tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90808129781999493632024-03-26T00:13:37.152-07:00Eye Health SolutionsEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-69907631432036058472023-07-20T15:23:00.000-07:002023-07-20T15:23:29.358-07:00My contacts are poisonous? Not so fast.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Sb3gZCzPGPRqzhvQcegcNUi60TlDS9-uHfZooA1Y7ezilZjre6tIUZpxtMYNjVCJ3Nbuyn8ObTv7LIZ3lzu8_9vcniirpGHLJ5EgNc4zl-m4ZvbxeJe0OOjzyr_-bZMXeTQHHkJbV29Z7ESmJfYIhlmWZuoNHrMD-IyagPGNnPpKf0IhtW0xe3wiJNc/s732/Contact_Lens_Finger_Macro-732x549-Thumbnail-1.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="732" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Sb3gZCzPGPRqzhvQcegcNUi60TlDS9-uHfZooA1Y7ezilZjre6tIUZpxtMYNjVCJ3Nbuyn8ObTv7LIZ3lzu8_9vcniirpGHLJ5EgNc4zl-m4ZvbxeJe0OOjzyr_-bZMXeTQHHkJbV29Z7ESmJfYIhlmWZuoNHrMD-IyagPGNnPpKf0IhtW0xe3wiJNc/s320/Contact_Lens_Finger_Macro-732x549-Thumbnail-1.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>Recent media coverage has brought attention to a report claiming that 18 soft contact lenses from three major companies in the industry were found to contain PFAS or toxic "forever chemicals". Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals used in a variety of consumer products for their ability to resist heat, stains, and water. They are referred to as "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly and can accumulate in people, animals, and the environment over time. This has prompted concern about potential long-term health effects - studies have shown that high levels of exposure to some PFAS may be linked to increased risk of cancer and other adverse health issues.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>In contact lenses, PFAS are used to soften the material and enhance oxygen permeability. So, you might be wondering, are my soft contact lenses safe to be wearing?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> Currently, there is no scientific literature published to show harmful effects directly relating to PFAS in contact lenses or that the eyes actually absorb PFAS from contact lenses. Claims that PFAS found in contact lenses are present in harmful amounts has not been verified, and there are questions regarding the study that was cited (i.e., study design, the organization who published the study, control groups, etc.). It is also worth mentioning that the type of PFAS used in contact lenses are fluoropolymers, a less mobile type. Ultimately, the CDC states "more research is necessary to assess the human health effects of exposure to PFAS."</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> So, what <i>do</i> we know? Don't eat your contacts ;)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> Alcon has stated their Dailies Total 1 and Total 30 lenses do not contain organic fluorine in their formulation; Johnson & Johnson (formerly Vistakon) also states they do not use PFAS in their soft contact lenses; Bausch + Lomb, who was not included in the study, has also released a statement saying none of their soft contact lenses are formulated with PFAS.</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> If you have any concerns about your current contact lens usage, don't hesitate to reach out to your eye care provider. We are always happy to help you make informed decisions.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span>Dr. Rachel</span></span></span></span></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-78667872410252897142023-05-17T06:00:00.000-07:002023-05-17T06:00:27.598-07:00Visual Hygiene and the 20-20-20 Rule<p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRnyG_AaF5x5h2utCPQ2FYrLpVrFi8wT3jEPCkJVTPRVmHlKei_JMZhWsgs6t3RSlq3Gb9wsyTXhZZgjYGYcEPhVbMq6eReq8x3A4jpv3iHMTJpudE4KYUR3Uh3pDXE1L3DKW-60o62ERNI0yp53INXosutBs15UoKb5ItBiR-z1FoE7A2J9lmXdJ/s500/shutterstock_1009501786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRnyG_AaF5x5h2utCPQ2FYrLpVrFi8wT3jEPCkJVTPRVmHlKei_JMZhWsgs6t3RSlq3Gb9wsyTXhZZgjYGYcEPhVbMq6eReq8x3A4jpv3iHMTJpudE4KYUR3Uh3pDXE1L3DKW-60o62ERNI0yp53INXosutBs15UoKb5ItBiR-z1FoE7A2J9lmXdJ/w290-h195/shutterstock_1009501786.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Are you studying for final exams? Or are you someone who spends hours a day in front of a computer or cell phone? The 20-20-20 rule is a simple guideline for reducing eye strain and other symptoms that can occur after long hours of reading or prolonged use of digital devices. We use this catchphrase to remind patients to take a break every <b>20 minutes</b> to focus on something <b>20 feet away</b> for at least <b>20 seconds</b>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">By doing so, you give your eyes a chance to relax and refocus, which lowers the risk for eye fatigue and headaches. Make a conscious effort to blink the eyes regularly, or use lubricating eye drops, to help prevent dryness and blurry vision from staring at a screen or book. Adjust the brightness of your screen and set up an ergonomic workspace.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Research in more recent years has focused on the growing use of devices and concerns over eye-related consequences like increased near-sightedness. While taking breaks from near work is still a good thing, one study found that 20 seconds of distance viewing was not shown to positively impact the development of myopia (near-sightedness). It is now suggested that longer breaks of 5 minutes or more, every hour, are needed instead.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I hope these tips allow for successful studying as you finish out the 2023 school year!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Rachel</span></span></div>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-28364532988351423212023-02-19T14:47:00.002-08:002023-02-19T14:47:52.187-08:00Dangerous Generic Artificial Tears<p> </p><p>I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I wanted to take a moment and talk about the recalled artificial tears that you may have heard about on the news. I have had a few calls from patients over the last couple of weeks about these. They are Ezricare non-preserved artificial tears and were recalled on February 2nd. There have been 55 reported infections with 5 people losing vision and one person dying. How can you die from an eye drop you ask... Eye drops, like all medications, are absorbed into the body as well as the eye. In this case the bacteria got into the blood stream and the patient most likely became septic, which is an infection in the blood. </p><p>These particular drops are not any I have ever heard of and I have never seen them locally. They are manufactured in India. The particular issue with these is that they are non-preserved so any bacteria that is in the bottle has nothing to stop it from growing. The photos of the drop seem to show a large bottle. The non-preserved drops that I and the other doctors in our office recommend come in small vials and are completely safe to use. </p><p>A few key points to remember about this story:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Eyedrops are medication and can affect the entire body just like any other medication.</li><li>Use only drops recommended or prescribed by your eye doctor. Do not use drops that were prescribed for your kids or your pets. Yes, people do that....</li><li>All over the counter and prescription medications have risk in taking them. Generic medications can sometimes be fine but overseas manufacturing of medication where the FDA cannot inspect adequately increase the risk, which is what happened here. </li><li>To reduce your risk see the post I wrote almost 2 years ago to the day with tips on how to keep yourself safe when choosing a medication. </li></ul><div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9080812978199949363/5787846718121345863">Are generic medications safe?</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading and as always if you have any concerns about your eyedrops please discuss those with your optometrist and bring the bottle with you to your visit. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dr. Jason</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-14185547173615542452023-01-24T07:54:00.002-08:002023-03-27T12:05:33.174-07:00EAT YOUR WAY TO BETTER EYE HEALTH <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Eat Your Way to Better Eye Health</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></b>If you’re like most people starting the new year, you may have made a resolution to eat healthier in 2023. Whether you’re starting to fall off the wagon or holding strong, it’s never too late to start eating well. There are several vitamins and nutrients specific to the health of the eyes, and chances are, what is good for the eyes is also good for your overall health.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /><b>1. Vitamin A<br /></b><b> </b>- Required for the formation of rhodopsin, a pigment found in the retina that allows us to see in low-light <br /> conditions. Deficiency could cause "night blindness" due to impaired dark adaptation.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /><span> - Supports healthy functioning of surfaces in the eye like the cornea and conjunctiva. Deficiency could lead to <br /></span><span> dryness and corneal scarring.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span><span> - <u>Good sources</u>: orange-colored fruit and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and apricots. Eggs <br /></span><span><span> and yogurt. Green leafy vegetables and liver.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span><span><br /></span></span><span><b>2. Vitamin C</b><br /></span><span><b> - </b>Neutralizes damage from UV rays and tobacco smoke that can lead to progression of cataracts and macular <br /></span><span> degeneration.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span><span><span> - Promotes healthy blood vessels like the tiny capillaries that bring oxygen and nutrients to the retina.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span><span><br /></span></span><span><span> - <u>Good sources</u>: citrus fruits, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, red bell peppers, and tomatoes.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span><span><br /></span></span><b>3. Vitamin E</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span> - </span>Antioxidant like vitamin C that protects tissues in the eye from damage and the development of cataracts.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> - <u>Good sources</u>: avocados, almonds, sunflower seeds, and olive oil.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /><b>4. </b><b>Omega-3 Fatty Acids</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span> - </span>Protects the retina from damage and degradation.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span> - </span>Reduces inflammation in the eye and improves function of the oil-producing glands in the eyelid needed to </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> produce healthy tears and lubrication that can ease dry eye symptoms.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> - <u>Good sources</u>: fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and trout. Nuts and seeds like walnuts, flaxseed, and </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> chia seeds.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /><b>5. Lutein</b> and <b>Zeaxanthin</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span> - </span>Occurs naturally in the macula, the part of the retina used for central and detailed vision.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span> </span>- Neutralizes damage from UV rays and filters blue light from reaching the underlying structures in the retina that </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> could lead to macular degeneration.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> - <u>Good sources</u>: green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. Eggs </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> and squash.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>6. Zinc</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span> - </span>Helps transport vitamin A from the liver to the retina for production of melanin, a pigment in the eye that protects </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> against UV rays and lowers your risk for macular degeneration.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> - <u>Good sources</u>: kidney beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas; oysters, lean red meat and poultry.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Reducing blood pressure (i.e., limiting foods high in sodium) and managing blood sugar can also lower the risk of eye disease. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br />Feeling hungry now?! Hope this helps you stay laser-focused on the rest of your goals for 2023.</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y_Kk51b91h_-DhmQyhWqIF1SECa0fkA9zwZyejhi109xcIJPAr05PMIvjW4fcBxU9dgmEUzJIKq8mzPILqbhelfJym_4GBa01XkMxd8X4UgCCAKTL-nNfmWOtOdP1c0bEqsLFcZx1jYbUV0OqZZpXmo-5NeEB3oCdLHSnGnnS5NxCmXIdW2YctP9/s603/Blog%20PIc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="603" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y_Kk51b91h_-DhmQyhWqIF1SECa0fkA9zwZyejhi109xcIJPAr05PMIvjW4fcBxU9dgmEUzJIKq8mzPILqbhelfJym_4GBa01XkMxd8X4UgCCAKTL-nNfmWOtOdP1c0bEqsLFcZx1jYbUV0OqZZpXmo-5NeEB3oCdLHSnGnnS5NxCmXIdW2YctP9/w347-h227/Blog%20PIc.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-30416588479428696112022-12-28T07:33:00.000-08:002022-12-28T07:33:03.292-08:00Happy New Year from Dr. Rachel <p> </p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">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!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>Wishing you good health in the new year,</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>Dr. Rachel</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrz4kdudA79xtC5BQbXekewbHSiv7Y-Cuoe5UVDFCYNqsi2oHoLHAgjvuShPliG5SrMTN6DiNt_SlG9zB2lH9UtgXUXvWn_FZMdtFJEhqK5e9_PeMkiZkK_GYmOQWwtSmWGDJTx99Cmbod1lpJIoYbj1zJ9tSSSQU5ChhVg41cNroP56g9TFmAORs/s720/Happy%20New%20YEar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="720" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrz4kdudA79xtC5BQbXekewbHSiv7Y-Cuoe5UVDFCYNqsi2oHoLHAgjvuShPliG5SrMTN6DiNt_SlG9zB2lH9UtgXUXvWn_FZMdtFJEhqK5e9_PeMkiZkK_GYmOQWwtSmWGDJTx99Cmbod1lpJIoYbj1zJ9tSSSQU5ChhVg41cNroP56g9TFmAORs/w423-h160/Happy%20New%20YEar.jpg" width="423" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-30553089874637979372022-12-22T08:38:00.001-08:002022-12-22T08:38:03.442-08:00Diabetes and the Eyes <p> <u style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Diabetes and the Eyes</u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Of the US population:</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>11.3% (37.3 million people) are diabetic</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>8.5% are undiagnosed</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>38.0% (96 million people) are pre-diabetic across all age groups</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>1 in 3 over the age of 65 is diabetic and 50% are pre-diabetic</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The average medical expenditure for someone with diabetes is $16,000 per year, with $9,000 of that being tied directly to the diabetes.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://who13.com/hello-iowa/preventing-and-managing-diabetes-with-eye-appointment/?fbclid=IwAR0r-8NxneyZKio4yKLwE4Op9EKsHTemA7G1Rr5GI5bubLOfBzgkpzIH-H8">https://who13.com/hello-iowa/preventing-and-managing-diabetes-with-eye-appointment/?fbclid=IwAR0r-8NxneyZKio4yKLwE4Op9EKsHTemA7G1Rr5GI5bubLOfBzgkpzIH-H8</a><br /></p><p style="background-color: white;"><br /></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-52432683758018412572022-10-31T07:16:00.000-07:002022-10-31T07:16:48.831-07:00<p> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Scary Truth About Costume Contact Lenses</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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 <i>all </i>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 that tested positive for chlorine and other harmful chemicals that may originate from the paint and pigments used to tint and create patterns on the lenses.