If you’re used to hearing people remind you to grab your sunglasses before heading out on a bright day, it would be easy to assume that shielding your eyes is the best response to the glare. Of course, not all exposure is bad for your peepers, and it would be a mistake to avoid it entirely. If you’re looking for reasons to head out in the sunshine without remembering your glasses, here are a few benefits.

1. Better Sleep

Better sleep isn’t just important for your health; it’s important for all of the other things that you want to do. Whether you have a demanding career or home life, studies link natural sunshine to better sleep quality.

2. May Prevent Nearsightedness in Children

Plenty of time indoors often translates to screens or other close-range activities. Natural light may be able to reduce the odds that your child develops nearsightedness.

3. Stronger Health

An eye doctor in South Hills, PA will tell you that your eyes are receptive to the light, and stimulating certain cells in the retina connects everything back to your pituitary gland. This all-important gland controls many of your hormones, which partially explains why you get better sleep and impacts your reproductive and metabolic health (not to mention your stress response).

Do You Need Sunglasses in South Hills, PA?

As with nearly every good thing in your life, moderation of natural sunshine is key. Aim for around 20 minutes a day, preferably in the morning or at night, of natural light, and throw on your sunglasses in South Hills, PA or a hat to keep the worst of the glare off of you. If you’re looking for a team to evaluate your optical health, contact Lappen Eye Care to make an appointment. We’re here to help you find the perfect balance!

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, and while you may think about it largely in relation to your heart health, it can also significantly impact your eye health as well. Below, we’ll look at the symptoms of hypertension and what you can do to reduce your odds of more serious eye disorders down the line.

What Does Hypertension Do to the Blood?

The more pressure in your blood, the more it impacts the blood vessels. To cope with the stress, vessels may start to narrow or leak, which can weaken your blood vessels. Reduced blood flow to the eye is also called hypertensive retinopathy, which essentially affects how the light-sensitive tissues process images.

Symptoms of Hypertension Eye Disorders

The most common symptom is a major change in vision, whether it becomes blurry or distorted by anything from floaters to light flashes. If hypertension goes untreated, an eye doctor in South Hills, PA will tell you that it can lead to nerve damage and, in the worst-case scenario, blindness.

If you want to avoid hypertension, the best thing you can do is maintain a healthy lifestyle, which may mean anything from eating better to exercising more to getting more sleep. While high blood pressure may be associated with stress and salt, these are far from the only two culprits. If you have a history of high-blood pressure or you’re not seeing the results you want from your lifestyle changes, you can talk to a primary care physician or cardiologist to learn more about different medications that can help you manage your blood pressure.

Eye Doctors in South Hills, PA

If you’re looking for an eye doctor who can help you manage your eye health in South Hills, PA, contact the team at Lappen Eye Care today to make an appointment!

Did you know that eye strain is so prevalent that it has its own technical term? It’s asthenopia, and as youroptometrist in Greensburg, PA at Lappen Eye Care can tell you, we see it more and more. We have a theory that it’s more prevalent now than in the past because people spend so much time looking at screens. It’s a problem, but until we outlaw computers—which, admittedly would be horrible at this point—it’s something that we’re going to all have to learn how to better manage. To that end, understanding the causes of eye strain can help prevent discomfort and maybe even reduce how much eye strain you experience.

Prolonged Screen Time

Staring at digital screens for extended periods is one of the leading causes of eye strain. The blue light emitted by screens, combined with reduced blinking, can lead to symptoms such as dryness, headaches, and blurred vision. This is often referred to as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.

Bad Lighting

The muscles in your eyes are forced to work harder when there’s bad lighting. This includes things like reading in dim light or sitting in a room with harsh overhead lighting.

Incorrect Prescription Lenses

Wearing outdated or incorrect prescription glasses or contact lenses can also cause eye strain. If your lenses don’t match your current vision needs, your eyes will need to exert extra effort to focus, the very definition of eye strain.

Extended Focus on Close Work

Spending long periods focusing on nearby objects, such as reading, crafting, or writing, can lead to strain. Your eye muscles need regular breaks to relax and adjust to different focal distances.

Please come in for aneye exam in Greensburg, PA at the first sign of any eye strain. Don’t take it for granted that it’s innocuous. Eye strain can also be a symptom of something more serious.

Your eyes are irritated, and that little bottle is right there, within arm’s reach. But before you throw those drugstore eye drops into your cart, know that over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops can be a tempting quick fix for dry, red, or irritated eyes, but they’re not always the safest solution. Not only shouldn’t you waste your money on OTC drops; you could be making matters worse by succumbing to their instant gratification charms.

The Risks of Overusing OTC Eye Drops

One major concern with OTC eye drops that your eye doctor in Pittsburgh, PA wants you to know, is the “rebound effect.” These drops work by constricting blood vessels on the eye’s surface to reduce redness, but, like a bad drug, your eyes can become reliant on the drops to stay clear. This has a strong chance of creating a cycle of physical dependency that isn’t addiction, but closely related to it.

This part is even worse. These insidious eye drops often contain preservatives that, with frequent use, can irritate the eye’s delicate tissues. This can make matters much worse, especially for those with sensitive eyes.

Potential Side Effects and Hidden Problems

OTC drops hide symptoms without treating the root cause. This can lead to worsening conditions if you’re thinking that everything’s taken care of and avoid your eye doctor.

Instead of relying on OTC drops, visit your eye doctor for an eye exam in Pittsburgh, PA to identify the cause of your symptoms. There are really great, effective treatments available that won’t make matters worse, and will actually improve the underlying conditions that are causing the problem to begin with. If you need eyecare, make sure it doesn’t come from some drugstore shelf. Get professional help from your eye doctor at Lappen Eye Care.

You know that nutrition is important, but your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA wants to emphasize the importance of nutrition to eye health, specifically.

Leafy Greens

Head to the vegetable section of your favorite supermarket. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens are packed with nutrients that benefit eye health. They’re rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that help protect your eyes from harmful light exposure and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Adding these greens to your diet can also help prevent cataracts.

Fish High in Omega-3

Your fish monger may just have the solution for great eyesight! Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining the health of the retina. Omega-3s can also help reduce dry eye symptoms by improving tear production.

Eggs

Thank goodness for chickens! Eggs provide a rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin, and they also contain significant amounts of zinc. The combination of these nutrients makes eggs a versatile and powerful food for boosting eye health, so make friends with a local chicken coop owner!

Citrus Fruits

No matter how you slice it, Vitamin C is a prize fighter when it comes to eye health. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are excellent sources of vitamin C.

Nuts and Seeds

Squirrels must have great vision, because almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E! Regular consumption of these nuts and seeds can help reduce the risk of cataracts and AMD.

So get busy in the kitchen and put together some nutritious homemade meals using these fresh ingredients! And contact Lappen Eye Care to book your next eye exam in Pittsburgh, PA!