The Joy of Missions

I have had the opportunity to go on medical mission trips in the past. I must say that these trips are extremely rewarding for me. There are many people who have truly committed their lives to providing mission opportunities. It is an honor to work beside the organizers and medical professionals who make these trips part of their routines.

But more than that, seeing the people who need help, and are grateful for whatever you can give. The need is incredible in other parts of the world. Did you know that most of the world’s functional blindness could be “cured” with a pair of glasses, but there is no way to get them? I always enjoy these opportunities and hope to have another soon.

Do You Know How Well Your Child Sees?

You may have been told that your child has 20/20 vision after a vision screening at school or pediatrician's office, but did you know that they can still have a vision problem? Eighty percent of learning is achieved visually and 1 in 4 school age children has some form of vision problem that can hinder academic performance. In fact, most children that are living with an undiagnosed vision problem will not complain because they don't know what "normal" vision is supposed to look like.

When should my child have an eye exam? The American Optometric Association recommends that a child have his or her first eye exam between 6 months and one year of age and then again at the age of three. When school begins, eye exams should be conducted every year to maintain proper eye health and development.

Are Cataracts slowing you down?

Did you know that nearly 5.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from cataracts that interfere with their vision? A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that tends to 'grow' gradually, so changes in vision may not be noticeable at first.

The term "age-related" is usually paired with cataracts, which is a little misleading. You don't have to be a senior citizen to get cataracts. A cataract can affect anyone no matter age, race, or gender. They may have several causes, which include:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Eye Injuries
• Medication

Cataract surgery is the most common form of surgery in the United States. However, in the early stages of cataracts they can be managed by wearing sunglasses with UV protection. As the cataract advances it may affect the quality of your life. When this occurs it is time to consider surgery.

Your eye sight is precious. Early detection and treatment of any eye disease or impairment is important. We recommend yearly eye exams to insure preservation of your vision. To find out if you or someone in your family has cataracts schedule an exam today.

Dry Eye Syndrome

If eyes are not properly lubricated they may feel itchy, scratchy, and irritated. Dry eye syndrome affects approximately 10-14 million Americans, mostly over the age of 40.

In addition to a lack of tear production, dry eye can result from inadequate levels of moisture on the surface of the eye. This is caused by situations that dry out the tear film. These situations can include dry air from air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions such as smoking, high altitude or pollution.


There are three layers of your tear film:
The mucin layer is the thinnest and its purpose is to coat your eye and to spread the moisture of your tears evenly across the eye.
The water layer is made up of a saltwater solution. It is the largest and thickest layer, and its purpose is to ensure that your eye remains moist.
The outer lipid layer is made up of lipids (oils). Its purpose is to prevent the watery middle layer from evaporating.

Treatment of Dry Eye
There are many treatment options for Dry Eye. The best option depends on the severity of your Dry Eye, age, lifestyle, medications and overall health. Some options are:
Hot Compresses and Lid Scrubs used daily
A high quality fish oil capsule, such asFortifeye, which contains Omega 3 fatty acids keep the tear production system healthy.
Lubricating Drops, like Systane Ultra can help moisten the eyes.
RESTASIS® Ophthalmic Emulsion is the only prescription eye drop to help increase tear production
Temporary or permanent punctal plugs. An in office procedure for more severe cases.

Our exams always include an evaluation of the tear film and testing for Dry Eye.

Cataracts

Today’s cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective procedures that can be done to correct your vision. Compared to just a years ago advances in cataract surgery have really come along way.

All cataract surgeries now are completed with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) implanted into the eye. New advances allow people to be corrected with Multifocal implants which corrects the distance and near vision or something called a Toric IOL which corrects any astigmatism that the patient may have.

Cataracts are a part of the normal aging process and affect us all. In school, I learned that anyone who lives long enough will get cataracts. Today’s vision requirements are so advanced that many people are opting for cataract surgeries with mild cataracts because of the large impact that a small vision impairment can have on your life. I’m excited about what the future holds in working with our talented and experienced cataract surgeons.

