Keep an eye on your vision health this summer

(ARA) – If you’ve ever come in from a day sailing, picnicking or lying on the beach and your eyes felt tired, sore and gritty, you likely experienced ultraviolet radiation (UVR) overexposure. It’s critical to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays to decrease your risk of developing serious vision issues such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, the leading causes of blindness.

Maintaining vision health can be especially important for women. In fact, a report from the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC), “Women and Healthy Vision,” shows that women are at higher risk than men of having vision problems.

“Studies show women tend to live longer than men, putting them at a higher risk for developing eye issues that become prevalent with age,” says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, a registered nurse and executive director of the NWHRC. “It is important for women to understand the facts when it comes to sun exposure and eye health so that they can better prevent unnecessary sun-related damage.”

Understanding ultraviolet radiation
There are three ranges of UVR: UV-C, UV-B and UV-A. The most damaging form is UV-C, but luckily it’s absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and doesn’t reach your eyes.

The second kind of UVR is UV-B rays. Exposure to these rays is closely linked with photokeratitis (a kind of sunburn of the cornea and iris), cataracts, pterygium (a white or creamy growth attached to the cornea) and even a form of eye cancer called squamous cell cancer. The third type of UVR is UV-A. Although laboratory studies find it can damage the retina (the light-sensitive membrane that covers the back of the eye), very little UV-A reaches your retina because most is absorbed by other parts of the eye. Still, some researchers suspect it may contribute to cataract development.

How to protect your eyes
Think sun exposure and eyes and you probably think sunglasses. While wearing sunglasses is definitely a good idea when it comes to eye protection, not all sunglasses are created equal. Look for sunglasses that transmit no more than 1 percent UV-B and 1 percent UV-A rays. Sometimes the information on the glasses will say they block at least 99 percent of the UVR.

Other things to look for when selecting a pair of sunglasses include:

* Lenses large enough to completely cover the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering through the edges of the glasses. Wrap-around sunglasses are best.

* Gray lenses, because they provide the greatest protection.

* Darker lenses, particularly if you spend a lot of time exposed to UVR.

If you wear contact lenses, don’t toss the sunglasses. The best way to protect your eyes from the sun is a combination of quality sunglasses, contact lenses (if you wear them) and a wide-brimmed hat.

Protecting children’s eyes
Just as significant exposure to the sun in childhood is a leading risk factor for skin cancer in adulthood, so, too, is it a risk factor for later eye damage. In fact, researchers estimate we receive 80 percent of our lifetime exposure to UVR rays before age 18.

Additionally, children’s eyes transmit more UVR rays to the retina than adults’, increasing their exposure and risk of later eye damage. That’s why it’s so important to protect children’s eyes. While sports glasses offer important safety benefits, they’re designed to protect a child’s eyes from injuries, not from the sun.

It is best to teach children to wear a hat that shades their eyes as well as a pair of sunglasses. Use the stroller hood and try not to walk directly into the sun, pick the shaded side of the street if you can and while at the park, pool, or beach, try to keep little ones in a shaded area.

For more information and a free copy of the “Women and Healthy Vision” report, visit
www.healthywomen.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Adding deck lights a simple way to enhance outdoor living

(ARA) – As summer rolls in and guests show up, the benefit of having outdoor living space for relaxing and entertaining becomes readily apparent. Homeowners love having extra space where they can hang out, and outdoor environments are a huge plus for those trying to sell or rent out a home.

Overall home improvement project budgets are shrinking in 2009, while low-cost improvements are growing in popularity with both residential homeowners and landlords who want to give their properties a little added boost, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Outdoor lighting is a popular improvement. In addition to traditional landscape lighting, deck lights, post lights and recessed path lights extend the livability of outdoor decks and patios, and offer a low-cost update with the benefit of improving the usability of outdoor spaces.

“Today it seems that the more practical the upgrade, the better. And lighting is an easy upgrade that adds instant function, ambiance and value,” says Jay Savignac of Aurora Deck Lighting.

“In a down economy, people stay home more. They entertain at home more. This makes usable spaces more important than ever, and outdoor living areas remain one of the top areas for home improvement,” Savignac says.

Taking your backyard deck or patio from daytime roost to night time entertainment space is easy. In fact, there have never been more product options available to homeowners for lighting up their deck or fence, and creating an inviting and usable outdoor area for night time enjoyment.

Savignac says homeowners can easily install outdoor lighting in just one weekend, or even less time if they opt for lights that don’t require wiring, such as solar options.

