Prevent Springtime Allergies by Purifying the Air in Your House

Spring is a refreshing time of the year, but for allergy sufferers, it also causes a lot of discomfort. Even when you are indoors, it is hard to escape the itchy, watery eyes, nasal congestion, and other symptoms that come along with allergens such as dust mites, mold, and pet dander.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to purify the air in your home and reduce allergens. Add these simple tasks to your spring cleaning list to purify your air for a more comfortable home.

Remove Clutter

The fewer items you have in a home, the fewer places there are for allergens to build up. Allergens tend to collect on the surfaces of items around your home, so limit the number of items you have to only what is necessary. This will also make the rest of your cleaning tasks easier to complete.

Dust Correctly

According to everydayhealth.com, the most common trigger of asthma and allergy symptoms in the home are dust mites. Dusting helps to remove dust mites, but only if done correctly. Traditional feather dusters often make allergy symptoms worse by dispersing dust particles into the air. Instead, try using a damp cloth or rag that will attract dust particles into the cleaning surface. You can also wear a dust mask while dusting if your allergy symptoms continue.

Vacuum and Clean Floors

Allergens don’t only collect on your furniture and decor, they also accumulate on your floors. Whether they are hardwood, carpeted, or tiled, your floors are likely collecting dust mites that can aggravate your allergy symptoms. Clean your floors often – especially by vacuuming carpets – to remove built-up dust mites hiding in the surface of your floors.

Wash Fabrics

Porous materials like cloth and fabrics can store dust more easily than other surfaces, so washing your clothes, bedding, and curtains can make a huge difference in your home’s air quality. Wash these items regularly to improve your allergy symptoms.

Humidity Control

According to National Allergy, 70-75% of a home dust mite’s weight is water, meaning that the humidity in your house has a direct impact on the dust in your home. Using a dehumidifier during the spring can limit the dust particles in your home. Be sure to clean and empty your home’s dehumidifier often to keep it running properly.

Air Filtration 

Finally, having the proper air filtration system in your home will be an easy solution to improving your home’s air quality. Be certain that your home’s air conditioning system is using HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to remove the most airborne allergens possible. This will be the simplest and one of the most effective ways of minimizing your allergy symptoms.


Removing the source of your allergies (a.k.a. Antigens) will often help. However, sometimes a little help is needed. When that time comes and the symptoms persist, call Infinite Eye Care for an allergy evaluation consult. You and your eyes will be glad you did.

The True Colors of Color Blindness

With spring quickly approaching, many people are eagerly awaiting the chance to see the colors of outdoor life to return. Green grasses, red flowers, and blue skies are on the horizon, however, some people may see these sights quite differently.

What is Color Blindness?

Color Vision Deficiency (CVD), more commonly referred to as color blindness, is a condition that affects the ability for a person to perceive different colors (typically red, green, and blue light). According to Colourblindawareness.org, it affects about 8% of men and .5% of women across the world, meaning that in the US, approximately 25.5 million men and 1.5 million women experience some form of color blindness.

How Does One Become Color Blind?

Color blindness is typically a genetic condition. According to the National Eye Institute, the mutated genes that cause the most likely form of color blindness are contained on the X chromosome, which explains why men are much more likely to be colorblind. Men have only one X chromosome while women have two. For a woman to be colorblind, both of her X chromosomes must be affected. If at least one of them contain an unmutated gene, she will not be colorblind. However, that woman would still be a carrier of the mutated gene, which she can pass down to her offspring.

Why Does Color Blindness Happen?

An article on Allaboutvision.com states that color blindness occurs in the retina of the eye, which is a layer located at the back of the eye that is sensitive to light and sends impulses of this information from the optic nerve to the brain, which forms the image that we see. In color blind people, the retina fails to respond to variations in wavelengths that allow people to distinguish colors.

At a smaller level, the retina’s cones are responsible for recording color vision. A healthy human retina contains 6 to 7 million cones. In genetic forms of color blindness, certain types of cones are deficient or absent completely, making the retina unable to perceive particular colors.

