More than 50% of adults wear eyeglasses, meaning half the people you know could gladly use an eyeglasses-related holiday gift. Eyeglass-inspired gifts can be fun, fashionable and practical, so you’ll know your loved ones will enjoy them year-round.

To get your wheels turning, here are some top holiday gift ideas for people who wear glasses.

1. Personalized Cases or Straps

A good quality case is an important way to protect one’s eyeglasses around the house and on the go. A nice case not only protects this important possession, it can also be an attractive accessory. And if the recipient already has a nice case, consider personalized strap options.

2. Anti-Slip Hooks

Some eyeglasses have a habit of slipping down the face. Anti-slip hooks solve this problem. They slip on the arms (or temples) of the glasses and hook around the backs of the ears to stop them from slipping. They’re especially great for anyone who reads or exercises often.

3. Eyeglasses Holder

Eyeglasses are at risk for scratching or breaking if they fall off of a countertop, side table or nightstand. Give the gift of security and style with a whimsical eyeglass holder. There are tons of options out there to showcase your loved one’s personality, like this adorable owl eyeglasses holder.

4. Nerd Wax

Have a loved one who’s tired of constantly pushing their glasses back up the ridge of their nose? Nerd Wax’s anti-slip stick stops glasses from slipping by applying a thin layer of all-natural beeswax, coconut oil and gum resin to the nose pads of their eyeglasses. Apply just once and the wax will prevent glasses from shifting and sliding.

5. Glasses Lens Wipes

Give the gift of clean and clear lenses. Lens wipes are a quick and easy way for eyeglass wearers to keep their vision sharp anytime, anywhere. You can typically find boxes of 100-200 wipes – enough for up to 6 months of daily cleaning – for less than $10.

6. Visor Clip for the Car

Many people who wear prescription eyeglasses don’t need them to drive. A car visor clip provides a quick and convenient place to store them when behind the wheel, while also keeping them safe and within reach. Some clips are versatile and can even be mounted to car vents.

7. Eyewear Chains

Stylish and functional, eyewear chains prevent glasses from getting lost or falling off and breaking. They easily attach to any pair of eyeglasses, allowing them to hang around the neck. You can find a wide variety of styles and colors online.

8. Anti-Fog Wipes

Exercise and extreme weather conditions can fog up your lenses, making it difficult to see clearly. Anti-fog wipes solve this problem. They apply a protective coating to keep lenses clear for hours.

9. A North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care Gift Card

Sometimes, the best gifts are those we let friends pick out themselves. With a North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care gift card, your loved one can pick out exactly what their eyes need most. Pick up your gift card at either of our Gainesville eyewear boutiques: NW 8th Avenue and 43rd Street or Tioga Town Center.

Happy holidays from your friends at North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care.

Each year, approximately 2.3 million people in the United States have cataract surgery. As one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures available, these people can attest to the cataract surgery’s life-changing results. But can cataract surgery really help you see better at night?

How Do Cataracts Affect Night Vision?

Cataracts cause a wide range of vision problems, impacting both daytime and nighttime vision.

Changes in night vision are often the first noticeable symptoms of cataracts, which often include blurred vision and faded colors.

In addition to loss of visual clarity, people with cataracts often experience heightened symptoms at night, including excessive glare and halos around light sources. When caused by streetlights or headlights, this can make driving both scary and dangerous. Low-light conditions or fog can make it even more challenging to drive safely with cataracts.

How Much Will Surgery Improve Your Night Vision?

Surgery is the only effective way to correct cataract-related issues. Patients generally experience an immediate and significant improvement in their overall vision, including night vision, following cataract surgery. In fact, one study that assessed driver vision before and after cataract surgery found that near misses and crashes dropped by 48% post-surgery.

While many vision improvements are immediate, you may still experience some night glare for a few weeks or months following surgery. This symptom should, however, improve as your eye heals. In most cases, even in the interim, post-operative night glare is not as dramatic.

Are There Any Other Ways to Further Improve Night Vision After Surgery?

Cataract surgery is often enough to correct issues with night vision. However, if you still experience challenges with night vision post-surgery, your doctor may recommend prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating.

