Contact Lenses

Are Contact Lenses Safe For Young Children?

A question we are often asked is: ‘Is my child too young for contact lenses?’

This is an important question, and the answer may surprise you.

For children with myopia (nearsightedness), contact lenses can be one of the ways we can address 2 problems at the same time. One, vision correction, and two, prevention of the worsening of myopia.

In our office, at times, we can even address Amblyopia (lazy eye) with special therapeutic contact lenses.

Contact Lenses have the benefit of a child not breaking or losing their glasses. It enables children to easily participate in sports and other physical activities.

Some children and young teens ask their parents for contact lenses because they feel self-conscious wearing glasses. Contact lenses may even provide children with the confidence boost they need to come out of their shell. Daily Disposable contact lenses are single-use one-day soft contacts, since there is no cleaning or maintenance involved.

Ortho-keratology are special lenses worn as a night retainer, to prevent further progression of myopia.

Some parents are concerned about eye health and safety. Fortunately, contact lenses are just as safe for children as they are for anyone else, and there are special lenses, MiSight that are FDA approved SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN to prevent them from progressing as rapidly in myopia. This means that the manufacturer had to prove to the FDA that they are

safe for children, AND
control the progression of myopia.

In our practice, Family Eye Care, we provide special care for children, teens, and patients of all ages with a wide variety of contact lenses. If you’re concerned about the safety of contacts for your child, we’ll be happy to explain and explore ways to ensure maximum safety, optimal eye health and comfort. To learn more or to schedule a pediatric eye exam for contact lenses, contact us today.

What Are the Risks of Having My Child Wear Contact Lenses?

A study published in the January 2021 issue of The Journal of Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics found that kids aren’t at a higher risk of experiencing contact lens complications.

The study followed nearly 1000 children aged 8-16 over the course of 1.5-3 years to determine how contact lenses affected their eye health.

The results indicate that age doesn’t have an effect on contact lens safety. In fact, the researchers found that the risk of developing infections or other adverse reactions was less than 1% per year of wear — which is comparable to contact lens wearers of other ages.

But before you decide that contact lenses are right for your child, you may want to consider whether your child is ready to wear them. During his or her eye doctor’s appointment, the optometrist may ask about your child’s level of maturity, responsibility, and personal hygiene. Since many children are highly motivated to wear contacts, they tend to display real maturity in caring for their lenses. That said, in the initial stages, parents may need to play an active role, as their child gets used to inserting and removing the new contact lenses.

It’s important to note that just as with any other medical device, contact lenses are not risk-free. Anyone who wears contact lenses has a chance of developing eye infections or other complications with contact lenses. However, when worn and cared for according to your eye doctor’s instructions, contact lenses are low-risk and perfectly safe for children and teenagers.

So, go ahead and bring your child in for a contact lens consultation! We’ll help determine if your child is ready for contacts and answer any questions you or your child may have. To schedule your child’s contact lens fitting or eye exam, contact Family Eye Care in Old Bridge today.

The Eye Examination for Contact Lenses

Are you planning on wearing contact lenses for the first time?
Do you need a new contact lens prescription?
Are your current contacts not as comfortable as you wish they were?

We prescribe standard and even specialty contact lenses.

The first step is a comprehensive eye examination to determine eye health and the prescription you need. The next step is a contact lens examination that consists of special tests to make sure you are seeing the clearest and that you obtain clear, comfortable, and healthy vision.

Is an eyeglass prescription the same as a contact lens prescription?

No, a prescription for eyeglasses is different than one for contact lenses. An eyeglass prescription is for lenses that are positioned approximately 12 millimeters from your eyes. A contact lens prescription is measured for lenses that sit directly on the surface of your eye. At times, a special lens is needed

Contact Lenses that are unique to you.

Each contact lens is different. There is no one size that fits all eyes. A contact lens must be the correct shape for your cornea. The lens for the right eye might even even different than the left. We will take determine the best contact lens design for your eyes.

