eye exams

Tips For Safely Viewing The Solar Eclipse

solareclipse

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of the United States will have a solar eclipse. The moon will cover at least part of the sun for 2 to 3 hours. Halfway through, anyone within a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a brief total eclipse. The moon will completely block the sun's bright face for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds. Day will turn into night, and (weather permitting) one of nature's most awesome sights will become visible: the sun's shimmering outer atmosphere, or corona.

suncorona

Here are six tips to safely view the solar eclipse:  

  1. Don't look directly into the sun without proper eye protection!
  2. Use approved solar eclipse viewers. The only safe way to view a partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as "eclipse glasses" or viewers that meet international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing.
  3. Sunglasses, smoked glass, unfiltered telescopes or magnifiers, and polarizing filters are unsafe.
  4. If you can't find eclipse viewers, build a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse.
  5. Before looking at the sun, cover your eyes with the eclipse viewers while standing still. Glance at the sun, turn away and then remove your filter. Do not remove the filter while looking at the sun.
  6. Visit your doctor of optometry. If you should experience discomfort or vision problems following the eclipse, visit iCare Family Vision for a comprehensive eye examination.
pathoftotality

Why Eye Exams Are Important for Everyone

Most people experience an eye screening as their first introduction to eye care, whether during school or at the DMV.  An eye screening is basically a test to determine if you can see 20/20. While an eye screening is a great way to determine a need for a prescription, it is not in any way determining the health of your eyes. Even if you can pass an eye screening and see 20/20, you should still have an annual eye exam to check the health of your eyes.

At iCare Family Vision, we do more than just determine your glasses and contacts prescription during an eye exam. By providing early detection of health issues, your eye doctor is often the first line of defense against chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms, and you may be completely unaware of them.

Only a small percentage of your time during an eye exam is actually spent determining your prescription. The majority of the testing time in an eye exam is devoted to tests such as visual field, tonometry, retinal evaluation, slit lamp, etc.

These tests are just a few of the ways that your eye doctor can check your overall health and well being:

  • Eye diseases: glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, etc.
  • Refractive error: farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia
  • Other diseases: high blood pressure, high cholesterol
  • Amblyopia, strabismus, and focusing problems

Treatment plans following your eye exam can include a prescription for glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors, vision therapy, medical treatment for eye disease and in some cases your eye doctor may also recommend that you take vitamins or supplements to maintain good eye health or to help alleviate specific problems like dry eyes.

In the end, regular eye exams are important for seeing more clearly, early detection of health issues, and preserving your vision for life.

Schedule your annual eye exam today at iCare Family Vision.

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