Let’s start with the eye exam itself.  Advances in retinal imaging have made eye exams easier and more accurate than ever.  Advanced imaging technology allows the optometrists at Vision Care Specialists to see deep into the back of your eyes and identify issues much earlier than would have previously been possible.  And, as with most medical conditions, early detection of eye disease is critical.  With retinal imaging, patients don’t have to endure slow, uncomfortable pupil dilation—the least favorite aspect of a visit to the eye doctor for most people.

Next, let’s talk style.  With over 1,200 frames in stock from the world’s leading designers, at each of their locations, Vision Care Specialists will have you setting the bar for eye glasses fashion in Denver.  Our certified opticians are trained in the LifeFit™ Approach—a unique system we use to match your eyewear solutions with your lifestyle, personal brand and vision correction needs.  Whether you need sunglasses, specialty contacts, or are just trying to look sharp on a Saturday night, we’ve got you covered.

But maybe your goal is to ditch your glasses all together. Vision Care Specialists performs a wide variety of surgical procedures to correct vision problems and help patients put their glasses in the drawer for good. What could be more exciting than that?

How to use this Information

Do you get routine annual eye exams?  If not, maybe that’s because your eye doctor is not making the experience exciting enough.  Still suffering through annoying dilation procedures, not thrilled by the eye wear options you’re seeing.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  The Denver Eye doctors at Vision Care Specialists want you to live Life in High-Def, and we’ve got the technology, the expertise and the selection to make it happen.  Explore our new website and experience the excitement!

Today he visits two different facilities once a month.  The staff knows when he’s coming and invites all patients needing adjustments to their glasses to stop by.  Most of the patients he treats suffer from dementia and are rather rough on their eye wear.  Glasses frequently get dropped, lost, slept on, and more, so adjustments are required more often than for the rest of us.  Seniors can also suffer more than most from soreness or actual abrasions due to ill-fitting glasses, and this is not something that typical nursing facilities are attuned to.

So what drives this optician to dedicate his own time to helping seniors with their eye glasses?  It’s the smiles.  One lady who had been suffering with a missing nose pad on her glasses for months was so happy with her repair that she gave him a giant hug.  Others are just glad to have someone to talk to and to visit with a person who really cares.

How to use this Information

If you have elderly parents or are actively involved in senior care, pay special attention to their eye wear.  Are their glasses sitting comfortably on the face?  Are they straight or skewed?  Adjustments are frequently required to bent frames.  Ideally these are made with the patient, but if they are not able to make a visit to the optician, you can bring in the frames for a tune up.  Also, when buying new frames for seniors, select models that are less delicate and less likely to get bent from rough handling.  At Vision Care Specialists we provide excellence in Colorado eye care. Our certified opticians employ the LifeFit™ Approach to help patients select eye wear solutions that are right for the individual and will adjust your eye glasses for free any time.  To schedule an appointment, call 303-991-9600 or schedule online.

Several types of red eye are the result of Environmental Factors.  These can often be managed with eye drops, antihistamines and in some cases a change in eye glasses.

• Dry eyes (can be environmental or medical condition)
• Computer Vision Syndrome
• Allergies
• Workplace hazards

Often red eye can be the result of Lifestyle Choices and can be managed accordingly.  Since most of these choices can lead to a multitude of other health issues, adopting a healthier lifestyle is the best course of action.  As for red eye related to swimming, wearing goggles and never wearing contacts in the water are two important preventative measures.  If you experience red eye due to contact lens wear it may be due to inadequate cleansing.  Your doctor may also recommend a change to daily wear or gas permeable lenses built to minimize irritation.

• Smoking cigarettes
• Smoking marijuana
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Swimming
• Lack of Sleep
• Contact Lenses

Medical Conditions triggering red eye often require the most immediate treatment.

• Conjunctivitis: the most common type of eye infections.  It is very contagious, if you think you or your child has conjunctivitis you should visit your eye doctor immediately
• Blepharitis: inflammation of the eyelash follicles along the eyelid. It is caused by skin bacteria. Itching is common, and your eyelids may appear greasy or crusty
• Corneal Ulcer: Infections of the cornea, including a corneal ulcer, are potentially sight-threatening and should be treated as an emergency. In addition to red eyes, corneal ulcer symptoms almost always include eye pain, reduced vision and eye discharge.
• Ocular Herpes: Also called eye herpes, this is a recurrent viral infection caused by the type 1 herpes simplex virus — the same virus that causes common cold sore
• Uveitis: An inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uvea), uveitis typically is characterized by red eyes, light sensitivity and visual disturbances such as floaters and blurry vision.
• Eye Injury/Trauma:  Eye injuries can range from minor eye scratches (corneal abrasions) to deep puncture wounds and chemical burns. Whatever the source, always treat an eye injury as a medical emergency and see an eye doctor immediately.
• Acute glaucoma: a sudden increase in eye pressure that is extremely painful and causes serious visual disturbances. This is a medical emergency. Most times, glaucoma is chronic and gradual not acute

