Cataract Awareness Month: Prevent Blindness

Did you know that cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States, and it is the leading cause of blindness in the world? The more you know about cataracts, the better able you are to protect your eyes now and prevent vision problems in the future.

What is a cataract?

Cataracts form when the proteins in the lens of your eye group together, making your lens cloudy.  Your lens is made up of water and proteins. Normally, the proteins line up in a particular way so that your lens is clear, and light can pass through easily. If the proteins in your lens clump together, the lens gets cloudy, like looking through a frosted window. The lens may also develop a brown or yellow tint, which can change how you see colors.

Causes

Most cataracts are age-related — they happen because of normal changes in your eyes as you get older. But you can get cataracts for other reasons like after an eye injury or after surgery for another eye problem. 

Symptoms

  • blurry vision
  • trouble seeing at night
  • seeing colors as faded
  • increased sensitivity to glare
  • halos surrounding lights
  • double vision in the affected eye

Diagnosis

Your eye doctor will check for cataracts as part of your dilated eye exam. The exam is painless and straightforward — your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for cataracts and other eye problems.

Treatment

Surgery is recommended when cataracts prevent you from going about your daily activities, such as reading or driving. If you’re unable or uninterested in surgery, your doctor may be able to help you manage your symptoms with stronger eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or sunglasses with an anti-glare coating.

To reduce your risk of developing cataracts:

  • Protect your eyes from UVB rays by wearing sunglasses outside
  • Stop smoking 
  • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Keep diabetes and other medical conditions in check
  • Even if your vision seems clear and healthy, make it a priority to schedule routine eye exams. Annual visits allow your eye care professional to look for signs of cataracts and other vision disorders.

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How to Tell if Your Glasses Are the Right Fit for Your Face

Looking for that perfect pair of glasses to compliment your face? 

Whether you have an oval-, square- or round-shaped face, we have a pair of frames made just for you! From budget-minded to designer styles, from specialty glass to performance coatings, you’ll find it all at Sterling Vision. So go functional, luxury, sporty or chic. Just know that before you go, our highly trained eyewear specialists will have you perfectly framed no matter your style or budget. In fact, if after working with our eyewear specialists you don’t get five smiles or compliments within three weeks, we’ll exchange your glasses for free!

But if you want a quick primer before your visit, here’s a simple guide. We’ve designed it to help you find those perfect frames that’ll fit both your look and lifestyle. 

To choose your new frames appropriately, you’ll first need to identify your face shape. There are five main categories: Square, Oval, Heart, Triangular and Round.

Once you’ve identified your face shape, you can find which frame shape will bring balance to your face. This guide will help determine the type of frame shape you should look for when browsing our variety of styles and sizes. A good rule of thumb is to look for a frame shape that’s the opposite of your face shape.

Square Face

A square face has more angular lines with broad cheekbones, forehead and jaw. To complement these natural features, choose the opposite shape for your frames. Round- or oval-shaped frames tend to look best. Thinner, round-edged frames that are slightly wider on the side will provide a harmonious and natural look to square faces. Round frames help counter the hard angles of a square-shaped face while adding an elegant softness.

Oval Face

An oval face is the most versatile of all the shapes, with wider cheekbones and a gentle narrowing toward both the forehead and jaw. Oversized frames work great with your features. Look for a frame that’s almost exactly the same width as the widest part of your face. We recommend square-, rectangular- or geometric-shaped frames for oval faces. Choose a bold shape that complements your personal style. 

Heart Face

A heart face is widest at the forehead/brow and gradually narrows downward to the jaw. This face shape also usually has high cheekbones. To look your best, avoid bottom-heavy and oversized frames. Instead, opt for something thin and smooth-edged. The goal is to draw attention up from the bottom half of the face. If you’re looking to soften angular features, a rimless style can be especially flattering. We suggest round and square frames. For balancing the widths of your face, look for ultra-flattering thin- and lighter-framed glasses. Additionally, wireframes and retro-style round frames are the perfect trend for those with heart-shaped faces. 

Triangle Face

A triangle face is widest at the jaw and gradually narrows upward to the forehead. With this face shape, you’ll want to find the opposite frame shape: bold on top, light on the bottom. Choose frames with detailing on their upper portion, such as with a cat-eye style. Browline or cat-eye frames will work great with your features. Just be sure the frames you choose are wider than your jawline to achieve that perfect balance. 

Round Face

A round face has softer angels with fuller cheekbones and an equally broad forehead and jaw. This shape is formed from soft curves and a facial width that’s roughly equal from the jaw up past the brow. The cheeks on round faces are usually full, and the chin is round with fewer angles. To complement these curves, choose a frame that adds bold angles to your face. Square frames will help define your facial structure, making it appear longer and thinner. Make sure to avoid oversized round frames—they’ll just emphasize the roundness, and won’t be as flattering as a square style. 

