World Sight Day Challenge

I love what I do.  I love that my job allows me to improve people's lives by helping them see better.  Those of you who need glasses understand what a blessing they are.  However, all over the world there are people living with a visual impairment, simply because they do not have access to eyecare or glasses.  How sad!  That's why Valley Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery participates in World Sight Day.  This event was created by an organization called Optometry Giving Sight whose mission is simply "To improve the quality of life of people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses."  Here is their website: www.givingsight.org

Here's the skinny on World Sight Day.  Valley Eyecare & Eyewear will donate the exam fees we collect on October 13 to Optometry Giving Sight.  In order to give as much as possible, we are extending our hours to 8am to 7pm and providing snacks all day.  (Everything is more fun with snacks, don't you think?)  We are also inviting patients to donate.  Due to the extensive collaboration of optometrists and frame and lens manufacturers, each $5 donation can provide an eye exam and pair of glasses to someone in Africa, Asia or Latin America. To sweeten the deal, anyone who donates $5 will be entered into a raffle for great prizes.

So schedule your eye exam for that day or just stop by and donate, enjoy snacks, and maybe win a prize for your generosity.

Resource for Patients with Irritated Eyes

All About Dry Eye
The above link goes to a site with good information on dry eye syndrome.  Our office does not utilize the testing device by the company hosting the site, (we have other methods of diagnosing and monitoring dry eye disease) but the information on symptoms, causes and treatments for dry eyes is good.  The site also hosts a blog where patients with dry eye disease can connect with each other.  Unless one has dry eyes, they often do not realize how big of an effect on quality of life the condition can have.

Electronic Health Records - Pros and Cons

New York Times article on Electronic Health Records

This article gives some pros and cons on electronic health records.  I have to agree with the author on many of the points.  While I love not having to file, and the staff loves not having to read my handwriting, I also feel awkward turning away from patients to type.  As patients, what do you think?  Do you feel ignored while the doctor is charting?  Have most of your doctors gotten away from the paper chart?  The article generated several heated responses.  I'd like to know what you think!

Valley Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery Wins Best Optometrist!

We are so honored to win the Record Courier's Best Optometrist category!  Thanks so much to all who voted for us!

Catarats & Macular Degeneration & Pterygium Oh My!

USA Today article on UV's effects on eyes
The above link is to a great article about the effects of UV exposure on eyes.  It also brings to light how few of people realize that ultraviolet light is harmful to eyes.  For example, only 29% of parents have their children wear sunglasses, and most of our UV exposure happens before age 18! 

In addition to the conditions the article mentions (cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium) other conditions are exacerbated or cause by UV exposure.  From something as scary as skin cancer on the eyelids, to something less serious (but still a little annoying) like wrinkles, ultraviolet light is no good for eyes. 

Don't have sunglasses?  Wear a hat!  Don't like hats?  Stop in to get a pair of our sunglasses (they all block at least 98% of UVA and UVB radiation).  Now is a good time to start protecting your eyes as we are offering a 30% savings on all sunglasses for the month of June!

Ready for SUN?

We sure are!!!  Eventually summer has to come to Carson Valley!  (We hope!)  Just as you need to lather on the sunscreen to protect your skin, your eyes also need protection from harmful UVA and UVB radiation, which can wreck all kinds of havoc from wrinkles to melanoma.  To make it easier to protect your family's eyes this summer, we are offering a 30% savings on all sunglasses for the entire month of June... Just in case summer actually makes it here! 

Trunk Show 2011 - Spring into a New Look