Why You Should Avoid Drugstore Sunglasses

Sunglasses are meant to protect your eyes and your eyesight. But drugstore sunglasses are sometimes more of a novelty item than protective eyewear in Brookhaven, GA. If you wear eyeglasses, you’re much better off with prescription sunglasses or sunglasses from your optometrist’s office. Here’s why you should avoid drugstore sunglasses.

Insufficient UV Protection

Even if you see a sticker saying “100% UV protection” on the lens of a drugstore sunglasses, there’s no way of telling if it’s true. These mass-produced, cheap glasses may allow harmful UV rays to reach your eyes, which puts you at risk for cataracts, eye cancer, and macular degeneration.

Inferior Materials

Profit over quality is the standard for most drugstore sunglasses. The inferior material used to make them means they will break more easily, leaving you without the needed protection for your eyes.

Poor Optics

The lens curvature of drugstore sunglasses can distort your vision. This distortion can worsen poor eyesight over time and cause eye strain and disorientation in the short term.

Lack of Polarization

Many drugstore sunglasses fail to come with polarization in the lenses. Polarization controls the glare on surfaces, such as the car’s back window in front of you on the road and more. This could potentially lead to a motor vehicle accident and other mishaps.

No Prescription Options

Did you know that you can get prescription sunglasses at your optometrist’s office? But this isn’t an option with drugstore sunglasses. You’ll end up with multiple pairs of glasses, and it’s likely that you won’t wear your sunglasses consistently in the sunlight since they don’t offer the vision correction that you need.

Instead of wasting money on cheap drugstore sunglasses, invest in quality eyewear that will truly protect your eyes. Contact your optometrist in Brookhaven, GA, to book your next appointment.

Brookleigh Family Eyecare Offers Many Types of Eyeglasses

When it comes to eyeglasses in Brookhaven, GA, Brookleigh Family Eyecare has you covered. We offer everyday prescription lenses along with glasses for other occasions. You also have the option of adding special features to your glasses, such as scratch-resistant coating, transition lenses, or bifocals.

Prescription Eyeglasses

Your prescription for new eyeglasses might look like someone wrote it in a foreign language when you look at it for the first time. Optometrists use Latin abbreviations for the right eye, which is oculus dexter (O.D.), and the left eye, which is oculus sinister (O.S.). You will see numbers next to each of these that indicate the degree of vision correction you need with your new eyeglasses to get you as close to 20/20 vision as possible. Here are some other terms you will see:

  • Add: For bifocals or progressive lenses
  • Axis: Applicable if you have astigmatism
  • Cylinder: Lens power is needed if you have astigmatism
  • PD: Distance between your two pupils
  • Prism: Applicable if you have vision displacement or double vision
  • Sphere: Lens power required for each eye

Once you have your prescription in hand, you can buy your new eyeglasses onsite. Brookleigh Family Eyecare offers a wide range of lens and frame styles for everyone, from infants to seniors.

Other Types of Eyeglasses

Prolonged exposure to the sun without wearing sunglasses can damage the retina of your eyes. However, you may not be able to see well just wearing a pair of sunglasses you picked up at the store. Prescription sunglasses protect your eyes while giving you clear vision at the same time.

Some people only need reading glasses to ensure they can see clearly up close. We are happy to write you a prescription for reading glasses to help make reading and other hobbies more enjoyable. Please schedule an appointment to obtain new eyeglasses in Brookhaven, GA, today.

Contact Lenses vs. Eyeglasses: Which Option is Best?  

Finding visual clarity in your everyday life is highly important. Not only does this help when driving, shopping, and doing chores, but seeing clearly also allows you to stay focused and be more productive.

If your vision isn’t clear, contact lenses or eyeglasses could be right for you. However, choosing one option over the other isn’t easy. In this post, we’ll discuss some pros and cons of both contact lenses and eyeglasses. Additionally, we’ll also talk about who to call for dependable contact lenses and eyeglasses in Brookhaven. GA.

Contact Lenses — Pros and Cons

Contact lenses are loved by millions. One of the obvious benefits of contacts is that they’re essentially invisible. No one can ever tell you’re wearing them. This is beneficial if you don’t like the appearance of eyeglasses. Another perk is that contact lenses offer more natural vision. Nothing blocks your view, and the contacts move with your eye.

