iPads, Other Tablets Can Help Those with Low Vision

Sadly, there are some people who still have vision problems even after using corrective lenses. These people have what is usually referred to as "low vision."

Low vision is usually associated with having difficulty watching TV, reading or other daily activities despite the use of glasses, contacts, and sometimes, even surgery. People who suffer from this eye condition are often left to use magnifying glasses or other devices to read. But now, there's a new tool that can help people with low vision read easier: the iPad.

According to a new study, consisting of two individual experiments, people not only read easier on the backlit tablet computer, but also read faster. Both segments of the study pitted reading print and reading on a tablet against each other and both proved that tablet reading is much more efficient.

The study states that people who read on an iPad versus a physical book read 42 more words per minute. And the reason is simple: Contrast.

Tablet computers, unlike the original eReaders which used "virtual ink," are backlit. This backlighting creates a high amount of contrast between the text and the whitespace, making the text easier to read. For people with low vision, this is a welcome sight because they no longer have to struggle to make out the words on the page.

Daniel Roth, MD told WebMD that people with low vision lose the ability to see objects stand out from their backgrounds, which is why the high contrast of the iPad's screen is so helpful.

"The magnified font and backlight allows them to improve their reading ability and comfort," he said.

Roth also said that while the baby boomer generation is aging and many of its members do suffer from eye problems, it's also a tech-savvy generation. That makes it easier to convince them to use iPads or other tablet computers to read.

It's also important to remember that while many people's eyesight dulls with age, regular eye exams can help identify any change in your vision. Make sure you're getting your eyes checked annually to keep your eyes functioning at their highest level possible.

Simple Eye Care Tips for Women

Your eyes are your windows to the world around you. That is why it's of paramount importance that you take proper care of them to ensure they stay healthy for years to come. As a Dearborn Optometrist, there are trends I notice in how people take care of their eyes. Here is some of the advice I most often give to my female patients.

Identify any hereditary vision issues

The first step in having healthy eyes is knowing what you're up against. I can't tell you how many times a patient was unaware of having a hereditary predisposition to a specific eye condition. It's crucial to be aware of any condition you may be more susceptible to so that you and your eye doctor can take the appropriate steps in helping you preserve the health of your eyes.

Healthy eating means healthy eyes

What you might not realize is that your diet directly affects the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision. Diets high in leafy greens are especially helpful because many vegetables provide you with lutein, an antioxidant that helps prevent damage to the retina. 

Protein and Vitamin A are also equally as important to maintaining healthy eyes, with protein in the form of omega-3 fatty acids especially so. One of the best sources of protein and omega-3s is fish. I know not everyone likes fish, but it's worth eating for the health benefits alone.

Clean those contacts

It doesn't matter if you only wear your contacts a few times a week or everyday--keep them clean. The reason being is that dirty contact lenses can lead to eye irritation. If your eyes are irritated, you're more likely to itch or scratch them with your hands (also good things to keep clean). 

Throw away old makeup

Did you know makeup has an expiration date? There's good reason for that, too. If you use old, expired cosmetics around your eyes, you risk the chance of irritating your them. It's also a good rule of thumb to thoroughly wash off all the days makeup before going to bed. When makeup isn't removed properly it can get deeper into your pores and can actually result in an eye infection, and no one wants that.

And finally ...

If you notice any obvious changes in your vision or how your eyes generally feel, please call your optometrist. The best way to treat any medical issue, whether it involves the eyes or not, is to get a jump on it as quickly as possible. 

What Makes a ‘Good Pair’ of Sunglasses?

It doesn’t matter if you’re playing on the playground with your kids, sitting in a boat in Lake St. Clair or just relaxing in the backyard, it’s crucial that you have the necessary protection for your eyes. The primary tool for this would be a good pair of sunglasses.

But what exactly makes a “good pair” of sunglasses? First and foremost, check if your sunglasses protect against ultraviolet radiation. If they don’t, you might as well be wearing regular eyeglasses, because while they might make the light less intense, you’re not doing anything for your retinas. But that’s not always enough. While UV protection is absolutely essential for protecting your eyes, you need to make sure they protect against UV-A and UV-B, the two different kinds of ultraviolet light. For obvious reasons, it’s essential that your eyes have the maximum amount of protection.

