Ultraviolet Rays and Your Eyes Children and Computer Vision Syndrome Which Eyeglass Frames Would Look Best on You? Performance and Sport Sunglasses Tips for Contact Lens Wearers Protective Sports Eyewear 10 Tips for Buying Kids' Eyewear Sports Eyewear Anti-reflective Coatings Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses Cosmetic Tints

Fashion aside, sunglasses serve an important purpose: protecting eyes from the harmful rays produced by the sun. You're probably well aware of the need to protect your skin from the sun, but it's equally important to protect your eyes.

Ultraviolet Light's Dangers

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation consists of invisible rays from the sun. The three bands of UV light are: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC rays are of little concern as they are absorbed by the upper atmosphere and do not reach the earth's surface.

UVB rays are the ones that burn the skin and can damage the eyes. Combined with cold wind and snow, UVB has the potential to cause snow blindness (photokeratitis), a temporary (lasting 12 to 48 hours) but painful problem in the cornea of the eye.

Although not all experts and scientists agree, there is some research that suggests that daily exposure to UVB in very bright sunlight over a period of many years may cause cataracts, a gradual clouding of the lens of the eye.

Experts also suspect that the primary cause of eye growths such as pingueculae or pterygia is exposure to UVB rays. [Read more about pingueculae and pterygia.]

UVA rays are primarily absorbed within the lens of the human eye, though there are no documented disorders of the human eye from UVA. This, however, remains a much debated and researched topic, says the Sunglass Association of America (SAA).

Measuring Ultraviolet Rays

A globally used index measures the amount of solar ultraviolet rays that are reaching the surface of the earth. Scientists use a scale of 1 to 11 to indicate how much threat exists at a particular time and place from sun exposure, and to permit the news media to warn people when UV levels are high. Usually such warnings include advice to wear hats and other protective eyewear.

See Marsel for more info.

For many of us, the most important aspect of choosing eyeglass frames is how they look on our face. You could try on every pair of eyeglasses in the store to find out how each one looks, but narrowing down your choices in advance can save you a lot of time and aggravation. To do so, you simply need to determine your face shape and coloring, and understand which eyeglass frame styles and colors would look best on you.

Matching Eyeglass Frames to Face Shapes

You should consider three main points when choosing an eyeglass frame for your face shape, according to Vision Council of America (VCA):

• The frame shape should contrast with the face shape.
• The frame size should be in scale with the face size.
• Eyewear should repeat your personal best feature (such as a blue frame to match blue eyes).

Also, while most faces are a combination of shapes and angles, there are seven basic face shapes: round, oval, oblong, base-down triangle, base-up triangle, diamond and square. Here is a further description of these face shapes and which types of frames work for each (information comes from VCA). A good optician can help you use these guidelines to choose your new eyeglasses.

Round
A round face has curvilinear lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles. To make the face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face, a clear bridge that widens the eyes and frames that are wider than they are deep, such as a rectangular shape.

Oval
The oval face is considered to be the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions. To keep the oval's natural balance, look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or wider than) the broadest part of the face, or walnut-shaped frames that are not too deep or too narrow.

Oblong
The oblong face is longer than it is wide and has a long straight cheek line and sometimes a longish nose. To make the face appear shorter and more balanced, try frames that have a top-to-bottom depth, decorative or contrasting temples that add width to the face or a low bridge to shorten the nose.

Base-Down Triangle
The triangular face has a narrow forehead that widens at the cheek and chin areas. To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half or cat-eye shapes.

Base-Up Triangle
This face has a very wide top third and small bottom third. To minimize the width of the top of the face, try frames that are wider at the bottom, very light colors and materials, and rimless frame styles (which have a light, airy effect because the lenses are simply held in place to the temples by a few screws).

Diamond
Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and jawline, and cheekbones are often high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape. To highlight the eyes and bring out the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines, or try rimless frames or oval and cat-eye shapes.

Square
A square face has a strong jaw line and a broad forehead, plus the width and length are in the same proportions. To make the square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow frame styles, frames that have more width than depth and narrow ovals.

