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Sun Damage to your Eyes

Q: I usually buy my sunglasses at the drugstore or some retail place, but wonder if there is any real difference between mine and the ones costing over $100?

A: You raise an important point: everyone should be wearing some sort of ultraviolet-blocking sunglasses when outdoors.

First, please realize that UV radiation is invisible to us, but is an enemy to our skin and our eyes. About 11% of skin cancers can involve the very thin and delicate tissue of our eyelids. Prevention is fairly simple, but many people ignore the science and wear their indoor glasses, or no glasses when exposed to the sun. It may seem small, but even the frame your wear affects your protection. Most “dress” glasses for general usage allow a lot of UV radiation to reach your eyelids and your eyes right over the top of the frame. This is why your best sunglasses are larger and are shaped with more “wrap” to closely fit your face and block more UV.

Second, while “over the counter” sunglasses are generally dark in color, so you feel protected, the actual ultraviolet filtering is often a “sprayed on” coating. This sort of protection is not permanent, as a coating is can wear off with handling and rubbing……leaving you with dark lenses ( allowing your pupils to enlarge outdoors ), but little or no UV blockage. In contrast, better grade lenses, called ophthalmic grade, include UV filtering built into the lens. This protection cannot degrade or wear off over time.

I should add that some contact lenses now come with some UV filtering built-in. However, the level of protection is such that the FDA still recommends true sunglasses over them. And speaking of needing extra protection……cataract patients need to use extra care. While you are developing cataracts, blocking more UV radiation can slow down the clouding of the lens in your eye, and delay the need for surgery. And after cataract surgery, when a plastic replacement lens is placed inside your eye, you need more protection than before. The man-made plastic lens used ( called an intraocular lens ) does not block enough UV radiation. This can allow dangerous radiation to reach your retina and cause more irreparable damage to your eyesight.

Lastly, I often hear people say “ I lose my sunglasses all the time, so I don’t want to spend much”. I hear you, but I believe it is a matter of perceived value….meaning, if you invest significantly in any item, you will take better care of it. For example, how often do you lose your cell phone? The bottom line: invest in ophthalmic grade sun lenses and give your eyes and your eyesight the best protection you can. Seeing well all your life is our mutual goal.

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

A Look Behind Sleeping Eyes

6 Things You Need To Know About Cataracts

This Halloween Be Wary of Costume Contact Lenses

COVID-19 Update

Kids Silent Vision Disabilities

Q: I just realized that my daughter is struggling with her reading assignments. I first thought it was just all the tablet use this year, but now I think she is reading slower, loses her place too easily, and doesn’t enjoy reading just fun. Where should I start?

A: In general, children just never complain about eye problems. I suppose they naturally assume that everyone sees like them, and of course, they have no perspective to differentiate “normal” vision from “abnormal”. Fortunately, these days a thorough pediatric eye examination can identify the cause/s of reading disorders.

To give you a brief overview, unlike an adult eye exam, for children:

we specifically measure eye alignment at distance and near
we evaluate how accurately their eyes track across a line of print and can find the next line
we measure the focusing range and ease for near-vision work like reading.

These are called “oculomotor” skills, and for many children are developmentally delayed.

These eye skills are like tools you need to read and perform all manner of near vision tasks. If you do not have adequate tools, the job is much harder. Sometimes slower. Often inaccurate. And almost always….silent. Too often we find very smart kids struggling to keep up in school, or actually reading with one eye at a time, all because their binocular vision is not developing normally. Some use their finger to keep their place, and some hold their work too close.

The good news is this: with proper lenses to sharpen focus or to assist eye alignment, or both many children can catch up and regain those eye skills to make reading easy again. And if lenses alone are not the answer, just like you would use physical therapy or occupational therapy, we prescribe vision therapy to train those oculomotor skills! Sometimes also called “orthoptics” or “eye exercises”, this treatment has a very high success rate but is unfortunately scarce in West Virginia. We are fortunate here in Morgantown to have access to a vision therapy specialist!

