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Making the transition from glasses to contacts can be a very exciting time for your child. But, is there a right time to do so? 

The topic of your child’s yearly eye checkups might not be the only optic topic of conversation in your household! Your pre-teen or teenager might be wanting to officially make the switch from glasses to contact lenses. As you schedule your next appointment with us, we wanted to share this blog with you. Think of it as food for thought, and something to discuss with your family as you start to plan for contacts. 

A recent study was done by the American Optometric Association (AOA) dedicated to this very topic. The study was focused on finding out what age groups were most likely to be fitted for their first set of contacts and for what reasons these decisions were made. The study focused on children between the ages of 8 and 17. Most optometrists reported that they usually start fitting a child for their first set of contacts between the ages of 10 and 12. Although, most of their patients who wear contacts are 18 years or older. Many of the optometrists in this study felt that the 10 to 12 year age group was a suitable age for a child to take on the responsibility of caring for their contacts. When children required eye correction at age 8 or younger, according to this study, 67% of these optometrists fit them for glasses. But, as the child gets older, the percentages of these same optometrists fitting their young patients for contacts start to overcome that of fitting them for glasses. By the time they are in the 15 to 17-year-old range, they are 66% more likely to fit them for contacts than glasses. To learn more about this study and the specifics, if you’re interested, follow the link below! 
https://www.aoa.org/documents/npr10520_executivesummarychildrenandcontactlensesstudy_final.pdf

There are a lot of reasons why an optometrist would choose to fit a child for contacts over glasses that go beyond their age. It depends on the child’s habits and hygiene, their lifestyle, and their level of responsibility. It can be due to the child’s prescription and overall need, too. If a child has a strong want or motivation to wear contacts, that will be the first consideration. If a child wants to wear them, they are more likely to take up the responsibility to properly do so. Their maturity level will be reflected in this decision, too. Contacts are a much safer option for very active children who are involved with sports, dance, and fast-paced activities. Self-esteem, too, still plays a huge role in the reasoning behind a child’s want in wearing glasses, according to the AOA. Even with how popular glasses are right now in pop culture, children are still bothered by the stigma that wearing glasses can bring.

If you’re hesitant about your child wearing contacts, there are a few things that you might want to keep in mind. According to the Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA), some contacts can slow down nearsightedness in your child’s eyes. The growth of the eye and how fast it grows can influence how quickly nearsightedness can appear. Contacts can regulate that speed and help slow the process down. According to the FDA, contacts can help improve your child’s quality of vision compared to wearing glasses. This can be an incredible boost in their overall self-esteem. Don’t worry, if your doctor doesn’t feel that your child is ready for this responsibility, they won’t fit them for contacts until they are. 

Here is some interesting food for thought. According to All About Vision, four million children under the age of 18 wear contacts in the US. A child’s eyes can tolerate contacts very well, some infants are even fitted for them. Infants will be fitted for contacts if they have eye conditions or congenital cataracts that are present when they’re born. Children are also less likely, according to All About Vision, to have or develop dry eye. Dry eyes can cause severe eye irritation when wearing contacts in adults. 

Children can be a perfect candidates for contacts, as long as they understand the responsibility that comes with them. If your child or teenager starts asking for contacts, don’t worry! We are here to help you through this transitionm and to anyswer any questions you have. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you do. We are always here for you and your family! 

Everyone has heard at least one strange superstition about eyes, but do these old wives’ tales have any truth to them? 

Just like any body part or strange cough or symptom that we come across, it’s so easy to jump down the rabbit hole of Google to diagnose what’s wrong. It’s even easier to do it now with your phones always right within your reach. Imagine what it was like to be concerned about something in a world without Google? Your parents and grandparents grew up like this and had to spend time doing their research, trying home remedies, and calling their doctors instead of looking up their answers on the internet. Imagine even still what it was like caring for yourself and your eyes before modern medicine and before the American Optometric Association came to be! Pretty scary right? Even as we’ve been comfortably sitting with modern medicine for some time now, there are still plenty of myths and superstitions concerning your eyes that we still hear very frequently. We thought it would be fun to discuss and debunk five of the most common myths about eyes that are very common to hear every day. 

• Myth #1: You’ll Go Blind If You Sit Too Close To The TV!

How many of us were told while we were growing up that sitting too close to the TV will hurt our eyes? While it’s never a good idea to do one thing for too long, there is no actual evidence that this will cause permanent damage, according to FOR EYES and Vision Services Plan. This rumor has been around since television came into our lives and has become a household rumor ever since. Watching too much TV can cause your eyes strain, make them tired, and cause them to be very dry. If this does happen, close your eyes for a few seconds and let them rest. Or, take a break from watching the TV and turn it off for a while. 

