Choices

Your Questions…?

Caring for your family's vision isn't always easy. fortunately, there are lots of resources out there to help. the most important, of course, is your eyecare professional, so be sure to schedule complete eye exams for the entire family soon.

Q. We are moving from Missouri, which required that our kids have their eyes checked, to New Jersey. Are all the states the same?

A. No, they aren't. Some states mandate vision screenings prior to entering elementary school, a few require complete eye exams, and some have no requirements whatsoever. For comprehensive state-by-state information on this and other vision-related topics such as sports- and workplace-related regulations, go to TheVisionCouncil.org.

Q. I am taking my 84-year-old grandmother to get her eyes examined next week. I'm only 35, and see fine. She says I need an exam, too. Do I?

A. She's right. Though most serious eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy can occur at any age, few people visit an eye doctor unless they have symptoms. The problem is that by then it may be too late. The most important thing you can do to prevent vision loss and eye disease is to have a complete eye exam every year.

Q. Can you settle an argument? My friend says her $15 sunglasses are as good as my expensive ones.

A. While price is not the only determining factor, all sun lenses are definitely not created equal. Just like you buy sun block to protect your skin, you also need to select sun lenses that provide 100 percent protection from UVA and UVB rays. Unlike tinted lenses, quality polarized lenses virtually eliminate glare and improve contrast sensitivity.