As a general rule, all children should have a professional pediatric eye exam by age 3, and annually through elementary school. Screenings at school and in other settings are great…but very limited. Do not confuse a screening with a true Optometric examination for children. While all eye exams should look for disease and making vision clear on the eye chart, many children need more. Ask some questions…..be sure your child is really getting a pediatric eye examination. Be sure your child has the vision tools to make learning easy and enjoyable!

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

How to Prevent Dry Eyes During Air Travel

How to Prevent Diabetic Vision Loss

Parkinson's Awareness Month and Your Vision

What You Should Know about Diabetes and Your Vision

What eyedrops to buy?

Q: I was looking at the pharmacy last week for some drops to make my eyes feel better, but with all the choices I really had no idea how to choose. Can you help?

A: You are right about having too many choices on the shelf, but let me give you some direction. First,
try to identify exactly what symptom or problem you are trying to help.

Is it a matter of your eyes feeling dry?
Are they red?
Are they itchy?
Do they burn?
And also what time of day or with what activity are they most a problem…..morning or evening, while on your computer, more indoors or outside?

These kinds of clues can help direct you to the right type of treatment. For example, if your eyes feel dry or scratchy then dry eye disease may be beginning. A good OTC ocular moisture drop can be fine to use up to three times a day. The proper artificial tears or lubricant drop should not also “take the red out” or “stop the itch”, as those actions require agents in the drop that can worsen dryness. Likely the most common error I see is a patient buying an eyedrop that “takes the red out” when what they really need is moisture enhancement. Likewise, an “allergy” eye drop to reduce itching may do just that, but also will make your eyes more dry!

Computer use is a common problem these days. We spend hours and hours staring at “digital devices”….our desktop, our laptop, our tablet, our smartphone and more. Turns out we all blink only about a third as often as we should when we look at these screens. We really do tend to stare at the screens, unlike a book or paper on your desk. Computer glasses can reduce eyestrain for digital use, and a moisture drop when you first sit down is a good idea.

If itching is the issue, good chance you have an ocular allergy. There are many “allergy” drops on the shelf, and some good ones that used to be by prescription only. But still today, the “strongest” and longest lasting eye allergy drops are only by prescription from your eye doctor. So try an inexpensive OTC drop first, but if two times a day is not enough to restore comfortable eyes, ask your eye doctor for a medical grade eye medication.

Lastly, many people have an underlying condition we call dry eye disease that causes or worsens all these symptoms. This especially true over the age of 50, and more so for women. We can use painless in-office tear samples to determine if your eyes have inflammation causing the dryness, or is it more a matter of too many birthdays! Inflammation caused dry eye is well treated with one of the excellent eye medications by prescription. Non-inflammatory dry eye is often better solved with tiny tear saver plugs we place in the tear drainage ducts of our eyelids, to retain more natural moisture on the surface of your eyes.

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

New Study Shows How Your Eyes Shed Light on Your Health

What You Need to Know About Firework Eye Safety

COVID-19: Protect Your Eyes From Too Much Screen Time

Ultraviolet Light and your Eyes

Eye infections and injuries……who to call?

DP Eyecare Column: Eye infections and injuries……who to call?

A: My kids have had their share of pink eye and eye injuries over the years, but I am never sure who to call. Seems too little for a hospital ER, but not really what urgent care offices are made for either. Who should I call?

Q: Yours is a very common question, and one that we eye doctors should address. Generally, you should call your regular eye doctor first.

While many people think their eye doc only prescribes glasses or contact lenses, in reality, most eye doctors also diagnose and treat eye problems as you mention. I suppose it is normal, in that if you have only experienced “vision care” at your eye doctor’s office, you likely assume that is all we do.

In fact, most parts of a “normal” eye exam deal with determining if your eyes are healthy. But many patients already know that their eye doc will diagnose and treat eye injuries, infections, and most every “primary care” need for attention. It has been said that your Optometric Physician is your “family practitioner of eye care”. In our practice, we see patients of all ages, every single day, with some type of eye inflammation or infection, or an injury of some form, or an eye symptom caused by a “systemic” ( non- eye ) disease. Even many medications can cause eye and vision symptoms….and your eye doctor is the best trained to sort out and handle these problems.