• Myth #2: If You Keep Crossing Your Eyes, They’ll Stay That Way!

Good news, this myth is very far from the truth. Your eye muscles are made to move in every direction and won’t get stuck there. Sure, you might get a headache if you do continuously cross your eyes, but that’s about it. We think this rumor got its start from an annoyed parent or sibling that was bothered one too many times. Crossed eyes that you don’t control are the sign of nerve damage, affected vision, and possibly blood vessel damage. If you are showing signs of crossed eyes, please call us right away. 

• Myth #3: Carrots Will Give You Night Vision! 

Sorry Marvel and DC fans. Carrots are great for your eyes and a healthy diet, but they won’t give you the night vision you’ve always wanted. But, according to A Vogel, carrots do give your eyes a ton of vitamin A. Vitamin A helps your eyes convert light even when conditions aren’t great, and they protect your corneas. So we understand where this myth got its start. Some argue, though, that carrots aren’t even the biggest and most important superfood that you need to be eating for good vision. According to the AOA fish, spinach, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, nuts, beans, and meats are the best for your vision. 

• Myth #4: As Long As You Can See, You Don’t Need To Get Regular Vision Checkups! 

This myth drives us CRAZY. Even though you think you might have perfect vision, there could be several issues wrong with your eyes that only we can see and notice during an exam using the proper equipment. Like we’ve mentioned before, a lot of eye diseases can go years before appearing. By the time they do, they can be beyond treatment. Glaucoma is one of these issues. Other health issues can be discovered during eye exams like high blood pressure and diabetes that need to be addressed right away. An eye exam is much more than just checking if you need glasses or not. They are an important and necessary part of your overall health! 

• Myth #5 If You Sneeze With Your Eyes Open, Your Eyes Will Pop Out! 

As terrifying and gross as this story was when we were growing up and loved to say around Halloween, it is NOT true. You close your eyes when you sneeze because it’s a natural reflex, according to the AOA. It actually might be difficult to sneeze if your eyes are open but, if this does happen, you won’t be facing any consequences. 
How many of these myths have you heard before? Did you still believe any of them until you read this blog? Let us know! We’d love to hear your feedback! We are always here to answer any questions you might have and to discuss your best options when it comes to your family’s vision needs. We will see you next time! 

Have you ever been curious about how the rules and regulations that all optometrists follow came to be? It started with the founding of The American Optometric Association! 

Our eyes have been one of the most incredible and delicate organs we’ve had since the dawning of time. The dedication, study, care, and science of our eyes doesn’t have as long a history, and modern medicine was born even later than that. Sure, the care of our eyes does date back to as long as we could care for ourselves or have someone else care for them. But, medieval and ancient practices are not ones we like to look back on, especially when it comes to our eyes. Thankfully, things all changed thanks to the American Industrial Revolution, which not only brought on the birth of modern medicine, it also brought on the birth of the American Optometric Association. 

• Who They Are 

Founded in 1898, the American Optometric Association has been the “leading authority on quality care” for the care of human eyes since its very beginning. According to their website, the AOA represents over 40,000 doctors of optometry, students, and optometric professionals. Each of these individuals helps provide lifelong care for your eyes’ health. These professionals are responsible to examine, diagnose, and treat any disorder, disease, or injury that appears in the eye. 

• The History 

 The AOA was founded in New York City, an association that finally represented those who cared for the eyes of American citizens and would help guarantee the quality of care they would now be receiving. To this day, the AOA strives to be an advocate for the quality of eye care and continues to research to improve eye care. When it first began, it was called the American Association of Opticians, with 183 members across 31 states and Canada. In 1910, the name changed to the American Optical Association, to finally reaching its current name of the American Optometric Association in 1919. In its first two years, the association was fairly open for those to join in the medical field. It wasn’t limited to just optometrists until 1900. Not only was it founded to provide the best care and research, but the foundation has also been an active force in raising the bar in the quality of life and in giving back to humanity itself. The AOA is the reason behind the vision tests we have at the DMV and the reason why a code of ethics exists in the industry. They continue to strive to be leaders in education, setting a professional standard, and beyond. They’ve kept this as part of their mantra since day one. 

