Easing Your Ride into the Sunset

Picture this:

A grand adventure… Overflowing with danger and romance, culminating in a triumphant ride into the sunset; a haggard and lonesome hero, returning home or on to Glory….

Luckily for us, we regular folks get to ride into the sunset far more frequently than the heroes of those stories. The only hang-up is that it’s not nearly as romantic as we might wish it was. When you’re on your way to or from work, the sun can paint either a dazzling display on the clouds, or a dangerous span of unbearably bright light, endangering ourselves and those around us.

Follow these helpful suggestions to ease the inconvenience of driving directly into the blinding sun:

Slow down to reflect the fact that your vision is compromised. Use extra caution, especially during school zones. Expect the rest of traffic to slow down, and keep an eye on your rear-view mirror for traffic that may be rapidly approaching from behind.

Invest in polarized sunglasses. They will help reduce glare. Have them within reach and ready for your face.

Use your drop-down visor to block out the sun, but be sure to keep an eye on traffic lights.

Leave more following room between your car and the car in front of you.

Drive with your headlights on to increase your visibility to other drivers. Having headlights on will also set your tail lights at full luminosity, which will benefit drivers behind you who are also struggling to see.

Keep your windshield clean, inside and out. Use either glass cleaner or a vinegar/water mixture to wipe down glass, even if it looks clean. Some dirt will only cause problems when the sun is at its lowest visible point.

Avoid storing papers on your dash board, as the reflection on your windshield can obscure vision.

Use lane markings to help guide you. Look toward the edge of the road, and not directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun can damage your retinas. Stay focused on driving.

If you need to, pull over. Do this SAFELY, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. It often only takes a few minutes for the sun to reach a tolerable angle. If you don’t trust yourself or other drivers, it will be worth the wait.

Allow time in your routine so that you do not have to rush. If possible, adjust route timing to avoid times when sun glare is most extreme.

Reflection, Refraction, Burning Cars, and Survival Skills

We’re having one SIZZLING summer over here at Allied Eye!

In the spirit of this heat wave, we’re turning lemons into lemonade by highlighting the unique learning experience we had at the office yesterday!  

Yes. This is in our staff parking lot.

Let us tell you… We were handed some very big, very juicy lemons.  Here’s what we suspect happened:

Dr. Matzkin had a concave mirror sitting in the back seat of his car – like the curved mirrors used for applying makeup. Sunlight streaming through the window reflected off the mirror, formed a concentrated hot spot, and ignited the interior of his car. Think of the way you can use a magnifying glass to set leaves ablaze.

Example of a convex mirror focusing the sun's rays onto a smoldering object.

How, you may ask, is this an interesting example of eye-related processes?  The irony here is that Dr. Matzkin basically employs this principle every day when making refractive corrections to our patients’ vision.

In fact, the WAY YOU SEE is a result of this phenomenon: light bends when it enters your eye and focuses itself on your retina. By changing the shape of your lens (cataract surgery, contacts, glasses, LASIK are all examples), that beam of light becomes MORE focused, and it produces a clearer image when it reaches the back of your eye. 

Convex REFRACTION (Lens of the Eye)

The way light bends and curves when it passes through a substance is called refraction. When it bounces off a surface, that’s reflection. With a more perfect lens comes a more perfect focal point, and with that comes more perfect vision.  

Concave REFLECTION (Mirror and Flaming car)

For our purposes, we will call these tools “burning mirrors” and “burning lenses” when they are used to create fires.

The earliest lens artifact, discovered from the 7th century BCE in ancient Assyria may have been used as a burning lens. The earliest record of “burning mirrors” comes to us from the Greek mathematician, Diocles, in the 3rd Century BCE (Consider that the lens was not modified for use in cataract surgery until the 1950s).

Burning lenses have been used historically to cauterize wounds and to light sacred fires in temples (the eternal Olympic Flame, for example). During the French Revolution, the French government considered developing the burning lens into a weapon that would ignite British Ships from afar. In the 18th century, burning lenses became popular for use in chemical experiments. 