Alternatively, poor night vision post-surgery may be due to a remaining refractive error, which is unrelated to your cataracts. Glasses or contacts can typically be used to correct these issues, and laser procedures may also be an option for some patients. Your ophthalmologist can recommend options for your unique situation.

If you or someone you love may have cataracts, stop struggling and start seeing clearly again. Contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300 to schedule an appointment.

Cataracts impact tens of millions of people across the United States. More than 50% of people over age 80 either have a cataract or have had surgery to remove one.

Blurry vision, faded colors, halos around lights and difficulty seeing at night are all commonly known cataract symptoms. A lesser known, and often unexpected, side effect of cataracts for many seniors, however, is depression.

A study conducted by researchers from multiple universities and eye research centers, and recently published in the International Journal of Surgery, collated the results of dozens of earlier studies. These researchers found there is indeed a correlation between cataract surgery and improvements in anxiety and depression.

Ophthalmologists have long suspected the link, as vision loss is known to preclude patients from enjoying their favorite activities, rob them of their independence and lead to social isolation. As daily activities, such as reading, driving or watching TV, become more challenging, and visits with friends and family become limited, depression often follows.

Thankfully, for people with anxiety and depression resulting from vision impairment, researchers saw clear signs of improvement after cataract surgery. In fact, they found conclusive evidence that the mental health of older patients with cataracts has a high likelihood of improving when visual impairments are corrected.

The first step, of course, is diagnosing the cause of the vision problem. A comprehensive eye exam can identify cataract development and assess its progression. A subsequent consultation with a cataract specialist can help determine whether the time is right for the patient to have cataract surgery.

In early stages, a cataract’s impact on daily activities may not yet justify surgery. Eventually, however, as the cataract progresses and vision declines, surgery will be required, as surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts.

And while just the idea of eye surgery may be enough to cause some a bit of short-term anxiety, the procedure is actually one of the safest and most effective in the world. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) reports an overall success rate of 98% or higher for the more than three million cataract surgeries performed in the U.S. each year.

If you or someone you love may have cataracts, take the right steps now to protect both your physical and mental health. Schedule your cataract evaluation today by contacting North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care at 352-373-4300.

An estimated 352,000 Americans under the age of 20 have diagnosed diabetes. While diabetic retinopathy has historically been relatively rare in young people, an alarming increase in prevalence among young adults could transform into a “public health catastrophe,” according to a recent editorial in JAMA Ophthalmology.

JAMA editors were reacting to data from two separate studies that found that 49%-55% of people under the age of 20 with youth-onset type 2 diabetes also had diabetic retinopathy. The study further found that after 12-13 years of having diabetes, at least half of people had some degree of retinopathy.

With the rate of diabetic retinopathy in young people being so much higher than previously believed, health professionals are calling for more awareness, proactive screening and intervention.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that develops when the tiny nerves and blood vessels in your retina are damaged by high blood sugar. Anyone with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, is susceptible to the condition.

Diabetic retinopathy symptoms often include:

• Blurred vision
• Spots or dark strings floating in your vision
• Vision loss
• Fluctuating vision
• Dark or empty areas in your vision
• Left untreated, the condition can lead to permanent vision loss

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy may involve injections of anti-VEGF drugs, laser treatment or eye surgery. Surgery is generally reserved for cases where there’s significant bleeding in the retina or extensive scarring in the eye.

Importance of Comprehensive Vision Exams

The prevention of diabetic retinopathy starts with effective management of diabetes. It is equally important that people with diabetes get regular comprehensive eye exams to monitor for the condition, so it can be diagnosed and treated early on.

If your ophthalmologist believes you may have severe diabetic retinopathy, they may perform a fluorescein angiogram to produce images of the blood vessels in your retina and inform treatment options.

If you or someone you love has diabetes, regardless of age, be sure to get regular comprehensive eye exams. Schedule yours today by contacting North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care at 352-373-4300.

Macular edema is a very real concern, particularly for people with diabetes, as 1-in-3 diabetics show some sign of the condition. If you have diabetes, and haven’t been to the eye doctor recently, you need to know the early signs of macular edema because allowing it to progress can lead to permanent vision loss or even blindness.

Early diagnosis can allow you to undergo treatment before your condition worsens.

What is Macular Edema?

