Fat gets a bad rap, especially in the news as the risks of obesity continues to plague the mindset of the average American. We’re surrounded by news and medical research that tells us no fat is good fat! However, that’s not true. Omega 3 fatty acids offers your body the necessary fat it needs to improve your overall health and even your vision.

Now, we’re not saying go get your essential fat by eating a cheeseburger or downing a super-sized French fry basket. Let us be more clear: fatty acids are the “building blocks” of fat. It’s an important nutrient that’s critical for the normal production and functioning of cells, muscles, nerves, and organs. Fatty acids are also required for the production of hormone-like compounds that help regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and blood clotting.

So how does all of this effect your vision? A number of studies revealed that Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for normal infant vision development.

DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids are found in maternal breast milk and also are added to some supplemented infant formulas. Omega-3 supplemental formulas appear to stimulate vision development in infants.

Flaxseed oil and fish oil have been proven to prevent or control dry eyes. Flaxseed oil contains high levels of an omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Upon digestion, it is converted into two different omega-3 fatty acids: EPA & DHA. These fatty acids are used throughout the body to protect cell membranes. Flaxseed oil is a natural alternative to help alleviate the discomfort of dry eyes.

What causes dry eyes?

Dry eyes are often caused by an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye. It can also be caused by situations that dry out the tear film, including dry air from air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions. There are a few other possible alternatives as to why you are suffering from dry eyes, including menopause, side effects to a medication, and diseases that include rheumatoid arthritis.

Flaxseed Oil Benefits

According to a 2006 study,a 2006 study showed that flaxseed oil may be as effective as commonly used dry eye medication doxycycline for the treatment of dry eye. The study compared oral flaxseed oil capsules (3,000 mg daily or 3 capsules a day) with the antibiotic doxycycline (100 mg twice a day) for the treatment of dry eye in patients who had undergone LASIK eye surgery. Eighty-one patients (152 eyes) were treated with either 3,000 mg daily of flaxseed oil or 100 mg twice daily of doxycycline for seven days before and after LASIK surgery.

Study results indicated that flaxseed oil was as effective as doxycycline in preventing dry eye after LASIK eye surgery. An added benefit is that flaxseed oil has fewer side effects than doxycycline, making it a good alternative.

(Colin C. K. Chan, M.D., and Brian S. Boxer Wachler, M.D.: 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery).

Flaxseed oil can be taken in a variety of form but the most common and simplest is orally. For better absorption, take flaxseed oil with liquids, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

Have you been surfing the web on your smartphone?  Recent study shows 2 causes of increased eyestrain.

Chances are you or someone you know uses a smartphone.  And, if you’re like most you find yourself using these little technology gadgets to do a majority of your online reading.  However, a note worthy study was published in July’s “Optometry and Visual Science,” stating that the visual demands created by viewing websites on your phone and found two surprising conditions that set the stage for eye strain.

The study first found that the average font size of a website viewed on a smartphone was about 30% smaller than newspaper print, but could also range as small as 70% compared to your local newspaper.

The second finding was that patients held their smartphones much closer than the recommended reading distance of 16 inches.  They found the average reading distance on a smartphone was about 12 inches, and with many patients viewing them as close as 8 inches away from their eyes.

Regrettably, both of these conditions cause a much higher focusing demand on the visual system and commonly can cause headaches, blurry or fluctuating vision, and significant eyestrain.

Although smartphones apparently are causing harm to our eyes, this doesn’t mean you have to throw away your iPhone or Android.  Instead, here are some tips for reducing these eyestrain conditions:

• Use the pinch-zoom function to magnify the text
• Try to magnify it enough, at a comfortable reading distance, to be able to hold it at least 16 inches away from your eyes
• Try to save heavy web surfing for a larger screen, such as a tablet or home-computer
• Always be sure to give your eyes a break no matter what size screen you use

Adapting your eyes to technology doesn’t have to be difficult if you are just aware of how much time to spend in front of the screen and away from the screen.  The physicians here a Valuvision care about your eyes and certainly hope these tips help you adapt more easily.

