Eye Safety and Prevention

Eye exams
Eye exams are an important part of preventive health. If you know what tests to expect and what each test checks, you'll get more out of your eye exam.An eye exam is one of the best ways to protect your vision because it can detect eye problems at their earliest stage — when they're most treatable. Regular eye exams give your eye care professional a chance to help you correct or adapt to vision changes. And eye care specialists can give you expert tips on reducing eyestrain and caring for your eyes.

Who can exam your eyes?
Ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who provide full eye care, such as giving you a complete eye exam, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing and treating complex eye diseases, and performing surgery.

Optometrists. Optometrists provide many of the same services as ophthalmologists, such as evaluating your vision, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing common eye disorders and treating selected eye diseases with drugs. But you'll likely be referred to an ophthalmologist for more complex eye problems and for conditions requiring surgery.

Opticians. Opticians fill prescriptions for eyeglasses, including assembling, fitting and selling them. Some opticians also sell and fit contact lenses. Which specialist you choose may be a matter of personal preference, or one specialist may be best for treating your particular eye concern.

What's actually involved in an eye exam?
A complete eye exam involves a series of tests designed to evaluate your vision and check for eye diseases. It doesn't hurt. Your doctor may use odd-looking instruments, aim bright lights directly at your eyes and request that you look through a seemingly endless array of lenses. Each test evaluates a different aspect of your vision.

The eye exam usually begins with your doctor asking about your medical history and any vision problems you might be experiencing. Next, your eye doctor makes a quick check of your eyes using a light to ensure the exterior parts of your eyes are functioning correctly. Finally, your doctor measures your visual acuity, assesses your need for glasses and examines your eyes for signs of disease. Part of the examination, such as taking your medical history and the initial eye test, may be performed by a technician who assists your doctor.

Use of sun glasses to protect from UV
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage your eyes as well as your skin. Strong sunlight can burn the corneas and conjunctivas of your eyes. In addition, long-term exposure to UV radiation can contribute to eye disease, especially cataracts. So, choosing sunglasses that provide UV protection is very important.

In the United States, the government has recommended that all sunglasses — prescription and over-the-counter — block ultraviolet radiation. Ideally, sunglasses should block the two components of UV radiation — UVB and UVA — by 99 percent and 95 percent, respectively.

When choosing sunglasses, you have a wide array of options. Here are some tips on what to look for:

Blue-blocking plastic lenses. Often promoted for sun protection, blue-blocking lenses also block red, amber and blue light — which makes it difficult to discriminate traffic light colors.

Polarized lenses. Although polarized lenses protect against glare, they don't meet the criteria for UV protection unless they have additional UV-blocking material in the lenses.

Photochromic lenses. This type of lens protects the eyes from glare, sun and UV radiation while also maintaining visual acuity. Also, photochromic lenses do not distort color.

Polycarbonate lenses. A wise choice for children and athletes, polycarbonate lenses shield the eyes from UV radiation as well as protect the eyes against impact injuries that may be sustained during play and sports. Standard glasses can also be treated with a material that absorbs UV radiation sufficiently to protect the eye while retaining a clear, nontinted appearance. In addition, UV protection can be obtained for most rigid contact lenses and many soft contact lenses.

Additional tips for protecting your eyes in the sun include:
Choose sunglasses that fit close to your face or have wraparound frames.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap, which keeps out sunlight from directly overhead.
Never look directly at the sun — even through sunglasses — because doing so can cause permanent eye damage.