Glasses

Picking the right contact lenses can be daunting with the number of options that are available. Whether you have been wearing contact lenses for years or are new to them, there are a handful of factors to take into consideration like ease of use, frequency of replacement, eye health, comfort, cost and convenience.

Ultimately, the best contact lenses for you are heavily tied in with your lifestyle, your daily activities and, of course, personal choice. To help, our optometrists have put together a comprehensive list of the following:

• Best Dailies Contact Lenses
• Best Monthly Contact Lenses
• Best Multifocal Lens
• Best Budget Friendly Options

To get started, ask yourself these questions:

Do You Have Allergies?

Lenses are made from a variety of materials. Modern contact lenses are made from silicone hydrogel, which is more porous and allows more oxygen to get to the cornea than traditional lenses. They are frequently more comfortable and are likely safer in the long term; however, some people are allergic to silicone, luckily hydrogel lenses are available for these patients. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, Acuvue has a new lens available that slowly releases allergy medication into the eyes to stop those pesky allergy symptoms like redness, tearing and itchiness. Talk to your Optometrist to learn more about the Theravision Acuvue contact lens.

Do You Have Astigmatism?

Astigmatism causes overall blurry vision and requires different types of contact lenses called toric lenses. When the cornea curves or flattens unevenly, it disrupts your focusing ability for near and distant objects. Therefore a toric contact lens is designed to curve or flatten to the shape of your cornea to provide clear vision with excellent comfort.

Does Your Job Require Excellent Vision?

Since contacts sit on your eye, it gives you a wider field of view. This provides less peripheral distortion compared to glasses; however, not all contact lenses are created equal. If it’s important to have sharp vision for life or your job, consider a contact lens fit with a licensed professional to make sure the correct power and base curve is being used for your lenses.

Are Your Eyes Sensitive?

Your eye doctor will measure the curvature of the More people than you would believe have dry and sensitive eyes. Lenses can be difficult to use for any reasonable length of time if you suffer from dry eyes or are sensitive to things close to or on your eyes.  Also, for those of us not used to wearing lenses, glasses are often a more comfortable and easy option.

Do You Have Dry Eyes?

Monthly contact lenses are thicker and more durable than daily lenses. Daily lenses are thinner, and due to this fact, they are usually more comfortable. Dry eyes can happen for a variety of reasons. It is important to address the reason for your dry eyes and treat it before contact lenses can be successfully fit. Many contact lenses are designed to prevent dry eyes because they possess certain coatings or materials to prevent premature tear evaporation. If your eyes do get dry with contact lenses on, ocular lubrication with preservative artificial tears is recommended with daily lid hygiene.

How Frequently Will You Use Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses can be costly, especially with dailies. Not only in their initial purchase and frequency of repurchase, but the continued need for contact lens solutions, storage containers and artificial tears. Your frequency of use and daily activities will help you select whether dailies, bi-weekly’s, monthly’s or a combination is needed. 

Now that you’ve gotten a better idea on how you need your contact lenses to work for your eyes, check out our top Optometrist picks below:

Best Daily vs Best Reusable Contact Lenses (Plus Multifocal Options)

Top 3 Contact Lenses (Optometrist Verified Picks)

1. Acuvue Oasys 1-Day 

• Next-Gen Technology: Inspired by the way your tear film works to help reduce the feeling of dry eyes. 
• Aids Eye Diseases: Corrects astigmatism by reshaping the cornea (front surface of the eye) to correct its curvature. When the eyeball surface is shaped like a perfectly round ball, light is able to enter the eye and bend evenly to give you a clear image. 
• Class I UV Blocking: The highest level of UV protection available in a contact lens.*
• Dry Eye Prevention: This contact lens has tear-like properties that work with your natural tear film each day, providing all-day performance and excellent comfort, vision and handling.
• Wide Parameter Range: This provides more successful fits for eyes of all shapes, sizes and powers. 

*Class I UV contact lenses block >99% of UVB and >90% of UVA. In comparison, Class II UV contact lenses block >95% UVB and >50% UVA.

2. Acuvue Oasys 2-Week 

• Next-Gen Technology: Inspired by the way your tear film works to help reduce the feeling of dry eyes in a reusable lens option. 
• Wide parameter range: Available with correction for near and farsighted prescriptions.
  • It also is a reusable option that corrects astigmatism.
• Class I UV Blocking: The highest level of UV protection available in a contact lens.
• Eye Breathability: The contact lenses are extremely breathable so that it feels almost like you’re wearing no lenses at all. Since contact lenses sit directly on your eyes, it reduces the oxygen flow to your eyes. This may seem inconsequential but having oxygen flow is important in keeping your eyes healthy and providing good comfort. 

3. Dailies Total1

• Exceptional Comfort: 9 out of 10 contact lens wearers agree they’re so comfortable, they forget they’re wearing them due to their very thin lens design.
• Eye Breathability: Water gradient technology creates a cushion of moisture on your eye.
• Dry Eye Prevention: SmarTears® Technology features the release of an ingredient found naturally in your tears that helps stabilize your eye’s tear film. 

Best Contact Solutions for Dry Eyes (Top 2 Optometrist Picks)

1. Best for Infection Prevention: ClearCare Cleaning Solution provides the best cleaning regimen for infection prevention, lens comfort and lens longevity. No rubbing required, simply let the lenses soak in the contact solution overnight in a specialized container. 
2. Multipurpose & Budget Friendly: Opti-free Puremoist is readily available and cost effective. Disinfecting agents get rid of microorganisms that can cause eye infections and create a moisture matrix that surrounds the lenses to provide all-day comfort. To clean, rub the contact lenses to remove deposits and debris, rinse, and then store in the contact solution. 