In addition to standard contact lenses, we provide special lenses for:

children that are becoming nearsighted,
adults that want to be able to see more clearly at distance and at near
people who want to be able to see clearly without wearing contact lenses during the day
special conditions such as keratoconus, prosthetic lenses, lenses after LASIK damage

What is the Cornea ? What does corneal curvature mean?

The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye. Each cornea has a unique curvature. Astigmatism means that there is a different curve along the horizontal and vertical plane of the cornea. Patients with astigmatism may benefit from a special lens to help see clearly.

Pupil and iris size

The size of your pupil and iris (the colored part of your eye) is also important in determining the best contact lens design.

Tear film evaluation

This test evaluates the quality of your tears. This is important to success with contact lenses. Contact lenses tend to dry out during the day and if someone’s cornea is already dry, then contact lenses can make the situation worse. If you have dry eye disease, standard contact lenses may not be right for you, but you may still be able to wear contact lenses.

Wearing the best type of contact lenses for your eyes allows you to enjoy all of the benefits of wearing contacts, while keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable.

If you’re already a contact lens wearer, it is important that you have a full eye examination each year to make sure that your eyes continue to be healthy, and also to ensure that the lenses are providing you with optimum vision and comfort.

Contact Family Eye Care in Old Bridge to book your contact lens eye exam today!

New To Contact Lenses? Here Are Our Top 5 Tips!

An estimated 56 million North Americans wear contact lenses. If you have just started wearing contact lenses — you’re in good company.

Advice About Contact Lenses from Dr. Roth and Dr. Tiomno of Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ

Here are 5 tips to quickly help you adjust to wearing and caring for your new lenses so you can enjoy the many benefits they offer.

1. Learn How to Tell if Your Contact Lens Is Inside Out

The Taco test is the easiest way to tell if you are inserting your soft lenses correctly. Put the lens in the crease of your palm that is just under your pinky finger. Gently close your palm. The edges of the lens should come close to each other and look like a “taco”. IF they fold back onto your palm, the lens is probably inside out.

Another way is to hold the lens on your index fingertip and look carefully at its shape. The edge of the lens should be pointing upwards, like the rim of a teacup. If the edge is flared outward like a blooming flower, the lens is inside out.

Some contact lenses have tiny laser markings of numbers or letters. If you can read the numbers or letters correctly when you hold the lens on your fingertip, they are properly oriented and the lens is ready to be inserted.

2. Never Use a Substitute for Contact Lens Solution

Daily disposable lenses don’t need ANY solutions.

We recommend that patients use special peroxide solutions to clean lenses that are not daily disposable lenses.

Multipurpose solutions usually don’t clean lenses affectively.

Do NOT make the mistake of using saline solution and thinking that it is disinfecting your lenses.

Not all lens solutions are the same.

Do NOT use tap water or saliva to moisten or clean your lenses .

Using substances other than the recommended contact lens solution to rinse or rewet your contacts can introduce harmful microbes to the eye and cause a serious infection.

We recommend that you remove your contacts before showering, swimming, or any other time they might get wet.

3. If Your Contact Lenses Feel Uncomfortable, Take Them Out!

When it doubt, take them out.

The major (and sometimes ‘only’ benefit of) soft contact lenses is that they are very comfortable. If you feel any discomfort, there may be something wrong.

Wash your hands. Remove your contacts and rinse them with contact lens solution. Sometimes dust or dirt gets under the lens and that causes irritation. Flushing the lenses with contact lens solution will help remove the irritant.

If your eyes still feel irritated, don’t put the contact lenses back in your eyes. Wait until they are no longer red or irritated, and try to put them back in. If the problem persists, call us.

4. Wear Contact Lens-Friendly Makeup

Makeup can be a source of irritation and infection whether you wear contact lenses or not. Here’s what we recommend when it comes to eye makeup and contact lenses:

Choose hypo-allergenic makeup.
If you use a cream-based product around your eyes, use one that is water-based rather than oil-based one.
Keep your eye closed when you put on makeup so that makeup particles don’t get into your eye.
Don’t apply eyeliner or eyeshadow to the inner rims of your eyelids. That plugs up the glands that lubricate the eye.
Replace eye makeup at least once every 3 months to minimize the growth and spread of bacteria.
Never share eye makeup with friends or family.
Remove your contact lenses before removing your makeup.