Practical Tips For Preventing Red Eye:

• Don’t rub your eyes — Dirt on your hands can cause even more redness and irritation. Plus rubbing, could cause you to scratch your cornea.
• Practice good contact lens hygiene. Contacts and contact lens cases can act as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, so follow instructions about cleaning and replacing your contacts.
• Speak to your doctor about allergy medications to help keep allergies at bay.
• Take a break from looking at the computer screen and follow the 20-20-20 rule: look away from your computer every 20 minutes and gaze at a distant object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• Schedule an exam with your Denver eye doctor to rule out more serious causes of red eyes such as eye disease or a sight-threatening infection.
• Don’t over-use “whitening” eye drops — they can make your eyes redder over time!

How to Use this Information:

If you have recently begun to experience red eye symptoms or have had them for a while and not been diagnosed, you may want to consult your Colorado eye care specialist to rule out any potentially serious causes and get advice on treatment.  Most red eye is not an emergency, but it can still be uncomfortable and unattractive, so it is worth speaking with your doctor to see if there are preventative or treatment options you should be considering.  At Vision Care Specialists our Denver Eye doctors are trained to detect all causes of red eye and treat them effectively.  Call us today at 303-991-9600 or request an appointment online.

Serious advances in imaging technology are now making Denver eye exams more accurate, more lasting, and more comfortable for patients.  Ask your eye doctor about the advantages of retinal imaging.  With the Optos Optomap Plus imaging system, two separate scanning lasers take a picture of the back of the eye giving your doctor the ability to more accurately judge overall eye health.  Comparing retinal images across visits enables early detection of most problems by providing your doctor an unprecedented detailed view of your retina.

Specific benefits of Optos retinal imaging include:

• Enables early diagnosis of issues related to macular degeneration, high blood pressure, diabetes, retinal holes and detachments
• Eliminates the need to dilate eyes during routine exams
• Provides your eye doctor a much larger view than conventional exams
• Painless, quick and complete
• Provides permanent digital images so your doctor can accurately track changes to your eye health over time

How to use this Information

Annual eye exams are an important component of your overall health care, and today’s imaging technology makes these exams easier and more accurate than ever. The Denver eye doctors at Vision Care Specialists have the latest Optos Optomap Plus imaging technology and have been using it to detect potential retinal irregularities for several years now.  Your eyes deserve the latest in  early detection technology.  Contact us today at 303-991-9600  to make an appointment for the most comprehensive eye exam in the Rocky Mountain Region.

• Maximized fields of view based on your specific prescription
• Ergonomically designed with reading view optimally positioned for more natural posture
• Reconfigured to aide viewing of today’s digital devices like tablets and smartphones
• Optimized to adapt to your chosen frames and wearing style

In short, this means you will have clearer vision for near, medium and longer range viewing with less need to adapt your posture and view angles get the clarity you want.

The Autograph III lens incorporates a number of innovative design improvements.  It is a balanced progressive lens which is holistically adapted to the patient’s prescription.  Shamir’s R & D team focused on the fact that each patient’s viewing field is significantly different due to differences in prescription.  A minus power lens increases the field of view, while a plus power lens has the opposite effect.  This results in hyperopic patients experiencing a narrower viewing field than that experienced by their myopic counterparts.  The Autograph III can adjust for these differences providing an optimized vision experience regardless of your prescription.  Several technology advances went into the creation of the Autograph III lens:

• EyePoint Technology III^®: Adjusts lens design to simulate real world images and provide same viewing fields regardless of prescription
• Natural Posture™:  Ergonomic design concept that places the near viewing zone dynamically within the lens corridor reducing the need to tilt the head forward or backwards to optimize viewing
• Intellicorridor™: Controls the power profile of the lens giving variable emphasis to the power for every given point on the lens which aids optimal viewing comfort for every visual range and activity
• As-Worn Technology™: Ensures that the patient’s experience of the prescription once the lens is fit into the frame is precisely what their Denver Eye Doctor intended.