Color blindness can also occur for a number of other reasons, including a number of diseases and eye conditions, such as cataracts.

How Do Color Blind People See Colors?

For people who can see all colors accurately, it can be hard to understand how people who are affected by color blindness see the world around them. Fortunately, there are resources that allow people to better understand how color blindness affects people. Visit webexhibits.org for a color blindness simulation that covers all color blindness scenarios.

As we said, some color blind people were not born that way, it was a result of an issue with their eyesight - yet another reason to stay up-to-date with all your vision exams. So if you see the world in full color, Keep it that way with an annual trip to Infinite Eye Care.

Eye Health: It’s Important in the Winter, Too!

Though you may not realize it, the Minnesota cold can damage your eyes. If you are brave enough to head out in the cold this winter, make sure you know the effects it can have on your health. Here are some common health issues and ways you can handle these eye problems.

The Cold’s Effect on Eyes

Winter weather can leave your eyes red, swollen and in pain. To put is scientifically, the extreme cold can constrict the blood vessels in the eye or even freeze your corneas. These conditions can lead to blurred vision, double vision, or even a loss of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your optometrist immediately; you may need medical care to fix your vision.

Sunburn

Yup, sunburn; it’s not just a problem for the summer. You might not think about it in the winter, but it shouldn’t be ignored. Protecting your eyes is necessary. Your eyes can suffer from something called Photokeratitis (aka snow blindness) and may actually be more dangerous in the winter, as the snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s light. To prevent UV light from injuring your eyes, be sure to wear UV-blocking sunglasses or goggles.

Discomfort From the Cold

The frigid, cold winter wind can also cause dry eyes, which will lead to some major discomfort. This discomfort could get worse when you are out and about enjoying the snow by skiing, snowboarding, or sledding. Be sure to protect your eyes when you are out enjoying the winter weather. If your eyes are consistently dry, make sure to carry lubricating eye drops with you. For more info, check out our blog about Dry Winter Eyes from 2013.

Indoor Issues

Sadly enough, the indoors may not be completely safe for your eyes either. During the winter, there are lower humidity levels indoors (and outdoors), which may cause dry eyes. If you notice this in your home, look into purchasing a humidifier. It’s also helpful to stay well hydrated.

The winter can be hard on your eyes, but thankfully, winter eye issues are easily managed. If you experience pain in your eyes after being in an extremely cold setting, immediately get into a warm spot and seek medical attention. If you experience consistent discomfort from cold winds blowing in your eyes, cover them or bring eye drops with you. And even though you won’t be spending your weekends on the lake (unless it’s in a fish house), sunglasses aren’t a bad idea.

No matter the conditions, always remember to protect your eyes. From your friends at Infinite Eye Care, have a happy and healthy new year!

New Happenings at Infinite Eye Care

At infinite Eye Care, we are always changing.  We are constantly trying to find ways to offer better services to our patients. Recently, we have added many new stylish frame options, updated our facility, and added new technology. At Infinite Eye Care we believe in constant progression, here is how we have improved recently:

Our New Frames

Frame styles are ever changing and we are dedicated to offering our customers the best options and the newest styles.  We have added six new brands of frames to our selection. No matter your style, we have the frames for you.

Ray Ban

Ray Ban debuted with their Aviator model glasses in 1937, since then Ray Ban has been a leader in both the sun and prescription eyewear. Ray Ban has been loyal to their core values of timeless style, authenticity, and freedom of expression. Come to Infinite Eye Care and try on the iconic symbol that is shared by celebrities and public figures all around the world.

Crocs Eyewear

Are you looking for a relaxed and fun style? Try the new Crocs eyewear line that offers a unique style and creative designs.  

Stepper- Imagewear

Stepper offers a durable and stylish frame that could be perfect for you. Stepper focuses on using all the technology and material available in order to offer a diverse collection.  Come in and see these distinct new frames.

Realtree

Are glasses not the first thing you think of when you hear Realtree? Real tree offers much more than just camouflage. Check out the variety of colors, sizes, and styles that come with the badge of outdoor honor that Realtree is known for.

