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Come & See Reopening Party Details!

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, Event, Eye Care & Eye Health, Eyewear, Food, Frame, Fun and Games, the team.

Celebrate With Us! Exclusive Eyewear Deals, Local Bites, Live Music & More

COME & SEE us at our Grand Reopening Party on Thursday, September 18th, as we celebrate the unveiling of our beautifully reimagined space, the incredible support of our community, and everything we love about local food, music, and of course, spectacular eyewear. Come hang out with your favorite eyecare team!

We’ve got ample parking available in both the upper and lower lots, accessible via Liberty Street. No meters, no fees. Just easy access to the party.

How to Check In & Claim Your Prize Tickets

Start your visit by heading to our event check-in station outside to grab your name tag and prize tickets. Here’s how you rack up entries:

• 1 ticket just for showing up

• +5 tickets if you’ve scheduled a personalized fitting by calling us at 828.254.6757

• +5 more if you RSVPed online (link below)

• Donate canned goods or cash at checkin to benefit MANNA FoodBank and receive EVEN MORE tickets (and extra karma)!

Once you’ve gotten your name tag and all the tickets you can carry, head to reception just inside to check in for your appointment. While you wait, feel free to grab refreshments, check out our giveaway prizes, or browse and pre-shop for your new specs and one of our optical experts will be with you shortly to build your order to perfection.

EVENT REGISTRATION LINK >

Unbeatable Eyewear Deals

We’re celebrating in style with exclusive savings on complete pairs (frames + lenses). PLUS, receive a FREE branded Envision tote bag (made out of recycled cotton) with any additional pair purchase!

40% Off SALT.*
Inspired by the natural beauty of California, SALT. frames are handcrafted in Japan through a 130-step process for exceptional durability and design.

40% Off Lindberg*
Minimalist Danish design meets ultra-lightweight flexibility. Lindberg frames are sleek, customizable, and made for comfort and performance.

35% Off Maui Jim*
Born in Hawaii, Maui Jim eyewear brings vivid color and clarity to every moment. Their sun and ophthalmic collections offer unmatched glare and UV protection.

30% Off All Other Styles
We curate unique eyewear collections from around the globe. Whether you’re bold, classic, or somewhere in between there’s something here for you.

*Promotions valid on complete pairs only. Cannot be combined with vision plans or other offers. Packages excluded. All sales final. All day long.

✨ Entertainment & Attractions

We’ll have fun photo opportunities and yard games to play throughout the day and special appearances from local artists who know how to party!

DJ Aoli (Juan Holladay) | 12 PM–7 PM

Get ready to vibe. DJ Aoli, also known as Juan Holladay, has been a mainstay in the Asheville music scene since 2001 and is known for his silky, smooth vocals. He has a knack for tailoring his eclectic style for the celebration he is at from smooth R&B and down-tempo lo-fi to funky, upbeat crowd-pleasers. When he’s not DJing, Juan plays in a local R&B band, The Secret B-Sides, established in 2007.

At our event you can expect fun and funky tunes with live, sunny sweet vocals layered overtop! He’ll also be our MC, making announcements for us throughout the day. Make sure to stop by his booth and say hello!

Spectacular Bubbles by Steve | 3:30–6:30 PM

Experience bubble magic like you’ve never seen. Performer Steve has turned bubble artistry into joy-filled entertainment for guests of all ages. From whimsical wedding performances to fun-filled festivals, he’s bringing his passion and bubble wizardry to Envision for one unforgettable show.

Local Bites + Sips (Starts at 3 PM)

Luella’s BBQ
Home-style BBQ that tastes like Grandma used to make. This beloved Asheville staple is all about scratch-made meals and community connection. Served from 3 PM until it’s gone!

Rabbit Hole at Sunny Point Café
From the team behind Sunny Point Café, Rabbit Hole brings sweet treats and non-alcoholic sips that are as thoughtful as they are delicious.

Libations for 21+ Provided by Metrowines
Our longtime friends and former neighbors at Metrowine on Charlotte Street are bringing a handpicked selection of beer and wine. Their motto? Big shop selection, small shop service. Cheers to that! Be sure to check out their new spot in Reynolds Village, Quench! Wine & Bistro!

PLUS: Don’t Miss These Special Moments

New Location Tours | Available upon request starting at 12:00 PM

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Asheville Chamber of Commerce | 4:00 PM

Meet our Doctors | 5:00 PM

Prize Giveaway Announcements | 6:30 PM — You must be present to win!