You are right, hospital emergency departments are not focused on eye problems. They have life and death issues to handle. While urgent care offices are convenient, they are not equipped or trained to sort out the myriad of problems that present with eye/vision symptoms. We receive a lot of urgent care referrals, and most patients could have saved time and cost by calling their eye doctor in the first place.

Whether you are 5 or 95, your eye doctor is best equipped to take care of your eyes. That’s all we do! Whether it is our biomicroscopes, or our internal eye imaging technology, or just or experience is treating only eyes……eye doctors are the first call you should make for virtually anything involving your eyes.

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

Dealing with Your Tween's and Teen's Eyesight

Poolside Eye Safety

6 Common Eye Myths Debunked

Protect Children's Eyes During Sports

Readers without wearing glasses?

DP Eyecare Column: Readers without wearing glasses?

Q: I have been needing “readers” for a few years now, and while putting them on and off has been a nuisance, the fogging I have now with my Covid mask makes them even worse! Any suggestions?

A: Yours is a very common problem these days for people wearing readers, and for folks wearing regular glasses too. There are some very good anti-fog solutions you apply to your lenses to reduce fogging, but they vary widely in how well and how long they last. Ask your eye doc or optician for recommendation.

We have had many, many patients since Covid choose to begin or resume soft contact lenses to truly solve this problem. For everyone over 40, our near vision begins decreasing so that reading becomes more and more frustrating. Good news, however, in that just since 2019 we now have excellent “multifocal” contacts that are designed to give you good near vision, and they can be prescribed also with your distance vision correction if needed!

These multifocal contacts provide up to three different focusing ranges…..meaning we can prescribe your lenses to give you clear vision up close for your phone, plus a focus for arm’s length for your screen, and even distance if needed for driving. And thank heavens our brain is pretty “smart”…..it will learn to use the part of the lens you need automatically. So unlike bifocal or progressive glasses, you don’t even need to move your eyes up or down to find the right power.

These new contacts are not perfect, and not everyone finds their vision perfect at all distances. But most people, about 80%, find their vision so comfortable and more normal compared to glasses ( and without the annoying fogging ) that they love wearing contacts to be free of glasses. Our practice, like most, will prescribe your contacts and have your wear them in your normal life for a several days before you decide to continue and actually buy lenses. Some patients do need some “fine-tuning” in the lens prescriptions after a few days to improve some aspect of their vision. If so, you may have one follow up visit with your eye doctor to achieve your best all around vision.

If contacts would be new to you, rest assured that now days the lenses are extremely soft and moist and thin, so that most people do not even feel the lenses after just couple minutes. And learning how to place a lens on your eye, and to remove it that evening, is not difficult but takes a little practice. We typically show patients a lens handling video, and then personally teach them how to easily handle their new contacts. So again, nothing is medicine is 100%, but these new lens designs have been very successful and well received by most people. Talk to your eye doctor about your multifocal contact lens options and take a pair for a “test drive”!

Are Contact Lenses Safe For Young Children?

Here’s a question we often get at our practice: Is my child too young for contact lenses?’ This is an important question, and the answer may surprise you.

For children with myopia (nearsightedness), contact lenses can be a convenient method of vision correction. It allows kids to go about their day without having to worry about breaking or misplacing their glasses, and enables them to freely participate in sports and other physical activities.

Local Contact lens supplier near you in Morgantown, West Virginia

Some children and young teens may ask their parents for contact lenses because they feel self-conscious wearing glasses. Contact lenses may even provide children with the confidence boost they need to come out of their shell. Moreover, these days, it is very popular for children to wear single-use one-day disposable soft contacts, since there is no cleaning or maintenance involved.

Some parents may deny their child’s request for contacts due to concerns about eye health and safety. There’s no reason to worry: contact lenses are just as safe for children as they are for anyone else.

