Dr Christine Weldon (Philadelphia, PA 19111-3800)

• What are gradient tint sunglasses?

  Gradient sunglasses are one type of sunglasses with gradient lenses. They appear dark in the top part of lenses while the button part of lenses approximates to clear. The design of the sunglasses lenses can offer well protection to eyes by blocking UV rays and reducing strong light, meanwhile offer you clear vision to read newspapers or magazines through the button part of lenses.

• What are the benefits of Vitamins C and E for eyes?

  Vitamins C and E are thought to protect the connective tissue, while vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids are helpful in preventing and reducing macular degeneration. Vitamin C can promote healthy bones, skin and blood vessels, including the delicate capillaries in the retina. Studies suggest long-term consumption of vitamin C also may reduce the risk of forming a cataract and vision loss from macular degeneration.

• How should children protect their eyes?

  Eye care is especially needed by the immature group. For example, children should be prohibited from taking the habit of watching TV programs at a close distance. UV filters should be available while gazing at the computer monitor. Remember that children’s eyes are particularly susceptible to various eye problems. For young people, protecting their eyes in young ages can reduce the risk of suffering various vision problems.

• What are lasting trend of fashion sunglasses for men?

  Aviator glasses will never go out of fashion, accompanied by new materials and designs. Larger and bolder frames are designed to offer particular tastes, while small glasses are still around for small faces. Lightweight and comfortable plastic frames are always popular among men who desire a younger, hip or retro look.

• Is it normal for half-frame glasses to have a line etched around the lens?

  The lenses have to be edged in that way in order to keep them in the frame. If you look carefully you will find what looks almost like fishing line in the groove. That is how the lens is kept in the frame. It is quite normal.

• Is there any good brand for non-prescription computer glasses?

  I have bought a pair of computer glasses online and they do work well. I don't know if there is any brand specialized in computer glasses, the brand doesn't matter as long as it works.

• Why can I see better with plastic frames?

  Some high myopes find that they can see better with plastic frames rather than metal ones with nose pads. The distance between the back surface of the lenses and the front of the eyes is named vertex distance, which can be increased by equipping nose pads in metal frames. Plastic frames with a shorter vertex distance are more suitable for highly myopic people. More specifically, some metal frames have unadjusted nose pads, creating a greater vertex distance and making the wearer see a poor-fitting bridge easily. Plastic frames do not involve any nose-pad adjustment and the bridge will always stay at a right place.

• Why eyesight disorders can be corrected by wearing glasses?

  Nearsighted individuals cannot clearly see things that are distant. This happens because the light rays come into focus in front of the retina. Farsighted individuals have the opposite problem. The shape of their eyes causes the light rays to come into focus behind the retina, causing things that are near to them to be out of focus. Some people have blurry vision due to an astigmatism, or a condition where the curvature of the eye is irregular, creating a second focal point within the eye. All three of these common problems can be corrected with glasses. Eyeglass lenses are curved pieces of glass. The curvature of the lens bends the light rays as they approach your eye. This helps the rays focus on your retina, instead of behind or in front of it.

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