Why Do Your Eyes Water When You Yawn?

It doesn’t happen for everyone, but many people experience watery eyes after an especially big yawn. But why? What’s going on in the eye that causes those errant drops to fall?

Dry your eyes and read on to find the cause.

Two things are happening. The first pertains to the lacrimal glands—the glands above the outer part of the eye that produce tears and eye moisture. During a yawn – especially a powerful yawn where you finding yourself shutting your eyes – the lacrimal gland gets squeezed, pushing out a bit of extra moisture in the form of a tear. At the same time, the area of the eye called the lacrimal puncta, where excess tears drain out of eye, gets temporarily closed off.

This causes there to be no way out for the water in your eyes but to drip out as a tear. And there you have it—your eyes water when you yawn because squeezing your eyes shut for a moment pushes out a tear.

Is This Normal?

Yes, you have nothing to worry about if you find this happening. It has nothing to do with emotion; it is purely physiological.

Do You Have Watery Eyes Often?

Outside of yawning, watery eyes can be caused by over-secretion of the tear ducts, either due to irritation on the eyes or inflammation of the eye itself. Or, just like with yawning, if your tear drainage channel (the puncta) is blocked or too narrow, the excess moisture won’t drain as it should. To treat overly watery eyes, try eye drops. This will moisten the eyes so your tear ducts won’t have to work overtime.

Or you can always contact us at Infinite Eye Care for more guidance!

Infinite Eye Care Gives Back—From Infants to Roller Derby

At Infinite Eye Care, we are dedicated to improving the lives of our customers and our community, whether that’s by giving the best care for your family’s eyes or by making an impact in the world around us. Here are some of the ways we are involved in our local and broader community.

Strides Against Breast Cancer

The “Infinite Pink” team will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides of Central Minnesota walk. Our goal is to raise $1,500 to support the fight against breast cancer, and we need your help! You can join the team and walk with us on October 14th, or make a donation. A $20 donation gets you an “Infinite Pink” t-shirt!

InfantSEE

Infinite Eye Care is proud to offer free InfantSEE assessments for children ages 6 months to 1 year. These evaluations are recommended in addition to your child’s eye exam done by your pediatrician. 1 in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems. The InfantSEE session may include assessing eye movement ability, eye health, and excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, allowing for earlier identification and treatment of these issues.

Back to School Screenings

Dr. Tom and other volunteers have recently helped screen approximately 800 kids in area school districts. It was found that over 35% of the kids needed referral for further assessment by local eye care providers. Of them, about 50% are not currently wearing any corrective lenses and have probably not been to see an eye care professional.

Identifying when children need further assessment can be a major benefit to parents, and we’re happy to help our local students in this way.

Reading Bug Program

Infinite Eye Care wants to encourage young readers to keep up their interest in books throughout the summer months. Whether children are reading on their own or enjoy books read to them (through our “Read to Me, Please” Program), the Reading Bug Program encourages kids to sign up to win prizes as they reach the goal of 10-15 books through the summer!

SCAR Dolls Sponsor

There is nothing quite like the speed and tenacity of our local Roller Derby team, the Saint Cloud Area Roller Dolls. Infinite Eye Care is proud to sponsor this local team of athletes.

Eyeglasses Recycling

We are proud to support the Minnesota Lions Club Eyeglass Recycling Initiative, and we are a collection site for used glasses. Don’t throw them away; recycling them at our location!


We believe that meaningful relationships don’t just apply to the patients walking through our doors, but that we are part of something bigger. We hope you will be a part of some of our philanthropic initiatives in the local community!

Dr. Tom's 2016 Eye Health Resolutions

2016 marks Dr. Tom Johnson’s 27th year in the eye care industry. His knowledge and willingness to help his patients with every eye care need is what makes him one of the top Family Optometrists in Central Minnesota. So with the start of a new year, here are some tips from Dr. Tom on how you can improve your eye health in 2016:

1. Regular Visits to Your Eye Doctor  

Reviewing your eye health on a regular basis makes discovering potential problems (such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, refraction based lazy eye, etc) easier. Treatment early on is better and more effective than discovering a problem later and trying to reverse more significant damage.