Color Analysis
VCA's three keys to color analysis are that ...

• All people have either a cool (blue-based) or warm (yellow-based) coloring.
• Everyone looks best in his or her own color base.
• Eyewear color should complement personal coloring.

The main factors to determine the best color palette are the colors of the skin, eyes and hair.

Are you warm or cool? Knowing the answer will help you easily select frame colors. These eyeglasses are by Moschino.

Skin
Skin tone is the prime element in determining coloring. All complexions fall into one of two color bases — blue (cool) or yellow (warm). A cool complexion has blue or pink undertones, and a warm complexion has a "peaches and cream" or yellow cast. Olive skin is considered cool because it is a mixture of blue and yellow. (In the United States, cool, blue-based complexions are more common than the yellow-based warm complexions. About 60 percent of the population are "cools.")

Eyes
Eye colors are usually a secondary element in determining coloring because of the wide range of eye colors. For example, blue eyes can range from a cool almost-violet to a pale blue-gray, which is warm. Brown eyes can vary from a light cider shade (warm) through a medium-brown to a cool almost-black.

Hair
Hair colors are also considered warm or cool. Strawberry blond, platinum, blue-black, white, salt-and-pepper and "dishwater" brown are cool. Warm hair colors include golden blond, flat black, brown-gold, "carrot" and "dirty" gray.

Eyeglass Frame Colors
Once you have determined if you are "warm" or "cool," then you can find the eyeglass frame colors that will suit you the best. Some examples of frame colors best for warm coloring are: camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, fire-engine red, warm blue and blond tortoise. For cool coloring, the best eyeglass frame hues are black, rose-brown, blue-gray, plum, magenta, pink, jade, blue and demi-amber (darker) tortoise.

Many people new to contact lenses, and even some experienced wearers, have practical questions about contacts. These tips should help you to deal with some everyday contact lens concerns.

Which Way Is the Right Way?

A question many newbie wearers have is: "How will I know if my contact lens is inside out?"

The difference can be subtle, but before placing a contact lens on your eye, make sure it looks more like half a ball than a soup bowl.

The trick is to place the lens on your finger so that a cup is formed. Then, hold the lens up directly in front of your eyes so you're looking at the side of the cup. If the lens forms a "U" with the top edges flared out, it's inside out. If it forms just a "U," it's in the correct position.

If you're wearing lenses with a handling tint, another method is to place the lens on your fingertip and then look down at it. The edge of a tinted lens should look very blue (or green, depending on the tint); that won't be the case if the lens is inverted.

Some contact lenses also have a laser marking, such as the brand name, on the edge to help you. If you can read it properly, the lens is not inside out. Don't worry if you place a contact lens in your eye inside out. The lens will feel uncomfortable, but it can't do any damage.

Applying Your Contact Lenses

Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands before applying your contact lenses, but avoid overly scented or oily soaps that might adhere to the lens surface. Especially avoid using products containing lanolin. Some eye doctors advise that you always apply the first contact lens in the same eye, so that you avoid the possibility of mixing up lenses for the right eye and left eye. Other basic guidelines for contact lens application include:

Applying contact lenses is easy. See animation.

• Gently shake your lens case containing the storage solution, to loosen the contact lens should it be stuck. (Don't try pulling at the lens with your finger, or you might damage it.)
• Slide the lens out of its case and into the palm of your hand. Rinse thoroughly with the appropriate contact lens solution.
• Place the contact lens on the tip of your index or middle finger, which should be dry or mostly dry.
• With the fingers and thumb of your other hand, simultaneously pull up on your upper eyelid and down on your lower eyelid.
• Position the lens on your eye while looking upward or forward, whichever you find to be easier. You also can apply the contact lens by placing it on the white of the eye closest to your ear.
• Roll your eyes in a complete circle to help the lens settle, then blink.

Removing Your Contact Lenses

Always wash your hands before removing contact lenses. If you are standing in front of a sink, make sure you use a clean paper towel to cover the drain where the contact lens might accidentally fall.