The macula is a pigmented area in the center of the retina at the back of your eye. Macular edema is when fluids leak into the macula, causing it to swell and eventually distort your vision.

Macular Edema Early Warning Signs

Typically, macular edema doesn’t cause pain and symptoms may be difficult to detect, allowing the issue to progress. These symptoms often include blurred central vision, washed-out colors and difficulty reading. Usually, your peripheral vision will remain clear, so it’s really the central vision that you’ll notice is just not right.

Floaters and flashers can also present themselves, although the mere presence of them does not always indicate diabetic eye complications.

As mentioned earlier, left untreated, macular edema can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.

Macular Edema Risk Factors

Diabetes puts you at a much higher risk of macular edema, but you can also suffer from this condition if you are taking certain medications or have:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Inflammatory eye disease
• Retinal vein occlusion
• Eye tumors
• Eye injuries
• Macular pucker

You may be able to reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy diet to keep your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar under control. Remaining active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also help, as can quitting smoking.

Macular Edema Diagnosis

Comprehensive eye exams are your first line of defense to protect your vision from macular edema - or any eye condition.

If macular edema is suspected, your eye doctor will perform extensive tests to diagnose your condition, potentially including a dilated eye exam, optical coherence tomography or fluorescein angiography to see if there’s any leakage or macula swelling.

Macular Edema Treatment

If you do, in fact, have macular edema, early-stage treatments may include injections, pills or eye drops to stop the leakage and swelling.

If your macular edema is caused by retinal vein occlusion or diabetes, laser treatment may be recommended. Eye surgery, called vitrectomy, may be necessary to remove the excess fluid from your eyes in severe cases.

If you suspect you may have macular edema, or if it’s just been a while since your last comprehensive eye exam, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.

More than half of Americans aged 80 and older will have cataracts. While cataract surgery is the only effective way to treat this common age-related condition, fear and anxiety can make some people hesitant to have the procedure.

If you have anxiety about cataract surgery, these five tips can help you overcome your concerns.

1. Research the Outcomes

Cataract surgery is one of the most effective and commonly performed surgical procedures in the world, with a nearly 99% success rate. More than 3 million successful cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year. Complications are rare and recovery is typically fast and painless.

2. Choose a Cataract Specialist

Cataract surgery is performed by eye surgeons known as ophthalmologists, some of whom specialize in the procedure. These cataract experts, including Dr. Gregory Snodgrass and Dr. Todd Endicott, have specialized training and engage in continuing education to stay on top of the latest developments and leverage the latest technology. As such, they have deeper knowledge and typically more experience performing the procedure.

3. Know What to Expect During the Procedure

Learning more about the cataract surgery procedure will demystify things and help you feel more prepared. For example, did you know that the procedure typically only takes 15-25 minutes per eye? It will be over and done before you even know it.

This article sheds light on the entire process: Laser Cataract Surgery Procedure: What to Expect.

You should also feel encouraged to ask any questions or discuss any concerns with your eye doctor.

4. Bring a Loved One With You

Having a supportive friend or loved one at your side can make the entire process less stressful. Consider bringing someone along for your pre-surgical appointments and on surgery day. Their presence, care and support can help ease your anxiety. Plus, you’ll need someone to drive you home following the procedure and the day after.

5. Don’t Lose Sight of the Benefits

Cataract surgery is the only effective way to restore your vision. The impacts of that go far beyond just being able to see better. In fact, studies show that post-cataract surgery, patients often experience benefits including improved mood, renewed life enjoyment, increased independence, fewer injuries from accidents and falls, and longer, happier lives.

While the idea of surgery may be scary for some, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

To schedule your cataract evaluation, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.

We’re all getting older, and your eyes age with you. While some factors are beyond your control, as a senior, there are multiple steps you can take to proactively care for your eyes and help maintain healthy vision for the rest of your life.

1. Schedule Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that anyone 50 and older have a comprehensive eye exam at least once per year or as recommended. If you’re younger than 50, you’ll need to have an exam every two years and only need to go in for an exam annually if you’re at risk.

Visual acuity is just one aspect of vision and eye health that will be checked during a comprehensive eye exam. Your local optometrist will look for refractive eye errors, common eye diseases, ocular motility and general eye health.

2. Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays

If you spend time outdoors and in the sun, you should always wear UV-protecting sunglasses. Wearing a hat to block some of the sun’s rays is another great option. Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays is critical for keeping your eyes looking and feeling young.

3. Remain Physically Active

Exercise, even walking regularly, is good for you at any age, but you may not immediately connect it with eye health. Truth is, your eyes need oxygen intake and proper blood circulation to remain healthy, and that requires good overall cardiovascular health. Exercise can also help you stay in a healthy weight range, reducing your risk of diabetes, a known contributor to serious eye problems.

Consult with your doctor to ensure that you’re following an exercise routine that is within your physical ability.

4. Manage Medical Conditions

As you age, the odds increase that you will be affected by some type of medical condition, even if you follow every possible health recommendation. Managing these medical conditions can help you maintain healthy eyes for years to come.

As mentioned above, diabetes is a condition that poses critical risks to eye health. People with diabetes are more prone to retinopathy, macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma.

5. Kick Bad Habits

Some bad habits are worse than others when it comes to eye health, and smoking is near the top of the list. Smoking greatly increases your risk of eye-related issues including cataracts, macular degeneration, uveitis and dry eye syndrome.

Eating healthy, getting more sleep and getting moving are all great ways to further help you maintain healthy vision into your 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.

If you follow the eye care tips above, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining healthy eyes for the rest of your life. Small, incremental changes can lead to a lifetime of good eye health and vision. And scheduling an eye exam is a great place to start.

To schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.

Although cataract surgery is known to be one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures available, it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive prior to any surgery. Still, there are steps you can take to reduce the tension and set yourself up for a stress-free cataract surgery experience.

1. Select a Cataract Specialist for Your Surgeon

Selecting an ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract surgery is always a wise choice. Their specialized training, state-of-the-art technology and continual focus on keeping up with the latest in cataract treatment options equip them to deliver the best outcomes.

In Gainesville, North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care features two industry-leading ophthalmologists in Dr. Gregory Snodgrass and Dr. Todd J. Endicott. These cataract specialists have decades of cataract experience and have performed tens of thousands of successful cataract surgeries.

2. Take Your Pre-surgery Health Preparations Seriously

Educating yourself on what to expect leading up to the day of surgery will help calm your nerves when the big day comes.

Prior to scheduling your surgery, you’ll discuss any known medical conditions with your eye surgeon. This may inform some precautions your surgeon will recommend.

Your surgeon may also recommend using specialized eye drops prior to surgery. And, as is common with most surgical procedures, your eye surgeon will likely specify that you fast for 12 hours or more prior to surgery and that you refrain from consuming alcohol for at least 24 hours prior.

3. Know What to Expect on the Day of Your Surgery

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you won’t stay overnight, and thus will need someone to drive you home the same day. Be sure that you have a reliable driver who can bring you to the office and return you home safely. 

Before and after surgery, drops will be placed in your eye.

Your surgeon will remove the cloudy lens in your eye and replace it with an artificial one. The actual surgical procedure only lasts about 30 minutes or so, but you can expect to be in the ambulatory surgical center for 3-4 hours, including prep time and post anesthesia recovery.

4. Understand Cataract Surgery Aftercare

Following surgery, you’ll be given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops to minimize swelling and the risk of infection. For the first week, you’ll wear sunglasses when outside and an eye shield while you sleep. 

You’ll have multiple aftercare appointments to allow your eye surgeon to examine your eye and ensure it’s healing properly.

Cataract surgery is one of the most performed types of surgery in the United States. If you follow our tips for a stress-free experience, you can go into your procedure prepared and confident.

If you or someone you love may have cataracts or is actively considering cataract surgery, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.

As we age, our vision changes. You may have trouble seeing things up close or it may take a little longer to adjust in low light. Because many eye diseases share similar symptoms (at least in the early stages), it can be difficult to determine whether you’re experiencing natural age-related vision decline or cataracts.

For this reason, it’s so important to follow the American Optometric Association’s recommendation of annual eye exams for anyone over the age of 60.

A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to determine the root cause of your vision changes. There are, however, some signs and symptoms that can clue you in as to whether you’re suffering from cataracts or another age-related condition.

Classic Cataract Symptoms

As cataracts progress, proteins in the lens of the eye start to break down and clump together, producing cataract symptoms that may include:. 

