It is for this reason that we’re introducing a new technology as part of our exams – the iWellness Scan. The iWellness technology lets us look at each layer of the retina, something we’ve been unable to do up until this point. It is completely non-invasive – just a scan of the eye – but it provides an image of the eye similar to that of a CT scan:

Often, we’ve had to refer patients elsewhere to have this test performed. In fact, we’re now one of only a few other practices in the Charlottesville area to offer this technology. For us (and our patients), the iWellness Scan is a game changer. Here’s why…

As we mentioned, most eye diseases show no signs or symptoms until they reach later stages and, unfortunately, already have done irreparable damage. The iWellness will allow us to detect diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes retinopathy long before the patient is even aware there’s a problem. Here are some screen shots to show what these diseases do to your vision. Trust us when we say that identifying these diseases before they show symptoms is crucial for your eyesight.

Already, Dr. Rosinski and I have identified several patients with very early stages of these diseases through the use of this technology. These weren’t new patients; they were our patients, patients who have been receiving our regular, comprehensive eye exams. This is why we can’t stress enough how important this exam is.

One other example I’d like to share: I have a healthy, 38-year-old patient who has been seeing me regularly for the past five years. She recently agreed to have the iWellness exam, and as a surprise to both of us, her results were abnormal. Because this wasn’t suspected, I went back through her charts over the past few years to look for pressure changes in her eyes and other warning signs. There were none. Now, this doesn’t mean that she has glaucoma or another type of eye disease. This may just be normal for her. However, knowing that her retina is thinner than average is valuable information if I do ever suspect a disease in the future. If her first scan was when I suspected a problem, I would possibly over treat her because I didn’t know her baseline was abnormal. By performing the iWellness Scan on a regular basis, I can closely monitor any change that occurs and provide the most thorough examination available.

We invite you to call or visit our office to learn more about the iWellness. We look forward to making this preventative screening scan a routine part of your eye exam.

I’m excited to announce that as part of Diabetes Awareness Month, our office is hosting an event with local health experts discussing diabetes and ways to prevent it from affecting your health. 

The event, called All Eyes On: Diabetes, will be held at Crozet Eye Care from 8-9 a.m. on November 20. 

For more information, click read more below.

We encourage anyone dealing with diabetes – either directly or indirectly – to attend the event. Our speakers include:

• Dr. Steve Rosinski and I will discuss “A Look at Diabetes Through an Optometrist’s Eyes” and “Caring for Your Eyes with Diabetes”
• Dr. Jennifer Rice of Crozet Dentists and Nellysford Dentists discussing “Diabetes and Your Oral Health”
• Amy Scott-MacLean, MS, RDN, of WellnessWise discussing “Blood Sugar, Food and You”

We recently posted about diabetes and ways it affects your vision; however, we are looking to expand this discussion for our patients and community members living with diabetes since it affects much more than just your blood sugar and vision. The good news is that diabetes also can be kept at bay with proper care of your health. Our hope is to educate those in attendance on ways to prevent the disease from taking over your health and life! 

There is limited seating for this event. Please email us at AllEyesOn@crozeteyecare.com call our front office at 434.823.4441 to RSVP by Nov. 13. 

All Eyes On is a new quarterly health series hosted by Crozet Eye Care. Next quarter, we will be discussing glaucoma, so stay tuned for details. 

Diabetes is a complex disease resulting from the inability of the body to produce insulin, a hormone that takes sugar out of the blood and into cells where it can be used for energy. Without enough insulin, there is too much sugar in your blood.

If you have diabetes, you probably already know that one of the common complications of elevated blood sugar is diabetic retinopathy, which is when elevated blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. If untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness.

Nearly 16 million American have diabetes and during their lifetimes, about half of those people will develop diabetic retinopathy. Annually, as many as 25,000 people lose their vision due to diabetes-related complications.

