Wednesday, January 28, 2015

High Performance Lens - What's that mean, exactly?

High performance, high definition. Those words get used a lot. When we talk about BluTech Lenses being "high performance," what exactly do we mean? 

BluTech Lenses are made infused with chemistry that mimics our natural Ocular Lens Pigment (OLP). OLP is the substance the very mature adult human eye uses to shield our retinas from high energy blue light. 

High energy blue light can have a negative impact on our daily vision, health and overall sense of well-being. There are a number of recent studies that confirm this correlation, linking blue light to health concerns like digital eye strain, retina damage, obesity, diabetes, and even health and behavioral problems in children. Using a BluTech Lens means that you are providing additional protection with the same solution nature provides, filtering the exact high-energy wave lengths that are most damaging. 

Where other "blue light treatments" actually deflect a small portion of blue light away from the eye, BluTech simply filters the wave lengths naturally; absorbing the most damaging wavelengths as nature intended, while still allowing through the wavelengths required for true to life color perception and control of our circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle). This filtering naturally enhances your ability to see well. Eyes that don't have to strain to see through blue light scatter are far more relaxed and comfortable. BluTech users often relate to us that they suffer less from digital eye strain, dry eyes, and fatigue. 

Beyond the potential health benefits, however, BluTech provides other high-performance benefits. The OLP lenses improve contrast, making your vision crisp and clear; Glare is significantly reduced; Colors appear brighter, and objects more defined. Indoor BluTech Lenses even improve clarity of vision when driving at night. And, outdoor enthusiasts especially love BluTech polarized for this reason. Golfers regularly tell us they can read the greens more easily while they're playing, because their vision is actually enhanced by the lens. 

But wait, there's more! BluTech Outdoor Lenses have all the optical advantages of polarized lenses, controlling glare and blocking 100% of UVA and UVB. They also allow the wearer to read their digital devices without removing their glasses. That means smartphone screens, tablet computers, digital car dashboards, and even your fish-finder. Finally - a lens that helps you interact with your world just the way you want to, while still protecting your vision. That's what we mean when we say "high performance."

Thursday, January 22, 2015

My Migraines are Gone - a Patient's Story

A Phoenix optician working in an independent optometrist's office recently related this terrific patient story to us.
"About a year or so ago I had a patient come out of her eye exam upset she didn't have a prescription! Now as someone who has been in glasses since she was 6 I thought she was crazy.
     "So of course I started asking questions about why she wanted a prescription. Basically she worked on a computer 8+ hours a day and everyday she was coming home with a migraine. We had just started taking BluTech in the practice so I asked if she would be my "guinea pig." I offered her a guaranteed refund if she wasn't happy so she could try the lenses without feeling obligated.
     "Three weeks later, I found her back in my waiting room playing on her smartphone with her BluTechs on. I asked how she liked them and I was actually amazed by her answer. 'Since I've gotten them I haven't had one migraine. It feels so good wearing them I find I wear them all the time.'"
We're always thrilled to hear these kind of patient stories. Again and again, the user experience bears out the dramatic improvement that BluTech Lenses can have on the quality of patients' lives.

Do you have a great patient story to relate? We'd love to hear from you! Send us a message!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Blue Light Concerns: Not Just for Geeks

So everybody's talking about the dangers of blue light - how much exposure are we getting daily, and how does it affect our lives? There was a time in the not-very-distant past when only the techies were staring at computer screens for hours at a time. Now, it's all of us. The number of smartphone users in the US has nearly tripled since 2010, from 62.6 million to 163.9, and is projected to reach 220 million by 2018. (eMarketer) As a matter of fact, "Americans now own four digital devices on average" (EACH!) "and the average US consumer spends 60 hours a week consuming content across devices." (Nielsen)
 
We love our technology, and we're not going to give it up - that much is clear. But this monumental shift in the way we interact with it is probably going to have some unintended consequences. One clear effect is the way that these screens deliver light to our eyes. Blue light, a high-energy light wave, is all around us in the sunlight, and nature has designed our bodies to respond to it. We feel more awake, more energized, when exposed to it. But we are carrying "extra" blue light around with us throughout the day and into the evening hours as well. Small wonder our internal clocks are confused. Health advocates are now telling us that our tech gadgets shouldn't be in the bedroom with us because it disrupts our circadian rhythms and can impact restful sleep.

But it's not just sleep. Eye health professionals now believe that blue light not only causes "eye strain and impair[s] our daily vision, but it can also contribute to Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)," (Dr. Joseph Reitano). AMD is a leading cause of blindness in adults over age 50. There's also some significant scientific evidence linking blue light to other serious health concerns: diabetes, obesity, cancer, and behavioral issues in children.  (Harvard Medical School) The prevalence of blue-light emitting devices, which includes smartphones, tablet computers, LED televisions, computer screens, and even CFL and LED lightbulbs is relatively new. It may take decades before we are fully aware of the long-term implications of this exposure level. Many eye doctors are recommending limiting your digital screen time and using a blue-light filtering lens to protect your eyes from high-energy blue light to help prevent significant, long-term damage to your eyes.

How much time do you spend in front of the screen?
Weigh in here on our visitor's poll.


Thursday, January 1, 2015

Healthy in 2015

What's your new year's resolution? Is this the year of good health? Natural living? Planning to get in shape? Eat better? Get more rest?

As you think about your commitment to personal health for this coming year, consider your vision. Research shows that unprotected eyes, especially in our digital world, can have an impact on your well-being. The health and vision industry is buzzing over new information about the potential effects of blue light (emitted by your smart phone, tablet pcs, computers, and LED televisions). Nature never intended our eyes to have to cope with so much high-energy blue light. Overexposure can lead to headaches, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and even more serious issues.

Protection is easy. BluTech lenses are the only lenses available that filter blue light the same way that nature does, with ocular lens pigment actually imbedded in the lens material - like the ocular lens pigment in your eyes. It's designed by nature to offer protection from harmful, high energy light sources. Filtering out the most damaging wavelengths lets your eyes rest, and improves clarity of vision dramatically. And it mirrors nature.  According to Dr. Ramin Schadlu, a retina specialist in Scottsdale, Arizona,  BluTech eyeglass lenses are  "Nature's wisdom in a lens." We couldn't agree more.

Take care with your vision. Make BluTech lenses, indoor and outdoor, part of your health routine.