How to use this Information

If you don’t feel like your current eye glasses are providing the optimal vision experience, ask your Denver optometrist about the Autograph III lens.  At Vision Care Specialists, many of our patients have experienced great results by switching to an Autograph III lens.  Don’t settle for yesterday’s lens technology, experience the vision and comfort improvements of Autograph III.  Contact us today at  303-991-9600 or schedule an appointment online and start living Life in High Def!

There are two considerations in assessing which and how many different vision solutions you should have.  First is to assess your lifestyle to understand the multiple performance outcomes you need from your eyewear.  Second is to understand your personal brand to determine which looks you are trying to achieve for the ways you live.

Eyewear Functionality Assessment

How many different solutions you need depends largely on your vision correction needs and how you spend your days (and nights).  Activities that could require specific eyewear solutions include:

•          Reading
•          Outdoor Activities
•          Specific sports (skiing, scuba, contact sports, etc.)
•          Extended computer time
•          Driving

Bi-focal or progressive lenses might be a great solution for people needing both near and far-sighted corrections; however, these types of lenses can be distracting for certain sporting activities and might not be ideal for extended computer use.  Similarly, transition lenses in lieu of separate sunglasses might be a great answer for a person who spends a lot of time going in and out of doors, but since these types of lenses don’t work in most automobiles, another solution could be required for driving.

Some people choose to wear contact lenses for certain activities and eye glasses for other activities.  Understanding when and where contacts fit into your vision optimization equation is also key to assessing how many different solutions you may need.

Eyewear Fashion Assessment

I would wager that no one reading this post would be likely to wear the same shirt every day for a month.  The same could be said for shoes, jewelry, and nearly every other fashion accessory you own.  BUT, many fashion-conscious people still wear the same eye glasses every day of the year.  Like the rest of your wardrobe, eyewear is designed for different looks, moods and occasions.  The style you want to portray on the golf course is likely very different than how you want to look at the office or for a night out on the town.  Even for day-to-day wear, life is more exciting if you have different looks you can pull out of the drawer to reflect how you’re feeling each day.

How to Use This Information

Are you trying to make the same pair of glasses work for every aspect of your life?  Chances are this is not resulting in optimal vision at all times and it could be putting undue strain on your eyes, neck and back.  At Vision Care Specialists our LifeFit™ Approach helps to map the right vision solutions for your personal brand, lifestyle, and prescription.  Stop in to one of our four front range locations and let our certified opticians help you identify the best way to optimize your vision for every occasion.  Call us today at 303-991-9600 or request an appointment online.

• Eyewear should accentuate your best facial feature
• Frame shape should contrast your face shape
• Frame size should scale to your face size

How to determine your face shape?  Experts agree there are seven basic face shapes: round, oval, oblong, triangle, inverted triangle, diamond, and square.  If you are having trouble figuring out which of these shapes most fits your face, a certified optician can help.  Below is a guideline on how to map frame shape to face shape:

Square:  To make a round face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face and frames that are wider than they are deep, such as rectangular shapes.

Oval: Many types of frames will complement an oval face. Look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or wider than) the broadest part of the face, or walnut-shaped frames that are not too deep or too narrow.

Oblong: To make an oblong face appear shorter and more balanced, try frames that have more depth than width and decorative or contrasting temples that add width.

Triangle: To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half or cat-eye shapes.

Inverted Triangle: To minimize the width of the top of the face, try frames that are wider at the bottom, very light colors and materials and rimless frame styles.

Diamond: To highlight the eyes and soften the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines, or try rimless frames or oval and cat-eye shapes.

Square: To make a square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow frame styles, frames that have more width than depth, and narrow ovals.

Cool or Warm Colors–Which are right for you? Most of us haven’t had a professional color analysis, but, similar to shapes, there are some basic rules to help select eyeglass colors.  The main factors that determine the best color palette are the colors of one’s skin, eyes and hair.

Skin:  All complexions fall into one of two color bases — blue (cool) or yellow (warm). A cool complexion has blue or pink undertones, and a warm complexion has a “peaches and cream” or yellow cast. Olive and brown skin is considered cool because it is a mixture of blue and yellow. In the United States, cool, blue-based complexions are more common than the yellow-based warm complexions.

Eyes:  For example, blue eyes can range from a cool almost-violet to a pale blue-gray, which is warm. Brown eyes can vary from a light cider shade (warm) through a medium-brown to a cool almost-black.

Hair: Hair colors also are considered warm or cool. Strawberry blond, platinum, blue-black, white, auburn, salt-and-pepper, and ash brown are cool.  Warm hair colors include golden blond, brownish black, brown-gold, “carrot” and “dirty” gray.

