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July is a great time to get outside and enjoy the sun. If you are like many people, you slather on sunscreen because you know that ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage your skin. Many people do not realize that UV rays can hurt their eyes, though, and may not know that extended exposure to UV rays is associated with eye damage. To help bring awareness to eye safety and UV rays, many eye care professionals recognize July as Optical UV Safety Awareness Month.

You may know that it is important to wear sunglasses in the summer to protect your eyes, but do you know why? The answer has to do with exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight.

Light radiates from the sun in waves. Like ocean waves, light waves have a measurable length, height, and duration or frequency. Scientists measure light wavelengths in nanometers (nm).  The various wavelengths of light cause the light to act in different ways. Visible light has wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm. UV light has a wavelength range of 100 to 400 nm. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the shorter the wavelength, the more harmful the radiation.

If you are like many people, 2020 was a bit of a blur. Fortunately, Illinois Eye Center is helping you bring 2021 into focus with $20 off our optical packages.

During the entire month of January, you can save on our optical packages at any of our locations. You can get frames, lenses, and a 1-year warranty for less money when you purchase a package through January 31. This valuable special is available at our Peoria, Pekin, and Washington, IL, locations. You don’t even need a coupon – just make an appointment with our eye care professionals at the nearest location.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Healthcare Spending Account (HSA), you probably already know that they are convenient and can save you money in taxes. You also likely know that they may expire and that you might forfeit any money you don’t use at the end of the year. So what is the best way to spend your hard-earned dollars before the end of the year? On eye care, of course!

Finding the perfect frame usually involves trying on several different pairs of glasses, but traveling to an eye center can sometimes be a hassle. Fortunately, technology steps in to save the day with Illinois Eye Center’s new Virtual Try-on.

Virtual Try-On lets you see how you would look in different eyeglasses frames, and is as easy as looking in a mirror. Illinois Eye Center offers two try-on options that allow you to “try on” glasses from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

Many of us stick with an old pair of glasses for years, especially if we think we can still see well with them.

Eye care professionals often recommend getting a new pair of glasses every one to three years as needed. Some people have to change their eyeglasses more often than do others. A variety of factors can affect how often you should get new eyewear.

Blurry vision is the most obvious sign that you need new glasses. Using an outdated prescription can make your eyes work harder to focus and this can lead to eyestrain, which can cause headaches. Vision changes typically happen very slowly, especially those associated with glaucoma, so you may not be aware that your vision has changed.

Why wait for warmer weather? Sun protection is needed all year round, which is why you need to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays, even in the snow! Learn all the reasons why you should wear your sunglasses every time you’re outside this winter.

With thousands of eye injuries each year directly related to sports injuries, it is important to take all precautionary measures to protect your eyes when hitting the field, court, or gym.

Once upon a time, glasses were strictly functional — and many of us have the old-school photos to prove it! But today, eyewear is at the forefront of fashion, with major designers creating incredible styles worn by everyone from A-list celebrities to people just like you. We created the Illinois Eye Center Optical Boutique to give our clients the best eyewear options possible, so you can look and feel fantastic each and every day.

When we send our kids off to play football, we make sure their helmet is on tight and their pads are firmly in place. No soccer enthusiast is on the field without his or her shin guards, and a hockey game without a face mask is practically unheard of. Why is it, then, that we’re so lax about providing our children – and, when necessary, ourselves – with the appropriate protective eyewear?