A Child’s FIRST Eye Exam …… Featured Patient: Jacob

Jacob in the Eye Exam Room

Jacob is 5 years old. He came in today for his VERY FIRST eye examination.

Last year he saw his Pediatrician for a vision screening but, he was not too cooperative when it was time to read the eye chart so they really did not have any idea about the clarity of his right eye. This year he went to Kindergarten and had a vision screening. That day mom got a note back that he failed and needed to see an eye doctor.

Jake Having Fun at Visionary Eyecare

He came into Visionary Eyecare ( the Independent Doctors of Optometry Next to Pearle Vision in Davie) for his first eye exam. During his vision test we noticed that Jake could see fairly well with his left eye but, he was only able to see 20/80 (eight lines WORSE than 20/20) with his right eye. During the eye exam, Dr Bearden found that Jake has a high prescription in his right eye and was using only his left eye to see with. His right eye is a lazy eye (amblyopia) and is not able to be corrected to 20/20 – even WITH a glasses prescription.

But the good news is that a child’s visual system is not completely developed until around age 7. So he can still adapt to changes in the clarity of his vision – he is more likely to have great success with his new glasses and possible vision therapy to strengthen that vision in his right eye!

Jake Give Us the Thumbs UP!!!

So, Jake’s eyes are still growing and developing and with the proper glasses and visual therapy – hopefully, he will be able to get the vision in his right eye to be a lot better than 20/80….maybe even as good as 20/20.

The key learning for parents is to have your child’s eyes examined with a comprehensive eye examination as early as possible – by an Eye Doctor.

Jacob Gets Measured for His New Glasses

Jake Plays Star Wars

Jake Models His Frame Choice

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Jake Returns to Pick up his new glasses….just in time for Thanksgiving!!

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A Blogger’s Event: Eye Exams, Lenscrafters and BlogHer

Dr Bearden is currently on the Lenscrafters Optometric Advisory Council (LOAC) with other Doctors and Lenscrafters leaders from around the country.  Dominque Simon is the Regional Director of Operations for Lenscrafters in New York and also a member of the LOAC.  Dominique (she’s in the back row, farthest to the right in the above pic) informed Dr Bearden of this really cool Blogger event hosted by Lenscrafters in NYC…

In August, LensCrafters hosted a private in-store event for BlogHer bloggers in the NY area to teach parent bloggers about the importance of eye health and style for themselves and their families. The event was held at the Lenscrafters flagship store in Manhattan on 5th Ave in New York City. Bloggers also received tips from LensCrafters on how to make the most out of eye exams and best practices in working with eye doctors.

The event was led by LensCrafters’ VP of Eyecare, Dr. Eliot Grossman and Dr. Shirlie Dowd. Additional LensCrafters’ Eye Doctors were on hand to mingle with Bloggers and conduct eye exams throughout the event.  Style experts were also on hand to help Bloggers to select the right style frames for their face and the best lenses for them.

BlogHer Reviewers take a closer look at LensCrafters:

On the August night in Manhattan, BlogHer’s gathered with the folks from LensCrafters to enjoy some good company, learn some things they didn’t know about eye health, try on new frames with the help of stylists and basically have a pretty good time doing it. They’ve captured the event in their blogs and we think you’ll be surprised by what they each took away from the experience.

Debi was amazed by what she learned:

“Did you know that 10 MILLION children in this country need glasses but aren’t wearing them!?! I had no idea. I was actually quite stunned.”

ChefDruck found a new appreciation for the importance of eye exams:

“Your eyes are valuable, being blind would be terrifying, so why avoid eye exams? They had my attention.”

Victoria appreciated the timing of the event:

“Our rockstar pediatrician dropped the bombshell at her all important 5 year check up that Miss Natalie succeeded at failing her vision test; he also recommended a follow up exam elsewhere. Lovely. Minutes later I saw a Blogher ad announcing their event with LensCrafters…”

Pretty Lady was impressed with the presentation:

“Pretty Lady is pleased to inform you that Lenscrafters has formulated a Serious Educational Agenda, which, unlike a great many commercial endeavors, actually managed to educate her.”

Kimberly found out that eye exams are incredibly important for your overall health:

“But what I didn’t know is that your eyes aren’t only the windows to your soul, they can also be the best windows to your health.”

