August: Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
It’s August which means back to school is right around the corner! Does your back to school checklist include a visit to your child’s eye care office? A comprehensive eye examination not only checks visual acuity or the need for glasses; it also rules out several binocular vision disorders that can potentially impact your child’s ability to read and learn. Dr. Tinari screens every child for refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, convergence insufficiency and keratoconus. Yearly eye exams evaluate overall eye health and are crucial for ruling out any possible vision threatening eye diseases. So this year, schedule an eye exam for your child before the school year begins to give them a head start to an amazing year of learning!
Two Antioxidants You Should Incorporate Into Your Supplement Regimen and Why
While everyone should consider taking a high quality multivitamin for overall health, most do not include the powerful antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Studies reveal that these antioxidants, which are naturally found in dark leafy vegetables, can help protect the eyes (and skin) from the damaging effects of UV and blue light exposure over time. They work best if taken together.
⠀
Repeated exposure to UV and blue light can cause free radical damage in the eyes, which can lead to vision loss via cataracts and macular degeneration. Sufficient intake of lutein and zeaxanthin has been shown to boost protective pigment levels in the retina, which leads to less absorption of damaging wavelengths of light. Studies also show that the skin benefits by improving skin tone and protecting it from premature aging due to UV damage.
⠀
They naturally occur in the macula but the body does not produce as much over time. There’s no recommended dose at this time, but studies show that people who are more prone to free radical damage (such as smokers, people with poor diets/low intake of fruits and vegetables, and those exposed to excess UV or blue light during the day) need more intake. The goal according to the AREDS2 study is at least 10mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin a day. Most Americans are only getting 1-3 mg a day in their diets.
⠀
Lutein and zeaxanthin have a high safety profile. I recommend Eyepromise’s Zeaxanthin and Lutein supplement to all my patients interested in supplementing for their eye health. I also recommend Eyepromise’s Screen Shield Pro for those who spend a significant amount of time on digital devices. This product is amazing because it includes 14 mg of zeaxanthin, 7 mg of lutein and other crucial vitamins like D, C, E, omega-3 and bilberry among others. Visit www.eyepromise.com and enter code 13278 at checkout for savings!
A Gift of Sight
Donate Your Old Glasses
Sorella Optique and Eyecare is proud to announce our partnership with VSP and their Give Sight Globally initiative. Millions of people around the world cannot provide for their eyecare needs. By donating your old or unwanted sunglasses, readers, glasses, we are one step closer to helping someone in need. Just drop off your pair(s) to Sorella at 1548 E Lancaster, Paoli, PA and we will process the donation! Thank you for joining us in our goal to giving sight to those in need!