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Clip on sunglasses are types eyewear worn over prescription eyeglasses. They are used to protect the wearer from the glare of the sun. Since you don’t need to remove your eyeglasses before wearing these sunglasses, getting the eye protection that you need is more convenient. Commonly used by outdoor and sports enthusiasts, clip on sunglasses can come in standard, flip-up, and magnetic variants.

Kinds to choose from

Standard clip on sunglasses: with clips at the center of the bridge, standard clip on sunglasses fasten onto prescription glasses over the same spot, available with UV-protected, coated, and colored lenses. To fit different prescription eyeglasses, standard clip ons are also available in shapes such as square, oval, and circle.

Flip-up clip on sunglasses: for easy normal viewing, flip-up clip on sunglasses are simply flipped up to provide the wearer with unobstructed view. Available with UV-protected and coated lenses, flip-up clip on sunglasses also come in different shades. Depending on what the wearer prefers, flip-ups may also be available with magnetic sunglass clip.

Magnetic clip on sunglasses: magnetic sunglass clip ons fasten along the sides of prescription eyeglasses with the help of invisible magnetic clips. Along with coats and lenses in different shades, magnetic sunglass clip ons feature frames normally made from titanium and have different shapes available.

Choosing clip on sunglasses: some tips

Magnets may interfere with pacemakers so if you’re wearing one, consult with your doctor before buying magnetic clip ons to prevent health complications. Other kinds of clip ons are available anyway so you won’t have to lose out on using clip on sunglasses even if you can’t use the magnetic ones.

Make sure your clip on sunglasses are the same shape and size as your prescription sunglasses.

Polarized lenses reduce glare. That’s why if you love sports or are always outdoors, opting for clip on sunglasses with polarized lenses will be to your advantage.

If you are keen on wearing contact lenses, you should consult an ophthalmologist or an optician. Yes, it is very important even if you don’t wear glasses & want to purchase contact lenses to change the color of your eyes.

Remember that contact lenses are medical devices & require to be properly fitted by a physician who specialized in the field of eye care. This is the reason that anyone purchasing contact lenses in the United States need to show a valid written prescription. Additionally, the prescription should also include instructions on how often your contact lenses must be replaced.

This can be once in a month, every two weeks, once in a week or even daily. This information can be found on the contact lenses brand. However, you should completely rely on the recommendation of your eye care practitioner. He knows best about the replacement option that suits your eyes as well as lifestyle.

Most doctors recommend disposable contact lenses. They also provide an option to purchase frequent alternating contact lenses. These are optimum choice as far as health is concerned because there are less chances for protein & bacteria build upon them.

Contact lenses are constructed of different types of plastic. However, these are categorized in two major groups; soft and rigid gas-permeable. Gas permeable lenses are also known as GP lenses. It is easier to adapt to rigid gas permeable contact lenses. These are also quite strong & resistant to deposit build up. There is a replacement program for contact lens. It refers to the period you can wear them prior to disposing them off. When it comes to GP lenses, you require to replace them every couple of years as they are made of durable material. You get a good variety of contact lenses available on the market these days.

There is also a choice of IOL lenses or intraocular lens for eye care. It is a kind of replacement of existing crystalline lens due to it being clouded due to cataract. It is a kind of refractive surgery conducted to change the optical power of the eye. It constitutes of little plastic lens in conjunction with plastic side stress known as haptics that help in keeping the lens in place within the capsular bag in the eye.

Intraocular lens were usually made of an inflexible material. Most of these lenses are fixed monofocal lenses matched to correct distant vision. You may also look for other types of IOLs such as multifocal IOLs. These provide the patient with limited visual accommodation.

An eye surgical procedure is done to insert intraocular lens to treat cataracts in patients. A local anesthesia is required to perform this procedure wherein the patient can be awake during the treatment.

After surgery, recovery takes about 2-3 weeks. Here, patients require to stay away from strenuous exercises or anything that may increase blood pressure. Patients also require to visit ophthalmologist in charge on a regular basis for about several months in order to keep tabs on the implants.

What used to be a mere wishful thinking for people with eyesight difficulties can now be a reality. Because of the modern vision correction solutions offered today, people with eyesight problems may acquire a near-perfect vision and still look splendid and in-the-crowd! Gone are the oppressive days when geeks are obviously geeks and people wearing thick eyeglasses are classified solely as doctors or CPA’s. Today, there are two popular treatment methods for blurred vision and poor eyesight. Through these processes, one can do without eyeglasses and still have a pair of sharp eyes.

Laser Eye Surgery

Refractive laser eye surgery is among the leading vision correction procedures. This process balances the elements of your eyes by doing some changes on your cornea so that your eyesight will be able to focus on objects; this procedure minimizes your error of refraction. Once laser eye surgery is done, you will have no need for your reading glasses. This is the reason why, refractive eye surgery is also considered as a lifestyle change on top of being a medical process.

