The Omaha Newspapers

Dr. Kirk Maynard spent over 23 years in the Air Force, retiring in 2007 as a Colonel. During his 23 years of service Dr. Maynard traveled from North Carolina to Europe to North Dakota and ended his distinguished military career at Strategic Air Command in Offutt. After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Maynard was approached by Dan Hallgren, the operations officer for all Malbar Vision locations, to come and assist in their growth. Dr. Maynard started when the West Omaha location opened.

Previous Columns from 2010:

Malbar Vision Centers

By: Dr. Kirk Mayard

Q: What is the difference between regular prescription lenses/frames and those that are "safety" rated?

A: All eyewear in this country must meet safety standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety glasses must meet a higher safety standard for frame and lens breakage that dress glasses and consequently safety glasses tend to have thicker lenses and heavier frames. Certified safety glasses will be marked Z87-2 on the lenses and frames to show that they have complied with those regulations. Safety glasses also often have side shields to further protect the eye.

Q: I think I may be developing glaucoma. Can it be avoided? Are there things I could do now to delay or prevent it from occurring and how do I know for sure that I have it?

A: Glaucoma is generally caused by an increase in the fluid pressure inside the eye that damages your retina and your vision. It is an eye disease that develops slowly over time and usually causes no noticeable change in your vision until late in the disease process. Medical science has not yet discovered the specific cause of the pressure change, so there is nothing known that you can do to avoid or delay the disease on your own. The only way to know if you are at risk of developing glaucoma and monitor those risk factors is to have regular eye exams.



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Dr. Kirk Maynard spent over 23 years in the Air Force, retiring in 2007 as a Colonel. During his 23 years of service Dr. Maynard traveled from North Carolina to Europe to North Dakota and ended his distinguished military career at Strategic Air Command in Offutt. After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Maynard was approached by Dan Hallgren, the operations officer for all Malbar Vision locations, to come and assist in their growth. Dr. Maynard started when the West Omaha location opened. Previous Columns from 2010: February 2010 January 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 September 2010 Malbar Vision Centers By: Dr. Kirk Mayard Q: What is the difference between regular prescription lenses/frames and those that are "safety" rated? A: All eyewear in this country must meet safety standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety glasses must meet a higher safety standard for frame and lens breakage that dress glasses and consequently safety glasses tend to have thicker lenses and heavier frames. Certified safety glasses will be marked Z87-2 on the lenses and frames to show that they have complied with those regulations. Safety glasses also often have side shields to further protect the eye. Q: I think I may be developing glaucoma. Can it be avoided? Are there things I could do now to delay or prevent it from occurring and how do I know for sure that I have it? A: Glaucoma is generally caused by an increase in the fluid pressure inside the eye that damages your retina and your vision. It is an eye disease that develops slowly over time and usually causes no noticeable change in your vision until late in the disease process. Medical science has not yet discovered the specific cause of the pressure change, so there is nothing known that you can do to avoid or delay the disease on your own. The only way to know if you are at risk of developing glaucoma and monitor those risk factors is to have regular eye exams. The entire contents of this publication are © Copyright 2010 The Omaha Newspapers and may not ethically nor legally be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the Publisher.