To remove soft contact lenses, look upward or sideways while you pull down on your lower eyelid. With a finger, gently maneuver the lens onto the white of your eye. There, you can very gently pinch the lens together with your index finger and thumb and lift it off the eye. Until you master contact lens removal, you might consider keeping your fingernails clipped to avoid accidentally scratching and damaging your eye.

Rigid contact lenses can be removed by holding out the palm of your hand, bending over, and then opening your eye wide. With one finger of your other hand, pull on the skin of your eye's outside corner straight out toward your ear with your eye wide open. Then blink. The contact lens should pop right out and into your open palm.

Devices for removing contact lenses, known as "plungers," also are available from your eye doctor, and can be used to touch and directly remove a lens from your eye. Just make sure you touch only the lens and not your eye's surface with this device.

While you might hear a myth or two about someone "losing" a contact lens in the back of the eye, this is actually impossible because of a membrane that connects your eye to the back of your eyelid.

Contact Lenses and UV Light

Researchers have linked ultraviolet (UV) light to the formation of cataracts. Exposure to excessive UV light also may result in a condition called photokeratitis.

That's why some lenses now incorporate a UV-blocking agent. You can't tell if a contact lens has a UV blocker just by looking at it — the blocker is provided in clear form, so as not to disturb vision. The contact lens packaging will specify if the product has a UV blocker, or you can ask your eye doctor.

It's very important to remember than UV-blocking contacts are not meant to replace sunglasses. A contact lens covers only your cornea, not your entire eye. However, UV-blocking contact lenses do help protect the portion of the white of your eye that is covered from formation of growths such as pingueculae and pterygia. A sunglass with UV protection can cover more of your eye and the parts of your face that surround the eye, depending on the size of the sunglass lens. That's why contacts with UV blockers are designed to complement sunglass use as an added protection.

Eye Makeup and Contact Lenses

Getting makeup in your eye is annoying. But it's even worse with contacts, because it can stick to the lenses instead of flushing right out. Follow these tips to keep your eyes looking and feeling good:

• Put in your contact lenses before applying makeup. And always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your contacts, so you won't transfer any oils, creams, or lotions to the lenses.
• Use only non-allergenic makeup. Almay and Clinique have eye-friendly products, but there are other brands as well.
• Cream eye shadow is less likely to get in your eye than powder. However, creams can also irritate your eyes more if they do make it into your eyes. Choose water-based rather than oil-based creams.
• If you prefer powder, keep your eyes closed during application. Then, brush off any excess powder before opening your eye.
• Never apply eyeliner between your lashes and your eye. Apply eyeliner only on the portion of your lashes that is well away from your eye.
• To remove eye makeup, wash and dry your hands. Then remove your contacts, being careful not to bump them into any makeup. Finally, use your eye makeup remover.

MORE!
Click on title to go to article:

• 10 Tips for Buying Kids' Eyewear
• Anti-reflective Coatings
• Cosmetic Tints
• Children and Computer Vision Syndrome
• Performance and Sport Sunglasses
• Protective Sports Eyewear
• Sports Eyewear
• Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses

To improve both the vision through the lenses and the appearance of the glasses, an anti-reflective coating (also called AR coating) is applied. AR coatings are similar to the coatings found on microscopes and camera lenses. They consist of several layers of metal oxides applied to the front and back lens surfaces. Because of the layering effect, AR coatings sometimes have a hint of green or purple color, depending on the individual manufacturer's formula.

Each layer is scientifically calculated to block reflected light. The result is that you'll see a reduction in glare, annoying reflections and halos around lights. This is a great safety benefit when you're driving at night.

Also, anti-reflective coating reduces both internal and external reflections on the lenses themselves, creating a nicer cosmetic appearance. Internal reflections appear as rings that make lenses look thick. External reflections mask your eyes from a clear, complete view when someone is looking at you. So with an anti-reflective coating, eyeglass lenses appear thin or non-existent, and your eyes look more natural.

Anyone on TV or whose photo is taken often benefits tremendously from the coating, but really, all eyeglass wearers would benefit from an anti-reflective coating from a cosmetic point of view. If you have a strong prescription, you can use the AR coating in conjunction with high-index lenses to make your glasses look and feel as thin as possible.

