The Importance of Wearing Sunglasses in Winter!

Summer might be synonymous with the searing heat, the blazing sun and donning fabulous designer sunglasses while lazing on the beach, however, wearing sunglasses outdoors is important all the year around. The sun might not seem as intense or as hot in the winter and people make the mistake of not paying heed to wearing protective sunglasses. But the experts at Vista Eye Specialists, VA exhort that sunglasses be worn—come summer or winter.

Whether you go outdoors for a short period and even more so when you are out for a longer time span like for sporting events, exposure to the winter sun can damage various layers of the eye.

Infact, during the snowy season, the winter sun is lower in the sky and at a different angle, exposing your eyes to more of the sun’s harmful UV rays which can cause diseases related to aging, cataract and macular degeneration. The chilly winter wind whips at your face and stings your eyes which may lead to dry eyes.

The layer of pristine white snow in winter reflects 85 % the sun’s UV rays which could potentially burn your eyes and cause snow blindness. UV-related vision problems are common in the winter season as the sunlight glares off of the top of cement creating a bright, blinding reflection.

Vista Eye Specialists remind you that sunglasses are not just accessories to help you look cool and modish. Picking out the right kind of sunglasses for winter is the most efficient way to protect your eyes from the harsh winter sun. Protective eyewear with anti-reflective, polarized lenses that block out 100% of UV radiation is advised by Dr. Binoy Jani’s team of ophthalmologists at Vista Eye Specialists, VA.

When you visit Vista Eye Specialists, VA, for your eye exam, our ophthalmologists or optometrists measure UV protection using an instrument called a spectrometer. For any queries related to your vision this winter and all the year round, make an appointment with Vista Eye Specialists, Culpeper and Fredericksburg by calling 888-393-5264.

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Availing Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) at Vista Eye Specialists

The Health Care Flexible Spending Account is a voluntary program designed by the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). This tax-free account facilitates you to make essential health care spending that are not covered, or are partially covered, by your medical, dental and vision insurance plans.

All District employees may be a part of this program even if you are not entitled for health care coverage under any District-sponsored plan. All you have to do is decide to put aside a part of your payroll into your FSA on a pre-tax basis. The money is then taken from your paycheck-before Federal & State income taxes FICA taxes are deducted-- in equal amounts over the plan year.

All expenses must be qualified medical, vision, pharmacy or dental benefit expenses, as defined in Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. After you have expenses that fall under the FSA, you submit claims (reimbursement requests) to ASIFlex by filling the UniAccount FSA Claim Form with proof of your expenses, such as a receipt or an Explanation of Benefits statement.

FSA takes care of health care expenses incurred by you and the dependents you claim on your federal income tax return. In the case of dependent care expenses, your taxpayer identification or social security number is required to request tax-free withdrawals from your FSA to compensate yourself for these expenses.

There is no need to wait until the money is in your Health Care FSA to file for reimbursement. As long as the total claims for the year do not go over your yearly decided amount, your eligible claim will be processed.

The compassionate health care providers at Vista Eye Specialists remind you that the FSA procedure requires that you submit valid claims before the end of the claims run out period. Any unclaimed remaining funds will be forfeited to your employer. The election you make in one plan year does not automatically carry-over to the next plan year so it is important to re-enroll during each Open Enrollment period.

FSA dollars are "use-it-or-lose-it" funds thus, Vista Eye Specialists encourage you to estimate what you want to direct to your spending account and use your unused funds for eye care at Vista Eye Specialists.

Vista Eye Specialists—focusing on your total eye health- realize that the advantage of availing this convenient and easy Health Care FSA is that it lets you save from 25% to 40% on the cost of eligible expenses you are already incurring. This is the reason Vista Eye exhort our patients to opt for Health Care FSA. However, we advise that to get the most out of your FSA, you should review the list of eligible expenses, review your medical expenses from last year and note down any further eligible expenses you expect to incur in the coming plan year. It is also wise to include some money to cover your deductible expenditures and prudently estimate your cost for each of these FSA eligible expenses.

Vista Eye Specialists continue to remain your leading and compassionate eye health care providers. Contact us for further details on Health Care FSA on 888-393-5264.