• The Impact

One of the biggest steps in giving back came in 2006 when the AOA created Optometry Cares, a nonprofit organization that would change the world of optometry forever. This foundation would change the face of providing care for those in need, too. It led to the founding of the Endowment and a Scholarship fund for future optometric students, InfanteSEE, which we are proudly a part of, and Vision USA. Today, the AOA’s headquarters is in St. Louis and has offices in Virginia. Along with setting a standard for care and research, the AOA fights politically on behalf of those in the profession of optometry and those within its care. It even has its own Journal, “Optometry – Journal of The American Optometric Association” that is now published on their website. 

• Conclusion

Thanks to the AOA, our eyes will be cared for, protected, and continue to be looked after with new developments. This will be guaranteed all while the AOA continues to set a standard policy granted to everyone who receives care. If anything, the AOA’s mission statement is something that resonates for all of us: “Advocate for the profession and serve optometrists in meeting the eye care needs of the public”. We proudly follow in the AOA’s rich 122-year history and strive to offer the best care we can to our patients based on the principles the AOA has set. We hope this little insight into our history gives you an idea of what importance we put into our standards of care and service. We are always here to answer any questions you might have and to discuss your best options. We are always here to support you and your family! Until next time, we are here for all of your eye care needs!

When it’s time to start wearing contacts, you’ll need to have a Contact Lens Fitting. What does this entail and what should you expect?

In one of our most recent blogs, we talked about the difference between soft and hard contacts. At the very beginning of that blog, we mentioned that we only fit lenses that are healthy for the patient and provide the most comfortable wearing experiences. We wanted to dive a little deeper into this subject and discuss what exactly goes into a proper lens fitting. We want to give you a better idea of what you might expect when visiting our offices to get your contacts!

Please know that we do not offer generic brand contacts and do not fit lenses that have an increased incidence of eye infections. Our physicians and staff will walk you through an extensive patient history to pick which lens material, wear schedule, sleep schedule, and replacement schedule is right for you and your new contacts. Our physicians and contact lens technicians are trained with many different types of lenses including Air Optix, Proclear, Acuvue Oasys, and more! They are also trained in providing multiple types of contact lens designs; Spherical, Toric, and Multi-Focal.

The Appointment

Is it time for contacts? Then it’s time for a contact lens fitting. This is more than just a general eye exam, and it will have a different flow of procedure. Make sure to plan efficient time for this appointment, and give yourself at least an hour to spend with us. Don’t rush through this appointment, especially if it’s your first experience wearing contacts. During your appointment, you will be spending time with our staff and doctors to evaluate which contact lenses are the best for the shape of your eyes, your lifestyle, and what you do for a living. Once a contact is chosen, they will make sure it covers your eye properly, moves as it should, if it causes any surface problems, and if they cause any issue with your cornea. Our staff will also spend time to ensure that you know how to put in and take out your contacts, that you feel comfortable with using them, and that you know how to clean them properly. You will receive a complimentary pair of lenses and any care needed within the first three months of your first fitting. This is generally 1-3 visits.  

What Else To Expect

While a contact lens fitting is different from a normal eye appointment, there are similar features. Your doctor will still check on the overall health of your eye, you will put test contacts in your eyes after a prescription has been determined, and you will spend time getting used to the feel of the contact in your eye. Your doctor will spend time analyzing the shape and condition of your eyes, their specific needs, and your lifestyle before having you put in a pair for the first time. They aren’t going to rush their choice, so the first or second pair will most likely be the best fit for you. Please make sure to speak up if you’re not comfortable with the choices provided. We will make sure to work with you to find the best option possible.

Be Prepared

Contact and glasses fittings are two very different things. Glasses are measured and picked to sit away from your eyes while contacts are measured to sit right on the surface of your eyes. Be prepared to talk about different types of contacts. Your doctor could walk you through the pros and cons of soft and hard contacts. Also, be prepared to discuss the future of your contacts and how you want them to help your changing eyesight over time. When coming into a fitting, if you already wear glasses, bring those with you. Do not wear eye makeup. This will allow your contacts to stay clean as you put them and take them out.

We hope our last few blogs dedicated to contacts have been eye-opening. We hope this helps you feel more confident in making this step if it appears in your future. We are always here to answer any questions you might have and to discuss your best options. We are always here to support you and your family! As we begin to head back to some sense of normal, continue to stay safe. Until next time, we are here for all of your eye care needs!

Curious about the perfect contact for your eyes? We are here with all of the information you need to know! 

Your eye care journey can be an interesting one. You might make many different choices and changes over the years. Sometimes something that worked for you in the beginning, won’t always last the whole lifespan of needing contacts and glasses. That’s ok! Needing to make the switch from soft to hard contacts? Have you never worn contacts before? Are you making the switch from glasses to contacts? Have no fear! All your answers are here! Here at Ocean Eye, we only fit lenses that are healthy for the patient and provide the most comfortable wearing experience. 