New Personalized Lenses From Zeiss

There has been an amazing amount of technology that has come out of progressive lenses in the last ten years. Right now, I am most excited about the newest type of progressive lens, called the Zeiss Individual Lens. Each lens is not even designed until a patient’s prescription has been decided. It takes into account not only the prescription but also the type of frame, the tilt, wrap and shape of the frame. It also factors in the facial features of the person wearing it. All of the studies have shown that this will be one of the biggest advancements in progressive lenses since they were first invented. I am excited that we are able to offer this. Click here to see our latest newsletter article about these fantastic lenses.

New ZEISS Individual™ Lenses Precisely Personalized For Your Best Vision Possible

Personalized products are everywhere. You can buy custom M&Ms in your favorite colors with a picture or personal sentiment. Clothing companies like Levi Strauss and Lands' End provide custom designed jeans.

Computers and cell phones allow you to personalize your home pages and applications. In healthcare, financial services and insurance, highly personalized plans are now the norm, not the exception.

What if you could have eyeglass lenses made just for you?

You can, with Zeiss Individual. ™ Individual lenses are precisely personalized for you, the glasses you select and how those glasses fit your face.

Did you know that your vision is affected by how your nose and cheekbones position your lenses? Taking precise measurements results in more precise vision. Zeiss Individual™ lenses take into account the distance from your eye to the back of the frame, the angle of the frame and the shape of the frame in relation to your face.

Think of it as the difference between buying clothes "off the rack" versus clothes made by a tailor. The tailor takes extensive measurements so that the clothes fit you precisely. When you buy something off the rack, it is designed to fit numerous people within a certain size range. While it might fit you well, it won't fit exactly and may require additional tailoring for a perfect fit.

Ask our staff about Zeiss Individual™ lenses and find out how you can have your best vision.

Find Relief from Itchy, Dry Eyes

Recently Dry Eye has become one of the most common eye diseases that we see. Why do I think we are having this dramatic increase? It is because of several factors:

- Age and medications - People are living longer and taking more medicines. Both of these factors contribute to eye dryness.

- Air Pollution - As the number of cars on the road increase, so does the amount of pollutants and eye irritants in the air that can dry out the moisture levels in your eyes.

- Energy efficient homes - Since our homes are now better insulated, they tend to have less humidity in the air, contributing to tear evaporation.

- Better Awareness - More people are talking about dry eye and know that it is important to mention their symptoms to their eye doctor.

My first treatment of choice for dry eye is a high quality Fish Oil capsule daily (it has to be high quality), hot compresses on your eyes every evening and lubricating drops for comfort. If you are doing these and still have dry eye symptoms of scratchy, painful or watery eyes, it is time for a visit.

Exciting New Advancements in Contact Lenses

This month, our office is having a special on contacts. There have been many advances in contacts in the last few years, I think now is a good time for people to start looking into them again.

The most exciting thing right now is a new multi-focal lens that is helping a lot of people see like they were 20 again (well maybe 35). As I am learning personally, turning 40 means reading is getting tougher. These lenses actually allow us to see distance and near clearly. I wear the multi-focal contacts to work and I wear Dailies contacts on the weekend. The Dailies are for distance only, and at the end of the day, I just throw them away. Very Handy.

Many people have been told they could not wear contacts because of allergies, astigmatism, or dry eye. New technology now allows us to put almost everybody in contact lenses.

Don't You Want To Try Contacts?

Discover the Freedom of
Contact Lenses

Imagine wearing contact lenses designed to fit your lifestyle. Lens technology has advanced so there are now more options than ever to provide healthy, comfortable and convenient vision correction for virtually everyone.

Some of the latest improvements include:

- Contacts designed to be replaced with a fresh new pair daily

- Contacts that even correct astigmatism

- Multi-focal contacts that correct distance and near vision simultaneously

- Specialized lens designs for more complex situations

Even if you've previously been told you were not a candidate for contacts, recent developments may allow us to provide you a new opportunity. Which contact lens is right for you? Our team of experts are waiting to help you discover the the freedom of contact lenses.

Please visit our website to learn about the latest innovations in contact lenses. To help you get started, use the certificate at the bottom of this message for 50% savings on your personalized contact lens fitting fee.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among Americans who are age 65 and older.

There are two types of macular degeneration: Ninety percent of people with macular degeneration have the dry type. Dry macular degeneration can progress to the second, more severe type, called wet macular degeneration. In the wet type, new, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow toward the macular, causing rapid and severe vision loss.