5. Stick to the Hygiene Guidelines

This tip is one of the most important ones you can do. Wash and dry your hands before you handle your contact lenses.

Try not to use oily or heavily scented hand soaps when you wash your hands because that can stick to the surface of the lens and could irritate your eye.

If you touch moisturizers or lotions before you handle your contact lenses you run the risk that that will stick to the lens and cloud your vision.

After washing your hands, dry them using a lint-free towel. It’s harder to grasp contact lenses with wet hands. Again, don’t use tap water with your lenses.

Bonus Tip: Get an Eye Exam

This advice can be very helpful but it doesn’t replace an in-person exam. We will show you how to care for your lenses so you will be successful and we schedule for progress visits so you can enjoy the freedom of contact lens wear.

If you are new to contact lenses and have any questions or concerns about your eyes or vision, call us at Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ 1-732-679-2020.

We will be happy to schedule you for a contact lens exam so you are seeing the best and are successful. We are committed to helping you so you can be an expert in contact lens wear and care in no time!

We see patients from Old Bridge, Aberdeen, East Brunswick, Manalapan, Matawan, Marlboro, Monroe, Parlin. Sayreville, South Amboy, South River, Spotswood, Lawrence Harbor, Cliffwood Beach, and throughout New Jersey.

11 Things You Should Not Do If You Wear Daily Disposable Contacts!

Daily disposable contact lenses are the healthiest solution to soft contact lens wear, particularly during this COVID period. or dailies. Single-use lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a new, fresh pair is inserted the next morning. Used properly, dailies promote eye health, and they’re comfortable and convenient.

Despite the many advantages associated with wearing daily disposables, there are plenty of ways you can damage your eyes and vision — some you may never have considered.

1. Don’t Touch Contacts with Dirty Hands

Before touching your lenses, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. When you touch your eyes without washing your hands, you transfer bacteria and this can lead to an infection. Preferably dry your hands with a disposable paper towel rather than a cloth towel, and ensure that no remnants of the towel remain on your fingers.

2. Don’t Expose Your Contacts to Water

Any source of water, whether tap, pool, or lake water, can introduce micro-organisms that can wreak havoc on your eye health and cause temporary vision loss or even permanent blindness.

If you feel you must use your contact lenses when swimming, make sure to wear waterproof goggles. If you do get water on your contact lenses, throw out the lenses and insert a new pair. Exposing contact lenses to chemicals like chlorine binds to the lens and cannot be cleaned off. It then leeches onto the cornea and causes irritation.

The next time you’re tempted to swim or shower with your lenses on, think twice before doing so.

3. Don’t Reuse Your Contacts

Daily disposable contacts are FDA approved for Single use. They are designed to be thrown away after every single use. People who reuse them risk painful and risky outcomes. Dailies are thinner, more fragile, and don’t hold moisture as well as other contacts.

Users sometimes attempt to increase the lifespan of these lenses by cleaning them in a disinfecting solution and wearing them for several days or even weeks at a time. These lenses are not made for repeated disinfecting. In fact, the process of cleaning the lenses tends to be not only ineffective but also breaks down the lens itself, increasing the risk of the lens falling apart while in the eye. The risk of complications and infection is not worth the few saved bucks.

4. Don’t Insert a Dropped Contact In Your Eye

One of the perks of daily lenses is that they are less expensive (per lens) than other types of contacts. So if you find yourself dropping a lens into the sink or on the floor, don’t bother placing it back in your eye. Doing so can cost you your eye health.

5. Never Put Contacts In Your Mouth

It may seem funny but there are people who do this. If you drop a contact lens, don’t bother trying to find it, and if you do, definitely don’t put it in your mouth to lubricate it. Your mouth contains bacteria that can infect your eyes once you reinsert your contacts.

Play it safe by carrying around an emergency pair of glasses or an extra pair of daily disposable contacts in your bag, your car, or at work.

