numerous directions simultaneously which gives them 360-degree vision. Although butterflies are unable to gain a sharp focus on one given thing, they are able to see ultraviolet light which is pretty cool. Ultraviolet light is undetectable to the human eye, but butterflies use this feature to seek out nectar-filled flowers.

Snakes (more…)