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Contact lenses are not “one size fits all” but rather designed to fit the unique curvature and size of your eye. They require training to insert and remove, as well as proper cleaning, disinfecting and storage. Poorly fitting lenses and improper use can cause a scratch (corneal abrasion) or painful sores on the eye (corneal ulcers) that can lead to scarring and permanent vision loss if left untreated. Open scratches and sores can make you vulnerable to serious bacterial or viral eye infections. Lenses that fit too tight on the eye could be difficult to remove and cause symptoms like redness, pain, and swelling… which doesn’t sound like a night of fun.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Beware of the risks with costume contact lenses so your Halloween doesn’t turn into a nightmare!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Rachel</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvgMZBDN-wA4ANwk75hSjGCj3hXY1VqiPhWfBnjKtuM20Mfp-7nEjoBBJ8nRiFV06BxSbYYowuZoRqdmyD0FDc0iXYYML3bgbHof-v-JELuUMgxynx8U0QwEH1-o-C7yzFdOS-ZZ8ZCPS_ocELjGKsFxH5ASXm7qK4AGbQ9GDxKpxs8WxfxzDc5p-0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvgMZBDN-wA4ANwk75hSjGCj3hXY1VqiPhWfBnjKtuM20Mfp-7nEjoBBJ8nRiFV06BxSbYYowuZoRqdmyD0FDc0iXYYML3bgbHof-v-JELuUMgxynx8U0QwEH1-o-C7yzFdOS-ZZ8ZCPS_ocELjGKsFxH5ASXm7qK4AGbQ9GDxKpxs8WxfxzDc5p-0" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-52668379348531124552022-09-22T10:30:00.006-07:002022-09-22T10:30:40.412-07:00 Eye problem? See your eye doctor!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eye problem? See your eye doctor!</b></span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnav68clTsCepdxsJO1EzB0-if-_tcwG1opFHn_FzwwhszOt-lu2NXZ-qzAhOupXK4h4_vGkC-4ApMLFE8YQcH6YWml0HpxCkJipJxQKPkwdiu6QQyHbgxj9K7e8DE9pSfrTrZDLEpeCXIfvWlF2LgHu2A-P73LHEe1Wtad-4G6G4VuDH1DhWARki/s900/image_6483441%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="900" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnav68clTsCepdxsJO1EzB0-if-_tcwG1opFHn_FzwwhszOt-lu2NXZ-qzAhOupXK4h4_vGkC-4ApMLFE8YQcH6YWml0HpxCkJipJxQKPkwdiu6QQyHbgxj9K7e8DE9pSfrTrZDLEpeCXIfvWlF2LgHu2A-P73LHEe1Wtad-4G6G4VuDH1DhWARki/w347-h160/image_6483441%20(1).JPG" width="347" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><p style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 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</span><span style="font-size: large;"> annual exams and have an emergency phone number for after-hours care</span><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">. </span></p><p style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Remember to seek out your <u>eye</u> doctor’s office for these <u>eye</u><b> </b>problems:</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Red eyes or “pink eye”</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Scratched eye</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Something in your eye</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Eye pain</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Itchy or burning eyes</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Swollen eyelids </span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Broken blood vessel</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Light sensitivity</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Blurred or double vision</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Loss of vision</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - Pupils of different size</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - New black spots in vision or flashes of light</span><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We are here for you!</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Dr. Rachel</span></span></p><div style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div></div></span></span></div><div style="color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div></div>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-47668804279160403642022-07-07T15:05:00.005-07:002022-07-07T15:05:49.920-07:00Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month<div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month</span></b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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?</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Protect your eyes from sun damage with these reminders:</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> 1. Wear proper sunglasses</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>- Always check the UV rating on your sunnies. Select one that provides at least 99% UV </span>protection or blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #313131; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 1px;"> </span><span style="color: #313131;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;">- Don’t be deceived by cost or darkness of the lens. Sunglasses don’t have to be </span></span></span><span style="color: #313131;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;">expensive to be effective, and a darker lens does not mean it blocks more UV light. In fact, a dark lens without any UV protection is worse than going without sunglasses because it causes the pupil to dilate, allowing more UV radiation to reach the retina.</span></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #313131;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>- A wrap-around or oversized style offers more protection from the top and sides. More </span>importantly, choose what feels comfortable on your face so you are more likely to wear them.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>- Polarized lenses block reflected glare off surfaces, which can be useful for sports or </span>outdoor activities, but have nothing to do with UV light absorption. Many polarized lenses, however, are now combined with UV-blocking properties.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>- Photochromatic lenses that automatically darken may be a good option for some.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">2. Wear a broad-brimmed hat to keep sunglight off the face and eyes.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">3. Don’t be fooled by cloudy or snowy days. UV radiation is still present when you can’t see the sunlight and is strongest when reflected off snow, water, or ice.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">4. Never look directly at the sun. This can damage the retina from solar radiation.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Wear your sun protection regularly and don’t forget about the kids! Children take in approximately 3x the annual UV exposure of an adult, and up to 80% of their lifetime exposure happens before the age of 20. Unlike adult eyes, children’s eyes are still developing and cannot filter out UV rays as effectively so they are particularly vulnerable to UV damage. Start early so they learn to enjoy wearing them on their face.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Have a safe summer!</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Dr. Rachel</span></span></div>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-32953977102411300362022-05-23T14:27:00.003-07:002022-05-23T14:27:42.070-07:00Healthy Vision Month<p> <img class="CToWUd a6T" data-image-whitelisted="" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1?ui=2&ik=9661d12062&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1733622482543913094&th=180f107676a92886&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_nDZNjy1z5RNonfh_dInCDxVayXsoQk7-Ij-uak9yZu-NmsHQjCqSE2oYO5mJigAGmm5E_vXUPOJ9z1rbJjl4O7niGw9zzXDZKmJA0BqOQRhtGsrFGY6hiW2w&disp=emb&realattid=180f106b179207cf5f01" style="color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" /></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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 <i style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);">not </i>be leaving up to luck are my eyes. Think you have been blessed with “good eyes”? Do you know for certain?</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The CDC highlights this month as <b style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);">Healthy Vision Month</b>, 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.