That’s an awesome lens package for kids, but the best part of Eye-M-Growing is our professional commitment.  Kids in the program are encouraged to return 6 months after their exam for a free prescription check.  Our doctor with re-check their vision (this is a refractive-only visit – no health testing is included). If the prescription has changed by more than 0.25D in either eye we will replace the lens(es) with the new Rx at no charge!

We want to give parents piece of mind that your child will not be blurry the second half of the year.  The checkup appointment (and lens change) must take place within 7 months of the original exam date.

Let me start by saying that often red, itchy and watery eyes can be caused by multiple conditions affecting the eyes at the same time. Also, depending on the condition, many treatments may only reduce the symptoms but not the underlying cause. This is where the experience of your optometrist will be most helpful.

One of the most common culprits of itchy eyes is allergy.  When you allergies affect your eyes it is called allergic conjunctivitis.  You’ve probably heard of conjunctivitis (a.k.a. “pink eye”) and allergic is just one of many variants.  Like all allergies, eye allergies are caused by a glitch in the body’s immune system trying to fight off the threat of harmless allergens by releasing histamine.  This causes the eyes to get red, watery and itchy.  Your vision may get a bit blurred and the eyelids often get puffy.

Of course, allergies may affect other areas so you can experience nasal allergies at the same time. And just like nasal allergies you may be affected in the spring and fall (seasonal allergies) or all year round (perennial). Treatment for ocular allergies will range from simple (or maybe not so simple) action such as staying away from the substance (allergen) that causes the reaction.  Mild symptoms may be relieved by using artificial tears to wash away allergens or an over the counter medication like Zaditor especially for mild itching without any redness. However, when symptoms are moderate to severe and especially when the eyes are itchy AND red, medical intervention (prescription Pataday or Lastacaft) is usually indicated.

Other forms of “pink eye” such as viral conjunctivitis can cause itching though usually the main symptom is redness and discharge.  One interesting note is that viral cases are commonly contagious.  This means a the patient who is dying to rub the itchy eye is much more likely to spread the infection to the other eye (and possibly to other people).

Another cause of itchy eyes is dry eyes which again has multiple variations.  Often dry eyes and allergies exist at the same time with the dryness intensifying the allergy symptoms.  One form of dry eyes causes the eye to produce a low quantity of good quality tears.  Over the counter lubrication may temporarily wet the eye, but a prescription of Restasis often helps your eye actually produce more tears. On the other hand, inflammation of the glands within the eyelids can cause ample production or poor quality tears.  People with this condition will often notice their eyes are dry and itchy even though they water.  Often they will notice the symptoms are worse earlier in the morning.  The key to reducing their itchy and dry eye symptoms is to control the inflammation thus providing better quality tears.

Finally its always wise to consider contact lens wear as a possible cause of itchy eyes. Either the contact lens material itself or the cleaning and storing solutions can be the cause, especially if one has been changed recently.  Other times protein and deposits on the surface of the lens will build up more so the longer the lens is worn causing bumps under the eyelids called Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC). When your optometrist flips your upper eyelid over during your contact lens exam he or she is mainly looking for GPC.

Temporarily reducing contact lens wear as well as disposing the contact lenses on a more frequent schedule will often eliminate the itch, but sometimes a prescription anti-inflammatory eye drop such as Lotemax will be used to both help with symptoms as well as reduce the GPC. Contact lens wearers with allergies or GCP do very well with daily disposable contacts.

The symptoms of red and itchy eyes can have many causes.  Though allergy is probably the most common cause of pure itching, you want to consider other etiologies especially if simple antihistamine eyedrops are not making a big improvement in symptoms.  If that is the case, see your optometrist to get an accurate diagnosis and quick relief for your red and itchy eyes.

The conference was truly global in nature.  I discussed Vision Shaping with doctors from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, China, Canada and throughout the United States.  Many courses were presented that discussed advanced technologies which allow us to treat even more patients as we expand candidacy to higher amounts of myopia (above -7.00D), more astigmatism, hyperopia and even presbyopia (the condition that makes you need reading glasses).

Even though orthokeratology has been around for many years, researchers continue to study the safety and efficacy of the treatment program and I’m happy to report that both get better every year.  Many of my new patients ask if Vision Shaping is safe and I’m able to confidently tell them that it is as safe or safer than wearing “regular” soft or gas permeable contact lenses.

Myopia control continues to be an exciting addition to the field of eye care and few practices are offering for their patients.  Many myopic patients and parents of myopic patients are concerned about how their nearsightedness is increasing each year.  Orthokeratology is an excellent way to not only eliminate glasses and contact during the day, but also has been proven to slow down increases in myopia.

My staff and I look forward to incorporating the latest techniques presented at VBD to our Vision Shaping program!

The conference was truly global in nature.  I discussed Vision Shaping with doctors from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, China, Canada and throughout the United States.  Many courses were presented that discussed advanced technologies which allow us to treat even more patients as we expand candidacy to higher amounts of myopia (above -7.00D), more astigmatism, hyperopia and even presbyopia (the condition that makes you need reading glasses).

