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What’s New

Keep up-to-date on the latest vision-related news and eye care events in our Practice. The items are displayed by year and month. To view older entries use the links in the box below to select the year and month you would like.

The Clock’s Ticking—Use Your 2024 Vision Benefits Now!

Make the most of your 2024 medical and vision insurance benefits before they expire at the end of the year. Scheduling an eye exam and updating your glasses or contacts now can protect your vision and save on out-of-pocket costs.

How Diabetes Impacts Vision: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Diabetes can lead to serious eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, that may cause vision loss if left untreated. Regular eye exams are crucial for early detection, and managing blood sugar levels can help protect your vision from diabetes-related complications.

What Is Myopia and How Can You Slow It Down in Children?

Learn how to identify the early signs of myopia in children, why early detection is crucial, and discover effective ways to slow its progression, from outdoor activities to specialized eyewear and therapy options.

Is an Eye Exam on Your Child’s Back-to-School Checklist?

Ensure your child is ready for the new school year with a comprehensive back-to-school eye exam. Early detection and treatment of vision issues can prevent academic struggles and support successful learning and development.

Allergy Season is Here: What Can You Do for Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies can make allergy season uncomfortable, but effective management is possible. Here’s what you need to know about restoring clarity and freshness to your eyes, even during allergy season.

Maximize Your Medical and Vision Insurance Benefits Before Year-End!

Ensure a clear vision and optimal eye health by maximizing your medical and vision insurance benefits before the year-end.

Play It Safe: Sports and Contact Lens Care

Are you the kind of person who never misses a chance to hit the field or court? Whether it's a friendly game of soccer, a thrilling round of golf, or a serene day on the tennis court, sports offer a great way to stay active and have fun. But if...

Diabetes Awareness Month: What Your Eye Exam Can Detect

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to highlight the significance of managing diabetes effectively. At Ballard Vision Associates in Brentwood, we want to draw your attention to the crucial role eye exams play in diabetes care. Detecting Diabetic Retinopathy One potential complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a condition...

Your Eyes As A Window Into Your Whole-Body Health

Did you know that your eyes are often the first line of defense when it comes to detecting and treating many common systemic diseases and conditions? It's true!

Presbyopia and Multifocal Contact Lenses

Blurry vision over age 40? Skip the reading glasses. Find out why multifocal contact lenses are ideal for presbyopia.

7 Eye Care Tips for the Holiday Season

Your eye experts at Ballard Vision Associates have compiled our top 7 tips for keeping your eyes healthy and safe this holiday season. Let us know how else we can help!

How to Travel With Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great option for people who don't want to wear glasses when on the road, but do you know how to take care of them on the go? Before your next trip, book a contact lens assessment at Ballard Vision Associates in Brentwood

How Eye Exams Can Save Your Life

Eye exams aren't just important for your eye health. They can often reveal serious problems with your general health. Read on to learn how an eye exam could potentially save your life.

Dame Judi Dench and Macular Degeneration

Legendary British actor Dame Judi Dench has recently revealed how macular degeneration impacts her life. With such a high-profile case in the news people have been asking: What is it, what are its symptoms, and how can it be prevented? Well, read on.

How the Environment Can Affect Your Vision and Eye Health

Many scientific studies have confirmed that exposure to various things in the environment can negatively affect our eye health and vision. Read on to learn more.

Protect Your Eyes With These Contact Lens Safety Tips

It's Contact Lens Safety Month, which makes it the perfect time to brush up on ways to keep your eyes and vision healthy when wearing contact lenses. Here are our top contact lens safety tips to keep your peepers happy.

Are Contact Lenses Safe For My Child?

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your child’s vision. But you may be wondering if contact lenses are safe for kids. Read on to learn more about the risks and benefits of contact lenses for children.

Eye Exams and the Health of Your Mind and Body

Everyone's heard the adage that "the eyes are the window to the soul." But did you know that they can also be a primary window into the overall health of your body and mind?

5 Eye Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Here are 5 eye symptoms that you should never ignore. Call Ballard Vision Associates without delay if you or a loved one experiences any of these eye or vision problems.

