Mixing contact lenses and cosmetics can be a messy situation.  Here are some tips from the American Optometric Association (AOA) that will help you keep your eyes safe while using cosmetics and contact lenses.

• Put on soft contact lenses before applying makeup.
• Put on rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses after makeup is applied.
• Avoid lash-extending mascara, which has fibers that can irritate the eyes, and waterproof mascara, which cannot be easily removed with water and may stain soft contact lenses.
• Do not use hand creams.
•  Remove contact lenses before removing makeup.
• Choose an oil-free moisturizer or lotions before applying contacts.  They can leave film on your lenses.
• Use hairspray before putting on your contacts. If you use hairspray while you are wearing your contacts, close your eyes during spraying and for a few seconds afterwards.
• Blink your eyes frequently while under a hair drier or blower to keep your eyes from getting too dry.
• Keep false eyelash cement, nail polish and remover, perfume and cologne away from the lenses. They can damage the plastic.
• Choose water-based, hypo-allergenic liquid foundations. Cream makeup may leave a film on your lenses.¹

 ¹http://www.aoa.org/x5236.xml

January has been declared National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness globally.  According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation glaucoma is known as "a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning."¹

Because glaucoma is so hard to detect in the early stages it is important to be screened on a regular basis.  Visit the Glaucoma Research Foundation's website for more information, including risk factors for the disease and to learn how you can help find a cure. Contact your eye care practitioner today to schedule your next eye exam. To find an eye care provider near you, please click here.

¹ Glaucoma awareness month. Glaucoma Research Foundation, Retrieved from <http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/glaucoma_awaren.php>.

It is extremely important to be sure that eyes are protected in the winter months, especially if you are a contact lens wearer. Many outdoor activities should be accompanied by eye protection; from debris, and from the sun.  Activities in the snow such as skiing, snowboarding and sledding should be accompanied by goggles that also have UVA and UVB protection.  “On a sunny winter day, snow can reflect 80% of all UV rays.”¹  Light reflecting from the snow can damage eyes; even if the sun may not seem as strong as the summer.   It is also extremely important to protect children’s eyes; this may decrease chances of certain eye diseases later in life.  

Be sure to remind your patients about the importance of eye protection in the colder months.  For more some information on how CooperVision’s contact lenses can improve your overall sports performance please click here.

¹http://www.chla.org/site/c.ipINKTOAJsG/b.6063229/k.AD84/Winter_Sports_Eye_Safety__Eye_Health_Tips__The_Vision_Center.htm

CooperVision offers a variety of Lenses with different replacement schedules.  Whether you're an extended wearer or change daily, CooperVision has the contact lenses to suit your eyes and your lifestyle!

CooperVision has a selection of lenses that are recommended to be replaced daily, bi-weekly or monthly.  Your Eye Care Practitioner will recommend a replacement schedule depending on your prescribed lenses, your eye condition and your lifestyle.  Be sure to bring up any concerns about replacement recommendation s to your Eye Care Practitioner when getting fitted for your contacts.   It is important to follow your replacement schedule to achieve comfortable problem-free lens wear.  To be sure you are getting the most out of your lenses follow our Contact Lens Care tips.

Football playoff season is in full gear and fans around the country are courageously rooting for their favorite team.   We want to make sure that everyone can see their teams clearly — near, far and everywhere in between!

With today’s smartphone and tablet technologies keeping up with scores and stats should be easy, right? Maybe not for those over 40 fans suffering from presbyopia, switching from small screens near and far can be a challenge.   CooperVision’s Biofinity Multifocal Contact Lenses can provide patients with outstanding vision, health and comfort all day.

Multifocal contact lenses focus light from both near, intermediate, and far distances to the back of the eye, creating the clearest possible image. This unique system uses two different, yet complementary, lenses that work together to provide clear vision near or far.

Ask your eye care practitioner if our Biofinity Multifocal lenses can help you keep up with your favorite team this season!  Click here to find an eye care practitioner near you.

Dry eye is a condition in which one’s eyes do not produce enough tears, or produce tears which do not have the proper chemical composition.  Symptoms of dry eye may include irritated, scratchy, dry, uncomfortable, or red eyes; a burning sensation or feeling of something foreign in your eyes; and blurred vision. Excessive dry eyes may damage eye tissue, scar your cornea (the front covering of your eyes) and impair vision, and make wearing contact lenses difficult¹.

Did you know that CooperVision’s Proclear 1 Day Lenses may bring comfort to contact wearers with Dry Eye Symdrome?

