It is a very personal choice. While both contact lenses and glasses each have benefits, here are a few reasons you might want to choose glasses instead of contacts to correct your vision.

Glasses are easy

Compared to the work required with contact lenses, maintaining glasses is easy. You’ll never have to remember when you opened your newest set of disposable lenses or worry about falling asleep in your contacts. Additionally, glasses won’t put you at a greater risk for an eye infection, and you won’t have to buy contact lens solution. Glasses are definitely a simple way to correct your vision.

Glasses are appropriate and safe for every age level

From babies to seniors, everyone can wear glasses. Contacts, on the other hand, require special care and maintenance. Parents often debate whether their children are responsible enough to care for contact lenses, and this is a valid concern. Improper care of contacts increases the risk of bacterial infections and eye ulcers. Over-wearing contact lenses can compromise the oxygen flow to the cornea, and in severe cases, can permanently affect vision.

Glasses are more comfortable

As the weather gets cooler, arid conditions can make your eyes feel dry and irritated. People who wear contact lenses are especially prone to dry eye, redness and irritation. And those who are having problems with contacts might have to resort to wearing glasses anyway. The lenses in glasses retain moisture near the eyes and can be much more comfortable in the fall and winter.

Glasses can be a fashion statement

Currently, glasses are very popular. They are a great way to accessorize and add color and interest to outfits. Even people who don’t need glasses often wear frames just because they look cool. Glasses are customizable, too. Lenses and frames come in all styles, colors and shapes to complement your face shape or your personality. For ultimate convenience, you can choose transition lenses that get darker when exposed to sunlight so you don’t have to purchase prescription sunglasses (Source: GlassesCrafter).

Ultimately, the decision to wear glasses or contacts is a personal one based on functionality, style and comfort. Talk to your eye doctor to get recommendations on what type of corrective lenses are best for you. You may just receive some insight to help you make your final decision.

Instead of making turkey the focal point of your feast, recall that the Thanksgiving holiday is about celebrating the bountiful fall harvest. Colorful fruits and vegetables can be the theme of your Thanksgiving table, serving to nourish your vision as well as your stomach.

When planning your Thanksgiving meal, use the colors of fall to guide you. Foods that are red, burgundy, violet, deep orange and yellow are full of flavor and packed with eye-nourishing vitamins. Carotenoids, a group of A vitamins that includes beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein, help fight against free-radical damage. When you combine carotenoids with other essential vitamins and nutrients, they provide health benefits that are essential for aging eyes.

Remember that fruits and vegetables will lose some of their nutritional potency in the cooking process, so try to eat raw foods whenever possible. You can practice this principle by creating an eye-catching veggie tray with various colors of bell peppers, broccoli, radishes and carrots.

Two of the carotenoids are in popular foods found on the Thanksgiving table: beta-carotene and lutein. And don’t forget the Vitamin C, another powerful antioxidant that promotes eye health.

• Beta-carotene —These powerful antioxidants are found in pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash and cantaloupe. For a boost in beta-carotene, look for recipes and dishes that are yellow or orange.
• Lutein — Dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach and collards have lutein, which is important for good macular function. Make a large bowl of mixed green salad for your harvest table and garnish it with eye-healthy dried berries, orange slices and walnuts.
• Vitamin C — Citrus, broccoli, leafy greens, cranberries and bell peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C. One easy way to boost vitamin C intake is to replace mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower. Just steam a head of cauliflower and blend it in the food processer with some milk, butter, salt and pepper. Cauliflower is also high in omega-3, which is associated with healthy visual development.

Research shows that what you eat makes a significant impact on your visual health, and not just on Thanksgiving. According to the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2), an increased intake of antioxidant vitamins reduced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk by about 25 percent and reduced vision loss by 19 percent. Other studies linked higher vitamin C and E intake with a reduced risk for cataracts.

So fill your plate with mashed cauliflower, steamed carrots, sautéed spinach, and homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest. Make your Thanksgiving table a feast for the eyes this year!

It might be time for a little refresher on the importance of wearing sunglasses throughout the year. Remember, ultraviolet rays are just as harmful on cloudy or overcast days as they are on sunny ones. Here are five good reasons to wear your sunglasses in the fall.