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Which Toys are safe for your Child’s Eyes

The Holiday Season is here and Christmas shopping has reached a feverish pitch. The most ardent hunt is for toys for kids and parents run around trying to buy their kids coveted items.

Toys provide much needed visual stimulation and age-appropriate toys stimulate children’s visual development, develop hand-eye coordination and help them understand spatial relationships.

However, the experts at Vista Eye, under the Board Certified Ophthalmologist Binoy R.Jani, M.D., suggest that you take another look at your Christmas toyshopping list and see whether the toys you plan to buy are safe for your child’s eyes.

According to the Consumer Products and Safety Commission, there are over 230,000 toy-related injuries in the U.S. annually, where more than 45% of injuries are to the head and face.

Vista Eye Specialists exhort that when purchasing toys you must pay special attention to the age or developmental recommendations on toys and take out time to explain to your child how the toys are properly used.

In the holiday season, with celebrations in full swing, young children are at higher risk for injuring their eyes with toys due to less adult supervision. Vista Eye Specialists, who focus on your total eye care, suggest that you avoid toys that have parts that fly off like slingshots, dart guns or arrows; toys with parts that can be shattered into sharp pieces and scissors, rubber bands and deflated balloons. Blocks are safe for almost all ages, but make sure the corners and edges are blunted, to reduce the risk of eye injury.

If your older children play with a chemistry set or woodworking tools, Vista Eye strongly recommend the use of safety goggles.

Common eye injuries with toys may include minor scratches to the front surface of the eye called a corneal abrasion to very severe conditions like corneal ulcers, traumatic cataracts, bleeding inside the eye and retinal detachment.

If your child has hurt his eye and you see blood in the clear part of the eye or he has pain or trouble seeing; if one eye does not move as well as the other or the eye has an unusual pupil size or shape, visit the dedicated and professional team of eye doctors at Vista Eye Specialists at Culpeper,VA and Fredericksburg, VA.

Our pediatric ophthalmologists will use an ophthalmoscope to look inside the eye to check for damage that may not even be readily apparent. We suggest that you refer to our reputed eye specialists because children under the age of five are at an increased risk of permanent loss of vision from eye injury.

Vista Eye Specialists continue to provide the finest quality eye care by delivering exceptional medical and surgical results. Our team of eye specialists achieves optimal patient outcomes due to access to state-of-the art technology, continuing education, and access to the latest clinical information.

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Natural Remedies for Puffy Eyes

Waking up is an art. For many of us it takes an immeasurable amount of courage and energy to wake up from our deep slumbers. The courageous display however doesn’t end with the waking up part, it continues till one is really alert, up and about.

Some of us may be blessed with the freshest morning glows while some may try their best to avoid the mirrors, thanks to the puffy eyes, the eye bags or simply that sordid morning, not-want-to-wake-up-look.

Today, however Vista Eye shall address a very common issue of puffy eyes especially in the mornings that people around the globe experience. We have been getting a lot of emails, queries and mails regarding a natural and effective solution to this problem.

Firstly we at Vista Eye always stress on the natural remedy first and then revert to medication, only if the natural remedy is somehow not enough.

First and foremost for puffy eye riddance, quit smoking if you smoke, that is. Sodas, colas and salty food should be avoided especially in the night time. Replace your breakfast with natural and healthy food like cereal, milk and juice instead of a heavy dose of caffeinated drinks, like coffee.

Don’t just get out of the bed, change and get to work, develop the habit of exercising. Be it stretching like yoga or jogging; indulge in some kind of exercise to get your system moving and wide awake!

One of the basic commandments in the treatment of almost anything is adequate consumption of water. The experts at Vista Eye have time and again stressed on remaining hydrated which assists immensely to maintain the health of the eye.

Apart from this your medical practitioner should be made aware of any exercise or diet program you wish to start, subject to any medical history you might possess.