With sunglass lenses, an AR coating is better applied only to the back surface of the lens (the surface nearest the eye). Because sunglass lenses are so dark, the AR coating can wind up looking smeary on the front surface. Coating the back side helps reduce the reflections of light that enter from behind you and bounce off the surface into your eyes. A back-side coated sun lens is much more comfortable than an uncoated sunglass.

Cosmetic Tints

Cosmetic tints are those colors that are used for enhancing the appearance of the eyewear. Fashion tints such as rose, flesh tone and aqua blue have been used for many years in order to achieve this purpose. Today's fashion conscious patients are leaning toward the "club tints." Club tints are the vibrant jades, olives, lavender, purple and emerald greens.

Adding a double gradient to a lens, which matches the color characteristics of a chosen pair of eyewear, will add a distinguishing touch and seems to be very popular. "Many of our clients request tints that will carry the color of the frame; this gives the eyewear a jewelry appearance, everything sparkles more, has a greater shine to them, but isn't too flashy,"

Cosmetic function tints can be used to hide unwanted blemishes or physical traits that a patient may want to disguise. Elimination of dark circles under the eyes or making the whites of the eye "pop out" more." We at Mona Vision dip lenses into a light blue tint for about 30 seconds. Then we take the lens and neutralize out the top and bottom of the color so that we end up with just a light band of blue color across the mid section of the lens. This will cause the whites of their eyes to look brighter,"

OCUPATIONAL TINTS

Occupational tints are those colors that are required for a specific job task performed by the patient." We explain to our customers the benefits of computer tints . These colors provide eye relief and help to improve the contrast between the background and foreground of a patients computer work area,"

RECREATIONAL TINTS

Recreational tints include traditional sunglass colors such as true gray, brown and green as well as colors that are formulated to absorb specific wavelengths of light under specific conditions. There has been a great deal of discussion on the benefits of yellow colored tints. Many semi-truck drivers and sports enthusiasts report that yellow-colored lenses help to improve their vision and thereby their task performance.

THERAPEUTIC

Therapeutic tints are prescribed by some practitioners to patients with glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Vision research has shown that these patients are more sensitive to certain portions of the visible light spectrum.

Come to Mona Vision and see what we can offer you for all your prescription and sunglasses needs and SAVE money too.

Children and Computer Vision Syndrome

by Larry K. Wan, OD

The average North American child now spends one to three hours per day on the computer doing homework, talking online with friends, and playing games.* Parents encourage children as young as two or three years old to use the computer. In fact:

• 90% of school-age children have computer access at home or in school.
• 54 million children in the United States alone use a computer at home or in school.**

Many pediatric computer vision eye doctors believe that heavy computer use among children puts them at risk for early myopia. They point to several recent studies as evidence that computers can have a negative impact on a child's vision:

• 25% to 30% of computer-using children need corrective eyewear to work comfortably and safely at the computer at home or in school, says a study at the University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry.
• The percentage of first-graders with myopia has increased from 12.1% to 20.4% since 1995, according to a study by the Department of Health in Taiwan.
• A similar study in Singapore found that in three years the percentage of seven- to nine-year-olds with myopia had doubled, to 34%.

Today it is a "near-point world," and parents need to be aware of the vision problems associated with computer work. Computer use demands fine motor skills from young eyes that are not well developed. Only when the visual system matures is a child better able to handle the stress of a computer on that system.

According to the American Optometric Association, the impact of computer use on children's vision involves these factors:

• Children have a limited degree of self-awareness. They may perform a task on the computer for hours with few breaks. This prolonged activity can cause eye focusing and eye strain problems.
• Children are very adaptable. They assume that what they see and how they see is normal — even if their vision is problematic. That's why it is important for parents to monitor the time a child spends working at a computer.
• Children are smaller than adults. Since computer workstations are often arranged for adult use, this can change the viewing angle for children. Computer users should view the screen slightly downward, at a 15-degree angle. Furthermore, as a result of difficulty reaching the keyboard or placing their feet on the floor, a child may experience neck, shoulder and/or back pain.