Real Eyes Optometry provides ACUVUE, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb and Coopervision Brand Contact Lenses. Follow us on IG for promotions on contact lenses.

All of our recommendations are selected independently and we do not earn a commission if you shop through our links.

Contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all. When we visit our optometrist for a new pair of glasses, we’re used to having our glasses meticulously fit. The frames are adjusted to the bridge of our nose, the lenses are centralized to the middle of our eyes, and the arms of the frame are adjusted to sit properly on our ears. A similar type of precision is needed to properly fit contact lenses as well.

Even those of us that are full time glasses wearers, we do still occasionally rely on contacts — whether it be for sports, convenience, lifestyle, or otherwise. For all contact lens wearers, a contact lens fitting is vital to ensure that the lenses fit each eye properly, your vision is good for distance and near, and your eye health is maintained. 

So what does that mean for your annual optometrist visit?

What’s the Difference Between an Eye Exam and a Contact Lens Exam?

What Is a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

An eye exam is not the same as a contact lens fitting. If you currently wear contacts, or would like to start, you need both an eye exam (a complete assessment of your refractive status, binocular system and eye health) and a contact lens fitting.

A comprehensive eye exam is performed by an eye doctor, also known as an optometrist, and is the primary source of eye care. Similar to a physical, we look at your entire visual system and ocular health. A comprehensive eye exam provides our optometrists a close-up look at your ocular tissue, blood vessels, nerves and visual pathway, all of which may contain clues to conditions that could pose a serious risk to your health. Depending on your personal health history and other factors, our comprehensive eye examination may include a variety of assessments and tests. Learn more here.

What Is Involved in Contact Lens Fitting?

Your eye doctor will measure the curvature of the cornea (the front surface of the eye) to check that the curve of the contact lens properly fits the curve of your eye. A keratometer, topographer or autorefractor can be used to measure the curvature to determine what the appropriate curve is for your contact lenses.

Sounds simple right? In the hands of an optometrist it is, but there is much more involved to ensure an appropriate fit. Once the right curve is chosen, the contact lens is placed on the eye and assessed. We are looking to see if the contact lens is centered on the eye, how blinking affects the contact lens movement and most importantly, how well you can see in the distance and near with each eye. Contact lens fitting is vital for your long term eye health, vision and comfort when wearing contact lenses routinely.

Is a Contact Lens Fitting Necessary?

Yes! Imagine getting a new pair of glasses but the frame is too wide so it continuously slips off the bridge of your nose. Or the arms are too short to reach behind your ear, skewing how the glasses fit on your face and hindering your vision. The same can happen with improperly fitted contact lenses. Poorly fit contact lenses can lead to a myriad of issues such as blurry vision, eye strain, headaches, red or dry eyes and infection. 

A contact lens fitting is even more crucial if you have been diagnosed with any of the following:

• Nearsightedness (Myopia). Distant objects are blurry. When your cornea curves too sharply or your eyeball is too elongated, light rays focus in front of your retina and this results in distance vision blur.
• Farsightedness (Hyperopia). Nearby objects are blurry. When your cornea is too flat or your eyeball is underpowered, light focuses behind the retina instead of on it, resulting in blurry near vision,
• Astigmatism. When the cornea curves or flattens unevenly, it disrupts the focusing ability for near and distant vision, causing overall blurry vision.

All of the above are considered refractive errors which are classified as very common eye disorders that are a result of your eyes shape, power and genetic composition. In fact, astigmatism is one of the most common vision problems that impacts more than 150 million Americans.

If your eye has a curvature imperfection (or more oval shaped), light is angled more in one direction than another and this provides only partial focus on an object. This curvature and non-ideal refraction of light, causes objects to look blurry, wavy or distorted. In order for your contacts to be able to counteract this imperfect curvature, you need a contact lens fitting to ensure an appropriate fit.

How Long Does a Contact Fitting Take?

The great news is that most contact lens fittings can be combined with your comprehensive eye exam and it only adds about 10 minutes to your appointment. More time will be needed for first time wearers or those being fit in multifocal contacts.

What Happens if You Wear the Wrong Size Contact Lenses?

• Dislodged Contact. If the diameter (width of the contact lens) is too wide or the base curve is too flat, the contact lens will fit loose on your eye and can slip out of place or dislodge when you blink or rub your eyes. 
• Discomfort. If the diameter is too small or the base curve is too steep, this will result in a tight fit and will cause discomfort.
• Scratched Eye. The wrong size lenses can cause an abrasion on your cornea. This is why it is not recommended to swap coloured contact lenses with friends. 
• Reduced vision. Improperly fit contact lenses can cause lipid or protein deposit accumulation over time — even if you properly clean and care for your lenses. While protein build up in your eye doesn’t sound so bad, excessive amounts can lead to discomfort, reduced vision and increased risk of infection.

How Can You Tell if Your Contacts Are Not the Right Size?

If you can constantly feel your contact lenses, also known as “lens awareness”, it could mean they are poorly fitted. Lenses come in all shapes, sizes, diameters and curvatures. If you feel like there is always something in your eye or your eyes are always red with contact lenses on, the lens diameter or base curve could be incorrect and need to be adjusted. 