Morgantown Eye Associates Eye Clinic and Eye exam, contact lenses, myopia in Morgantown, West Virginia

Many eye diseases can be quickly and easily diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam. If you were diagnosed with an eye disease, such as Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular degeneration, Diabetic retinopathy, or Dry eye, you may be overwhelmed by the diagnosis and confused about what happens next. Will you need medications or surgery – now or in the future? Our Morgantown eye doctor has prepared the following answers to your questions about eye disease.

At Morgantown Eye Associates, we provide children, teens, and patients of all ages with a wide variety of contact lenses. If you’re concerned about the safety of contacts for your child, we’ll be happy to explain and explore ways to ensure maximum safety, optimal eye health and comfort. To learn more or to schedule a pediatric eye exam for contact lenses, contact us today.

What Are the Risks of Having My Child Wear Contact Lenses?

Local Eye exam, contact lenses, myopia in Morgantown, West Virginia

Read what our patients have to say on Google Reviews

A study published in the January 2021 issue of The Journal of Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics found that kids aren’t at a higher risk of experiencing contact lens complications.

The study followed nearly 1000 children aged 8-16 over the course of 1.5-3 years to determine how contact lenses affected their eye health.

The results indicate that age doesn’t have an effect on contact lens safety. In fact, the researchers found that the risk of developing infections or other adverse reactions was less than 1% per year of wear — which is comparable to contact lens wearers of other ages.

But before you decide that contact lenses are right for your child, you may want to consider whether your child is ready to wear them. During his or her eye doctor’s appointment, the optometrist may ask about your child’s level of maturity, responsibility, and personal hygiene. Since many children are highly motivated to wear contacts, they tend to display real maturity in caring for their lenses. That said, in the initial stages, parents may need to play an active role, as their child gets used to inserting and removing the new contact lenses.

It’s important to note that just as with any other medical device, contact lenses are not risk-free. Anyone who wears contact lenses has a chance of developing eye infections or other complications with contact lenses. However, when worn and cared for according to your eye doctor’s instructions, contact lenses are low-risk and perfectly safe for children and teenagers.

So, go ahead and bring your child in for a contact lens consultation! We’ll help determine if your child is ready for contacts and answer any questions you or your child may have. To schedule your child’s contact lens fitting or eye exam, contact Morgantown Eye Associates in Morgantown today.

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

Are Nerf Guns a Dangerous Holiday Present?

How Contact Lenses Can be a Danger to your Eyes

Request Your Next Appointment Online…

Treating Vision Problems Lowers Risk of Falling in Seniors

Computer Vision Syndrome

“My new job has me working on a computer all day, and I am having issues with fatigue, tired eyes, and trouble seeing clearly when driving home.”

What is causing this?

In today’s world, yours is a very common presentation in our office. Most likely, you are experiencing “Computer Vision Syndrome”. This syndrome generally is comprised of symptoms including:

end of day fatigue
eye strain during the day
trouble changing focus from near to far
blurry vision driving after work
sometimes neck or head ache

Fundamentally, our visual system was designed for best distance vision. Today’s world demands, or we simply enjoy, spending a lot of our waking hours looking at digital devices at close range. This prolonged near vision demand takes a toll on some people more than others. In children, this near vision world of tablets and smartphones is causing more nearsightedness. In adults, discomfort and fatigue are the prevalent results. But rather than changing your career….we can prescribe glasses.

Computer lenses are specifically designed to do some of the focusing for your eyes. Since most computer screens sit up at almost eye level, the power for most relaxed vision must be up in the lens also. This means computer glasses are not for driving. They are “occupational lenses” to use at your desk or in the office. As an aside, these are often wonderful choices for musicians too!

We can prescribe from several types of computer lenses: all near work / cubicle type, or mostly screen time with occasional vision up to 15 feet, or mostly screen time with some distance vision up to 30 feet. We choose based on your lifestyle and work environment. And of course, these all should have truly effective blue light filters built in to protect your eyes.