1. Sunglasses make you look cool. Eyewear is more popular than ever, and sunglasses are a way to make a statement about your style. Instead of buying a cheap pair of sunglasses, invest in a quality pair of stylish sunglasses with proper UV protection. Once you find the glasses you love, purchase a case to keep them safe and prevent them from getting lost.
2. Sunglasses keep your eyes moist and comfortable. You’ve probably experienced dry eye before, and you know how annoying it can be. Unfortunately, you are more susceptible to dry eye during the cooler months of the year. Cold air, wind and lower humidity can make eyes itchy, watery and red. Lubricating drops can help alleviate dry eye — be careful though, they can be habit-forming and can sometimes make your condition worse.
3. Sunglasses protect you from wrinkles. You are saying “yes” to wrinkles, crow’s feet and fine lines if you are saying “no” to your sunglasses. The combination of daily sunscreen and sunglasses with larger lenses will shield the delicate skin on your face from the damaging effects of UV rays.
4. Sunglasses help prevent cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, and one of the main causes is sun exposure. Reducing your exposure to ultraviolet radiation could prevent or delay the development of cataracts which slowly deteriorate your vision and can affect your quality of life. By the age of 40, 1 out of every 6 Americans has a developing cataract, so it’s a good idea to sport those shades.
5. Sunglasses help reduce the risk for cancer and growths on or around the eye. Excessive exposure to the sun can cause many problems such as cancers of the eyelid, melanoma, or pterygium. Although pterygium growths are not cancerous, they can interfere with your vision and require surgery.

Solar radiation and UV rays are harmful during all four seasons, no matter your age or the area in which you live. The fall sun is lower in the sky, but this means it is also shining more directly into your eyes even if it does not seem as bright. Make it a priority to go out and buy a new pair of sunglasses and wear them every day. You’ll be looking fantastic and protecting your vision at the same time.

Diabetes affects the heart, kidneys and nervous system, but it can also impact vision. Long-term diabetes can damage the retina of the eye, and this condition is known as diabetic retinopathy. Although there may not be symptoms in the early stages, diabetic retinopathy is characterized by blurred vision, blindness, floaters or blind spots in the visual field. If diabetes is not managed or goes undetected, you could be at risk for eye hemorrhage or even blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy cannot always be prevented, but there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing the disease. Here are a few guidelines:

1. Schedule regular check-ups and exams with your primary care physician. The best way to prevent diabetic retinopathy is to prevent diabetes. Annual well exams will monitor the health of your heart and kidneys, and most exams include blood panel labs that will test your blood sugar.
2. See your eye doctor every year. Did you know that an eye exam offers a glimpse of your overall health? Staying current with comprehensive eye exams offers early detection and intervention for eye diseases. People with diabetes may need to visit their eye doctors more often than non-diabetics, so ask your eye doctor how often you should schedule your exams.
3. Commit to daily exercise and a healthy diet. If you are diabetic, it is important to manage your diabetes with physical activity and nutrition. Exercise and a healthy diet are also two of the best ways to prevent diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Talk to your doctor to get recommendations on types and durations of physical activity as well as dietary
   modifications.
4. Take all medications as directed. Taking your daily medication is essential for your health and for the proper functioning of your body. If you are diabetic, taking oral diabetes medications or insulin as directed is one of the best ways to prevent diabetic retinopathy.

Celebrate Diabetic Eye Disease Month by scheduling an annual physical exam with your primary care physician or a comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor. November is also National Family Caregivers Month, so go the extra mile and make an appointment for a parent or elderly loved one as well.

Unlike cataract-related vision loss which is treatable with surgery, glaucoma-related vision loss is irreversible. In most cases, glaucoma does not exhibit symptoms or pain until noticeable vision loss has occurred. One of the earliest symptoms of glaucoma is reduced peripheral vision or limited visual field.

A painless disease that slowly robs you of your vision sounds scary, doesn’t it? Glaucoma is aptly nicknamed the “sneak thief of sight” because it is difficult to detect and diagnose. While there is no way to prevent glaucoma, there are tests to help diagnose the condition. Your best defense against glaucoma is to visit your eye doctor annually for a comprehensive eye exam. Regular eye exams can provide an early diagnosis and minimize vision loss.

Even if you can’t prevent glaucoma, you can assess your risk for developing the disease. You are more likely to develop glaucoma if you are over 40, African American or have a family history of the disease. Conditions like diabetes, eye injury or eye tumor can also put you at higher risk. If you are at risk for developing glaucoma, your doctor may want to examine your eyes more often than someone else at your same age who is not at risk.

