Which Eye Glasses Are Best? 4 Tips to Choose Your Next Pair of Specs

Choosing the right eyeglasses can be tough! Knowing what factors to take into consideration when selecting your eyeglasses in Champaign can make the process easier. Insurance, size, style, type, and shape of glasses are all important factors that can affect which glasses are right for you. If you’re going to be choosing new eyeglasses, here’s what to consider.

1. Consider Insurance

If you have vision insurance, your policy may limit how much your insurance company will pay for frames. Tell the clerks in the showroom about your insurance policy. Very likely, they will be able to show your which frames are fully covered by your policy.

2. Choose the Right Size

Glasses come in different sizes to fit different faces. Some glasses in the showroom may not be the right size for you. The clerk can help you identify when a pair of glasses needs to be a different size. They can help you find the right glasses for your size.

3. Wire Frames or Plastic?

Plastic frames are heavier, less flexible, and more colorful than their wire counterparts. You’ll need to choose the glasses frames that work best for you. Talk to the clerk about the available options.

4. Consider the Shape of Your Face

Look for a pair of glasses that complement the shape of your face. Is your face square? Look for square frames. Is your face rounded? Round frames will complement and accentuate the lines of your face. If you’re not sure, talk to the clerk for advice.

See the Eye Doctor in Champaign, IL

Pick the right glasses for your personal style. See the eye doctor in Champaign IL to get started.

Dry Eyes this Winter? What You Can Do About Them

Winter is a time of year when the humidity drops and many people experience dry eyes. Dry eyes can be itchy, red, and uncomfortable. If you’re experiencing dry eyes, there’s something you can do about it! By altering the environment in your home and by using products like artificial tears, you can reduce the effects of dry eyes in Champaign. Here’s what you need to know.

Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are sold in pharmacies. Eye drops are also available with a prescription – these eye drops help the eyes produce their own tears. Your eye doctor in Champaign IL can tell you if you need prescription eye drops to rehydrate your eyes. Use artificial tears according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Humidifier

As the humidity outside drops, so does the humidity inside. Use a humidifier to keep your home’s humidity at acceptable levels, or humidify at least one room of your house where you spend the most time, to reduce the symptoms of itchy eyes.

Avoid Use of Hair Dryers

Hairdryers blast your face, hair, and eyes with hot, dry air. They make dry eyes worse and can leave you feeling miserable later. Avoid the use of hair dryers whenever possible. If using a hairdryer, keep the airspeed low and the temperature cool.

Wear Wrap Around Sunglasses

Wrap-around sunglasses shield your eyes from wind that could dry them out. Buy wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes from the worst of the winter wind.

See the Eye Doctor

If you suffer from dry eyes, your eye doctor may be able to identify the source of your dry eyes and recommend treatments, medication changes, or behavior changes that can help. Call today to make an appointment.

Why Should You See the Eye Doctor Annually? 

Seeing the eye doctor annually is an important part of maintaining your eye health. Many people believe that if they don’t have any known eye diseases or conditions, they never need to go to the eye doctor. This isn’t true! There are many reasons to see the eye doctor in Champaign, IL, even if you don’t have prescription glasses. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining healthy eyes and seeing the eye doctor.

Your Prescription Can Change

Most people who have glasses prescriptions find that their prescriptions change over time. Seeing the eye doctor will help you keep up with these changes, so you’ll always have glasses that match your prescription and help ensure your vision is as sharp and clear as possible.

Your Eye Doctor Checks for Eye Diseases

When you visit the eye doctor for eye exams in Champaign, IL, your eye doctor won’t just check for changes to your prescription. They’ll also check for presence of eye diseases. Some diseases, like glaucoma, are almost impossible to detect until they’ve done permanent damage to your vision.

Seeing the eye doctor is the only way to catch glaucoma in its earliest stages. If you do have a condition like glaucoma, your eye doctor can provide treatments that can slow the progress of the disease and preserve your vision for as long as possible.

Good Vision Is Important

One more reason to go see the eye doctor is because good vision is important for your normal everyday functioning. Whether you’re going to school or work, or just navigating the streets of your town, it’s important to be able to see clearly. Going to your eye doctor will help you maintain the good vision you need to work and play safely!

To make an appointment to see your eye doctor, call today.

4 Questions to Ask the Eye Doctor During Your Next Eye Appointment

Hopefully, you visit the eye doctor every year! When you see the eye doctor in Champaign, IL, asking them questions about your eye health can help you take care of your eyes. Knowing which questions to ask can help make your visit to the eye doctor more productive. Below are four helpful questions you can ask your eye doctor during your next appointment.

1. Has my prescription changed?

Many people who wear eyeglasses will find that their prescription changes over time. When this happens, they must update their glasses to ensure that their vision is as clear as possible. During your eye exam, your eye doctor will check your visual acuity. If your prescription has changed, your eye doctor will let you know.

2. Are my eyes healthy?

During the eye exam, your eye doctor will also check for presence of eye diseases, like glaucoma and cataracts. If your eye doctor detects any diseases, they’ll be able to tell you what to do in order to preserve your vision. Find out the next steps to help protect your vision.

3. What can I do to prevent eye diseases?

There are many things that people can do to protect their eyes. For example, wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from UV rays. In this way, sunglasses help prevent conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

There may be many things that you can do to keep your eyes healthy. Asking your doctor this question will help start a conversation that could lead to healthier habits and a healthier lifestyle overall.

Start the Conversation With Your Eye Doctor

Find out what you can do to protect your eyes. Start the conversation with your eye doctor at your next eye exam in Champaign IL. Call today to make an appointment.

Are Sunglasses Necessary In Winter?

Wearing sunglasses in Champaign IL can help protect your eye health. Sunglasses are even important in winter! Knowing how sunglasses protect your eyes and why it’s important to wear them in winter can help you avoid eye diseases. Here’s what you need to know about this important issue.

How Sunglasses Protect Your Eyes

Sunglasses protect your eyes by filtering the UV rays from the sun. UV rays can increase your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts. UV rays can also do temporary damage to your eyes, similar to a sunburn. This condition is called photokeratitis, the inflammation of the corneas.

Why Sunglasses Help In Winter Too

The sun can damage your eyes in winter as well as summer. In fact, one of the ways that people get photokeratitis is when sunlight bounces off of snow and reflects back into the eyes. That’s why it’s important to wear sunglasses when participating in winter outdoor events like skiing, snowboarding and hiking.

Best practices for wearing sunglasses in winter:

  • If buying non-prescription sunglasses, check the label to see that the sunglasses you’re purchasing will filter UVA and UVB rays.
  • If you’re buying prescription sunglasses, double check with the clerk at the eye doctor to ensure that the glasses you’re buying will filter out these rays.
  • Keep multiple pairs of prescription sunglasses on hand, so you’ll always have sunglasses when you need them.
  • Keep your sunglasses protected in a case so they won’t get scratched. This will make wearing them more rewarding.

Get Your Pair of Prescription Sunglasses Today

If you wear prescription glasses but don’t have sunglasses, now is the time to buy some! Make an appointment with your eye doctor in Champaign IL today to get your new prescription sunglasses.