Most commonly, eye allergies are caused by seasonal allergens such as pollen or mold spores. However, irritants, such as dirt, smoke, and chlorine, can also irritate eyes as well. Allergic conjunctivitis caused by allergens is not contagious. However, conjunctivitis caused by bacteria or viruses, such as “pink eye,” is highly contagious but can be easily treated if diagnosed promptly. Common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include redness in the whites of the eye, increased tear production, itchy eyes, inflammation of the eyelid, and blurred vision. Consult your eye doctor if these symptoms persist.

But there is hope for eye allergy sufferers!  Small measures such as cold compresses or washing bed linens can help reduce eye allergens and allergy symptoms. Contact wearers may find relief in swapping their contact lenses for eyeglasses during periods of high pollen count or by cleaning lenses especially well as contacts may often serve as a vehicle for allergens or irritants. Over-the-counter eyes drops can help with symptomatic itching or burning while prescription eye drops may significantly decrease eye allergy symptoms when appropriate. Diagnosis is the first step in achieving eye allergy relief! Consult your eye doctor for the right treatment options for you!

Morris Eye Group rewards patients and customers for their loyalty with our easy-to-use iClub program and we encourage our patients and customers to use it!

Morris Eye Group makes accumulating and redeeming rewards easy! An iClub rewards card conveniently associated with one’s telephone number is linked to a family account and is provided upon one’s first visit to our office. Any out-of-pocket purchases made at Morris Eye Group–from copays for annual eye exams to overage costs on eyeglass frames to cosmetic purchases–translate into iClub points.  These iClub points can then be redeemed on the very same types of purchases at Morris Eye Group–from eyeglass frames to cosmetic procedures and even lasik eye surgery! Points accumulated can be monitored on our website or ask a Morris Eye Group associate to tell you more about iClub today!

Colloquy, a loyalty marketing researcher, reported that in 2011, “$48 billion worth of consumer loyalty reward points dispensed each year, yet one-third are never cashed in.” Don’t miss out on iClub!

With the shortest day of the year behind us, more and more individuals can be seen running the beautiful streets and beaches of San Diego. Many runners aim for minimalistic running attire and fail to consider eye protection while running, but with the increased number of daylight hours, protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays becomes even more important! It’s crucial that sunglasses provide 100% UV protection and today’s technology has brought old-school, loose or bulky sunglasses into the 21^st century. Sunglass frames can be made of lightweight but resilient materials with anti-slip precautions, have photo-chromatic lenses that adapt to different light conditions, or even vented or anti-fog lens coatings. There’s no excuse not to protect your vision while concurring your next run or race! Come see Morris Eye Group for all your eye protection needs!

Congratulations to those that ran the Carlsbad Marathon and Half Saturday, January 22, 2012!

January is National Opticians Month! Webmd defines opticians as “skilled technicians who fill optical prescriptions and fit people with glasses or contact lenses.” However, an optician’s role is far more complex than this simple definition implies.

At Morris Eye Group, opticians serve as a crucial component in comprehensive eyecare by embodying both care and expertise in assisting patients with eyeglasses or contact lenses. They thoroughly explain vision options, insurance benefits, and procedures. With patience, our opticians assist patients in finding frames and lenses that complement their lifestyle needs and wants, helping Morris Eye Group patients leave our office in style with a great new view of the world!  Thank you to the great opticians at Morris Eye Group!