Think Globally, Wink Locally

I want to itch my eyes out of my head!

By: Dr Liz

 

This has got to sound familiar to some of you....I know it is not easy to keep your hands away from your eyes but the more you rub, the more they itch.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get through allergy season this Spring:

• Change your contacts when prescribed. That is right.  I am talking to YOU!   Many contact lens wearers don’t change them often enough.  Come on now.  Contacts are not that expensive anymore..especially with rebates offered with nearly every brand on the market. If the contacts are tossed and new ones used when they are supposed to be, protein build up is less and allergies may be less irritating.

• A healthier option for allergy patients are daily disposable contact lenses due much less protein build up. Even when lenses are cleaned as directed build up of protein, pollen, dust or other irritants can still occur which aggravates eye irritation, especially during allergy season.

• Don’t touch or rub your eyes; though it may feel good, it will make it worse.

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. That way, if you do touch your eyes, they won’t add even more irritants to the mix.

• Wash bed linens, pillow cases and towels on a regular basis to remove irritants and allergies.

•  Use less makeup when allergies are bad. Makeup is still an irritant.

• If your allergies are over the top, even with daily disposable lenses, switch to your eyeglasses. You all have some stylish eyeglasses you would wear out in public right??  If you don't swing by Wink Optical in Boulder Colorado..we can fix that in a hurry.  

• If you must wear your contacts, change into your glasses when you’re at home to give your eyes a break.

Note: If none of this helps and you are miserable please make an appointment to see me.  I may have to prescribe some strong allergy eye drops to help you through the tough times.

Ergonomic Vision Tips

By: Dr. Liz

 

How many times have you stood up from sitting for hours in front of your computer thinking to yourself "I need to find a better set up for myself?"  You find your neck, shoulders and even back hurts. 

Here are a few tips that might help your situation:

*Place your monitor directly in front of you about 20 to 26 inches away

*The center of your computer screen should be 4 to 9 inches below your straight-ahead gaze. This is especially important if you are using progressive lenses.  Perhaps you could mimic this situation by placing your computer on books or raising or lowering your chair.

*Be sure that your arms are parallel to the floor when you type and your feet flat on the floor and not crossed on top of one another.

*Maintain good posture at your desk: keep your back straight and your shoulders back.  This is the tough one to achieve for hours at a time.

*One last thing:  TAKE BREAKS!  Get up and walk around.  Not only are you giving your body a chance to stretch out from being in the same position but you are breaking your focusing system from locking in at just one focusing distance and clearing your head at the same time.

 

Wink Hosts Boulder Chamber Breakfast

By: The Wink Team

Wink Optical hosted a fantastic Boulder Chamber Breakfast last week.  We had 68 participants who are now exposed to Wink.  Everyone had a great time eating burritos from Santiago's on the Hill and donated baked goodies from Boulder Baked.  If you have not tasted the donuts and cookies from Boulder Baked give them a try.  They are worth every single calorie.

The case of the missing contact lens

By: Dr. Liz

 

I think all veteran contact lens wearers have had a contact lens that has gotten lost in their eye.  How many of you have panicked because you can’t immediately find the lens and have thought “ Oh no!!! The contact lens is lost behind my eye!” A contact lens that slips off the corneal surface of the eye and moves under the eyelid cannot go far. The conjunctiva, a clear lining that covers the inner surface of the eyelids, forms a small sac or pouch between the eyelid and the eye to contain the eyes tears.  The floating contact lens can only go as far as the edge of this sac, not behind the eyeball. Usually you can gently manipulate the contact lens back into place.  If the lens is difficult to retrieve just put some rewetting drops ( I like Optive by Allergan) in your eye to loosen the lens.  You should have an easier time pulling the lens down and out of your eye.  Once you have pulled the lens out put another rewetting drop in your eye to help soothe the eye after all of that poking and prodding.   If you are still having trouble finding the lens come in to see me.