If you have received a glaucoma diagnosis, your eye doctor will discuss treatment options based on your age, medical history and advancement of the disease. Some cases of glaucoma can be managed with eye drops, pills or conventional surgery. There are also procedures that use lasers to help lower inner eye pressure. Finally, there are exciting, emerging glaucoma treatments like shunts and stents that reduce pressure to a safe level and prevent vision loss.

Make an appointment today for a full eye examination. It’s the best way to prevent eye disease and keep your vision clear and healthy for years to come.

All cells in the body depend on vitamin C, including cells of the eye, where vitamin C is concentrated.

Cataract risk prevention

Several studies associate vitamin C intake with a decreased risk for cataracts, a degenerative eye condition that is a leading cause of vision loss in the United States. Cataracts negatively impact quality of life by blurring and distorting vision. Without clear vision, it is difficult to accomplish simple, daily activities like reading, driving and house chores. Getting the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C could make all the difference in cataract development. In one study, women who took vitamin C for 10 years or more had a 64% decreased risk of developing nuclear cataracts.

Delayed progression of age-related macular degeneration

Sufficient vitamin C intake could also help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One case study found that individuals at high risk for AMD who took 500 mg daily of vitamin C, along with a supplement of beta-carotene, vitamin E and zinc, slowed the progression of advanced AMD by about 25 percent and visual acuity loss by 19 percent (Source: AOA).

How much is enough?

Your body does not create all the vitamin C you need, so you must get your daily intake of vitamin c through diet, supplements or fortified foods. To maintain good eye health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that men get 90 mg per day of vitamin C and women get 75 mg per day.

Best sources of vitamin C include:

• 1 cup of orange juice – 124 mg
• 1 cup of grapefruit juice – 93.0 mg
• 1 medium orange – 69.7 mg
• 1 cup of spinach (cooked) – 17.6 mg

Other good sources of vitamin C include:

• Cantaloupe
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Cabbage
• Watermelon
• Sweet potato
• Turnip greens

Add more vitamin C to your diet to fortify your eye cells with vitamin C and prevent eye disease. If it has been longer than a year since you have had a comprehensive eye exam, make an appointment with your eye doctor for a full evaluation of your vision (Source: Medasq).

Cataracts develop very slowly, and you may not notice the presence of a cataract for many years. In fact, most people find out about a developing cataract from their eye doctor. By the age of 40, 1 in 6 Americans have a developing cataract, and by age 70, half of all Americans are affected by the condition. Common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Appearance of halos around bright lights
• Increased glare
• Difficulty driving at night
• Faded or yellowed appearance of colors

Although cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss worldwide, they are treatable with surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most common procedures performed in the United States today and boasts over a 95 percent success rate. Currently, 9 out of 10 patients regain vision between 20/20 and 20/40, so you can expect positive results when you schedule cataract removal  (Source: All About Vision).

The likelihood of developing a cataract as you age is quite high, but it is possible to avoid cataracts or delay their formation. If you do not yet have a developing cataract, there are a few steps that you can take to prevent cataracts:

• Wear sunglasses — Exposure to UV rays from the sun can speed cataract formation, so wear sunglasses, even on cloudy days.
• Apply sunscreen — Shield the delicate skin around your eyes from sun damage.
• Don’t smoke — Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxins that cause cellular damage.
• Maintain a healthy weight — Studies show that obesity increases the risk for cataracts, so keep your weight within a healthy range for your height.

While it’s important to have a clean face and teeth, removing your contact lenses nightly is an absolute necessity and could have a lasting impact on your vision.

Oxygen: The Eyes’ Greatest Need

The biggest reason why you shouldn’t sleep in your contacts is because healthy corneas require oxygen. When you are awake, the contact lens in your eye moves slightly every time you blink. This millimeter of movement is sufficient to supply your cornea with oxygen. When you are sleeping, the contact lens creates a barrier between your closed eyelid and the cornea which restricts oxygen and nourishment. It’s like sleeping with a plastic bag over your head.

