December 21 at 9:27 pm marks the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. That’s when the days will start to get longer. This means more difficulty with night driving. Have you noticed a lot of glare with oncoming headlights? Do those LED headlights drive you crazy? Well, you’re not alone. But what is causing this difficulty with driving at night? A major cause of glare driving at night is CATARACTS! In the dark, our pupils get larger and this allows more light to hit the lens behind the iris (colored portion). These are normal changes, but if you feel unsafe, please have your eyecare prof ..read more

There has been a newly updated list of recalled eye drops (updated 11/6/23). Some of these drops have been linked to infection causing partial vision loss or blindness. Some have been linked to death. If you have been using these drops, please discontinue immediately and call your eye care professional with questions or concerns. All drops in these lots were recalled starting October 25, 2023. CVS, Rite Aid, and Target are removing them from their shelves. Leader, Rugby, and Velocity may still be available online so check to make sure you do not have any. The newest drop update includes Walma ..read more

I see some shimmering in my vision”. This is a common phenomenon we call an ocular migraine. It typically looks like a kaleidoscope or a jagged “C” shape at the edge of your vision.         It can also be a loss or dimming of part of your vision in one eye, lasting 20-30 minutes. Some people will get a headache afterward, some will not. While it’s not completely understood what causes an ocular migraine, similar triggers to migraine headaches have been associated: with caffeine, stress, etc.         Mild over-the-counter medications can help with head ..read more

This is a great question for families with children in sports or activities. What is the minimum age to start wearing contacts? The short answer is usually 12 years old. There are definitely exceptions! If your child has a very high prescription, needs myopia control, or even participates in activities that would require lenses, we do work with families to ensure they are able to participate like other children. The child would still need to have a contact lens fitting. This includes an exam, class, and possibly some follow-up appointments. We need to measure your prescription, the curve of th ..read more

The school year will be fast approaching. Time for annual eye exams. Summertime, August in particular, is a popular month for checking eye health and need for glasses for kids. But how can you tell if your child actually needs glasses?  More is involved in determining glasses needs and binocular function than just reading a vision chart at the pediatrician’s office. It is of course an important part of an exam, but some children will do well reading the chart, but still have difficulty functioning visually.  A comprehensive exam will consist of visual acuity measurement (how well th ..read more

Summer is finally here, and that means it’s time for some fun i the sun! Whether you’re camping in beautiful Minnesota, gathering around a campfire with loved ones, doing yardwork, or enjoying various outdoor activities, it’s important to keep your eyes healthy and safe during these summer months. Here are some dos and don’ts to ensure your eyes are well taken care of: Sunglasses: You knew we were going to say it! Do wear sunglasses! UV can damage your eyes and the best way to protect them while out in the sun is Sunglasses and Prescription Sunglasses for those people that don’t wear contact ..read more

May is Healthy Vision Month! This covers many areas including a general eye exam. Even if you do not have any eye issues going on, it’s important to have a comprehensive eye exam from time to time. If you are young and healthy, we may recommend an exam every couple years. Healthy eyes and vision start with a good history, entrance testing including color vision and depth perception, a refraction to test for glasses, and a dilated retinal exam. Eye exams can sometimes prevent future eye issues like amblyopia or “lazy eye”, eye strain, glaucoma, or even inflammation due to autoimmune disorders ..read more

We have mentioned previously some eye drops in the news lately causing infections, and in one case, death. These drops include EzriCare and Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops and eye ointment. On March 1, 2023, Apotex “Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15% was recalled. This was due to concerns that there were cracked caps which could lead to infection. Pharmedica “Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops were also recalled due to sterility concerns. They have found 64 patients across 13 states were infected with a bacteria, pseudomonas aeruginosa, that can lead to blindness. I ..read more

Have you been told you’re looking more tired lately? Do your eyelids droop down making you take more naps during the day? Do you feel like you’re looking older due to your eyelids drooping? It may be time for an eyelid lift or Blepharoplasty! How can you tell when it’s time to have it done? If you have your lids lifted too early, it may make it hard for your eyelids to close. This can lead to a bunch of new problems with dry eyes. Another important question, will your insurance even cover it? Depends. Of course, it depends on your type of insurance, but it also depends on how much your lids a ..read more

Are spots in my vision normal? The answer is….maybe. It is VERY common to have “floaters” in your vision, they can occur with age. Floaters some patients describe as cobwebs, hairs, or dust floating in their vision. A burst of new floaters can be concerning and an appointment should be scheduled with your eye doctor. Your eye is filled with a gel-like fluid called the vitreous. Over time, the gel begins to shrink and liquefy. These pockets that form from shrinking (seen in the image) create a spot in your vision. Some describe it as a “blob”, “bug”, or “jellyfish”, among others. If the gel shr ..read more