Prescription Safety Eyewear: Choosing the Right Pair for Work

The significance of protecting your eyes can’t be overstated—especially if you’re in an industry with a high risk of eye injuries. Prescription safety eyewear is a must when it comes to safeguarding your vision against potential hazards. Choosing the right pair of safety glasses or goggles can help you ensure you’re protected without sacrificing clear vision.

This guide will help you select the right prescription safety glasses for your job.

The Importance of Safety Eyewear

The workplace can pose various risks to eye health, including exposure to chemicals, dust, and even radiation, depending on your industry. The right safety eyewear acts as a barrier against these hazards, preventing injuries to your eye and ensuring that you’re able to perform your duties without the risk of vision loss. If you require prescription lenses, integrating vision correction into safety eyewear is essential to ensure your vision is clear and your eyes are protected.

Features to Consider

Finding safety eyewear with the right features is important. Here’s what to look for:

Material: The lenses should be made of a durable material that’s resistant to scratches and breaking. Polycarbonate is popular due to its high impact resistance and lightweight properties.
Design: The design you select should be comfortable and provide adequate protection around the eyes. Consider wrap-around styles or side shields for additional protection.
Lens Coatings: Anti-fog, anti-scratch, and UV protection coatings can enhance the functionality and longevity of your safety eyewear.
Compliance: It’s important to choose eyewear that meets the safety standards of Occupational Health and Safety, as well as your employer.
Customization: You may require custom lenses to suit specific vision needs—ensure the pair you choose can be customized accordingly.

Trust Eyewear Experts for Safety Eyewear in Red Deer

Choosing the right prescription safety eyewear is necessary to ensure your vision is protected at work. By considering factors such as the material, design, and lens coatings, you can ensure you find a pair that keeps your eyes safe and your vision clear.

For a selection of safety glasses and comprehensive eye exams, contact Eyewear Experts.

Switching to Contact Lenses? Keep Your Eyes Healthy With a Contact Lens Eye Exam

If you’ve decided to start wearing contact lenses, it’s important to schedule a contact lens eye exam with your optician. These exams help you ensure a comfortable fit and effective vision correction.

What’s Different About Contact Lens Eye Exams?

Many elements of a contact lens-specific eye exam are the same as a traditional eye exam; however, the addition of measurements to help determine the shape and size of your eye make the contact lens eye exam a necessity – especially for first-time wearers.

Measurements Taken in a Contact Lens Eye Exam

During your exam, your optician will take several measurements:

Cornea: Your cornea is measured using a keratometer, which analyzes light reflections from your cornea and helps to determine the curvature of the front surface of your eye.
Pupil: The optician will measure your pupil to determine the shape and size, which helps them choose which type of contact lenses you should wear.
Iris: Once the iris is measured, this number is used along with the pupil measurement to help determine the type of coloured lenses you could wear, should that be something you choose.

At Eyewear Experts, each of these measurements are taken using the state-of-the-art Vision R-700 digital eye testing system.

Other Elements of Your Contact Lens Eye Exam

During a contact lens eye exam, your optician will also analyze your ability to produce tears to ensure that your eyes can keep contact lenses moist, as well as the overall health of your cornea. These tests are conducted to ensure you’re able to safely wear contact lenses without damaging your eyes.

Additional Benefits of a Contact Lens Eye Exam

In addition to ensuring your eyes are healthy enough for contact lenses and obtaining eye measurements, a contact lens eye exam helps you and your optician select the right type and brand of contact lenses for your eyes.

For children and seniors aged 65 and older, it’s best to have a contact lens eye exam annually, while adults aged 19 to 64 with healthy eyes can get away with a contact lens eye exam every two years.

To schedule your contact lens eye exam in Red Deer, contact us today.

The Benefits of Progressive Lenses and How They Can Protect Your Vision

As we age, it can become more difficult to see objects clearly. In fact, after age 50, most people notice a mild decline in vision, with difficulties focusing while reading or viewing objects in close range. Thankfully, progressive lenses can make it easier to focus on objects both close up and far away.

What Are Progressive Lenses?

Progressive lenses are designed to help individuals with presbyopia— the gradual loss of one’s ability to focus on nearby objects. Similar to bifocal lenses, progressives help wearers view objects that are near and far away without having to change glasses. However, these lenses don’t have visible lines and instead feature three focal distances: far, intermediate, and near.

Progressives vs. Bifocals: What’s the Difference?

The primary difference between progressive lenses and bifocals is the focal points. While bifocals typically have two visibly marked focal points within a single lens, progressives include three unique focal points: distance vision at the top, intermediate vision in the middle, and near vision at the bottom. This helps to reduce vision issues and symptoms of presbyopia, leading to a more comfortable field of vision.