When your eye twitches, it feels like a sudden jerk that might seem a little disturbing. However, it’s actually a very common problem. Often, the twitching that you feel in your eye or eye lid is called “eyelid myokymia.” Myokymia is a local irritation of the nerve that controls some of the muscles around the eyelid. It typically involves rapid twitching of the eyelid which is not visible to the individual or to other observers. Although it may occur on multiple occasion throughout the day, this event is often brief and only lasts up to several days.

Some of the causes of myokymia include:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Lack of Sleep
• Excessive Caffeine
• Excessive Alcohol Use
• Recent Illness

Although it’s a minor annoyance rather than a serious condition, there are some red flags in regards to myokymia. If you’re experiencing, pronounced flinching/twitching, numbness/tingling on one side of the face, or twitching on one side of the face, then you need to seek medical attention. These additional symptoms signal nervous issues that may be potentially serious.

For more information about myokymia or other eye conditions, contact the professional staff at Valuvision.

It is one question you should always be expected to answer when you visit an eye care professional for the first time, “Do you have any history of head trauma?”

Ever wonder why? Well, the fragile condition of the eyes makes trauma related with any amount of shock to the head. The incident in question could be as simple as a slip and fall or being involved in a serious car collision.

In terms of the visual effect of a head injury, there are numerous parts of the eye that could be effected by what you thought was a simple bump on the head.

Read more »

Wearing contact lenses can allow a person freedom from wearing lasses every day or just during social or sports events. However, contact lenses are by no means a replacement for glasses completely. A back up pair of glasses is always necessary for those times when the contact lenses are removed. Up-to-date eyeglasses should be kept alsoin the event that a person’s eyes are bothered by seasonal allergies, a cold, or other irritant. Contact lenses can be safely worn by most people whose eyes are healthy enough for contact lens wear, which can only be determined by your doctor. Contact lenses should never be purchased in beauty supply stores, salons, or flea markets. A contact lens is a medical device, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and always requires an eye health evaluation in order to be safely worn. Read more »

Do you wish you could wear contacts without the hassle of taking them out every time you go to sleep?

If you answered yes, you might just be a right fit for Jacksonville’s Valuvision’s AIR OPTIX Night and Day brand contacts. AIR OPTIX provides an FDA-approved contact lens to allow you to leave your contacts in for 30 days, night and day. AIR OPTIX provides a variety of benefits for anyone with an active lifestyle. Read more »

Order Contact Lenses Online
When soft contact lenses do not correct a patient’s vision to an acceptable point and they have a moderate degree of astigmatism, rigid gas permeable(or RGP) lenses are a much better option. First and foremost, any patient suspected of having keratoconus, and not simply astigmatism, should have a mapping of the corneal surface done, which is a corneal topography. This locates all of the irregular areas on the front of the eye which would prevent a contact lens from fitting well. Knowing where these areas are is crucial for the doctor to design a contact lens to properly fit the patient’s eyes. Read more »

One of the most common complaints we hear as optometrists is a history of flashes and floaters.  Floaters, or as some people describe them as spots, are small, semi-transparent particles that float within the vitreous.  The vitreous is the jelly-like fluid that fills your eyes.  Floaters are usually harmless and are seen by many of us at one time or another. If you see a floater consistently, it is always a good idea to schedule an eye exam with you optometrist.

Visual floaters are usually more visible when you look at plain, lighted backgrounds and move as your eye moves. Read more »

Ordering contact lenses online in Daytona has never been easier! Valuvision has been delivering quality eyecare for almost 40 years. Now that same quality service is available in Daytona Beach and nationwide. As more and more consumers are utilizing the convenience of e-commerce, Valuvision’s online contact lens ordering service is the perfect choice for your family’s eye care convenience.

So what are the benefits of ordering contact lenses online? The biggest is convenience. Read more »