• Double vision: You may start seeing two images of one object. Double vision can also be caused by other issues, but if it only affects one eye, this is a likely sign of cataracts.
• Halos around lights: When driving or walking at night, you may notice that headlights and streetlights have a halo or starburst effect around them. This halo effect occurs because the cataract clouds the lens and causes light to scatter.
• Blurry vision: Cataracts can cause the center area of your vision to be blurry, dimmed or foggy. This blurry or foggy effect occurs because the proteins in your lens become cloudy and make it more difficult to focus any light that enters your eye.
• Muted or faded colors: Sometimes, cataracts can cause colors to appear dull or faded. This tinted effect is caused by the proteins that make cataracts cloudy, which have a brownish hue.
• Light sensitivity: An early symptom of cataracts is light sensitivity. When your eye lens isn’t clear, it causes incoming light to scatter. Along with the halo effect we discussed earlier, this scattering effect can also make you more sensitive to bright light.

Non-Cataract Age-Related Vision Changes

Several other types of vision changes are increasingly common as we age, including:

• Age-related macular degeneration, or ARMD. Like cataracts, ARMD can also cause central vision loss. However, peripheral vision remains unaffected.
• Glaucoma, which is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This condition results in a loss of peripheral vision and, if left untreated, may even cause total blindness.
• Dry eye syndrome, which can become a chronic problem and make it difficult to see clearly.
• Diabetic retinopathy, which can develop in individuals with diabetes. It occurs due to progressive damage to the blood vessels that nourish the retina.

While vision changes and eye diseases can develop at any stage of life, individuals over the age of 60 are at a higher risk. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help you and your eye doctor detect and treat these issues early on to preserve your vision as best possible.

To schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.

Estimates suggest that 25% of children in the U.S. suffer from a vision disorder. Sadly, these problems often go undetected simply because the child doesn’t know how to articulate that something is wrong. So, it’s important for parents to be proactive by scheduling their children for regular, comprehensive eye exams.

The Mayo Clinic recommends children should have their first eye exam between the ages of 3 and 5 and, if even everything is clear, have follow up exams every one to two years. 

Between exams, if you notice any signs that your child’s vision is limited, it’s imperative to bring them in for an exam. Early intervention can prevent further eye strain or issues along the way. 

5 Children’s Vision Concerns Parents Need to Know About 

1. Trouble Seeing in School

Sometimes, poor performance in school is related to a child’s vision rather than any lack of attention or failure to study. If your child complains that they can’t see what the teacher is writing or can’t read what’s in their books, your child may need glasses. This simple fix could make a major impact on their academic future.

2. Eye Rubbing or Excessive Blinking

Eye irritation related to pet dander, pollen or other allergies is common in children, often resulting in frequent blinking and/or eye rubbing. These behaviors can also be related to foreign bodies in the eye, nearsightedness or other issues. An eye exam can help identify the root cause. Over-the-counter antihistamines and warm compresses can work wonders on allergens or other irritants. Corrective lenses can help if your child is showing signs of refractive error.

3. Floaters

Floaters are small spots, "globs", or clouds "floating" in your field of vision. Everyone has these to some degree. And while most are not a concern, in some cases, they can be a sign of eye inflammation or a retinal tear. If your child experiences vision loss or flashing lights while having floaters, be sure to schedule an exam immediately.

4. Focusing with a Chin Down or Up

If your child focuses with their chin down, it may not be a sign of them thinking intently. Often, if a child is farsighted, they’ll put their chin down when focusing. But, if the child’s chin is up, it may mean that they have nearsightedness. These types of refractive errors are typically easily corrected with prescription eyeglasses.

5. Common Signs of Poor Vision

Simple observation is often the best way to initially identify potential vision problems in children. Your child may need an eye exam if they:

• Squint a lot
• Sit close to the television
• Close one eye when reading
• Experience red, watery eyes often
• Complain of eye sensitivity or pain
• Demonstrate attention issues, particularly when reading 

If you observe any of the concerns outlined here, it’s never too early to schedule your child for a comprehensive eye exam.

At North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care, our talented physicians and staff offer complete eye care for the whole family. Contact us today at 352-373-4300 to schedule your child’s eye exam.