The top types of contact lens discomfort include:

• Stinging, burning, and itchy eyes
• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Excessive tearing
• Abnormal eye secretions
• Eye redness
• Disrupted vision
• Blurry vision or halos around objects
• Light sensitivity 
• Eye strain or headaches
• Dry eyes

If You Notice Any of These Symptoms, Here’s What You Need to Do

1. Don’t Wait, Immediately Remove Your Lenses. Your lens may be damaged, have dirt, an eyelash, or another foreign body that is irritating your eye. Clean, rinse, and disinfect the lens before reinserting it. 

If the problem persists after you’ve cleaned the lens, immediately remove it and consult your Burnaby optometrist. 

2. Seek Professional Help. Remove your lenses, put on your glasses and immediately seek help from your optometrist to avoid risk of infection and any permanent damage to your vision and eyes.

How Do I Choose the Right Glasses?

The key to picking glasses is a combination of personal choice and keeping in mind that opposites attract. When picking glasses, select eyeglasses that contrast from your facial contours, provide symmetry, and balance out any prominent features. The truth is that humans are attracted to facial symmetry and a great pair of glasses can enhance your facial symmetry.

At Real Eyes Optometry, picking glasses is easy. You can try on dozens of frames to see which styles compliment you best.

 4 Simple Steps to Picking Glasses Perfect For You

1: Find Out Your Face Shape

The secret is picking glasses that best fit your face shape. This may seem like a daunting task with the number of frame styles available but we have a simple method. Grab a dry-erase marker, stand in front of a mirror, and trace your face on the mirror. Most people will fall into one of the following categories:

• Oval 
• Round 
• Square
• Triangular
• Heart

Once you have determined your face shape, picking glasses that are complementary becomes easy. Certain frames can help accentuate, or even slim, parts of your face or prominent features such as your nose, cheeks, or eyebrows. If you have an oval-shaped face, the great news is that most frames will look amazing on you. Round frames that are thicker on the top can help balance a small chin and are great for a heart-shaped face.

Check out the chart below for help picking glasses that are right for you.

2: Select Colours to Complement Your Skin Tone

Picking glasses that compliment your skin tone, and wardrobe, is easier than you think. For cool skin tones, seek out shades of black, gray, purple, and blue. For warm skin tones, try picking glasses that are tan, pink, yellow, and red. If you aren’t certain which skin tone you are, here are a few ways to find out. What color clothes are you most comfortable wearing? Typically it’s the same tone that would apply to picking glasses. If your wardrobe doesn’t help narrow it down, check out the color of your veins:

• Warm: Your veins look greenish, and the base tone of your skin is yellow or gold.
• Cool: Look for blue or purple-ish looking veins, and a skin base tone with hints of blue, pink, or red.
• Neutral: Your veins may look colorless or match your skin color. Your skin tone could be a mixture of both warm and cool hues, or have an undertone which is the same color as your actual skin color.

3: Consider Your Lifestyle

The choice is personal and the best option for you is heavily tied in with your lifestyle. Other factors to take into consideration when picking glasses are ease of use, eye health, comfort, cost, and convenience. If you are an active person, an athlete, or have a job that is physical, picking glasses with a more durable frame is ideal.

If you find it an inconvenience to switch between contact lenses and glasses for working out, consider comfortable, sturdy frames that won’t distract you from your workout. 

Do you work in front of a computer most days? Then adding blue-light lens filters and anti-glare coatings is a must. Yes, you will spend a bit more, but these glasses will be with you for years. Years of discomfort or lower quality sleep due to blue light is not worth it.

Do you live in a sunny climate? Consider glasses that have transition lenses, or convert them into sunglasses (ex. clip-on’s). It will not only save you from buying two pairs of glasses, but it will also ensure that you can move throughout your day with ease, regardless of the weather, brightness, and UV exposure.

4: Show Your Personality

Picking glasses that reflect your personality is the perfect way to show off who you are. With all the options that are available, virtually every shape, color, or pattern is at your fingertips. However, be wary of cheap or poor-quality glasses. Not all sunglasses or glasses are created equal. The cheap pair picked up at the gas station, or a vintage pair purchased at a thrift store may not have the appropriate UV coating to protect your eyes. Cheaper sunglasses may not provide complete protection, whereas more expensive pairs often are a better bet for full-spectrum coverage. 

No matter which style you choose, a colorful pair for the weekend or a functional pair for work, ensure you feel confident and they make you happy.

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How Do You Know What Size Glasses to Get for Your Face? (4 FAQs) 

Now that we have narrowed down the type of glasses you want for yourself, here are some frequently asked questions to ensure the pair you fall in love with are the right ones for you. 

Picking glasses that are the right size for your face is a bit more precise and is something your optometrist or eye care specialist can help you out with. Have you ever worn a pair of glasses and noticed a small indent at the top of your nose when you took them off? Or experience what feels like a headache behind your ears? These are common issues when your glasses aren’t the proper fit. Glasses with the proper fit will distribute the weight and pressure evenly between your ears, the width of the frame, and your nose. So how do you go about picking glasses that are the right size? Ask yourself these questions.

1. How Do You Tell if Glasses Are Too Big for Your Face?

The easiest way to tell is if they are constantly sliding down your nose or falling off your face. Properly fitted frames should align horizontally with your eyes, rather than the edge of the frame dipping down on either side. The bottom of the frame should be closer to your face than the top of the frame.

2. Are My Glasses Too Narrow?

Common ways to tell are if the nose pad, at the bridge of your nose, is pinching you. Do you experience indents on your face from where your glasses sit? Also, if your pupils are not centered in the frames, it means your frames are likely too narrow.

