Eye Health Solutions

  As the end of 2022 approaches, I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to all of the wonderful patients at Eye Health Solutions.  Thank you for making me feel welcome and for making my first year in Knoxville a success.  I am so grateful to each patient, new and established, that trusted me with their eye care, as well as to the staff and doctors of EHS for their support along the way.  It has been a pleasure getting to meet so many new faces and families this last year! Thank you for choosing Eye Health Solutions – we appreciate you! Wishing you good health in the new year, Dr. Rachel

  Diabetes and the Eyes If you didn’t get a chance to watch Dr. Jason on the WHO-13 Hello Iowa segment – check it out below! Eye exams are an essential part of the care plan for diabetic patients, and 46% of people with diabetes are not getting their eyes checked regularly. Dr. Jason reviews how diabetes can impact the eyes and why early detection of these complications is important. Of the US population: ·           11.3% (37.3 million people) are diabetic ·           8.5% are undiagnosed ·           38.0% (96 million people) are pre-diabetic across all age groups ·           1 in 3 over the age of 65 is diabetic and 50% are pre-diabetic ·           The average medical expenditure for someone with diabetes is $16,000 per year, with $9,000 of that being tied di...

  The Scary Truth About Costume Contact Lenses This Halloween you may have seen some spooky contact lenses. Costume contact lenses, also known as cosmetic or decorative contacts, are lenses that change how your eyes look by altering the eye’s color or pupil shape. Even though they may be advertised as cosmetic accessories, please keep in mind that  all  contact lenses are considered medical devices by the FDA – this means they require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional, and proper care by the wearer. Purchasing contact lenses without a prescription is illegal in the United States. Only buy costume contacts from retailers who ask for a prescription and sell FDA-approved lenses – not from the gas station down the street, your nearest beauty salon or pop-up Halloween shop. Some cosmetic lenses have been found to be counterfeit or even re-packaged, which is not sterile and could contaminate your eye. Furthermore, one study found costume lenses ...

    Eye problem? See your eye doctor! If an eye issue occurs, do you reach out to your optometrist or your primary care provider? Do you go straight to urgent care or even the ER? When in doubt, please reach out to your optometrist’s office. We have extensive training in ocular health and ocular emergencies and have the proper equipment and tools to aid in the correct diagnosis and treatment.  Most emergency rooms are not equipped with a microscope to evaluate the small structures of the eye, and you may end up waiting for a long time to be seen.  Our doctors are able to see you for any eye issues that arise between your annual exams and have an emergency phone number for after-hours care .  Remember to seek out your  eye  doctor’s office for these  eye   problems:   - Red eyes or “pink eye”   - Scratched eye   - Something in your eye   - Eye pain   - Itchy or burning eyes   - Swollen eyelids    - Brok...

Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month Summer is in full swing and I would bet most of you are soaking up (or in!) the warmer weather. Most of us will apply sunscreen to protect our skin before heading outside, but are you grabbing protection for your eyes too? Increased exposure to sunlight can increase your risk of eye damage from ultraviolet radiation. In the short-term, one might experience bloodshot eyes, a gritty sensation, extra light sensitivity and blurry vision. Accumulated UV exposure over time can lead to cancer of the eye or eyelid, growths on the surface of the eye, accelerated development of cataracts, and irreversible vision loss in the form of age-related macular degeneration. Protect your eyes from sun damage with these reminders:    1. Wear proper sunglasses - Always check the UV rating on your sunnies. Select one that provides at least 99% UV  protection or blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays. - Don’t be deceived by cost or darkness of the lens. S...

  Did you know that today is National Lucky Penny Day?  I know, not quite on par with National Donut Day. I’ve never been a “lucky” person, but even if I were, one thing I would  not  be leaving up to luck are my eyes.  Think you have been blessed with “good eyes”? Do you know for certain? The CDC highlights this month as  Healthy Vision Month , a much more important national observance in my opinion.  If you haven’t had a comprehensive eye exam in awhile, this is your friendly reminder to schedule a dilated eye exam and make your vision and eye health a priority. According to the CDC, an estimated 93 million adults in the US are at high risk for serious vision loss, but only half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months. Furthermore, the annual economic impact of major vision problems among adults 40 years and older is more than $145 billion.  https://www.cdc.gov/ visionhealth/basics/ced/ fastfacts.htm   Some eye diseases do not have any ...

                      Wondering if eye drops can replace readers??? Maybe you saw a segment on TV, or your friend mentioned a new eye drop they’re using to read the menu at dinner. You might be wondering… does it work? Back in October, the FDA approved the use of an eye drop called Vuity.  Let me fill you in! What is it? Vuity (pilocarpine 1.25%) is a formulation of a drug called pilocarpine, an old glaucoma medication. It is almost never used now to manage glaucoma because of its side effects and the development of more modern treatment options. Compared to commercially-available pilocarpine, Vuity uses a proprietary “vehicle” to cause less stinging with instillation. Who is it for? It was approved for patients aged 40 to 55 with presbyopia. Presbyopia is the natural aging of the lens in your eye that affects your ability to focus on near objects like books, cell phones, menus, etc.  This eventually ha...

  Welcome Dr. Rachel Browne To EHS!!   Hello there! Dr. Rachel here. Last week marked two months since joining Eye Health Solutions and what a busy time it has been getting to know my way around the office.  Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me thus far, and to those who continue to trust me with their eye care needs. If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rachel (Barnes) Browne and I am the “new” optometrist here at Eye Health Solutions. This coming May I will have been in practice for 10 years, and I am thrilled to continue my career working alongside exceptional physicians like Dr. Jason and Dr. Lily.  I really enjoy working with patients of all ages - infants to seniors - and I love that every day is different than the next.   I was born and raised in Pella, where I currently reside with my husband, Dustin, and our three children: Taylen (8), Noah (5), and Eden (2).  We love being a part of a small co...