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I N S I G H T

N e w s l e t t e r

Volume 3, Issue 4

In this issue:

July is Fireworks Safety Month

Last year, approximately 6,400 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Read More..

More Than Just Fashionable Frames

Wrapped frame designs are all the rage in sunwear these days. But their sleek, stylish good looks are only the icing on the cake. Wrapped designs perform a protective function.
Read More..

How to Care for Your Eyes When You Fly

Now that summer has arrived many people will be taking vacations. Here are some helpful tips on travel and eye care.
Read More..

Lutein Studies Indicate The Antioxidants May Reduce Risks For Macular Degeneration And Cataracts

Lutein provides nutritional support to our eyes and skin – the only organs of the body directly exposed to the outside environment.
Read More..

Four Things to Know Before You Buy Your Next Pair of Glasses at Northland Eye Care

Part Four of Four: Is more than one pair of glasses really necessary?
Read More..

Extras:

Other Sites: Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center

Northland Eye Care provides LASIK services co-managed with Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center of Scottsdale.
Visit Hale-Qamar

July is Fireworks Safety Month:
Fireworks Continue to be Dangerous Part of
Fourth of July Festivities

Happy Independence Day! Last year, approximately 6,400 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Despite warnings to consumers on the dangers of fireworks, the number of injuries every year has remained relatively steady. But, the long-term effects of these injuries can be severe. In fact, the American Society of Ocular Trauma states that an average of 400 Americans permanently lose vision in one or both eyes due to fireworks injuries annually.

Sadly, children ages 15 and younger make up a significant number of fireworks injuries, accounting for 36 percent. For children under the age of 5, a third of the total injuries were from sparklers. Many parents may not be aware that sparklers can burn up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read more by visiting Prevent Blindness America. (external link)

More Than Just Fashionable Frames

Wrapped frame designs are all the rage in sunwear these days. But their sleek, stylish good looks are only the icing on the cake. Wrapped designs perform a protective function.

The orbital rim of an eye’s socket has a fair degree of curvature to it. Just run your fingers along the eyebrow of one of your eyes and you will feel just how steep this curvature is. Wrapped eyewear frames are designed to mimic this curvature so that the frames essentially lie on the plane of the eye’s orbital rim.

This means that wrapped eyewear will provide eye protection from flying objects like dust, dirt, cinders, and other airborne particles. Think how important this can be to a motorcycle rider driving at 65 MPH or a person standing on a sandy beach when wind whips up the sand. Even the everyday things people do can cause eye damage from wind and debris. People who have Dry Eye Syndrome are glad when they get wrapped styled frames.

They may be good looking, but wrapped frames are also mighty functional.

How to Care for Your Eyes When You Fly

Airplane Travel Now that summer has arrived many people will be taking vacations. Here are some helpful tips on travel and eye care.

The artificially maintained cabin pressure and low humidity found on airplanes can be pretty tough on your eyes. The biggest culprit on long plane rides is dry eye syndrome – a frequently painful condition in which low humidity and failure to produce enough natural tears can combine to leave a traveler’s eyes feeling dry, scratchy, inflamed and blurry.

What’s the best way to make sure dry eye doesn’t spoil your next long-distance journey by air? It’s simple. Take along one or two bottles of artificial tears. Put a few drops in your eyes before drifting off to sleep, and then refresh yourself with a few more drops once or twice later in the flight.

Below are more eyecare travel tips:

  • Bring along an extra set of contact lenses in case you lose your first pair. Don’t forget to pack contact lens cleaning and storing agents.
  • Take a copy of the prescription for your lenses or contacts, again in case of loss.
  • Take a back up pair of glasses, just in case.
  • Make sure you have polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun.
  • If you are experiencing an eye condition before you depart, ask Dr. Thomas what you should do to monitor the condition and what to do if it worsens.

Lutein Studies Indicate The Antioxidants May Reduce Risks For Macular Degeneration And Cataracts

Lutein (pronounced LOO-teen) is a carotenoid, meaning a natural colorant or pigment, found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Kale, and various fruits and corn. Egg yolks are also sources of lutein.

Spinach and Corn Contain Lutein Lutein provides nutritional support to our eyes and skin – the only organs of the body directly exposed to the outside environment. Lutein has been linked to promoting healthy eyes through reducing the risk of macular degeneration. Other studies suggest that a mixture of nutrients, including lutein, may provide supplemental antioxidant capacity to the skin, helping counteract free radical damage.

Lutein also filters the high-energy, blue wavelengths of light from the visible-light spectrum by as much as 90%. Blue light, in both indoor lighting and sunlight, is believed to induce oxidative stress and possible free-radical damage in human organs exposed to light, such as the eyes and skin. Blue light is not the same as the commonly known ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B wavelengths of the invisible spectrum.

How much lutein do we need? Research suggests a minimum of 6-10 mg per day of lutein from dark green leafy vegetables and other sources is necessary to realize lutein’s health benefits. Even if you eat a balanced diet, you’d need a large bowl of fresh spinach to get about 6 mg of lutein. Most Americans just don’t consume enough foods rich in lutein. Lutein is widely available in a variety of nutritional supplements and fortified foods and beverages for people wanting to supplement their dietary intake of lutein, making their diet even better for their eyes and skin.

An article in the New York Times (external link) states that according to a recently published study the antioxidants vitamin E and lutein, may reduce women's risk for cataracts as well. An associate professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, William G. Christen, M.D and colleagues analyzed data on more than 35,000 women who were followed for an average of 10 years. After the researchers adjusted for variables such as smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index, they found that the more vitamin E and lutein the women used, the less likely they were to have cataracts. In addition, comparing the one-fifth of women who consumed the least antioxidants with the one-fifth who consumed the most, those who consumed more had reduced their risk for cataracts by 14 percent with vitamin E, and 18 percent with Lutein.

If you have questions about Lutein or other beneficial foods or supplements, call Northland Eye Care at (928) 226-9300.

Four Things to Know Before You Buy Your
Next Pair of Glasses at Northland Eye Care

Part Four of a Four Part Series

Is more than one pair of glasses really necessary?

Glasses The truth is, one pair of glasses can’t possibly do it all.

Even if you have a pair of photochromic, or transition glasses, these lenses do not darken behind the window of a car. They use the sun’s UV rays to darken and windshields in cars block UV rays. In this case a pair of polarized sunglasses is your best bet for comfortable driving.

Occupational safety glasses are often required, and always suggested.

Computer glasses, office lenses, or separate reading glasses may be in order for you.

Specialized sports glasses can also be invaluable.

A second or back up pair of glasses is always a good idea. That way, if something happens to your primary pair of glasses, you won’t need to rush around getting new ones at the last minute. Sometimes another pair of glasses can come in handy. It all depends on your lifestyle and activities.

We are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Any one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you with glasses selections or anything else you may need. Call us at (928) 226-9300 with questions or stop by.