Sperry L’amy

Looking to make a statement? Signature Sperry details are integrated into their eyewear collection.  Come in and check out the wide range of designs from luxury to sport, to kids and specialty sizes.

The Alexander Collection

Reveal your inner grace and sophistication in eyewear with new frames from the Alexander Collection. These designs offer fine handcrafted details, such as Swarovski crystal accents, metal inlays and delicate laser etching in acetate, metal, semi-rimless and combination frame styles. Stop by and see if the Alexander Collection is the right fit for you.

Updated Facility

Infinite Eye Care has a new look.]! We remolded our office to offer better customer service to our patients. We have expanded our front desk to allow for more eye exam stations. We have also added more frame racks to increase our customer’s selections.  Finally, we added a new glass display that is currently playing host to some exciting Ray Ban designed Frames. Come into our office and see the new look for yourself.

New Technologies

Here at Infinite Eye Care we are always keeping up with the latest technologies in ophthalmology. One of these new technologies is the Ivue OCT., which is like an MRI for the retina. In the past, we have only been able to look at the “surface” of the retina, but with this new technology, we are able to evaluate 10 layers deep behind the surface. This allows Dr. Tom to detect sight-threatening diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal detachments and tumors before physical symptoms start to appear.

Another new technology we offer is the iWellness exam. This precautionary exam identifies the first signs of serious eye diseases. Traditional eye exams, even with retinal photography, cannot provide this level of detail. We recommend all of our patients over 20 years of age receive this special test because catching a sight-threatening disease in its earliest stage is extremely important. Learn more about this new exam here.

           

Exciting New Technologies at Infinite Eye Care

       

At Infinite Eye Care, we are dedicated to offering the best services possible to our patients. This includes keeping up with the most advanced technology in the ophthalmology field. Recently, we have acquired a new piece of medical technology that is greatly improving our ability to scan the eye. The Ivue OCT. is a tool that Dr. Tom and the rest of the team will use to assess the retina, optic disc, and cornea.  This, along with the iWellness exam, will offer a much better understanding of our patient’s eyes.

Ivue OCT. is like an MRI of the retina in the back of the eye. In the past, we have only been able to look at the “surface” of the retina, but with this new technology, we are able to evaluate 10 layers deep behind the surface.

Catching Eye Problems Sooner

The ability to see into the layers of the retina allow the Infinite Eye Care team to spot the earliest signs of disease such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal detachments, tumors, neurological conditions and their causes, as well as some anterior disease of the cornea (the transparent layer on the front of the eye).  This Ivue tool is allowing our team to catch eye health issues before they start showing physical symptoms.

New iWellness Exam

Along with the Ivue OCT., we have added another new technology to analyze the health of the eye. The iWellness exam is a new way to check for eye problems. Sight-threatening diseases often show no outward signs or symptoms, until it becomes serious. Early detection is extremely important in order to reduce the risk of vision loss.  For this reason, we recommend a yearly screening using this new technology. The exam can be essential in the detection of eye conditions. Learn more about our iWellness exam and what it offers on our website.

These new technologies allow us to see the eye in ways we’ve never been able to before. The Ivue Oct. and iWellness exam are crucial for disease diagnosis. With these powerful clinical tools, we will offer our patients excellent care, which may give our team an advantage to detect eye health problems. Schedule an appointment with Infinite Eye Care today, and be sure to ask for your iWellness exam.

Infinite Eye Care Has Caught the Reading Bug!

It’s that time of year again - the Reading Bug Program has begun! Starting June 6th and continuing until August 19th, area kids have the opportunity to win prizes from Infinite Eye Care just by reading a few books!

Keep your kids’ time occupied with something educational, work on their reading skills, and help prevent learning loss known as “summer slide” during summer break. We are also continuing our “Read to Me, Please” Program for kids that are not yet old enough to read on their own.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Read. 10-20 books, depending on the age and reading level of the child.

Step 2: Complete the reading log. You can download a log from our website.

Step 3: Return you log to Infinite Eye Care.

Step 4: Win Prizes!