A Huge Thank You

This day wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our:

Incredible Vendors: Zeiss, SALT, Kering, CooperVision, Alcon, CareCredit, Shamir

Prize Sponsors & Neighbors: Epionce, SALT, Lindberg, Maui Jim, Liberty House Café, High Five Coffee, Asheville Massage & Bodywork, Luella’s BBQ, Asheville Salt Cave, Quench Wine Bistro, and more

And most importantly YOU, our amazing community of patients

To our dedicated team and loyal patients, thank you for growing with us. This celebration is for you, and we can’t wait to welcome you into our reimagined space! See you on September 18th!

The importance of eating green, leafy and brightly colored vegetables for your eyes!

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, Cost, Education, Eye Care & Eye Health, Eyewear, Food, In the Media.

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Happy National Nutrition Month! 

Since we were children, we’ve been taught to eat our vegetables at every meal to keep us healthy, but did you know what you eat can also help protect your eyesight and eye health too? Green, leafy and brightly colored vegetables are packed with carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin that help protect against eye-related diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.

What is the macula? 

The macula is located in the back of the eye and is part of the retina. The macula is about 5mm and has high concentrations of photoreceptor cells that detect light and send signals to the brain. It is obvious that the macula is tiny, but a mighty part of our eyes! 

Anatomy of the Human Eye

What is macular degeneration?

There are two types of macular degeneration; dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is the most common. Dry macular degeneration is when the macula becomes thinner overtime. Wet macular degeneration is when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. Both cause loss of vision, but wet macular degeneration is much more serious.

What are cataracts? 

Cataracts are when the lens in our eyes become clouded or foggy with age. The protein in our eyes start to break down around the age of 40, but can be unnoticed until a few years later. Blurry vision, bothersome night vision, and double vision are some of the symptoms of cataracts.

Here are foods that are rich with lutein and zeaxanthin:

  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Collard greens
  • Turnip greens
  • Chard
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Broccoli 

Have a hard time eating your vegetables? 

We have a supplement in our office that is rich in these carotenoids! Vision Essence is recommended by both Dr. Golson and Dr. Bryant. This bottle contains 90 capsules with 10 mg of lutein, 2mg of zeaxanthin, and 10mg of meso-zeaxanthin.The capsules do not contain any gelatin product, so this product is vegan friendly! 

How do I protect against macular degeneration and cataracts?

Along with fueling your body with the right nutrition and scheduling yearly eye health exams, protection is the key to prevention! Wearing sunglasses everyday can protect from the toxic rays from the sun and damaging HEV light! All of our Optical Experts can assist in finding the sunglasses that are right for you!

Sources: 

https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/high-lutein-and-zeaxanthin-foods.php

https://www.macularsociety.org/what-macula
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Headed Back to School

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, Contact lens, Cost, Education, Eye Care & Eye Health, Eyewear, Food, Frame, Fun and Games, In the Media, Lens, Personal Development.

Four Reasons Why Your Child Should Have an Eye Exam

A vision screening at school, church or even a pediatrician is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam. Serious eye health and vision concerns can be missed at a screening, certain states are mandating children have a comprehensive exam before entering school. The doctors at Envision Eyecare advise yearly eye health exams for children for the following important reasons:

  1. 80% of learning occurs through the visual system, and in order for your child to reach his/her full potential in school, it is critical that eye tracking, acuity, and focusing are functioning properly. 
  2. Most ultraviolet radiation damage to the eyes occurs in the first 2 decades of life, so it’s important your child’s eyes are protected with the sunglasses that protect against Ultraviolet and Blue light filters.
  3. Long term exposure to blue light emitted from the sun and digital devices is harmful to the eye. This may also affect sleep patterns and cause eyestrain.
  4. Vision screenings only test eye sight, not eye health, and it’s important your child’s eye health is evaluated as well.  

Unfortunately, studies show that only 31% of children, ages 6-16 have an annual eye exam, and 70% of children under the age of 6 have never had an eye exam.

As a result, 1 in 4 children will go back to school this year with an undiagnosed vision problem that could interfere with learning.

The following is a true story about a pediatric patient who would have passed a vision screening: Dr. Bryant examined a child with no complaints and 20/20 vision. The child had swollen optic nerves indicating a potential brain tumor. Fortunately, the child was quickly diagnosed and underwent urgent surgical intervention to save his life. This is an extreme example, and rare, however it illustrates why a comprehensive eye health exam is so important for all children.