Contact Removal and Infection Prevention

Another reason to remove contacts nightly is that you highly reduce the risk of corneal infection and corneal abrasion. Failure to clean your lenses properly or even over-wearing your contacts can allow bacteria to grow and multiply. In 2012, a study in Ophthalmology found that people who occasionally wore their contacts overnight were 6.5 times more likely to develop keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea. It is even possible to develop corneal ulcers, open sores on the outer layer of the cornea, when not following contact lens manufacturer’s instructions.

If you are getting into the habit of falling asleep in your contacts, ask yourself what changes you need to make in your routine to break this pattern.

Helpful Tips for Remembering to Take Out Those Lenses Before Bed

• Set a calendar reminder at a specific time each evening to remove your contacts
• Put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror
• Ask a family member to remind you or ask you whether you have removed your lenses before you turn on that television or open to the next chapter

Finally, make sure that you are making an annual appointment for a comprehensive eye exam to have your vision checked. Not only will your ophthalmologist fine-tune your prescription, but he or she will test for common eye conditions and evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve. Don’t delay in getting quality eye care. It’s one of the best investments you can make.

Most people begin to notice presbyopia around the age of 40, although it varies from person to person (Source: AAO).

Treatment for presbyopia is reading glasses, or bifocals if you already wear eyeglasses. You may find yourself resistant to purchasing that first pair of reading glasses or bifocals, but you may be surprised how a new pair of frames can ease your daily tasks. If you are unsure whether you need reading glasses, here are five signs that you need to make an appointment with your eye doctor:

1. You are squinting a lot more often. If you cannot see clearly, your natural reaction will be to squint. Although squinting temporarily improves focus and clarity, it puts excessive strain on the eye and can make vision worse. If you are squinting to read your smartphone, tablet, computer screen or your favorite book, it might be time to get reading glasses.
2. You hold books differently. If you are developing presbyopia, you will create more distance between your eyes and the page. About 12 inches is a normal distance, but presbyopia will cause you to hold books more at arm’s length. If you are holding books at least 14 inches from your face, it’s probably time for reading glasses.
3. You are getting headaches. One of the most common reasons for headaches is changes in vision. If you are having regular headaches, it could be due to eye fatigue from straining all day to see the computer.
4. Your vision is blurry. As the eye changes, the lens loses elasticity and cannot focus light as efficiently. Your eyes may not change at the same rate, and this could result in double vision. Your eye doctor can help correct this issue.
5. You are always turning lights on. A telltale sign of presbyopia is needing brighter light. If you need to turn on several lamps and lights in a room to feel like you are getting adequate light, it may be time for reading glasses.

There is no way to prevent presbyopia from developing because it is a natural part of aging. Make an appointment with your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam to have your vision evaluated. Your vision can change quickly, so even if it has been less than a year since your first exam, call the office if you are experiencing vision challenges.

Harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause skin damage, premature wrinkles and exposure to free radicals. A free radical is an unstable molecule that has lost an electron and reacts with a neighboring molecule to become whole again. These reactive atoms are located throughout the human body and can destroy healthy cells. Over time, free radical damage can lead to chronic conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.

Fortunately, protecting your eyes from damaging sun exposure is simple and inexpensive. It does, however, require discipline and good habits. Sunglasses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection will shield your eyes from ultraviolet radiation and help preserve your vision for years to come. The common mistake that most people make is to allow the weather to influence their decision to say “yes” or “no” to their shades.

Here are some little-known facts about the importance of proper eye protection:

1. We all need to wear sunglasses, regardless of age. The age group most at risk for eye damage is children since few of them wear sunglasses, and sun damage is cumulative.
2. Our eyes are just as vulnerable to UV rays on cloudy days as on sunny days. UV rays can penetrate through clouds.
3. Larger lenses offer greater eye protection than smaller ones.
4. Not all sunglasses offer 100% UVA and UVB protection. Read labels carefully before purchasing.
5. For maximum eye protection, select sunglasses that have wrap-around lenses.
6. Damaging UV rays can reflect off snow and water, so wear sunglasses during the wintertime and when at the beach or on a boat.
7. If you are unsure about what sunglasses to purchase, talk to your eye doctor. Your eye doctor can give you advice on the sunglasses that will offer the best eye protection. You can purchase prescription or non-prescription sunglasses at your next comprehensive eye exam.

When in doubt, sport those shades. A quality pair of sunglasses will help prevent chronic eye conditions and keep your vision clear. Establish good habits by keeping a pair of sunglasses in your car, office and home and wear them daily.