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/fastfacts.htm&source=gmail&ust=1653427586475000&usg=AOvVaw0YMJSjiZtGGwA-VcLHSYC1" href="https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/fastfacts.htm" style="border-color: rgb(66, 133, 244); color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="border-color: rgb(66, 133, 244);">https://www.cdc.gov/<wbr></wbr>visionhealth/basics/ced/<wbr></wbr>fastfacts.htm</span></a> Some eye diseases do not have any warning signs so your best defense in preventing vision loss is to detect things early with regular eye exams.</span></span></div><p style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"> </span><br /></span></p><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here are 8 additional tips you can do to keep your eyes healthy:</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">1. Know your family’s eye health history, as some conditions are hereditary.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">2. Incorporate green leafy vegetables into your diet and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">3. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports, doing yard work, home repairs, or in the workplace.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">4. Maintain a healthy weight. Generallly, what is good for the rest of your body is good for your eyes.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">5. Smoking cessation. Making a plan to quit will help lower your risk for conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">6. Wear sunglasses, even on cloudy days. Look for those that block 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. Darker does not always mean better.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">7. Clean your contact lenses properly and wash your hands before handling them.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">8. Take breaks from prolonged screen time with the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eyestrain.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With that said, we are lucky to have such great patients and will continue to make your eyes our priority!</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Have a great week,</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="border-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Dr. Rachel</span></span></div></div>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-37335515719392231682022-04-21T07:17:00.000-07:002022-04-21T07:17:24.723-07:00Can an eye drop really replace my reading glasses?<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span><span> Wondering if eye drops can replace readers???</span></span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">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!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What is it?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">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.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Who is it for?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">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 happens to everyone and is not a disease. Ideally, this patient should be able to see far away with minimal help and be relying on reading glasses only for near tasks.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">How does it work?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">It stimulates the muscles in the eye to 1) contract, which flexes the lens inside the eye to increase focusing power, and 2) to constrict the pupil, which provides a greater depth of focus. These actions work together to improve near vision, and participants in the clinical studies experienced an improvement of at least 3 lines. It has less effect on older patients, and is not needed before the age of 40 because your eyes still have the ability to flex naturally.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">How long does it last?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">It has been shown to be effective for 6 hours and start working in as little as 15 minutes. It is intended to be used as a once-daily eye drop.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Any side effects or adverse reactions?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Certainly! Headache and eye redness are most common. Due to its effect on the pupil, reduced peripheral vision, dimming of vision, and difficulty driving at night are also possible side effects. Temporary distance blur and difficulty adjusting between near and distant objects may occur. Most importantly, albeit rare, is the risk of retinal detachment - when the ciliary muscle contracts it can shift everything forward in the eye and result in traction or pulling on the retina.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">How much does it cost?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Around $80 per bottle. It is prescription-only and not covered by insurance. One bottle will last nearly a month, so, if you are using 1 drop in both eyes daily that is just over $1,100 per year.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">My two cents</span></b></p><p dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Vuity is not a fix or cure-all, but an adjunctive treatment option for presbyopia… another tool in the toolbox. I see it as an occasional option for patients to use for those times they want to be less dependent on their readers or bifocals. The biggest drawback is the lack of all-day efficacy, not to mention the potential side effects and cost. It may lessen the annoyance of having to reach for your “cheaters”, but it is not a valid long-term solution and prolonged near work will likely require correction. Full disclosure: I am still a few years away from presbyopia so it’s easy for me to say stick with the zero-risk OTC readers or a nice progressive bifocal. Like anything else, some people will love it and some will hate it. Just be sure to always consult your eye doctor!</span></p><p dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">- Dr. Rachel</span></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-38495800695615350862022-03-21T10:02:00.001-07:002022-03-21T10:03:25.444-07:00Dr. Rachel Browne<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">Welcome Dr. Rachel Browne To EHS!!</span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlie26gaEHRaOEXPnNhcYASW6OCNUBIT76gTlF8oliDVyc4UATKkbNz5CdYjNgdcKl-0kJS3OtLcs0X4cDQ8m3e0p3qT0HMUDXkOnIaLCCsWlnCRdk4Y2JABQVylb3zbUW5jvX422QBS7VkBih78g-nxGqTembqzEQAMrahohpVcDL24xSoKO-lYIl/s2804/rachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2804" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlie26gaEHRaOEXPnNhcYASW6OCNUBIT76gTlF8oliDVyc4UATKkbNz5CdYjNgdcKl-0kJS3OtLcs0X4cDQ8m3e0p3qT0HMUDXkOnIaLCCsWlnCRdk4Y2JABQVylb3zbUW5jvX422QBS7VkBih78g-nxGqTembqzEQAMrahohpVcDL24xSoKO-lYIl/s320/rachel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-_O5fB_7G5Qm-f91b-gl_7rWmUJ7rAxproB9vCueRyQL4ZiT-400u_oK1pnno4iLvUZiG9Pi7w6geD6KjXbHbGM2ihYvKvVdztjQ835Pf7w0-h7bPhULrNuBJbWIflIRK9nn5m7YpUJEhdMHd01SGddK4jI0ixsb6c_hcyPJ1SERl0mb5wkg8q-h/s3024/rachel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="3024" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-_O5fB_7G5Qm-f91b-gl_7rWmUJ7rAxproB9vCueRyQL4ZiT-400u_oK1pnno4iLvUZiG9Pi7w6geD6KjXbHbGM2ihYvKvVdztjQ835Pf7w0-h7bPhULrNuBJbWIflIRK9nn5m7YpUJEhdMHd01SGddK4jI0ixsb6c_hcyPJ1SERl0mb5wkg8q-h/s320/rachel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px;">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.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> <br /></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">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 community and feel fortunate to be able to serve in the area professionally. Outside of the office you can find me cheering at youth sporting events, watching home renovation shows, baking, being outdoors, or traveling whenever possible.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I look forward to meeting you!</div></blockquote>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-56886962506290531202021-02-12T14:36:00.000-08:002021-02-12T14:36:03.555-08:00Blue blocking glasses continue to disappoint<p><br /></p><p>I have been consistent for the past decade when these first came out that it made no sense to block a specific color. We are finally getting some studies that back this up. </p><p><a href="https://www.ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(21)00072-6/fulltext">Blue blocker study on eyestrain</a><br /></p><p>I know many people with their $10.00 "blue light" lenses feel like it helps but the research does not show this to be true. This is all placebo effect. Any claim that blue light from screens is harmful is completely false. When you go outside you get 100,000 times the amount of blue light from the sun that you would ever get from a screen. </p><p>Also, if you can see the color blue through your "blue light" glasses - what exactly are they even blocking?</p><p>If you want to reduce computer eyestrain, get glasses that properly correct your prescription if you need them. Every 20 minutes take a 20 second break from looking at your screen and focus on something at a distance. Make sure you are addressing anything that could be causing dry eye issues, such as fans or vents blowing on you. Invest in a quality computer monitor. We do have studies that show less strain and more productivity when the clarity of the monitor is better. Address overhead lighting issues. Fluorescent lights that flicker or lights that glare off your screen will contribute to strain. </p><p>Ultimately the human body is not designed to sit in front of a screen for 8-10 hours a day. Get up and move around if you can, this will lower blood sugar and insulin levels, especially when done after meals. </p><p>That is all for now, thanks for reading!</p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Jason</p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-85028892636417836282020-12-02T07:41:00.001-08:002020-12-02T07:41:59.544-08:00T.M.<h1 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;">Tara.Marshall.</h1><h1 style="text-align: center;">Introducing to you.. our newest employee @ EHS!</h1><div><br /></div><div>Here is a little 'get to know ya' about Tara, our newest employee. She will be working with the Doc's in the exam rooms as a scribe.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyTxxA-zYJ4jlpplZuo4qgxMusnn8SdJqeEEfV4_hhlSD5aKPCF4qsqdDHXbJCVQM6c5labtova3cEr85JiQyYDc1M6eET5dSK69io8VIKRFuE2PlAiUjL_38oYiEY2A4oUlLTCGIeEs/s2048/TARA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyTxxA-zYJ4jlpplZuo4qgxMusnn8SdJqeEEfV4_hhlSD5aKPCF4qsqdDHXbJCVQM6c5labtova3cEr85JiQyYDc1M6eET5dSK69io8VIKRFuE2PlAiUjL_38oYiEY2A4oUlLTCGIeEs/s320/TARA.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"> </h1><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Hi All! My name is Tara, and I was born and raised in Knoxville, and graduated with the class of 2009. My husband Jared works at 3M and we have two beautiful children, Carter (9) and Jadyn (8). In my freetime, I enjoy watching the kids in their sporting events, taking our two dogs Tank (lab) and Jax (shih tzu poodle) on walks, reading, and last, but certainly not least, shopping :) </span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm looking forward to meeting all of our patients at Eye Health Solutions :)</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"> </span></span></div><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div>1. <b>What is your favorite movie of all time?</b></div></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Any Michael Myers movie- Halloween time is definitely my favorite! </span></div><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div>2. <b>If you had to pick one song to sing karaoke to... what would it be?</b></div></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Pick just one?! " I Wanna Dance with Somebody"-Whitney Houston </span></div><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div>3. <b>How long does it take you to get ready in the a.m.?</b></div></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Too long- 1 hour if I'm speedy. </span></div><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>4. <b>What is the best fast food place do you think?</b></div></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sonic-BLT'S --YUM! </span></div><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div>5.<b> Where/ what is your dream vacation?</b></div></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Colorado-love being in the mountains </span></div></div>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-51052551812538107352020-11-13T14:31:00.000-08:002020-11-13T14:31:43.923-08:00No, special glasses do not help people that are colorblind. <p> </p><p>Many of you have probably seen the viral videos of colorblind kids putting on glasses and seeing colors for the first time. They are emotional and we want it to be true. Here is one from ABC news. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwDE0sxXhBc">Colorblind kid sees colors for first time</a></p><p>Well, there is no doubt that the kid will see things "differently" than before, but that is much different than actually perceiving color the way most people do. Color vision defects happen due to genetics on the X chromosome that you inherit from your mother. Wearing a lens that simply filters light does nothing to change this. Also, there are many variations of color vision deficiency. How can one pair of glasses know which colors to correct? Also, how does someone who has never seen color normal even know they are seeing color normal?</p><p>Well, finally science to the rescue. These folks proved it was not possible. </p><p><a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-11-scientists-glasses-enable-color-blind-people.html?fbclid=IwAR1ezgdOFRXzpPobHaRIQ85n590GaFnfINna7wRE59VflovIELMX3GedWSk">Science for the win</a><br /></p><p>It makes for a good story and also greases the wheels for Go Fund Me accounts but ultimately these are a scam. I have no doubt the child sees things differently with the colored glasses just as you or I would with a pair of colored lenses, but again that is not the same as restoration of color vision. </p><p>Now, the videos of babies putting on glasses for the first time and seeing. Those are legit. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAMKUYy3aVQ">Baby sees mom</a><br /></p><p>Have a good weekend everyone!</p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Jason</p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-55366955604982577412020-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:002020-10-12T07:59:55.587-07:00Lizzy Moats<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9ATL0AXUZ9MUJhin96EN_rbxwQyOIKovR3fSv7MkE8OCkCfIdB72mm4Hfayd1BvHoNGVPC28YOWHndzeTwxHuUc3CmmzDVmH0hyzfRGW1ZCEktbjxbKb4F6NChAMZH457Q3CRjDVqU8/s2048/LIZZY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9ATL0AXUZ9MUJhin96EN_rbxwQyOIKovR3fSv7MkE8OCkCfIdB72mm4Hfayd1BvHoNGVPC28YOWHndzeTwxHuUc3CmmzDVmH0hyzfRGW1ZCEktbjxbKb4F6NChAMZH457Q3CRjDVqU8/s320/LIZZY.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lizzy</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>I was born and raised in Knoxville, and went to college at UNI. I graduated in May of 2020 with my bachelor's degree and moved back to Knoxville with my husband, Nick, who is also from Knoxville. Nick and I will be married two years in January. Both of our families are local, which is such a blessing. In July, we got our pup Watson. He's a Lab/Great Pyrenees mix who is currently 47 pounds and just over four months old. He's the most adorable big baby. We also had a little niece born at the beginning of September who we can't wait to spoil.</span></p><div><br /></div><div>I enjoy reading, especially fantasy, WWII memoirs, and Christian fiction. Many can attest that I bring a book with me EVERYWHERE. I also love watching tv (anything by the CW) curled up underneath a cozy blanket with a candle burning next to me and hammocking when it's nice out. </div><div><br /></div><div>I began working here at Eye Health Solutions in June in the patient care area, so you will see me at the front desk. I'm smiling behind my mask, I promise.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div><br /></div><div>We asked Lizzy a few questions for everyone to get to know a little about her!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. What is your proudest accomplishment?</b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My proudest accomplishment is being able to graduate from college, buy a house, and a dog (all in the time of Rona) all before turning 22. My husband and I are also on track to have our student loans paid off by December.</span></li></ul></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. What is the greatest book of all time that you have read?</b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't think I'll ever have a "greatest book of all time." I really think any book can be the greatest book if you read it at the right point in your life, but I've loved The Book Theif, The Harry Potter series, and Redeeming Love.</span></li></ul></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">3. Do you have peeves? And if so, what pet's them?</b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As an English major, naturally I have a big grammar pet peeve: when people say "I could care less instead of I couldn't care less" Drives me nuts! Also, I hate hate hate the sound of styrofoam.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 400;" /></div></li></ul></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">4. How many pillows do you sleep with?</b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> I use one pillow for my head and one long body pillow to cuddle.</span></div><div style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 400;" /></div></li></ul></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">5. What is your favorite kind of foreign food?</b></div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: medium;">OOOH Chinese food! Especially a good crab rangoon</span></div><div class="yj6qo ajU" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; margin: 2px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 10px 0px; width: 22px;"></div></b></li></ul></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-44961881369456592382020-04-15T11:45:00.003-07:002020-04-15T11:45:56.627-07:00When will things get back to normal?<br />
The title of this post is a great question. As an optometrist I did not think I would ever work from home but here I am listening to webinars, doing blog posts, and research from home. Ultimately we need to get back to seeing patients and delivering top quality eyecare.<br />
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The answer to the question in the title is never. Our reality has been fundamentally changed and this was from a virus which although deadly, has a relatively low mortality rate. Imagine a virus such as H5N1 (avian flu) that has a mortality rate of 60%. Remember that one, it is still out there.....<br />
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We can't live our lives in fear, we can only control what we can control. Hopefully we learn from this and we are better prepared down the road if something more dangerous or something similar comes along.<br />
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To relate this back to eyecare and our office, I don't think you will ever see a kids play area or magazine rack again. Honestly, I would hope you do not see those in any office waiting room. We have removed ours, and guests can use the complimentary Wifi while waiting. We will also have shields installed in key areas of the office to help protect staff and patients once we are back to work. The number of people in the office at one time will be limited and we will look to use technology even more than we do now to minimize trips or touch points in the office.<br />
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Optometry will be one of the first back to work in my opinion. It is important for people to see and we are offices that do not have sick people coming to visit. We generally see healthy people and other than talking, we have people keep their mouths closed. There is always risk, so we will do the best we can to minimize it. I mentioned all this in my last post.<br />
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Since my last post this video came out on the Today show talking about the very point I was making.<br />
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<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fon.today.com%2F2V5Qpvs%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3AhEFG-g3ahEi6IAoBgmy6bCRpMnt6Va82AUoA5nzxjcAw09nAzsK3Qyg&h=AT1ocBlPkRrUxZ-o5ob4cgXTiSWzEI0hUFvgGHhXQM2W9HeVQZPjFVgGxl7qbz1nB68Smby_JCYJpvEb2G9Ll0CzlDsfyQqrjD7dP0YHnJFT4xIBcA7m-afSmvyBsHtAEk1NNJi5nRzf7NrPtSBerQWj-FjKWVzYFlBFbt_5eKIJ7_ezc148iTIka8cHqHvzDHaWmHBJVyYTeS2FvSL9cP9Tcyo4ks9yi9Jv1QpqV2RJLyM8D5V27FELB8obr3qTMBlnSHRH222FNbH8-0P6ngF6-8RPM0KwdvBUCvkTtD8F9uBrcvpreKWElAtH3i4bo8ChbrEIqaKn9oZJTHq0IkD-k17l6JdiOygI1Yn-urJoeaQcalW56un2VwgDW2AnDKb_fxXjUe-LgKlWfHDvVRVimIFAFX3T9kN443V8bHs0M0YmRCiAuX0Y9a-y6TnVQ32iwrj7Npbcxmc_GXzsUqelCG34ZqPx7pFmUDyXsD9UumbyFNfwLpwI2oaOoQAgXwnuMWnMSRRLDu1Y_IjMu22IwR6TDJcCvTYPeSP_e879lucKrDBtPfLrMlebykFvCBT-ZNDCN2yqQtpdPt4TM50Zjd7OU64uQpyDh0Mz_bwN5TECziZeiKjy" target="_blank">Today Show - who goes back to work?</a><br />
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Stay well, and look forward to seeing you soon!<br />
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Dr. JasonEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-81838932843169422272020-04-01T13:22:00.001-07:002020-04-01T13:22:38.797-07:00COVID-19 and the eye<br />
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Well, it seems like eons ago when I did this <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/blogger.g?blogID=9080812978199949363#editor/target=post;postID=2876141816810751851;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=3;src=postname" target="_blank">previous blog post</a>. In re-reading that who would have thought we would end up where we are now.<br />
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A couple quick things to comment on. In a <a href="https://www.aao.org/editors-choice/small-study-suggests-low-risk-of-covid-19-transmis" target="_blank">recent study</a> it was shown that the virus is not transmitted in tears. This study was only 17 people but was very well done. None of the 17 had traces of the virus in their tears. Now to be clear you can still inoculate yourself through the mucus membranes of the eye but new tears do not seem to shed virus as far as we know currently.<br />
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The second thing to comment on is signs of conjuctivitis or "pink eye" associated with the virus remain very low, at about 1%.<br />
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In the office we have installed breath shields on our microscopes and changed how we interact with patients to minimize chance of contamination. We are fortunate that our office is not a place where sick people go and we do not have the aerosol issues that our dental colleagues have to deal with. There is always risk, and we will do the best we can to minimize and control those risks once we get back in the flow of taking care of our patients.<br />
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Dr. JasonEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-56478123549526337722020-03-08T12:16:00.004-07:002020-03-08T12:16:57.174-07:00Lets Quit Changing the Clocks!<br />
Well, its Sunday morning and we lost an hour. I am sure more people missed church today than almost any other Sunday or a few people showed up at the wrong time (guilty of both of these myself in the past).<br />
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There is no debate that we are hard wired to wake up with the sun and go to bed at night. Every cell in our body has a circadian clock. Morning sunlight in your eyes shortly after waking up is a great way to set your clock and tell your body it is time to get moving. It also helps with sleep in the evening as your clock has now "been set".<br />
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Despite all the hype around blue blocking glasses in the last couple years morning sunlight is going to have a high level of blue light which is beneficial to your sleep/wake cycle. That is why blue light in the evening can disrupt things.<br />
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What can we expect this week by messing around with the clocks:<br />
