Digital Heat Corporation Launches Heated Eye Pad To Help Relieve Dry Eyes #

October 2016 — For people with meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye syndrome, blepharitis or other eye conditions, a warm compress is one of the usually recommended treatments.

But compresses have their drawbacks, including the frequent need to re-heat them. Plus they heat the entire eye socket and surrounding skin. The Heated Eye Pad is different, because it doesn’t require moisture, it maintains a precise temperature, it keeps the temperature constant over time and it heats only the eyelids.

You close your eyes, then wear the Heated Eye Pad like an eyeglass frame — the bridge and temples adjust to fit your face. The eye pad is mounted on the frame.

Then you plug the device into a USB port, such as the one on your computer (it comes with a wall adapter, too). The eye pad heats to about 104°F and is FDA-cleared for over-the-counter use.

Because the Heated Eye Pad is new, it is not widely available, though you can order it online directly from the manufacturer. Ask your eye care practitioner about it.

New Eye Health Supplement Includes A Multivitamin #

July 2016 — To make your supplement regimen easier, Bausch + Lomb has released a new version of its PreserVision AREDS 2 eye vitamins that includes vitamins and minerals found in many multivitamins.

This means you need only one pill per day, instead of two, to ensure you are getting the nutrients your body needs.

The two-in-one formula is beta-carotene-free and has a high level of vitamin D; it was designed to address the needs of older people.

AREDS and AREDS2 are major clinical studies that tested the effects of antioxidants, zinc and other supplements on the eyes. The National Eye Institute recommends that people with moderate to advanced age-related macular degeneration take a supplement with a certain combination of these substances based on the AREDS2 study.

John Deere Safety Eyewear Launched #

March 2015 — The new line of John Deere Safety Eyewear has shatterproof lenses and durable frames, meeting the latest ANSI standards for high-velocity and high mass-impact protection.

According to manufacturer Wiley X, the eyewear provides OSHA-grade protection for work on the farm or backyard, as well as for home improvement.

Seven styles come in either the All Terrain Safety or the Premium Lifestyle Safety line. All Terrain models have anti-fog lens coating. Some styles are in sizes and colors designed for women. Lenses come in various types and colors, depending on the frame style.

Flicker Glass, A New Alternative To Patching For Amblyopia #

January 2015 — Flicker Glass by Eyetronix is a new, wearable tool that uses rapid alternating occlusion to encourage the eyes to work together. Patching for amblyopia occludes one eye to force the other eye to work better, but Flicker Glass is designed to encourage both eyes to work together.

According to the company, this binocular approach can stimulate the visual system and help restore depth perception. And it does so in a more natural way that is likely more acceptable to children than patching.

The tool is an eyeglass frame with liquid crystal lenses and an electronic shutter. In fact, in a study of 20 kids aged 6 to 17, none of the subjects reported discomfort from wearing Flicker Glass, and most were even enthusiastic about it.

BeeLine Reader Designed To Increase Your Reading Speed #

January 2015 — If reading text quickly is tough for you, you’re not alone: Many people feel that the distractions of modern life, plus the challenges of reading on backlit digital screens, slow their reading speed and make it hard to concentrate on text.

The BeeLine Reader was developed with the idea that the human brain recognizes and processes colors faster than it can process words. So applying gradient color to bits of text may help lead the eyes through the text faster, with fewer accidental skips or repeats that slow comprehension. The BeeLine developers report that people with dyslexia, ADD and vision difficulties can especially benefit.

Shown here is an example of the “bright” BeeLine setting applied to an article on this website. (Click on the image for actual size.) You can choose from several color and other settings when using BeeLine.

The BeeLine Reader is a free, quick-to-install browser plugin that works with web pages and Amazon or OverDrive e-books. A PDF reader and mobile app for iPhone and iPad are also available.

You can test your reading speed with BeeLine by taking the reading challenge on the company’s website.

Handy Device Helps Get Eye Drops In Your Eyes — Instead Of All Over Your Face! #

January 2015 — The DROPin Eye Drop Assist is a simple plastic device that helps position the tip of an eye drops bottle over your eye, for easier instillation of artificial tears, glaucoma medications and contact lens wetting solutions.

You just remove the cap of the eye drops bottle, place it through the hole of the DROPin and bring the device to your face with the end cupped around your nose. Making sure the drop tip is centered over your eye, lean back and squeeze the bottle to apply a drop. Since it takes only one hand to position the DROPin, you can use the other hand to hold open the eye or lower the eyelid.

The DROPin also helps ensure that the bottle tip doesn’t touch the eye, for less chance of contamination. And in many cases, you can simply place the bottle cap back on with the DROPin device still in place, so it’s ready to go the next time you need a drop.

The device is available on Amazon and at some eye care practices.

BlephEx Treatment For Blepharitis Now Available #

December 2014 — BlephEx is a recently developed device used by eye care professionals to exfoliate the eyelids along the edge of eyelids and lashes, to relieve the irritating symptoms of blepharitis.

The in-office procedure is painless and, according to BlephEx president and CEO Dr. James Rynerson, it reduces bacterial debris and clears the lids of inflammatory exotoxins that accumulate along the margins.

The procedure is quick and simple: A numbing drop is placed in each eye, and then for six to eight minutes the BlephEx spinning micro-sponge is applied to the eyelid edges. According to Dr. Rynerson, people often report almost immediate relief from irritation associated with blepharitis, as well as eventual resumption of normal tear production.