Guidelines:

• Kindergarten & younger “Read to Me, Please” 20 books 
• 1st Grade, adult reads to child/child reads to/with adult 15 books 
• 2nd Grade, child reads with adult, child reads books 12 books 
• 3rd Grade and older, child reads with adult / child reads books 10 books 

The first 30 children to complete their reading logs will receive a special “Bug” prize, and ALL participants will win a special prize from one of our sponsors. This year, our prizes are sponsored by The St. Cloud Skatin Place, The Fishing Pond Learning Store, Air Maxx Trampoline Park, Domino’s Pizza, Great River Bowl, Marcus Theatres, Dairy Queen, and Chuck E. Cheese’s!

Don’t forget to register to win one of the grand prize drawings happening in June, July and August. Visit our website or call (320) 257-4990 for more information.

Protecting Your Eyes From Summer's Sunny Hazard: UV Rays

UV or Ultraviolet rays are harmful to your eyes. The amount of UV radiation reaching earth is increasing, which is why it is more important than ever to wear sunglasses. Sunglasses are not just created for the “cool factor”, they are a crucial part of healthy eyes. Because UV damage is cumulative, it is important to wear sunglasses every time you go outside. Even infants should be wearing sunglasses because their eyes have not begun to cloud yet and are more sensitive to light.

Types of Ultraviolet Rays

There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. The most harmful of these are UVC rays, but thankfully, our atmosphere blocks virtually all of these rays from ever reaching the earth. UBV rays are shorter in wavelength, meaning they are lower energy. Small amounts of exposure cause our production of melanin -Our body’s natural defense against UV radiation (and the pigment that gives you skin a sun tan). High doses cause sunburn and increase your risk of wrinkles, freckles, premature aging, and skin cancer. UVA rays are perhaps the most detrimental to your eye health. These rays have the ability to pass through the cornea and reach the retina and lens of your eye. Overexposure can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration over time.

Common Light-related Eye Irritants

One of the most common eye irritations that can occur from exposure to excess amounts of UV radiation is photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is similar to that of a sunburn. The eye can feel itchy, have a burning sensation, or even have a gritty feeling. None of these symptoms are pleasant, but with the use of sunglasses, they can be prevented.

Your eyes are similar to your skin, if exposed to sunlight, they will get burned. This is how some people get cancer on their eyelids. Remember, even ten minutes outside at the right time of day can cause damage. Constant exposure to sunlight and other harmful light sources can cause macular degeneration later on in life.

People living in the mountains or one of the US Sunbelt states are at a higher risk of UV radiation damage. Tanning beds and sunlamps create artificial UV light and (contrary to some belief) still cause damage, possibly leading to skin cancer. Welders, medical technologists, graphics artists, and those who work in manufacturing electronic circuit boards are at risk of UV damage. If you have had cataract eye surgery or if you have a retinal disorder, your eyes can be more sensitive to harmful rays. Even certain medications can increase your eyes sensitivity to UV radiation.

What to Look for in Your Sunglasses

When deciding on a pair of sunglasses, there are a few things you should consider. Sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection provide the best protection and those that absorb most HEV rays are important. Also, close fitting sunglasses that slightly wrap to your face provide the best protection. Sunglasses should screen out 75-90 percent of visible light, this means those lighter tinted sunglasses may not be the best for long sunlight exposure.

At Infinite Eye Care, we have numerous options of sunglasses to choose from. We will help you find the ones that fit your face, provide the right exposure protection, and help you avoid problems later on in life. Visit our website for more information on the sunglasses we have in store.

Love Your Eyes: Tips for Healthier Eyes

It might sound like an exaggeration, but taking care of your eyes is crucial to living a happy life. Don’t think so? We use our eyes nearly every waking moment to drive, work, read, watch tv, surf the web (maybe for a blog about eye health), and enjoy time with friends and family ­ It is especially important to take care of your eyes. Use these simple tips on a regular basis and you can look forward to healthier eyes and a clearer life.

Regular Eye Exams

Regular visits to the eye doctor are important to ensure eye health and eye exams help avoid problems that may become worse without treatment. Eye exams are short and safe, and should be scheduled with your eye doctor annually.