CooperVIsion’s Proclear 1 Day lenses are Proclear 1 Day lenses are the only daily disposable contact lenses with a FDA clearance for the claim: "may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear."²

If you think you may be experiencing dry eye symptoms, contact your eye care practitioner today! Be sure to mention our Proclear 1 day lenses for some potential comfort from your Dry Eye Syndrome.  Click here to find an eye care practitioner near you.

¹Reference: AOA. http://www.aoa.org/x4717.xml#1
²Reference: CooperVision.

The New Years is a time for change and positive outlook for the upcoming year.  Setting a goal for the New Year is tradition; but can bring health and happiness. Investing in your eye health is an easy resolution that consists of a quick visit to your optometrist! Regular eye exams are essential to keeping your eyes in check, but they can also be extremely important for your overall health. 

A basic eye exam can reveal some more serious diseases that may affect more than just your vision.  An exam can potentially uncover hidden medical conditions such as:  high blood pressure, diabetes, inflammations, and infections.  Be sure to schedule you’re eye exam for the New Year!

If you don't already have an eye care practitioner, click here to find one near you.

It is hard to know where to start when choosing a contact lens.  CooperVision would like to suggest using the Find a Lens tool on our website. Simply answer a few questions about your basic eye condition, then enter in your name and contact information.  Once you submit the quick assessment you will be provided with a suggested lens! You will also see a list of local practitioners; feel free to use this as a reference if you do not already have a local eye care practitioner.  We encourage you to read about the features that your suggested lens offers or about our various families of lenses at CooperVision by clicking here.  Be sure to schedule an appointment with your eye care practitioner as soon as possible to be fitted with your new lenses. 

There are currently over 800 million active Facebook users.  Of those 800 million, almost half access Facebook on a mobile device.* Mobile posting will allow postings to be more spontaneous and original, which may allow the personality of your practice to shine through on your wall.  Fans may be more inclined to interact with a mobile post because of its uniqueness.  Posting photos on your mobile device is simple and highly recommended; whether it is a photo of a hard-working optician, a new frame line, new technology in the office or a fun holiday photo.  Interaction is important when it comes to the credibility of your page, keep this in mind when posting.  Surprisingly posting to your fan page wall on a mobile Facebook app is often times confusing.  There is an easier way to post to your Facebook fan page! Follow the steps below to post to your Facebook fan page using your mobile device (you will need an email-capable device):

1. You will first need to retrieve an assigned email address from your Facebook business page. 
   1. To do this go to your Facebook fan page, click the grey “edit page” button located in the top right hand side of your page.
   2. Click on the “Mobile” option in the list of options on the left hand side of your browser.                                                                                                  
   3. Save the listed email address under the “With Mobile Email” section into your contacts for future posting.
2. Compose an email to the saved email address.
3. Enter the status you would like to have published to your wall into the subject section of the email, be sure leave the body of the email blank.  Attach a photo to the email if you wish to post a photo to the wall of your page.  Please note that many phones will allow you to email a photo straight from your image library, you may do this; just be sure to include a caption in the subject line of the drafted email.
4. Send the email to the saved address and you have successfully posted to your page via mobile device!

*According to Facebook Statistics, there are over 800 million users worldwide on the social network.  Over 350 million users are accessing Facebook via mobile devices (11/11).

We at CooperVision would like to remind everyone that December is “Safe Toys and Gifts Month”.  It is important to keep children’s safety in mind when Holiday shopping; be sure to follow the tips listed below when purchasing gifts for children: 

• Always follow age recommendations when purchasing gifts for children.
• Keep the ages of younger siblings in mind when choosing a gift, always air on the side of caution when there are younger siblings in the household. ¹
• Choose toys that may inspire creativity and imagination; these toys will make learning fun.
• Select toys and gifts that encourage visual development; this will build a child’s spatial awareness.¹

Here are some last minute gift ideas listed by age group recommended by www.gifts.com that are considered eye-friendly and will help build visual awareness:

• Age: 0 to 11 mos. Chicco Fun Travel Activity Nest Colorful and great for traveling.
• Age: 1 to 3 years. Fat Brain Toy Tobbles Round shape makes this safer than your average building block set.
• Age: 3 to 5 years. Fisher-Price Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera (available in boy or girl colors) Built tough to withstand dropping, this camera is a great for building visual creativity.
• Age: 6 to 9 years. LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Game System Comes loaded with many games, also includes a camera which is video capable.  Great for learning and encouraging visual ingenuity.

Please visit the American Optometric Association for more tips and suggestions on Safe Toys and Gifts ideas!

¹http://www.aoa.org/x8930.xml.