6. Don’t Overwear Your Daily Lenses

Wearing your lenses for long periods of time can damage your eyes, even if they’re daily contact lenses. The maximum recommended daily use for any contact lens is 14-16 hours. Your eyes, just like any other part of your body, need to rest. Your corneas receive oxygen from the air, not from blood vessels, and while it’s healthy to wear contacts during the day, wearing them for extended periods can significantly reduce the amount of oxygen your eyes receive, which can lead to complications. If you don’t give your eyes the rest they need, your corneas may swell (edema), which can lead to corneal abrasion and even bacterial infection.

7. Don’t Sleep With Your Lenses

Daily lenses should never be worn overnight. You’re risking your sight by sleeping in a lens that’s not approved for overnight use, as it can lead to ocular irritation, swelling and corneal ulcers.

8. Don’t Insert Contacts Before Completing Your Morning Routine

Avoid inserting your contacts before you shower or wash your face, since you risk exposing your lenses to tap water and the bacteria that come with it. We recommend that you insert your lenses after blow-drying and styling your hair, especially if you’re using hairspray or other aerosols, as these products can dry out your contacts. Additionally, the spray can coat the lenses and leave a film that not only irritates the eyes, but can make it difficult to see. If you’re at the hairdresser’s and cannot remove your lenses, shut your eyes when spray is applied.

9. Don’t Get Makeup On Your Contacts

Insert your contacts before applying makeup, because any makeup residue on your hands, such as mascara, can easily transfer to your lenses.

If you get concealer, eyeliner or mascara on their contact lenses, then immediately remove the lens and clean the makeup with solution (while making sure to dispose of the lens before bed). Otherwise, simply replace with another lens. Avoid wearing waterproof makeup, since it can’t always be removed from your lenses, even when rinsed with solution.

To prevent makeup from getting on your lenses, don’t apply mascara all the way from the base of your lashes up. Instead, apply it from the midway point. It’s also important not to apply eyeliner on the inner lid of your eye, but rather to the skin above your lashes.

10. Don’t Wear Contact Lenses If Your Eyes Are Irritated

As the saying goes, “if in doubt – take them out!” If your eyes feel irritated, uncomfortable, or if you notice any pain or redness, don’t power through. If your symptoms last a while, contact us at Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ. Don’t let a serious infection go unchecked.

When your eyes feel more rested and are free of discomfort, put in a fresh pair of contacts.

11. Don’t Rub Your Eyes

If your eyes feel itchy or dry, or if a lens feels out of place, you may be tempted to rub your eyes. But rubbing, whether with contacts or without, can lead to long-term ocular issues. This may cause you to experience blurred vision, and may even damage your cornea. Instead, we at Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ can recommend eye drops to relieve any discomfort. Make sure to apply them only when contact lenses are removed.

Above, we have delved into things you should never do with daily contact lenses. Fortunately, if you do make a mistake, you can remove the lens and replace it with a fresh one. The few dollars you might save by not opening a new pack aren’t worth the damage a mistake can cause.

If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more about contact lenses, contact us at 732-679-2020. Dr. Roth and Dr. Tiomno are happy to explain how to care for your eyes and maintain your vision.

Coronavirus and Your Eyes – What You Should Know

As coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads around the world, and specifically in our area in New Jersey, health professionals advise that we limit our risk of contracting the virus by:

thoroughly washing our hands,
practicing social distancing, and
not touching our face: nose, mouth, or eyes.

Your eyes actually play an important role in spreading COVID-19.

Coronavirus is transmitted through droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs. These droplets can easily enter your body through the mucous membranes on your face, such as your nose, mouth, and your eyes.

What Is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a virus that causes mild to severe respiratory illness associated with fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms typically appear within 2 weeks of exposure. Those with acute cases of the virus can develop pneumonia and other life-threatening complications.

What you should know?

Guard Your Eyes Against COVID-19

Avoid rubbing your eyes. It is very common for us to touch our face and our eyes. If you absolutely must, first wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Tears carry the virus. Touching tears or a surface where tears have fallen can spread coronavirus. Make sure to wash your hands after touching your eyes and throughout the day as well.
Disinfect surfaces. You can contract COVID-19 by touching an object or surface that has the virus on it, such as a door knob, and then touching your eyes.

