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Colorblindness is an interesting thing to most people because we wonder what it must be like to not distinguish some colors—a function of vision that we take for granted. Most people can live with colorblindness because it is present as soon as they are born and many go years without realizing that they do not see a full array of colors.

Certain tasks may be difficult or impossible, but even without seeing as many distinct colors as possible, these people function fine in everyday life. Colorblind tests exist to diagnose people who have color vision deficiency, and new advancements have even created eyewear to help people see more of the colors they are missing depending on their deficiency.

The cause of color blindness usually involves faulty cones. Cones are cells in your eyes that distinguish the three wavelengths of light that we see. Light can be split into red, green, and blue for the spectrum visible to humans. Color blindness can happen because the cone cells are faulty in some way and do not show distinct colors. A person may see shades of yellow and blue, for example, but have problems distinguishing red and green. Many people believe that color blindness means seeing only in black and white, but that is far more rare than typical color blindness.

Also, color deficiency is much more common in men than women. Only up to 1% of the female population has trouble seeing various colors, where somewhere between 8-12% of the male population is color blind.

Color blindness is usually an inherited genetic deficiency with the cones, but symptoms of color blindness may also occur due to stroke, old age, or a problem with pathways from the cones to the brain where the brain can determine colors.

More and more people are able to afford relatively new technology that helps us see more distinct colors. People who are not color blind can use special glasses to see a more saturated and distinct view of colors, but those with color deficiencies are seeing some colors that they have never seen before. These special color vision glasses are a favorite subject of YouTube videos where people give their friends the gift of color and film the shocking experience.

Curious about your own color perception? Learn more about it here, and test your color vision!

 

Most of us remember being told not to sit too close to the TV because it would ruin our vision. Well, that may have been an exaggeration of the actual dangers of sitting too near a tube television, but new risks are at play when it comes to electronic screens and the eyes of our children.

Old tube televisions and things like handheld games relied on much different electronics and lights to power their screens in the early years. It wasn’t until much more recently that we have moved to bright, LED and plasma screens that use a lot of blue light to show unimaginably crisp images. Whereas sitting pretty close to one of those screens twenty years ago probably wasn’t a good idea, it’s likely that prolonged and extreme use of screens nowadays is more problematic.

We know that using a computer can improve school readiness and academic achievement. Children learn digital tools quickly, and have relatively little trouble using them for educational games, math, reading, and more. These things aid cognitive development when used appropriately, and will not harm your child’s vision.

The risks associated with using a digital screen come from prolonged use, improper ergonomics, and developmental problems caused by getting too much screen time instead of getting social interaction and physical activity.

Children’s eyes are more sensitive to bright light because they lack certain tints that we develop as we get older. As we age, our eyes take on a slightly yellowish tint that helps filter bright blue light. The sun is the largest source of bright blue light, but digital devices also rely on this kind of light to produce clear videos and graphics. This means that children who use a bright screen up close are naturally less protected than older people, and their eyes are more susceptible to damage. Over time, our risk for macular degeneration increases along with years of exposure to “high-energy visible light.”

When children use a digital device for long periods of time, they do not “flex” their eyes by focusing on distant objects, as well as looking in the near and intermediate fields. This causes eye strain. Additionally, sitting for too long and making repetitive movements with hands (like clicking a mouse or controller) or sitting in a position with bad posture or an unsupported upper body can lead to problems like carpal tunnel, muscle soreness, and poor physical development. Everyone knows that kids need time to burn off energy, build gross motor skills, and strengthen their muscles and bones through exercise and play. When they get too much time sitting down while indoors, other important activities like outdoor play, conversation, spatial reasoning, and other skills suffer.

To reduce your child’s risk of computer vision syndrome:

• Limit their time on computers and devices
• Prompt them to take breaks regularly (this is a good habit for many activities)
• Make sure they are sitting in a comfortable, supported position
• Opt for anti-glare protection on their eyewear to reduce eyestrain
• Teach them to view digital screens at arm’s length and not too close

Multifocal lenses have made everyday life much easier for people over forty. Bifocals were invented sometime in the 1700s, but trifocals and eventually progressive lenses were later created to give wearers even more functionality. The options are great, but making the choice can be difficult!

If you need multifocal lenses to provide you more than one power, progressive lenses may be a perfect fit. They have many benefits and can work in almost any setting.

Here are some things to consider for your progressive lenses.

How Progressive Lenses Work

Progressive lenses are called “progressive” because they gradually change from one magnification to a stronger one at the bottom of the lens. They progress from a distance vision prescription to an intermediate and then a near-field one. This means that the wearer can look up to the horizon in the upper portion of the lens and see distances clearly, use the middle of the lens to look around their intermediate space, and view reading materials and close up objects through the bottom of the lens. This use of progressive lenses becomes second nature after some adjustment.

Are Progressive Lenses Better than Bifocals?

Many people prefer progressive lenses over bifocals for two reasons. First, bifocals only have two prescription powers. They usually address a farther distance and a close-up reading view. Either an intermediate distance or a certain distance will not be completely clear. Second, some people are distracted by the “image jump” that they see when looking through bifocals. This is caused by the abrupt line where the inset meets the rest of the lens. Some people love bifocals and see no added benefits from progressive lenses, but most people like the versatility of progressive lenses.

Additional Benefits of Modern Progressive Lenses

Multifocal lenses that are not progressive sometimes don’t fit well within a certain frame size. Because lenses have to be cut to fit the frame, the reading portion can end up too big or too small compared to the lens size. Short corridor progressive lenses address this by scaling the reading zones into a more compact area. This means wearers still have their pick of frames and eyeglass shapes.

In addition, specialty progressive eyewear exists to meet certain needs. Computer eyewear can be a great option for people who work at a desktop setting. These lenses do not need the addition of a distance vision section. This means that they allow more room for a close distance focus, and then the rest of the lens is created for the intermediate field. With a computer screen sitting at arm’s length, reading materials up close, and walls at an intermediate distance, these lenses help maximize the eyewear for indoor occupational settings.

Nobody will notice! Some people believe there is a stigma with bifocals because they perceive them as glasses only for senior citizens. Many people even put off getting multifocal lenses because they don’t want to admit that they need them. Progressive lenses help this issue for some people because there is not a visible line like with bifocals. It is unusual for someone to notice that the wearer has progressive lenses unlike the ability to see bifocal lines.

If you have any questions about how progressive lenses can help your eyes see as clearly and comfortably as possible, speak with an optician. There are many options and we can help you narrow down the possibilities so you can make an informed decision.