Refractive laser eye surgery may be done in two ways. One is through Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK. Or two, via Laser In Situ Keratomilieusis better known as LASIK. These two processes basically remodel the cornea by melting or taking away certain corneal tissues.

In Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK, changes in the cornea are done directly on the external coating of the eyes, directly on the covering of the iris. By using laser technology, parts of the cornea is taken away to improve the focus of the eyes. Due to the direct approach of this procedure, patients should expect some pain and even irritation of the eyes for a few days after the treatment.

On the other hand, Laser In Situ Keratomilieusis or LASIK is a more complicated procedure where a flap in the cornea is created to reveal its middle section. It is in this middle section called stroma that the laser will vaporize certain corneal tissues. After the laser treatment, the flap of corneal tissue is carefully repositioned or folded back to cover the eyes. In this procedure, you can see that the operation pinpoints the specific corneal tissues to vaporize. For this reason, LASIK surgery is more popular because it is comfortable and requires less time for the patient to recover.

Laser eye surgery is applicable for cases like blurred vision caused by the shape of cornea, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. But what happens to people who are not fit for this type of eyesight correction?

Lens Modification Process

Believe it or not, in an age where lasers are fast becoming ordinary medical tools, there are cases where lasers can be useless. Take the case of people with extraordinarily thick corneas or people with severe irregularities in their cornea, these types of patients are not eligible for laser surgery. But for the sake of ditching the horn-rimmed glasses and attaining good vision, people who are not fit for laser eye treatment may choose to have a lens modification procedure instead.

Lens modification can be done via two processes. The first one is the traditional procedure where the natural lenses of the eyes are replaced with artificial ones. This procedure may entail risks that include the patient’s loss of sight focus with things that are near him or her. The second type of lens modification, on the other hand, simply inserts artificial lenses on top of the natural ones.

Indeed, one of the reasons that eye experts came up with these procedures is to correct one’s vision and allow patients to have better eyesight without the cumbersome eyeglasses or easily-lost contact lenses. In effect, these eye sight procedures provide patients with more comfort and allow them to uncover their beautiful eyes without compromising eyesight.

For millions of nearsighted people and those with other refractive errors, laser eye surgery offers a way to eliminate or reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

Today, several million people around the world can see better as a result of the advances in computerized excimer laser technology. Over the past twenty years, many people have improved their vision with the older, non-laser-based procedure called radial keratotomy, or RK. In the near future, laser refractive surgeries, which are more accurate, may become the most popular of all ophthalmic procedures.

Before having any refractive operation, patients need expert answers concerning all the potential benefits and risks of these ever-evolving surgical techniques. Today, people want to know precisely what happens when a surgeon permanently refocuses their eyes. No longer do patients merely ask their ophthalmologist, “Can you help me see better?” They want the tools to be able to participate in their health-care decisions. They want to know how their eyes work. They want to understand their diagnosis. They want to know exactly how excimer laser eye surgery can improve their vision and why it might work better than RK. And, most important of all, they want detailed answers about their individual chances for better eyesight.

To find answers to these questions, patients need a physician who is experienced in corrective eye surgery – a doctor who follows the latest developments in this complex, technology-based field. If you are considering eye surgery, the relationship between you and your doctor is a special one. Your eyes are as unique as your fingerprints. Your surgeon and your individual healing response will determine your vision for the rest of your life.

Your doctor must help you understand the surgery that is designed to allow you to overcome poor vision. Not only should you have a thorough eye examination with the latest ophthalmic instruments, but you also deserve your physician’s complete attention during his time with you. You must make absolutely certain that he clearly understands your visual goals and needs.

Though your eye doctor and his staff may be totally committed to answering your questions, the spontaneous spoken word is seldom as well thought out and detailed as the written word. Hence, even if your physician spent hours explaining refractive laser eye surgery to you, he probably would be unable to present a totally clear and comprehensive picture of these procedures.

For this reason there are many books, articles and websites designed to help you make informed decisions concerning your eyes. They want you to have an absolutely realistic grasp of what can and cannot be done to try to improve your vision. Offering clear explanations in easy-to-read language, most doctors “sit down” with you and present an in-depth look at all the latest life-changing breakthroughs in this highly specialized field.

A well researched article will answer your questions about the newest laser eye surgery, known as LASIK, and about all of the other types of refractive eye surgery, including the original laser-based PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) procedure and the older RK (radial keratotomy) operation. Ideally you also want information that is devoted to comparing the merits of these procedures, and the chances of attaining better vision during an enhancement procedure to fine-tune the first refractive operation.

Low vision is a term commonly used among eye care professionals to mean partial sight, or sight that isn’t fully correctable with surgery, pharmaceuticals, contact lenses or glasses. Low vision can result from a variety of diseases, disorders, and injuries that affect the eye. Low vision can also be caused by heredity. Many people with low vision have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. Age-related macular degeneration accounts for almost 45 percent of all cases of low vision.