Coronavirus and Pink Eye

Pink eye, (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the the clear membrane that covers the white of the eye. Conjunctivitis is characterized by red, watery, and itchy eyes. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can be spread by coughing and sneezing, too.

A recent study indicates that viral conjunctivitis may be a symptom of COVID-19. The study found conjunctival injection (redness) occurs in about 1 out of every 100 people who have coronavirus.

If you suspect you have pink eye, call us: Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ. Please call us before coming in so we can assess your condition and adequately prepare for your visit.

Contact Lenses or Eyeglasses?

If you usually wear contact lenses, it may be a good idea to use eyeglasses during this time, in order to lower your risk of being infected with coronavirus. Wearing glasses may provide an extra layer of protection. The infected droplets will hit the lens of your eyeglasses rather than going into your eye. Eyeglasses will obviously not protect you if the virus reaches your eyes from the exposed sides, tops and bottoms around your frames. Unlike specialized safety goggles, glasses are not considered a safe way to prevent coronavirus.

Contact Lenses and COVID-19

If you wear contact lenses, it is a good idea to wash your hands well before inserting or removing your lenses.

Clean your Eyeglasses Regularly

Some viruses can remain on a hard surfaces for hours to days. This can then be transmitted to your fingers and then to your face. People who wear reading glasses should be even more careful, because they usually handle their glasses more often throughout the day. As you are probably aware, older individuals tend to be more vulnerable to COVID-19. Wash the lenses and frames with warm water and soap, and dry your eyeglasses using a microfiber cloth.

If you take Eye Medicine…

It is a good idea to make sure you have enough of all medications, including eye medications for glaucoma for example, just in case you need to be quarantined or if supplies run short. This may not be possible for everyone due to insurance limitations. If you cannot pre-order, then make sure to request a refill as soon as you’re due. It is never a good idea to wait until the last minute to contact your pharmacy.

Digital Devices and Eyestrain

At times like this, we all tend to use digital devices even more. Take note if your eyes become tired, or sore, or if you have blurry vision. Double vision or headaches are symptoms of computer vision syndrome. This can become particularly noticeable when your visual system is overworked, when using computers or other digital devices. It might indicate a need for a new prescription in the near future. Many patients benefit from the use of special eyeglasses that are designed specifically for those who spend a lot of time on computer.

Children and Digital Devices

As children are now not in school, they may end up spending even more screen-time than usual. They may be using computers, tablets and smartphones more, and for longer amounts of time. Computer vision syndrome, mentioned above, can affect children as well. We recommend limiting screen time to a maximum of 2 hours per day for children, though it’s understandably difficult to control under the circumstances.

A good rule of thumb is the 20-20-20 rule, especially in this year of 2020.

For every 20 minutes that you are on computer, look at a distance object that is at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.

It is a good idea to stop all screen time for at least 60 minutes before sleep. You and your child will sleep better.

Children and Outdoor Play

For good visual development, it is a good idea to spend at least 1-2 hours a day outside.

We, at Family Eye Care, in Old Bridge NJ, wish you good health and hope you stay safe.

Visiting Your Optometrist During COVID-19

Is your comprehensive eye eye examination coming up?

Are you concerned about coming because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Rest assured, keeping our patients and staff are safe is our top priority.

We expect this outbreak will continue for a while, but we do not want our patients to neglect their eye care needs during this critical time. We have taken extra measures, even beyond our usual hygienic and disinfection procedures, in order to protect our patients and staff from potential exposure to COVID-19 during this time of uncertainty.

The guidelines for slowing the spread of this epidemic are rapidly changing. Please pay close to attention to local regulatory changes for the most up-to-date information. We are certainly ere to help you for both emergencies and non-emergencies. .

What Precautions are we Taking to Limit COVID-19?

Our office policy mandates that all eye doctors, office staff, and patients do not enter if they are not feeling well, have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, or have been exposed to a known case of COVID-19, or traveled outside of the country within the last 14 days.

