Iowa EyeCare is committed to giving our patients the very best services and products, including high quality eyeglasses and prescription lenses.  This includes High Index options for lighter, thinner lenses that improve the comfort and function of your glasses. 

Iowa EyeCare has new high-index materials that bend light more efficiently than the conventional plastic lenses. This means less material can be used in high-index lenses to correct the same amount of prescription. 

What is index of refraction? 

For Nerds Only

The index of refraction of a lens is a measure of ability to bend light.   Index of refraction is determined by the material in which it is made.  For the nerds reading this, you’ll be interested to know the refractive index equation: Refractive Index = velocity of light in a vacuum / velocity of light in medium… the bottom line… the higher the refractive index of a lens material, the thinner a corrective lens can be made.  

High Index (left) verses Conventional Plastic (right)

The higher your prescription, the more important high-index material becomes.  Iowa EyeCare also recommends this material for certain frame styles.  Ask the expert frame stylists at Iowa EyeCare about high index lenses in your next pair of glasses. 

Iowa EyeCare is located in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Robins, Iowa.  Click here to schedule an appointment with one of our talented eye doctors.

 

The radiation you receive from the sun is known to cause multiple adverse eye conditions including:

• Cataract: a clouding of the lens.
• Macular Degeneration: loss of light-sensitive tissue inside the eye.
• Pterygium: a growth on the surface of the eye.
• Photokeratitis: sunburn of the eyes
• Dry Eye: inadequate tear film. 

Save Money! If you have insurance that allows you to get new frames, why not make your old glasses into sunglasses?

Get an Eye Exam! The eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare are ready to serve all of your vision care needs.  We are confident that Iowa EyeCare can provide you with the best sunglasses in Iowa.  Contact us today: Iowa EyeCare has locations in Marion, Robins, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

By Dr. Ryan W. Nelson

Hunting pheasant in Iowa can be challenging.  For those who have been hunting them for years, you know it’s getting tougher.  Here are some vision tips from an eye doctor that may help you harvest more roosters this year.

1. Yellow and amber tinted lenses can help you identify roosters from hens.

The colors of a rooster pheasant are easier to see when viewing them through a yellow or amber tinted lens.  This becomes even more important in dim light, or on overcast days.  If you have never looked though a quality pair of tinted lenses, now is the time to give it a try. 

2. Single vision lenses will help you maintain a clear shooting target.

Spectacle lenses built specifically for hunting are a must for today’s avid hunter.  Progressive addition bifocals are great for day-to-day wearing, but often have areas in the periphery of the lens that do not provide sharp vision.  Do yourself a favor and select a pair of single-vision distance lenses with a large eye-size.

LASIK surgery may also be the perfect solution.  LASIK may reduce your dependency on glasses while hunting all together. 

Click here for the best LASIK in Iowa

3. Central vision is best for acuity and identification, peripheral vision is best for detecting movement.

Allow me to get technical for just a minute.  The human visual system can actually be thought of as two systems working together.  The “Whereis the bird” system (called magno) and the “What type of bird” system (called parvo).  The magno system alerts us to a visual event and the parvo system identifies the event.  The magno system does not carry information such as color and detail, so that it reaches the brain quickly.  The cells that trigger the magno system are located in the periphery of the eye, those parvo cells responsible for detail are located in the macula (the area lined up with the center of the pupil).

Regular eye exams help detect the diseases that attack these two systems.  Glaucomaaffects the magno system and macular degeneration affects the parvo system.  Both glaucoma and macular degeneration can cause blindness if left untreated.  If glaucoma and macular degeneration are caught early, before they start causing problems, you have a much greater chance of hunting pheasant in your golden years. 

4. Stay away from billed caps that limit your visual field.

Finding more birds can be as simple as removing your hat …or finding one without a brim.  You already know that your peripheral vision tells you “Where is the bird”.  The human visual field extends 165 degrees horizontally and 135 degrees vertically.  Compare that with a pheasant who might have more than 270 degrees horizontally and 170 vertically.  A hat with a brim only further limits your range of vision.

5. Shoot with both eyes open.

Not only is shooting with both eyes open safer, but it opens up your peripheral vision so that you can identify your next shot quickly.  Spend extra time at the shooting range practicing your aim with both eyes open.

