Month: April 2024

There really isn’t anything you can’t get online these days. Groceries, clothes, household supplies. You name it, you can order it. The age of convenience is upon us and boy has it made our lives a little easier.

It may seem like the best idea would be to do most of your shopping online. There are still somethings that it is important to go in person to buy. Eyeglasses would be one of those things. We want to explain why it is so important for you to come to your local eye store for your glasses and contact needs.

PUPILLARY DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

This measurement is referring to the distance between the center of each of your pupils. It is important to get this measurement just right so that your eyes are able to focus together.

There are two different ways this type of measurement can be taken.

1. Binocular PD-one number that represents the measurement of the center of one pupil to the center of the other in millimeters.
2. Monocular PD-two numbers that represent the measurement of each pupil to the center of the bridge of your nose in millimeters.

If you try to do your own PD measurement at home and this measurement is off, it can cause eye strain, headaches, blurry vision and discomfort. This is a tough measurement to get right, especially on your own. We highly recommend letting a professional do it so that you get the right glasses the first time around.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

TriCounty Eye Associates prides itself on the fantastic customer experience you get when you come to one of our offices. We are locally owned and treat all our customers like family.  Our staff aims to provide all eye care needs for our customers, and our service will speak for itself once you come to visit. This is something you cannot get from an online store.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

Small businesses can be forgotten when big box stores take over a community. That, along with web based stores that boast convenience, can severely impact the customer base of a small local business. With large chain eye care stores you are going to miss out on the specialized customer experience of being taken care of people who know you. Consumers like you can have a direct effect on the locally owned businesses around you.

A couple of big reasons to shop local are:

1. You help stimulate the local economy which has a direct impact on your local businesses.
2. You inadvertently help local charities because local business owners tend to donate more to local charities.
3. It will add jobs to the local community. As one small business grows, they are going to need more help.
4. More small businesses mean there are more choices for you, the consumer as well as lower prices.
5. You matter more. Like we were saying earlier, we treat our customers like family.

Here at TriCounty Eye Associates, we want to make sure you get the best eye care possible. We can assure you will get that with us because we will provide you with accurate pupillary distance measurements and the best possible customer experience. YOU will get the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting your locally owned businesses and supporting your local community.

Sleep has been proven to be a huge factor in keeping your body healthy overall. We are sure you are all aware by now that we here at TriCounty Eye Associates are very concerned with keeping our customer’s eyes healthy. It turns out that, most of the same recommendations for a healthy lifestyle are also recommendations for keeping your eyes healthy and happy! Today, we wanted to dive a little deeper into the connection between your vision and your sleep habits.

How much sleep do you need?

It is recommended that the average adult needs 7 to 8 hours of good sleep to give your body enough time to recover each night.

If you are not getting enough sleep, indicators in your eye health could be…

• Dry eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Bloodshot eyes
• Bags under your eyes Eye twitches/spasms Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision

If you have any of these symptoms above, it could be an indicator that you need to get more sleep.

Sleep Apnea and Glaucoma

While there are normal everyday stressors that can keep you from getting a good nights sleep, there are also some outside forces that can affect your vision. According to the national counsel on aging approximately 39 million adults in America suffer from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause you to stop breathing during your sleep. Glaucoma is an eye disease that can lead to loss of vision.

There have been studies done that link glaucoma with sleep apnea. During your routine eye exam with us here at Tricounty Eye Associates, your doctor could be able to spot signs of sleep apnea due to changes in eyelids, retina or vision. This is another great reason to get regular exams, so your doctor has comparisons from year to year.

Tips for a better night’s sleep and lasting vision health

It can be hard to wind down after long day of work and family pressures. If you find yourself having trouble getting the recommended amount of sleep and consequently developing some eye symptoms, try these:

• Turn off all electronics 30 minutes prior to your selected bedtime.
• Unwind by reading, listening to music or meditating.
• Create a dark, cool comfortable environment in your bedroom.
• Set a bedtime and stick to it.

Never forget, Tricounty Eye Associates are here for you through every step of your eye health journey. Always check back here for more tips on spotting potential issues in the future. Don’t forget to schedule your yearly exam for yourself and your loved ones!