Once you know the right frame shape for your face, it’s time to find a pair that will also complement your lifestyle. If you’re extremely active, we recommend flex frames or frames made from titanium. Or are you seeking a business look? Or bold colors? No problem–we’ve got you covered. 

Still not sure about your face shape? We’ve got you covered there, too! Our eyewear specialists can advise you on your face shape and guide you toward frames that are a perfect match for your face and lifestyle. We don’t just think you’ll love your new look. We guarantee it. Plus, we’re always updating our inventory with a wide variety of new frame styles and colors. 


Call our office or fill out the form below to schedule an appointment today!

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Allergies and Your Eyes

Achoo! Its allergy season— and with it, comes runny noses, itchy eyes, and wheezing. If you feel as if there’s no place that brings on allergies worse than the Willamette Valley, you may be right. According to pollen.com, in 2019, Eugene Oregon ranked the worst city in the nation for allergy sufferers.

What Causes Allergies?

Eye irritation can occur when allergens are in the air, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. These allergens come into contact with the thin membrane that covers the eyeball. This membrane is called the conjunctiva. When the conjunctiva becomes irritated by the allergens, a substance called histamine is released. Many people experience red, itchy, watery, burning, or dry eyes from allergies.

Seasonal Allergies 

This time of year, it is the tree pollen count that is high, but the grass pollen usually starts rising to extreme numbers beginning in a few weeks. Grass seed is Oregon’s fifth-largest agricultural crop. Of the 400,000 acres of grass seed in Oregon, 360,000 are in the Willamette Valley. 

Indoor Allergies

You don’t have to set foot outdoors to have your day ruined by itchy allergy eyes. Pet dander, animal hair, dust, and mold are among the most common indoor allergens. Forced-air heating can push dust into your home. Make sure to clean the air filters regularly to keep dust particles down. Using air conditioning while its hot dehumidifies the air and helps filter out pollen, which dislikes airflow. When it’s cold, use a dehumidifier to keep the air dry to prevent the spread of mold.

Eye Allergies and The Weather

The number one way to treat eye allergies is to mitigate exposure to the allergens. Try to stay inside when pollen is at its peak, usually when it is hot and dry outside. When its humid outside, try to keep your home humidity levels at less than 50% to prevent indoor mold and dust mites from thriving. Head outdoors after it rains, when most pollen has washed from the air.

You can check the daily pollen count online here: Pollen Counts 

Treatment and Tips

Shower before bed and change your pillowcase regularly to help avoid allergens while you sleep. Don’t rub your eyes. When you rub your eyes, more histamine gets released. According to Dr. Sharp, “putting a cold washcloth over your eyes can help with the itching as can certain eye drops.” Padaday eye drops are now available without a prescription. These once per day eyedrops usually do the trick but not always. Fortunately, there are still prescription eye drops that work when the over the counter eye drops don’t. 

You don’t have to put up with irritated eyes. If your eyes are bothering you, come see us! We can help you treat your allergy eye symptoms and make sure it’s not something more significant. 

Fill out the form below or give us a call today to schedule your appointment.


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We are Prepared to Take Care of You

We have all been there. You notice a minor health issue. Nothing too severe. A slight but persistent irritation or pain somewhere in your body. The problem bothers you but seems manageable. You can cope with it, so you ignore it in the expectation that it will soon go away. But what if it doesn’t, and what if it is, in fact, the first indication of something more serious? The importance of maintaining your eye health is often overlooked. Ignoring loss of vision or other eye health-related issues can be dangerous.

Sight and vision allow us to connect with our surroundings, keep us safe, and help maintain the sharpness of our minds. By protecting your eyes, you will decrease the chance of vision loss and blindness while also staying on top of any developing eye diseases.

Here at Sterling Vision, we understand how unsettling these times are as we receive updates on the spread of COVID-19. Given the recent announcement from our Governor Kate Brown: Oregon is reopening all non-urgent medical practices on May 1st. We want to assure you that we are fully prepared, and we have taken the proper precautions to ensure that our patients will be seen at this time. All staff are wearing masks, and disinfection protocols are in place.

It is crucial to have your eyes checked. If you are suffering from any eye issue, call our office. With many serious eye issues, time is of the essence. The sooner we can triage a problem, the better the outcome, in most cases. Don’t let issues with your vision become permanent or result in blindness. If you feel ill, please call before visiting. We’re prepared to provide telehealth services using remote communications technologies. We’ve already established a HIPAA-compliant telemedicine system. This system allows for continued personal, face-to-face interactions between you and your provider. They are private appointments you can make from the comfort of your home. Our telemedicine platform uses doxy.me software. We’ll email detailed connection instructions before your scheduled appointment.

Please stay safe and continue to keep yourself informed.

Thank you. Be well, and know we’re here for you. 

Sterling Vision 


Took book an appointment, please call our office or fill out the form below. We look forward to seeing you again!

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