3. Should My Glasses Touch My Cheeks When I Smile?

If this occurs, it may depend on your face shape but it is not something to seek out when picking glasses. This is because when you smile, it will push up your glasses, lifting the nose pads off the bridge of your nose. In addition, make sure the lenses are not too close to your eyes to avoid eyelashes brushing against the lens.

4. What Is a Good Weight for Glasses?

Most light to standard weight glasses are 1/2 oz. Heavy glasses can be 3/4 oz. When picking glasses most people prefer lighter glasses. While the difference in weight may seem negligible to most people, the difference can have more of an impact on children and higher power lenses. 

Heavier glasses can place too much weight on your child’s nose, causing the frame to slip and obscure vision. Higher power lenses will be thicker and have more weight. Regardless of your age, it’s important to understand how glasses should fit.

Worried about figuring out if the glasses you just picked out will fit or not? Check out these easy methods to measure your face and ensure you get the perfect fit.

Top 2 Apps to Help Measure Your Face For Glasses (Plus 1 Free Method)

 1. Face Shape Meter from VisTech.Projects ($1.49-$1.99)

FACE Shape Meter is a well-rated app that offers a simple and easy-to-use tool for identifying your face shape from your picture. Aside from using this app when picking glasses, knowing your face shape comes in handy for finding “the right” haircut or even makeup contouring for your face.

You upload a photo of yourself and are given a tracing tool to draw around your face, then press a button to automatically calculate your face shape. In order to get the best results, use a neutral expression and ensure your head is straight (looking directly ahead) when taking your picture.

Face Shape Meter for Android

Face Shape Meter for Apple

2. PD Meter from Tech Positive ($4.99-$5.49)

Pupillary distance (PD measurement) is the distance in millimeters between the centers of the pupils. This measurement is different from person to person but for people with stronger prescriptions, it is vital when picking glasses. 

PD can be measured with a ruler, but it can be tricky measuring and keeping your eyes straight ahead at the same time. 

PD Meter for Android

PD Meter for Apple

App-less Measurement

If the cost of the app doesn’t appeal to you, all you need is a ruler for taking measurements. Read on for the steps to measure how your glasses frames should fit your face:

1. Find a Mirror. Stand in front of a mirror and hold the ruler flat (in a horizontal line) with your temple
2. Ear-to-Ear. Measure the distance (in inches) between your temples
3. Time for Math. Convert from inches to millimetres by multiply your measured value by 25.4
   1. Your frame size should vary no more than +/- 3mm from your measurement

What Happens When You Pick Up Glasses?

It is best to pick up your glasses yourself, as your eye care specialist will have a chance to adjust the new glasses to help get the appropriate fit. This isn’t only about how the glasses look on you, but the fit affects how you see through the lens. Here are a few steps your eye care specialist will check to ensure you have the correct fit. 

1. Bridge Width. Your eye care specialist will confirm the bridge is not too narrow (pinching your nose, and contributing to headaches) or too wide (glasses will easily slide down your nose, impacting your vision).
2. Arm Length. The end of the glasses arm should not extend too far past your ear in order to provide the proper grip.
3. Lens Diameter. The width of the lens impacts which part of the lens your pupil sees through. If your pupil is not centralized it negatively impacts your vision.
4. Lens Height. The lens height is largely determined by the frame height. The top of your frames should be no higher than the line of your eyebrows. In addition, the lower edge of the frames shouldn’t sit on your cheeks as it will rub your skin and can cause irritation.
   
   

At Real Eyes, we know how important it is to feel comfortable in your glasses. Your purchase includes a 60-day adaptation policy which lets us make any changes if your glasses don’t feel right or if you feel your glasses aren’t fitting well. Feel free to come back and see us for any issues you may have with your lenses or frames. It can take a few days to a few weeks to get used to a new pair of glasses. By making some minor adjustments you will have a pair of glasses that are perfect for you.

When it comes to camping this summer, we know we should bring sunscreen to protect our skin from UV rays, and outdoor gear to protect us from the elements, but what about our eyes? Without proper protection, your eyes can in fact get sunburned. If you are summer camping, or participating in outdoor sports this summer, here are some simple tips so you can maintain good vision for many summers to come!

There is sunscreen lotion for your skin but what is there for people to protect their eyes?

1. Wear UV Sunglasses in Summer

Yes it is obvious, but wear sunglasses that have complete UV protection. Our skin isn’t the only part of our body that needs protection from the harsh ultraviolet rays, our eyes do too. In summer, it is particularly important as the UV rays are stronger, and more likely to damage our eyes. The increased sunlight also reflects off of surfaces like glass, shiny office buildings, water, and sand.

The easiest and best way to protect your eyes in summer is to buy, and constantly wear sunglasses that offer 100% protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Unfortunately, not all sunglasses are created equal, so the cheap pair picked up at the gas station, or a vintage pair purchased at a thrift store may not have the appropriate UV coating to protect your eyes.

Cheaper sunglasses may not provide complete protection, whereas more expensive pairs often are a better bet for full spectrum coverage. While it is more crucial to wear sunglasses in summer, you can still be exposed to UV on cloudy days. Most people can easily recall a time they spent hours in the shade only to be shocked that their skin was burnt. The same can happen with your eyes.