The staff may ask you to wait outside rather than in our reception area in order to protect yourself and others from any circulating germs. We schedule our appointments so that our reception area room respects social distancing and reduces cross contamination.

During your eye exam:

All of our examination rooms have a slit-lamp barrier to protect both the patient and the doctor from cross contamination.
The doctor may wear a mask with a plastic shield over the eyes.
The doctor will wait for your slit-lamp portion of the eye exam to be over before speaking with you or answering any questions you may have.
The doctor will use gloves when touching skin or doing tonometry.
The doctor will wash hands for the required amount of time before each patient.
All equipment is sanitized, contact surfaces are cleaned after every use, countertops and door nobs are cleaned are cleaned frequently.
The l surfaces and equipment (front desk counters, telephones, pens, door handles, waiting room chairs) is sanitized with antibacterial wipes.
All staff members wash their hands after contact with each patient and throughout the day.
Our office is equipped with several sanitizing stations.
We ask that patients sanitize their hands before selecting frames.
We clean all frames that have come into contact with patients with soap and hot water.
We have taken the policy of no hand shaking. Please don’t take it personally.

Please call our office, Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ with any questions or concerns you may have. If you feel it’s best for you or a member of your family to reschedule your appointment, we encourage you to do so.

To stay abreast of the coronavirus pandemic, please visit the following official health organizations:

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) at www.CDC.gov
World Health Organization (WHO) at www.WHO.int

We look forward to serving you.

Thank you and stay safe!

Here’s Why Hydrogen Peroxide is an Excellent Contact Lens Solution

Once you and your doctor have decided on the type of contact lenses you’ll need, it’s time to choose the most suitable contact lens solution for your eyes and contacts.

There exist 2 different types of solution for contact lenses: Multipurpose and Hydrogen Peroxide-based. While both remove debris and build-up, and disinfect lenses, only hydrogen peroxide is capable of penetrating the microbial biofilms for a deeper clean. As an added benefit, hydrogen peroxide does not contain preservatives — which can be particularly beneficial for those with allergies or eye sensitivities.

Multipurpose Solution

Multipurpose solutions are straightforward and easy to use; only one solution is needed to rinse, clean, disinfect and store your contacts (as seen in the image). Their convenience and low cost make them a popular choice.

Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Hydrogen peroxide solutions, such as Clear Care® by Alcon or Refine One Step™ by CooperVision, contain no preservatives or allergens. This solution thoroughly breaks up the proteins and removes deposits on the lenses during the disinfection process, which can be beneficial for people who tend to accumulate large amounts of build-up on their lenses. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide is more effective at battling acanthamoeba keratitis (an eye infection that may lead to blindness) than all other types of contact lens solutions.

Since hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that causes stinging and burning when it touches the eye, after the contacts have been disinfected the solution must be neutralized to be healthy for your eyes. Included with every solution bottle is an upright contact lens case containing a platinum-coated disk that chemically reacts with hydrogen peroxide to decompose it into a safe, non-irritating, sterile saline solution. This chemical reaction produces bubbles inside the case as it undergoes the transformative process over a period of several hours. Since the neutralizing disk loses its effectiveness over time, it is critical to regularly replace it.

If your eyes do make contact with hydrogen peroxide, make sure to immediately flush it out with sterile saline. If saline is not available, wash your eyes with water or artificial tear drops and make sure to see Dr. Moshe Roth as soon as possible. Though painful, it doesn’t cause permanent eye or vision damage.

How does it work?

To clean your lenses, place them in the designated case that is freshly filled with the hydrogen peroxide solution and soak them for 6-8 hours. This can be a one-step or two-step process, depending on the product. The one-step products contain a built-in neutralizer in the contact lens case, while the two-step products require you to add a neutralizing tablet to the solution after cleaning.

Make sure not to reuse or top off hydrogen peroxide solution after it has been neutralized, as it will have lost its disinfecting power.

Be sure to dry your case thoroughly between uses and to replace your case every 2-3 months to prevent infection.

