NEW! Move Over Bette Davis; Girls Today Want Lady Gaga Eyes
Lady Gaga has girls and young women going, well, gaga with their vision. In her “Bad Romance” video, she flashes huge anime-style eyes in the bathtub scene. Although Gaga’s gigantic peepers were computer generated, girls and young women nationwide have been copying the look with special circle contact lenses imported from Asia (but illegal in the United States). Read more...
NEW! Blockbuster 3-D Movie Isn't a Hit With Some Viewers; Those With Undiagnosed Vision Problems Leave Theater Sick
From Avatar to Alice in Wonderland, 3-D films are taking moviegoers by storm, but the 3-D excitement has turned into an alarming wakeup call for some viewers.
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NEW! Allergy Season and Your Family's Vision
Spring means sunshine, flowers, outdoor play dates and, for many adults and children, itchy, red eyes. Doctors throughout the state report increases in the number of allergy patients seeking relief this year. They cite higher pollen levels from heavy rainfall, pollution and global warming as factors in the misery felt this year by millions of Californians. But how does a parent know if symptoms point to a seasonal allergy or when the symptoms indicate a more serious condition? Read more...
NEW! Children's Vision Myths Debunked!
Most parents are in the dark when it comes to the health of their children’s vision. Since misperceptions about vision are widespread, The California Optometric Association is on a mission during Save Your Vision Month this March to debunk popular vision myths. Some of California’s top optometrists address the issues.
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NEW! California Students' Vision Problems Go Unseen as Budget Cuts Affect Classroom Size and School Nurses
The six million dollars in education reductions that are part of California’s budget cuts will impact the ability of our state’s students to learn in many ways, especially for those with undetected vision problems. With increased class sizes and fewer school nurses, the vision conditions of many students will go undetected, interfering with their ability to succeed in school and potentially causing them to be identified as problem learners. Read more...
Do You Suffer From Computer Vision Syndrome?
Do you use computers daily at work or at home? If so, you may be suffering from computer vision syndrome and not even know it. Read more...
NEW! Combat Computer Vision Syndrome With These Simple Tips
Spend all day staring at a computer or reading off of a smart phone? You’re not alone. According to the California Optometric Association, more than 143 million Americans work on a computer all day. Add to that the constant staring at the tiny screen of a smart phone and it’s no wonder that at least 70 percent of us are estimated to suffer from something called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Read more...
Back-to-School Articles
Though Kentucky, Missouri, and now Illinois mandate eye exams for children entering kindergarten, nearly 90% of school-aged children in California are not receiving comprehensive eye exams that are crucial in detecting vision problems, many of which have no symptoms. Read more...
Correcting vision in children as young as preschoolers helps academic performance, according to a new study from University of California, San Diego. Read more...
The California Optometric Association warns all California parents to be wary of the following vision which can significantly impact their child’s academic performance... Read more...
Drug Store Eyeglasses Can Be Detrimental to Your Vision
Should you make an appointment with an optometrist for a complete vision exam or just pick up a pair of those inexpensive reading glasses sold at drug stores? Read more...
The Hidden Danger of Diabetes
When Rosa Aguilera woke up one morning and could hardly see out of her right eye, she thought she just needed eye drops. After the drops failed to improve her vision, she went to an optometrist where her eye exam revealed that the fragile blood vessels in her eye had leaked and filled the inside of her eye with blood, a manifestation called diabetic retinopathy. To her surprise, Aguilera found that she, like more than 21 million other Americans and one in four Hispanics, had diabetes. Read more...
Dannielynn Burkhead's Eye Condition a Warning to Parents
Dannielynn Birkhead, the one-year-old daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, was diagnosed with an eye condition called strabismus which causes one or both of the eyes to turn in, out, up, or down, usually due to poor muscle control. It is estimated that up to 5% of children have this condition which, if detected and treated early, can usually be corrected with excellent results. Read more...
Options for Patients Hesitant About Surgery
In a March 13, 2008 column for the New York Times, Abby Ellin described her disappointing experience with Lasik surgery. Read more...
Protect Eyes from Hazards of Sports
What do David Beckham, Michael Jordan, and Lance Armstrong all have in common besides being superstar athletes? They all keep their eyes from harm with protective eyewear. Read more...
Holiday Eye Safety
Each year thousands of children sustain ocular injuries due to toys. Read more...
Is the Perfect Halloween Costume Worth Risking Your Vision?
Costume contact lenses may be a perfect touch to your Halloween costume but the California Optometric Association (COA) warns that by using them without first visiting an optometrist, you are risking permanent eye damage. Read more...