 2. Summer Calls For Hats

Sunglasses are definitely the first step in protecting your eyes in summer, but there are gaps on the sides of the sunglasses that still allow UV rays in. Combining your sunglasses with a hat provides additional protection from the harsh summer rays and minimizes your exposure. The best hats are those with a wide brim around the entire hat, such as a bucket hat or “boater”. A baseball cap is also a good solution, ideally the brim is approximately 3 inches wide to provide consistent protection around your eyes. There are also significantly more wide brim hat options available, particularly for women, over the last few years that are both stylish and provide necessary summer protection. 

3. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes

Even prior to COVID-19, washing your hands and avoiding touching your face and eyes was one of the best ways to protect yourself from communicable diseases — and this still holds true. The simple habit of washing your hands on a regular basis can help avoid contracting eye conditions like conjunctivitis (pink eye). 

If you recently had eye surgery, such as LASIK/PRK, you are at increased risk for infection. Heightened cleanliness and avoiding touching your eyes will be vital. This includes putting in, and taking out contacts, applying eye drops, and avoiding touching your eyes in general.

80% of a person’s lifetime UVR exposure occurs prior to the age of 18.

– The World Health Organization

4. Use Goggles in Summer

A frequent summer activity can be taking your family to the pool. Start eye education when your children are young, as children are far more likely to spend time playing outside, particularly during the summer months. The World Health Organization notes that as much as 80% of a person’s lifetime UVR exposure occurs prior to the age of 18. 

Goggles may not seem necessary for most, but there are many athletic activities where sunglasses are not ideal. For example, mountain biking, skiing, biking, swimming, rock climbing, and particularly any outdoor activity near water or snow. Both water and snow are very reflective. On a sunny day, clean fresh snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation. This means that you can be exposed to almost a double dose of UV. In addition to protecting your eyes from the sun, goggles help protect against germs and debris getting into your eyes. 

5. Extra Caution in Extreme Summer Temperatures

Once the temperature hits 30°C (90°F) or above, it’s considered hot and you should  exercise extreme caution.. Did you know that at these temperatures prolonged exposure to bright, direct sunlight has the same effect on campers as if it was an additional 15°F warmer. Your eyes can get sunburnt just like your skin, and lack of eye moisture can cause irritation and burning. Seek shade, it is obvious but particularly in the middle of the day when the temperatures can be at its hottest, it is best to avoid staying in direct sunlight.

Book an appointment with your Optometrist if you have any of the following symptoms for more than one or two days — your eyes have likely been overexposed to ultraviolet rays:

• Red eyes
• Extreme light sensitivity
• Gritty feeling in your eyes
• Temporary vision loss, or distorted vision
• Seeing halos
• Blurry or dim vision
• Night vision issues 

6. Keep Active, Not Just in Summer

We often take our sight for granted and forget the body is inexorably interlinked. Staying physically active can help lower your risk of diseases that can contribute to developing vision problems and that can contribute to reduced eye health — like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

When you are out this summer, remember protecting your eyes from UV rays is the only way to avoid getting them sunburned. When to be extra careful:

• Near Water: UV rays reflect off the water.
• Near Snow: Particularly when snowboarding or skiing. Snow is highly reflective. On a sunny day, clean fresh snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation. This means that you can be exposed to almost a double dose of UV.
• Dense City Dwelling: UV rays easily reflect off windows, cars, buildings and even concrete streets. Regardless if the sun is visible or not outside, ultraviolet rays are present and capable of damaging your eyes.

Have High Blood Pressure? Check out these tips from The Mayo Clinic.

7. Eat Healthy Summer Produce

Taking care of your eyes starts with healthy food. Luckily, in summer we have an overabundance of delicious produce, fruits, and vegetables, that make it even easier to eat healthily. Aside from obvious health reasons, nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E can help to prevent age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. Maintaining, or actively working towards a healthy weight helps reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults. Check out these nutrient-rich food sources:

• Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards.
• Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish.
• Eggs, nuts, and other non-meat protein sources like chickpeas, lentils, and beans.
• Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices.
• Oysters and pork.

Vitamin C, Vitamin E and zinc supplements can assist with symptoms of age-related macular degeneration as they help slow, or prevent, symptoms from progressing. Unsure if you need supplements?

8. Summer = Drink Plenty of Water

It is easy for us to become dehydrated in the warmer months and this can affect our eyes. With severe dehydration, our body has a more difficult time producing tears which can lead to unpleasant dry eye symptoms that include:

• A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Contact lens discomfort
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye redness
• A sensation of having something in your eyes
• Difficulty with nighttime driving and glare
• Watery eyes (a common symptom)
• Blurred vision, fluctuating clarity or eye fatigue

Drinking plenty of water can prevent and counteract the negative effects of dehydration, and provide adequate moisture for normal eye function.

• Hydrate. Not all liquids are equal, ensure you have lots of water or drinks with salts and electrolytes.
• Limit Spirits. Alcohol can impair your body’s ability to cool itself, so it is best to limit consumption during hot and extreme temperatures.

9. Use Eye Drops

Even with following all of these tips to protect your eyes in summer, sometimes we need a bit of extra help. Eye drops usually are the first step in dry eye treatment. With plenty of brand options and many available over the counter, meaning you are able to purchase without a prescription, artificial tears are an accessible and easy way to treat dry eye symptoms.

Summer can be a particularly troublesome time if you have allergies, and you may benefit from eye drops. However, given there is a range of formulas, some of which may not be ideal for your lifestyle, we recommend discussing with your eye doctor if you have a chronic need for eye drops. There are a variety of treatments available. 

10. Healthy Sleep Schedule

Your eyes are counting on you to get a good night’s rest. We know getting enough sleep is important, but what does a lack of sleep really do to your eyes?

