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Halloween Makeup and Costume Contacts Safety Tips

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Protect Your Eyes This Halloween

Halloween is a super fun time of year to experiment with different looks you wouldn’t normally try. Whether it’s for a complete costume transformation or just a simple spooky look on the day of, there are some things to keep in mind when using glitter, makeup, and costume contacts this time of year to keep your eyes healthy and infection-free.

Costume Contact Lenses

Costume contact lenses have become a popular way to really take your costume up a notch. However, they can be really dangerous for your eyes. Make sure you only wear contacts you get from a doctor. Do not buy contacts that are sold in costume stores, online shops, beauty salons, drug stores, vending machines, or anywhere that doesn’t require a prescription. These contact lenses are likely made using materials that aren’t eye-safe or don’t fit your eyes properly. If you really want contacts for your costume, schedule an appointment with us.

Glitter

Glitter may seem perfectly harmless but it can wreak havoc when it’s worn on or close to your eyes. Before you sprinkle on the sparkle, make sure you’re only using cosmetic-grade glitter products. When in doubt, only buy glitter makeup from reputable cosmetic brands and avoid cheap glitter found at costume stores. Never ever put craft glitter on your skin, it has a different, angled shape that can create microtears.

Makeup

Even if you’re not wearing glitter this Halloween season, be careful with full-face makeup as well. Particularly if you’re buying makeup from a costume shop or Halloween store, be sure to read the labels and keep it away from your eyes. Be aware of any odors or other tip-offs that may mean a product is old or expired. To be on the safe side, throw away any costume makeup from years past and don’t apply any to your skin if you’re unsure.

We hope you have a happy and safe Halloween season this year! If you have any questions about this information or if you’d like to schedule a consultation or eye exam give our office a call at (413) 782-0030.

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How to Take Care of Your Contacts

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Eye Care Springfield MAOne of the quickest ways for contact lens wearers to get an eye infection is to not take proper care of them. If you wear contact lenses every day, we have a few tips to help you keep them cleaner and your eyes rid of an eye infection. Let’s take a closer look at how.

Wash Your Hands

Before you even pick up your contact lens to put them in or before you go to take them out, make sure that you wash your hands with warm water and soap. Dirty hands are one of the fastest ways to spread bacteria to your eye and cause an eye infection or problem.

Clean Your Contacts

Contact cleaning solution isn’t just some sort of marketing scheme to try to get you to buy more things for your eyes; in fact, contact cleaning solution is one of the best ways for you to ensure that your contacts and eyes stay as clean as possible. Before you put your contacts in their case at night and before you put them in in the morning, squirt a little bit of contact solution directly onto your contacts; this will help get off any dirt, germs, or bacteria.

Clean Your Contact Case

You may not realize it, but that small contact lens case that you have on your counter may be harboring more germs and bacteria than you know of. Try getting in the habit of washing out your contact lens case every couple of days with some hot water.

Switch Them Out

If you wear dailies, then you know that you can put them in the trash can every night, but when it comes to regular disposable contact lenses, about every 1-3 months on average. Depending on the type of contact lenses you get, we will tell you how often to switch them out.

Taking good care of your eye health starts with doing simple things like getting regular eye exams and taking good care of your contact lenses. If you want to learn more about your vision health, schedule a consultation with us at our Papale Eye Center Springfield office and call us at (413) 782-0030.

Ophthalmologist Services Springfield MA

Blinded By the Light: The Importance of Investing In Good Eyewear

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Ophthalmologist Services Springfield MAIt’s easy to leave the house without your sunglasses— especially when you can barely make it out the door in the morning, to begin with. But what may feel like a little thing to forget, is something that is more serious than you may be aware of? Because sunglasses ar eat only thing shielding your eyes from the sun’s harsh and damaging rays, it’s important to wear them everytime you go outside during the day— even if it’s overcast out. But before you go to the drugstore and pick up a cheap pair of sunglasses, let’s take a look at the importance of investing in high-quality eyewear.

They Offer UVA and UVB Protection

Some sunglasses only offer UVB protection, but you should invest in a pair that offers both UVA and UVB protection. UVB rays are the rays that are most damaging to your eyes, and so you should always make sure your sunglasses at least have this protection. UVA rays have longer wavelengths which make it harder for them to go through sunglasses but many experts still believe they can.

They Last Longer

For the most part, it’s safe to say that a nicer pair of sunglasses will last longer than a pair that you picked up from the gas station. A good quality pair of sunglasses has a more durable frame and scratch-resistant lenses that will withstand more than a cheap pair can.

If you work in a line of business where you tend to lose, damage, or go through sunglasses easily, then investing in a good pair of eyewear may not be feasible. But, for the most part, investing is always worth it. Are you ready to learn more about how you can take better care of your vision? Schedule an appointment at our Springfield office today: (413) 782-0030.

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Glasses as Old As Time: How to Tell If You Need New Glasses

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Eye Glasses Consultation Springfield MassachusettsYou may think that those 1980’s eyeglasses you’re still sporting are making you blend in with the millennial hipster crowd, but it may be time to upgrade those bad boys to a new pair. Even though glasses can last for years if they are taken care of properly and your lenses are switched out, they can easily wear down. Here are some signs that you need new glasses. Read on to learn more.

The Screws Are Loose

Admit it: How many times have you had to use a drugstore screwdriver to tighten your glasses? If you have to tighten the screws on your glasses more than once every few months, then it’s likely time to get new frames. Over time, the screws and holes on your glasses start to wear down and fall out.

Things Are Lopsided

Do you look like you just got in a fight with a dragon? Are your glasses leaving you looking more disheveled than professional? If your glasses are lopsided, then you may need new ones. Although we can bend your frames a little to fix this problem, if it’s too severe, then we may need to fit you for an entirely new pair of frames instead.

Your Head Is Aching

Do you remember getting headaches as a kid when your mom would make you wear a headband or hat for a family picture? Similarly, if your glasses are too tight on your head, they can cause constant headaches. To see if your glasses are the culprit of your head pain, try taking them off for about 10 minutes. Have your symptoms improved? If so, they are likely the problem.

New glasses can make you see life in a whole new way. If your screws are loose, your frames are lopsided, or if you suffer from frequent headaches, you may need to buy a new pair. To learn more about glasses or to schedule your next examination, contact Papale Eye Center today!

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