Once you have determined if you are “warm” or “cool,” then you can find the eyeglass frame colors that will suit you the best.  Below are some of the color choices that map to warm or cool coloring:

Warm frame colors: camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, fire-engine red, warm blue and blond tortoise.

Cool frame colors: black, silver, rose-brown, blue-gray, plum, magenta, pink, jade, blue and demi-amber darker tortoise.

How to Use This Information

Once you understand the principles of matching facial shape and coloring to selecting eye wear, you’ll find it easier to see why some frames complement your fact better than others.  This will make selecting glasses easier throughout your entire life.  The certified Colorado Opticians at Vision Care Specialists are trained to help patients understand which frames will work best for their appearance, personal style and vision optimization need–it’s what they call, the LifeFit™ Approach.  In addition, with the widest selection of high-fashion eye glasses in Denver, Vision Care Specialists is sure to have the right pair for you.   Stop in to one of our four front range locations and let our certified opticians help you figure out which frames are right for you.  Call us today at 303-991-9600 or request an appointment online.

Try out the latest eyewear fashions from one of France’s premier designers exclusively at Vision Care Specialists.  Learn what’s new in eyewear fashion; let Vision Care Specialists’ certified opticians recommend the styles that best fit your look and lifestyle, and take advantage of great deals and giveaways.  All visitors to the event will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE pair of Alain Mikli frames!

Three Convenient Dates at Vision Care Specialists Locations:

Highlands Ranch

Downtown Denver

Aurora

Alain Mikli Preview Event Discounts:

• 20% off your first pair (frames and lenses)
• 50% off your second pair

At Vision Care Specialists, our certified opticians use the LifeFit™ Approach to help you select eyewear solutions that express your personal brand.  Eye glasses say a lot about the individuals who wear them—let yours be a statement of your unique style.  Join us at one of our exclusive Alain Mikli preview event and start setting the bar for Denver eye glasses fashion.

While many of us consider sunglasses an important fashion accessory, they are also an important functional accessory.  If you spend a lot of time in the sun, consider the following tips for Colorado eye care:

• Select sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays
• Wear a hat in addition to your sunglasses for maximum protection
• If you wear contact lenses with UV protection, add sunglasses on top
• UV rays can pass through clouds, keep your sunglasses on even on cloudy days
• Never look directly into the sun for any length of time
• Protect your children from an early age—they’ll thank you later

How to Use This Information

If you spend a good deal of time outdoors but are not getting adequate protection from the sun, you may want to talk to an eye care professional.  The certified opticians at Vision Care Specialists use the LifeFit™ Approach to help you find the right sunglasses to fit your lifestyle. They will ask important questions about your activities and personal style preferences and couple that with an understanding of your vision needs to recommend sunglasses that provide the protection, functionality, and look you want.

At Vision Care Specialists, our Denver Eye Doctors help patients experience Life in High-Def.  Whether you’re a rock-climber or just enjoy a spin in the convertible, we have the right sunglasses for the job.  Worried about protecting your eyes from the Colorado sun?  Call us today at 303-991-9600 or request an appointment online.

If you’re new to the district, below are five things to see that are definitely worth a try:

1. 1.    First Friday Art Walk:  From 6-9 pm every first Friday of the month, you can browse over 60 galleries and studios,  and enjoy First Friday specials at local restaurants.  Free shuttles are available from the light rail station at 10^th and Osage.
2. 2.    Food Truck Row:  If you’re in on the food truck craze, nowhere is better than on Santa Fe and 9^th during a First Friday Art Walk.  As they say, “Eat outside the box.”
3. 3.    Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center:  For over 40 years, Su Teatro has established a national reputation for homegrown productions that speak to the history and experience of the Chicano culture.
4. 4.    Renegade Brewing Company: A newcomer to the Santa Fe Arts District, Renegade fills an important craft brewing niche in this hot bed of creativity
5. 5.    Byers Branch Library: In keeping with the neighborhood, the Byers Branch Library offers children’s and adult art and technology classes to both residents and guests

How to Use This Information

Do you take advantage of all that Denver has to offer?  Many of us fall into the rut of doing the same few things all the time.  At Vision Care Specialists we help patients experience Life in High-Def.  A visit to the Santa Fe Arts District is just one great Denver activity our patients enjoy as they treat their senses to everything our state has to offer.  Not seeing the world around you as clearly as you’d like?  Call us today at 303-991-9600 or request an appointment online.