| iCare Notes . . .
Crozet Eye Care Newsletter
February 2010 |
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 Reception Connection by Laura
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Introducing our new
Pre-appointment System!
This new system will allow scheduling appointments a year in advance.
Benefits to you include:
1.Best time and date to suit your schedule.
2.Your appointment will be already set. No need to call and schedule.
3. You are guaranteed an appointment.
Anyone who had a comprehensive appointment last year will be receiving their appointment by mail.
Look for yours soon!
For more information, please call the office or email Laura@crozeteyecare.com |
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| Office Information |
| Monday: 9 am - 5 pm
Tuesday: 1 pm - 7 pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 1 pm - 6 pm
Friday: 9 am - 5 pm
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| Greetings! |
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Happy Valentine's Day!
Our promise is to make you and your eyes happy.
How do we plan on doing this? Of course we want to provide excellent service and care, but doesn't everyone? Making you happy goes beyond this. We want you to feel relaxed in the office and comfortable with the care you receive. To accomplish this, we promise to help make your visit effortless from check in to check out. During the exam, I want you to understand fully your eye conditions and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable.
Also as part of this ongoing promise, I welcome your comments to help make YOUR eye doctor's office even better. Please feel free to call or email me at any time.
Dr. Shannon Franklin
P.S. This isn't related to eyes, but I would like to recognize my mom, Ruby Texler, for winning Henrico County Elementary Art Teacher of the Year! Congratulations! |
Doctor's Corner by Dr. Franklin
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Who knew Inflammation was so Important?
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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Optical Corner by Tara
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Wavefront  Technology in Eyeglass Lenses
Wavefront analysis of how the human eye sees now enables eyeglass manufacturers to design lenses that may be better able to correct common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Wavefront measurements represent a new technology and until recently have been emphasized primarily with LASIK or laser vision correction. These same wavefront principles are now being applied to eyeglass lenses which are being designed to more precisely alter the way light rays enter your eye.
Among the first companies to promote wavefront technology in new lens designs was Essilor of America with Varilux Physio and Varilux Physio 360˚. Progressive lenses are for individuals with presbyopia, a vision defect that with aging reduces the ability to focus at near ranges. Because of wavefront enhancements, Essilor officials say the transition between near, intermediate, and distance with Varilux Physio progressive lenses is much smoother.
W.A.V.E. Technology uses a patented design process that analyzes a full beam of light as it passes through each area of the lens. As the light passes through the lens, the light is analyzed to identify and remove small distortions in each area of the lens. This technology allows Varilux Physio to offer a progressive lens with the sharpest visual fields possible. In addition, the company claims a 30 percent increase in contrast sensitivity with these lenses, enhancing ability to better distinguish colors and details.
Call today to find out more about Varilux Physio 360 Progressives and all wavefront technology lenses. Ask for Tara, or email, tara@crozeteyecare.com
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Contact Lens Corner by Michelle |
How to Keep Wearing Your Contact Lenses for Years to Come
 Regular Visits - Annual examinations are important for the overall health of your eyes. We want to make sure that your lenses are still fitting properly, and your wear schedule is appropriate. We check for any swelling or irritation in the eye and make sure that your lenses are letting enough oxygen into your eye. Contact lenses are a medical device by the FDA, and injury, infection, and abuse prompted this classification. If contact lenses are worn improperly, there is an increased risk of infection. A thorough yearly exam by Dr. Franklin can identify potential problems before they become serious. Let Us Know About Any New Medical Conditions - Environmental allergies and diabetes are just two of the many medical conditions that can affect both your vision and your contact lens wear. Some brands of contact lenses work better with certain medical conditions, so it is important to keep us informed of any changes to your medical history. Medications can affect contact lens wear, so bring an updated list of your medications to each appointment. Proper Care & Cleanliness - How often do you replace your contacts? It is extremely important to replace your contacts as recommended by Dr. Franklin. Keeping your contact lenses longer than the recommended replacement greatly increases your risk of infections and corneal ulcers. Be sure to use the brand of cleaner that was prescribed. Recent studies show that certain contacts need to be used with particular brands of solution to reduce risk of infection. Also, remember back to when you first learned how to insert and remove your contacts... always wash your hands! Wash your contact lens case after insertion and leave it open to air dry. For the ladies, remember to put makeup on after you put your contacts in! Reduce or Eliminate Sleeping In Contacts - Taking the time to remove your contact lenses before going to bed will increase the longevity of being a successful contact lens wearer. Repeated overnight wear decreases the oxygen supply to the eye which increases the risk of infection. Also sleeping in lenses may increase inflammation of the eyelids making contact lens wear uncomfortable. Our goal is for you to be a happy and successful contact lens wearer for many years to come! Both myself and Dr. Franklin are always available to answer any questions you may have about your contacts!
michelle@crozeteyecare.com |
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| Crozet Corner . . . |
Crozet Business Networking Group
Next meeting at Old Trail Golf Clubhouse
February 16th at 8:30 am
All Crozet Business owners welcome
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