Five Tips for Preventing Computer Vision Syndrome in Children

Many pediatric eye doctors believe that environmental stress of the "indoor world" rather than heredity is creating the myopia (nearsightedness) epidemic. In fact, children using computers before their visual systems are fully developed are at the very heart of the public health problem called computer vision syndrome. To prevent your child from suffering from CVS, follow these five tips:

Before starting school, every child should have a comprehensive eye exam, including near-point (computer and reading) and distance testing.

Workstations should be arranged to suit a child — not an adult.

The recommended distance between the monitor and the eye for children is 18-28 inches. By viewing the computer screen closer than 18 inches, children risk straining their eyes. Read more tips for adjusting the monitor and room lighting to reduce glare.

Parents and teachers should be aware of any behavior that indicates potential problems, such as eye redness, frequent rubbing of the eyes, head turns and other unusual postures, or complaints of blurriness or eye fatigue. Avoidance of the computer may also be an indication of discomfort.

Most importantly, have your child's eyes examined by a computer vision specialist. Also read about how computer eyeglasses work to reduce vision problems and eye fatigue.

By Erinn Morgan

The boom in outdoor sports activities like mountain biking, snowshoeing, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing, golfing and in-line skating has also created the extreme popularity of sports- and performance-oriented sunglasses.

Click on photo to see close-ups, style names, and more.

To meet the demands of the casual and competitive sportsperson, much research and development has been done by the sunwear manufacturers as to how they can create the best sunglasses for the most people. The results: lightweight, flexible and durable materials, no-slip components that do not fail in the heat of the moment, and of course lenses, lenses, lenses.

Lenses

Perhaps the most important aspect of effective sports sunwear is the optical quality and visual enhancement of the lenses. Many lens colors that are particularly effective in certain situations (such as brown, green, gray, yellow, orange, etc.) are now available. [Read more about how colored lenses can enhance sports performance.]

Polycarbonate lenses are also extremely popular, as they are super strong and impact-resistant, a benefit that is particularly appealing to many people involved in sports.

Wear prescription eyeglasses? One option is sunglasses designed to be worn over them, like these Fitovers with polarized lenses for glare reduction.

Polarized lenses are also in demand, because they reduce glare produced on flat surfaces such as water or a field of snow. There is, however, some debate as to polarized lenses' effectiveness when it comes to sports that require contrast definition like downhill and mogul skiing. [Read more about polarized lenses, including why they might be less than ideal for use in snowy settings.]

Glass lenses are used occasionally in sports eyewear (like in sunglasses for golfing) because of their great optical quality, but many people involved in more extreme sports shy away from them because of the potential for shattering upon impact.

What's Your Sport?

One major trend that has hit the sports eyewear arena recently is sports-specific sunwear. Frames and lenses are now available that are targeted specifically to the golfer, the cyclist, the boater, the rock climber and so on. This availability and specialization has created great consumer interest and increased sales.

If you prefer to be Jack of all sports, there is also a variety of multipurpose sports sunglasses on the market. Changeable lens systems are now offered by many sunwear companies and offer the wearer options when it comes to usefulness for different sports and different conditions.

Another trend in sports eyewear that has made consumers much more aware of the brands and the products out there are the many product endorsements and sponsorships by famous professional athletes. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, John McEnroe of pro tennis fame, PGA golfer David Ledbetter, Missy Giove, a top mountain biker, pro surfer Laird Hamilton, and Olympic skier Johnny Moseley all have endorsement deals with major sports eyewear lines.

And while these athletes may be paid to promote these products the bottom line is that for them to wear and compete in the products, they must enhance their performance. To follow the leader on this front may be the way to go when choosing sports eyewear for your own activity.

Top Five Trends in Sports/Performance Sunglasses

1. Changeable lens systems that allow the wearer to use dark lenses for sunny conditions, clear lenses for darker or in-the-woods conditions or simply for protection from potential flying objects, or yellow and orange lenses for low light conditions.

2. Lightweight and durable frame materials such as polyamide, which keeps its shape even under stress.

3. Styles that have a performance advantage but with sleek fashion styling.

4. Polarized lenses are showing up in many, many frames, even fashion-oriented ones, and are designed to enhance sports performance.