Speaking of maximum protection, did you know that light doesn’t enter the eye from just one location; it hits our eyes from all different directions. It will bounce of walls, snow, water, concrete, etc. That’s why UV protection isn’t the only thing you should look for in your shades, you should also look for them to be polarized as well. Polarization, or anti-glare, helps protect you from light that bounces into your eyes from different angles.

And while the necessity of polarized lenses should not be understated, lens color is also very important. As you’ve probably noticed, most lenses are some variety of gray, this is because gray is not only a neutral color, but also doesn’t distort the colors of the world around you. Gray is also the color that reduces the intensity of light better than any others.

And finally, make sure your sunglasses are comfortable, look good and fit well. We all know that you won’t wear a pair of ugly, uncomfortable sunglasses, no matter how well they protect your eyes. If you need help finding the perfect pair of shades, don’t hesitate to give me a call at 313-278-SEEN or contact me.

Baseem Wahab and SEEN Vision’s Tips for Summer Eye Care

If you thought we had a strange winter, the summer is definitely shaping up to defy logic, too. I’ve had a number of patients coming in lately for their eye exams and asking questions about eye protection for the coming months. This seems to be a subject of great interest, so I thought I’d share a few thoughts on it with all of you.

Substance Over Style
We enjoy looking good when we’re out and about, right? After all, who wouldn’t want the latest 2012 Ray-Ban, Prada or Serengeti sunglasses? And even though Billy Crystal once joked that “It’s better to look good than to feel good,” you absolutely need to make sure that whatever glasses you choose, they block 100 percent of UVB and UVA rays. Ultra violet rays don’t care about fashion, so that should be secondary to you, too. Let’s find you the right protection first, then we’ll worry about style.

Children Need Sunglasses
Have you ever gone out on an overcast day without suntan lotion and discovered you still wound up sunburned? Did you realize your eyes can get sunburned, too? Kids won’t think twice about leaving their sunglasses home on an overcast day when it’s time to play outside, so we need to remind them. Remember, UV is radiation, not sunlight. It doesn’t have to be bright out to damage your eyes.

But I Wear Contacts…
It doesn’t matter. Wear sunglasses even if you wear contacts. It’s true that some contacts offer UV protection, but they’re only covering part of your eye. What about the rest? All the areas surrounding where contact protection ends are exposed.

Okay, We’ll Say It Again
I once knew a college professor who mentioned that most of us think we’ll live forever here on earth. None of us have ever been able to pull that one off yet, but we continue believing it anyway. Still, the way to help prevent eye problems from getting the better of us as we do age is to keep up with regular eye exams. Having healthy eyes will not only help you feel good, but then we can help you look good, too. Take that, Billy Crystal!

If you have questions about sunglasses, UV protection or would like to set up an appointment, please contact us through our site or give us a call at 313-278-SEEN. Both myself and the staff here at SEEN Vision are here to help.


Dr. Baseem Wahab, Optometrist and owner of SEEN Vision Care in Metro Detroit’s Dearborn area, is also the president of Mobile Eye Care. He can also be found sharing his expertise with Eyes on You Image and Practice Consultants.

Things to Look For When Choosing Your Eye Doctor

Have you ever walked into a restaurant and asked the person taking your order “What’s good?” only to receive the response “Everything.”? It’s not helpful, is it? Food essentially has the same purpose, which is to nourish you and keep you healthy. However, it also has personality and character in the way it’s cooked and presented. If you like it, you’ll continue to go and order from there. If you don’t, you’ll find someplace else.

Unfortunately, the model of “it’s all good” seems to be the way many eyeglass businesses operate. When I started SEEN Vision Care here in Dearborn, Michigan, I did so by listening to what my patients were telling me was wrong with places they’d gone in the past. By listening instead of moving them in and out the door, I could turn SEEN into the kind of place that would enhance what I was offering them as their optometrist.

