Local Miami Gorilla Undergoes Cataract Surgery

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Josephine is a 42 year old, 160 pound gorilla that lives in Miami at the MetroZoo.  She had severe cataracts that made her vision so blurry – they only allowed her to see shadows.  The cataracts were impairing her vision to the point where her quality of life was becoming severely diminished.

Recently, Josephine underwent cataract surgery – which is a very common surgery for humans (especially here  in South Florida) but, is extremely rare in gorillas (it has only been performed a handful of times).  The surgery was very risky due to Josephine’s advanced age of 42 (gorillas usually live to around age 50) and the necessity to administer general anesthesia.

Josephine had top ranking human and veterinary Eye Doctors attending to her pre-op and her surgery.   They were able to remove her cloudy lenses (cataracts) inside of her eyes and replace the old lenses with new, clear synthetic ones to hopefully restore the clarity of her vision once again.

Human Eye Doctor,  Dr Frank Spektor, described her cataracts as “hard as baseballs” once they were removed from Joespine’s eyes.  He also described the procedure as “Exhilarating….and exhausting.”

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Follow Dr Dawn Bearden on Twitter @FLEyecare

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Dr Dawn Bearden and Visionary Eyecare have moved out of Lenscrafters and have RELOCATED to Fort Lauderdale Eye Care & Eyewear in East Fort Lauderdale.  New website is www.FLEyecareEyewear.com and new phone is 954-763-2842.  New address is 1489 SE 17th St  Suite 2J Ft Lauderdale FL 33316.  Click here for map of new location

Dr Dawn Bearden is now “tweeting” for Fort Lauderdale Eye Care & Eyewear under the name @FLEyecare on Twitter .

When you follow @FLEyecare on Twitter you will always find interesting “tweets” about eye health care, eye health tips, inspiring quotes, health news, any new blog posts that were recently posted on our blog,  real time conversations with local South Floridians, eye related trivia, Twitter Tips and much more!!

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Click the Twitter Logo...

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Twitter is the FASTEST growing social network in history. According to Mashable – The Social Media Guide (@Mashable), Twitter has grown a staggering 1382% in the past year.  In January 2009 alone, Twitter grew 50% in ONE month.  Wow.  This is a POWERFUL social media platform for those who understand how to harness its power.

Most people have the perception that Twitter is for people tweeting about what they ate for breakfast….this is NOT what Twitter is all about.  You can connect with people in your local community or all around the globe who are experts in fields that you may be interested in learning about.  People like Robert Kiyosaki (@TheRealKiyosaki), Donald Trump (@DonaldJTrump), Oprah (@Oprah), Anthony Robbins (@TonyRobbins), Larry King (@kingsthings) and more…all tweet regularly.  Its truly a wealth of knowledge.

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If you’ve never checked out Twitter….go to www.Twitter.com/FLEyecare and check it out.  Maybe you will even decide to jump in, give it a try and start Tweeting – its a lot of fun and very educational!

Chances are ….you’ll soon get hooked!

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Tweet! Tweet!

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Raw Beauty – A Photo Exhibit and Book with Dr Dawn Bearden as a Contributing Photographer

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A few years ago Ginny Dixon (who is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, an instructor at the Miami Ad School and also Dr. Dawn Bearden’s wonderful friend) created a project as a fundraiser for the Center for Assisted Living of South Florida called Uncensored Life: Raw Beauty.

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The mission of the project was to be an innovative visual arts project designed to inspire the public to create new perceptions, transform stereotypes and break through personal obstacles by expanding awareness of women with physical challenges.

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On May 19th 2006 the project was turned into a hugely successful photo exhibit portaying 20 women with disabilities and physical challenges as strong, sexy, uplifting and inspiring photographic images.  Ginny Dixon invited Dr Bearden to be one of the 10 contibuting photographers (whose awesome pictures are displayed on this blog post) for the exhibit – which, of course,  was an invitation that she was honored to accept!  Many of the photos that night were enlarged to sizes much larger than life – some as big as 10ft by 10ft.  Dr Bearden was in awe to see her own photograph enlarged to around 10×10 and in a successful Miami photo exhibit!!  It was a truely amazing and inspirational project.

