It’s 2019 and our eyes are facing new challenges. 

We heavily rely on our eyes for our daily activities such as work, driving and of course we use them to watch our favorite Netflix shows. 

Try closing your eyes for 10 seconds and imagine a life without vision. It’s pretty tough right?

The visual stimulus we encounter today are much different and can be challenging for our eyes. Visual demands such as digital blue light energy, screen time addiction and increase myopia or nearsightedness can lead to serious visual and eye health problems like macular degeneration and even blindness. 

What can you do to protect your eyes?

Here are 3 eye health updates you need to know in 2019.

1. Blue-Light Protection

Blue light is a color in the visible spectrum. It is considered short wavelength, which produces higher amounts of energy and that’s not good for our eyes. 

Today, our eyes are consistently exposed to “modern digital blue light” from smart phones, computer screens, tablets, and gaming devices. 

The increased amount of blue light exposure is concerning as the average American now spends 37 hours a week staring at digital devices. It’s quite common to hear our patients report staring in front of computer screens for 8 hours a day at work. 

Related blog post: “Can Computer Make My Eyes Worse?”: click here

Researchers have discovered that blue light is “toxic” to cells in the retina and can lead to early onset of retinal degenerative diseases (such as macular degeneration), early onset of cataracts or even blindness. 

As one researcher noted, “Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they’re dead, they’re dead for good.” To translate, once the damage is done, your vision does not come back. That’s scary to think about. 

If you are a heavy digital device user or have a family history of macular degeneration, our eye doctors highly recommended protecting your eyes with blue light filtering lenses.

Blue light protection lenses filters out blue light energy decreasing the amount of energy entering our eyes. It can also help reduce digital eye strain and fatigue. 

2. Digital Device Recommendation For Kids

The rise of digital technology has penetrated our kids. It’s not uncommon to see children with their own iPad or phone as early as 3 years old.

But is digital screen time healthy for children?   

A first of the its kind study on how screen time affects children’s brains suggest more than 2 hours a day could do damage. Read the details of this study: CLICK HERE 

The first findings from this study show as little as 2 hours of screen time can be detrimental, resulting in lower scores on tests focused on thinking and language skills. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently came out with a new daily screen time recommendation for children under 5 years of age. Read the full recommendations: CLICK HERE

Here is the summary of recommendations by age:

INFANT (less than 1 year of age): Screen time is not recommended

1-2 YEARS OF AGE: No screen time for a 1 year-old. No more than an hour for 2 year-olds, with less time preferred. 

3-4 YEARS OF AGE: No more than one hour. 

3. The Nearsightedness Epidemic

Collectively, our humans eyes are becoming more nearsighted or myopic. It’s happening at rapid rate with some experts predicting 50% of the world’s population will be nearsighted by the year 2050. 

This is rather concerning because high nearsightedness or myopia can result in blinding eye diseases such as retinal detachment, cataracts and glaucoma.

Myopia is starting to become an epidemic, especially in South East Asia countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, where approximately 90% of the young people are nearsighted. 

The big question scientist have asked,  “What factor can prevent myopia or nearsightedness from starting in the first place?”

The answer is simple: spend more time outdoors. 

Read of the summary of this study: CLICK HERE

However, if you or your child is already nearsighted, spending more time outdoors will not slow down the progression of your nearsightedness. 

Summer sunglasses are a must in Southern California. 

Can you smell the BBQ? See the crashing waves of the beach? Feel the sizzling heat? 

So don’t blink because summer is right around the corner. Summer means sunny, bright, long days. 

It’s also a time to protect your skin with sun block and protect your eyes with sunglasses.  Here at Bright Vision Optometry, we geek out when it comes to fashion sunglasses and sun protection.

Here are 3 sunglasses styles that will have you styling and protected this summer! 

1. Tiffany Paper Flowers Butterfly Sunglasses

The 2019 Tiffany sunglasses collection includes the new Tiffany Paper Flowers collections featuring contemporary shapes inspired by the idea of abstract flower petals.

Look at the elegant petal shaped sunglasses frame, drenched in rose gold colored metal with a unique mirrored rose gold lenses.

This Tiffany sunglasses is perfect for anyone who wants a chic feminine look for the summer. Can you picture yourself in a summer dress to match these Tiffany sunglasses? 

Because Tiffany eyewear is made in Italy, theses sunglasses feature 100% UV protection and anti-glare coating. Certainly a classic, and contemporary look for the summer. 

The butterfly sunglasses comes in 3 different colors: Rose gold, Silver and Gunmetal. 

2. Ray-Ban Arista – Round Metal Sunglasses

This wouldn’t be a sunglasses list without the world’s most popular sunglasses brand, Ray-Ban.

This summer, cruise around the beach or stroll through the next music festival in these round retro styled Ray-Ban sunglasses.

The Rayban Arista’s are inspired by the style first worn by legendary musicians of the 1960’s. If you didn’t know, these ionic Ray-Ban sunglasses have been worn by legendary musicians in the 1960s, where counter-culture first originated.

Versatile, hip and cool, these classic gold sunglasses will fits most face shapes (unisex). 

The Ray-Ban Arista sunglasses comes in 6 different frame and lens color combinations with the Gold frame and Green lens combo being the most popular. 

3. Oakley Frogskins Sunglasses

Finally, these classic retro Oakley sunglasses. Created in the 1980’s, these summer sunglasses are back with a modern twist!

These summer cool clear sunglasses are comfortable, lightweight and perfect for a day at the beach. 

This pair of Oakley sunglasses features Prizm™ lenses which enhances color, contrast and details to help you see the world with clarity.

Check out the light blue mirrored lenses on these Oakley sunglasses. So unique right?

These Oakley Frogskins sunglasses are available in many different color combination and mirrored lenses. 

So protect your eyes from harmful UV sunlight this summer. Above all, do it your own style! 

At Bright Vision Optometry, our optical collection features the newest sunglasses styles for 2019 including brand names like Tom Ford, Prada, Tiffany, Celine and Gucci. 

So splash into this summer in style, stop by our optical shop to try on your next pair of summer sunglasses!