One downside of contact lenses is that they require much more care and maintenance compared to glasses. It’s essential to clean and store them properly.

Eyeglasses — Pros and Cons

Simplicity is arguably the leading advantage of eyeglasses. You put them on when you need them and take them off when you don’t. Furthermore, the care and maintenance process is also a breeze. Eyeglasses also come in various styles, so it’s easy to find options to suit your needs.

One disadvantage of eyeglasses is that they can distort your vision. They don’t move with your eye, so it’s a lot less natural. Additionally, eyeglasses can cause pressure and weight on your nose and ears, which may be uncomfortable.

If you’re interested in either contact lenses or eyeglasses, Brookleigh Family Eyecare is the name you can trust. Contact us today to work with the leading eye doctor in Brookhaven, GA!

 

How to Teach Kids to Take Care of Eyeglasses

When you buy eyeglasses for kids in Brookhaven, GA, the next step is teaching kids how to take care of them. Since kids can be tough on their things, it’s important to be proactive from day one. Here are some tips for parents.

Choose the Right Material

For kids, plastic frames are a better choice than metal frames. Plastic frames tend to be sturdier, and a few scratches on the frames won’t make much difference.

For lenses, parents should consider options such as scratch-resistant coatings. If the child plays sports, be sure to mention this to your Brookhaven, GA eye doctor, since special sports eyeglasses might be something to consider.

Look For Accessories

Consider purchasing some accessories such as straps that can help the child keep the eyeglasses secure if they need to rub their eyes or take off the glasses for a few minutes.

Purchase several eyeglass cases so there’s one everyplace the child frequents, such as the classroom, locker room, bedroom, living room, etc. It’s unlikely that a child will go looking for their eyeglasses case in a separate room just to make sure they go back in the case.

Let the Child Make Choices

As much as possible, let your child have a say in which pair of eyeglasses you buy for them. You could say that “anything on this wall” is available to them. Let them choose their own eyeglass case. Consider buying stickers they can decorate their eyeglass cases with.

Talk About Care Instructions

Sit down with your child and teach them how to clean their eyeglasses with micro-fiber cloth. You may have to demonstrate the technique several times.

Over time, your kids will learn to care for their eyeglasses just as they care for their toys. To browse available eyeglasses, please visit our office.

Should I Wear Glasses to Give My Eyes a Break from Contact Lenses?

If you wear contact lenses in Brookhaven, GA, you might be tempted to wear them constantly. As long as you have the right fit and brand, it’s easy to forget that they’re even in the eye at all. However, even if you’re meticulous about cleaning and replacing them, an optometrist can tell you that it’s important to give your peepers a break once in a while.

Why You Should Wear Your Glasses

Glasses essentially give your eyes the chance to rest. Unlike organs like the liver and heart, your eyes get oxygen directly from the air. If the cornea is blocked by a lens, it can cause the blood vessels in the eye to work overtime trying to make up the gap. Over time, that can actually impact your vision.

It’s important to note that contact lenses can be worn safely for up to 16 hours — meaning the effects aren’t dramatic enough to make drastic changes to your contact-wearing schedule. That being said, giving your eyes a break from the pressure by switching them out for your glasses can make a difference. That’s why even contact lenses that are designed for night-time use are recommended with some degree of caution by professionals.

Find an Optometrist in Brookhaven, GA

If you’re looking for an optometrist in Brookhaven, GA, Brookleigh Family Eyecare is here to help you see as comfortably as possible. We monitor how your eyes are progressing over time, otherwise known as the key to catching problems sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, contact lenses can make people more susceptible to infections or other forms of long-term damage. If there are anomalies, our staff is here to spot and treat them before they have the chance to get any worse.

Afraid of Losing Your New Glasses? Tips to Help

Did you just get new glasses from the eye doctor in Brookleigh, GA? If so, then you should have a plan to avoid losing them. Lost glasses can be an expensive and frustrating problem! Knowing what you can do to avoid losing your glasses can help you keep your glasses in your possession and on your face, where they belong.

