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When most people think about damage from the sun, they worry about their skin. But the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays also pose a serious threat to your eyes. The Macula, the central area of the Retina at the back of the eye is particularly sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. If you imagine a target in the center of the Retina behind the pupil, the Macula would be the bulls-eye. When you’re not wearing sunglasses and UV light comes into the eye, it hits the Macula like a laser beam. Although wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes, not all shades are created equal. It’s important that your sunglasses block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Learn more about how sunglasses help protect your eyes at https://bit.ly/30RqYPV.

Have you ever wondered what it means to have 20/20 vision? 20/20 vision doesn’t refer to perfect vision, only “normal” vision; a person with 20/20 vision can see what the average individual can see on a traditional eye chart while standing 20 feet away. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2Q4MWYl

It’s National Sunglasses Day! Sponsored by the Vision Council, National Sunglasses Day seeks to bring attention to the importance of wearing Ultraviolet (UV) Protective eyewear. Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime, not just during the Summer. Learn more about UV radiation and eye safety at http://bit.ly/2Hx66EV

Hydroxychloroquine may have been prominently featured in the news lately, but as a coronavirus treatment it may be bad for your eyes. Although President Trump said that he is taking the drug as a preventative to ward off the virus, hydroxychloroquine and its sibling chloroquine have the potential to damage the Retina. Although the American Academy of Ophthalmology says that hydroxychloroquine doesn’t cause blindness, 1% to 2% of patients who take the drug to treat autoimmune conditions such as lupus experience Retinal problems during a 5-year course of treatment. Please consult with your Retinologist at High Country Macula before considering taking hydroxychloroquine.

We’d like to join the current Facebook Challenge asking people to post a picture of a landscape from a place where you’ve been, where the main requirement is that you NOT appear in it. Just a picture, no description. The goal is to fill people’s timelines with landscape photos to give a twist on the situation we’re going through. At High Country Macula, our patients are our inspiration, nothing makes us happier than when patients share pictures of the sights and images that inspire them, and that they value as a result of their preserved and restored eyesight. Join us, post a photo and share with your friends on Facebook. Let’s travel virtually around the world!

Can’t resist your canine friends’ “puppy dog eyes”? The reason may lie in evolution. A recent study discovered that dogs have a developed a muscle not found in wolves that allows them to raise their inner eyebrows. And evidence that those dogs who use the “eyebrow raise” are more likely to get adopted from shelters. Learn more about this fascinating study at https://nyti.ms/2J3Vopj