Talk to your eye doctor in your next eye exam. Not all offices are knowledgeable or prescribing computer lenses, so ask before you go. You may need new distance, all-around eyewear, but most patients simply love the comfort of their computer lenses.

You do not necessarily SEE better, but you should FEEL much better!

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

Women's Health and Your Vision

The Dangers of An Online Eye Test

A Look Behind Sleeping Eyes

What You Should Know About Eye Herpes

5 Reasons To Wear Sunglasses In The Fall

When we think of fall accessories, the first things that come to mind are warm sweaters, plush scarves, or a snug pair of boots. Here’s another essential item to add to your list: a good quality pair of UV-blocking sunglasses.

But why is it so important to protect your eyes when the sun seems to be hiding behind clouds on most days? While it may not make much sense, you’ll get a better understanding by the time you finish reading this article. So let’s dive in and explore the 5 reasons you should protect your eyes from the sun in the fall.

Local Contact lens supplier near you in Morgantown, West Virginia

Sunglasses: Summer Vs. Fall

The Sun’s Position

While we may squint more in the summer, the sunlight’s path to the eyes is more direct in the fall as the sun sits closer to the horizon. This places our eyes at greater risk of overexposure to UV rays.

Changing Temperatures

Irritating symptoms like dry, red, or watery eyes are often due to the season’s cool and harsh winds. The colder the air, the stiffer and thicker the eyes’ tear oils (meibum) become. Because thicker meibum doesn’t spread as evenly over the surface of the eyes, the tears can’t offer sufficient protection and moisture.

Minimize irritation by shielding the eyes from cool winds with wraparound sunglasses.

Morgantown Eye Associates Eye Clinic and Sunglasses, Eye Protection and Fall Fashion in Morgantown, West Virginia

UV Rays

Exposing your eyes to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is problematic year-round, as it can result in serious eye diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. That’s why it’s important to wear 100% UV-blocking sunglasses anytime you’re outdoors, no matter the season.

Make sure to sport your sunnies even on cloudy days, as up to 90% of UV rays pass through clouds. Furthermore, outdoor objects like concrete and snow reflect a significant amount of UV rays into the eyes.

Fall’s Dangerous Sun Glare

Because the sun is positioned at a lower angle in the fall, it can produce a brutal glare that poses a danger for driving. Rays of light that reflect off of smooth surfaces like the metal of nearby cars can be so bright to the point of blinding the driver.

You can combat this dangerous glare by wearing polarized sunglasses. These lenses reduce the glare’s harmful effects by filtering out horizontal light waves, such as the ones reflected by a shiny car bumper.

Local Sunglasses, Eye Protection and Fall Fashion in Morgantown, West Virginia

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Looking for Sunglasses Near You?

Here’s the bottom line: you need to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses in the fall and year-round, no matter the season or climate. Investing in a stylish pair of durable, UV-protective sunglasses is — simply-put — a worthwhile investment in your eye health.

So if you’re looking for advice about a new pair of high-quality sunglasses for the fall, with or without prescription lenses, visit Morgantown Eye Associates. If standard sunglass lenses are too dark for you at this time of year, ask us about green or brown tinted lenses; they transmit more light and contrast to the eyes than standard grey tints.

We’ll be happy to help you find that perfect pair to protect your eyes, suit your lifestyle needs and enhance your personal style. To learn more, call 304-381-5353 to contact our Morgantown eye doctor today.

Call Morgantown Eye Associates on 304-381-5353 to schedule an eye exam with our Morgantown optometrist.

Alternatively book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just in case you missed them, here are some of our previous blog posts :

Diabetes and Your Eyes

School and Vision: 2 Important Partners

What Women Need to Know About Eye Health

Technology in the Classroom and the Eyes

Don't Do These 11 Things If You Wear Daily Disposable Contacts!

Countless people around the world wear daily disposable contact lenses or dailies. These popular single-use lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a new, fresh pair is inserted the next morning. Used properly, dailies promote eye health, and they’re comfortable and convenient.

