Have you ever heard the expression about looking a gift horse in the mouth? That expression originated because some health issues first revealed through symptoms in the teeth. When you go in for an eye exam in Jacksonville, Florida, your eye doctor may actually be the first line of defense against many chronic conditions. Like conditions that manifest first in the teeth, some of the worst possible health issues present symptoms that a qualified eye doctor in Jacksonville, Florida will be likely to notice during a routine exam.

More than Clear Vision

Having clear vision means much more than being able to read street signs from a long way away. In fact, for children, it is particularly important.

Children sometimes have a difficult time of it determining for themselves whether or not they have good vision. They may not be able to see the board that their teachers are writing on, they may have trouble reading or they may develop eyestrain when working on computers and all of these problems can emanate from poor vision. Read more »

If you wear glasses, you’re probably all too familiar with the experience of having them fog up, get stained with grease and become dirty with other contaminants. When you clean off your eyeglasses, you want to make certain that you’re not shortening their lifespan by scratching at the lenses and causing damage to the frames. Here are some ways that you can clean up your lenses when you are out and about and do minimal damage to the lenses and to the glasses frames themselves.

Water

It’s always best to clean off your glasses with water whenever you can. Water removes dust and, if there is dust on the lenses when you start rubbing them, you’re going to grind that dust into the plastic, causing scratches.

Assuming that you’re away from home and you don’t have your cleaning kit, you can use dish soap to clean off your lenses. Dish soap is a degreaser, which will remove deposits from your skin and sweat.

Put a small amount of dish soap on your fingers and put the glasses under warm running water. Rub in a gentle circular motion with the soap to remove grease. As you clean off the lenses, you’ll notice that the water adheres to them less and less. Once the water more or less runs off of the surface on its own, the lenses are clean. Read more »

Let’s begin this look at eye injuries with a bit of sage advice, and that is to consider every single eye injury as if it were an emergency. Contact an eye doctor immediately afterward and get the issue examined and treated. That is the bottom line on the question of “when to see a doctor”. However, there is also the issue of what to do before you even get to the doctor. Read more »

Unlike so many other systems in the body, our vision is not something that gets stronger when we challenge it. In fact, the opposite is true – if we over challenge our eyes it will actually weaken them.

Thus, one of the first things that can be said about strengthening the eyesight is to find ways of giving the eyes a bit of a vacation. For example, if you are one of the millions of people who have to work on a computer or with print all day, take a ten minute break every 50 minutes or so. Close the eyes and count backward from one hundred, look to the right and left, and generally avoid staring at the screen (including that mobile device – yes, put it away!) for at least ten minutes. Read more »

Eye care is important for people of all ages. When you need high quality, competent eye care in Middleburg, Florida, Valuvision located at 1545 Branan Field Rd., Suite 5 is the place to turn to.

Each Valuvision location has an optometrist located in-house who is dedicated to bringing you the best possible service when you visit their office. Each location offers a variety of services, ranging from eye wear to doctor examinations, and we even have online specials for the value-conscious consumer.

Valuvision has been serving Northeast Florida’s eye care needs for over 40 years, and they base their practice on customer service and sound medical science practices. We specialize in treating every patient with the same goal of satisfaction and healthy vision in mind for each one.
We know there are a variety of eye care options to choose from to meet your eye care needs. Valuvision has been a locally owned business since we first opened in 1973, so the people we treat are our friends and family, not just our clients. Open 7 days a week, Valuvision offers the convenience of being open when you need them.  We even own our own labs, making your glasses on site instead of farming the job out to a contractor.

This also lets Valuvision pass even greater savings to their customers, which allows them to be very competitive with other practices, while never losing quality of their products or care. Since we make our glasses in house, we know exactly how they are produced, and stand behind each pair we make for our customers.

You can also find just the right pair for your needs, as they carry well-known brands and styles guaranteed to help you look as good as you feel. We also accept most insurance plans, such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare, Medicaid, and others.

Come in Today

Visit Valuvision today and see how we can provide you with the top quality eye care you deserve at a value that can’t be beat. Our competent and knowledgeable staff is on hand 7 days a week to serve you.  Come in and see how we can meet your needs and the needs of your family with affordable, top-notch vision care.

Often, when we get mysterious itches and swelling of the eye, it can be difficult to tell exactly what is causing it. Some eye abnormalities and conditions don’t start out with painful or noticeable symptoms, and once signs do start to appear, it can be hard to tell exactly what it is.