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Vista Eye Pairing Style with Comfort

The definition of fashion keeps evolving with time, tending to the change and advancements likewise. Today fashion is not only about style and statement but also it has a lot to do with comfort. Comfort with what you wear, how you wear and where you do it. A person who carries a simple accessory comfortably, easily and most usually stands out better than the one who remains uncomfortable in the latest of the ornaments. For not only cuts and designs, fashion today is a way of life.

An accessory as simple as your eye glass frames, the pair of sunglasses you choose and the color of the lens you prefer are some of the fad optical subjects today. It is seen that sunglasses are one of the most common accessory people use and thus invest a good amount of money on a stylish one. Experts at Vista Eye always recommend the use of prescription sunglasses so that it serves the purpose of sunglasses along with your prescription glasses.

It is many a times seen that people go through all the discomfort of first wearing their contact lens and then wear their most stylish sunglasses on which a good amount of money has been spent. We at Vista Eye highly recommend alleviating oneself from such fussy issues and getting a good stylish pair of prescription sunglasses for the most reasonable of the prices.

With a good pair of prescription sunglasses all you have to do is keep it in your car, handbag or your pocket, as for the moment you require it you just have to exchange the frames and you’re good to go. A good pair of prescription sunglasses is just an absolute necessity today, for the fast paced lifestyles require availing maximum comfort anytime, anywhere. Vista Eyes always stress on the importance of giving comfort to the eye while remaining very chic and very stylish!

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Coping with the Allergies of the Eye:

Allergic conjunctivitis commonly known as eye allergies is a common condition of the eye in which it responds as a defense mechanism to the environmental irritants. The conditions of allergy may be hereditary. For example the dust which may be harmless to many, may cause a red eye, runny nose, sneezing or itchiness to some. The statistics state that about 30% to 50% of US residents are allergy prone of which 75% affect the eyes.

At Vista Eye repeatedly our experts are being asked of the allergies of the eye, their frequency and how to deal with it. We at Vista Eye stress on the fact that prevention is better than cure hence in any case if one is aware of the irritants of the eye present in the environment, proper care should be ensured for maximum avoidance of exposure to it. Keep away from pets, ensure your house dust free and avoid going out while remaining in an air conditioned home setting are some of the must avoidance techniques advised by Vista Eye.

Similarly there are certain seasons like for example when there is presence of too much pollen in the air whose exposure should be avoided at all costs by ensuring a wrap around sunglasses use and driving with closed windows.

So in the case when the patient doesn’t recognize factors that trigger the eye allergies and every effort of avoidance remains futile medications become the only option viable then. Many a times over the counter medicines which may be less expensive may not be enough hence prescribed medicines should be used as they are stronger, focused and hence more effective.

Sometimes eye drops serve the best purpose and may contain decongestants and cell stabilizers which inhibit inflammation. However we at Vista Eye always stress on avoidance and restrict medicine for the last resort.

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Eyes, Definitely the Mirror to Your Soul:

“The face is the portrait of the mind, the eyes its informers”- Old Latin Proverb

Rightly said, indeed! The eye is the mirror to one’s soul. What words fail to achieve, the eyes serve the purpose. You may fail to communicate your affection or displeasure with words but certainly your eyes won’t fail to give away your feelings. A person’s whole world of emotions could be revealed by that just one very look of the eye. Psychologists and researchers have concluded many theories of the process that involves in the movement and the ability of the eye to communicate its emotions and feelings. Much research has been made to find out the reason behind the dilation of the eye and how can strong emotions affect the process of dilation.

The feelings of love and hate and other such strong emotions are communicated effectively with the eyes. Hence your secret emotions may not feel private anymore the next time you lay down your eyes on your secret crush or the acquaintance you desperately want to ignore!

Dilation is the process of the eye which really represents the story of your mind and the heart. It signals everything that’s happening inside and sometimes gives away apt information such that the arousal it causes is used to assess in psychological disorders. Similarly criminal investigation procedures and lie testers which are used by investigation agencies capitalize much on the dilation process to access the truth and gravity of the matter.

Our experts at Vista Eye support the evidence and have found positive elements in the belief that dilation does mirror emotions. Much research and development is still in process for taking the procedure a step ahead and develop its ground to address different issues faced by mentally disturbed people.

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