Avoid wearing contact lenses longer than 19  hours

Take care of your contacts! Most users know that contact lenses can become harmful ­ even cause permanent damage ­when left in the eye too long. It is especially important to remove, clean and change your contacts as your eye care provider has recommended.

Remove eye makeup

Makeup can cause redness and irritation in the eye when left on the skin overnight; especially eye makeup and eyeliner. Remove makeup every day to prevent irritation and maintain healthier eyes.

Don’t rely on Allergy drops

Eye drops are meant to temporarily reduce the irritation in the eye, but don’t rely on them too heavily. Because they are effective and create moisture in the eye, the eye can stop creating its own moisture and become more irritated. If you find you’re using your eye drops too often, contact your optometrist.

Wear Sunglasses

Always wear sunglasses when the sun is out ­ even in the winter. You may not be going to the beach, but the sun is still out, and you can bet it is bouncing off all that snow! Choose shades that are UVB and UVA protectant 99%­100% for the best protection. The younger you are when you start wearing sunglasses on a regular basis, the better it will be for your eyes when you are older.

Get Sleep

Sleep is the most important ingredient to almost any good habit. Get 7­8 hours of sleep a night. A good night’s sleep not only allows your eyes to rest, but excessive strain on your eyes can cause temporary blurriness.

Exercise Regularly

Just like sleep, regular exercise is very beneficial to any healthy lifestyle. Exercise can prevent glaucoma and macular degeneration, as well as keep you feeling better every day.

Keep Eyes Hydrated

This one is simple; drink plenty of water! Cucumbers on eyes prevent puffiness. Eye lubrication 

drops (not Visine) help, but remember that using eye drops too often can make them worse. If your eyes do get too dry, avoid rubbing them, as this can cause accidental trauma.

Limit Screen Time

Look straight at a computer screen or TV screen, not angled down or up. Also, keeping good posture is good for overall health. Use the 20­20­20 rule: after 20 minutes of screen time, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A diet rich in Vitamin E, Zinc, Vitamin C, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega 3 fatty acids can help you see clearer and reduce eye complications later in life. In short, listen to your mother and eat your vegetables.

All in all, your eyes are an important part of everyday life, so take care of them now. Take time to take care of yourself and schedule an eye exam today. We would be glad to help. You can contact us online with any questions, or call Infinite Eye Care at 320­257­4990 to set up an appointment.

Glaucoma Awareness Month

In honor of Glaucoma Awareness month, we wanted to share facts and generate awareness about the disease that affects 200,000 + people per year. According to the National Eye Institute, Glaucoma is, “a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness.” Here are 5 facts about Glaucoma, and 3 ways to prevent it:

What we know:

1. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. They also state that 10% of people who receive proper treatment, still go blind from the disease.
2. Three million Americans have Glaucoma, but only half are aware that they have it.
3. African Americans are 15 times more likely to have Glaucoma, than Caucasians.
4. Glaucoma can affect the number of words you can read at one time, due to the loss of visual field.
5. Open Angle Glaucoma is the most common form, affecting 95% of people with the disease.

Preventing Glaucoma:

1. 
   Exercise, believe it or not, is a great way to prevent Glaucoma because it decreases Intraocular Pressure (Eye Pressure) which can lead to Glaucoma.

2. Wearing proper eye protection when playing sports or doing other activities can prevent Glaucoma. Often times, eye injuries lead to the development of the disease, making it extremely important to always protect your eyes.

3. Receive regular eye exams and checkups; early detection of Glaucoma can help the treatment of the disease. If you are under 40 years old, you should be checked every two to four years. If you are 40 to 54, every one to three years. If you are 55 to 64, you should be checked every one to two years, and if you are over 64 you should be getting checked every year.

Stop into Infinite Eye Care to get checked for Glaucoma. We run various tests to be sure you are safe from this vision-threatening disease. We also prescribe treatment for those already affected by the disease which can keep it from progressing. Call us at 320-257-4990 or visit our website to book your next eye appointment.

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!