Category: Vision Health

This is the category for vision health.

Summer Eye Care Tips

Posted on April 26, 2019

Woman in sunglasses

With the bright summer months soon upon us, most of our guests turn their attention to looking at sunglasses. It is critically important to make sure that your eyes are protected from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVR) by glasses with 100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Taking care of your eyes during the summer requires more than just great sun wear. Check out these tips below to make sure you’re seeing your best all summer long. 

1. Wear Goggles
A 2008 study revealed that freqGoogles Iconuent exposure to chlorine negatively affects the integrity of your corneal epithelium — the tissue on the front of the cornea that prevents bacteria from entering into the eye. If you’re going to be at the pool throughout the summer, make sure you put on goggles before diving in!

The same goes for the ocean or other natural bodies of water that can contain bacteria and contaminants that may hurt your eyes.

2. Wear a Hat
Hat IconEven if you wear sunglasses when outside, you are not getting all the ultraviolet protection that you can. Sunglasses usually have gaps along the sides where UVR exposure can occur. By wearing a hat with a brim, you can add additional shade that helps keep harmful rays out of your eyes.


3. Bring the Drops with You
Eyedrops iconWith warmer temperatures come more outside activities and more opportunities for allergies or temporary exposure to eye irritants. Having eye drops on hand can help alleviate symptoms before the irritation increases.

4. Drink Enough Water
Water iconSummer dehydration makes it harder for the body to produce tears, leading to dry eye symptoms and other vision problems. Drinking enough water each day can reverse the effects of dehydration as well as make sure you have enough fluid for normal eye function.

5. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep iconWith more daylight during the summer, many of us find ourselves staying out — and staying up — longer. But did you know that being tired actually decreases your visual cognition? A 2008 study found that people who have been awake for as little as 18 hours start to suffer from decreased cognition, which can impact everything from their driving to simple activities like cooking and caring for children. Also, when you’re tired, your eyes are more likely to feel dry. This leads you to rub your eyes, which can increase exposure to irritants and diseases. Hit that pillow this summer, and keep your eyes fresh!

Longe Optical carries the area’s best selection of high quality, name brand sunglasses, which can be purchased with prescription or non-prescription lenses. Be sure to schedule your annual eye exam soon and while you’re here, pick up a pair of quality, stylish shades to help you see better and healthier this summer.

Quality Is Key When It Comes to Sunglasses

Posted on May 28, 2018

Man in glasses

For many, sunglasses are far more than a pretty accessory — they are an important part of protecting eyesight. Something to always keep in mind when tempted by a cute or trendy pair of cheap shades — you only get one set of eyes! To protect your eyes, we highly recommend wearing sunglasses with high-quality lenses, as they typically offer more complete protection from harmful UV rays.

Hey, there’s a reason the FDA classifies sunglasses as a medical device!

We also strongly suggest choosing lenses that are polarized. If you’ve ever worn polarized lenses, you’ll know that they make a world of difference in how comfortable you feel in direct sunlight. Polarized lenses have tiny parallel grooves in them. Light comes bouncing in from at all directions, but only the light that is aligned with the grooves makes it to your eyes. Because of the way the grooves are aligned in the lenses of sunglasses, the glare you see from something like the sun reflecting off water is reduced.

Did you know that most “cheap” sunglasses actually just block light, causing eyes to dilate? If the lenses don’t also protect from the UV spectrum, then more of the harmful light gets in. This can cause significant damage over time.

At Longe Optical, we make sure corners aren’t cut by doing many of the steps of the lens creation process in-house. This way, we can oversee all the details, ensuring quality control and guaranteeing you get the exact product you paid for. We purchase our lenses from ZEISS, the industry’s premier lens manufacturer. ZEISS has been in business since 1846, and in addition to providing the highest-quality lenses, they even provide optics for NASA projects, like the Hubble Space Telescope!

We hope you’ll think twice about going the cheap route on your next sunglasses purchase and that you’re convinced that it’s important to not sacrifice quality for style or price. Having a high-quality pair of sunglasses should be at the top of your summer checklist, and you won’t find a better selection in Fort Wayne than at Longe Optical!