Sleep is restorative for all parts of the body and is vital for cognition and immune function. Getting enough sleep helps keep you alert, fight off infection, and provides your eyes essential moisture and rest needed for them to be able to perform at their best.

Lack of sleep can cause eye strain, burst blood vessels, and dry eyes. After spending so many hours using your eyes during the day, it’s important to give them sufficient recovery time at night. If you don’t get enough sleep, your eyes can feel strained, dry and itchy the following day. This encourages you to rub your eyes to stimulate the lacrimal gland, which increases the likelihood of exposure to irritants and diseases. The best way you can keep yourself alert, safe, and comfortable is to try for a full night of sleep every night.

11. Reduce Eye Irritants Like Chemicals

It is not just people who work in high-risk environments that are exposed to chemicals, we interact with them on a daily basis, including;

• Using hand or body soap bubbles that pop near your eyes
• Spray paint that blows back into your face.
• Splashing cleaning solutions.
• Bug spray while camping or being outdoors.
• Lawn fertilizer, or pesticides used for gardening.

A simple trick is to wear safety or protective eyewear whenever you are working with any kind of toxic chemical. Take care when working with chemicals to avoid them splashing on your skin, hands, and near your eyes.

Without protection, your eyes can get sunburned the same way skin can.

How Long Does UV Protection Last On Sunglasses?

It is important but uncommon knowledge, UV protection on sunglasses lasts around 2 years; however, the more frequently you wear your sunglasses, the quicker they will lose protection. If you have been using your favorite pair for a while, it is likely the UV protection has significantly faded, this leaves your eyes vulnerable. At this point, the industry tests are unable to check the UV levels and test how long they are safe to wear.

So how often should you replace your sunglasses? If you wear a pair of sunglasses frequently, you should replace them every two years. Taking care of your sunglasses can help extend their longevity. For example, if you often toss your sunglasses into your bag, they can get scratched. These scratches can damage the UV protection ability of the lenses. While a small scratch may not seem like much, even microscopic scratches can let damaging radiation reach your eyes. While it is not the only indicator, when the lens tint lightens, it is a sign that they are losing their UV protective layer and it is time to search for new UV protection sunglasses.

Do Regular Glasses Protect Your Eyes From UV Rays?

How do you tell if your sunglasses are actually protecting your eyes? Not all sunglasses are created equal. The stylish pair of vintage sunglasses you find in a thrift shop or the cheap pair purchased at a gas station may seem like a good buy at the time but do they have the proper UV protection?

When looking for a pair of sunglasses, there are those with ultraviolet protection embedded into the lenses, and those that have it only as a coating on the lenses. When shopping for sunglasses, keep an eye out for labels that indicate“100% protection against both UVA and UVB” or “100% protection against UV 400.”

“The most important advice is to put on your sunglasses whenever you are outside and put them on your kids, please. Sunglasses are to the eyes what sunscreen is to the skin. Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, they are an essential shield to protect your health.”

John A. Moran Eye Center ophthalmologist, Jeff Pettey, MD.

Can Eyes Recover From UV Damage?

Excessive UV exposure to the eyes can result in photokeratitis. This condition usually goes away on its own within a few days. In the short term, UV ray exposure and eye sunburn can cause uncomfortable symptoms like light sensitivity and ocular irritation. In the long term, serious conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and eyelid cancer may result.

Severely sunburned eyes are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays, like those emitted by the sun. This condition is known as photokeratitis.

Protecting your eyes from UV rays is the only way to avoid getting them sunburned. When to be extra careful:

• Near Water: UV rays reflect off the water 
• Outdoor Activities: Particularly when snowboarding or skiing. Snow is highly reflective. On a sunny day, clean fresh snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation. This means that you can be exposed to almost a double dose of UV.
• Dense City Dwelling: UV rays easily reflect off windows, cars, buildings and even concrete streets. Regardless if the sun is visible or not outside, ultraviolet rays are present and capable of damaging your eyes.
• Tanning Beds: Artificial UV light is also damaging to your eyes. Did you know tanning beds produce up to 100x the amount of ultraviolet rays that the sun does.

Eyelids are a particularly vulnerable area of the body.

How Long Does It Take for UV Light to Damage Eyes?

Photokeratitis, or eye sunburn, typically heals itself within one to two days. Most of us are familiar with the skin damage ultraviolet causes, but don’t realize the impact it can have on our eyes. The longer your exposure, the more short-term and long-term the impact can be. Long-term consequences can result in serious vision threatening eye conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. After exposure, symptoms appear within eight to 24 hours. Similar to burning your skin, you can experience a wide range of symptoms with an eye sunburn. 

Book an appointment with your Optometrist if you have any of the following symptoms for more than one or two days:

• Red eyes
• Extreme light sensitivity
• Gritty feeling in your eyes
• Temporary vision loss, or distorted vision
• Seeing halos
• Blurry or dim vision
• Night vision issues 

Why Is Skin Vulnerable to UV Light?

UV, or ultraviolet rays, easily penetrate our skin and eyes. Ultraviolet rays more easily penetrate the skin of people with lighter pigmentation. However, regardless of pigmentation, any exposure to UV can cause damage to your skin, eyes, and immune system.

Our first defense against the sun is the chemical in our skin called melanin. It absorbs the harmful ultraviolet rays, but it’s unable to absorb them all and people with lighter skin (or less melanin) are more impacted.

