FAQs

How often should I get new glasses?

The answer to this question is not the same for everyone. Several factors will determine how often you will need to switch out your eyeglasses.

One of the reasons that your regular eye exam is so important is so your Ophthalmologist can evaluate your current vision compared to the prescription of your glasses. Your prescription isn’t the only thing that will be evaluated. Your eye doctor will also assess your eyeglasses for damages or flaws.

You may think your eyeglasses are doing the job just fine, but when you involve an eye expert you may be surprised by what your eyeglasses aren’t telling you!

Will my new glasses offer me sun protection?

Today’s lenses offer customers lens treatment that blocks ultraviolet (UV) light. UV treatments for eyeglasses block the same rays that can damage your skin, protecting your eyes from the sun’s powerful glare. (Even on cloudy days, you need to shield your delicate eyes from the invisible power of UV light.

Overexposure to ultraviolet light has been linked to cause cataracts, retinal damage, eye cancers and other eye problems.

While it is true that most eyeglass lenses block UV light, adding a UV-blocking dye brings your UV protection to 100 percent. Other eyeglass lens materials like polycarbonate and high-index plastics, have 100 percent UV protection built-in, so an extra lens treatment are not needed.

Photochromic lenses also block 100 percent of the sun’s UV rays without the need for an added UV lens treatment.

Talk to your sales associate about what your options are for UV protection.

Will my glasses prescription work for purchasing contact lenses?

The prescription for your eyeglasses will differ from the prescription of your contact lens because the distance of your eye from each lens differs. To get the best prescription possible, your eye doctor needs to examine your eye to determine your glasses prescription and your contact lens prescription.

Will reading in dim light or working long hours on the computer hurt my eyes?

While reading in dim light won’t permanently damage your eyes, it can cause eye strain that can be uncomfortable or cause undesirable side effects.

Computer light poses a different kind of threat to the eyes in the form of blue light. While the amount of blue light exposure you experience in front of a computer screen is much smaller than the blue light of the sun, the long-term effects of this screen exposure is worrisome. A recent NEI-funded study revealed that children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults from digital device screens.

Blue light from computer screens and digital devices limits your visual contrast which can trigger unwanted digital eye strain. The result of this? Sore or irritated eyes and difficulty focusing. Another undesirable result of long-term blue light exposure is retinal damage. Research shows that blue light can damage retinal cells over time leading to conditions like age-related macular degeneration.

What’s the difference between an Ophthalmologist, optometrist and optician?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor holding an M.D. or D.O. degree with training in medical and surgical eye conditions who can perform surgery on the eyes.

An optometrist is a health care specialist trained to help patients with eye health and vision issues. Optometrists are trained and licensed to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision. An optician designs, fits and delivers lenses to correct and improve vision.

Opticians offer prescriptions, eyeglass frames, and lens technology best suited for improving consumers’ vision.

What happens during an eye exam?

An eye exam is a perfect time for you to open up a dialogue between yourself and your eye doctor about your current eye health and needs.  During your eye exam, your eye doctor will determine if you need a prescription for contact lenses or eyeglasses, or if you need changes to your current prescriptions.

Eye exams also give your eye care professional the opportunity to evaluate your eye health to see if you have any common eye diseases, and to discover how your eyes are working together.

Every morning it is a fight to get my child to wear her glasses. What can I do?

It may take time for your child to adapt to the feel of the glasses and to be comfortable seeing with them. For little children, you can find glasses that come with integrated headbands that can help to hold the glasses in place. It helps to be consistent in putting them on to allow the child to adapt to the feel of the glasses.

Very often, especially for small children that can’t tell you what is bothering them, the reason for a child’s refusal to wear glasses is that something is not comfortable. It could be that the prescription is not right, that the glasses pinch or that are feeling heavy. It could be worthwhile to take the glasses back to the eye doctor to ensure that they are in fact a proper fit.

At what age is it acceptable for a child to wear contact lenses?

Contact lenses can be a great convenience, especially for kids that are active or tend to break or lose their glasses. However, they are a medical device that must be treated with proper care and hygiene. If a child is not responsible enough to take care of them properly, he could end up with a serious eye infection, a scratched cornea or worse. Most experts agree that the youngest age that contact lenses should be considered would be between 10-12 depending on the child’s maturity and cleanliness. Consult with your eye doctor about what would be best for your child.