Let’s face it…we’re exposed constantly to our electronic devices. Phones, tablets, PCs, and TVs have taken over our lives and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. With the switch to technology has come a lot of conveniences, but it has also brought about a concern in protecting our eye health.

With constant use of electronics, we are exposing our eyes to harmful blue light that can increase eye strain and dry eye, just to name a few. Often times, we get so wrapped up in browsing social media, shopping online or playing games that we forget we are staring at our screens for so long. So, how do you combat today’s digital environment?

  • Set aside a break time – every 20 to 30 minutes look away for 20-30 seconds. Look off at something far away and give your eyes a rest.
  • Wear glasses that block out blue light – we talked about what blue light can do, investing in a good pair of blue light blocking glasses can help your eyes.
  • Manage distance – How far are away from your face are your devices typically? The general preferred distance is 20-40 inches. A good rule of thumb is arms reach. For larger screens, move farther away.

As always, routine eye exams are critical for maintaining your eye health and allow us to track your digital eye strain. If you have questions about your mobile device usage, contact our team. We’re here to help!

Has your eyelid ever “ticked” or “twitched” and you wondered what the cause was? The technical name is “myokymia” and they are contractions of the eye. Generally they are found on the lower eye lid, but they can be found in the upper eyelid as well.

So what causes twitching eyes?

There are many factors, but stress, tiredness, eye strain, caffeine, alcohol, dry eyes, nutritional imbalances, allergies and more can all play a part in myokymia’s presence. To diagnose the cause it is important to pay attention to the levels present in any of these triggers.

There is no significant concern for twitching, but it could take time to resolve itself, especially if the trigger is difficult to locate. To learn more about causes, contact our team today.

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Ocugen has submitted a new drug application to the FDA and the FDA has accepted it. The exciting news is that this is a new topical formula for the treatment of dry eye. The medical team at Ocugen is excited that their drug will reach the entire population battling the disease of dry eye as many treatments on the market fall short.

There are many different causes for dry eye and often many different treatments. For minor irritations like allergies, over-the-counter eye drops may work, but if you are dealing with persistent irritation, it may be time to see a professional. We can assess the cause of your dry eye and give you a treatment plan that will work for you.

To find out more, contact our team!

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Spring time in Glade Spring and Marion, pretty much anywhere in Virginia, means pollen! And while pollen isn’t the sole cause of dry eye, allergies and reactions to allergy medicines can cause dry eye.

Now, we figure that when most hear about dry eyes, they immediately think about Ben Stein and the legendary commercials, but most of us don’t know what dry eye is and what causes it.

Dry eye is when your tears are unable to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. It can be that not enough tears are produced, but also that the tears that your eyes produce may not be the right consistency. Environmental conditions can create dry eye, as well as allergies and medicines. There are also medical conditions that cause dry eye.

The most prominent symptoms include stinging or burning of the eyes, redness of the eyes, sensitivity to light, blurred vision or eye fatigue.

If you find yourself with any of these symptoms, contact Royal Oak Eye Care and schedule an appointment. We’re here to help!

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT ROYAL OAK EYE CARE

image credit: Kate Lewis on flickr