Not staring directly into the sun is not enough to protect your eyes. Ultraviolet rays can be intense in several different environments, and exposure can impact other parts of your body. This includes premature aging of the skin due to sun damage and can result in wrinkles, leathery skin, and liver spots.

How Does UV Radiation Affect Skin Cells?

It’s common knowledge that ultraviolet rays can cause damage to our skin, including cancer. Unprotected exposure, such as skin exposure without sunscreen, damages the DNA in our skin cells. This produces genetic mutations that can lead to skin cancer, along with causing premature aging, cataracts and even eyelid cancer.

There are long term serious conditions that can result from ultraviolet exposure. These include cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and various forms of eyelid and skin cancers.

It’s important to protect your eyes, and to take extra precautions when you’re in high altitudes where air is thin and UV rays are strong.

Overexposure to UV (5 Things To Do About It)

If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms during the first day or two, you can try some of these for relief. Remember that if symptoms last longer than a day or two, see your Optometrist.

1. Remove Contact Lenses. Keeping your eyes free from contact lenses can help provide relief. Immediately remove contact lenses to give your eyes an opportunity to heal.
2. Don’t Rub Your Eyes. We know it’s hard to resist, especially when your eyes are irritated. But rubbing can cause additional damage to your eyes and increase the irritation.
3. Rest Your Eyes. Resting in a dark room, with your eyes closed, and using a cool compress can provide relief.
4. Use UV Sunglasses. With sunburnt eyes, you may experience light sensitivity. This means it will be extra important to wear your sunglasses in order to reduce the strain from bright lights.
5. Avoid Makeup. Makeup and false eyelashes can cause additional irritation. Your eyes are more likely to water, causing further opportunities for makeup or irritants to get into your eyes.

Book an appointment with your Optometrist if you have are experiencing discomfort for more than one or two days.

Are Lenses Bad For Your Eyes?

Lenses are a great choice for those that need vision correction because they are very safe. That being said, wearing them for too long, not replacing them or not cleaning them properly can damage your eyes and lead to potential vision loss. 

Did you know? Since contacts sit directly on your eyes, it reduces the oxygen flow to your eyes. This may seem inconsequential but having oxygen flow is important in keeping your eyes healthy. There are a few ways to keep your eyes healthy while using lenses: 

• Use Frequency: Make sure to follow your eye doctor’s instructions and replace or discard your contacts as directed by your eye care professional. It is highly discouraged to continue using your lenses outside of these guidelines as it can lead to severe vision complications.

Type of Lenses: Lenses are made from a variety of materials. Modern contacts are made from silicone hydrogel, which is more porous and allows more oxygen to get to the cornea than traditional lenses. They are frequently more comfortable and are likely safer in the long term. Some people are allergic to silicone, luckily hydrogel lenses are available for these patients.

Are Contact Lenses Better Than Glasses?

The choice is personal and the best option for you is heavily tied in with your lifestyle. Other factors to take into consideration are ease of use, eye health, comfort, cost and convenience. Both contacts and glasses have great pros and cons that we have outlined to help make your choice easier.

Eyeglasses Pros

1. Reduced Touch Points. Even prior to COVID, reducing how much you touch your eyes was important. “There’s very few surfaces that are truly clean. You’re almost never going to culture something and not find some germs on it.” said Dr. Aaron Glatt, president and CEO of New Island Hospital in Bethpage, N.Y., and a spokesman for the Infectious Disease Society of America. Wearing glasses reduces the likelihood you will touch your eyes, which reduces the risk of irritating your eyes, causing damage and developing an infection.
2. Reduced Cost: Over the period of two to three years, glasses are typically cheaper than contacts. 
3. Style Forward. Gone are the days of glasses being considered nerdy. Frames are a great way to reflect your personality and style.
4. UV Protection: We place a ton of focus on protecting our skin from sun damage, but frequently forget to do the same for our eyes. Most glasses suppliers will provide you the ability to add a variable strength UV coating to the lenses of your glasses. This helps protect your eyes against damaging UV rays. It can also protect your eyes from the external environment (ex. wind, dust, particles, etc.) .
5. Sensitive Eyes. More people than you would believe have dry and sensitive eyes. Lenses can be difficult to use for any reasonable length of time if you suffer from dry eyes or are sensitive to things close to or on your eyes.  Also, for those of us not used to wearing lenses, glasses are often a more comfortable and easy option.

Dry eyes are a common condition in the United States. Most often, people who have dry eyes are middle-aged or older. An estimated 4.88 million Americans age 50 and older have dry eyes. Of these, over 3 million are women and 1.68 million are men.

Eyeglasses Cons

1. Vision Distortion: Since your glasses sit on the bridge of your nose and with an average distance of half an inch away from the eyes, this can distort your peripheral vision when you are not looking in the center portion of the lens. This effect is more noticeable with higher prescriptions. 
2. Facial Aesthetics: As eye doctors we feel strongly that there is the right pair of glasses for every person; however, some people may feel it hides their features, or doesn’t compliment their face. 
3. Damage: Ideally, you have your glasses for 2 or more years. Even people who are diligent in taking care of their glasses may still find they are inadvertently damaged or the contacts can get scratched. . 
4. Headaches: Many modern day frames are lightweight and shouldn’t cause issues; however, glasses can put pressure on the bridge of your nose and the sides of your head which can lead to headaches, pressure around your eyes and discomfort. An appropriate frame adjustment is always advised before you start wearing a new pair of glasses.
5. Fog Issues. We know this better now than ever with COVID, but foggy glasses are a pain. Fog easily gathers on our lenses, obscuring our vision and smudging the contacts.