The Benefits of Wearing Progressive Lenses

Progressive lenses are the best choice when it comes to maintaining optimal vision at various distances. They provide a seamless transition between different prescriptions, ensuring that even when one is both nearsighted and living with presbyopia, they’re able to see using only one pair of lenses. Furthermore, they reduce the chances of image jump, which occurs when an object appears displaced while viewing through bifocal lenses.

Thanks to the convenience of wearing just one pair of glasses to manage multiple vision problems, users are less likely to experience eye strain. Ultimately, this protects the eyes from rapid deterioration and delays the need for prescription changes.

Progressive Lenses in Red Deer, Alberta

Aging eyes may require more than just a single eyeglass prescription. Progressive lenses make it easier for those with multiple vision needs, such as nearsightedness and presbyopia, to view objects at varying distances with a single pair of glasses.

At Eyewear Experts, our opticians provide comprehensive eye examinations with prescriptions ready in as little as one hour. Trust our team to help you find the perfect pair of progressive lenses so you can see clearly. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Diabetic Eye Disease Month: Prioritizing Eye Exams to Reduce Risk

Over 3 million Canadians have diabetes, and while regular diabetic eye exams are an important part of managing their illness, eye exams can also play a pivotal role in the early detection of diabetes for those who haven’t been diagnosed.

Why Diabetic Eye Exams are Important

When a person has diabetes, they often experience changes in the retina—a layer of cells at the back of the eye that’s responsible for processing images and sending signals to the brain, helping it interpret what the eye sees. When these changes in the retina occur, it’s called diabetic retinopathy—a condition that can cause issues such as blurred vision, splotchy vision, or even blindness.

Regular diabetic eye exams can help detect vision issues early and prevent escalation.

Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

According to Diabetes Canada, 23% of people with type 1 diabetes experience diabetic retinopathy. When it first develops, people often don’t experience any symptoms, which is why it’s important to schedule regular diabetic eye exams.

As the condition progresses, a person may experience:

Blurry vision
Sudden vision loss
Spotty or blotchy vision
Flashes or spots of light in their field of vision

Preventing Retinopathy

While diabetic retinopathy isn’t curable, it can be prevented or delayed with the right approach to treatment. The most important factor in prevention and early detection is regular diabetic eye exams. Diabetes Canada recommends yearly exams for diagnosed individuals; however, your optician may recommend a different schedule depending on the health of your eyes.

In addition to visiting an optician regularly, you can prevent retinopathy by carefully monitoring and maintaining safe blood-glucose levels.

Schedule a Diabetic Eye Exam

As a diabetic, the health of your eyes requires consistent monitoring. Regular eye exams are an important part of diabetes maintenance to help ensure your vision and eye health remain optimal.

Eye Health Matters: What to Expect in an Eye Exam

The health of your eyes is important. While maintaining good vision is an important factor in your quality of life, regular eye exams can also help your optician detect deeper eye issues, including cataracts and glaucoma, as well as identify potential problems with your overall health, such as diabetes, tumours, and heart disease.

Whether you’ve never had your eyes checked or you’re on a first-name basis with your optician, knowing what to expect at an appointment can make the process much less stressful.

Here’s what to expect at your next visit to our Red Deer optical centre.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Prior to visiting Eyewear Experts, prepare a list of your current medications, vitamins, and natural health supplements. It’s also helpful to write down any questions you have about your vision and eye health and bring them with you.

Be sure to also bring your current glasses and/or contact lenses.

During Your Eye Exam

At your appointment, your optician will start by reviewing your medical history and discussing any concerns you may have about your vision or eye health. They’ll perform several tests and assessments to determine the health of your eyes and vision.

Tests may include:

Visual acuity: Your optician will have you read or describe a chart with letters, numbers, or shapes to determine how well you can see and read at a distance.
Eye health: Using a variety of instruments, your optician will check the physical health of your eye, looking at factors such as muscle function, coordination, and general appearance of the cornea, lens, and retina.
Refraction: A tool called a phoropter will be gently placed in front of your eyes, enabling your optician to measure your eye’s movements and near-distance focal ability.

In addition to these tests, your optician may perform other exams depending on your age, your concerns, and the date of your most recent eye exam. This may include testing your visual field or colour vision, pupil dilation, and tonometry to determine your intraocular pressure.

After the Exam

Once your optician has completed your exam, they’ll explain your results and let you know if you require a new prescription or changes to your current one. Depending on the health of your eyes and the prescription strength, you may be able to order contact lenses in addition to your glasses.

If glasses or contacts are prescribed, our optometry assistants will help you select a style of lenses and take measurements to ensure a comfortable fit.

If necessary, you’ll then schedule treatment or follow-up visits.

Receiving Your Lenses

In most cases, your glasses prescription can be filled within one hour at our in-house eye lab using industry-leading eyewear technology to ensure accuracy and comfort.