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Since the open of the inspiring photo exhibit in Miami Art District and  the Miami Design District in 2006 – which had originally started as a fundraiser….it now has ballooned and continues to expand to other states and countries.  This project has now blossomed into its very own book “The Raw Beauty Project”…..with ALL proceeds going to the Center for Assisted Living of South Florida.

You can CLICK HERE to purchase the book – “The Raw Beauty Project” !!

All proceeds go to the Center for Assisted Living of South Florida.

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A Quote from the Raw Beauty Project Website: Raw Beauty was a collaboration of 10 photographers and 20 women with disabilities.  The photographers worked closely with the women to create images that were anything but predictable when one thinks of a disability.  You are invited to look past what you perceive as disabled and see them as powerful, beautiful and extremely extraordinary women that they are.

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Dr Dawn Bearden was really excited to be a invited as a contributing photographer for the Raw Beauty project….and she’s totally thrilled that the project has now come out as its very own book with all of the proceeds going to the Center for Assisted Living in Florida.

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In addition to having a passion for being an Eye Doctor / Optometrist – Dr. Bearden has always had a true passion for photography.  She started taking pictures and developing them in the darkroom when she was in grade school (around age 11). In high school she was in the photography club and in college, her Minor was Photography.  Year after year, through Optometry school and beyond – you would see her with the camera in her hand at every event – just enjoying every minute behind the camera.

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After many years as a hobby, Dr Bearden decided to take it to the next level in 2004 when she enrolled in The Art Institute of Ft Lauderdale for Photography.  Here is where she really learned the details about lighting, composition and flow.  She also started taking workshops and courses to better herself as a professional photographer.  She has been taught in workshops by Matthew Jordan Smith (a celebrity fashion photographer from America’s Next Top Model and author of Sepia Dreams) and Seth Resnick (a world famous editorial, corporate and stock photographer).   Photography has always been and always will be one of Dr Bearden’s true passions.  The Raw Beauty Project was her first photographic exhibit.

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Here is a picture of the postcard for the Miami exhibit that took place in

Miami’s Art and Design Districts in 2006:

Uncensored Life: Raw Beauty - postcard for exhibit in Miami

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Ginny had a dream…..and she made it happen….she is a true leader and a real VISIONARY.

And THAT is what life is all about!

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EyeMed Network Discount Plans and Eye Exam Insurance – Eye Doctor Provider Serving Pembroke Pines, Sunrise and South Florida Surrounding Areas in Broward County

Great News!!! If you live in South Florida / Broward County then you need to know that we are Eye Doctor / Optometrist providers for the EyeMed Network Vision Care Insurance Plan to provide you with your discounted Eye Exam, Vision Exam,  Vision Testing, Eye Testing, Contact Lens Exam and more!

As EyeMed Providers and as always, we provide you with our state-of-the-art, computerized and high-tech eye examinations and contact lens exams. We also provide emergency eye care, laser vision consultations, cataract, glaucoma and retinal evaluations, as well as all types of eye health care.

We have offices in Pembroke Pines and Sunrise and conveniently serve ALL of the surrounding areas of Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Davie,  Weston, Tamarac, Margate, Lauderhill, Coral Springs, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Pompano, Miami Gardens, Cooper City, Miramar, Dania, Hallandale, Aventura, Miami Lakes, North Miami Beach, Hialeah, Hollywood and more…

Here is a partial list of some of the EyeMed Discount Plans that we particpate in:

• • AAA
  • AARP
  • AETNA Vision One
  • Altius
  • American Heritage Life Insurance
  • American Legion
  • Ameriplan USA
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
  • AT&T Retiree
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Of FL (BCBS FL)
  • Cigna Healthy Rewards
  • Claire’s Stores
  • Clear Choice Health Plans
  • Coca-Cola
  • Conde Nast and Parade
  • Consumer Health Benefits
  • CVS
  • D&B
  • Darden Restaurants – ( Including Capital Grille, Red Lobster, Longhorn, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 )
  • Earnst & Young LLP
  • Friendly’s Ice Cream
  • Home Depot
  • Humana (Select Plans including Dental Access, Discount Access and Vision Discount-Medicare)
  • International Paper
  • Kohl’s
  • Levi Strauss & Co
  • Local Government Center
  • Mail Handler’s Benefit Plan
  • Marriott Vision Discount
  • McDonald’s Gold Card Plus
  • Melaleuca
  • Metlife
  • Mutual of Omaha
  • Pep-Boys
  • Pepco
  • Pitney Bowes
  • Polo Ralph Lauren
  • Prevent Blindness America
  • Ryder Vision Discount
  • Siemen’s Corp
  • State Farm – Good Neighbor
  • Superior Dental Care
  • T. Rowe Price Retiree Discount
  • Texas instruments
  • The Coca-Cola Company
  • The Home Depot Discount Plan
  • Vision One
  • Winn-Dixie
  • Xerox Corporation
  • YUM! Brands (including Kentucky Fried Chicken / KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut)

Please call our offices to confirm that we are still participating in YOUR plan….as contracts come up – some plans are added and others are deleted.   Again, its always best to check with us first and remember that the list above is only a partial list!

Be sure to use your benefits before the end of the year….use your Flex Plan Spending!

Below is information about our offices for your convenience:

Pembroke Pines Office (Next to Lenscrafters)     954-430-3808

Located on the SE Corner of Palm and Pines (near Bank of America)

CLICK HERE for Directions/Map of Pines Office

CLICK HERE to Schedule Appointment ONLINE for Pines Office

Sunrise / Sawgrass Mills Mall (Next to Lenscrafters)  954-851-9949

Located INSIDE the Sawgrass Mall (between Brandsmart and JCPenny Outlet)

CLICK HERE for Directions/Map to Sunrise (Sawgrass Mall) Office

CLICK HERE to Schedule Appointment Online for Sunrise (Sawgrass Mall) Office

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Visionary Eyecare Website now Translated into English, Spanish, French, Portugese, Italian, Japanese, German and more!

Language Translator at Bottom of http://www.VisionaryEyecareOnline.com

Broward County in South Florida is a a wonderful melting pot!

Visionary Eyecare has eye clinics in Davie (Next to Pearle Vision), Pembroke Pines and Sunrise (Next to Lenscrafters)…and we have a wonderful mix of patients from ALL OVER the globe.

If you or your friends are looking to view our website and learn about Visionary Eyecare but, you would like to view the website in another language….then you are now in LUCK!   Learn more about our vision exams, our contact lens exams, our eye doctors, our online eye exam appointments and more….in 12 available languages.

Go to www.VisionaryEyecareOnline.com and scroll down to the very bottom of the page and you will see the Yahoo Babel Fish picture as shown above.

Yahoo Babel Fish is a language translator.  Just select the language that you want to view the page in….. and it will be translated for you immediately.  Available languages include Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portugese and Russian.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE

VISIONARY EYECARE WEBSITE NOW

Enjoy!!!

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Child Eye Exam Prior to Entering School – New Eye Exam Law in Illinois

Kudos to Illinois for leading the way in children’s vision care!!!

Illinois recently passed a law that intends for ALL children to receive a comprehensive eye examination from an Eye Doctor before entering school – so no child from Illinois will fall between the cracks of the “vision screen” system.   Here in South Florida at Visionary Eyecare, we see WAY too many children that have significant visual problems that were simply NOT picked up on these school or pediatrician vision screenings.   When a child has a vision problem and it is not detected and treated early enough – this can lead to a LIFETIME of vision problems.