Contact Lenses Pros

After wearing glasses for many years, people may find it difficult to switch to contacts. Here are a few benefits of contact lens use to help you see if they would be a right fit for your eyes.

1. Sports Friendly. Lenses don’t get in the way when playing sports and exercising. There are prescription goggles available, however they are often expensive and limited in their use outside of sports. 

2. Fog Friendly: Lenses don’t get fogged up in cold weather, or when wearing a mask. It is a huge inconvenience, during a pandemic, when wearing a mask and glasses is a guaranteed way to fog up.

3. Easy Replacement:  Your prescription changes over time. This pace can accelerate with age, with excessive screen time and other factors. Contact lenses are more flexible in that you are not committed to the same prescription for years. Once your supply of lenses runs out, replacing them with ones with an updated prescription ensures your eyes are seeing to its full potential. 

4. Less Distortion: Since contacts sit on your eye, it gives you a wider field of view. This provides less peripheral distortion compared to glasses.

5. Colour Experimentation: Lenses give you the ability to experiment with different colour lenses that can change your eye color. 

Contact Lenses Cons

1. Application Pains: Putting in contact lenses can be difficult. People may have trouble applying and removing a contact lens but proper technique and practice should rectify this in most cases.
2. More Effort: Glasses require very little upkeep, aside from trying to avoid damaging them and keeping them clean. Contact lenses on the other hand require a high level of cleanliness and care each day. If the hygienic demands of contact lenses are too much, it is best to use glasses, as otherwise you risk eye infections.
3. Expensive: Contact lenses can be costly, especially with dailies. Not only in their initial purchase, and frequency of repurchase, but the continued need for contact lens solutions and artificial tears.
4. Computer Vision Syndrome: Also known as digital eye strain. Contact lenses can likely contribute to computer vision syndrome symptoms. Learning how to manage our habits in front of a screen can help prolong our eye health for years to come. Take our quiz below.
5. Never Over Wear Your Lenses: Wearing contact lenses for too long can damage your eyes. Even daily contact lenses are not exempt from this. Our optometrists recommend letting your eyes rest by aiming to wear glasses for a minimum of one or two days each week or removing your contact lenses 2-4 hours before bed. 

Your eyes change over time, so you may not even realize that you need glasses. Common symptoms of needing glasses include headaches, eye aches, and squinting. The best way to know for sure if you need glasses is to find an optometrist nearby and schedule a comprehensive eye exam. 

If you are experiencing a sudden loss of vision or eye pain, it is important to have it looked into immediately. An eye doctor is the only person who will be able to confirm if you need glasses.

10 Signs You Need Glasses | Time to see an Optometrist for an Eye Exam

1. Blurred vision
2. Difficulty seeing at night
3. Trouble adjusting from dark to light
4. Frequent headaches
5. Difficulty with computer use
6. Eye Strain or fatigue
7. Seeing halos
8. Double Vision
9. Blurry vision such as nearsightedness or farsightedness 
10. A pressure or strain sensation around the eyes

Metrotown Optometrist – Best Rated Recommendations

Your vision changes as you age, and not every change in vision is abnormal. When you reach your 40’s, the natural internal lens in your eye becomes less flexible. This means they are unable to focus as easily from near to far and that you may need glasses. When this happens, your near vision gets worse and you may be wondering if you need reading glasses. Trouble seeing smaller print in low light, eyes hurting when trying to read or do other close work are a few signs that your near vision is changing.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, book an appointment to see an Optometrist nearby. Even if you are not having the above symptoms, it is recommended to see an eye doctor for regular eye exams to ensure you are seeing clearly and to keep up to date on your eye health.

How Often Should I See My Eye Doctor?

Infants: Receive a first eye exam between six and nine months.

Young children as young as two to five years old may need glasses: Be sure to get an eye exam between ages two and five.

Six to 19 years: One eye exam annually.

20 to 39 years: One eye exam every two to three years.

40 to 64 years: One eye exam every other year.

65+ years: One eye exam annually.

Do I Need to See An Optometrist If I’ve Received Corrective Eye Surgery?

Even though you have received corrective eye surgery and don’t need glasses, your optometrist should still continue to give you regular eye exams. The recommended eye exam schedule will ensure that you catch any potential eye problems early.

Real Eyes Optometry

At Real Eyes Optometry, our Burnaby eye doctors are dedicated to our patients by providing compassionate and courteous care with the highest levels of Optometric service, expertise and clinical knowledge. This year, we were nominated by Small Business BC for the Community Impact Award 2021. Check out our inspiration story explaining why we are focused on providing patient-centered care. Our doctors take the time to ensure every patient understands all aspects of the eye exam, how their eyes work, any treatment options they need, and recommended maintenance tips if they need glasses.

Our vision for our office is to create a welcoming environment while providing comprehensive eye care for you and your family. Whether that’s coming in for an eye examination, pre/post-op laser surgery appointments, orthokeratology follow-ups, or purchasing glasses & contact lenses, Real Eyes Optometry is here for you.

Our state-of-the-art machines are constantly updated so we can provide the comprehensive eye care you need while helping you understand the health and anatomy of your own eyes. That means you won’t have to take multiple trips to see different doctors and specialists.

We will help our patients find a great pair of glasses or contact lenses that suits each individual’s style and needs. Whether you need eyeglasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses, we are your one-stop shop for quality products and expert eye care. Come visit us at Metrotown Mall, located on the Office Galleria level.