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1. Car accidents will increase on the Monday following the spring forward.<br />
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2. There will be more workplace injuries tomorrow and of higher severity than normal.<br />
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3. The risk of having a heart attack goes up in the 3 days following the spring clock change. It goes down in the fall when we move the clocks back.....<br />
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There are more, but you get the idea. The correct way to do this is split the difference on the half hour between standard time and DST and never change the clocks again. Everyone wins!<br />
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A few tips to help avoid the above problems are get some morning sunlight and go for a walk or get some early morning outdoor activity followed by a light breakfast. Those 3 things will send a powerful signal to your body to help set your clock.<br />
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Go to bed a little earlier this week. Ideally that would have been a good idea for the week leading up to this but since I am writing this on Sunday that advice is a little late.<br />
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Have a great week and enjoy the later sunset. Also as a side note, please do not say the days are longer. The days are still 24 hours and the amount of daylight is exactly the same as before we changed the clocks. All we are doing is moving it from before work to after work.<br />
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Dr. JasonEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-57878467181213458632020-02-14T14:38:00.003-08:002020-02-14T14:38:51.780-08:00Are generic medications safe?<br />
I just finished reading the book "Bottle of Lies" by Katherine Eban. It is an inside look at the generic drug industry. To answer the question I put in the title of this blog post - maybe or maybe not.....<br />
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I won't give the complete rundown of the book but would encourage you to read it if you are at all concerned about the medications you or your family take. One of the things that jumped out at me was that U.S. drug manufacturing plants can be inspected any time any place with a surprise inspection from the FDA. Foreign plants in India and China, which is where many generics come from, get six weeks notice before an inspection. SIX WEEKS!!!!!! I can't help but thinking of how my house looks if I know I have company coming over vs someone just pops in unannounced.<br />
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I have seen this first hand in our office. Latanoprost is a medication to lower pressure in the eye. There are currently at least 19 different manufacturers of this medication. I have many patients taking the generic form and most do well. I have seem some not do well where their eye pressure is right back to where it was before we started, almost like they were not taking the drug at all. I put them back on a branded product and boom - good to go.<br />
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A few things that you can do to protect yourself since the FDA has very little power or controls over these foreign plants are:<br />
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1. Take a branded U.S. manufactured drug if you can afford it.<br />
2. If you do take a generic try and get one made in the U.S., Israel, or the EU.<br />
3. If you are on an Indian or Chinese generic it may be fine, but if things are not going well don't assume the medication is ok. Your doctor or pharmacist have no way to check that the drug that was prescribed is manufactured correctly and the FDA certainly does not inspect all the medicine that comes in. <br />
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None of these things guarantee that you would never have a problem with your medication but I think it would improve your odds. Better yet would be making lifestyle changes to get off of medications, if you can.<br />
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That is all for this week - I encourage anyone interested to read the book and feel free to post any comments.<br />
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Dr. Jason<br />
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<br />Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-28761418168107518512020-01-31T09:11:00.001-08:002020-01-31T09:11:21.535-08:00Coronavirus, Influenza B, and the eyeHappy Friday once again. I have had kids home with snow days the last 2 Friday's so it seems especially quiet this morning. I am reading headlines about the 2020 novel coronavirus outbreak so it seemed fitting to discuss this a bit along with how it relates to your eyes. This also applies to the influenza B outbreak going through Knoxville schools right now as well.<br />
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We have all had a coronavirus infection at some point. It is a common virus and your symptoms would be like any mild viral infection and presented as a mild to moderate cold. The difference with this one is that it is new or "novel" and our immune systems are poorly equipped to fight it. This is similar to SARS, MERS, or even the Spanish flu where common viruses change and become much more potent.<br />
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Two years ago I did some traveling in Japan and in Asian countries post SARS it is common to see surgical masks on people just walking around in public. Culturally this is done more as a courtesy if someone is sick so they don't spread their germs rather than a way to prevent getting infected from someone else. Most of these surgical masks do not work well and will not stop a virus from getting through the mask. In order to prevent infection with a mask you need a N95 rated respirator and also training on the proper way to wear it.<br />
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Where the eyes come in play is the moist mucus membranes of the eye. It is interesting to me to see all these people wearing respirators and masks but yet no protection for the eyes. The mucus membrane of the eye can easily be a transmission point for a virus such as the novel coronavirus, or our local influenza B. So to wear a mask but leave the eyes unprotected makes no sense. One of the best ways of preventing colds, flu, etc is to not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth during cold and flu season. Humans like to touch their own faces and rub their eyes so this can be hard to do. Remember to wash your hands frequently and don't touch your face, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth.<br />
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Have a great weekend and lets all try and stay healthy.<br />
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Dr. JasonEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-37190250907027104932020-01-24T08:44:00.002-08:002020-01-24T08:44:55.138-08:00How in the heck do I avoid getting Alzheimer's?<br />
Greetings all. Its another snowy day and schools are closed so hopefully if you are home with your kids they are outside playing in the snow.<br />
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To follow up on the last couple blog post on diet and detecting Alzheimer's disease through retinal scanning I have had a few questions on what do you do to prevent it? It is a great question and unfortunately we are far from having all the answers. However, there are things we can do to lessen the risk. I look at these things like investing money. If you do a little early it can pay big dividends later in life when it counts. If you have a family history of dementia, like I do, you become interested in not going down that path if you can make choices to avoid it.<br />
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1. Get enough sleep. I can't take credit for the quote and it escapes me whose it is. I saw it in Dr. Matthew Walkers book on sleep which I highly recommend. "The amount of people that can get by on less than 7 hours of sleep rounded to the nearest percent and expressed as a whole number is zero." We all need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. A couple famous short sleepers are Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher who both ended up with dementia later in life. That certainly is not proof, but being able to get by on less sleep in nothing to brag to about.<br />