Making the switch to contacts or wearing contacts isn’t for everyone. Making the choice is a very personal one and one you need to take very seriously. Sometimes this decision is based on pure need. Contacts can help you stay safe while being active, working, driving, and beyond. Other times, wearing contacts is just the preferred look of the wearer. Whatever choice you make, make sure you are taking proper care to clean, store, and wear your contacts correctly. Make sure you wear them as prescribed, and change them when it’s time. Make sure that if you don’t know how to put in or care for your contacts that a professional shows you how. 

We are here to help you pick out your perfect contacts. Some contacts you only wear once and replace every day. Others can be worn up to a whole month. There are different types of contacts out there too. The type you wear will be recommended to you based on comfort, need, and eye shape. The most common types of contacts are soft and rigid gas permeable contacts. Rigid gas permeable contacts are also referred to as hard contacts. What’s the difference between the two? What are some of the pros and cons? What are some tips to help to wear and care for both? In today’s blog, that is what we will be discussing! 

SOFT CONTACTS 

Soft contacts first made their appearance in the optic world in the early 70’s. This type of contact is known as the most comfortable and the easiest to wear between the two. They are also the most commonly prescribed by doctors. They are made of light, soft, and very flexible silicone hydrogel. They mold to the shape of your eyes and stay put. The plastic allows oxygen to pass through the cornea, which promotes both comfort and the overall good health of your eyes. They are easy to get used to for first-time wearers and long term wearers. They can help with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and more. Daily contacts that you throw out after one use don’t need to be cleaned. You can also get soft contacts that come with tints and bifocals. They are also more difficult to pop out of your eye than RGP contacts, which ensures that you lose them less frequently! 

• Disadvantages:
  • Your vision might not be as sharp compared to RGP contacts. 
  • They do wear out and need to be replaced frequently. 
  • They are less durable than hard contacts. 
  • They do not correct every eye problem. 
• Tips for Wearing:
  • Wash and dry your hands before putting them in and taking them out. 
  • Clean your case every day and let it dry. 
  • Clean, rinse, and disinfect them after every use. 
  • Always use the proper drops and solutions made for your soft contacts. 
  • Don’t wear them beyond their prescribed time. 

HARD CONTACTS

Rigid gas permeable contacts are made out of stiff plastic that does not mold to your eye as soft contacts do, but they have a lot of other wonderful benefits. Sadly, as beneficial as they can be, hard contacts come with a bad reputation. They were very uncomfortable in their early years, but they have come a long way since the 70’s. They used to be made out of material that didn’t allow hardly any oxygen into the cornea. Today, RGP contacts allow plenty of oxygen to reach the cornea. They give the wearer very crisp and clear vision and are very durable. They have been known to help slow the development of nearsightedness and can correct most astigmatism. They are very easy to care for, they don’t get dry or dehydrate, they always keep their shape, and they can help with cornea refraction therapy. RGP contacts don’t change shape so they are always in focus. They allow more oxygen into the eyes than soft contacts do, making them the healthiest option. They are a great option for wearers who have unique eye shapes that don’t adjust to soft contacts well. They are also great for those who suffer from dry eyes. If you’ve been unsatisfied with soft contacts, consider trying RGP contact lenses instead. While it does take time to get used to them and they aren’t as comfortable, if they’re well cared for, they can last up to 2 to 3 years before needing to be replaced! 

• Disadvantages: 
  • You have to wear them consistently for your eyes to adjust to them. 
  • They can move around more often.  
  • Debris can get under the lens. 
  • They can get scratched. 
• Tips for Wearing:
  • Don’t wear them while swimming or showering. This can help reduce the chance of infection. 
  • Only use solutions and drops that are specifically made for RGP contacts. 
  • Once a week, use an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of any protein buildup on the contact. 
  • Clean and store them properly every night. 
  • Don’t wear them for weeks or days at a time without cleaning. 

Picking out contacts can be a hard decision. There is a lot to consider when it’s time to make a choice. Beyond the information we provided, you also need to consider your eye conditions, your lifestyle, your budget, and which feels best in your eyes. It might take time to come to a permanent decision, but that’s okay. We are here to answer any questions or walk you through any concerns. We are here to support you and your family! As we begin to head back to some sense of normal, continue to stay safe. Until next time, we are here for all of your eye care needs! 