Not All burning glass ideas are brilliant, as you may have assumed by the first photo in this entry… In a 1920’s book by William Bates, the author argues that vision can be perfected by "Focusing the Rays of the Sun Upon the Eye of a Patient by Means of a Burning Glass.” Needless to say, this is highly dangerous and will damage the eye in seconds.

Today, burning lenses and mirrors have plenty of practical applications, like headlights, lighthouses, and solar stoves.

Keep an Eye on UV Safety

Keep an Eye on Ultraviolet (UV) Safety

The American Academy of Ophthalmology cautions us that too much exposure to UV light raises the risks of eye diseases, including cataracts, growths on the eye, and cancer. 

Who is at Risk for UV Eye Damage?

Growths on the eye, such as pterygium, can show up in our teens or twenties, especially in surfers, skiers, fishermen, farmers, or anyone who spends long hours under the mid-day sun or in the UV-intense conditions found near rivers, oceans, and mountains.

Diseases like cataract and eye cancers can take many years to develop, but each time we're out in the sun without protection we could be adding damage that adds to our risks for these serious disorders. Babies and kids need to wear hats and sunglasses for this very reason. People of all ages should take precautions whenever they are outdoors.

"UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or indoor artificial rays, can damage the eye's surface tissues as well as the cornea and lens," said Michael Kutryb, MD, an ophthalmologist in Edgewater, Fla., and clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the dangers UV light can pose. By wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, you can enjoy the summer safely while lowering your risk for potentially blinding eye diseases and tumors." It is important to start wearing proper eye protection at an early age to protect your eyes from years of ultraviolet exposure.

Follow these tips to protect your eyes from the sun all year long:

Wear UV-blocking sunglasses

Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summertime, so be sure to wear UV-blocking sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats whenever you're outside.

Don't underestimate a cloudy day

Don't be fooled by clouds: the sun's rays can pass through haze and thin clouds.

Don't look directly at the Sun

Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can lead to solar retinopathy, which is damage to the eye's retina from solar radiation.

Don't forget your kids and parents

Don't forget the kids and older family members: everyone is at risk, including children and senior citizens. Protect their eyes with hats and sunglasses.

UV Light: 

Moderation for a Good Night's Sleep

As we sleep, our eyes enjoy continuous lubrication. During sleep the eyes also clear out irritants such as dust, allergens or smoke that may have accumulated during the day. Some research suggests that light-sensitive cells in the eye are important to our ability to regulate wake-sleep cycles. This may be more critical as we age, when more people have problems with insomnia. While it's important that we protect our eyes from overexposure to UV light, our eyes also need minimal exposure to natural light every day to help maintain normal sleep-wake cycles.

Time Outdoors 

May Prevent Nearsightedness in Kids

Research shows that children who spend more time outside exposed to daylight may reduce their risk of developing nearsightedness. So not only is exercise great for eye health, but now it seem that getting that exercise while outside may be additionally beneficial. Taking your children outside to play may not only help lower their risk for nearsightedness, but will also teach them good habits for a lifetime of eye health.

Why Everyone Needs Sunglasses 

and Hats This Summer

We all use sunscreen to protect our skin, but don't forget to protect your eyes as well. Summertime means more time spent outdoors, and studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing cataracts and growths on the eye, including cancer. The same risk applies when using tanning beds, so be sure to protect your eyes from indoor UV light as well. Sunlight reflected off sand and water can cause photokeratitis, the condition responsible for snow blindness, so beach- and pool-goers take note.

Which sunglasses to choose

According to a national Sun Safety Survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only about half of people who wear sunglasses say they check the UV rating before buying.The good news is that you can easily protect yourself. In order to be eye smart in the sun, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the following:

Wear sunglasses labeled “100% UV protection": Use only glasses that block both UV-A and UV-B rays and that are labeled either UV400 or 100% UV protection.

Choose wraparound styles so that the sun's rays can't enter from the side.

If you wear UV-blocking contact lenses, you'll still need sunglasses.

By embracing these simple tips you and your family can enjoy the summer sun safely while protecting your vision.

ALL INFORMATION SOURCED FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY