Dailies Contact Lenses Help with Eye Allergies

One of our best tools in fighting ocular allergies is the Dailies contact lens. These lenses are made to be replaced every day, and during allergy season that makes a big difference.


Soft contact lenses are made to transmit oxygen which is necessary for good eye health. This causes them to be somewhat like sponges and they tend to collect materials from our tear film and need to be cleaned and disposed of as prescribed.

During allergy season, the pollen and other impurities can collect in the contact lens and worsen an allergic reaction. By throwing away the contact lens at the end of the day, you are also throwing away a day's worth of pollen instead of putting it back into your eye. For those with allergy problems, Dailies contacts make a big difference.

Dailies contacts are also some of the safest lenses due to the reduced complications from overwear and improper cleaning. They are also a very convienient way to wear contacts, especially for those who are new to contacts or like to switch between glasses and contacts.

At WGEC we find these lenses very valuable to many of our patients. They are available to correct most contact wearers, even those with astigmatism.


During your next exam, be sure to ask about Dailies contact lenses.

Worst Allergy Season Ever?

Tree pollen is usually scheduled to peak in early April and grass pollen should not even start until early May. Yet both are already showing readings of "Very High" on The Weather Channel. This year is proving to be the worst allergy season so far. Experts are blaming high pollen counts and increased mold sores on the mild winter and early spring.


Dr. Jennifer Carter says, "We are seeing people much earlier this year and with much worse symptoms. So far, this allergy season is gearing up to be a tough one, but we are ready."

Watering, burning, and itching sensations may be allergy related but it is difficult to know if the condition is actually an infection. A diagnosis should be made before any treatment begins.

With the new developments in medicine there is no reason to live with itchy eyes. There are several different prescription drops available to fight ocular allergies.

If you think you may have eye allergies, visit our web-site to request an appointment.

Genetic Testing for Macular Degeneration - by Dr Jennifer Carter

Macular Degeneration

He stood over 6 feet and closely resembled Billy Graham. From the time I entered Optometry school, my grandfather's question to me was "have you found a cure for macular degeneration yet?" As he said this, his eyes appeared to be focused over my shoulder. But in reality, he was using his peripheral vision to see my face. He had learned to compensate for his loss of central vision from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


If he were still here, he would be amazed at the progress made in diagnosing and treating AMD. At West Georgia Eye Care we are pleased to offer a genetic test which is 99.9% accurate in determining the chances of developing wet AMD. A swab of cells is taken from the cheek to detect certain genetic markers that are known to be indicators for vision loss. These markers are then analyzed along with smoking history to determine the risk of losing your sight.

Early detection and treatment lead to better visual outcomes. The ability to determine levels of risk associated with macular degeneration is invaluable. Macular degeneration cannot be reversed, however vision loss associated with the devastating disease can be delayed if we are aware of your risk.

I sometimes sit back and think what a difference genetic testing would have made for my grandfather. He was nearly blind when he passed away. If he had known his risk years ago and had a personalized program to manage his disease, I believe a more aggressive management would have been chosen. Genetic testing is a small piece of the puzzle, but a very important factor that can help preserve vision. Please call our office at (770) 834-0212 with any questions or concerns regarding genetic testing or age-related macular degeneration.

Protect Your Eyes ... with Vitamins



Click here to see a Video

 Most likely from the time you were old enough to remember, you were told to take your vitamins. Not only do they protect your bones, lower cholesterol, and improve brain development, vitamins also protect your eyes. One of our most recommended vitamins at WGEC is Fortifeye. The family of Fortifeye vitamins includes Complete Plus, Macular Defense, and Super Omega-3 fish oil.


Complete Plus contains Lutein and Zeaxanthin, both proven to be beneficial for the eyes. Macular Defense has the same ingredients as Complete Plus but is three times stronger and was developed initially for macular degeneration patients. It is now recommended for smokers, extreme athletes, and patients taking lots of medications. Super Omega-3 fish oils were designed to aid the dry eye patient. This supplement can be taken alone or in combination with Complete Plus or Complete Macular Defense.

During your visit to our office, we can recommend the most beneficial vitamin for you.

The Optomap Makes an Appearance on Dr Oz

In 1990, a 5 year-old boy named Leif went blind in one eye because a retinal detachment was detected too late for treatment. He had eye exams yearly but conventional testing was uncomfortable. His father designed the Optomap in order to make retinal examinations more comfortable and accurate. Recently, Dr Oz featured the Optomap on his show.

At West Georgia Eye Care, we pride ourselves on being able to properly evaluate your eyes with the latest technology available in order to ensure your eyes are healthy and free of disease. A thorough screening of the retina is critical to verify that your eye is healthy. Dilation is the conventional method of examining the retina and is still very useful. With dilation, only 10-15% of the retina can be viewed at one time. In addition, dilation leaves you with light sensitivity and blurred near vision for several hours. The Optomap, on the other hand, is able to capture 80% of the retina in one image. It is quick, painless, and typically does not require dilation drops.

The Optomap is the preferred method of viewing the retina at WGEC. In one snapshot we are able to view the optic nerve, macula, and blood vessels of the back of the eye. The retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be viewed directly. So in addition to eye diseases, signs of other diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can be detected by viewing the retina. Request an appointment today for your complete eye health examination.

Why Can't I Keep My Glasses Clean?

Have you ever wondered why your glasses are so hard to keep clean, or why your lenses keep getting fine scratches on them? It could be the way that they are being cleaned.

We recommend specific methods to care for your eyewear. First, when cleaning your lenses you should only use recommended spray solutions given to you by your eye care professional. We use a spray that can be used directly on the lenses and cleaned off with a soft cloth. The soft cloth that comes in the case with your eyewear can also be used alone to wipe off the occasional smudge or fingerprint.

If you do not have access to your cleaning cloth and spray cleaner, a special mixture of soap and water can be used to rinse your glasses clean while you are at home or on the go. Just make sure that the soap that you are using does not have a moisturizer in it. It will not harm your lenses, but it will leave a greasy film that will be hard to remove. Also, stay away from abrasive materials when wiping your lenses clean or drying them. Something soft like a cloth diaper is best to use when there is no cleaning cloth.

Lastly, consider the environment that you are in most of the time. If you are working in a dusty environment, you should keep your cleaning cloth away from the dust that can attach to your cleaning cloth and cause fine scratches on your lens. If you don’t have to wear your glasses all the time, remember that the best protection for them is in their case.

For more information on eyewear maintenance, or for a demonstration please stop by our office or watch our Youtube video on proper cleaning methods.

How to Pass Your Eye Exam

Which is better one or two, three or four?  For some, these words cause a sudden panic and what might be called, test anxiety.  The pressure to get the "right" answer can be overbearing at times, but an eye exam should not be stressful.  Here are a few tips to help you get through your next examination without breaking a sweat.

At West Georgia Eye Care our goal each day is to make all patients feel at home while providing great care.  Rule number one for a great exam is to relax.  At WGEC, the Optomap Retinal Evaluation is typically the first test you will encounter; the purpose of the Optomap is to obtain an image of the retina.  In other words, we're taking a picture, so open your eyes wide and say "cheese". Retinal detachments along with other retinal disease can be diagnosed with the help of the Optomap.

Rule number two is relax.  The next several tests will make measurements of your eyes to help determine your prescription, among other things.  All you have to do is look at an image in a machine.  Easy, right?

The last part of the examination is determining your prescription and evaluating your eye health.  The doctor will use all the information from the previous tests to fine-tune your prescription.  Your eyes will be evaluated on how well they focus and work together.  During this portion it is important to keep your eyes relaxed, don't try to make your eyes focus on the letters.  So the answer to "which is better",  is the lens that is clearest to you.  There is no "right" answer.'

As doctors, prescribing glasses and contact lenses is important, but your eye health is without a doubt, the biggest concern.  Your eyes will be carefully examined from the front of the cornea to the optic nerve and macula in the back of the eye.  Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are just a few things that can be diagnosed when evaluating eye health.    After reviewing all findings, any questions you may have will be answered.  Then it is time to have some fun and select glasses or contact lenses. 

Hopefully, this will help to ease your test anxiety and make your next eye exam at West Georgia Eye Care a breeze.