Envision Eyecare Manna Food Drive

Envision Eyecare’s MANNA Food Drive

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in Food. No Comments on Envision Eyecare’s MANNA Food Drive

As Dr. Golson shares in our impromptu video from the AskAsheville team, Envision Eyecare is giving back during the holiday season and we need your help! We’re holding a food drive for MANNA FoodBank. You can participate by dropping off canned food and dry goods to our office location at 181 Charlotte Street Asheville, North Carolina.

In case you can’t swing by, we also have a Virtual Food Drive going on. You can donate directly to MANNA via our Virtual Drive by clicking here. Envision is matching 25 cents to every $1.00 donation we receive! Every $1.00 truly helps! For every $1.00 donated, MANNA can provide the food for THREE MEALS to families in need in the Western NC area. WOW! Our food drive will be happening until January 8, 2016.

Read on to learn a little more about MANNA FoodBank:

As an accredited member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, the mission of MANNA FoodBank is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. Every day, MANNA provides the food for 35,388 meals through 250+ soup kitchens, church pantries, homeless shelters, and other community-based organizations across the 16-county WNC service area. Volunteers are vital to their work. In 2014, 6,983 volunteers dedicated 59,520 hours of their time, which is the equivalent of 35 full-time employees.

To view MANNA’s Annual Report for 2014, or for more information, visit MANNAFoodbank.org, or call 828-299-FOOD

10 Foods That Can Help Improve Your Vision

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in Asheville, Eye Care & Eye Health, Featured, Food, Personal Development. No Comments on 10 Foods That Can Help Improve Your Vision

Hopefully most of us have made it through allergy season with our mental and well-being in tack – not to mention our visuals as well.  It’s been a rough road to recovery with piles of tissues, bottles of nasal sprays, vials of lubricating eye drops for those dry eyes.  And as usual, the schedule for eye appointments always peaks right around allergy season time here at the office.

Your VisionIf there is one thing we locals in Asheville know is one the best remedies for combating allergies, it’s the fact you must eat the local honey!  It’s pretty much common knowledge the local honey infuses your body with the necessary antibiotics to fight off or minimize allergies. Isn’t it funny how we’re quick to access this local wisdom when it comes to something as common as allergies, but when it comes to knowing what you can eat to prevent dry eyes, macular degeneration and even cataracts not so much?

Most of the time we don’t really give much thought to our vision until something goes wrong.  Given the fact we’re living in an age of “information overload,” life has become very busy. Sometimes we’re not aware something is broken or not operating properly until the warning signals start to beep and go off. In the world of eye health care that would be blurry vision, headaches and/or watery eye symptoms. Yet, much of what we see can be prevented or kept at bay with one simple step.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT.

One powerful and simple step you can take in protecting your precious sense of sight is by taking mindful steps around your diet; watch what you eat. We don’t often connect the dots between our vision and what we had for breakfast, lunch or dinner but we should.  When we bring a sense of intention to what we eat, we empower ourselves to better care for our vision long before a visit to the eye doctor is required.

So, we thought we’d give you a hand by providing you a quick “check list” of foods that are powerful health agents and high in antioxidants. This way the next time you’re out to grab a bite to eat or you’re at the grocery store shopping for your weekly meal plans, you’ll have a head start on what to include on your food list.

 

Fish
Cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may help protect against dry eyes, macular degeneration and even cataracts. If you don’t eat seafood, you can get a good supply of omega-3s by using fish oil supplements or taking vegetarian supplements that contain black currant seed oil or flaxseed oil.

Leafy Greens
Spinach, kale and collard greens, to name just a few, are packed full of lutein and zeaxanthin, important plant pigments that can help stem the development of macular degeneration and cataracts. Broccoli, peas and avocados are also good sources of this powerful antioxidant duo.

Eggs
The vitamins and nutrients in eggs, including lutein and vitamin A (which may protect against night blindness and dry eyes), promote eye health and function.

Whole Grains
A diet containing foods with a low glycemic index (GI) can help reduce your risk for age-related macular degeneration. Swap refined carbohydrates for quinoa, brown rice, whole oats and whole-wheat breads and pasta. The vitamin E, zinc and niacin found in whole grains also help promote overall eye health.