Please click on the above picture to sign a petition to fully support this legistlation by incorporating a Vision First Exam Form.  This exam form will insure that the children are receiving very thorough and comprehensive eye exams from an Eye Dr  before they attend school.

We want to support Illinois  every step of the way so hopefully they will support Florida on day in passing similar legislation one day for our children!!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN PETITION

For more information please visit:

Vision First Foundation: http://www.visionfirstfoundation.org/

Janet’s Journal BLOG: http://janetsjournalblog.com/

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Get YOUR Vision and Eye Health Questions Answered!!

Lots of Our Patients Often Have the

SAME BURNING QUESTIONS….

What is Astigmatism??

Why do I now have problems reading up close when I turned 40??

What are those black floating spots in my vision??

What is a Cataract??

I need bifocals….can I wear contact lenses??

What is Glaucoma??

How often should I get my eye exam if I feel my vision has not changed??

What is a Retinal Detachment??

What is Myopia (Nearsightedness)??

What is Macular Degeneration??

My child passed the Pediatrician and/or School Vision Screening – does he/she still need an eye examination if he/she is not complaining of vision problems??

I have astigmatism….can I wear contact lenses??

What is Farsightedness (Hyperopia)??

Well, here is YOUR chance to get all of YOUR questions answered by Dr Bearden and the Visionary Eyecare Doctors – Right HERE on Our BLOG!!

Just leave a comment (Below this post – click on “Comments”) with your burning Vision and Eye Health question(s) and we will write future posts based on the questions that you ask….

Check back often to see if your question has been answered…..OR……… subscribe to our blog  via email (or RSS feed) and get all updates of new BLOG posts sent to you automatically.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our Blog Via Email.

Its THAT easy!

You are also welcome to visit our Vision Library on our Visionary Eyecare Website for LOTS of Vision and Eye Health Educational Information!!

CLICK HERE to go to our Vision Library….

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Become our FAN at Facebook….and get Special Discounts and Promotions with Visionary Eyecare

Join our Visionary Eyecare Fan Club at Facebook and be eligible for Special Events, Discounts and Promotions on your eye exam and vision test at Visionary Eyecare at our  South Florida Locations – Pembroke Pines (next to Lenscrafters) and Sunrise (next to Lenscrafters INSIDE the Sawgrass Mills Mall).

You can even join our Discussion Groups – or start a Discussion of your own.  Its a great way to talk one on one with our Optometrist Eye Doctors!  Ask questions about eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye infections, Laser surgery….and much more!

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

If you are not a member of Facebook….you can sign up today – its FREE!

Visionary Eyecare’s Blog: “The Eye Journal” …………. We Are Now LIVE!

Hello!!!

This is the maiden voyage of “The Eye Journal”,  which is our educational BLOG at Visionary Eyecare…..all about YOU and YOUR eye health and vision care questions.   The Eye Journal is written by our very own Visionary Eyecare Optometrists!!

Visionary Eyecare is a South Florida Eye Clinic with 2 locations in Broward County: Pembroke Pines (Next to Lenscrafters) and Sunrise (next to Lenscrafters – INSIDE the Sawgrass Mills Mall).

Visionary Eyecare is devoted to your most precise vision.  Each Eye Dr that works with you will give you personalized attention and customize your eye exam individually for you.  Every vision test that is done for you – will be suited to your individual needs.

If you need an eye examination for eye glasses, contact lenses, a laser surgery consultation or have a red eye and need eye treatment or have any other eye emergency – our Optometrists (Dr. Dawn Bearden, Dr Anna-Kay Tenn, Dr Emily McCulloh and Dr Alyx Lin) will take great care of you.

We take great pride in providing you with High Definition Vision Care!!

Stay tuned for Visionary Eyecare’s Updates, Events, Videos, Promotions, Information and much, much  more…..

Subscribe to our RSS feed or to our email list to be automatically updated any time “The Eye Journal” is updated!

We look forward to keeping you on the cutting edge of eye care!!