Despite the many advantages associated with wearing daily disposables, there are plenty of ways you can damage your eyes and vision — some you may never have considered.

1. Don’t Touch Contacts with Dirty Hands

Before touching your lenses, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. By touching your contact lenses with dirty hands, you transfer bacteria to your lenses, which can lead to an infection. Preferably dry your hands with a disposable paper towel rather than a cloth towel, and ensure that no remnants of the towel remain on your fingers.

2. Don’t Expose Your Contacts to Water

Any source of water, whether tap, pool, or lake water, can change the shape of your lenses and cause micro-abrasions on your cornea. Plus, the water may contain bacteria that can wreak havoc on your eye health and cause you to experience temporary vision loss or even permanent blindness.

If you must get in the water with your contacts on, make sure to wear waterproof goggles. If you do get water on your contact lenses, dispose of these lenses and insert a new pair. Exposing contact lenses to chemicals like chlorine binds to the lens and cannot be cleaned off. It then leeches onto the cornea and causes irritation.

The next time you’re tempted to swim or shower with your lenses on, think twice before doing so.

3. Don’t Reuse Your Contacts

Daily disposable contacts are designed to be thrown away after every single use, and people who reuse them risk painful and risky outcomes. Dailies are thinner, more fragile, and don’t hold moisture as well as other contacts.

Users sometimes attempt to increase the lifespan of these lenses by cleaning them in a disinfecting solution and wearing them for several days or even weeks at a time. This is problematic, as the lens material doesn’t allow for repeated disinfecting. In fact, the process of cleaning the lenses tends to be not only ineffective but also breaks down the lens itself, increasing the risk of the lens falling apart while in the eye. The risk of complications and infection is not worth the few saved bucks.

4. Don’t Insert a Dropped Contact In Your Eye

One of the perks of daily lenses is that they are less expensive (per lens) than other types of contacts. So if you find yourself dropping a lens into the sink or on the floor, don’t bother placing it back in your eye. Doing so can cost you your eye health.

5. Don’t Ever Put Contacts In Your Mouth

It seems like a funny concept, doesn’t it? You wouldn’t believe the number of people who do this. If you drop a contact lens, avoid rooting around the floor trying to find it, and if you do, definitely don’t put it in your mouth to lubricate it. Your mouth contains bacteria that can infect your eyes once you reinsert your contacts.

Play it safe by carrying around an emergency pair of glasses or an extra pair of daily disposable contacts in your bag, your car, or at work.

6. Don’t Overwear Your Daily Lenses

Wearing your lenses for long periods of time can damage your eyes, even if they’re daily contacts. The maximum recommended daily use for any contact lens is 14-16 hours, though Dr. Thomas A. Stout will determine the exact number of hours you should wear your lenses. Your eyes, just like any other part of your body, need to rest. Your corneas receive oxygen from the air, not from blood vessels, and while it’s healthy to wear contacts during the day, wearing them for extended periods can significantly reduce the amount of oxygen your eyes receive, which can lead to complications. If you don’t give your eyes the rest they need, your corneas might get swollen, which can lead to corneal abrasion and even bacterial infection.

7. Don’t Sleep With Your Lenses

Daily lenses should never be worn overnight. You’re risking your sight by sleeping in a lens that’s not approved for overnight use, as it can lead to ocular irritation, swelling and corneal ulcers.

8. Don’t Insert Contacts Before Completing Your Morning Routine

Avoid inserting your contacts before you shower or wash your face, since you risk exposing your lenses to tap water and the bacteria that come with it. We also recommend that you insert your lenses after blow-drying and styling your hair, especially if you’re using hairspray or other aerosols, as these products can dry out your contacts. Additionally, the spray can coat the lenses and leave a film that not only irritates the eyes, but can make it difficult to see. If you’re at the hairdresser’s and cannot remove your lenses, shut your eyes when spray is applied.

9. Don’t Get Makeup On Your Contacts

Insert your contacts before applying makeup, because any makeup residue on your hands, such as mascara, can easily transfer to your lenses.

