Sunglasses – More Than Just a Fashion Statement

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We all love our sunglasses. They can make quite the fashion statement, adding to your overall look or even giving you your signature look. Yet sunglasses can do more than just make you look cool. They can also improve your vision and add important protection against UV rays. At Champaign Eye Professionals, your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, we are big fans of using sunglasses.

Protection Against UV Rays

UV rays are invisible rays that come from the sun. They don’t cause pain at first, but over time, they can damage your eyes, just like they damage your skin. Often, you don’t know damage is occurring until it’s too late. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection will help protect against this type of damage.

Protection Against Cataracts

One of the conditions that UV radiation can cause is cataracts. Wearing sunglasses regularly is a great way to protect your eyes from cataracts as you age.

Protection Against Eye Strain

When you are in bright sunlight, your eyes tend to strain. This can cause eye pain over time. While it’s not damaging, necessarily, it is uncomfortable. When you wear sunglasses in bright sunlight, you have a lower risk of this issue.

Reducing Sun Glare

Sun glare can be dangerous, especially when driving. When you wear sunglasses, you are able to protect against looking at the glaring sun while performing essential outdoor tasks.

As you can see, sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement. According to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, you’ll actually be protecting your eyes when you wear them. So stop in to our optical shop today to browse our extensive selection of sunglasses.

Cataract Prevention – Is It Possible to Prevent Cataracts?

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Cataracts can make night driving and even vision in bright sunlight difficult. While cataracts can be treated with help from your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, the best way to address cataracts is to prevent them in the first place. These tips from Champaign Eye Professionals can help you protect your eyes from developing cataracts.

Protect Against UV Rays

UV rays are a common cause of the damage that leads to cataracts. You can protect against this damage by wearing UV-filtering sunglasses when you are out in the sun. If you have prescription glasses, talk to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, about prescription sunglasses to add a layer of protection to your eyes.

Limit Alcohol and Stop Smoking

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can both increase your risk of cataracts. These are generally unhealthy practices anyway, so work to stop them, and you will protect your eyes.

Maintain Your Weight

Do what you can to stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of a wide range of health conditions, including diabetes, and many of these conditions can increase your risk of cataracts.

Keep up with Your Eye Exams

One of the best ways to prevent cataracts and other eye conditions is with regular eye exams from Champaign Eye Professionals. At these appointments, we can help detect problems early, so you can seek appropriate treatment before they progress and cause lasting damage. If problems have already started, we can help you take the necessary measures to stop them from progressing.

If you need an eye exam to start protecting your eyes against cataracts, reach out to the team at Champaign Eye Professionals.

Have Diabetes? Here’s How to Best Care for Your Eyes

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Whether you’ve had diabetes for years or you are just newly diagnosed, it’s important to take measures to protect your eyes and vision. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we focus on diabetic eye health and can help you protect your vision. Here’s what our eye doctors want you to know.

Have Your Eyes Dilated Once a Year

At your eye exam, make sure your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, dilates them. This procedure gives the eye doctor a chance to see your retina, which is essential to screen for diabetic eye disease. Early detection is important to help protect your vision and make necessary changes to improve your blood sugar control.

Manage Blood Sugar Carefully

Managing your blood sugar well is essential to keeping your vision safe from diabetes. Work with your doctor to ensure your blood sugar is under control, and make lifestyle changes to improve your blood sugar control.

Watch for Warning Signs

Unexpected blurriness or new dark spots in your vision can be a sign that something’s wrong. If you have these symptoms and you have diabetes, it’s important to talk to your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, as well as your medical doctor. It may be something else entirely, but it could be a sign that blood sugar is hurting your vision.

Improve Your Diet

Fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids can all help with blood sugar control. Limit the amount of refined carbs and simple sugar you consume as you work to control your blood sugar.

Stay Hydrated

Finally, make sure you stay hydrated. Water consumption helps with diabetes management, and good diabetes management will protect your eyes.

If you have diabetes, a partnership with an eye doctor is essential. Reach out to Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule a diabetic eye exam today.

How Can You Lower Your Risk of Developing Cataracts?

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Getting older means your eyes may experience changes, including lens clouding, known as cataracts. This cloudiness slowly affects your vision until you end up needing to have the lenses surgically replaced. At Champaign Eye Professionals, our eye doctors in Champaign, IL, offer testing and treatment for patients with cataracts. Here’s how you may be able to reduce your chance of developing this eye condition.

Never Skip Your Routine Eye Exams

Cataracts usually form slowly, so you may not know you have them. You might not be able to avoid them entirely, but our optometrists can check your eyes for signs of this cloudiness. Finding it early allows us to focus on protecting your vision.

Manage Underlying Medical Conditions

If you have diabetes or other medical conditions that increase your risk of cataracts, focus on managing them. Doing so improves your health overall and reduces your risk of needing treatment for cataracts in Champaign, IL.

Protect Your Eyes from the Sun

Sunglasses are a simple and convenient way to keep your eyes safe from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and potentially lower your risk of cataracts. Exposure to those UV rays can increase your risk of this condition. Wear sunglasses all year round, not only in summer.

Give Up Smoking and Limit Alcohol

Smoking comes with a higher chance of ending up with cataracts, so work on quitting if you’re a smoker. Drinking excessively may also increase your risk of developing this condition.

Schedule an Eye Care Appointment Today!

Is it time for an eye exam, or do you need treatment for cataracts? Our eye doctors at Champaign Eye Professionals can examine your eyes and recommend ways to manage or treat cataracts in Champaign, IL, if needed.