Optometrists focus on giving

Charitable group provides eye care where needed
Destiny Dubois, Samuel Sauceda and Skylar Tufts jostled a bit for the right to take five tests.

It's not normal behavior for second-and third-graders, rushing to an unsure academic fate, but these weren't regular exams, either.
The youngsters were first in line this week at downtown San Diego's Monarch School to receive free eye care from a group of volunteers who help at health fairs and other events.

That didn't matter to Destiny, 8.

“We're doing math right now,” she said. “I don't want to go back to class.”

Then a scary realization sank in.

“Does he have to wear glasses?” Samuel asked as Skylar, the first patient, read from the eye chart. “Do I have to wear glasses?”

No, as it turned out. The optometrists, from the San Diego Optometric Society and the Veterans Affairs Hospital in La Jolla, found few problems among the 100 children and teens they examined – three of the first 30 were referred for more care. Free eyeglasses will be provided, if necessary.

Byron Newman, a semiretired optometrist from San Carlos who helped arrange the exams, tested the children's ability to follow a moving object, the final test. If it is limited, he said, their reading skills could be affected.

“That keeps them from being able to study or perform in school,” Newman said.

Evan Square, a shaggy-haired 11-year-old, told Newman that he has frequent headaches. Reading also bothers him. He was unsure how he would respond if he needed a fix for his vision.

“I'd be like, shocked,” the sixth-grader said. “It would be kind of, news, that I have to wear glasses.”

Marcus Coney, 12, recently lost his second pair of glasses. He didn't think he would be eligible for the exams.

“I already had glasses,” Marcus said. “I guess I get to do it because I got to get new ones.”

The Monarch School, which is marking its 20th anniversary, provides services for homeless and at-risk students. In addition to the vision clinic this week, nurses and dental professionals also are available for the children.

They aren't the only ones who can receive free eye care, said Sean South, of the California Optometric Association.

A charitable arm of the group offers about $3 million in care and in-kind services to disadvantaged families annually. Another program provides glasses to 1,300 military dependents.

There are many openings for aid in San Diego, an area that South said has not taken advantage of the opportunities.

“We have more doctors than we have patients,” he said.

Wear your shades to protect your eyes

CIVIC leader Colin Burgess and his family are promoting eye health this summer by looking cool.

The Congleton Borough Mayor and his five grandchildren are donning their sunglasses as part of Shades Day.

The event is organised by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and Cllr Burgess, from Alsager, is encouraging people to take part.

Research has shown spending five or more hours outside every day in the summer in your teens and early adult years increases risk of long-term eye damage.

Children and adults are urged to put on sunglasses, a sun visor or hat to protect them from harmful UV sunlight.

This will help reduce your risk from such eye conditions as Age-related Macular Degeneration and cataracts.

“I value the health of my grandchildren, and it is extremely important to wear sunglasses,” said Cllr Burgess.

“Shades Day is a fantastic way to raise money for Guide Dogs and to highlight the importance of wearing sunglasses.”

Tom Pey from Guide Dogs said educating people in how to protect their sight was important.

“One simple way to keep eyes healthy is to wear your sunglasses,” he said.

“If you are outside and the light is so bright you have to squint or turn your head away you know you have to put on your shades.

“Experts recommend wraparound-style sunglasses marked with Type 2 or 3 and with a CE symbol.

“To cut out the most damaging blue light it’s best to choose shades with yellowish or amber lenses.”

Picking The Wrong Pair Of Sunglasses Can Do More Harm Than Good

The summer sun can make for a lot of fun, but meteorologists and eye doctors agree - choosing the wrong pair of sunglasses can be hazardous to your health.

The sun can represent warmth, light and a chance for a tan, but it's no secret the bright star also poses potential dangers.

"Ultra-violet rays, people usually associate with getting a sunburn and skin cancer, but they can also damage your eyes, damage your cornea so that's the primary threat,"

That's where sunglasses come in. But if you pick the wrong pair, they can do more harm than good.


"Your pupils dilate to let in more light, and it's the same thing when you wear sunglasses. Your pupils dilate, they get bigger to let in more light, and if you don't have UV protection, ultra-violet protection on your sunglasses, you'll actually let more dangerous light into your eyes," Hall said.

Optometrists say smaller-sized sunglasses are not as protective against the sun’s rays because beams can still leak in through the top and bottom.

David Huntzberry, the owner and an optician at Longmeadow Eyecare said, "It can be uncomfortable as well as a little bit dangerous because you are allowing light in from the sides. It's not so much direct light but indirect light."

Huntzberry says polarized sunglasses are also easier on the eyes.

He added, "Glare being bright, unwanted, harsh, brilliant, reflective light. With that filter in the lens, it filters out reflective light and just allows more direct light in."

Meteorologist Ian Hall says UVA rays are commonly associated with wrinkles and aging, while UVB rays are known to cause sunburn and skin cancer.

Sunglasses warning from opticians

Opticians have warned that some fashion sunglasses provide no protection against the harmful effects of the sunlight.

The number of people suffering from sun-related damage to their eyes is increasing, according to the Association of Optometrists (AOI).

The AOI has stressed that the sun can cause irreversible, long-term damage to the eye and the highest risk groups, children and the elderly, wear little or no protective eyewear in the sun.

It also says many fashion sunglasses with fashion tints offer no protection against sunlight, and proper sunglasses delay ageing of the eyes by 20% and decrease the risk of getting cataracts by 40%.

The AOI is warning people about the importance of protecting their eyes in the sun.

"Following evidence of increasing numbers of people presenting with sun-related damage to their eyes, the AOI advises that wearing proper sunglasses helps to prevent such damage and to protect the eyes."

Optometrist Lynda McGivney Nolan said the human eye is as sensitive to the sun as skin is, yet, when Irish people are out in the sun, many neglect to pay attention to the quality of sunglasses they are wearing.

"Just as the sun causes serious damage to the skin, so can the harmful rays from sunlight cause irreversible, long-term damage to the eye, including skin cancer on the lids, corneal burns, damage to the eye tissue, cataracts and macular degeneration."

The AOI recommends that good sunglasses offering the maximum protection should:

*Eliminate UV, A,B and C radiation, and all radiation up to 400nm.

*Protect the eye from blue light which does the most damage to the back of the eye.

*Allow normal colour perception and optimise clarity of vision.

*Have wide-sided or wraparound styling to protect the eye from sunlight from the side.

*Use the correct degree of protection appropriate to the light conditions and the activity being performed.

The AOI says many fashion sunglasses with fashion tints such as blue or pink offer poor vision quality and no protection against sunlight.

Ms McGivney Nolan said your local optometrist (optician) is best placed to advise you on the best type of protective sunglasses for your needs.