Following are some of the most common causes of low vision: Albinism. Albinism results from a lack of pigment. Some forms of albinism affect only the eyes (ocular) while other forms affect skin and hair color as well as the eyes (oculocutaneous). Albinism is hereditary. Aniridia. Aniridia is the partial or total absence of the iris of the eye. The lack of an iris results in acuity loss, light sensitivity and visual field loss. Aphakia. Aphakia is the absence of the lens of the eye which prevents the ability to adjust focus between objects at different distances. Cataracts. Cataracts result from the lens of the eye becoming cloudy or opaque. The clouding can occur over the entire lens or over a small area over the lens. Surgical removal of the cataract can result in aphakia. Coloboma. Coloboma is a birth defect occurring during the development of the fetus resulting in an underdevelopment, such as a cleft in the pupil, iris, ciliary body, lens, retina, choroid or optic nerve. Glaucoma. Glaucoma is a condition resulting from an increase of pressure inside the eye, often from improper drainage of fluids, which can cause damage to eye structures such as the optic nerve. Macular degeneration. Macular degeneration involves the gradual loss of sensitivity of the central portion of the retina. Since this is the area of the retina responsible for detail vision, macular degeneration is often associated with the loss of central vision and the ability to see fine detail. Nystagmus. Nystagmus is the involuntary movement of the eyes resulting in the inability to maintain a steady fixation. The movement can be horizontal, vertical, circular, or mixed. Optic atrophy. Optic atrophy is the degeneration of the optic nerve. Loss of function of the optic nerve results in a decreased ability to transmit electrical signals to the visual center of the brain. Optic nerve hypoplasia. This is a condition in which the number of nerves within the optic nerve bundle is reduced. Retinitis pigmentosa. This is a progressive degeneration of the retina resulting in night blindness and peripheral field loss. Retinopathy of prematurity. This is a condition in which the normal growth of blood vessels in the retina is disturbed during fetal development, often due to circumstances surrounding premature birth. This condition can lead to an increased risk of retinal tears or retinal detachment.

Just the thought of a surgeon messing with your eyes can send a chill through most of us. Cataract eye surgery is no exception. But with the development of microsurgical procedures, cataract eye surgery is quick, generally without discomfort, and will dramatically restore your vision to the point where you may require prescription glasses for distance vision or reading only.

Primarily distinguished by the clouding of the lens of the eye, a cataract doesn’t cause blindness but instead gradually reduces your vision. It does this as it grows from a small area of cloudiness that often goes unnoticed to a much larger area of cloudiness that covers the entire lens. Initially, you may not even be aware of a change in your vision. However, over time, cataracts tend to enlarge to the point where your vision does become affected.

The good news is that cataract eye surgery has become commonplace (there are over one million such surgeries performed each year), and results in success nearly 100% of the time.

Very basic and straightforward, cataract eye surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens.

There are two fundamental approaches to this eye surgery. The first is called Phacoemulsification and is generally the preferred approach to cataract removal. It involves the use of sound waves to break up the cataract. Here’s how it works: a small incision is made on the side of the cornea, (the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the surface of the eye). The tip of a microsurgical instrument is inserted into the eye. This instrument emits high frequency waves which break up the lens into tiny fragments. The fragments are then removed by suction, using the same instrument.

The second fundamental approach is called Extracapsular surgery. In this approach, a longer incision is made on the side of the cornea and the core of the cloudy lens is removed in a single piece. Any remaining fragments of the lens are removed by suction. Extracapsular surgery requires stitches to close the larger incision and generally takes six to eight weeks to properly heal.

In both cases, after the cornea is removed and replaced with a tiny prescription lens referred to as an intraocular lens (IOL). Using a calculated corrective prescription, the IOL clearly focuses light onto the retina, which dramatically improves vision. The new lens feels completely natural, you won’t notice it at all, just as you didn’t previously notice your cornea.

There are two types of intraocular lenses used for cataract surgery: Monofocal and Multifocal.

Monofocal

With the monofocal lens implant, the lens acts the same as your natural lens, except it cannot adjust focus. The lens is shaped to provide good vision for either farsightedness or nearsightedness, but is unable to improve both distances. Depending on whichever range you choose (most oten the monofocal lens is used to improve farsightedness), the other vision distance will require glasses or regular contact lenses.

Multifocal

With the newer multifocal intraocular lens implant, you’ll experience normal vision at all distances, which may eliminate the need for prescription glasses. There are some cautions, however. Around 4% of those who receive multifocal lenses exerience some night time glare and halos {spheres of illuminated haze surrounding sources of light). These side effects tend to decrease over time and may be minimized with the use of eye drops or prescription glass for night driving.

As with any surgery, there can always be complications. Complete healing for cataract eye surgery may require several weeks, though you should be able to return to your normal routine fairly quickly. You’ll likely experience some dryness and itching in your eye during the healing process. Be sure to use your prescribed eye drops and closely follow your doctor’s instructions.

Though cataract eye surgery may sound a little unnerving, the procedure is generally quick and painless. More important, it brings with it a 98% success rate. Don’t let the process scare you. Talk with your ophthalmologist about your particular situation and the best way to improve your vision.