To learn more schedule an eye exam in Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Robins, Iowa.

Visual Fatigue

In recent years there has been a shift in the way we use our vision.  Instead of using our eyes to see most things at distance, we spend most of the day viewing objects that are within arms reach.  These items include the computer, television, cell phone, PDAs, even books are now available in digital format. Both the real world and written word have now been replaced by a constant barrage of illuminated, digital pixels. This new visual environment commonly induces visual fatigue.

Users of digital media may experience eyestrain, blurred vision, tired eyes, dry eyes, neck and back pain. Even those who can see 20/20 and those who do not normally wear glasses may experience visual fatigue.  Studies have shown us that 83 percent of all individuals experience one or more symptoms of Visual Fatigue Syndrome. 

Unfortunately most of those affected by visual fatigue are not getting the help they need.  The reason is poor education. Most people do not understand why they are experiencing problems and, in many cases, eye doctors are not properly trained to recognize the symptoms of visual fatigue. Even when an eye doctor is well informed, he or she may lack the proper tools necessary to help patients combat symptoms.

The eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare can teach you about proper monitor heights, angles, and distances, as well as other tips regarding visual media.  We also use various lenses and lens designs to enhance your experience with digital media and reduce visual fatigue.

The Essilor Anti-Fatigue lens may be prescribed for anyone who uses digital media.  These lenses may be used in both children and adults and can even be used over contact lenses.  Our patients tell us that the Essilor Anti-Fatigue lens makes things seem brighter and reduces visual discomfort.

Anti-Fatugue Lens

For those who currently need extra help up close in the form of a lined or progressive bifocal lens, our eye doctors may prescribe the Essilor Computer lenses to increase their overall computer experience.  The Essilor Computer lens is specifically designed to maximize the intermediate range of vision, while maintaining some areas for both near and distance.

Computer Lens

Contact us today to schedule an examination with one of our eye doctors.  Iowa EyeCare has locations in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Robins, Iowa.

By Dr. Ryan W. Nelson

The most common reason for reading glasses in a person who has never needed them before is a phenomenon known as presbyopia.  Presbyopia causes near vision blur when distance vision is either normal or corrected.

The cause for presbyopia is a faulty focusing system.  The focusing system of the eye is made of two major components, the “lens” and the muscle that controls it called the “cilliary body”.   The ciliary body is triggered to contract when focusing on objects at near and it directly controls the lens.  It is ultimately the lens’ flexibility which allows us to see at both distance and near automatically.  Over time, the lens becomes less flexible and is no longer able to focus light like it once could, which results in blurred vision.

In the optometry profession we say, “three things are certain: death, taxes… and presbyopia”.  Given enough time, presbyopia catches up with us all.  Most individuals will experience the early signs of presbyopia between 40 and 50 years old.  It starts when you have to hold things further away in order to see them clearly.

Near vision blur is correctable with glasses and contact lenses.  The difference is that now two prescriptions are needed: one for distance, and one for near.  Let us help you at your next eye examination.

Your glasses prescription is the most important factor to consider when selecting new lenses and frames. Ask your doctor about a prescription that is specific to your occupation and hobbies.

Did you know …

• Most people can achieve better vision with an anti-reflective option.
• Ultraviolet coated lenses protect your eyes from UVA/UVB rays that cause cataracts and ocular surface disease.
• The life of your lenses can be extended with a scratch resistant coating.
• High Index allows lenses to be thinner and lighter and is especially important for those with high prescriptions.
• A second spare pair of glasses may be critical if you ever lose or break your glasses.
• Polarized sunglasses cut through reflections and glare to help you see clearly.

The staff at Iowa EyeCare is ready to help with choosing the right glasses to fit your prescription, your lifestyle and your personal fashion. Iowa EyeCare offers a variety of options to suit any individual. Ask about our multiple-pair glasses discounts.

You dress to express your own style and your glasses should reflect that. As both an accessory to any outfit and necessary eye care, the right glasses can make you feel more confident. The right fit, shape and color are all important aspects to keep in mind when selecting your frames.

Visit our website to schedule an appointment today or contact us today to discover any discounts we may have available for you!