Even before you became a parent, you started preparing for a life with your little one. No matter how prepared you might be, there are just some things that we have to deal with in the moment. This can cause anxiety, fear, and worry about your child’s everyday health and well being. Don’t let eye issues or first-time eyewear be a difficulty in yours or your child’s life. Take these tips and hints to prepare for a healthy and carefree life with eyewear and eye care! 

Have you seen this beautiful weather, Summerville? It’s been a joy while the world around us has been a little uneasy. Are you still having issues seeing and experiencing the world around you? Then it might be time to visit us! We are still open and very essential. Know that we are taking this situation very seriously, and are following strict guidelines to keep our offices clean, our staff and patients safe, and to make sure you keep seeing this wonderful spring down to the last green leaf and flower bud. It’s a very strange time, but don’t let your eyes suffer. We are here, and we are ready to see you! 

As the school year is coming to a very different and unique end, we wanted to continue to discuss our youngest eye patients and their journey with their optometrist. In our last two blogs, we discussed how proud we are to be apart of INFTANTsee and can provide free, and very important, eye exams for all babies one-year-old and younger. We also discussed how to help cure the woes and worries of your little one’s fears at their first optometry visits. But, there is so much that needs to be shared about pediatric eye care and the importance of educating your children on healthy and proper eye care, that we wanted to share a little bit more on the subject. We want to dedicate this blog to any parent having worries or difficulties about a child who possibly needs eye care and eyewear for the rest of their lives. We are here to help you through them, and to ease these worries. 

We can’t stress how important these early eye appointments are, or the fact that it is something we take very seriously in our offices. While your child grows and matures, it’s not just their height and age that changes and develops. Their eyes are rapidly growing and changing, and need to be cared for as delicately as possible. According to the American Optometric Association, children should receive eye exams at six months, three years, five years, and every year while they’re in school. Remember, one in every four children has some type of visual impairment. More often than not, these conditions are present with little or no symptoms from the child. Many issues that children have with their eyes that could potentially be dangerous or become an impairment in their life, can be prevented if caught and cared for at a young age. Still not convinced of the importance of pediatric optometry? Let’s see if we can change that. Here are ten things you should know about your child’s vision and how to be prepared to care for a child who needs eye care! 

• When your child complains about eye-related issues or pain caused by not being able to see properly, listen to them. Many children at a young age don’t have the verbal skills yet to explain what is bothering them, but they know enough that something is wrong. If you’ve visited your pediatrician, and your child is still experiencing issues, don’t be alarmed. It’s just time to visit us. Be attentive, pay attention, and make an appointment! 
• Your child has been seeing the world through their eyes exactly as they think they should be. They won’t know or understand what seeing clearly is like, until it has been caught that they haven’t been. They won’t understand that what they see is blurry, that they have been missing out on seeing every detail around them, and that it could be impacting how they’re learning at school every day. An optometrist can make seeing clearly a reality for your child in no time. 
• At any age, parents need to be looking out for certain symptoms that could be a telltale sign that there is something wrong with your child’s eyes. These symptoms include: 
  • Chronic redness
  • Chronic tearing
  • Pupil discoloration
  • Talking about not being able to see or that their vision is blurry
  • Constant eye rubbing 
  • Constant squinting 
  • Moving close to an object to see it clearly
  • Bringing objects close to their face to see them 
  • Closing one eye while reading or watching TV
  • Having a hard time paying attention or sitting still in class, watching TV, or reading
  • If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, please visit us right away. 
• Do you know how your child’s growth spurts and loose teeth seem to appear overnight and always feel like a surprise? The same thing applies to your child’s eyes. These issues or symptoms can appear overnight and out of the blue as they continue to grow. It can come as a shock and surprise, but they just need to be addressed right away. 
• Even if you and your partner don’t wear glasses, and your child isn’t showing any signs of issues with their eyes, that doesn’t mean they should be exempt from these early optometry appointments. Please follow the guidelines on scheduling your child’s optometry visits. Eye impairments can appear without any symptoms or signs and aren’t necessarily linked to parents who have good or poor eyesight. 
• Insurance is always a tricky subject and is one that we will talk more about in the future. Insurance should never be the reason that prevents you from getting your child to an optometrist. This goes beyond having vision insurance. Most medical insurance plans will cover routine eye exams and cover any additional medical eye care for children. Double-check with your insurance provider before you assume that you and your child won’t be covered. 
• Wearing glasses at a young age can come with a heavy stigma from society. Hearing that they “have to” wear glasses can make them sound like a punishment, and can put a lot of pressure on your child. It’s a big adjustment to learn to live with glasses and to wear them every day, so make it easier on them. Let them choose the frames they love. Help accessorize your child’s glasses to keep them playing outside, participating in their favorite sports, and splashing through the waves. Show them that glasses are a great thing and exciting to wear. Glasses are a fashion statement, something that makes them special, and something that helps them see everything in their magical world. Make sure they are measured properly for their glasses, so they fit properly on their face. This can be a difficult thing to find at a run of the mill glasses shop. We specialize in the care and treatment of children’s eyes, so this won’t be an issue you’ll run into with us. We can help you ease into helping your child wear glasses and the fact that they can see so much better now.  
• Not only can you show and talk about how wonderful it is to wear glasses, but your child can learn about it too! We begin them on that fun journey in our offices, but there are many wonderful children’s books out there that can help them make the transition into wearing glasses, that there is nothing wrong with wearing them, and that they are not alone in wearing them. 
• It is very common for parents not to know how important these early visits are, and so many eye issues won’t appear with symptoms or issues for your child. That’s why we are here to spread that awareness and to help you prevent any issues for your child’s vision. But, don’t feel guilty or punish yourself through the process of taking your child to the optometrist and learning that they need glasses. Your child was happy and healthy, and they still are. How could you have known they needed glasses? You are not alone in feeling guilt attached to learning this news or that your child couldn’t see properly. But, we are here to help prevent that guilt and erase any fears or worries about your child’s eyes.
• Screentime can have a huge impact on your child’s vision. Right now, we are all spending a lot of time at home and a lot of time on our smart devices for work, school, and play. Try and limit hours on these devices and watching TV. Allow frequent breaks during the online schoolday to let your child’s eyes rest. Limiting screen time and giving these breaks can help lower the risk of nearsightedness, eye strain, and digital eye strain. 

