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Exploring the Facts Around Eye Cancer

Exploring the Facts Around Eye Cancer

The good news about eye cancer is that it is not a common cancer: Only 5 in every 1 million adults will develop it in their lifetime. However, though uncommon, it’s in our patients’ best interest to understand the basic facts around the disease. Types of...

What is 20/20 vision?

What is 20/20 vision?

It sounds so futuristic; it’s a new decade and a year we’ve been eagerly anticipating here in your optometrist’s office. Why? Because we want to help all of our patients to enjoy 20/20 vision both in the year 2020 and for many years into the future....

How a Flex Spending Account Saves Your Tax Dollars

How a Flex Spending Account Saves Your Tax Dollars

It’s December already, and we’re counting down the final days of 2019 before we get to the year 2020—and you know that’s going to be a favorite year for all of us in optometry, right? After all, 20/20 vision is the measurement of ideal visual...

What is Diabetic Eye Disease?

What is Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease that can cause extreme changes to your eye health, and is a leading cause of blindness for those under the age of 74. Because the condition causes changes in the blood vessels that feed the eyes, it can cause eye problems...

Diabetes and Your Eyes

Diabetes and Your Eyes

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, an ideal time to take a deeper dive into the disease we hear so much about. As eye care professionals, one of our areas of concern is that uncontrolled diabetes can affect your vision, and is a leading cause of...

What’s Included in a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

What’s Included in a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

The US Food and Drug Administration recently pulled online vision testing, because that method of vision test doesn’t provide the comprehensive eye health care necessary to keep individuals seeing their best now and for years to come. In fact, online vision...

Why the FDA Pulled Online Vision Testing

Why the FDA Pulled Online Vision Testing

The internet provides fantastic access to information and professionals—just think about all of the things you can learn through watching YouTube videos alone! Technology’s many uses to promote human health—information sharing, video conferencing and...

Ways to Protect Students Vision

Ways to Protect Students Vision

5 Ways to Protect Your Student’s Vision This School Year Kids all over the country are back to school, burying their noses in computers and books in pursuit of the knowledge necessary to succeed in school and in life. The connection between good vision and...

Student Athletes Back to Sports

Student Athletes Back to Sports

Are Your Student Athlete’s Eyes In Top Shape for the Season? Fall is in the air! If you haven’t already had your first pumpkin spice latte or seen your first football game—what’re you waiting for? Now that the school year is in session, for...

17 Visual Skills Kids Need to Succeed

17 Visual Skills Kids Need to Succeed

The 17 Visual Skills Kids (and Adults) Need to Succeed in Life Back-to-school season is an ideal time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your children. Why? Because it’s critical to ensure that they’re seeing their absolute best and that all aspects...

Ready to Go Back to School?

Ready to Go Back to School?

Is Your Student’s Vision Ready to Go Back to School? It’s back-to-school season! If you’re the parent of a school-age child, you likely have a list of supplies and are busily checking off items to make sure your student has everything they need for a...

Dry Eye Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment

Dry Eye Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment

Dry Eye Disease occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough tears or the tears produced are not high enough in quality to create a nourishing, lubricating tear film over the front of the eye to protect it. The condition is progressive and often gets worse as...

What is Dry Eye Disease?

What is Dry Eye Disease?

You’ve likely heard of Dry Eye disease and the discomfort it can cause. But what is this condition, and who is most likely to suffer from it? Your eyes require tears to lubricate and nourish the cornea – the front surface of your eye. Tears serve many functions,...

What are the Symptoms & Treatment for Cataracts?

What are the Symptoms & Treatment for Cataracts?

June is Cataract Awareness Month, an ideal time to familiarize yourself with the causes, symptoms and treatment of one of the most common eye conditions affecting aging people worldwide. A cataract is a progressive change to the eye’s naturally clear and...

What Causes Cataracts?

What Causes Cataracts?