2. Eating Carrots Can Be a Good Thing

Old wives tale? Not really. Leafy green veggies and orange colored veggies like carrots or squash are rich in antioxidants, which can radically slow down the process of certain sight blinding diseases.

3. Rule of 20/20/20

If on a monitor or reading for long periods of time, follow the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at a space 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives the eye a chance to rest and lessens the chance or severity of future nearsighted advancements and general strains to the eye.

4. Contact Lens Health

Some folks don’t know that you CAN wear certain contact lenses overnight or for a certain amount of time. More importantly, some don’t know that the wearing of ANY contact lens overnight can lead to a vision debilitating infection, and can even create a scar that will lead to permanent vision loss. NOT FUN. Know your lenses.

5.  Dry Eye  

There are many conditions that can lead to dry, scratchy eyes, which can also cause reduced visual ability, even with your best glasses or contact lens prescription. There is merit to regular hot lid compress cleaning every day - it will increase the performance of your tears and lessening the dry eye symptoms. We can illustrate how to properly perform lid treatments, and when used with other meds or treatment options, they can drastically help dry eyes.

6. Glasses Cleaning  

What a puzzle. I’ve seen the most absurdly scratched glasses mostly from the people who feel they never see clearly and they need to “power scratch” their glasses. The more they scrub, the worse they see. At Infinite Eye Care, we train our patients how to properly clean daily in a way that scratches (while not impossible) are much less likely. I often stop by our in-office lab and illustrate it to my patients myself. I can describe it, but it’s so much easier to teach in person. Stop in and see a first-hand demonstration on how to properly clean your glasses.

For more information and assistance or to book an appointment visit infiniteeyecare.com or give us a call at 320.257.4990. We wish you a healthy and happy 2016!

Healthy Vision and Ultraviolet Awareness Month

May was Healthy Vision and Ultraviolet (UV) Awareness Month, and with the sunny summer months ahead of us, we want to continue to discuss how UV rays can be harmful and how to protect yourself from some of its negative impacts. Most people associate the negative effects of UV rays with sunburn and skin cancer, but are not as aware of the negative affect they have on your eyesight or the kinds of eye problems they can cause.

There are several different eye problems that can arise from UV rays including Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, Pteryglum, Skin Cancer, and Corneal Sunburn. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization says that UV radiation from the sun and from tanning beds poses a threat to healthy eyesight. How you ask? Depending on the types of UV rays, they can affect your eyesight in different ways. There are two types of UV rays- UV-A and UV-B. UV-A rays can hurt your central vision. It has a lower energy and is penetrated deep into the eye, which may injure the macula. UV-B rays can do damage to your cornea and lens; these types of rays are considered to be more dangerous.

It is difficult to constantly keep your eyes protected from the sun, but some of the most effective ways are to know the dangers of UV rays and to stay informed about your eye health. If you do not take the time to stay informed and just ignore the health of your eyes, it will come back to haunt you later on in life.

It is also important to carry a pair of sunglasses or a hat as often as possible. Sunglasses are a great way to protect your eyes, however, be careful about the kind you choose. Some sunglasses are designed with fashion in mind and have no UV protection. While one pair of glasses may be trendier, just remember that long after that trend it out of fashion, you will still need your eyesight.

Lastly, wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap because it can actually block about half of the UV rays that may hit your eyes. Hats are a helpful alternative if you do not have a pair of sunglasses handy, though the combination of the two is the most effective way to protect your eyes.

The sun may not seem to be causing harm every day, but each time you leave yourself unprotected, you put yourself at risk of exposure to harmful UV rays. Even though May is UV Awareness Month, be sure to keep your eyes protected all year round.

Be sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses from Infinite Eye Care.

The Reading Bug

Looking for something both fun and educational to occupy the little ones in your life this summer? Take reading “To Infinity and Beyond” by helping Dr. Tom catch the Reading Bug this summer!

Studies show that kids who read during the summer months retain better skills, making this program perfect for kids of all ages and gives parents a reason to encourage their children to read throughout the summer. For children who cannot read yet, they can participate in a “Read to Me, Please” program. These children participate by having someone share 20 books with them. Those that are able to read will finish 10-15 books throughout the summer and the first 30 children to return their completed reading logs will receive a special out-of-this-world prize!

