A major update to All About Vision’s eye exercises article explores the validity of programs such as the once widely advertised See Clearly Method.

When a program promises the ability to “throw away your glasses,” buyers should beware. For one thing, many common vision errors occur because of the eye’s basic anatomy that exercise isn’t likely to alter.

These types of eye exercise programs should not be confused with legitimate vision therapy for purposes such as strengthening a weaker eye in conditions including lazy eye.

Certain sports vision techniques also can improve skills such as hand-eye coordination.

A new article by All About Vision Editorial Advisory Board member Chris A. Knobbe, MD, discusses what to do if you have a corneal ulcer, which resembles an abscess on the eye.

Eye injuries and accompanying infection commonly cause corneal ulcers.

But people who wear contact lenses also are at risk because of eye irritation that may allow bacteria to penetrate the eye’s surface.

Safety tips for contact lens wearers include advice about hand washing before touching lenses, which can help prevent corneal ulcers.

“Which Eyeglass Frames Would Look Good on You?” was the most popular vision-correction article on All About Vision during the first four months of 2009, helping to drive a 20% increase in website visitors over the same period last year, measured weekly by Google Analytics.

Other top-five topics were:

• spots and floaters
• conjunctivitis
• color contact lenses
• cataracts

Of the site’s top 25 articles, five covered frame and lens topics, including articles on women’s frames, men’s frames, what’s new in frames, and progressive lenses.  The fastest-growing articles of that group covered blepharitis (up 107%) and cataract surgery (up 92%).

During this four-month period, All About Vision served more than three million unique visitors, with 90% coming from search engines and the remainder clicking through from sites such as Wikipedia, Yahoo! Answers and iVillage.

All About Vision now offers a PDF of an Amsler grid for downloading and printing by site visitors.

This simple home test can help people to monitor vision changes that may result from damage to the macula.

All About Vision now has new slide shows of the latest styles showcasing eyeglass and sunwear trends for spring and summer of 2009.

New women’s frames can bring out the “wild child” in you. Look for a revival in retro frames such as the John Lennon look in men’s frames.

Some new sunglass styles can make you look like a celeb.

A new and improved mouseover presentation on All About Vision explains what all those numbers and technical terms mean on a contact lens prescription, in a fun and interactive way.

Anatomy of a Contact Lens Prescription gives you the nitty gritty on base curve, lens diameter, cylinder, axis, add power and more. It also explains the expiration date and how eye care practitioners decide when that will be.