June is National Cataract Awareness Month, a common eye condition which is now a leading cause of vision loss in the United States for adults over the age of 40. It’s also a leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to the National Eye Institute. Cataracts...

Choosing Stylish Frames to Flatter Your Face Shape

Choosing Stylish Frames to Flatter Your Face Shape

Picking the Perfect Sunglass Shape For Your Face It’s incredible how many different styles of sunglass and eyewear frames there are to choose from, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be great if you could narrow your selections down, rather than trying on pair...

5 Advantages of Prescription Sunglasses

5 Advantages of Prescription Sunglasses

If you wear prescription eyewear, have you ever experienced this scenario? For whatever reason, you don’t have contact lenses in. Maybe you don’t wear them, or if you do, maybe it’s allergy season, or you ran out of contacts or perhaps you just...

Optometry Myth Busters: Sunglasses

Optometry Myth Busters: Sunglasses

Optometry Myth Busters: 6 Facts You Need to Know about Sunglasses Did you know that the first sunglasses were invented in 12th century China? They weren’t quite as sophisticated as the styles you’ll see in our office, but they served their purpose: a cut...

Why Kids Need High-Quality Sunglasses

Why Kids Need High-Quality Sunglasses

Are you a safety- and health-conscious parent? You are if you teach your kids the importance of brushing their teeth, buckling their seatbelt, and wearing the proper protective equipment for sports including shin guards, helmets and knee pads. But are you overlooking...

Top 5 Features of Performance Eyewear

Top 5 Features of Performance Eyewear

If you wear glasses, you’re probably thankful that they help you see clearly. But what else can your glasses do for you? Some eyewear goes above and beyond the call of clear vision, supporting and protecting your eyes and vision in innovative ways. Today’s...

Protect Your Eyes, Inside and Out

Protect Your Eyes, Inside and Out

March is Save Your Vision Month, a time to remember that we’re born with one pair of eyes to last our entire lives, and serious injuries can happen in an instant. With a focus on awareness and adopting a few simple best practices, you can protect your eyes for a...

AMD: Who’s at Risk?

AMD: Who’s at Risk?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): Who’s at Risk? Bette Davis, the gorgeous American actress and star of film, television and screen in the 1930s through 1980s, is famously quoted as saying, “Old age ain’t for sissies.” Though we...

AMD: What is it? Who’s at Risk?

AMD: What is it? Who’s at Risk?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): What is it? Who’s at Risk? February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness Month. As we age, there are increased risks that may cause us to lose visual acuity, which is a significant and noticeable...

LASIK: One Patient’s Story

LASIK: One Patient’s Story

My LASIK Laser Vision Correction Experience: One Patient’s Story It’s hard to believe that LASIK laser vision correction has been around for nearly 30 years! Since so many of our patients are curious about LASIK, we interviewed a patient who underwent the...

New Year, New You: LASIK Vision Correction

New Year, New You: LASIK Vision Correction

Is LASIK Laser Vision Correction Right for You in 2019? January is the perfect time to consider your goals for the coming year. Are you considering swapping glasses and contacts for LASIK? If you do, what benefits will you receive? To get answers, we interviewed a...

Not seeing Red or Green This Season?

Not seeing Red or Green This Season?

Not seeing Red or Green This Season? You May Be Color Vision Deficient For many of us, the holiday season includes festive displays of red and green. But for those with color blindness, the season takes on an entirely different hue. THREE TYPES OF COLOR BLINDNESS...

Flex Spending 2018

Flex Spending 2018

Flex Spending: Time to Use it Or Lose it Nothing says “happy holidays” like a brand new pair of designer glasses! If you enjoy holiday shopping but dread the inevitable January credit card bills, treat yourself this year by using your Flexible Spending...

Dangers of Diabetic Retinopathy

Dangers of Diabetic Retinopathy

The Dangers of Diabetic Retinopathy More than 100 million Americans are living with diabetes. Over 84 million more have prediabetes. These statistics seem staggering, but so is the list of possible complications from diabetes. Individuals with diabetes face an...

