If you spend more than two hours per day on the computer, you could suffer from eye strain or computer vision syndrome (CVS). It is estimated that more than 70 percent of U.S. workers who use a computer daily suffer from CVS.

However, regular breaks from computer use can reduce your eye strain. Also, computer glasses can reduce the strain and improve the clarity of your computer screen. For more information on CVS and computer glasses, schedule an eye examination.

The incidence of both glaucoma and cataracts increase with age.  If left untreated, both can lead to vision loss.  You may not be able to avoid the development of either of these serious eye conditions.  With comprehensive eye examinations, Dr. Rodgers will be able to detect cataracts and glaucoma in their early stages.  Early treatment and monitoring can reduce the risk of severe vision loss.

Hyperopia, also referred to as farsightedness, is a refractive error that requires patients to focus excessively especially on objects that are up close. Myopia, often called nearsightedness, is a refractive error that causes a problem seeing distant objects. Astigmatism is a common refractive error where the eye is football shaped instead of being perfectly round.  With astigmatism, distant and near vision are usually both affected.

Presbyopia is often confused with farsightedness because it causes a problem with up close vision. Unlike myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, which are caused by the shape of the eye, presbyopia is an age-related vision problem caused by a loss of flexibility in the eye's lens.

All of these eye conditions can be treated with corrective eyewear.

There are many possible causes of eye pain and discomfort.  However, sudden eye pain can be the sign of a serious eye condition. If you notice a sudden pain in your eye, seek medical care immediately.

If you are affected by mild discomfort or pain in your eye, schedule an appointment with Dr. Rodgers for a comprehensive vision examination.

If your eyes feel dry due to dry air, over-the-counter artificial tears should help. However, if you are suffering from dry eye syndrome, which is a chronic condition, you should visit Dr. Rodgers for treatment. In some cases, specific lubricating eyedrops may be prescribed, but there are also other treatments available based on the cause and severity of your symptoms.

"Pink eye" is a common lay term for conjunctivitis which is any condition that irritates and makes the eye red.  Infections from bacteria, viruses or fungi can cause a conjunctivitis.  Other causes can be mechanical from rubbing , foreign body or allergy.  Because there are many causes of conjunctivitis, self treatment is not advised.  A biomicroscope evaluation by an eye doctor is necessary to determine the cause so the appropriate treatment can be initiated.

Most common vision problems can be corrected with either eyeglasses or contact lenses although there are some refractive errors and situations for which contact lenses are not advised.

If you are trying to decide between contacts or glasses, speak with Dr. Rodgers about which would be best for you.

Transition lenses, or photochromic lenses, are eyeglass lenses that darken automatically when exposed to sunlight. These glasses allow users to wear one pair of glasses for both indoor and outdoor use.  These lenses work well in direct sunlight but do not darken inside vehicles because the uv light required to activate the lenses is filtered by the windows.  They are also temperature dependent so they get much darker on cold days than on hot days.

Progressive lenses are eyeglass lenses that contain various focal powers similar to bifocals and trifocals. However, unlike the other multi-focal lenses that have lines separating the different corrective prescriptions, progressive lenses gradually change from one proscription to another. This allows for a more natural visual experience.

If used properly, colored contact lenses can be safe. However, even without a vision correction component, these lenses are medical devices, which means you need a prescription from an optometrist to purchase these lenses.

If used improperly or not fitted by an eye doctor, there is significant chance that these lenses could cause damage to eyes including permanent loss of vision.  If you are considering colored contact lenses, contact our office for an exam and proper fitting.

Yes. Eye doctors  not only evaluate vision but also look for eye diseases.  Most eye diseases are not painful and can present with no symptoms at all.  Therefore, it is recommended that you have an eye examination every one to two years, depending on your age and if you currently have prescription eyewear.

Medically supervised vision therapy can be helpful to help improve vision problems caused by brain injury, neurological disorders and binocular vision deficiencies.   However, in most cases, eye exercises cannot correct your vision to reduce your need for corrective eyewear.

The benefits from eye surgery can vary based on your specific vision problems. To best determine if eye surgery is a good choice for you, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Rodgers to discuss the specifics of your vision needs and the advantages and disadvantages of vision surgery.