The Latest Technology in Polarized Lenses

Maui Jim sunglasses are crafted to offer superior lens and frame quality. The lenses are patented with Polarized Plus2 technology. What this means for you is 99.9% of glare is wiped out and 100% of harmful UV allowing the world's true colors to come shining through.

Most people choose polarized sunglasses only to reduce glare from the sun. Maui Jim lenses combine an exclusive polarizing film, bi-gradient mirror and an anti-reflective treatment not only protect the eyes from the sun, but they also reduce eye fatigue. Your eyes will feel fresh and renewed. The difference is dramatic.

In addition to all the technology packed into these sunglasses, they also offer the latest in style and fashion. There are styles available for everyone from the avid fisherman to the ladies that want the hottest looks while enjoying the outdoors.


Come try a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses and experience paradise from the best angle.


Could You Have Computer Vision Syndrome?

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is characterized by tired and sore eyes, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and general body fatigue.

It is the number one complaint in the workplace and affects everyone who works on a computer.

CVS is brought on by the way your computer screen works. An image on the screen is made of thousands of tiny colored squares called pixels. These pixels are constantly changing in color and brightness, which causes your eyes to refocus. This constant refocusing is what causes the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome.

Specialty Eyewear to Reduce CVS

The only surefire method to prevent CVS is to wear specially prescribed computer glasses. These can range from specialized multi-focal lenses to single focal lenses used specifically while at the computer.

However, you can combat the effects of CVS simply by properly setting up your workspace. Place your computer screen approximately 20-40 inches away from your eyes, directly in front of you, and position it so there is little to no glare on the screen. Make sure the screen height is set up properly so that it can be viewed with out looking down or slouching in your chair.

Finally, a desk lamp may be used to provide more light without increasing glare. While proper arrangement of your workplace will help reduce the effects of CVS, you should still consult your eye care provider to fully prevent Computer Vision Syndrome.

Click here to schedule an appointment today.

Are your child's eyes ready for the classroom?

Parents want their children to succeed in school, and most will do whatever they can to help. But have you thought about checking your child's eyes? Before the kids head back to school this year, consider taking them to see an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.

Why? Your child's vision is a critical tool when it comes to learning. In fact, 80 percent of learning is achieved visually. However, the American Optometric Association reports that one in four school-aged children has some form of vision problem-which can hinder academic performance. And while many schools and pediatricians offer basic vision screenings, they are not a substitute for a thorough eye exam.

Undiagnosed vision problems in children can lead to difficulty with schoolwork, resulting in poor performance. Many times, children will not complain of vision problems simply because they don't know what "normal" vision looks like.

Are your child's eyes ready for the classroom?

Parents want their children to succeed in school, and most will do whatever they can to help. But have you thought about checking your child's eyes? Before the kids head back to school this year, consider taking them to see an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.

Why? Your child's vision is a critical tool when it comes to learning. In fact, 80 percent of learning is achieved visually. However, the American Optometric Association reports that one in four school-aged children has some form of vision problem-which can hinder academic performance. And while many schools and pediatricians offer basic vision screenings, they are not a substitute for a thorough eye exam.

Undiagnosed vision problems in children can lead to difficulty with schoolwork, resulting in poor performance. Many times, children will not complain of vision problems simply because they don't know what "normal" vision looks like.


InfantSEE Program

West Georgia Eye Care participates in the InfantSEE® Program. Under this program, we provide comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants within the first year of life regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage, free of charge.

An InfantSEE® assessment between six and 12 months of age is recommended to determine if an infant is at risk for eye or vision disorders. Since many eye problems arise from conditions that can be identified by an eye doctor in the infant's first year of life, a parent can give an infant a great gift by seeking an InfantSEE® assessment in addition to the wellness evaluation of the eyes that is done by a pediatrician or family practice doctor.
One in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems, yet only 13 percent of mothers with children younger than 2 years of age said they had taken their babies to see an eye and vision care professional for a regular check-up or well-care visit. Moreover, many children at risk for eye and vision problems are not being identified at an early age, when many of those problems might be prevented or more easily corrected. Early intervention is critical to successful and cost-effective treatment.