Don’t Let Diabetes Steal Your Vision!

Don’t Let Diabetes Steal Your Vision!

November is National Diabetes Month, and that means communities across the country are teaming up to raise awareness about the many ways diabetes impacts the lives of Americans. With diabetes causing more deaths per year than breast cancer and AIDS combined, raising...

Protect Your Student Athlete

Protect Your Student Athlete

Protect Your Student Athlete from Eye Injuries If you have children who play sports, it’s critical to protect their eyes from injury while on the court, field, mat or pitch. According to the National Eye Institute, there are approximately 100,000 sports-related...

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Keep Your Eye on the Ball: Student Athletes Need Good Vision It’s Fall, and for a lot of kids, that means it’s prime sports-playing time. Whether you have a student athlete participating in soccer, tennis, football, basketball, softball, baseball or...

Prevent Pink Eye – Students

Prevent Pink Eye – Students

Back to School Tip: Prevent Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Now that kids are back in school, they’re around lots of other kids--and lots of other kids’ germs. Viruses and bacteria are present on objects kids touch every day, including door handles, keyboards,...

Digital Eye Strain – Students

Digital Eye Strain – Students

Is Your Student at Risk for Digital Eye Strain and Fatigue? With an ever-increasing amount of technology in schools, back-to-school season can mean more screen time, and that puts kids at risk for digital eye strain and fatigue. What is Digital Eye Strain? From the...

Attention Parents: Amblyopia Treatment

Attention Parents: Amblyopia Treatment

Attention Parents: Earlier is Better for Amblyopia Treatment What is Amblyopia? As the leading cause of visual impairment among children, amblyopia affects approximately 2 to 3 of every 100 children. The condition occurs when vision in one eye is reduced; though the...

School Vision Screening

School Vision Screening

Is a School Vision Screening “Good Enough” for Your Student? It’s August! Where did the summer go? In just a few short weeks your kids will be heading back to school in a flurry of photos and emotions as you watch them start the new school year. You...

Scratched Cornea?

Scratched Cornea?

Scratched Cornea? What to Do―and What Not to Do July is Eye Injury Prevention Month, which makes it the perfect time to highlight one of the most common eye injuries, corneal abrasions. What are Corneal Abrasions? If you’ve ever scratched your cornea (the front...

7 Questions About Sunglasses

7 Questions About Sunglasses

July is UV Safety Month, and while we are huge proponents of applying SPF 30 (or higher) on our skin before going outside in the sun, the primary focus in our office is the importance of protecting your eyes from damaging UV rays. It’s common knowledge that...

Cataract Surgery and Recovery Part 2

Cataract Surgery and Recovery Part 2

Patient Testimonial Part 2: Cataract Surgery and Recovery Do you or someone you know suffer from cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens that can negatively impact your vision? By age 80, more than 50% of Americans notice deteriorating vision due to cataracts....

My Cataract Experience Part 1

My Cataract Experience Part 1

Patient Testimonial Part 1: My Cataract Experience June is National Cataract Awareness Month, so it’s the ideal time to learn more about this condition, which is a leading cause of vision impairment in the United States. Cataracts are a clouding of the...

Reduce Your Risk of Computer Vision Syndrome

Reduce Your Risk of Computer Vision Syndrome

8 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Computer Vision Syndrome With just about everything in the world accessible at the touch of a screen, our techy lifestyles keep us constantly connected. But for many of us, all that screen time comes at a price: We suffer from Computer...

Floaters

Floaters

Seeing Small, Shadowy Spots? You May Have Floaters You’re gazing up at the beautiful blue spring sky, and suddenly, you see them: small shadowy spots, squiggles, or trailing thread-like strands floating through your line of sight. As you try to focus on them,...

Safeguard Your Retinal Health

Safeguard Your Retinal Health

4 Ways to Safeguard Your Retinal Health The eye is second only to the human brain in complexity, performing its work with precision nearly continuously during all of our waking hours. In fact, your eyes are more efficient than the fastest camera. Try this: glance...