“In the same way that gingivitis and tooth loss can be avoided by regular teeth cleaning and flossing, blepharitis and tear gland damage can be controlled by BlephEx treatments every four to six months, followed by nightly home maintenance,” said Dr. Rynerson in a press release.

“With routine maintenance, blepharitis symptoms such as itching or scratchy eyes, foreign body sensation, tearing, crusting, redness and inflammation, mattering, dry eyes and eye rubbing can be significantly reduced,” he added.

LensPen Introduces Peeps, A New Way To Clean Your Eyewear #

November 2014 — If you use tissues or your shirtsleeve to clean your eyeglass or sunglass lenses, you’re not doing your eyewear any favors. Those materials can scratch the lenses and generally don’t do a very good cleaning job anyway.

Peeps is a new device designed to clean meticulously and conveniently, with carbon technology and without using a spray.

First you use the retractable goat-hair brush to remove dust and abrasive particles from the lenses. This light brushing is meant to reduce the possibility of scratching the lens or its anti-reflective coating. Then you slide the arms out from the holder and clean with circular motions. To remove any smudges, you simply breathe on the surface and repeat.

When you slide the arms back into the holder, the carbon on the cleaning tips is replenished.

Nearsights Monocles: Practical Chic For Magnification Or Prescription Needs #

October 2014 — Monocles are in, and it’s not just because they are the epitome of retro cool. It’s also because they’re just plain handy!

Shown here are Nearsights monocles, which offer a fun and unique way to see better. Nearsights come in either a standard range of magnification or no magnification at all. They are also available in prescriptions for people who want more precise near vision, have astigmatism or want to use their monocle for distance vision.

Frame material choices include metal (in gold, silver or black), acetate (in tortoise or white oak woodgrain) and food-grade silicone (in urban camo or black). There are round shapes — plus a dog-tag shape in the Ruggedized Tactical collection that was created for active people who spend time in extreme environments. The Classic model comes in two sizes, the larger of which is recommended for people 6 feet or taller.

Lenses are offered in three types of anti-scratch coated polymer or optical glass. Lens tints are available in a range of colors, and you can also get a mirrored tint in six different colors. And the company offers interchangeable lanyards in several colors and materials.

If you haven’t tried a monocle, never fear: Nearsights are easy to use. Here’s a brief how-to.

Soothe XP Eye Drops Available Again For Dry Eyes #

July 2014 — Bausch + Lomb has re-launched Soothe Xtra Protection (XP) eye drops for dry eye symptoms.

The new artificial tear formula contains Restoryl, which offers a blend of mineral oils and interfacial molecules to help replenish the lipid layer of the eye’s tear film. It is deficiency of this lipid layer that is most associated with dry eye symptoms, according to the company.

Soothe XP is available at select retailers now; availability will expand to additional stores over the coming months.

Fold-up Reading Glasses By John Varvatos Have Light-Changing Lenses #

November 2013 — These John Varvatos reading glasses for men combine convenient features with clean, tailored styling.

John Varvatos folding reading glasses with photochromic lenses for men. Please click here for a close-up photo.
The readers have telescoping temples for compactness when folded and flex hinges for a good fit.

The rims are coined, like classic men’s jewelry. And here’s an unusual feature: The lenses are photochromic, so they’re clear indoors and tinted when you move outdoors.

Shown is style V802 in a two-tone color combination. It also comes in an all-silver color. Also available is style V803, a rectangular shape. Please click here for a close-up photo of style V802.

PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula Offers Proven Eye Nutrients #

October 2013 — PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula is a reformulated eye vitamin and mineral supplement that matches the updated formula based on the National Eye Institute’s Age Related Eye Disease Study 2.

Bausch + Lomb PreserVision Eye Vitamin and Mineral Supplement – AREDS2 Formula
By taking two soft gels per day, you can receive the benefits of the six nutrients that the AREDS 2 study proved were beneficial to eye health. The six are vitamin C (500mg), vitamin E (400 IU), lutein (10mg)/zeaxanthin (2mg), zinc (80mg zinc oxide) and copper (2mg cupric oxide).

According to the manufacturer, Bausch + Lomb, this supplement is the only commercially available one in the United States that exactly matches the AREDS 2 formula.

The new PreserVision AREDS 2 formula is available at food, drug and mass retailers nationwide. Always consult an eye care professional before using any AREDS or AREDS 2 supplement.

Book For Children With Color Vision Deficiency #

May 2013 — All About Color Blindness is a children’s book that explains color vision deficiency or CVD: who has it, how they get it, and how to work around it at home and school.

The illustrated book tells the story of a fourth-grader named Corey, who used to feel stupid when his difficulty with perceiving certain colors caused problems and misunderstandings. But after learning about his CVD, he feels better about himself and now knows how to deal with situations that cause color confusion.

Corey’s insights are easy to read and very informative for color vision deficient children, as well as for their friends, parents and teachers who want to help.

Author Karen Rae Levine has a son with CVD, and it inspired her to become an advocate. She wrote the book with help from CVD experts, including optometrist Dr. Terrance Waggoner, who has written about color vision testing and also has a son with CVD.

The 32-page book is now available in an updated, hardcover version and makes a great gift.