Use a Case

Make it your habit to never put your glasses down on any surface without first putting them in a case. Glasses are harder to find when they’re not in a case, especially wire rim glasses, which tend to be very subtle and hard to spot. Buy a case that’s a bright, easy to see color.

Choose a Place Where Your Glasses “Live”

Make it a rule to only set down your glasses in a location where they “live.” This spot might be on your nightstand or on your dresser. Knowing that you only ever put down your glasses in one or two locations in your house will make them easy to find when you take them off your face. If you’re not at home and want to take your glasses off, make a rule that you can only set down your glasses in your purse, suitcase, backpack or similar location.

Don’t Take Your Glasses Off

The best way to avoid losing your glasses is to avoid taking them off. Make a habit of leaving your glasses on your face all the time.

Need New Glasses? Get An Eye Exam

Get an eye exam in Brookleigh, GA! Stop at Brookleigh Family Eyecare to get your next eye exam for an updated glasses prescription.

3 Tips to Maintain Your New Eyeglasses

Congratulations on your new eyeglasses! Your eyeglasses make an excellent addition to your personal appearance while also helping you see better. To ensure that your glasses continue to function, it’s important to take good care of them. If you’ve recently purchased new eyeglasses in Brookhaven, GA, these tips can help you take care of your glasses.

1. Keep Glasses In a Case

Glasses can get easily damaged when they’re not on your face. They can also get lost when they’re left folded on a table or in your purse. Keeping your glasses in a case can protect your glasses from scratches while also preventing them from becoming lost.

Hard cases offer more protection, while brightly colored cases are easier to find. Your eye doctor in Brookhaven, GA will likely offer a variety of cases for eyeglasses. Choose the right case for your needs.

2. Wash Glasses Daily

Wash your glasses daily to prevent pieces of debris and dust from reducing your glass’s effectiveness. A microfiber cloth is the best tool to use to wash your glasses.

It’s better to use glasses cleaner than it is to use plain water – glasses cleaner is gentler on your glasses and also more effective at removing grime. Your eye doctor will probably sell microfiber cloths and glasses cleaner; ask them about these products when you pick up your glasses.

3. Don’t Try to Adjust Glasses On Your Own

If your glasses should become bent for some reason, you might be tempted to bend your glasses back on your own. It’s better to bring your glasses in to the eye doctor for an adjustment if an adjustment is needed. If you bend your glasses on your own, you might apply too much pressure, which could lead them to become broken.

Do you have more questions about how to take care of your glasses? Call the professionals at Brookleigh Family Eye Care today!

Plastic Glasses Versus Wire Frames: What to Consider

So, you’re thinking about getting glasses and can’t decide which ones are best for you. Today’s glasses are made from different materials, with some frames being plastic and others being metal. Each frame type looks and performs differently. When shopping for eyeglasses in Brookhaven, GA, knowing those differences can help you choose the right type of frames for you.

Weight

Wireframes tend to be lighter weight, so if you’re used to wearing wireframes, the switch to plastic can be challenging. You may find yourself removing your glasses throughout the day until the weight of them on your nose and behind your ears becomes less bothersome. Adjustment to the additional weight can take a few days.

Nose Pieces

Wireframes have adjustable nose pieces, which makes these frames easy to customize for your face. Because they’re adjustable, they can also bend if they’re crushed or handled roughly. They may need to be re-adjusted from time to time.

Plastic frame nosepieces are not adjustable, so it’s very important to choose the frames that properly fit your face. Talk to someone at the glasses center where you’re getting your glasses to choose frames that will fit.

Flexibility

Wireframes are easily adjustable, while plastic frames tend to be more rigid and harder to bend to fit your face. If you have trouble with glasses fitting you properly, speak with your eyeglasses provider to find out whether plastic or metal frames (or both) are better for you.

Appearance

Perhaps the biggest difference between metal and plastic frames are their appearance. Metal frames tend to be understated, while plastic frames tend to be bold and vibrant. Which type matches your personality?

To find out more about getting new glasses, talk to your eye care provider in Brookhaven, GA. Call Brookleigh Family Eye Care today to make an appointment.