Retinal Detachment: Are You at Risk?

Retinal Detachment: Are You at Risk?

We explored the critical role the retina plays in maintaining healthy vision in our previous blog post and offered lifestyle adjustments that promote retinal health for you and your family. Here’s a brief recap: eat lots of orange veggies (carrots, sweet...

Do Your Glasses Work and Play as Hard as You Do?

Do Your Glasses Work and Play as Hard as You Do?

If you’re like most Americans, you or your kids may be involved in multiple sports and have specific safety gear and helmets that you use when skiing, playing football or riding your bicycle. Similarly, you likely have specific footwear for those same...

Optic Neuropathy: Do You Know the Signs?

Optic Neuropathy: Do You Know the Signs?

Brain Awareness Week is March 12-18, 2018, a time when the National Eye Institute focuses on brain neuropathy and how it impacts vision—because without the complex function of our brains working in conjunction with our eyes, we couldn’t see. The optic...

7 Causes of Low Vision: Are You at Risk?

7 Causes of Low Vision: Are You at Risk?

Of the five human senses, the eyes are our most important sensory organs, helping us perceive up to 80% of the impressions and input we use to make sense of our surroundings. While other animals rely more heavily on their senses of smell―think of how important smells...

February: Low Vision Awareness Month

February: Low Vision Awareness Month

The National Eye Institute has designated February as Low Vision Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about visual impairment and rehabilitation for those living with the condition. An estimated 3 million Americans age 40 and older are living with low vision,...

7 Visionary New Year’s Resolutions

7 Visionary New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year! As we ring in a fresh, new year, it’s human nature to consider ways to improve our life experience. These can range from the simple (Drink more water) to the complex (Raise funds for a passion project) to the philosophical (Bark less, wag more)....

LASIK surgery: Is it right for you?

LASIK surgery: Is it right for you?

LASIK eye surgery may mean freedom from dependence on corrective lenses - but it's not right for everybody. Learn whether you're a good candidate and what to consider as you weigh your decision. LASIK is a type of refractive eye surgery that uses an advanced laser...

Flex Your Dollars

Flex Your Dollars

FLEX YOUR DOLLARS, LOVE YOUR EYES: 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS “Tis the season to be jolly” and tax-savvy as well.  As the year end approaches, it’s time to remember your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and put it to good...

Are Contact Lenses a Good Choice for Kids?

Are Contact Lenses a Good Choice for Kids?

A common question many parents have is: "When is my child old enough to wear contact lenses?"  Contact lenses can offer several benefits over other forms of vision correction for kids but how do you know the timing is right? Physically, your child's eyes can...

First Aid Tips for Eye Injuries

First Aid Tips for Eye Injuries

Even a minor eye injury can cause serious, lifelong eye damage. Bleeding in the eye caused by an eye injury may lead to glaucoma later in life. Eye injuries can cause loss of vision or complete loss of an eye. Eye injuries can happen at any time anywhere. Children in...

Good Vision for School Students

Good Vision for School Students

Good Vision….Important for a Successful School Year for Students Parents everywhere are racing to get the entire back to school checklist completed; school supplies, new clothes, bigger shoes and physical exams at the Pediatrician.  Eye exams need to be...

Protective and Sports Sunwear

Protective and Sports Sunwear

If you play sports, you should keep two things in mind related to your vision: protection and vision performance. Sports lenses protect the wearer’s eyes. Sports such as tennis, baseball, softball and racquetball may have ball speeds of 90 mph or more. In...

Choosing Sunglasses for Children

Choosing Sunglasses for Children

Children usually get more sun exposure than adults because many of their activities are outdoors including recess, sports and playtime. This increased exposure to sunlight also increases children’s exposure to damaging ultraviolet (UV) light – an...