5. No-slip temple grips and nose pads, often made of rubber, that maintain full functionality even in the heat of competition.

By Joseph L. Bruneni, FNAO

One of the fastest-growing segments of the eyecare industry has been eyewear designed specifically to protect the eyes during sports. Some was developed for professional sports, but the need for this type of protection has spread rapidly to non-professional sports as well.

Today, sports eyewear can be spotted on almost anyone who picks up a ball, bat, racquet or stick — whether they play in the major leagues or the Little League. Fortunately, coaches, parents and players now realize that wearing protective eyewear for sports pays off in several ways. The risk of eye damage is reduced or eliminated, and the player's performance is enhanced by the fact that they see better. In fact, many clubs today do not permit their members to participate without wearing proper eye gear.

For fast-paced contact sports or ball sports, look for goggles that offer full protection, like these from RecSpecs.

Initially, there was some resistance by children to "looking funny" when they wore protective eyewear. Today, sports goggles are an accepted part of everyday life, much the way bike helmets have become the norm. In addition, both children and adults like the image that wearing protective eyewear gives them: it shows they mean business on the playing field.

If You're Not Wearing Protective Eyewear, Consider This ...

Prevent Blindness America reports that hospital emergency rooms treat 40,000 eye injuries every year that are sports-related. Even non-contact sports such as badminton can present inherent dangers to the eyes. Any sport in which balls, racquets or flying objects are present pose a potential for eye injury.

These RecSpecs offer protection in a more compact frame.

Sports such as racquetball, tennis and badminton may seem relatively harmless, but they involve objects moving at 60 miles per hour or faster. During a typical game, a racquetball can travel between 60 and 200 miles per hour. Another potential danger is that the racquets themselves move at high speed in a confined space and often make contact with one another.

Flying objects aren't the only hazard. Many eye injuries come from pokes and jabs by fingers and elbows, particularly in games where players are in close contact with each other. Basketball, for example, has an extremely high rate of eye injury. So does swimming, where no flying objects are involved.

These are great reasons to wear protective eyewear. Another aspect has to do with performance. It used to be common for people with mild to moderate prescriptions to simply participate in sports without wearing their glasses or contacts. Coaches and players soon recognized that clear, sharp vision is a vital ingredient in sports performance, and participating in sports with less than 20/20 vision is counterproductive.

Features to Look for

Prescription glasses, sunglasses and even on-the-job industrial safety glasses do not provide adequate protection for sports use. Sports goggles are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many are designed for racquet sports and are available for basketball and soccer. Some are even designed to fit in helmets used for football, hockey and baseball. Sports goggles should allow the use of helmets when the sport calls for it.

Lenses in sports eyewear are usually made of polycarbonate. Since polycarbonate is such an impact-resistant lens material, it works well to protect eyes from fast-moving objects. Polycarbonate also has built-in ultraviolet. protection and scratch-resistance — valuable properties for outdoor sports.

Look for comfort features such as the hypoallergenic frame material and shock-absorption padding in these RecSpecs goggles.

Polycarbonate is the material of choice for sports lenses, but the eyewear frame plays just as important a role. Further, different sports require different types of frames, which has led to development of sport-specific frames. Most sport frames are available in both prescription and nonprescription forms. Sport frames are constructed of highly impact-resistant plastic or polycarbonate, and most come with rubber padding to cushion the frame where it comes in contact with the head or the nose area.

Some sports styles are contoured, wrapping slightly around the face. This type of goggle works well for biking, hang-gliding, and sailing. Contact lens wearers especially benefit from the wraparound style, as it helps keep out wind and dust.

A Note About Handball Goggles

At one time, handball goggles for those with no need for vision correction were simply goggles with small openings in place of lenses. It was eventually recognized that the high speed of handballs compressed the ball enough to protrude through the opening and cause serious eye damage. The use of handball goggles without lenses is strongly discouraged.