It is important to note that hydrogen peroxide solutions will change into unpreserved saline. Therefore, if contact lenses are stored for extensive periods of time (e.g. more than a couple days), it is safer to consider multiple-purpose solutions for long term.

Hydrogen peroxide-based solutions are known for their exceptional disinfecting ability. At Family Eye Care, in Old Bridge, our patients are extremely satisfied with the cleanliness and comfort they experience when using hydrogen peroxide-based solutions for their contact lenses. Speak with Dr. Moshe Roth to find out whether this solution is right for you.

12 Tips for Optimal Eye Health

Good Eye Care Habits & Hygiene

By practicing good eye care habits and hygiene, you can prevent many vision problems from occurring. Eye problems and the risks associated with vision loss only grow as you age. By neglecting eye care, you place yourself at a higher risk of suffering from cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and low vision.

So make sure you maintain great eye health by following these 12 tips for optimal eye health.

1. Avoid rubbing your eyes

Itchy eyes can be a hallmark symptom of allergies, and though rubbing may bring temporary relief, it ultimately increases swelling and worsens the itch. If you wear contact lenses, rubbing your eyes can also dislodge or even break a lens, causing the lens to get lost or scratch the cornea. Plus, eye rubbing can lead to eye infections, since our hands are typically covered with a host of germs.

2. Regularly wash your hands

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is often caused by germs and bacteria carried to your eyes by unclean hands. Frequently washing your hands with soap and warm water helps keep bacteria away and prevents eye contamination. Prior to inserting or removing contact lenses, make sure to wash your hands with mild soap and dry them using a lint-free towel.

3. Beware of UV rays

By exposing yourself to sunlight and UV rays, you increase the risk of developing macular degeneration and corneal sunburn. Beyond just adding some style and zest to your look, sunglasses should protect your eyes from dangerous UV rays. Speak to your optometrist about the different options available for people who wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses too, to keep your eyes safe in the sun.

4. Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is crucial for your body’s overall health and wellbeing — and that includes your eyes. Among other complications, if you don’t have enough fluid in your body, it impacts tear production and can cause dry eyes and irritation. Drink up!

5. Don’t smoke cigarettes

Need some extra motivation to quit smoking?

Smokers are more prone to developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye conditions. Cigarette smoking can also destroy optic nerves, which can adversely affect your vision over time. So think twice before you light up, and speak to your doctor about getting help to quit.

6. Eat a healthy diet

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to ensure that your diet is rich in antioxidants, such as Vitamins A and C. These can be found in leafy greens (your mom was right about spinach!), orange vegetables (think, carrots and sweet potato) and citrus fruit. Furthermore, fatty fish like salmon contain essential omega-3 fatty acids which also promote excellent eye health.

7. Keep a healthy distance from screens

Nip digital eye strain in the bud by positioning your computer monitor about an arm’s length away from the eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Ideally, work in a room with enough diffused lighting to reduce stress on your eyes from the computer light.

8. Remember the 20-20-20 rule

Speaking of computers, have you heard of the 20-20-20 rule? When using digital devices, rest your eyes every 20 minutes by looking 20 feet away for 20 continuous seconds.

Once you’re at it, blink 20 times in succession to prevent dry eyes, and make it a habit to rise from your seat and take 20 steps to promote good posture and blood circulation, which helps your vision too.

9. Be careful with eye make-up

Make sure that your eye shadow, mascara, and eyeliner don’t cause your eyes an allergic reaction. Get in the habit of removing your make-up before going to sleep in order to avoid bacterial build-up from residual make-up left in the eye area. And, from time to time, clean your make-up brushes, especially those used to apply cosmetics around the eye area.

10. Sleep is golden

Just as with the rest of your body, your eyes need a break. So make sure that you get sufficient shut-eye (8 hours) each night to keep your eyes revitalized and healthy.

11. Wear protective eyewear

Whatever you do, make sure your eyes are well-protected. If you’re swimming, wear goggles to prevent chlorine from entering your eyes. If you’re gardening or engaged in a DIY project at home, wear safety glasses to keep dust particles and bacteria at bay and prevent eye injuries. Ask your local eye doctor about protective eyewear for sports and other activities.