Protect Your Most Cherished Sense

Protect Your Most Cherished Sense

For most of us, the eyes are the most cherished of our senses. Yet we potentially expose them to danger simply by going outside. Over time, the sun’s rays can seriously damage the eyes and surrounding skin, sometimes leading to vision loss and conditions from...

Contact Lenses That Enhance Sports Performance

Contact Lenses That Enhance Sports Performance

Many athletes choose contact lenses because of the competitive advantage they can provide. More than half of American adults have vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism and need corrective lenses.  ...

Protecting Your Eyes at Play

Protecting Your Eyes at Play

In sports, we take precautions to protect ourselves from broken bones, bruises, concussions, and other injuries, but how do we protect our eyes? An unprotected eye can be injured in numerous ways and nearly all sports pose some type of risk: Baseball – Risks...

Safe at Home

Safe at Home

Nearly Half of all Eye Injuries in this Country Happen at Home Home is where we feel safe, comfortable, and at ease but is also the setting for nearly half of all eye injuries. From flying wood chips to weed whacker debris to even an errant champagne cork, our eye...

Getting High Performance from your Eyewear

Getting High Performance from your Eyewear

Interest in high performance sunglasses has been booming in recent years.  There is a growing selection of products available to address vision challenges unique to sports such as mountain biking, skiing, golfing and many other outdoor activities.  Providing...

Colored Contact Lenses

Colored Contact Lenses

All contact lenses, whether they correct vision or not, require a prescription and proper fitting from an eye doctor If you have ever wished that your eyes were a different color or that you could give them a different “look,” you might understand why...

Learn to Love Your Glasses

Learn to Love Your Glasses

There may have been a time when glasses were considered “nerdy” or “geeky” but today “geek is chic” and bold eyewear that make a statement are in style. Best of all, glasses can enhance your appearance as well as your sight. If you...

Eyeglasses vs Contacts

Eyeglasses vs Contacts

“Eyeglasses? No thanks, I wear contact lenses” Your eyecare professional will guide you through the decision process but the best vision solution for your eyes often includes both eyeglasses plus contact lenses. Choosing to wear eyeglasses or contact...

Medically Necessary vs Elective Contact Lenses

Medically Necessary vs Elective Contact Lenses

With good communication between us and your vision insurance carriers, we can often get vision plan benefits to apply to medically necessary contact lenses. Elective contact lenses for cosmetic purposes are often covered as well. It all starts will all of us being on...

Top 5 Holiday Eye Safety Tips

Top 5 Holiday Eye Safety Tips

1. Sharp-Edged ToysAs gifts are opened Christmas morning, take the time to check for any sharp/pointy edges. Eye injuries often occur on Christmas Day when excited children play with new toys. 2. Mistletoe CollisionsThe mistletoe is meant to be a surprise, but...

Are you considering LASIK?

Are you considering LASIK?

Are you considering LASIK? Here are a few of the questions to ask during your appointment: Is my prescription within the approved range?  LASIK is approved by the FDA to treat certain degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness and certain types and degrees of...

Do you have Dry Eye Syndrome?

Do you have Dry Eye Syndrome?

In the U.S. there are between 20-30 million dry eye sufferers. Unfortunately only about 5% of those have been diagnosed with the disease and treated. Millions of people are unaware that there is a solution to their discomfort. Dry Eye Syndrome happens when your eyes...

Keeping Sight of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Keeping Sight of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

As the US population ages, cases of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are expected to double.  Right now more than 2 million people are affected by AMD. Although AMD is the most common cause of eyesight problems in people over 50 years old, it doesn’t affect...

Keeping an “Eye” on your Eyes

Keeping an “Eye” on your Eyes

Healthy eyes are an important part of your overall health plan.  There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best.  Follow these simple steps as you age: Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Your vision may seem fine to...

Fall Sports Concussions

Fall Sports Concussions

It’s Football Season Again! Football season opens more discussions about concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) but they are not isolated to football – soccer and field hockey are also sports with risks for head injuries.  In fact, cheerleaders have the fifth...