Even if you are not one of first 30 participants to complete the reading log, you will still receive a prize from one of these generous donors: Summerland, Domino's Pizza, Great River Bowl, Marcus Theaters, Air Max, Chuck E Cheese, & The Skatin’ Place! Each time a child finished a book, an adult signs their log; once the reading log is completed, bring it to Infinite Eye Care to receive a prize and register for the grand prize drawing! 

Everyone can enter this drawing to win one of three grand prizes that will be drawn in June, July, and August! The Grand Prize will be a backpack filled with school goodies, Toys R’ Us Gift Cards, Space Aliens tokens, Summerland passes, and much more! 

Join us from June 2nd to August 22nd to catch the Reading Bug this summer with Dr. Tom!

Foods That Will Improve your Eye Health

As the seasons being to change, so will the foods that you see in your everyday diet. Change it up even more with some of these power foods! These five foods will not only help protect and improve your eye health, but will also leave your taste buds (and eyes) wanting more:

1.    Blackcurrants. These berries contain some the highest levels of the antioxidant anthocyanins and are extremely rich in essential fatty acids. These fatty acids lend added support to their anti-inflammatory properties, which set them a notch above the rest in foods that nourish your eyes. Many opt for using blackcurrant seed oil, but when these berries are in season eating them whole is always an option.  These berries are especially popular in breakfast muffins! You can find this delicious recipe here.

2.    Bilberry. No, that was not a typo. These berries are a close relative to the blueberry, but tend to be difficult to grow and cultivate. They also contain high amounts of anthocyanins similar to the blackcurrant. Research on these berries has shown that the bilberry extract is effective for the prevention of macular degeneration and cataracts. Bilberries are another delicious powerhouse food for eye health, especially when added in a pie.

3.    Kale. One of the hottest food trends right now is Kale, and we aren’t complaining! Green leafy vegetables are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important nutrients for eye health and clear vision. Kale is one of the most lutein-rich foods, but you can also find it in foods such as carrots, squash, and other orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. If you’re looking for something that is both good tasting and good for you, check out these 10 healthy recipes using kale.

4.    Organic Pastured Egg Yolks. One of the best ways to take advantage of these nutrients is by eating these foods raw. Eating just one raw egg yolk contains .25 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin. Keep in mind that when you consume raw eggs, finding a high-quality source is critical to avoid foodborne illnesses. Make sure your eggs are from organically raised and pastured hens to reduce these risks.

5.    Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon. This power food contains two essential eye nutrients: omega-3 fats and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is an exceptionally potent antioxidant that has been found to protect against a number of eye diseases, including blindness, and is also low in mercury. The omega-3 fat provides structural support to cell membranes that boost eye health and protect retinal function. These recipes will help make eating this super food both easy and delicious!

You’ve just taken a look at five essential power foods that will help improve and protect your eye health. Now go out and cook up something that is both delicious and good for you. You, and your eyes, deserve it!

Eyesight 101

With the end of the year comes the end of another school semester, and that means exams and extra studying. High school and college students are cramming and planning out all sorts of activities this month and trying to fit studying somewhere in between. Many don’t realize that all that time spent pouring over notes and staring at a computer screen can do more than a bit of damage to their eyes. Whether you are a student yourself, or have children spending the month cramming their minds, think about some ideas to maintain healthy eyes.

Stressed Out

Stress causes all sorts of problems: weight gain, anxiety, restless sleep, (the list goes on and on), but did you know it also can do harm to your eyes? One of the major complications caused by stress is high blood pressure. When blood pressure goes up, your internal eye pressure can do the same. Over time, high pressure to the optic nerve can lead to Glaucoma. Stress is also a trigger to the sometimes comically portrayed (though still very irritating) eye twitch. Though typically not dangerous, an eye twitch can last anywhere from minutes to days long. Take the time to decompress: exercise, listen to music, take a walk, anything that takes your mind, and eyes, somewhere else for a bit.

Badvision.com…

The transition between looking at a keyboard, computer screen, and surrounding distractions strains our eyes. Computer images sometimes have a perceivable “flicker” on the screen, and our eyes read them differently than printed words. Eye strains can cause headaches or back and neck pain, as well as damage to your eyes. Be sure to unplug yourself every now and then and rest your eyes. Or, believe it or not, you can get a prescription for glasses specifically for computer use.