We hope this list calms your worries and fears and helps your family start a healthy path of eye care. Being a parent is hard work, an incredible gift, and a daily rewarding challenge. We are here to help keep your family safe and healthy with the best optometry care in Summerville. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We will always be here when you need us! 

When a new baby comes into your life, you will have so much on your plate. But did you know that one of your top priorities in the first six months of your baby’s life needs to be an appointment with your optometrist? 

Hello Summerville! Our mighty little town is doing such an amazing job handling this situation. In this time of crisis, we know it’s hard to leave your homes and to attend to everyday needs like visiting your optometrist. Please know we are following the strict guidelines that WHO, the CDC, and our Governor have put in place for all of our staff and patient’s safety. For any comments, questions, or concerns about how we are handling this current situation, please contact us. We are currently still open, but with some modifications that we are following to make your visits safe and pleasant. With all of this weighing on each of us, we wanted to change the conversation and focus on something good.

One of the many joys in our lives is our children! Here at Ocean Eye, we believe in providing the best eye care for children starting at a very young age. This includes free eye exams for our youngest patients that are under a year old. We are also very excited and proud to participate in a national vision program called INFANTsee. Under this partnership, we can provide those complimentary doctor visits for infants under the age of one. This amazing program is aimed at educating parents on the importance of regular eye exams for their children. It also introduces an optometry visit to your child in a way that allows them to be comfortable and familiar with the offices and what an eye exam is all about, and to not be afraid of them. It also allows them to learn along with their parents about the importance of eye care and health from their very early years and beyond. 

It is very exciting to welcome a baby into your family and to watch them grow and see the world around them for the very first time. We know how very fragile our little ones are and how much they rely on us to make the right decisions to keep them healthy. This includes pediatrician’s visits. At these visits, your pediatrician can see basic eye disorders in your baby, but many eye problems can go undetected because of the lack of equipment or not having enough time during each checkup to spend looking at your child’s eyes on top of their full body checkup. To have a full check-up, your child should have a total wellness checkup with an optometrist as well. Now, with the help of INFANTsee, parents can make appoints with us or an optometrist that is apart of the program at no cost. 

We all see our beautiful children as the perfect little ones that they are, but just like anyone, their vision may not always be perfect. It is very important to have a wellness optometry appointment between their first six months and first birthday to catch any early eye problems or issues your baby’s eyes could be experiencing. 100,000 infants born every year are at risk of serious vision disorders. One in ten children has an eye condition that could have been diagnosed sooner. Early detection is possible and essential, helping many problems be prevented. This will help them now and for the rest of their lives. It can prevent surgery and many other complications throughout your child’s life. Early detection and treatment can: 

• Help doctors catch eye issues become your child begins schooling. This way, poor vision won’t get in the way of your child’s education or discourage them from learning because they simply can’t see. 
• Avoid surgery. 
• Avoid permanent vision impairment. 