Seeking the opinion of a doctor can help identify what the trouble is and recommend a treatment to help heal the eye and let the patient resume a normal life more quickly. This can help cut down on time wasted trying treatments and medications that may not have any effect.

Characteristics of Pink Eye

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye”, is most often caused by an allergy or infection and is known for causing the white area of your eye to turn red or pink. There is often a discharge of a mucus or pus like substance as well, however, little pain or change in vision is experienced in mild cases. A doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotic eye drops after making a diagnosis of conjunctivitis. “Pink eye” can be spread, as it is an infection, so care must be taken when touching the hands of the infected or handling any towels or wash cloths used when wiping eyes. If the patient or caregiver doesn’t use proper caution, they can spread the infection to themselves and others.

Characteristics of Styes

Chalazia, or a “stye”, is an inflammation or clogging of skin glands on the eyelid that features a tender spot, swelling, and redness in one place on the lid. Sometimes the inflammation can spread to other parts of the lid, resembling cellulitis, but the center of the irritation and tenderness will remain in the eyelid. Warm compresses will usually aid in relieving a stye, and no other treatment will be required. However, if there are any questions or concerns, a doctor will happily examine your eye, determine if it is indeed a stye and decide what the best course of treatment is for your symptoms.

See your Doctor

Conditions like pink eye can develop quickly, often leaving patients wondering what it is, or why it isn’t responding to treatment. By making an appointment with your eye doctor, you can find out exactly what is bothering your eye and get the right treatments to return your eye to perfect health.

Many people believe Glaucoma is a problem of the elderly but the truth is that Glaucoma can affect anyone. Glaucoma can have devastating effects to the vision of the patient if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

The eye is composed of two compartments, with the larger of the two filled with a gel-like substance known as the vitreous humor. This helps the eye maintain its shape and size (roughly that of a ping pong ball) and transmits light to the back wall of the eye. The smaller “front” compartment is likewise filled with a liquid called the aqueous humor. This liquid carries nutrients to the eye and ferries waste away from it.

The aqueous humor flows from behind the iris and through the pupil of the eye filling the front chamber and then back out again through a drainage hole covered in a mesh like material and into a canal. About 90 to 95 percent of people who have glaucoma are experiencing a problem with this drainage system, but as there is no visual blockage or problem, no one knows what causes glaucoma. It could be that the fine mesh covering the drainage area loses the ability to allow proper drainage of this fluid.

Glaucoma generally develops slowly, over time. However, a rare, more acute form of the problem can develop suddenly if the iris closes the drainage canal. This is painful and will require treatment immediately.

A doctor can examine your eye and determine the treatment most suitable to your condition using a specialized instrument called a tonometer, which measures pressure inside the eyeball. Some tonometers will blow a puff of air to determine eye pressure, but others will have to touch the eye to make the same diagnosis.

In order to prevent vision loss from glaucoma, an early diagnosis and treatment is a must. Vision can be preserved if it is caught and treated before too many nerves have been destroyed by the increased pressure in the eye. Usually, treatment will be in the form of eye drops that can reduce the pressure in the eye, though it may be necessary to have surgery to open or repair the drainage canal in the eye.

Although the causes of glaucoma are not completely understood, if it is caught and treated early enough, vision can be protected in many cases.

As we become older, we can develop age related eye problems that can diminish our sight and create a diminished quality of life. Though there are some eye problems that can affect anyone, no matter their age, some of them become more common as we age.

In order to get the best treatment from your doctor and to restore your vision, it is important to be able to understand the signs and symptoms of the vision problem you are experiencing. This could help with your examination and ensure  you receive the right treatment for the right ailment.

Common Ailments

One of the most common problems that comes with age is the loss of the ability to see objects that are close to you, like small print when reading. Normally, this condition, called presbyopia, happens over the course of our lifetime and is often unnoticed until around age 40. This condition is generally remedied by contacts or reading glasses.

Retinal disorders, such as macular degeneration, occlusions, and detachment are also a pretty common malady among older people. The retina, which is a lining of special cells on the back wall of the eye where images are collected, can be greatly affected by these disorders, causing loss of vision. Early treatment by your doctor may be important to protect your vision, and frequent eye exams can help catch these problems before they have the opportunity to develop into a major problem.