Here are a few things current patients have told me about that I’m passing on to you in order to help you when choosing your eye doctor:

1)    Insurance is a huge issue for patients these days. Not all patients have optical insurance and not all optometrists accept every form of optical insurance. Make sure you call and ask before coming in. Nothing angers someone more than walking through the door and finding out you’re not covered.
2)    Does your optometrist have credentials? You want to feel safe knowing you’re with a professional, so don’t be afraid to ask. I’ve never had a problem discussing my MBA from Arizona State University or Doctor of Optometry from New England College of Optometry with patients.
3)    Has your eye care provider talked over your head and left you confused in the past? It’s easy to throw out impressive sounding words, but how does that help you understand what’s going on with your eyes? I’ve always believed that if someone comes to see me, then it’s up to me to make sure everything is explained to them in a way that they can go home and explain it to their family so that everybody is on the same page.
These certainly aren’t the only issues I’ve heard about, but they’ll definitely help get you started.
And if you happen to live in the Dearborn area, I would love to have you come in, check out our store and make an appointment with me.

Have you been SEEN?




About Dr. Baseem Wahab
Aside from created SEEN Vision Care, Baseem Wahab is the president of Mobile Eye Care, and brought optometry into the home of patients unable to safely travel to a clinic or office. He’s also provided pro bono services for those unable to afford proper medical attention.

Wahab holds membership in a number of professional organizations, including the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Optometry and the International Academy of Sports Vision. He is licensed in Optometry in the state of Michigan as well as by the DEA.

Sunglasses Are the Sunblock of the Eyes

Do you have a habit of reading the sports section of the paper each day. I do, too, but I’m also always on the lookout for articles and information to pass along to my clients here at SEEN Vision Care. The way the weather has been here in Dearborn and all over Michigan these past few months has actually made people somewhat erratic in making appointments for their summer pair of sunglasses. And it's hard not to be a little confused considering it’s overcast one day, raining the next, snowing another, sunny the day after that and so on and so forth. Regardless, you need to protect your eyes in the coming summer months and that means buying a pair of sunglasses.

Do you know what level of UV protection your glasses are? How about the tint? These are all things mentioned in the ENews Park Forest article “Top Five Ways to Sunblock Your Eyes this Summer.” I happened to come across it a couple of weeks ago and it's well worth reading. For instance, did you know that if you’re not in the habit of wearing sunglasses that you can get a sunburned cornea? Even worse, too much sun and no glasses increases the possibility of developing skin cancer of the eyelids. Fortunately, we can help!

Give us a call at 313-278-SEEN today and let us help your eyes before you head out for those sunny afternoons in the yard or at the beach.


Dr. Baseem Wahab, Optometrist and owner of SEEN Vision Care in Metro Detroit’s Dearborn area, is also the president of Mobile Eye Care. While holding this position, he has traveled to the homes of patients unable to leave their home and provided pro bono services for those unable to afford optical medical attention.

Wear Your Sunglasses During the Day, Not Just At Night

I recently heard the song “I Wear My Sunglasses At Night” while listening to the radio and it made me chuckle. It’s a catchy song, but I think it’s very easy to dismiss just how important sunglasses are, especially in the coming summer months. Many people think of them as a fashion accessory, but they’re much more than that.

Did you know that ultraviolet radiation in the summer is three times higher than during the winter? Did you also know that UV radiation can also cause the delicate skin around your eyes to wrinkle if you leave it exposed to sunlight too long? We already live in a society that emphasizes looking young, so letting the sun prematurely age your skin and eyes when there’s a solution at hand doesn’t seem to make much sense.

A pair of quality sunglasses with proper UV protection is the first step to happier, healthier eyes. Let’s not forget that they’ll reduce glare, especially if you spend time around the water during the summer months. And do you remember the windy day we had recently? Sunglasses will help protect your eyes from any dust and debris the wind kicks around. A little prevention can go a long way.

Two additional bonuses are that sunglasses can reduce eyestrain and the headaches associated with eyestrain. What’s not to love about having fewer headaches? Best of all, the staff at SEEN Vision Care in Dearborn, Michigan, will help outfit you with the right pair of sunglasses that’ll both protect you and be the perfect fashion accessory!

Call 313-278-SEEN today and let us help you help your eyes.


Dr. Baseem Wahab is an optometrist and owner of local Southeast Michigan’s SEEN Vision Care. He is also the president of Eyes on You Image and Practice Consultants, an organization that has a 100-percent track record for improving the efficiency in ever practice it’s consulted for.