Schedule an Eye Exam Today

Trust your eye health to Eyewear Experts. We offer eye exams for:

Children of all ages
Adults
Seniors aged 65+
Diabetics

Why You Should Choose Computer Glasses for Better Vision

Did you know that internet traffic has increased by a whopping 60%? This means that many more people spend a significant amount of time on computer or phone screens. Whether for work or recreation, it’s essential to be mindful of how this can affect the health of your eyes. Over time, it’s possible to experience blurry vision. If you’ve started to notice this and other adverse effects, don’t worry because there’s a solution. Are you wondering what can keep your eyes safe and sound? Keep reading to learn how you can use computer glasses for better vision.

WHAT IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME?

Computer vision syndrome is a catch-all term for various symptoms that can crop up after prolonged computer usage. Aside from blurred vision, you may experience headaches that increase in severity over time. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the discomfort can take the form of backaches. Your eyes can also suffer in a variety of ways. The blurry vision is often accompanied by dryness, itchiness, and even redness. Many people experience a general light sensitivity as well. While these symptoms are temporary, they can become chronic issues. Given enough computer screen time, there may even be permanent damage to your eyes. With prescription lenses from Eyewear Experts, you can protect your eyes and avoid dealing with these issues regularly.

WHAT ARE COMPUTER GLASSES?

Since a screen is almost always near your eyes, the best computer glasses can help you focus your eyes more quickly. Since the lens helps with an even focus, you won’t have to tilt your head backward when trying to see the screen. You may think that your reading glasses are enough. However, computer screens tend to have a bit more distance than regular reading material. This is why glasses explicitly designed for the computer are necessary. There are several types of computer glasses, including single vision, flat-top bifocal, and variable focus. If you spend several hours or more at a computer, then it’s time to schedule a visit with the Eyewear Experts for a pair of computer glasses made just for you. Consulting with a professional can also let you know if you should wear computer glasses over your contact lenses or not.

ARE YOU READY TO BENEFIT FROM COMPUTER GLASSES?

Now that you’ve learned how to use computer glasses for better vision, it’s time to say goodbye to blurriness. The sooner you start protecting your eyes, the healthier they’ll be. Don’t forget to tell your friends and family about this product. You can always rely on Eyewear Experts. We provide high-quality frames, contact lenses, prescription lenses, and sunglasses. We also offer eye testing, repair and maintenance services, and more. Feel free to stop by our location at Downtown or Gasoline Alley. We look forward to helping you attain a clear vision.

Hottest Sunglasses Trends of the Season

Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses does more than protect your eyes from the sun; it also does wonders for your style! However, finding the right look means keeping up with the latest trends. After all, you want to look stylish whether you’re at the beach or in the backyard. Here are some of the latest sunglasses trends, so you can protect your eyes and look sharp at the same time.

GEOMETRIC SHAPES

The elongated rectangle look is one of the hottest sunglasses trends this year. It’s big and bold yet elegant and stylish at the same time. The shape works well whether you go colourful or classic black. You can find rectangular shades this season from designers like Versace and Prada.

COLOURFUL LENSES

Playing with colour is a great way to add personality to your shades. Plus, you can pick colours that complement your skin tone and hair colour. Colourful lenses are one trend appearing across different designer brands. The good news is that there are so many colours for sunglasses that you’re no longer limited to one or two shades. Colourful sunglasses can also make a great statement piece.

COLOURFUL FRAMES

Another way to add a pop of colour to your outfit is to choose colourful frames. From soft pink to sky blue and everything in between, you can stay on trend by shopping for glasses in this style. It’s a great way to add a bit of flair and fun to your outfits and come across as more playful. Colour also has a significant impact on how we feel. Pick a shade that calls to you and makes you feel confident. Designers leading this trend include Louis Vuitton and Versace.

GOING RETRO

They’re classic styles for a reason! Timeless looks such as aviators, rounded frames, and other retro looks are hot right now. You can find plenty of designers pulling on classic designs this season. Styles like aviators will always be trendy and look great with various looks and outfits.

SLIM FRAMES

Slim and tiny sunglasses are making a comeback this year. The style was quite popular in the 50s and made a resurgence in the 90s. Celebrities such as Kendall and the Hadid sisters were sporting the slim frame look last year, which continues to be a big trend this year. Since slim styles are much smaller, be sure to opt for higher UV protection to keep your eyes safe from the sun.

CLEAR FRAMES

Clear frames for sunglasses are taking off and gaining popularity. Clear or translucent frames are subtle but no less fashionable than their bold counterparts. Clear frames also go with any outfit and complement any skin tone.

STYLISH SUNGLASSES TRENDS FOR EVERYONE

These sunglasses trends suit anyone and can easily take your style up a notch. Of course, the best way to find the perfect frames for you is to try them on. We carry one of the largest inventories of popular sunglasses brands in Western Canada! Book a visit with us to find that perfect pair of shades today.