Russell Eyecare & Associates - MesmerEyes....
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Latisse Eyelash Enhancement
Golfing and Glasses
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Oakley Eyeglass Question

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COACH, COACH, COACH

When is the COACH eye wear sale?  When is the COACH eye wear sale?  When is the COACH eye wear sale?

Okay, here it is.  On APRIL 18th, 2012 - ONE DAY ONLY!  All COACH eyeglass frames will be 50% off, and all COACH sunglass frames will be 40% off.  

Sale price cannot be combined with insurances or other discounts.

Latisse Eyelash Enhancement

What is Latisse?

LATISSE® is a prostaglandin analog, indicated to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes by increasing their growth including length, thickness and darkness. It is applied to the upper eyelash line nightly. Lash lengthening, darkening and thickening should occur after about 16 weeks of use. Side effects include ocular irritation, darkening of eyelid skin and iris. This is not normally covered by insurance plans and costs about $116 per month. 

Who can prescribe Latisse?

You should see an eye doctor for prescription of Latisse; optometrist or ophthalmologist.  Latisse is actually a glaucoma medication and can change your eye pressure - so your eye pressure and ocular health need to be monitored while you are on this medication.

Golfing and Glasses

What glasses should I use when I go golfing?

There are 2 great lenses for golfing.  

Callaway golf makes a NEOX Transition lens - this lens has a greenish brown light tint to it all the time, and darkens as the sun gets brighter.  This change in tint allows you to see the golf ball in rain, shine and dusk!  The patented tint makes the golf ball really stand out on the fairway.  Callaway lenses are prescription and non-prescription HD digital for incredibly sharp vision - for those of you who lose sight of your golf balls!

Dry Eyes

My eyes feel dry and gritty - What can I do?

There is more than one way to treat dry eyes.

Option#1Artificial Tearscome in liquid, gel and ointment formulation.  They need to be used at least 2-4 times daily to be effective.  The key to artificial tears is to use them regularly.  Our office currently recommends Systane Balance, dose frequency is related to severity.

Option#2Omega-3 supplementsare available in fish oil or flaxseed derivatives.  You need to take 1000mg per day for at least 2 months to see results.

Oakley Eyeglass Question

Does Oakley make eyeglasses?

Yes!  Besides making optically superior sunglasses, Oakley has a great line of eyeglasses.  They design men and women's frames in retro to fashion forward styles.  They also make a men's line geared towards rugged men, for those who are tough on their glasses.

What vitamins and supplements are good for my eyes?

What vitamins and supplements are good for my eyes?

I am asked this question frequently by my patients.  There are multiple supplements that can benefit your eyes, but you need to be careful not to overdose on certain ones.  Vitamins A (beta-carotene), B-Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, bilberry, Omega-3 and bioflavonoids - just to name a few that have been researched to provide ocular health support.  Many of the following multivitamins provide these supplements: ICaps, Ocuvite, Oculaire, Macutrition and PreserVision.

COACH is here!

The new COACH frames have arrived!  They are the same quality and style that you have come to expect with the COACH name.  Stop in and take a look!

Can smoking damage my eyes?

Can smoking damage my eyes?

Yes, it can increase your risk of developing blinding eye diseases!

#1 Smokers are 4 times more likely to develop macular degeneration.  If you already have macular degeneration, smoking can make it progress more quickly.  Vitamin A is one of the  treatment modalities for macular degeneration, but if it is taken by a smoker, vitamin A can increase the risk of lung cancer. 

#2 Smokers develop cataracts earlier!  They are 3 times more likely to develop cataracts in their late 40's and early 50's - smoking causes a yellowing of the lens inside the eye, making it more vulnerable to cataract development.

Optical update

Coach update:  The new COACH line has just started shipping out and should be arriving within the next few weeks!!

Tiffany & Co. update:  There has been a lot of questions about the Tiffany line lately.  Our stock was a little low in November and December due to a remake of the line.  Tiffany & Co.  has redesigned their line to be more stylish and younger.  They added a significant amount of plastic frames to mimic their jewelry lines.  The new style just arrived a little over a week ago - come in and try them on!

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that gradually destroys the macula (the area in the back of your eye that is responsible for central 20/20 vision).  AMD comes in 2 forms: wet and dry.  

Dry AMD is when the tissue has degenerated and there is only atrophy (cell death), as opposed to Wet AMD that has blood and fluid leakage in the tissue.  Dry and Wet macular degeneration are treated with a combination of vitamins and minerals to fortify the tissue - slowing the progression.

What is going on with the COACH Eyewear line?

What is up with the COACH eyeglass and sunglass line?

Last year COACH switched design and distribution companies for it's eyewear.  The newly designed line will be out towards the end of January 2012.  Russell Eyecare has already placed the order for the new line, and it should be arriving soon.  We are VERY excited and will be having a COACH eyewear Trunk Show in April to fully welcome the new line.

What is a Trunk Show for eyewear?

A Trunk Show is when the eyeglass representative comes with ALL the styles of eyeglasses and sunglasses for a particular line (example: Prada, Coach, Ray-Ban, Oakley).

HD lenses

What is do High Definition (HD) lenses mean to me?

This is actually a very popular question.  An HD lens is digitally designed - that means it is NOT a stock prescription lens that is just pulled off a shelf and cut out for your frame.  HD lenses are digitally designed by the computer taking your prescription, measurements, and frame position into consideration.  
The digital design gives you clearer, sharper vision that eliminates peripheral distortion in single vision lenses.  

Cataracts

What are cataracts?
 
Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye.  It is a very common finding in older adults and patients with diabetes. Symptoms include blurred vision and increased  glare while driving at night.  UV exposure from the sun, smoking and poor nutrition can cause early cataracts or advance existing cataracts.  Cataracts are easily corrected with cataract surgery.  Cataract removal is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States today.  A dilated eye examination is needed to fully evaluate for cataracts. 

Contact Lens Questions

Does sleeping in my contact lenses damage my eyes?
Contact lenses block oxygen from getting to your cornea (the front surface of your eyes).  With your eyelids closed, you further reduce the oxygen available, basically ‘suffocating’ your eyes.  This causes your eyes to develop scars and small sores called infiltrates.  Also, bacteria can accumulate under the contact lens and start to eat through the tissue of your eye – this is called an ulcer. All of these can result in permanent vision loss.

Can my vision change while I am pregnant?

Question:  Can my vision change while I am pregnant?
Answer:  YES!  During pregnancy, changes in hormone levels, fluid retention, and blood circulation can affect your eyes and vision.  Water retention can result in puffy eyelids and cause your cornea to change shape.  The shape change can cause a shift in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription.  Also, due to the shape change, your contact lenses may not fit the same.  The hormone and circulation changes will impact the tear layer on your eyes - so your eyes may feel dry or more irritated.

What's up with the air puff?

I'd like to start by saying.....I've never blogged before.  A few patients have asked that I comment on ocular disease, eyeglass trends, contact lenses, etc.  If you have questions, stop in, call or e-mail and I will try to answer them promptly.  By the way, for those of you who have met Buddy, he says hello.
 
This is the number one statement I hear from all patients:"Doc, please don't air-puff my eyes!!!" 
We don't 'air-puff' you just to torture you - I promise.  This test is one of the 3 screening tests for glaucoma.