Improper Use of Halloween Contact Lenses can Cause Harm

Whether you’re goblin or ghoul, vampire or witch, poor costume choices—including decorative contact lenses and flammable costumes—and face paint allergies can haunt you long after Halloween if they cause injury.

Enjoy a safe and happy Halloween by following the guidelines from FDA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  1. Wear costumes made of fire-retardant materials; look for “flame resistant” on the label. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
  2. Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping.
  3. Wear makeup and hats rather than masks that can obscure your vision.
  4. Test the makeup you plan to use by putting a small amount on the arm of the person who will be wearing it a couple of days in advance. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop where the makeup was applied, that’s a sign of a possible allergy.
  5. Check FDA’s list of color additives to see if makeup additives are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use it.
  6. Don’t wear decorative contact lenses unless you have seen an eye care professional and gotten a proper lens fitting and instructions for using the lenses.Eye Safety

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What is Causing my Dry Eyes?

Get Relief from Dry Eyes.

Are you experiencing a stinging, burning scratchy feeling in your eyes, or a sensation that you have something in your eyes, have difficulty wearing contact lenses, or driving at night? These could all be symptoms of dry eyes. Dry eyes can be incredibly uncomfortable to live with day-to-day. According to the Mayo Clinic, dry eye syndrome could be the main source of symptoms—it occurs when your supply of tears becomes insufficient in lubricating and nourishing your eyes. Although it can happen at any age, typically dry eye syndrome happens over time and most commonly in people over 40.

However, there may be other culprits for your dry eyes that are not directly connected to dry eye syndrome according to the American Optometric Association. Reasons for your eyes to feel dry could include:

  • Antihistamines, antidepressants, and birth-control pills
  • Dirty, old, or improperly fitted contacts
  • Dry air caused by indoor heaters and/or ceiling fans
  • Allergies
  • Long hours in front of a computer or digital device

As you can see the causes range from minor to more challenging. If you suspect you may have dry eye syndrome or any of the above causing your dry eyes, it’s best to visit your eye doctor to explore options. During your eye exam, your doctor can check for vision problems and signs of health conditions that could result in dry eyes. An accurate diagnosis is important!

AL?HA FRIDAY!

Bowls of fruit

Got our ? on the weekend!!  Hope you’re all staying safe and healthy. . . . #alohafriday #tgif #eyesontheweekend #frozenyogurt #fruitygoodness #instagood #weekendmood #alamoana #oahuhawaii #optometry #hawaiioptometrist #2020vision #hawaiilife #instahawaii #hawaiieats

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Proud Supporter of #2020EyeExam

AOA-2020-BadgeWow! During an annual, comprehensive eye exam, doctors of optometry can identify early warning signs and manifestations of more than 270 systemic and chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancers. Schedule your #2020EyeExam today!

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month ?

Box of Rhopressa

More than 3 million people in the US have glaucoma. Glaucoma has no symptoms and once vision is lost, it is permanent. To prevent it, come in and get a comprehensive eye exams with our docs! #alamoanaeye . . . #hawaii #oahu #honolulu #alamoana #alamoanacenter #hawaiioptometrist #optometrist #optical #eyeglasses #glasses #sunglasses #spectacles #eyewear #frame #eyecare #eyeexam #eyehealth #eyedisease #glaucoma #rhopressa #eyedrops

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Today is #WorldSightDay ?

World sight day

Although it is only one day, it is a great start to bring awareness on blindness and vision impairment! So let us use this day to start a conversation about how we can help others with preventable vision impairment ? #alamoanaeye #worldsightday2019

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Back to School Checklist Should Include an Eye Exam

Remember to schedule your child’s back to school comprehensive eye exam early. September brings a rush of students scheduling appointments and wanting to achieve their best academic work, which means they need to see well. Your child’s eye exam should be part of any back to school checklist.

Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Protective eye wear

Wear protective eyewear.

Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some sporting goods stores.

Make Vision a Health Priority

With today’s medical advances, more and more people are living longer and celebrating good health: They are eating healthy foods, they are staying active, they are controlling their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and they are not smoking.

Woman getting an eye examPractice good eye health … Make vision a health priority by seeing your eye care professional

Feeling good and living life to its fullest also means taking good care of your eyes. Even if you enjoy relatively good vision now, visiting your eye care professional once a year is the best thing you can do to care for your eyes. Getting an eye exam is more important now than ever before, because as you get older, you are at higher risk of developing several age-related eye diseases and conditions, including—

  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Cataract
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Glaucoma

In their early stages, these diseases often have no warning signs or symptoms. In fact, the only way to detect them before they become serious and cause vision loss is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Fortunately, if your eye care professional catches and treats these conditions early, he or she can protect your eyesight.

What is a dilated eye exam?

A comprehensive dilated eye exam is important to maintain and protect healthy vision. During this exam, drops are placed in the eyes to dilate or widen the pupils (the round opening in the center of the eye). The eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) and optic nerve (the bundle of fibers that send signals from the retina to the brain) for signs of damage and other eye problems.

Take charge of your vision

In addition to seeing your eye care professional routinely, you can do the following things to protect your vision:

  • Stop smoking
  • Eat a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and fish
  • Exercise
  • Maintain normal blood pressure
  • Wear sunglasses and a brimmed hat anytime you are outside in bright sunshine
  • Wear safety eyewear when working around your house or playing sports

Information and resources

The National Eye Institute (NEI) is part of the National Institutes of Health and the federal government’s lead agency for vision research that leads to sight-saving treatments, and it plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness. For more information, visit the NEI Website at www.nei.nih.gov