Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS on October 6, 2023 Do you know the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? They both play an important role in the health of your eyes, but there are differences in their training and expertise.  In this guide, we’ll explain basic terms like optometry and ophthalmology, and how each of these professions works. By learning about the different types of eye care, it will be easier to understand which one is best for your needs.   What Is an Optometrist? An optometrist is an expert in taking care of your eyes and vision. They perform eye ..read more

Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS on September 6, 2023 Have you heard that reading in the dark is bad for your eyes? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Parents and teachers have been warning kids about this issue for generations. But is there any truth to this claim? While reading from books and digital screens in low-light conditions shouldn’t cause permanent damage to your vision, it can lead to problems like eye strain and computer vision syndrome.  Below, we’ll clear up some common misconceptions about reading in the dark and offer valuable tips for maintaining healthy eyes and ..read more

Eye drops can help soothe eye allergies, relieve blurry vision from dry eyes, and treat some eye infections and diseases. However, they can’t do any of that if you don’t put them in your eyes the right way.  To get the full desired effect of your prescription or over-the-counter eye drops, follow these steps: Read the directions – If you have prescription eye drops, follow your eye doctor’s instructions about how many drops to put in and how often to use them, along with any other important information.  Wash your hands – It’s a good idea to wash your hands and dry them with a clean ..read more

If you wear glasses, you’re probably no stranger to the frustration and inconvenience of foggy lenses. Whether you’re wearing a mask or moving from cold weather into a warm room, foggy glasses can hinder your vision and become a source of annoyance.  Fortunately, there are ways to combat this problem so you can maintain constant clear vision in your designer eyewear. Below, we explore helpful ways to keep your glasses from fogging up so you can see better and feel more comfortable. Why Do Glasses Fog Up? Before discussing solutions, it’s important to understand why glasses fog up in the ..read more

Did you know that having two different-colored eyes is a condition called heterochromia? This is also the term used when one or both of your eyes has more than one color in the iris (the colored part of the eye).  The color of the iris is determined by the amount of a pigment, called melanin, that you have in your body. This pigment helps determine the color of your eyes, hair, and skin. For example, the less melanin you have, the lighter your eyes will be.  Heterochromia most often results from a harmless genetic mutation that happens before birth. This mutation affects the genes th ..read more

What Does It Mean to Dilate Your Pupils? Having dilated pupils means the size of your pupils (the little black dots in the center of your eyes) is larger than normal. Pupil dilation is a natural response that the eyes have to low-light environments. However, an eye doctor will sometimes force the pupils to dilate so they can perform specific exams or procedures. How Pupil Dilation Works The role of the pupil is to adjust in size to allow the correct amount of light into the eye. For a clear image to result, there must be a precise amount of light that focuses through to the back of the eye an ..read more

Crazing is a web of hairline cracks in the anti-reflective coating of your eyeglass lenses. Looking through a pair of crazed lenses can make things seem blurry or cloudy, and simply cleaning the lenses does not help. While anti-reflective coating on lenses has several benefits (preventing annoying light reflections, eliminating a glare over your eyes, etc.), they require a bit more care to avoid crazing and other types of damage. What Causes Lens Crazing? A number of things can cause lens crazing. Some of the most common causes include: Extreme temperatures – When lenses are exposed to hot o ..read more

Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS on 7/26/2023 Remember the last time you saw a colorful rainbow, watched an exciting film, or read your favorite book? Your eyes make these experiences — and more —possible. So, have you ever thought about how your eyes work? You can imagine them as powerful cameras with special lenses and screens. And there’s plenty more where that came from. Get ready to discover eight interesting — and strange — eye facts for kids.  Let’s dive in and learn together:   1. The Eye Works Like a Camera Lens Eyes are like intricate machines with many moving parts. The fr ..read more

Determining which of your eyes is dominant is easy to do at home. But if you need assistance, you can always ask your eye doctor. Here’s some more information on what eye dominance (or ocular dominance) is, how to test for it, and why it may be important for you to know.   What Is a Dominant Eye? Your dominant eye refers to your “leading eye” or the eye that your brain naturally prefers to use. In more scientific terms, it’s the eye that sends a stronger message to the visual component of your brain. For example, if you are right-eye dominant and you’re going to use a telescope or microsc ..read more

If you have hazel eyes, you’ve probably been told that your eyes look green, brown, brownish-green, or greenish-brown. In fact, all of these descriptions are true because your eyes are not just one color. Read on to learn more about this beguiling eye color.   What Color Are Hazel Eyes? Hazel eyes are a combination of green and brown. For this reason, they’re often described as hazel green or hazel brown. They also can have flecks of other colors such as amber and gold. What Causes Hazel Eyes? All eye colors are determined by a combination of genetics and the amount and type of melanin i ..read more