Important Fitting Considerations

Sport goggles must be properly fit to the individual wearer. This is particularly important with children, because there is a normal temptation to purchase a larger goggle than is needed today so the youngster has "room to grow." Some growing room is acceptable, since sports goggles are made to be somewhat flexible in their width adjustment. If the frames are oversize, however, they will not protect the way they were designed, leaving a potential for damage when there is impact to the head or the face. It's a risk not worth taking.

By the same token, permitting a youngster to continue wearing goggles that he or she has outgrown can be just as dangerous. First, the frames will be uncomfortable, tempting the child to leave them off. Secondly, the frames can obstruct peripheral vision, leading to poor performance with a potential for impact from unseen sources to one side or another. Review the fit of your youngsters' goggles each year to ensure that they are still providing proper protection. Make sure the padding inside the sides of the goggle rests flush with the face and the eyes are centered vertically in the lens area.

Looking at the statistics about eye injuries will probably make you want to run right out and buy some protective gear. About 40% of hospital admissions for eye injuries are sports-related.* Meanwhile, protective eyewear could have prevented 90% of those injuries, some of which are permanent.**

Still not convinced? Well, as a teenager, you're in the age group that suffers the majority of sports-related eye injuries: 71% occur in people under age 25.***

Age isn't the only factor to consider. If your eyes are weaker than normal, you need to take particular care when playing sports. Previous eye injuries and surgery can sometimes lead to weakened eyes.

Also, the sport you play can make a huge difference in the kind of protection you need. Basketball usually tops the list of most injuries caused. Players' fingers are the main culprit. Baseball is often second, with most injuries stemming from a ball striking the eye.

Racquet sports (racquetball, squash, tennis, badminton) are a common source of eye injuries, mainly from balls and racquets hitting the eye at very high speeds. A hockey puck also tends to do a lot of damage because it moves so fast. Chlorine in swimming pools is another problem, because too much can damage the cornea . If you play an outdoor sport, you'll need eyewear that filters the sun's (UV) light, which can cause permanent damage.

Types of protective eyewear include: goggles, face masks, shields, sunglasses and scuba masks. Remember, everyday glasses don't provide enough protection from impact.

Goggles & Sunglasses

For most sports, you should wear polycarbonate goggles. Polycarbonate is very resistant to impact, so it's the only reasonable choice in sports where your eye might encounter a ball, racquet, finger, etc. Goggles come with an elastic band to keep them from sliding off your head. They provide protection for basketball, racquet sports, soccer, non-helmet hockey (field hockey, for example), snow sports (skiing, snowboarding), water sports (skiing, surfing, swimming) and more. Swimming goggles are the only ones that don't need to be polycarbonate. Most styles of goggles are available asprescription eyewear, and it's important to get UV-blocking ones if you're playing outside.

Come and see what’s new for Prescription Sports and other activities at Mona Vision and save money too!

By Liz Segre; reviewed by Joseph T. Barr, OD

A new generation of "super-permeable" contact lenses can transmit unprecedented amounts of oxygen to your cornea and, in some cases, enable 30 consecutive days of wear without removal.

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses represent a breakthrough over traditional hydrogel soft contact lenses, because silicone lets so much oxygen (essential for a healthy cornea) pass through the lens. "We're talking about lenses that breathe six to seven times more oxygen than previous lenses," says P. Douglas Becherer, OD, former chairman of the American Optometric Association's Contact Lens and Cornea Section.

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses have caught on with both wearers and eye care practitioners. By 2009, silicone hydrogel lenses are expected to account for more than two-thirds of U.S. soft contact lens sales (in dollars), according to equity research firm Robert W. Baird & Co.

How Silicone Hydrogel Lenses Work

Traditional soft contact lenses are made from hydrogel polymers (soft, water-containing plastics). The plastic itself is not oxygen permeable, so the water performs the job of carrying oxygen through the lens to the eye. But water can carry only so much oxygen — and the more water a lens contains, the greater its tendency to dehydrate after long periods of wear.

Silicone is oxygen permeable. So silicone hydrogel lenses use both their water and polymer content to transmit oxygen to the eye.