12. Regularly visit your eye doctor

Don’t underestimate the importance of getting a routine eye exam, whether you need an updated prescription or not. Even if you can see well today, a comprehensive eye exam can pick up early signs of eye diseases and conditions before symptoms become noticeable, such as glaucoma, diabetes, retinal holes which could lead to retinal detachment, and cancers like melanoma. Early detection and management can prevent further complications and serious vision loss down the line.

Only an eye doctor has the required knowledge, experience, tools and techniques to determine whether you have these or other eye conditions.

It is recommended that everyone gets a comprehensive eye exam once a year (or at least every two years). Children, whose eyes are rapidly developing, and people at higher risk for developing eye problems such as diabetics and older people, need to undergo eye exams even more frequently: at the minimum, yearly.

During the evaluation, the eye doctor will check for things like:

Farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism and/or presbyopia
Eye coordination
Optic nerve and eye pressure tests to spot glaucoma

It’s also important to be on the look-out for any changes in your vision. If you experience hazy or double vision, worsening eyesight, red eyes, eye pain, swelling or floaters, contact Dr. Moshe Roth.

Incorporate these tips and habits into your lifestyle to maintain healthy eyes and a high quality of life. Family Eye Care offers comprehensive eye exams in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about ways to maintain healthy vision.

Wearing Colored Contact Lenses This Halloween? Beware and Take Care!

Countless adults, teens and even children will be wearing colored contact lenses this Halloween, but few are aware of the risks involved. Ever wondered what those cat-eye contacts are doing to your eyes? If you got them without a prescription, beware of health complications.

Enjoy a safe and happy Halloween by educating yourself and others about the dangers of wearing colored contact lenses without a prescription.

Why Can Over-The-Counter Colored Contact Lenses Cause Eye Damage?

Contact lenses made to change one’s appearance go by many names: cosmetic, theatrical, Halloween, circle, decorative, colored, or costume contact lenses. While it’s illegal to sell colored contact lenses without a prescription, authorities rarely enforce the law — which means they’re still accessible in many places.

Many people believe that wearing non-prescription color contact lenses can cause no harm. This unfortunate myth has led to many contact lens complications. For instance, when a person feels that a contact lens is “dry”, it could be because the lens is not a good fit. Ideally, the lens should follow the contour of the eye, and stay centered, with enough lens movement to allow tear exchange beneath the lens.

Furthermore, non-medical colored contact lenses are often produced by unlicensed manufacturers that tend to use inferior plastic and toxic materials, such as lead (often used in lens coloring), which can get absorbed through the eyes into the bloodstream. These illegal lenses may also contain high levels of bacteria from unsanitary packaging, shipping, and storage conditions.

Therefore, purchasing any kind of contact lenses without a prescription or medical oversight can result in a variety of eye complications, such as corneal abrasions, eye sores, conjunctivitis, other eye infections, vision impairment and, in rare cases, even permanent vision loss.

Even if you have perfect vision, all contact lenses, including colored contacts, require a prescription and proper fitting by an optometrist.

Contact us at Family Eye Care and make an appointment with Dr. Moshe Roth to get properly examined for a contact lens prescription.

The Dos and Don’ts of Colored Contact Lenses

DO make sure you undergo a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist who will measure your eyes and properly fit you for contact lenses.
DO get a valid prescription that includes the measurements, expiration date and the contact lens brand name.
DO purchase the decorative contact lenses from a reliable retailer (hint: they should demand a prescription.)
DO follow the contact lens hygiene directives (cleaning, inserting and removing lenses) provided by your eye doctor.
DO make sure to undergo follow-up eye exams as directed by your eye care professional.
DON’T ever share contact lenses with anyone else.

So don’t let an eye infection get in the way of your fun this Halloween. Wearing decorative lenses without a valid prescription can result in serious harm to your eyes, which can haunt you long after October 31st.

Get your comprehensive eye exam and contact lens fitting by an eye doctor in Old Bridge at Family Eye Care.