Sunglasses Season is Here

Style Tips 101 As summer approaches, one of the hottest accessories is sunglasses. Not only can sunglasses protect your eyes they can also make fashion statement.  The theme for summer is go big, bold, and colorful. For ladies, larger lenses are in this season and are complimented by lots of colors and bold designs on frames. For men, the classic vintage look is in but the cool aviators are sticking around for the long haul. To see the latest style of sunglasses come by for your free sunglasses fitting.

Sunglasses: Protection for Your Eyes Putting on sunglasses is as  important as putting on sunscreen. They both offer protection against the sun's harmful rays. A good pair of sunglasses acts as a shield that can offer 100% UV protection and keep your eyes healthy for years to come.    To see if your sunglasses measure up, stop by our office for a free UV meter test. For more information on sunglasses and their importance please visit our website.

Getting the Most Out of Your Sunglasses  A $20 pair of sunglasses can look pretty similar to a $250 pair, so why pay more? The difference is in the technology, which offers more comfort, durability, and performance. Most find name brands that they recognize offer a sense of reliability in the quality of their product. When you know the name you trust the quality of the craftsmanship.  How do you enhance the performance of any pair of sunglasses? Polarized lenses offer the ultimate vision experience and provide enhanced vision by eliminating glare off of surfaces such as water, windshields, and snow. To learn more about polarized lenses visit our website or come by for a polarized demonstration

Allergy Season - Worst in Years

We have felt has been a bad allergy season, now it is official. I just read that Paul Gomes, the director of allergy research in Andover, Mass has reported that this year's weather was perfect for increased pollen counts. He says, "Trees received a healthy amount of precipitation during a very cold winter. This was immediately followed by a sunny, warm and dry spring."

A pollen count is high at 120 - Yet in April, Atlanta recorded a pollen count of 5,722 - it's second highest count ever. In my career, I have never seen so many eye allergies or seen as many bad cases. I guess the drought wasn't all bad?

May is Healthy Vision Month

The following is from a press release from the National Institute of Health. I hope that we can spread the word about the importance of regular eye exams for everyone. I am really surprised that 9% of all Americans have never had their eyes examined.

The National Eye Institute (NEI)is encouraging community organizations and Americans to make vision health a priority. This year’s theme, “Your Eyes are the Windows to Your Health,” highlights the importance of scheduling an eye exam to maintain good quality eye health and preserve the sense of sight.

In a 2005 national survey conducted by NEI and the Lions Clubs International Foundation, 70 percent of adults reported that the loss of eyesight would have a great impact on their daily lives—a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. However, 26 percent reported they had not had an eye exam within the previous two years, and 9 percent reported never having had their eyes examined.

Unfortunately, an estimated 14 million Americans are visually impaired. In fact, the prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, was shown to have increased 66 percent in the past 30 years, according to a 2009 NEI study. Nearly 11 million Americans have refractive errors that can be detected during an eye examination and simply remedied with glasses or contact lenses, according to the NEI.

Click here for a Link to the NEI web-site.

Help with Glaucoma Medicine

I was reading an article from the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) that I thought would be good to share. Most of the time, glaucoma is treated with prescription eye drops and our biggest barrier is problems with the drops. The GRF shares some ideas on helping with drops and I want to share them with you. Enjoy....

-To help you remember to take your medications, schedule them around daily routines such as waking, mealtimes, and bedtime.

-Keep your medications in a visible place at home and carry them with you when you are away from home. Remember to keep all medications, including eye drops, out of the reach of children. Also, keep bottles out of direct sunlight.

-If you are putting in more than one drop or more than one type of eye drop, wait five minutes before putting the next drop in. This will keep the first drop from being washed out by the second before it has had time to work.

-If you forget to use your eye drops on schedule, put the drop in when you remember. Do not wait until the next scheduled time. Then get right back on your regular schedule.

-Tell your doctor or pharmacist if your medications are causing reactions, or if you are having any difficulty using them. It may be possible to change your medication program.

Here is a link to the Glaucoma Research Foundation website.

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air and allergies are coming with them. In Georgia, April brings the Masters, beautiful blooms on the trees and pollen. The pollen covers everything with a thin film of yellow that runs down the streets after a good spring rain.