The benefits to wearers include comfort and convenience:

• Silicone hydrogel contact lenses contain less water than traditional hydrogel lenses. As a result, they aren't as prone to dehydration while you're wearing them. For some people who wear their lenses for long days, this can mean better end-of-day comfort.


• Silicone hydrogels also have made 30-day contact lens wear — sometimes called "continuous wear" — available once again.

30-Day Contact Lens Wear

Want to wear your contact lenses for up to 30 days without removing them? Silicone hydrogel contact lenses could make that possible, if you're a good candidate.

Today's new silicone hydrogel contact lenses provide much more oxygen to the eye than most conventional soft contact lenses, making 30-day extended wear a safer option than before. As well, the lenses are discarded and replaced monthly, preventing long-term buildup of deposits on the lens surface.

The safety of 30-day silicone hydrogel lens wear is illustrated by a recently completed clinical study. As part of its approval of Night & Day contact lenses for 30-day wear, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required lens manufacturer CIBA Vision to conduct a post-approval study. For one year, the study followed the experiences of 6,000 people who were prescribed Night & Day for up to 30 nights of consecutive wear.

In the study, the incidence of microbial keratitis (an infection that can result in vision loss) was less than 0.18 percent, and the rate of microbial keratitis resulting in reduction of visual acuity was less than 0.04 percent. These rates are higher than for daily wear, but are still considered reasonable by many as a tradeout for the benefits of continuous wear.

In addition, a British study conducted at the University of Manchester and published in 2005 found that people who slept in traditional hydrogel lenses were five times more likely to develop keratitis than those sleeping in silicone hydrogel lenses.

Silicone Hydrogel Lenses: A LASIK Alternative

Wearing 30-day contact lenses offers benefits similar to those of laser vision correction. Continuous wear contacts may be the right option for people who are considering LASIK but can't afford it, are unwilling to risk a surgical procedure, or aren't very good LASIK candidates because of their vision needs. (Read our comparison of 30-day contact lenses vs. LASIK.)

Different Flavors of Silicone Hydrogel

Because silicone hydrogel lenses provide increased oxygen to your eyes, 30-day wear isn't the only reason to consider using them.

And in fact, not all silicone hydrogel brands are approved for 30 days of wear. Currently two brands — Night & Day by CIBA Vision, and PureVision from Bausch & Lomb — can be worn for 30 days.

Two other silicone hydrogels — Acuvue Oasys from Johnson and Johnson, and CIBA Vision's O2Optix — provide higher oxygen levels than traditional soft lenses and are approved for overnight wear of six nights consecutively. Acuvue Advance and CooperVision's Avaira and Biofinity are approved for daily wear only.

The first daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lens, known as 1-Day Acuvue TruEye, was scheduled for launch in the United Kingdom and Ireland in late summer 2008.

Should Everyone Be Wearing Silicone Hydrogels?

If you regularly sleep in your lenses, the case for silicone hydrogels is compelling. For daily wear, it's less so. From a health perspective, the British study mentioned above found no difference in risk of infection for hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses when used for normal daily wear. In terms of comfort, some people will find that silicone hydrogel lenses address their dryness and discomfort issues, and others won't see a difference.

Also, silicone hydrogel lenses aren't available "off the shelf" in all lens designs, diameters and curvatures. Toric silicone hydrogels are readily available, for example, but only PureVision comes in a bifocal version. One manufacturer makes custom silicone hydrogel lenses, but they require a two-week delivery time and aren't approved for overnight wear.

30-Day Wear: Not for Everyone

Do you like the idea of dealing with your contact lenses only once a month? Before you become too attached to that thought, it's good to be evaluated by an eye care practitioner. Today just about everyone is a candidate for daytime contact lens wear, but not everyone's eyes can adapt to sleeping in contacts. Further, your eyes may be suited for some overnight wear, but perhaps not for 30 consecutive nights. For example, people who have had previous problems with contacts may not be good candidates for 30-day wear.

Your eye care practitioner can help you evaluate the opportunities and risks of 30-day wear, and extended wear in general. If it's not for you, silicone hydrogel lenses for daily wear may be a good option, or you might consider other ultra-convenient options such as daily disposables.