Even though orthokeratology has been around for many years, researchers continue to study the safety and efficacy of the treatment program and I’m happy to report that both get better every year.  Many of my new patients ask if Vision Shaping is safe and I’m able to confidently tell them that it is as safe or safer than wearing “regular” soft or gas permeable contact lenses.

Myopia control continues to be an exciting addition to the field of eye care and few practices are offering for their patients.  Many myopic patients and parents of myopic patients are concerned about how their nearsightedness is increasing each year.  Orthokeratology is an excellent way to not only eliminate glasses and contact during the day, but also has been proven to slow down increases in myopia.

My staff and I look forward to incorporating the latest techniques presented at VBD to our Vision Shaping program!

When some people go to their optometrist they just think about getting new lenses to help them see better.  That’s great and we want you to have the best vision possible.  However, we are also thinking about how comfortable your vision is and how you look with your glasses or contact lenses.

The photos you see her are for a kiddo for whom we just made new lenses. The top picture is the original lenses.  She could see well with them, but frankly they looked horrible and were even uncomfortable to wear due to the weight of the excessively thick lenses.

Using the same prescription we made her the new pair of lenses shown in the lower photo.  Same prescription, same frame.  Huge difference in lens thickness and overall weight.  The difference was the recommendation by our optician to use a Thin and Tough lens with an aspheric design.  The material itself is thinner and lighter, but the aspheric design flattens the lens. This results in less “bulge” and won’t make the patients eyes look so magnified.

If you’re eligible for Medicare benefits or have a Flexible Spending Account, now is the time to schedule an eye health examination at O’Fallon Family Eyecare. Vision exams and eyewear purchases must be made before the end of the year to qualify for these healthcare benefits.

Maximize healthcare dollars by taking advantage of Medicare or Flexible Spending Account benefits and enjoy better vision and overall health.

Floaters aren’t just optical illusions. You’re really seeing them, and they’re actually in your eye, not just on it or in front of it. The weird little squiggles are pieces of the vitreous humor, the fluid that fills the eye, breaking off and then floating about in your eyeball. 

Generally, floaters are completely normal. The vitreous humor fills the gap between your retina and lens and helps maintain the round shape of your eye. When you’re young, it’s thick and gel-like, but as you age, the hyaluronic acid network breaks down and releases the trapped water molecules. As this happens, the core of the vitreous humor becomes more watery and little bits of undissolved gel break off and slowly drift around. When light passes through eye, the shadows of these pieces are thrown up on your retina and you perceive them as floaters.

Since floaters, well, float, their paths generally follow the motion of the eye. This makes looking right at them difficult, and when you shift your gaze towards them, they often move and stay at the edges. They don’t always float, though, and many of them will sink towards the bottom of the eyeball. To get a good look at them, just lie down looking up at a clear sky. Some of the floaters will settle near the fovea, a small area that sits at the back center of your eye and is responsible for your sharp central vision. The lack of movement and the even, textureless background makes it easy to scope them out and watch the blobs bob around a little.

For the most part, floaters are nothing to worry about . The sudden appearance of a lot of floaters combined with the onset of other eye weirdness — like flashes of light or blurriness or loss of peripheral vision — could indicate a problem, though. Sometimes, floaters are a symptom of the vitreous humor pulling away from the retina, a retinal tear, or the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. If you experience a sudden onset of floaters or other symptoms described above, you should urgently seek examination by your eye doctor.

Whenever someone comes in for their yearly eye exam, we will give them a $10 discount if anyone else in the family has seen us for an exam within the past 2 years.

This discount can be combined with insurance.  If you do not have an exam co-pay with your insurance the $10 savings can be applied to a glasses or contact lens purchase, but it cannot be transferred to another family member.

New families are eligible for the Family Discount if more than one person comes in for their yearly exam at the same time.  In this case BOTH new patients will be eligible for $10 off their visit.

I’m excited to take the savings to the next level and offer FREE single vision eyeglasses lenses (a $71 value) for patients who purchase their annual supply of contact lenses from us.  This bonus is in addition to an instant 15% discount on the contacts and manufacturer rebates ranging from $25 to $100.

Too many times do I see patients update their contact lenses yearly yet let their glasses go years between updates.  I think free eyeglass lenses will ensure all my contact lens patients have the best prescription possible in their glasses.

You can put the free lenses (standard plastic lenses with scratch resistance) in your current frame or you can purchase a new frame (starting at only $80).  You can add lens options such as anti-glare or thinner and lighter lenses for a nominal upgrade fee.

This Saturday, July 21st, school aged children can receive an eye exam from Dr. Joe for only $40 or a school physical from Dr. Courtney Lehmen for $30.  You can get a combo of both exams for only $60.  All exams will be performed at O’Fallon Family Eyecare.

Dr. Lehmen is a chiropractor and owns Dynamic Chiropractic and Wellness Center located in O’Fallon and Martinsburg, MO.  She believes in promoting wellness through injury prevention and health maintenance.

Dr. Lehmen’s massage therapist will be on hand all day to offer free chair massages for parents as they wait for their child’s examination.

Please call (636) 695-4124 to schedule your appointment for either exam or both. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.  To better serve you and your busy schedule we encourage you make an appointment.

Please feel free to spread the word to any friends or co-workers who may appreciate wonderful back-to-school exam savings.