There is no fixed age to go to the eye doctor. It is recommended to examine a child at the age of 4 and 6 or if an abnormality in his or her eyes are detected . You should also take a child when his or her parents have eye problems such as strabismus, high prescription eyeglasses or low vision.

Despite the fashion trends we need to identify what is the best sunglasses for your eyes. In addition to traditional concerns regarding protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB), the colors of lenses can bring benefits to every type of person, so a good choice is important! Brown, green and gray lenses are recommended to enhance the contrast of vision. It is ideal for older people who tend to lose this ability. Furthermore, they increase the protection against sunlight, which can accelerate the onset of cataract.

Brown lens is also indicated for nearsight and farsight because they can improve the contrast of vision.

Gray lenses are indicated for those with astigmatism since they reduce glare without distorting the colors.

If you notice that your child: has headache and/or tearing during or after visual effort (school, TV, reading); squeezes or widens his or her eyes to see better; approaches the TV or book to read; avoids outdoor play; shows disinterest in reading; presents behavioral changes, red eyes after reading and/or dandruff on the eyelashes it is advised to take him or her to the eye doctor.

No. You can certainly get tired or strain your eyes if you are not blinking properly or not wearing glasses prescribed by an ophthalmologist. It is advised to rest his or her eyes for 30 seconds for every 30 minutes. These precautions are recommended. However, this strain does not result in any physical harm. Children, in particular, tend to sit by the TV and can do so comfortably thanks to its wide focal or accommodative capacity. Sitting close to the TV or keeping close to a book may, however, indicate myopia. In this case, you may want to talk to your eye doctor for further evaluation. Incidentally, it is recommended to keep a light on in the room at night while watching TV in order to avoid the concentrated focus light coming from the screen. TV, computer and video games can make eyes get red and burn. Normally after watching TV, using the computer and playing video games for two hours, you should take a 5 to 10 minute rest.

Sunlight is made up of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light. When combined, it becomes the white light we see. Each of these has a different energy and wavelength. Rays on the red end have longer wavelengths and less energy. On the other end, blue rays have shorter wavelengths and more energy. Light that looks white can have a large blue component, which can expose the eye to a higher amount of wavelength from the blue end of the spectrum.

The largest source of blue light is sunlight. In addition, there are many other sources:

• Fluorescent light
• CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs
• LED light
• Flat screen LED televisions
• Computer monitors, smart phones, and tablet screens

Blue light exposure you receive from screens is small compared to the amount of exposure from the sun.  And yet, there is concern over the long-term effects of screen exposure because of the close proximity of the screens and the length of time spent looking at them. According to a recent NEI-funded study, children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults from digital device screens.

Almost all visible blue light passes through the cornea and lens and reaches the retina. This light may affect vision and could prematurely age the eyes. Early research shows that too much exposure to blue light could lead to:

parts of the eye

Digital eyestrain: Blue light from computer screens and digital devices can decrease contrast leading to digital eyestrain. Fatigue, dry eyes, bad lighting, or how you sit in front of the computer can cause eyestrain. Symptoms of eyestrain include sore or irritated eyes and difficulty focusing.

Retina damage: Studies suggest that continued exposure to blue light over time could lead to damaged retinal cells. This can cause vision problems like age-related macular degeneration.

If constant exposure to blue light from smart phones, tablets, and computer screens is an issue, we recommend use anti-reflective lenses by EVC to reduce glare and increase contrast and also block blue light from the sun and digital devices.

Yes. Not all individuals may use contact lenses. A number of factors suggest that the use of the lens is not recommended for some patients, among them individuals with limited handling, uncontrolled hygiene and people who possibly may sleep with the lenses by accident. The cornea of each human being has a curvature as well as the contact lens, made by the manufacturer. Thus, the ophthalmologist should examine the contact lens on the cornea to see if it “fits” perfectly, and is not too tight or loose. Every patient who wants to wear contact lenses should request an assessment of the cornea and conduct training to make and maintain them. No one should buy or wear them without assessing the ophthalmologist.