On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, the last time a total solar eclipse will be viewable from the continent until 2033. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, temporarily blocking the view of the sun from a part of the earth. It’s an incredible and rare sight to behold — but looking at a total or partial eclipse can severely and permanently damage your eyes and eyesight if not done with proper protection.  The major cities inside the path of the total eclipse are Mazatlan, Torreon, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth ..read more

Save Your Vision Month is here. We at DEF remind you to prioritize your eyes in 2024 In honor of Save Your Vision Month, here are some everyday things you can control to help “Save Your Vision”. Enjoy a cup of tea –Green tea contains antioxidants, like vitamins C and E, lutein, and zeaxanthin that help protect against AMD and cataracts. It is it hydrating, helping you produce tears. Take time to blink – On an average you blink about 15 – 20 times a minute. However, that rate drops by half when viewing text on a screen. Try using the 20/20/20 rule when staring at a screen: Every 20 minutes ..read more

Summer is almost over and it’s back to school season! As parents, many of us are busy ensuring our kids are ready and prepared for the new school year; worrying about school supplies, new clothes, and new haircuts. There is always a long list of things to do before school starts. But something that often gets overlooked is getting your child’s eyes examined annually. Early eye examinations are crucial to make sure children have normal, healthy vision so they can perform better at schoolwork and play. Early identification of a child’s vision problem can be crucial because children often are mor ..read more

What Is Blue Light? Blue light, also known as high-energy visible (HEV) light, is a color in the visible light spectrum that can be seen by human eyes. These wavelengths of visible and non-visible light are measured in nanometers (nm), and, in general, the shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy. Blue light is a short wavelength, which means it produces higher amounts of energy. Unlike other forms of light, the eyes cannot effectively filter blue light, so more can pass through the eye to the retina. Blue light produces both benefits and concerns for our eyes and overall health. Where A ..read more

National Cataract Awareness Month is celebrated in June. The awareness campaign promotes information about the eye condition that is the leading cause of treatable vision loss in the U.S.  Yes, this is a scary fact, but no need to be frightened because cataracts are treatable with an outpatient surgery, which has over a 97% success rate.* Vision loss from cataract is caused by clouding on the lens of the eye. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a crystal-clear artificial lens.  This common eye condition mostly affects people over 50 and the causes can range ..read more

Summer is almost here, whether you’re hanging out in the backyard pool, at the beach or spending quality time outdoors with family, it’s important to remember your eye safety — no matter how much fun you are having.  Cornea burn, dry eye, tired eyes, pain and allergies are some of the common eye issues of the summer season. When people think of sunburns, the focus mostly is on skin but very few are aware of the fact that excessive heat and harmful UV rays can also lead to corneal burns, a condition where one gets blurry vision, dryness and a gritty feeling in the eye. To help keep your e ..read more

April is Women’s Eye Health Month to educate women about the steps they can take today to help preserve vision in the future.  Women make up most of the 4.4 million Americans age 40 and older who are visually impaired or blind. Some eye conditions can cause vision loss and even blindness. These include: Cataracts, a clouding of vision caused by changes in the lens of the eye. Diabetic-retinopathy, which causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. Glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve caused by increased eye pressure. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) gradually affects ..read more

Learn about Dr. Henry Klassen’s clinical trials utilizing retinal “stem cells” to slow or prevent vision loss in patients with blinding retinitis pigmentosa.    The post DEF Helps Bring Vision-Saving Treatment To Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa appeared first on Discovery Eye Foundation ..read more

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month is observed annually every February. It’s an awareness month targeted at spreading information about AMD and other sight threatening diseases that could lead to visual impairment. AMD is a disease that is a leading cause of low vision in Americans older than 50 years of age. The macula is the part of the eye affected by this disease, a pigmented, oval-shaped part of the retina. About 5mm in diameter, it is responsible for the central vision required for driving, reading, and fine detail. AMD, is a progressive disease that causes retinal ce ..read more

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and the perfect time to raise awareness about this disease. Early on there are no symptoms.  In fact, many people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. Learn about glaucoma and the steps you can take to reduce your risk of vision loss. There are several types of glaucoma, although the most common type of glaucoma is age-related Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.  It affects people starting at age 40, but can develop anytime later in life. So, the way to detect if you have it is to get regular thorough eye examinations every two years after age 40 ..read more