Can I Be Blinded By A Nerf® Gun?

Did you know that Nerf® guns, a supposedly safe children’s toy, have been shown to cause eye injury in certain cases? What makes them so dangerous?

Can Cataract Surgery Prevent Dementia?

Cataract surgery not only improves vision. Research suggests that cataract surgery may also prevent cognitive decline.

June 27 Is National Sunglasses Day!

Here’s how you can celebrate National Sunglasses Day on June 27.

Can Fire Melt My Contacts Onto My Eye?

A piece of “common wisdom” that seems to be making the rounds these days is that you shouldn’t wear contact lenses at bonfires, barbecues or similar settings where fire may be present. The claim is that the extreme heat from the fire can cause the contact lenses to melt or...

Myopia and Contact Lenses

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is about more than just poor eyesight. It can also pose a long-term threat to your kid’s vision and eye health.

Concerned About Macular Degeneration? – Here Are 6 Tips to Lower your Risk

Macular degeneration is a major cause of vision loss. Here are 6 ways to help lower your risk of developing this sight-threatening condition.

What to Wear to Protect Your Eyes

Your eyes are among the most important organs in the body when it comes to discovering and interacting with the world around you. Unfortunately, they are also among the most exposed, and vulnerable to damage. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that proper protective gear is worn in places...

10 Ways to Give Your Eyes Some Love This Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to give your eyes some love. Here are 10 ways you can give your eyes the attention they deserve, to protect them both now and in the future.

Why Is My Eyelid Twitching?

An eyelid twitch can develop for a number of reasons, and most of the time it’s not a cause for concern. Find out what may be causing your eye to twitch and what can relieve it.

What’s the Link Between Sleep and Glaucoma?

Too much sleep or a lack of sleep can increase the risks of developing glaucoma. It is important to be aware of risk factors and symptoms of glaucoma and to get regular eye exams.

5 Ways to Protect and Improve Your Child’s Eyesight

Your children's vision is their primary window into the world around them. Keeping their eyesight healthy is an important part of allowing them to experience life to the fullest. Read these 5 tips!

How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Eyesight

Did you know that pregnancy hormones can affect your vision? Read on to learn about the possible visual changes that some women may experience while expecting, and what warning signs to look out for.

Wear Progressive Glasses? Transition To Multifocal Contact Lenses!

If you wear progressive glasses or have more than one prescription, you may want to consider switching to multifocal contact lenses. Read on to learn what multifocal contacts have to offer and if they could be right for you.

Dealing with Contact Lens Soreness

Do your eyes become irritated and itchy when you wear contact lenses? Could be dry eye syndrome, allergies or the contact lenses themselves. Read on to find out what to do if you experience contact lens discomfort.

Risk Of Overusing Eye Drops

Eye drops are a great way to give your itchy, red, dry eyes relief. But if you use them too much you may be covering up a more serious eye condition. Learn the risks of overusing eye drops and what eye conditions you may have.

6 Ways To Maintain Eye Health If You’re Over 50

As we age our eyes start to change, but that doesn’t mean you have to struggle with declining vision. Find out what you can do to maintain eye health after the age of 50.

Protect Your Child’s Eyes with Sports Glasses

The last thing you want your child to experience while playing sports is an eye injury.  Save their vision with protective eyewear.

Allergy Season Is Here And Stronger Than Ever

Many people who suffer from allergies say their symptoms are more intense this year, and that allergy season arrived early. Here’s why.

How To Prevent Your Lenses From Scratching

Attention all eyeglass wearers! Here’s what we recommend to keep your lenses free and clear of scratches.

6 Common Myths About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases causing damage to the optic nerve that can lead to vision loss or blindness. While there is a lot of information out there on glaucoma, there are also many misconceptions. Read on to learn to discover the REAL facts.

15 Things You Do That Can Harm Your Eyes

Here are 15 common things you might be doing that can increase your risk of suffering with vision loss or an eye disease. Read on to learn what they are, and what behaviors you may want to consider adjusting.

How Long Does It Take to Get Used to New Glasses?