Eye issues and impairments don’t wait for a certain age to appear in your child’s eyes. They can appear very early on. Early detection can help them see as they are supposed to and to enjoy their lives to the fullest. This is why we are so proud to be a part of the INFTANTsee program and to offer our services to all of our parents and their precious little ones. 
For more information visit the page on our website dedicated to INFANTsee. This will help answer many common questions that other parents had that you just might too! We can’t wait to see you and your little one soon, and to get them on the path to healthy eyes for life! 

It’s so important to keep your contacts and glasses clean, safe and properly cared for. These items are here to help the most delicate organs in your body, so paying them extra attention is only necessary. Take the time to care for your optic wear, and always make it a priority! 

Hello Summerville! This spring weather streaming through our windows has been just what the doctor ordered! We hope you are seeing it clearly. If you’re not – come in and see us! We will make sure you see the spring arrive healthily and in style! We hope you enjoyed our last blog, dedicated to the care and cleaning of your glasses. Remember, even if you don’t wear glasses or contacts many of these tips can still help you maintain a healthy lifestyle when it comes to the care of your eyes. So this blog, and others like it, are all perfect for you! During this time, and any time, it is always important to keep your hands clean while touching your eyes, your contacts, and your glasses. We are all washing our hands more than ever before, keep it up! 

We are your leading provider in Summerville for the best eye exams, lens fittings, and finding the perfect contacts for you. There are many different kinds, different brands, and designs that will allow you to wear them for different lengths of time. We are here to help you discover what’s perfect for all of your optical needs. If you are a first-time contact wearer, discovering the perfect brand of contacts can be a trial period, and that’s okay! Some people prefer wearing daily contacts, while others prefer to wear contacts that you can wear for up to a month. Some prefer hard contacts, while others prefer soft lenses. Your eyes are as unique as you are. Always give yourself the time to find what’s right for you, and we will be here to answer all of your questions along the way. 

Let’s talk about the wearing, caring, and daily life of your contacts. These fragile objects live right on top of your eyes, and you have to touch them to place them there. With such hands-on treatment, you need to put even more care and thought into keeping your hands and contacts clean. You also need to dedicate extra care in how you physically handle them. The first rule of thumb is one that we will say time and again. You need to have very clean hands when putting in or taking out your contacts. You also need to keep your contacts as clean as possible, while you’re wearing them and while they are being stored. 

Here are the best tips, suggestions, and ideas to follow when caring and wearing your contact lenses. 

• The process of finding the correct style, kind, and shape of contact is very important. As is what solution and eye drop you’re going to use to keep your eyes and contacts clean and moist. Make sure to take the time with us to find the best contacts for you and the proper tools to keep them clean, healthy, and comfortable. 
• When putting in your contacts, make sure the contact is not damaged. Never put a damaged contact into your eye. This could lead to scratching your eye, irritation, and possible infection. Throw out a damaged contact, and replace it immediately. 
• Make sure your contacts are clean and moist when you put them in. 
• Use only your fingertips to hold your contacts and to put them in. Don’t use your nails, sharp objects, or tweezers. 
• Wash your hands well with soap and water, before putting your contacts in, that doesn’t have any extra additives in it. Dry them with a clean town and make sure there are no random fibers left on your hands before handling your contacts. 
• Do not sleep in your lenses unless they have been prescribed to be worn that way. 
• Put your lenses in before putting on makeup, and remove them before washing your makeup off. 
• Don’t put water on your contacts. The only things you should ever put on your lenses are the solutions and drops made for them. 
• Use fresh solution every time you store your contacts. Allow your contact case to dry out during the day before using it again. 
• Pay attention to cleaning your fingernails too. Dirt and grime living under your nails can make its way onto your contacts. Keep your fingernails as clean as you do your hands. 
• Change your contact case once a month. 
• Don’t share your contact lenses with anyone. 
• Remove your lenses and come visit us right away if you have any irritation, redness, discomfort, or difficulty seeing. There could be a much bigger issue that is causing these symptoms. 
• Don’t wear your lenses longer than they have been prescribed to be worn. Don’t try to stretch their wear. 

Now after reading both parts of this blog, you are skilled at keeping your contacts and glasses clean. You will continue to have fantastic optic health and will be able to see the world around you without any pain. Sharing these tips and tools with your younger family members and children can help them develop healthy habits, and guarantee healthy eyes for a lifetime. If you have any questions or concerns with your glasses or contacts, please contact us right away. Until then, we can’t wait to see you at your next appointment! 

