When to Switch From Contacts to Eyeglasses

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For many people, contact lenses are the perfect balance between convenience and clear vision. They move with your eyes, don’t fog up, and offer a wide field of view. Still, there are times when your eyes need a break—and switching to eyeglasses is the smarter, healthier choice. Recognizing those moments can help protect your vision and keep your eyes feeling their best.

When Your Eyes Feel Tired or Irritated

If your eyes start to sting, look red, or feel unusually dry after wearing contacts, it’s a sign they need rest. Long days at the computer or in air-conditioned spaces can make lenses less comfortable. Even small changes in your environment, like humidity or allergies, can cause irritation. Taking a few days off and wearing glasses allows the eyes to recover their natural moisture and balance.

After a Contact Lens Evaluation

Your optometrist at Stam & Associates Eye Care performs a contact lens evaluation in Jacksonville, FL to make sure your lenses fit properly and your corneas stay healthy. During that checkup, your doctor might notice early signs of irritation, protein buildup, or reduced oxygen flow to the eye—issues you may not feel right away. If that happens,  your  optometrist might suggest switching to glasses temporarily or adjusting your lens type or wear schedule. Listening to that advice can prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.

When You’re Sick or Your Allergies Flare Up

When you have a cold, sinus infection, or allergy symptoms, your eyes can become more sensitive. Wearing contacts during these times increases the risk of bacteria getting trapped under the lens or causing inflammation. Glasses give your eyes the chance to stay clean, comfortable, and infection-free while you recover.

Contacts are a great option, but balance is key. Rotating between contacts and glasses keeps your eyes healthy, your vision clear, and your comfort consistent day after day. Book an appointment with your Jacksonville, FL optometrist to learn more.

What Are Prism Glasses?

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If you’ve been seeing double or feeling like your eyes are blurrier than usual, you may need to look into getting prism glasses. Although these are not the most common types of lenses, prism lenses can make a big difference in the clarity of your vision. At Stam & Associates Eye Care, we offer prism glasses in Jacksonville, FL, and can help you understand how they work.

The Difference Between Regular Glasses and Prism Lenses

Unlike regular glasses that correct nearsightedness or farsightedness, prism glasses are designed to help the eyes line up correctly. The lenses bend light before it reaches your eyes, which helps determine where the images you see fall. If you close one eye and open the other, the image should stay in the same place (or close to it) rather than jumping around. If it jumps, prism glasses could help your brain combine what both eyes are seeing into a single image.

What Are the Symptoms of Needing Prism Lenses?

If your eye muscles aren’t working together as they should, you may need prism glasses. These are some signs that you might benefit from them:

  • You currently have double vision
  • You have nerve issues in the eyes or misalignment
  • You suffer from regular eye strain, headaches, or dizziness
  • You have developed trouble with your eyes after an injury or illness

When you get prism glasses, you’ll need a little time to adjust. You might notice things look slightly off for the first few days, but your vision will adapt. Over time, you’ll find that you’re seeing more sharply and have fewer symptoms related to your vision.

Get Prism Glasses in Jacksonville, FL

If you’ve been struggling with double vision or eye strain, schedule an appointment with Stam & Associates Eye Care to learn about prism glasses in Jacksonville, FL.

Eyeglasses vs. Contact Lenses

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Whether you choose eyeglasses or contact lenses, both options offer great qualities. However, making the right choice for your specific needs is important. Here at Stam & Associates Eye Care, we can help you make the best decision for your vision and eye health. We carry eyeglasses from many top brands and are happy to offer reliable contact lens exams in Jacksonville, FL. Call us today to make an appointment!

This post’ll discuss the key differences between eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Eyeglasses

Today, you can find exceptional eyeglasses for nearly any type of vision correction.

Here are some pros and cons of this type of eyewear:

Pros

  • Easy to wear
  • Long-lasting
  • Easy cleanup
  • Wide variety to choose from
  • Protects from the elements
  • Easy to store
  • Customizable lens options

Cons

  • Uncomfortable for some people
  • Limited field of vision
  • More expensive to replace
  • May get damaged
  • Prone to fogging up
  • Some people don’t like the appearance
  • May get smudged

While some people love eyeglasses, others don’t prefer them. Make sure to choose the option where the pros outweigh the cons.

Contact Lenses

Contacts are loved by many. Ever since they’ve been developed, contacts have been extremely popular.

Take a look at the pros and cons of contact lenses below:

Pros

  • They stay in place during activities
  • Contacts blend in with your face
  • Allow you to wear non-prescription sunglasses
  • Low replacement costs compared to glasses
  • Offers ability to change eye color
  • Provide a greater field of vision

Cons

  • Some people find them uncomfortable
  • May take a while to get used to
  • Daily cleaning and maintenance is needed
  • They create more waste (if using daily disposable contacts)
  • Improper use can lead to eye health problems

Whether you’re interested in eyeglasses or contact lenses, Stam & Associates Eye Care is here to take your vision to new heights! Call us today to work with our experienced and knowledgeable optometrist in Jacksonville, FL.