Add an Eye Exam to your Back to School Checklist

Add an Eye Exam to your Back to School Checklist

Back-to-school time is upon us and while many students’ lists include backpacks, rulers, and new shoes, there’s one more thing parents need on their back-to-school checklist – a comprehensive eye health and vision exam for their student. Studies show that as much as...

School and Sports Have Tremendous Visual Demands

School and Sports Have Tremendous Visual Demands

The school year is almost here! As kids prepare to work their brains, keep in mind that being a student also places great demand on their eyes. Time for an Eye Exam It’s always a good idea to have your student’s eyes checked at the start of a new school year. As much...

Your Children’s Vision and Success in School

Your Children’s Vision and Success in School

Early eye examinations are crucial to make sure children have normal, healthy vision so they can perform better at schoolwork or play.Students may give up on their classwork rather than admit they can’t see what their teacher is writing on the board.  This seemingly...

Five Features of Children’s Sunwear that are Musts

Five Features of Children’s Sunwear that are Musts

In addition to having lenses that block 100 percent of the sun's UVA and UVB rays and a significant amount of potentially harmful blue light, children's sunglasses should also have these features: Impact-resistant lenses.The best lenses for children's sunglasses are...

Summer can be Dangerous for Adults over 60

Summer can be Dangerous for Adults over 60

Most of us look forward to summer but hot weather can be dangerous, particularly to adults over 60. A University of Chicago Medical Center study found that 40% of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. were among people over 65. There are several reasons why boomers and...

Do children really need sunglasses?

Do children really need sunglasses?

According to most eye doctors and researchers, the answer is an emphatic "yes."  Because children tend to spend more time outdoors than most adults, experts say nearly half of a person's lifetime exposure to ultraviolet radiation can take place by age 18.  ...

Relief From the Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Relief From the Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

One of the side effects of the beautiful explosion of color known as Spring is itchy, red, watery eyes from seasonal allergies.According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, seasonal allergies develop when the body becomes sensitized and...

New Years Eye Health Resolutions

New Years Eye Health Resolutions

Many people use the new year as a time to set new goals and refocus priorities. As your eye doctor, we couldn't wish for better resolutions than a year of safe and healthy vision. Try adding these to your plan for 2016: Replace and care for contact lenses as...

Use It or Lose It

Use It or Lose It

This is the time of year we start getting busier as patients hurry to use their flex spending accounts. Contact lenses, eyeglasses, and eye exams are a great way to use those benefits that, in some cases, expire at the end of the year. Also, many patients who have met...

The FDA Warns About Improper Contact Lens Wear

The FDA Warns About Improper Contact Lens Wear

Eye Safety this Halloween FDA joins eye care professionals—including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists and the American Optometric Association—in...

Sports Safety Prevents Vision Loss

Sports Safety Prevents Vision Loss

Basketball is one the most eye injury prone sports in this country with close to 6,000 people suffering from injuries every year according to Prevent Blindness America. In fact, 1 in 10 college basketball players will sustain an eye injury. For children 14 years and...

It’s Time for Back to School Eye Exams

It’s Time for Back to School Eye Exams

Appointments are filling fast for back to school eye examinations as parents get ready for students to return to school. Eye health and vision examinations are an important part of school preparations because some studies show that as much as 80% of effective learning...

Digital lens surfacing to create the perfect lens.

Digital lens surfacing to create the perfect lens.

Digital Lens Surfacing relies on a controlled combination of lens design, precisely made molds, and manufacturing technology to create the perfect lens. Digital lenses use a new design process for lenses which take into account reading posture, near zone placement,...

Six Steps to Healthier Eyes

Six Steps to Healthier Eyes

When you are making your New Year Resolutions, don't forget to include these six steps to healthier eyes: 1. Get Regular Eye Health and Vision Examinations. Tired, dry, itchy or watery eyes, light sensitivity, headaches, blurry vision, fluctuating vision, and...