Go to Sleep!

The benefits of a full-night’s sleep span many areas of health, including eyesight. Missing a few precious hours adds dark circles under your eyes, but without at least five hours of rest your eyes do not properly replenish themselves. Lack of sleep can stop your eyes from reaching their full potential, so be sure to get plenty of rest at night.

End of terms can be the most stressful on students and parent alike. Infinite Eye Care reminds you to take the good with the bad this time of year. Take heed from these tips and enjoy the rest of your 2014 year!

Making Strides Against Central MN

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Are you doing anything to help this cause? If not, now’s your chance to do so!

At Infinite Eye Care, we have formed a team, Infinite Pink, to help support the fight against breast cancer! Our team will be walking at the Making Strides of Central MN Walk at SCSU’s Halenbeck Hall on October 18th and would LOVE for you to join us! Registration & photos start at 7 am and the 3-mile walk begins at 9 am. We will walk rain or shine so make sure to come prepared.

Our goal, as a team, is to raise $1500. With your help, we will be able to reach this goal. While a number of you have mentioned interest in joining a team, Team Infinite Pink has great incentives if you join the team. You could get a cool t-shirt designed by Facetime Business Resources!  

Here’s all we need you to do:

• Click the link below & donate $25 (by Friday 10/10/2014) or more, you will receive a t-shirt and can walk the fun event on 10/18 with us.
• Click the link below & donate $40 (by Friday 10/10/2014) or more, you will receive a t-shirt, walk the walk, and receive 20% off ANY product at IEC until 12/31/14.
• If you qualify for a t-shirt and plan to join us for the walk on 10/18, email Dr. Tom at drtom@infiniteeyecare.com.

Donate or Join Team Infinite Pink Here

This is truly an amazing event and we would be honored to even have you join us for fun; so don’t let finances refrain you. Your presence is a gift in itself. Thank you for your support.

Importance Of Back To School Eye Exam

Did you know 80% of all learning is done through vision?

Good vision is a crucial part in your child’s success in school. With the first day of school coming right around the corner, it is important to send your child back to school seeing clearly! You can view our hours here.

(Dr. Tom checks a child's eyes at a volunteer vision screening)

Regular eye exams are recommended for everyone at least once a year. Our vision naturally changes with age, which makes regular eye exams crucial. 95% of vision problems in kids can be fixed if detected early. Here are some signs your child may be experiencing vision impairment:

•  Loses place while reading 
• Avoids tasks that require good vision
• Frequent squinting or eye- rubbing while reading or watching television
• Repeated shutting or covering of one eye
• Holds a book closer than normal 
• Uses finger to maintain place while reading 

(Jeff Udy recording near vision standings)

Click here for more signs and information on visual impairment. If you notice any of these signs in your child’s behavior schedule an eye exam with us today!

Scheduling an appointment with us can be easily done through our website. You can also schedule an appointment via telephone at: 320- 257- 4990.

Anti-Fatigue Lenses and What They Can Do For You

With technology today, it’s hard to go a day without staring at some type of screen. From long days at work staring at the computer or even scrolling through your phone, screens are unavoidable. By the end of the day your eyes are exhausted. 

Essilor Anti-Fatigue lenses address the symptoms found in Visual Fatigue Syndrome (VFS), which 60% of the population suffers from. The side effects these endless hours of screen watching have on you include:

 

•  Blurry vision
•  Dry eyes
•  Eye strain
•  Fatigue
•  Difficulty focusing
•  Headaches
•  Light sensitivity

If you tend to experience these side effects frequently you should consider Essilor Anti-fatigue glasses. Essilor Anti- Fatigue lenses are proven to decrease visual fatigue by 50%. These lenses are recommended for people who are nearsighted ages 18- 40 who experience the symptoms of fatigued eyes and people who are far sighted ages 35-45 who are having trouble reading but are not yet ready for progressive lenses.

Anti- Fatigue lenses are specialized to give the wearer’s eyes clarity and comfort when focusing up-close for long periods of time. There is an area of specific correction located at the bottom of the lens, which helps facilitate your eyes in focusing. This area is added to your current prescription to allow the best vision and comfort as possible.

For more information on Essilor Anti- Fatigue lenses please visit our site at: http://bit.ly/SME0c9.