Most people will at some point in their lives experience vision problems. Age is probably the biggest precipitating factor in common eye problems. Most of the common problems that are associated with vision are actually refractive errors. Refractive errors can take the form of any of several ailments, including farsightedness, nearsightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism. These errors occur as a result of an irregular eye-shape that makes it difficult for images to focus properly on the surface of the retina. There are several ways through which this can happen. The eyeball can be longer or shorter than normal; the lens can become stiff or clouded with age, the shape of the cornea might be irregular and so on. You might be surprised to learn that most people have one or several of these conditions already. That’s why eye problems are so common. Read more »

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 »

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 »

Protecting your vision is very important, but it does require proactive steps. If you have any of these signs, it’s time for an eye exam with an optometrist in Jacksonville.

Eye health is one of the most important things to keep a priority, but it is also one of the most overlooked. Some people feel if they are not experiencing anything out of the ordinary, they don’t need to have an eye exam. However, that is not the case. Your eye health can be damaged without you even knowing it. If you begin to notice any of these eight signs, you need to schedule an eye exam as soon as possible with one of our Valuvison locations in Jacksonville.

1. Eye Discomfort – One sign that you have something wrong with your eyes are persistent red, dry or itchy eyes. While these can be caused by things like allergies or the presence of dust or smoke, they can also be signs of a deeper problem. “Floaters” or persistent spots in your vision are also signs that it’s time to make an appointment with an optometrist.

2. Diabetes and Other Health Conditions – Diabetes affects your health in a myriad of ways. One of those is damage to your vision. Other health conditions that can cause degenerating eye health include glaucoma. Even if you don’t have a family history of these conditions, make an appointment with an optometrist in Jacksonville.

3. When Was your Last One? – If you can’t remember the last time you had your vision checked, or you do and it’s been a couple of years, it’s time to schedule an appointment.

4. Headaches and Blurred Vision – Headaches can be symptoms of vision problems. Blurred vision is certainly a sign that something is wrong. If you experience either of these symptoms, it’s time to have your eyes checked.

5. Nighttime Driving – If you find that driving at night has become difficult, you may have vision problems that need to be treated.

6. Motion Sickness – While many people are prone to motion sickness, it can also be a sign of vision issues. In addition, dizziness and difficulty following a moving object are all signs it’s time to have your eyes checked.

7. Problems Reading – If you have to hold a book, magazine, or newspaper far away from your face; or find yourself squinting to read, it’s probably past time to have an eye exam.

8. Noticeable Changes – If you have any noticeable changes to your vision, it’s important to have your eyes examined by an optometrist in Jacksonville, particularly if you have recently suffered head trauma.

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact Valuvision for an eye exam.

Never before in the past have older individuals approaching the middle ages of their life had to rely on their visual acuity as much as now. Part of the aging process that diminishes eyesight, often times makes it very challenging to focus on any object (especially small) that is less than two feet away. As a result, most people turn to reading glasses in an attempt to make the image crisper and more recognizable. As electronic equipment continues to evolve, a vision test application has been developed to keep an individual’s vision much sharper for many years longer, well beyond the typical age when glasses are usually required.

The applications that have been developed and used on an iPhone help train the brain to automatically translate blurry text and images into significantly clearer ones. The process works by displaying a group of blurry lines (referred to as Gabor patches) onto the screen at several points. The individual then must identify when a single “patch” appears at the center of the screen. Clinical studies have shown that individuals averaging at least 51 years old develop the ability to read text at least two lines lower on a testing eye chart, after only 40 times of using the eye enhancing application.

As an effective way to counteract the “read-limiting” effects of presbyopia, an iPhone application named GlassesOff was developed. Presbyopia is an eye condition that limits the eye’s abilities to focus on near text and objects. Older individuals are finding that they no longer need to hold books, menus and magazines out at the end of their arm’s length just to read the text.

As an effective technique, this brain training application had been continually researched and tested for almost two decades. Using the app for only 15 minutes, at least three times each week, for 90 days has resulted in very positive clinical results. The reading speed of an individual between the ages of 42 and 51 years have shown to be reduced by four seconds per each sentence read, saving tremendous amounts of time for the average aging reader.

The application works very well because it uses iPhone’s high-quality retina display. The results are so impressive that it helps reduce response time to a variety of visual events including sports, detailed work and driving. By developing the brain’s image processing, the application can help nearly anyone suffering from vision deficiencies, and those that experience severe headaches while reading.

Saving money is beneficial when purchasing new contact lenses. As a result, consumers may decide to search for the latest deals online from discount companies. However, this does not guarantee that the lenses are the right fit and quality.

Purchasing contact lenses from your local eye doctor in Jacksonville, Florida,  is the best option to guarantee the quality and accuracy of the contact lenses. The following are a few reasons why contact lenses should be purchased through your optometrist.

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Delicious and chalk-full of health benefits for the eyes, you’d be surprised at how your favorite fruits and vegetables can improve your eye health. Many people do not realize that what is consumed can have an effect on the health of the eyes. There are certain foods that when eaten can actually improve the health of the eyes over time. Foods that are filled with lutein, vitamins A, B, C, and E, are especially known to be incredibly beneficial.

The following foods are considered to be some of the best natural methods in maintaining and improving the health of the eyes.

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Eyes give us the ability to perceive the world around us. They are intricate and complex. Keep your eyes healthy and working properly with these tips and know what to avoid.

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A new iPhone app on the market allows you to perform eye exams right on your phone at your own convenience. Developed by a team of optometrists, the app allows phone users all over the world to perform a basic eye exam that is separate from the necessary eye exams performed in a medical office.

The phone app, EyeXam Pro includes tests for color perception, astigmatism, eye dominance, and links to find an eye doctor and to obtain more information about eyes. It puts the power of eye care knowledge in the hands of the user.

Other features of the eye care app includes:

• Updates in Special Products and offers.
• New information for Contact Lenses and free trial offer
• New Eye Glasses and Sunglasses screens
• New information for Ocular Vitamins

To learn more about the EyeXam Pro app, visit the Apple Store website.