Adjusting to new eyeglasses can take time, but persistent visual or eyestrain symptoms that accompany your new eyewear could warrant a call to your optometrist.

Eye Dilation & Why You Need It

If you’ve been following the guideline to have regular eye exams, then you’re probably familiar with having your pupils dilated. Why does your eye doctor do this? By dilating your pupils, the eye doctor can get a better view of your inner eye structures – so the eye exam is...

Don’t Do: 11 Things To Avoid with Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

Countless people around the world wear daily disposable contact lenses or dailies. These popular single-use lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a new, fresh pair is inserted the next morning. Used properly, dailies promote eye health, and they’re comfortable and convenient. Despite the many...

Want Frames that Fit Right? Don’t Buy Eyeglasses Online!

Benefits of buying glasses from an optical store near you We get it, online shopping has become a staple in our lives. Even if you’re still lounging in your pj’s, you can browse items on the screen, make a selection and choose to pay now. All that’s left to do...

Coronavirus and Your Vision – What You Need to Know

As coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads around the world, health professionals are demanding that people limit their personal risk of contracting the virus by thoroughly washing their hands, practicing social distancing, and not touching their nose, mouth, or eyes. In fact, it may surprise you to learn that the eyes play an...

Visiting Your Optometrist During COVID-19

Is your eye doctor's appointment coming up? Are you worried about going to the eye clinic during the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Rest assured, keeping our patients and staff are safe is our top priority. We anticipate that this outbreak will continue for a while, and do not want our...

Does Obesity Impact Eye Health?

Nation-wide awareness about the vast dangers of obesity is at an all-time high, with TV shows like “The Biggest Loser” and health initiatives such as Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign shining a spotlight on the importance of fitness and good nutrition. However, despite the public’s knowledge of obesity’s effects on...

Can Contact Lenses Give Me 20/20 Vision?

Before our eye doctor answers the question about whether or not contacts can help you achieve 20/20 vision, let’s discuss what those numbers mean. Everyone talks about 20/20 vision all the time, but what is it exactly? Our optometrist at your nearby eye care center in Brentwood can answer any...

My Eyelid Hurts, Do I Have a Stye?

Emergency Eye Care Services Near You in Brentwood First of all, don’t panic! Styes may cause pain, yet they are generally harmless and very rarely have any effects on your vision or eyeball. In addition, they’re pretty common. Most people experience at least one or two styes at some point...

Rest Your Eyes & Get a Good Night’s Sleep!

You know how you feel when you don’t get enough sleep – cranky, foggy, dragging through the day? And your eyes may be red and puffy with black bags underneath. But not only does lack of sleep affect the appearance of your eyes, it can also interfere with your eye...

Mental Health and Your Vision

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the USA; in Canada, Mental Health week is May 6th to 12th. Since 1949, it has been observed throughout the United States as a way of drawing attention to the importance of proper mental health. This year’s theme is #4Mind4Body. The idea is...

World Braille Day 2019

Each year during the month of January we recognize World Braille Day which gives us the opportunity to take a moment and appreciate the incredible gift that Braille has given to those who are blind or suffer from vision loss. What is Braille? Braille is a tactile representation of letters...

How to Safely View the Great American Eclipse of 2017

On August 21st, for the first time since 1979, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America. What's even more historic is that it will also be the first time an eclipse will be visible across the continent, from coast to coast, since 1918. If you want to bear...

Resolve to Prevent Glaucoma in 2016

This year, make healthy eyes and vision your resolution. Find out if you or a loved one is at risk for glaucoma, and take steps for prevention. Glaucoma is a leading cause of preventable vision loss and blindness in adults in the United States and Canada and the second leading...

Can you Really Go Blind from Looking at a Solar Eclipse?

Last week, people in South America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and the Middle East saw a solar eclipse. As you may have heard, looking directly at a solar eclipse is very dangerous for your eyes and vision. Nevertheless, this rare event is something that many people want...

Hope in Sight for Low Vision

February is low vision awareness month. Low vision is a condition in which an individual suffers significant vision loss that can't be fully corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery. Low vision can affect both children and adults, but is more common in the elderly, and requires significant adjustments...