by admin | Apr 21, 2020 | Blog, News, Program
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey announces the addition of VLANJ Tech Talks to our virtual classroom. Led by VLANJ technology instructors Christina Brino and Susanne Sytsma, VLANJ Tech Talks is a monthly technology discussion forum which will kick-off with “Zooming” on Wednesday, April 29 from 7pm to 8pm. In this virtual session, we will lead you through a demonstration and discussion of the Zoom platform. Future topics include Navigating Facebook, What is Bard? Shop ’til you Drop, Amazon Basics, Getting started with Fusion, and more. The virtual program is open to all and there is no charge to participate. In order to register, please visit our Facebook page or email BeyondSight@vlanj.org. Membership includes monthly Tech Talks as well as inclusion in our member only VLANJ Tech Talks Facebook group.
by admin | Apr 17, 2020 | Blog, News
Major sports league seasons have been canceled, contact sports have been shut down, but sports will continue to be a part of our daily lives, even while in quarantine. Whether you go fishing, golf in your back yard, shoot some hoops with your kids or play ping pong in your basement, each sport comes with a relative sense of risk for your eye safety.
Close to 30,000 sports-related injuries are treated in U.S. emergency rooms every year. Different activities come with different level of risk for eye injuries – sports with flying objects have a tendency to cause more damage. How can you protect your eyes? Wear appropriate protective eyewear! The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that up to 90% of serious eye injuries could all be prevented by wearing eye protection.
You may ask yourself – what is proper eye protection then? Can’t I just wear my glasses? The truth is, contact lenses and glasses do not prevent eye injuries and you should avoid using regular eyeglasses as a preventative measure. Even more so, in some cases they can shatter and make injuries worse. There’s a handy list of different types of eye gear here, illustrating what you should wear for different sports.
So what should you do when you injure your eye? Go to the emergency room immediately, even if the injury appears minor. Some ophthalmologists are keeping their practices open for emergency care – if you’re not comfortable going to emergency care facilities at this time, keep handy the number of any local eye doctors that have emergency hours available. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
by admin | Apr 14, 2020 | Blog, News
Summer and warmer weather are fast approaching. Most of us remember to wear sunscreen to protect our skin from sun damage, but it’s important to protect our eyes as well.
Excess sun exposure can put you at risk for eye cancer, sunburned eyes, cataracts, and growths on or near the eye. [Infographic above illustrates the same information].
How can you protect your eyes? Follow these guidelines:
Wear sunglasses labeled “100% UV protection”: Use only glasses that block both UV-A and UV-B rays and that are labeled either UV400 or 100% UV protection.
- Choose wraparound styles so that the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.
- If you wear UV-blocking contact lenses, you’ll still need sunglasses.
Wear a hat along with your sunglasses; broad-brimmed hats are best.
Remember the kids: It’s best to keep children out of direct sunlight during the middle of the day. Make sure they wear sunglasses and hats whenever they are in the sun.
Know that clouds don’t block UV light: The sun’s rays can pass through haze and clouds. Sun damage to the eyes can occur any time of year, not just in summer.
Be extra careful in UV-intense conditions: Sunlight is strongest mid-day to early afternoon, at higher altitudes, and when reflected off of water, ice or snow.
By embracing these simple tips you and your family can enjoy being in the sun safely while protecting your vision.
by admin | Apr 6, 2020 | Blog, News, Program
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey is pleased to announce the opening of our new virtual classroom!
As part of our Beyond Sight series of programs we are offering Meditation and Mindfulness, an online class to help you cope with the stresses of everyday life. This class will be held at 1:30pm EST on Tuesdays from April 7, 2020 to April 28, 2020 using the Zoom meeting platform.
There is no cost to participate, however registration is required and seating is limited. Register in advance by clicking on the following link: Zoom Meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We look forward to having you in our classroom!
Would you like more information? Send us an email at beyondsight@vlanj.org.
by admin | Mar 27, 2020 | Blog, News
March is workplace eye wellness month. Since most of us are now working from home, here are some things to look out for at your home office.
💻 Digital eyestrain – Fatigue, dry eyes, bad lighting, or how one sits in front of the computer can cause eyestrain. Symptoms of eyestrain include sore or irritated eyes and difficulty focusing.
⚠️ Retina damage – Studies suggest that continued exposure to blue light over time could lead to damaged retinal cells. This can cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration or cataract. Blue light is emitted from all the screens in your home like TVs, computers, iPads and phones, as well as LED and fluorescent lights.
The remedy? Limit your screen time! 📱
If you have to work on a screen, make sure the distance from the eye to the front surface of the computer screen is 20-40 inches.
Work in a well-lit room.
Take frequent eye 👀 breaks (every 30 minutes or so).
Lastly, make sure to spend some time outdoors 🌳 and wear sunglasses when it’s sunny out! 🕶️
by admin | Mar 27, 2020 | Blog, News
Tax season is almost upon us – the deadline for filing is on April 15th, 2020.
Did you know you can claim an additional $1,000 exemption if you were considered legally blind on the last day of the tax year?
If you are married (or in a civil union) and are filing jointly and your spouse was considered legally blind on the last day of the tax year, they can claim an additional $1,000 exemption.
To claim these exemptions (for the first time), medical proof must be enclosed with your paper tax return. Documentation may be required at a later time if filing electronically.
What works as proof? A letter from your doctor stating that you are legally blind typically suffices. You can continue to claim the exemption in subsequent years without needing proof, if there is no drastic improvement in your ability to see.
Note that this exemption can not be claimed for a domestic partner or for your dependents.
