Home Eye Safety – Fall

Fall brings cooler weather, fireplaces needing  firewood and yard work before the cold winter hits.  Anytime you work with power tools such as chainsaws, trimmers, mowers in the yard you should wear protective eyewear.   Every year, I see people with sawdust or other foreign material in the eye because they didn’t put on any safety glasses or goggles, even for simple, quick, little tasks.   Yes, they can be awkward or just a pain to wear.  However, it is alot less painful than a foreign object that can cause a corneal abrasion or lead to infection and scarred vision for life.   Modern safety glasses like Wiley X are very comfortable, with some even having a foam side piece to keep out wind and dust.  There are all kinds of prescription safety eyewear available and many cost less than regular eyewear.  Make sure you keep them clean and scratch free.  Scratches are annoying and can tempt you to take them off.  It also makes them more likely to break if there were an impact.

Good protective eyewear should be made of polycarbonate or Trivex lens material meeting the ANSI standard for safety eyewear.  A great site  about safety eyewear is here: http://www.allaboutvision.com/safety/safety-glasses.htm

It takes one second, one little touch on the grinder, one little strike of the hammer, one little rock chip off the weed eater to blind an eye.  Don’t take any chances.  Wear those safety glasses!

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 21 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

School kids eyes and vision

It happened again today.   So many times I have seen elementary school age children that are struggling in school, perhaps labeled dyslexic or ADHD, and the only problem is they are far-sighted (hyperopic) and need glasses to help focus.  Sometimes they have been checked by the school nurse and passed the screenings they perform or some even have been seen by a “quickie” eye doctor at a Bigmart store and the parents have been told the child doesn’t need glasses.

Many far-sighted people can see at far and near distances clearly but they have to work harder to do it.  That’s why they may read 20/20 on the eye chart and not appear to need glasses at first glance.   The child can make vision clear for awhile until the eye muscles fatigue and then the letters on the page blur or move around.  It’s hard to concentrate when your vision is in and out of focus.  Many kids avoid near work because it’s uncomfortable to continue doing this and usually they are the ones that end up talking and getting in trouble with the teacher for not paying attention to their work.

It should be assumed,  until proven otherwise by a reputable eye doctor,  that a child with a learning disability or doing poorly in school has a vision problem.   Your eye doctor should be able to say with 100% confidence through specific tests, that the child is absolutely not farsighted when they don’t appear to need glasses.  Only then should the child be considered for a visual perception problem or dyslexia diagnosis.

Please, please, parents….if your child is struggling in school with their grades, especially if they have headaches later in the day after using their eyes, have them examined by a reputable eye doctor that can ensure you that your child is not far-sighted (or have other hidden vision disorders for that matter.)

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 21 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas27 and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Wow! lenses

For the first time, optical lenses can be worn with absolutely no distortion.  In the past, lenses either had to be held in place in frames by tightening the frame around it or by drilling holes and placing screws through them.  This always causes some kind of stress and visual distortions in the lenses not observable to the naked eye.  As a result, the patient doesn’t obtain the sharpest, clearest, most comfortable vision possible.

With the latest technology, high definition lenses can be produced with a frame that only attaches at a special tab on the side of the lens.  It’s as close to floating lenses in front of your eyes with no frame as possible.

You have to come see them at our office!  You will say Wow! when you look through these.

Here is a You Tube link about them:  http://youtu.be/tNDxl4dTcgo

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 21 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Allergy eyes in the Texas Panhandle

During harvest time, there are usually plenty of dry, dusty conditions in the Texas Panhandle.  With the combines going and the wind picking up the dust and pollen, we see an increase in the amount of swollen, itchy, red eyes.   Many people have allergies to corn, milo or cotton pollen that get stirred up in the wind.  Fall brings cedar tree and other evergreen pollen as well.  Here is an example of cedar pollen on YouTube:      http://youtu.be/PvaRPYwgKdU

Since it’s almost impossible to avoid the airborne antigens that cause allergy eye symptoms around here, it’s best to “head them off at the pass.”

Wearing sunglasses can help some to block some of the dust and particles, not all.

Cold, unpreserved artificial tears that have been in the refrigerator can rinse or dilute the antigens and give some relief if used a couple of times a day.   So can a wet, chilled washcloth if you put it in the freezer for 2-3 minutes without freezing it.   However, if severe enough, an anti-histamine eye drop (sort of like a liquid Claritan or Benadryl) is needed to block the allergic response.   There are several very effective, prescription anti-histamine drops available from your eye doctor.  DO NOT use any “red eye reliever” drops like Visine, Murine, Cleareyes, etc…  These will cause your eyes to stay red and irritated if you use them too much.  It’s the same as using nasal decongestants spray that you can also get addicted to.

For severe allergy eye symptoms, mild anti-inflammatory steroid eye drops are helpful to reduce the inflammation and severity of symptoms. These are also available by prescription.

Major medical insurance will typically cover office visits for allergy eye symptoms.

Your eyes are too important to allow them to suffer from allergy symptoms.  Let us help your eyes feel better.

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 21 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Halloween Safety

Halloween is next Monday and there will be lots of kiddos running around Dumas that night in the dark.  Take precautions with your kids and make sure they are visible to cars.  The Dumas Police Department is handing out Halloween bags and glow sticks beginning this week to help make kids more visible.  Tie the glow sticks to your kids costumes or bags.

Children should be given a flashlight also to be seen but also to help them see where they are going in the dark.

Consider using face paint instead of masks to help children see to get around better.  At least make sure the eye holes are large enough so as not to obstruct their vision.

Reflective tape can be attached to costumes and clothing to make them more visible as well.

You might want to go out early before total darkness as well to make it safer for your children.

For the safest environment and a more wholesome atmosphere, instead of trick or treating consider bringing your kids to the Fall-fest at the Moore County Community Building, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.   Activities to include bouncy castles, concession foods, games, crazy cardboard maze, free give aways, prizes, & TONS of CANDY!!

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 21 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Marking a new milestone

 Dumas Vision Source is proud to announce the addition of a blog!  Since technology in eyecare is evolving so quickly, I believe that more rapid communication with our patients could make the difference in someone keeping their sight the rest of their lives.  This blog gives us an additional avenue to communicate and teach people how they might protect their vision with a simple trip to the optometrist.  Each week, I intend to write about at least one topic in the eye care field.  I hope to educate, inform and maybe even make you laugh from time to time.  I appreciate any feedback or comments if it is something valuable to you or there is something you might suggest to help us as well.  A big thanks to Dr. Alan Glazier for pushing me out of the nest in a way and just begin.  As the ancient Chinese proverb says, “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.”

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 21 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”