Will My Glasses Correct for 20/20 Vision?

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The term 20/20 vision refers to normal vision, meaning you can see a standard level of detail when you’re 20 feet away from an object. (Or, when you’re at the eye doctor, 20 feet away from an eye chart.) If you’re getting glasses, you may think this oft-quote number is the end goal, but that may not always be true. We’ll look at the nature of glasses and visual acuity and what you can expect while wearing them.

What to Know About Wearing Glasses

20/20 vision is typically the goal if you’re near-sighted, meaning you have trouble seeing objects that are in the distance. If you’re far-sighted, glasses aren’t meant to improve your distance acuity because you can already see far-away objects.

This could mean you have 20/20 vision when you’re 20 feet away but abnormal vision once you step closer. If you’re wearing glasses while far-sighted, they bend the light rays bouncing off nearby objects so your retina can focus on them.

Corrections Beyond 20/20

People may need glasses for anything from color blindness to light sensitivity. In these cases, the lenses put colors in perspective or protect your eyes from dangerous or uncomfortable bright lights. Regardless of why you might need glasses in Jacksonville, FL, it helps to find a doctor who can give you the full run-down of how it all works.

Optometrists in Jacksonville, FL

While you might hear the term 20/20 vision tossed around, that’s not necessarily what your vision will be while you’re wearing glasses. If you’re interested in learning more about how glasses can correct other types of visual problems, call Stam & Associates Eye Care to learn more about your best options.

3 Signs Your Prescription Glasses Don’t Fit Properly

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How comfortable are your glasses? Many people have to rely on glasses for clear vision, but many people also complain about discomfort. In reality, a good, well-fitting pair of eyeglasses should barely be detectable by what they feel like on your face. Take a look at a few signs it may be necessary to visit an optical solutions center in Jacksonville, FL, for adjustments or a new pair of frames.

You consistently have to readjust your glasses.

You may continuously have to push your glasses up your nose because they keep sliding. Or, you may have to adjust the arms of the glasses over your ears to keep them in place when you move your head. Well-fitting eyeglasses should stay comfortably in place even when you look down or move your head around a bit.

You feel a lot of pain or pressure above your ears.

Without question, your eyeglasses should fit snugly against the sides of your head when you slip the arms (also referred to as temples) over your ears. However, this snugness should never be so much that you feel any discomfort. This may mean the frames need to be adjusted to properly fit your face.

Your glasses leave uncomfortable indentations on your nose.

Eyeglasses have either nose pads attached to pad arms or built-in pads that rest on the bridge of the nose. In either case, this area should simply rest on your nose comfortably without sliding or leaving uncomfortable indentions on your skin. If you experience any discomfort along the bridge of your nose, it may be a sign that you need your frames adjusted or possibly a different frame style.

Find Full-Service Optical Solutions in Jacksonville, FL

Ready to find out why your glasses don’t feel good on your face? Be sure to talk to an optician in Jacksonville, FL, about your issue. Reach out to the team at Stam & Associated eye care to schedule an appointment.

Do You Need Neurolenses? This FAQ Can Help You Decide

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Do you need prescription eye glasses from an eye doctor in Jacksonville FL? Neurolenses may be the right choice for you! These prescription eyeglasses feature a special design to correct common alignment problems. At Stam & Associates Eye Care, we can help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for neurolenses. Here’s what you need to know. 

What Are Neurolenses?

Neurolenses are a type of prescription eyeglasses. Neurolenses correct alignment issues in the eyes with a contoured prism. If you suffer from eye misalignment, neurolenses can help. 

How Do Neurolenses Work?

Neurolens eyeglasses are much like standard eyeglasses, but with a contoured prism that corrects misalignment. To prescribe neurolenses for patients, the eye doctor must use a specialized instrument to measure the patient’s eye misalignment. These tests help the glasses lab to create a customized lens that will address the patient’s symptoms.

Some great things about neurolenses:

  • A neurolens can be added to any pair of prescription eyeglasses.  
  • Neurolenses can even be added to non-prescription eyeglasses. This is a good option for any patients who don’t need prescription lenses but still experience symptoms that can be corrected by neurolenses. 

Who Needs Neurolenses?

If you suffer from eye misalignment, you could benefit from neurolenses. You may also benefit from neurolenses if you spend a lot of time working with digital devices like computers. If you enjoy gaming or spend long hours with handheld devices for other reasons, you may benefit from neurolenses. People who want neurolenese often have neck and shoulder pain, headaches and eye strain. 

Interested in Neurolenses? Call Today

If you spend a lot of time in front of computers, or if you suffer from eye misalignment, then your doctor at Stam & Associates Eye Care can help you get neurolenses in Jacksonville, FL. Call today to make an appointment.