Problems with the eyelids can also become common as we age. Not only do the eyelids protect the eyes, but they also help with the distribution of tears and block out light when we blink and sleep. Common problems with the eyelid can include itching or tearing, spasms, and inflammations. Many eyelid problems can be treated with medications, but for others, your doctor may recommend surgery as the best option.

Quality Eye Care

To best meet your needs and help with any possible vision problem you may develop as you grow older, remember to make and keep regular appointments with your eye doctor. Your doctor can help with the early diagnosis and treatment of any problem that could be growing without your knowledge, and help you with the right medications and eye wear.

Protecting your vision is always important, but it is even more so as we begin to age. A trained eye doctor can provide you with the high quality care you need to see clearly throughout your life.

Eyeglasses have been around for a very long time and throughout that time, they have evolved very little, or so it would seem. The truth is actually quite the opposite, there have been many changes to eyeglasses and the technology behind them.  This is particularly true in the last few years. What new innovations in eyeglasses should you know about?

Going Green

Going green is very important to many consumers today. Now, there’s a way to go green even with your eyeglasses. There are types of glasses available that are made with 95% recycled material, which helps to alleviate the load placed on our landfills, as well as reducing emissions from new plastics manufacture.

Unique Styles

Once upon a time, eyeglasses were pretty utilitarian. Today, that’s not the case at all. You’ll find styles to fit any personality or activity, from sportswear to those that have lacework edging around the lenses. Adding your own sense of style or fun is simple and easy today.

Temple Designs

Most eyeglasses have plain temples – they’re just there to help hold your glasses on your head. However, modern options offer a variety of styles, designs and details. If you want a bit of bling, there are options with rhinestones and crystals. If you want something a bit more pop culture, you’ll find printed designs like skulls and flowers as well.

Colors

Eyeglasses were once pretty dull when it came to colors. Browns, blues, beiges, and blacks were the extent of your options. Not so today – you’ll find every color imaginable, and many more you thought unimaginable in eyeglasses. Translucent, transparent, lattice styles and many other options await you with some of today’s eyeglass designers.

Always Try Them On

A new pair of frames are worthless unless they fit your face and compliment your features. It doesn’t matter how good your new frames help you see if they are constantly falling off your face or even worse if they just flat out look terrible on you. Don’t commit online and deal with shipping and returns, stop in one of our locations and try on multiple selections to find your right pair.

If you want to explore all the new innovations in modern eyeglasses, contact Valuvision today for a free consultation with an optometrist and to learn more about your options in glasses and prescription sunglasses.

Contact lenses were once difficult to wear and short-lived, but today this is no longer true.  Modern technology offers a broad range of innovations in contact lenses that you should be aware of if you use, or have ever used contact lenses.

Contact lenses have evolved considerably from what they once were. In fact, after an eye exam with a Jacksonville optometrist, you might be rather surprised at the new innovations with contacts you can enjoy today. Here’s a look at some of the recent changes that have been made.

One-Day Disposables – Many contact wearers suffer from blurred vision at the end of the day. Many people chalk that up to nothing more than the price they pay for wearing contacts, but it might actually be moisture loss. That changes the way your contacts fit and function. New technology offers a daily disposable contact that doesn’t lose moisture and won’t cause blurred vision.

One-Day Multifocal Lenses – Once, contact lenses weren’t possible for those with different prescriptions (those who would wear bifocals, for instance). Today, that is no longer true because you can find one-day wear multifocal lenses. These offer the best ability to see near, far and middle distances.

Better Comfort – Not all the innovations here are concerned with the contacts themselves. There have also been advances made in the technology of contact cleaning solutions. A new single-step hydrogen peroxide cleaner removes protein deposits, dirt and even lubricates your lenses better than any other option available in the past.

Moist Toric Contacts for Astigmatism – Those who have astigmatism have had to wear expensive toric lenses until now. Today, that’s changed; you will find one-day moist disposable toric lenses available for those with astigmatism.

Crisper Optics – One new innovation out there for those with astigmatism is the debut of “HD” lenses, or high definition optics. These are designed to provide you with clearer, crisper vision through a specially made toric lens.

To find out more about your options in contact lenses, make an appointment with Valuvision. You will find that our optometrists can conduct professional eye exams and then recommend the ideal contact lenses for you. Contacts are no longer hard, dry and uncomfortable – new innovations offer better comfort and eye health for anyone who wears them.