We were so excited about sharing tips and suggestions on how to keep your eyes happy and healthy, we wanted to continue with that idea! It’s time to talk about the health and wellness of your glasses and contacts! 

Hello Summerville! We hope you are all doing well, and seeing clearly! We hope you enjoyed our very first blog, we are very excited to keep up with them and we have so many exciting things coming your way. Just you wait! We know times have been a little strange, but one of the many tips we are pushing our patients to follow is limiting and avoiding touching your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. We hope our patients are paying attention to that warning and keeping their hands clean. We love these ideas, not only to keep you healthy and safe during this strange time, but this is also excellent advice to follow for healthy and clean eyes. You will be keeping yourself and your eyes healthy if you continue to heed these warnings and continue to practice this important hygiene. 

We wanted to continue down the path of caring for your eyes in this blog as well. This time though, we are going to be discussing the care and maintenance of your glasses and contacts. Even if you’re not someone who wears either, you will still be able to put a lot of these tips and suggests to work. If you wear sunglasses, as we have suggested, or wish to continue to keep your eyes clean, this blog is still for you! Anything you put on your face and near your eyes, you need to keep clean and be very conscious of doing so. This blog is going to offer so many tips and suggestions, that we decided to split it in two. The first part will be dedicated to the care of your glasses, and the second part will be dedicated to the care of your contacts. There is so much information out there, we didn’t want to leave anything out and we didn’t want to overwhelm you. So sit back and relax and enjoy reading about how you can help your eyes stay healthy by taking care of your glasses and your contacts. 

If you have been a patient with us over the years or you’re thinking about becoming one, please know we are here to provide you with the best glasses, contacts, and eye care for everyone in your family. We will help you find the perfect prescription, the perfect type of contacts, and the perfect pair of glasses and prescription sunglasses! What are you waiting for? It’s going to be like seeing the world as you’ve never seen it before! 

Let’s begin with your glasses and the care of them. If you’ve worn them for years or you’re wearing them for the very first time, take time to invest in these tips and suggestions. Remember that your eyes are very delicate. The more care you can give them, the better! 

• Your glasses are an investment. Care for them as best you can to avoid having to replace them over and over again. This bill can add up very quickly. 
• Avoid using paper products like napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper to clean your glasses. Even though these products feel soft to you, the small and prickly fibers they’re made out of are terrible for your lenses. They can scratch up and damage the glass with one swipe. Cleaning them multiple times with these products can destroy your lenses in no time. 
• Remove dirt and debris from your glasses by rinsing them with water and a bit of dish soap. Rub the glass gently and clean them thoroughly with clean hands, and dry them with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using clothing items to dry or clean your glasses, unless they are 100% cotton. Any other fabrics could be abrasive to your glasses and leave behind small scratches, just like paper products. Air drying is also an excellent way to let your clean glasses dry after you wash them. 
• If you wish to clean your glasses with something other than soap and water, only use sprays and cleaners that have been specifically made to clean glasses! Avoid using any household cleaning products. They could strip the protective coating on your glasses, and be harmful to your health and the health of your eyes. 
• When you’re not wearing your glasses, make sure you store them properly. The best place to store them is in the case they were brought home in. If you aren’t a fan of that case, there are hundreds of options you can find all over the internet, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure you pick one that protects your glasses and fits your style. 
• When you take your glasses off, never place them lens down. That is asking for scratches and damage. 
• Wash your glasses often, at least once a day is the recommended amount. 
• Wash your frames just as often too. This can help with the build-up of dirt and oil from your face and life in general on your frames. Clean your frames just like you would your lenses. Use a soft toothbrush to clean the hinges and the nose pads, making sure to remove all dirt, grime, and to fix any issues you might find during these cleanings. 
• Keep your glasses away from sources of extreme heat and cold. 
• Hold your glasses by their frame, and not by the glass. 
• Keep your glasses out of danger of food splatters, perfumes, makeup, and other household products when they are being worn and when they’re not. 
• There are always great home remedies you can find all over the internet to fix smudges or scratches on your glasses. Avoid them, and please come into our office and let us fix those damages! 

We could go on and on with more tips, solutions, and suggestions on how to care for and keep your glasses clean. But these tips are a great place to start! If you implement all of these tips into your daily practices of eye care, your glasses will last longer and your eyes will stay healthier. For now, we will leave you with these tips. We are so excited to see you back for our next blog to learn how to properly care for your contacts! Until then, we hope you always see clearly!