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Family Discount Month
When current patients schedule
a family member* for an eye examination,
the new patient receives 10% off the exam.
*Exclusions apply. Cannot be used with insurance. New patients only. See Laura for additional details.
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| Heart |
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Who knew Inflammation was so Important?
By Dr. Shannon Franklin
In the past it was thought that inflammation was just related to many medical conditions but more and more we are finding out that inflammation is actually the cause of them.
Unchecked, the inflammatory process can result in chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and dementia. Eye disorders are no exception. Dry eye, blepharitis, iritis, and age related macular degeneration are just a few conditions where inflammation plays a powerful role.
It is becoming increasing important to learn how to control and decrease inflammation to minimize damage to the eyes and the rest of the body. We all are aware that non-prescription and prescription medications are available to decrease inflammation. Aspirin is taken to minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease. Although we thought for a long time that the blood-thinning effect was the reason for the risk reduction, we are now learning that aspirin limits the inflammatory process that precipitates plaque formation on the vessels.
For chronic inflammatory conditions such as dry eye, steroids have been proven to help, but are not ideal for long-term use. Therefore to control chronic diseases, much attention has been turned to Omega-3 free fatty acids (FFAs). Omega-3 FFAs are anti-inflammatory, while Omega-6 FFAs have both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In the typical American diet, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is excessive, thus promoting inflammation.
To increase your consumption of omega-3 FFAs, eat oily fish like salmon, sardines, trout, herring, and oysters. If you are like me, these choices are not usually on my dinner menu. Therefore, I have chosen to take a fish oil supplement instead. Not all omega-3 supplements are the same. It is important to make sure the fish oil (and fish) is not contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury. Also marine-derived omega-3 FFAs are more beneficial than plant-derived. Here is a good article I found about omega-3 FFAs.
The information I have presented here is by no means exhaustive of the methods of controlling inflammation. However, since February is American Heart Month, I thought we could all use a little more information on how to keep us and our loved ones healthier.
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"Emily sees fine,
why does she need an exam?"
by Dr. Shannon Franklin
Often I get this question from parents whose children have passed a screening at the pediatrician's office. I understand why parents feel this way. Most people think that "seeing" means being able to read the distance eye chart. However, that is only a small part of how children (and adults) use their eyes in today's world. Think of how much we all need to see up close to read, work on the computer, and use handheld devices/games. Although the pediatrician screening is important, there is no substitute for a comprehensive eye exam to access all aspects of the visual system and the health of the eyes.
I examine children whose parents and teachers think they have attention problems. After an exam, I find that the child sees well, but cannot focus on something close for an extended amount of time. For example, although the child can see the words in a book, he cannot keep them clear for more than a few minutes. In this case vision training or reading glasses can drastically change the child's ability to learn.
Since 90% of what children learn comes from vision, I believe all children deserve to see their best to maximize achievement. I feel so strongly about this that I participate in the InfantSEE program. Through this national program, we provide no cost eye exams for infants 6-12 months old regardless of parents' income. The American Optometric Association recommends eye exams at 6 months, 3 years, just before kindergarten, and then every 1-2 years depending on need.
I encourage all parents to call today and schedule appointments for their children.
For more information about children's vision visit http://aoa.org/x9451.xml
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| Nutrients for Healthy Eyes |
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Help Save Your Vision
through Diet and Nutrition!
More than 43 million Americans suffer from cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the two leading causes of vision loss and blindness. Research indicates that there is a strong correlation between good nutrition and the prevention of these age-related eye diseases. Eating foods rich in key nutrients ― antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, essential fatty acids, vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc ― can help protect eye sight and vision. Click on the picture above for more information.
Did you know?
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In a recent survey conducted by the AOA, nearly three-fourths (72%) of respondents age 55 and older began noticing changes in their vision between the ages of 40 and 45.
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To cope with vision loss or various eye problems, less than one-third (29%) of respondents are increasing their nutrient intake for healthy eyes.
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Many Americans (48%) still believe that carrots are the best food for eye health, when in fact spinach and other dark leafy greens are the healthiest foods for the eyes because they naturally contain large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.
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In order to maintain healthy eyes, studies show that 10 mg of lutein should be consumed each day or one cup of cooked spinach four times a week.
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More than 50% of Americans do not take in the recommended dosage of Vitamin C per day.
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One cup (8 fl oz) of orange juice per day contains 81.6 mg/serving of Vitamin C, more than enough to help offset some eye diseases.
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Wednesday Optical 9-5
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