Check Out the BlogHer Blogger’s Blogs……(try saying THAT 10 times fast!):

http://loveisnewadditionstothefamily.blogspot.com/2008/08/open-your-eyes.html

http://www.parentingourchildren.com/have-you-had-your-eye-exam-yet/

http://plwellness.blogspot.com/2008/08/vision-on-fifth-avenue.html

http://chefdruck.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-swag-overdose-possible.html

From enjoying gourmet treats to the personal attention from all of the LensCrafters staff at the event, all of the bloggers had a wonderful time learning about eye health and eyewear fashion!!

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A Treatment for Dry Eye – Punctal Plugs

There are several treatments for Dry Eye including using artificial tears, prescription eye drop medications like Restasis, eating a diet that is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids (salmon, fish oil supplement capsules or flaxseed oil) and punctal plugs.

Dry eyes are very common problem for many people.  Symptoms of dry eyes can include burning, dry eye feeling, itching, intermittent vision blur (that clears up when you blink) and excess tearing (the brain’s natural response to eye dryness).

Punctal plugs are used when you are producing very little tear fluid to properly bathe your eyes.  The plugs are inserted into your puncta (the opening of your tear drainage duct) to help preserve what little tears that you do have.  Punctal plugs keep your tears ON the surface of your eye (instead of draining out the drainage duct).

The procedure is quick and painless and can be done right in the office examination room.  The plugs are inserted painlessly in our office in about 5 minutes.

There are 2 types of plugs – collagen (disolvable) and silicone (non-disolvable – but still removable if you ever want them removed).

At Visionary eyecare we usually insert collagen (disolvable ) plugs into the lower puncta of each eye as a trial test.  The plugs will usually last for 3-5 days.  In about a week, we will bring you back for a follow up.  If you are happy with the amount of moisture in your eyes at your follow up – then we proceed to insert the silicone (non-disolvable) plugs into your lower puncta.

If you feel that you would like more moisture – then we will insert the collagen (disolvable) plugs into your upper AND lower puncta and bring you back for a follow up in about a week.  If you are happy with the amount of moisture then we will proceed to insert the silicone (non-disolvable) plugs into all 4 puncta (the upper and lower puncta in each eye).

These plugs can also be called Lacrimal Plugs….and they are NOT felt once they are inserted into your punctas.

The Picture Above shows a Collagen Plug in the Upper Puncta and a Silicone Plug in the Lower Puncta.

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Lite 101.5 FM Radio Broadcast this Saturday – August 23rd!!

Pearle Vision and Visionary Eyecare (Independent Doctors of Optometry Next to Pearle Vision) will be hosting a  LIVE Radio Remote Broadcast with Lite 101.5 FM from our office in Davie on this Saturday … August 23rd … from 10am until 12 noon.

Click HERE to see our Community Events link on www.litemiami.com …

Be sure to listen to Lite 101.5 FM between 10am and 12 noon and then stop by our office because the radio station will have the Lite 101.5 FM Station Vehicle out in our parking lot and they will have a Prize Wheel and will be giving away Door Prizes!! Pearle Vision will also be kicking off their amazing 25-70% off Non-Prescription SUNGLASS SALE….including some awesome designer frames from Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Ray Ban, DKNY, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and more!!

Stop by or call our office (954-434-9045) to BOOK an eye exam in our Davie office (Next to Pearle Vision) anytime on Saturday August 23rd and receive our FREE Promotional Gift to YOU! Any appointments that are BOOKED on that day (in person or on the phone – 954-434-9045) will receive a complimentary FREE Digital Retinal Photograph when you come in for your eye exam!!

The Retina is the nerve tissue that lines the inside your eye and is responsible for your vision and it is important to have a photograph of it to help detect any eye health problems that you may not be aware of.

The eye exam does NOT need to be DONE on Saturday….to get the FREE Retinal Photograph as your Promotional Gift, for this promotion – the exam just needs to be BOOKED anytime on Saturday.

Our Davie office is located at 5780 S University Drive in Davie – it is on the North East corner of University and Stirling, in front of the Super Target and across the street from Home Depot.  We are in between Jamba Juice and Pollo Tropical.  CLICK HERE to see a map.

Again, the digital retinal photograph is our FREE PROMOTIONAL GIFT TO YOU (this is a $25 value) for stopping by or calling us (954-434-9045) anytime on Saturday August 23rd to BOOK your eye examination in our Davie Office (Next to Pearle Vision)!!

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THIS SATURDAY!!!

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