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2. Keep your blood glucose and insulin levels in check. This goes back to the good diet advice from a few weeks ago. Elevated insulin levels increase the risk of dementia. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28255864">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28255864</a><br />
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We have long known about diabetes and the increased risks for dementia as well. I remember as a 4th year optometry student hearing about Type 3 diabetes which some were using as a term to describe dementia because of the strong association.<br />
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As a side note you can have normal blood glucose and elevated insulin levels. This is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. If you are at risk ask your doctor to check not only your blood glucose but your fasting insulin as well.<br />
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3. Stay active. This does not mean doing a cross word puzzle once in awhile. This means staying physically and mental engaged. Stay socially active with your friends and family. Join a service club and get involved. Take a class for adults and learn new skills.<br />
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Ultimately we don't have all the answers for prevention and treatment. I think at this point we would be better focusing on prevention of these disease vs trying to cure it once it has happened. That's all for this week.<br />
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Dr. Jason<br />
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<br />Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-58060811755389178962020-01-10T14:05:00.000-08:002020-01-10T14:05:08.796-08:00Alzheimer's disease and eye exams<br />
Happy Friday everyone! It is currently cold and freezing rain, so a far cry from the 60 degree temps we enjoyed on Thursday. Such is life in the mid-west.<br />
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I have been aware of this for the last couple of years but an article hit USA Today on January 6th so I thought it would be good to discuss it briefly. First, just a little basic anatomy. The retina is a direct extension of your brain. It is not an exaggeration to say we are looking at your brain when we look into your eye at the back of the eye where the retina is. It is obviously much easier and less expensive to look into the eye than look at your brain via an MRI or PET scan which can cost thousands of dollars.<br />
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Research is being done with a retinal scanning device called an OCT that would be able to pick up early changes in the retina consistent with the plaques that form in the brain with Alzheimer's disease. Imagine being able to run a simple, inexpensive (a couple hundred dollars) scan and determine if there is disease.<br />
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My personal opinion on this is that we will see this technology available in the years to come. We have a state of the art OCT at the office already and I would imagine it would be a software upgrade to the unit to run these scans. Time will tell of course, but I continue to be amazed at what we are able to see by looking into our patients eyes.<br />
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Dr. JasonEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-71855480935109945552020-01-03T13:49:00.000-08:002020-01-03T13:49:02.517-08:00Diet and Age Related Macular Degeneration<br />
Happy New Year! It is the start of a new year and people are making their resolutions and reflecting on the past year. One of the common resolutions I hear is to be healthier by exercising more and eating better. The British Journal of Ophthalmology published a study on dietary choices and the development of eye disease. The study was published in December 2019. The eye disease studied was age related macular degeneration, AMD for short. In my world we have known that diet is a risk factor for years, and talk to patients daily about it. The study showed that the standard american diet, SAD for short, was linked to increase risk in development of AMD.<br />
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I think we all understand that better lifestyle choices can help prevent cardiovascular disease and protect your heart. This study shows that we should also be eating well to protect our vision as we age and prevent blindness.<br />
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Dr. JasonEye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9080812978199949363.post-65288189819400517212019-11-05T07:24:00.000-08:002019-11-05T08:16:33.413-08:00LeLa<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Everyone... meet Lela</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Lela began working with us in August 2019. She is part of our front desk team. She will be there to greet you with a smile while you check in or out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Lela has provided us with a little bit of info to help us get to know her on her </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">:Employee Spotlight Blog:</span></div>
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<b>Enjoy the info, followed by some random 'This or That' questions</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">About me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although we moved around a lot before I was in first grade, I have called Knoxville my home for over 44 years. I attended North Star Elementary in 1st grade, East in 3rd and the rest of my education was at Knoxville Regular Baptist School. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoy baking (which is apparent), reading and watching movies. My favorite time is Countdown to Christmas on the Hallmark channel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My husband and I have been married for 23 years (although, we both jokingly say that it feels like it has been 75-100). Both of our immediate families live in the area or close by which is very helpful for holidays and get together's. I love our annual Girls' Day that I spend with my sisters, sister-in-law, mother and nieces. There just seems to never be enough time in that day for us to do or talk about everything that we want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I began working here at the end of August and am in the area of Patient Care, so I will either see you when you check in or as you check out. Bear with me as I try to put names with faces. I look forward to assisting you when you come in or if you happen to call the office. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> *THIS OR THAT*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "helvetica" , sans-serif , "emojifont" , "apple color emoji" , "segoe ui emoji" , "notocoloremoji" , "segoe ui symbol" , "android emoji" , "emojisymbols"; font-size: 16px;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> sweet or salty :</b> I have a terrible sweet tooth!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>horror or comedy: </b>Comedy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>beach or mountains: </b>Mountains (not much for warmth)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>ninja or pirate:</b> Pirate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>spring or fall: </b>Fall</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b> tacos or burger: </b>Burger</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b> cat or dog:</b> Dogs (puppies, especially)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>truth or dare: </b>Truth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>vintage or modern:</b> Vintage</span></div>
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Eye Health Solutionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565213257817468269noreply@blogger.com0