Best of all, outdoor lighting products can be installed without the aid of an electrician and, in most communities, no permits are required. Homeowners have a variety of options to consider:

* Post lights are easy to install on the tops of deck posts and fence posts. They can be positioned directly on top of posts or mounted on the rails using special mounting brackets. Their distinctive “lantern look” offers an elegant finish to decks, and post lights are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colors that work with all sizes of posts on both decks and fences. Matching post caps are also available.

* Post lamps mount vertically on deck or fence posts and offer spot lighting, which can add security and safety in dark areas or near stairs. Post lamps on fences are a popular addition that fence builders say add value and security, as well as dramatic effect.

* Special “stair lights,” like the Pyxis from Aurora, mount easily into the vertical riser on a stair to provide downlighting for safety and sure footing.

* Recessed deck lighting, like the Aurelle from Aurora, is a new product that can install under seating, in deck floor boards, or even overhead inside patio covers to add lighting using the same concept as recessed lighting indoors.

Outdoor lighting projects are easy to complete. Homeowners can choose from solar options that have no wiring requirements, or low-voltage lighting that works off a transformer and operates from a standard 110 volt power source. Outdoor lights can run off a timer or can be wired into light switches in the home for maximum control.

Your own outdoor lighting plan can be as simple or as complex as you desire. Aurora has transformers that can handle up to 50 lights, although accent lighting using as few as four or five lights can make all the difference in creating an outdoor living space that can be readily enjoyed at night.

Best of all, you can create a custom look that works for you, adding light in cooking areas, near stairs or gates, or along bench seating where guests congregate.

For more information on outdoor lighting and installation, visit Aurora Deck Lighting’s Web site at www.auroradecklighting.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Adding, upgrading a deck is great alternative to vacation spending

(ARA) – Instead of spending on pricey vacations, more Americans are turning to money-saving alternatives in their own backyards. Upgrading or adding a deck is a great way to take advantage of outdoor living spaces.

Homeowners today are viewing their outdoor living space as extensions of their home. Among the 40 million homeowners who have an available outdoor living space, less than one-third prep their decks appropriately for the season, according to a Glidden brand survey. If you’re planning on using your outdoor living space this season, you may want to consider improving or upgrading your current deck.

Although it now may seem like a challenging time to invest in your home, enhancing your outdoor living space can be cost-effective. Exterior and replacement projects bring homeowners the best return on investment, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value report.

“Outdoor living has become an increasingly popular trend over the last few years,” says Stephen McNally, vice president of sales and marketing for TAMKO Building Products, Inc. “When selecting your future decking material, research all of your options to ensure you’re purchasing material that best meets your needs.”

When making a decision on your available decking options, you may want to consider the three common types of decking material:

Composite
Representing 40 to 60 percent of new decks, composite decking is the latest trend in outdoor living spaces. Composite decking is made from a blend of woods and recycled plastic, vinyl or acrylic materials that prolong the life of the deck. Although the initial price of composite decking may be higher compared to other types of wood, the expected lifespan can save money in the long run.

Many homeowners are attracted to composite decking because it provides the appearance of real wood, requires little maintenance and typically comes with a longer warranty period. For example, TAMKO’s EverGrain is backed by a 25-year limited warranty.

“Composite decking requires no painting or staining which allows homeowners to spend more time enjoying their decks rather than working to maintain them,” says McNally.

Pressure-treated
Pressure-treated wood contains preservatives that provide protection against termites, insects and fungal decay. The wood product is placed into a depressurized cylinder. The cylinder is filled with preservatives under high pressure that forces them deeply into the wood. When the process ends, the cylinder is drained and the remaining preservative is reused. Applying preservatives is an attempt to slow drying which means less shrinkage occurs and the surface of the wood remains smoother longer.

Although pressure-treated wood is usually found at relatively low cost, it is at high risk for moisture damage. In order to protect a pressure-treated deck against weather and premature aging, the wood requires regular power washing and yearly application of stain and sealer.

Cedar
Cedar is another commonly used decking material because it is attractive, easy to work with and is naturally rot- and insect-resistant. Cedar wood decking material has less than half the swelling and shrinking tendencies of other domestic softwoods.

If cedar wood goes untreated, over time it will lose its natural golden hue and may turn a silver grey color. The average lifespan of cedar is roughly 10 years and, in order to double the lifespan, regular applications of staining and waterproofing are highly recommended.

When you’re ready to begin creating or improving your outdoor living space, research your options. Be sure you’re picking the best available material to ensure your deck will last you many more summer months to come.

Courtesy of ARA content