In addition to retinopathy, people with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop cataracts as other adults, and cataracts tend to develop at an earlier age. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that results in blurring of normal vision. 

Some studies show that individuals with diabetes also are almost twice as likely to suffer from glaucoma. The longer someone has had diabetes, the more common glaucoma is. Typically glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up in the eye. The pressure damages the optic nerve in the back of the eye, and vision is gradually lost due to the damage. Unfortunately, individuals are often unaware of this loss of vision until it is extreme.

This all sounds scary – and it is! But, with proper medical care and comprehensive eye exams at least every year, all of this can be prevented. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Our office is planning a health education event for those affected with diabetes. We will have more information about this event soon. Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page, as we will be posting details there. For more information about the effects of diabetes on your vision, please see our website. If you have any questions, please call our office at 434.823.4441.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.

In the U.S., more than 3 million people have been diagnosed with glaucoma. It is the second leading cause of blindness globally (cataracts are first). Since glaucoma often begins with no discernible symptoms, regular eye exams are important, especially for those who fall in the high risk category.

Who is at risk for glaucoma?

It most often occurs in people over age 60; among Asian, African and Mexican Americans; and those with a family history of glaucoma. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, also put people at an increased risk. I advise my patients with these medical conditions to get a comprehensive eye exam every 12 months. Once diagnosed, glaucoma is easily treated and managed, typically through prescription eye drops.

At Crozet Eye Care, we test for glaucoma through a variety of painless procedures, including:

• Tonometry – a simple and painless measurement of the pressure in the eye (No puff of air!)
• Ophthalmoscopy – an examination of the back of the eye to observe the health and appearance of the optic nerve
• Visual field test – a check for the development of abnormal blind spots

You can find additional information about glaucoma on our web site here. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our office.

November is American Diabetes Month. As a Doctor of Optometry, this health campaign is extremely important to me, as diabetes and eye health are very closely linked.

Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among people aged 20-74? The American Optometric Association (AOA) reports that diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year. This statistic is staggering to me, as it simply does not have to be! People with diabetes can maintain optimal vision and healthy eyes by having comprehensive eye exams and carefully controlling their blood sugars.

One of the main causes of blindness in diabetics is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), a condition in which elevated blood sugar damages the delicate blood vessels inside the eye, causing them to leak, bleed and become blocked. Over time, the damage to these vessels can cause permanent vision loss. Fortunately, early detection and treatment of DR can prevent or delay blindness in 90% of people with diabetes!

Here are some other important facts:

1. Comprehensive eye exams from Doctors of Optometry are often the key in detecting diabetes. It is important for everyone to make sure they are scheduling exams annually.
2. Annual eye exams and carefully controlling blood sugars can drastically decrease the risk of vision loss and help prevent the onset of diabetic retinopathy in persons with diabetes.
3. People with diabetes are 4% more likely to develop glaucoma and 50% more likely to develop cataracts. Two more major reasons to have that annual eye exam!
4. A primary care physician does not have the training, or often the equipment, to do a comprehensive diabetes eye exam. It is important to visit an eye care professional who has experience working with diabetic patients.

If you or someone you know has diabetes, please share this post with them. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Franklin or Dr. Quesenberry, both trained and experienced in treating patients with diabetes, please call our office at 434-823-4441.

Do you have diabetes? Know someone who does? In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, I wanted to share a few important facts about diabetes and the eyes:

1. Many people who do not know they have diabetes first find out from their eye doctor. A common complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy in which elevated blood sugar damages the delicate blood vessels inside the eye, causing them to leak, bleed, and become blocked. There are 6.2 million people with diabetes who are unaware they have the disease.

2. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74. It does not have to be. Having annual eye exams and carefully controlling blood sugar can drastically decrease the risk of vision loss.

3. People with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to develop glaucoma and 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts. Even more reasons for an annual eye exam!

Encourage anyone you know with diabetes or at risk for diabetes to call the office for an appointment to determine their risk for diabetic eye disease.