It’s not uncommon for people to get concealer, eyeliner or mascara on their contact lenses. If that happens, immediately remove the lens and clean the makeup with solution (while making sure to dispose of the lens before bed). Otherwise, simply replace with another lens. Avoid wearing waterproof makeup, since it can’t always be removed from your lenses, even when rinsed with solution.

To prevent makeup from getting on your lenses, don’t apply mascara all the way from the base of your lashes up. Instead, apply it from the midway point. It’s also important not to apply eyeliner on the inner lid of your eye, but rather to the skin above your lashes.

10. Don’t Wear Contact Lenses If Your Eyes Are Irritated

As the saying goes, “if in doubt – take them out!” If your eyes feel irritated, uncomfortable, or if you notice any pain or redness, don’t power through. If your symptoms last a while, contact Dr. Thomas A. Stout at Morgantown Eye Associates. You don’t want to let a serious infection go unchecked.

When your eyes feel more rested and are free of discomfort, put in a fresh pair of contacts.

11. Don’t Rub Your Eyes

If your eyes feel itchy or dry, or if a lens feels out of place, you may be tempted to rub your eyes. But rubbing, whether with contacts or without, can lead to long-term ocular issues. This may cause you to experience blurred vision, and may even damage your cornea. Instead, Dr. Thomas A. Stout can recommend eye drops to relieve any discomfort. Make sure to apply them only when contact lenses are removed.

Above, we have delved into things you should never do with daily contact lenses. Fortunately, if you do make a mistake, you can remove the lens and replace it with a fresh one. The few dollars you might save by not opening a new pack aren’t worth the damage a mistake can cause.

If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more about contact lenses, contact Morgantown Eye Associates in Morgantown today. Dr. Thomas A. Stout will be happy to explain how to care for your eyes and maintain your vision.

COVID-19 Update

What to Expect when you visit our Office

To our valued patients:

We Thank you for choosing Morgantown Eye Associates for your eye care needs. As you are aware, with the novel Coronavirus, there are constantly changing concerns and we want to make you aware of the measures we are taking at our office to ensure your safety and the safety of our staff.

These precautions are being put in place to have a safe and sanitary environment for everyone who visits our office. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms cough, respiratory distress, fever, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or new loss of taste or smell, we are asking that you please reschedule your appointment by calling 304.598.2020.

Following CDC Guidelines, we are doing staff training on the following measures, which include but are not limited to:

All patient encounters must be by appointment only. The parking lot is now our “virtual waiting room” we ask that you call 304.598.2020 before entering the building for Appointments, Pick-ups, and all Adjustments/Repairs. This will allow us to coordinate movement of people through the office in a safe manner.
Appointments will be limited to every 30 minutes and we will be limiting the number of patients in the office at one time.
Patients may not bring additional family or friends to their appointments. For minors and patients that need assistance with mobility , only one parent or caregiver will be allowed to accompany the patient.
Only one Doctor per day will be seeing patients at the office.
All staff we be equipped with PPE, including masks and face shields for your protection.
When you arrive for your appointment, we will ask that you call our office at 304.598.2020. At that time, we will be checking temperatures and requiring all patients to wear a face protection (mask). If you do not have one, we will provide one for you.
Alcohol hand sanitizer has been placed in multiple locations in the office.
Regular cleaning and disinfection of door handles, counters, reception areas, and all spaces where public interactions may occur. We ask that you refrain from touching surfaces and products in the office.
Individual exam rooms will be disinfected after every patient encounter, including surfaces, instruments, door handles, and equipment.
All patients must complete a COVID-19 questionnaire upon arrival.

Drs. Stout, Mancini, and Wratchford are working diligently to ensure your safety while at the same time, providing the necessary service to take care of your eye care and vision needs.

Sincerely,
Thomas A. Sout, OD, FAAO | Erica L. Mancini, OD | Dona D. Wratchford, OD
The Staff at Morgantown Eye Associates