Citrus Fruits and Berries
Oranges, grapefruits, lemons and berries are high in vitamin C, which may reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Nuts
Pistachios, walnuts, almonds — whichever type tickles your fancy — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E that boost your eye health.

Legumes
Kidney beans, black-eyed peas and lentils are good sources of bioflavonoids and zinc — and can help protect the retina and lower the risk for developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil and Black Currant Seed Oil
These super supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids and have many eye health benefits, including helping to prevent or control dry eye syndrome as well as reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Sunflower Seeds
Help keep your eyes healthy and disease-free by snacking on sunflowers seeds, which are excellent sources of vitamin E and zinc.

Beef
In moderation, lean beef in your diet can boost your eye health. Beef contains zinc, which helps your body absorb vitamin and may play a role in reducing risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration.

What is Macular Degeneration

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Eye Care & Eye Health, Featured, Food.

Macular Degeneration, also known as ARMD (or Age Related Macular Degeneration), is the leading cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of 55 in America. This disease causes damage to the tissue of the macula, or the small portion of the retina responsible for central and detail vision. Symptoms often develop over time, sometimes causing gradual and irreversible vision loss. While ARMD is more commonly seen in elderly patients, there are many ways people of all ages can help reduce their risk of developing the disease.

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The primary non-controllable risk factors of macular degeneration include age, a family history of macular degeneration, and fair-pigmentation, and this disease more commonly affects females and Caucasians.  These are the risk factors we cannot control.

The great news is that there are many risk factors we can control! Smoking, inactivity, and prolonged sun exposure play a part in the development of ARMD. Through smoking cessation, increased activity and exercise, and the proper UV-blocking sun-wear, patients can reduce their likelihood of developing this disease.

Similarly, diet and nutrition play a huge role in the prevention of ARMD.  Our eyes require certain antioxidant nutrients, (also called caratenoids), to maintain a healthy macula. These include lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, and can only come from the foods we eat, and supplementation.

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Consuming a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, vitamins B and C, zinc, and omega-3’s, while avoiding fat, sugar and cholesterol, can help prevent macular degeneration.  Choosing a diet like this can also help with managing high blood pressure and obesity, which not only improves the health of our bodies, but more specifically our maculas!

Summer is the perfect time to go on a long adventurous hike with your friends, then grill some caratenoid-packed veggies, all while sporting your awesome macula-protecting sunglasses! Who knew that helping reduce our chances of developing ARMD could be so easy and fun!

An Eye on Nutrition

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Eye Care & Eye Health, Food. No Comments on An Eye on Nutrition

Ironic, isn’t it? The more we learn about health and nutrition, the less healthy our country has become. Diabetes and hypertension are on the rise and obesity has outpaced smoking as the #1 cause of preventable death in the US. With a 33% obesity rate which will, if the trend continues, become 43% by 2020, it has never been more important for us to become proactive about our health rather than reactive; to focus on disease prevention rather than disease treatment.

So why is there disconnect between our understanding of nutrition and an increasingly sick country? Maybe we can blame it on our industrial food system or our fast food culture. Perhaps we can point fingers at the ever rising level of processed foods in our grocer’s aisles. Regardless of who or what is to blame, at the end of the day it is our responsibility to care for our own health. The good news is that it is never too late to adopt healthier eating habits for improved wellbeing–our bodies are incredibly malleable!

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Good Eats for Your Eyes: Autumn Edition

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in Education, Eye Care & Eye Health, Food. No Comments on Good Eats for Your Eyes: Autumn Edition

Eating “eye healthy” food doesn’t mean having to eat bags of carrots every day. There are some super delicious foods that also happen to be super foods for your eyes! Many of these foods are in season throughout the late summer and fall, so now is the time for recipe ideas that will keep your mouth watering and your peepers bright and healthy. We’ve offered tasty treats for all sorts of different meals! Feeling European? Try the classic French recipe for saumon aux lentilles (salmon with lentils) updated with a delicious dijon mustard sauce. Heading to a Farmer’s Market this weekend? Be sure to pick up some of the first winter squash of the season (as well as all the other ingredients) for Corn with Winter Squash, Spinach and Bacon. As a bonus, most eye healthy foods are also beautiful, colorful foods! We’ve got you covered from main course to dessert, and you can be sure that every morsel is good eats for your eyes and pretty on your plate!

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