With this new life, we all experience some form of allergy. (Almost all of us anyway.) For some it is a runny nose and sneezing and for others a sinus headache. But many have the dreaded watery and itchy eyes - our speciality.

So what should you do if you have eye allergies? First, you should resist the urge to rub your eyes. This can cause a release of inflammatory cells and make things worse. Try instead, using a cold cloth on your eyes to relieve the itchiness and irritation. There are many over-the-counter drops that help with itching and redness but be careful not to use too regularly as they can actually cause a dependency on the drop.

If cold cloths and OTC drops aren't enough, we can prescribe drops that have quick action and are long-lasting. For some patients, we change their contact lenses to daily disposable during allergy season or permanently. Other treatments are available so that no one has to suffer this allergy season.

Care for the Heart is Care for the Eyes

Today is Valentine's Day. What could be a better topic for today than heart health?
I often say that the best thing you can do to take care of your eyes is to take good care of your heart. By keeping your blood pressure controlled, keeping a watch on your cholesterol levels and by watching your weight - you can reduce your chances of eye disease. If that sounds crazy to you, let me explain:
The eyes are very active organs. They constantly receiving light images and sending impulses to the brain. This constant activity uses a lot of energy so the eyes need a lot of oxygen and nutrients, which all comes from the bloodstream. So the eyes have a lot of blood vessels, which are supplied by the HEART.
In addition to bringing oxygen and nutrients to the eyes, these blood vessels take away the carbon dioxide and other waste materials. Macular Degeneration is primarily caused by a build up of these waste materials.
So basically when the heart is healthy, it can do a good job. And when it does its job well, our
eyes get what they need and get rid of what they don't need. This helps protect us against glaucoma, macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
On this Valentine's Day do your eyes a favor and take care of your heart.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Computers and Your Eyes

This week, Apple introduced the iPad and there has been a lot of talk about it. It made me realize how computers are becoming more and more a part of every aspect of our lives. It seems funny to me that when I began as an optometrist, computers were becoming a major part of the workplace. But think about computers now. Many of us are looking at a computer all day at work, looking at a Blackberry or iPhone while getting home then pulling out the laptop to “socialize” on Facebook. It is something we can’t get away from.

I think it is important for us to remember how to care for our eyes, which are obviously very important to us while using all of this technology. An optometrist friend of mine in Colorado shared an ABC News story with me about how near-sightedness is on the rise and thought increased computer use may be to blame. Well let me tell you for sure, increased computer use IS to blame.

We should all use this technology to benefit our lives but there are some things you should know and do. Our eyes are not designed to stay focused at near for extended periods of time. Our eyes relax when looking far away and work when looking at near. I like to think of it like holding a brick with your arm straight out from your body. You can do it for a little while, but soon your arm will get tired, then your arm will hurt, then your shoulder and your neck. You will need support and / or you will need to rest periodically.

So when using the computer (or iPhone, or Blackberry, or Kindle), take frequent breaks by looking at something far away. Make sure your prescription is up-to-date and that the print isn’t ridiculously small. The further away your monitor is from your face the easier it will be on your eyes (the brick will be lighter). And for kids, please balance time at the computer with time outside playing.

Welcome to Our Blog

At West Georgia Eye Care, we always try to remain on the cutting edge of technology as it relates to providing for our patients. Now, we want to be in the lead in communicating with our patients. This blog will focus on the things we can all do to protect our eyes and our vision. "Visual Wellness" is a term that I think best conveys the ultimate goal of reducing the effects of age and the environment on our vision systems.

I hope that you enjoy coming to this site to hear the latest trends on protecting your vision. We will continue to research the latest studies about vision and share those findings with you here. We will also share with you what we are finding in our own office, successes and challenges.

Let us know what you think.

Fish Oil for Everyone

I have recently begun recommending Omega 3 Fish Oil capsules to just about all of my patients. All the literature I have read about the benefits has been positve and I have seen dramatic results in many of my patients with long term, serious dry eye problems. I began taking it myself several months ago and can tell a difference.

It is important to get a high quality Fish Oil capsule. I recommend looking for the words "Natural Triglyceride" on the label. I like the "FortifEYE" and "Nordic Naturals" brands.