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Practice UPDATES Beginning March 23rd, 2020

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

Hello again dear community,

We hope you’ve been staying well and as calm as can be during this heightened state of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our leadership team has been on full alert as to how we can get back to life and business as usual as soon as possible, though it doesn’t look like that will be anytime soon. In the meantime, to ensure we keep purpose in our daily lives and tend to our patients’ needs, we’ve come up with the following availability for patient care and product services. This schedule will take us through the next 2 weeks (at minimum) in the safest ways we know how.

  • ALL previously scheduled appointments through Friday, April, 3rd have been CANCELED.

Hopefully, you’ve received a phone message from us about this if you were scheduled in the next 2 weeks. We have you on our recall list and will be rescheduling appointments as soon as the CDC deems it is safe to do so.

  • Beginning Monday, 03/23/2020 our office phones will be ON (see amended hours below), though our doors will be LOCKED. 

    • What we CAN do now:

      • Telemedicine for URGENT eye care, including new patients

      • In Office urgent eye care if telemedicine is deemed insufficient

      • Fulfill contact lens orders

      • URGENT eyeglass repair

      • Product curb-side dispense for glasses and contacts

      • Product curb-side delivery for dry eye and supplements

      • Medication prescription refill via phone

    • What we CAN NOT do now:

      • Routine eye care

      • Fit glasses

      • Eyeglass adjustments

      • CL follow-up appts/dispensing of trial lenses

***Please note that we are not admitting anyone into the building unless it has been approved by one of our doctors***

  • We will be accepting phone calls at (828) 254-6757 during the following times for the next TWO weeks, March 23rd- April 3rd 2020:

    • MONDAY 10:00 am- 4:00 pm

    • TUESDAY 10:00 am- 4:00 pm

    • WEDNESDAY: 12:00 pm-6:00 pm

    • THURSDAY 10:00 am- 4:00 pm

    • FRIDAY: 10:00 am- 4:00 pm

  • We will be triaging URGENT eye care needs via *Telemedicine.

We will put you in touch with Dr. Golson or Dr. Bryant to help resolve your urgent eye care needs as soon as possible. Instructions and information on this process are below.

*Instructions on Telemedicine:

Envision Eyecare is excited to offer access for urgent eye care needs with Telehealth service.

Telehealth is a virtual visit conducted with an Envision Eyecare Doctor, in most cases via video, imaging or a phone call from a safe location of your choice. Telehealth supports the advised social distancing that could help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

What you can accomplish with a Telehealth appointment:

You can talk about symptoms, or, follow up on your prior medical or vision problems. In many cases, you can receive a diagnosis and medical, spectacle or contact lens prescription (as needed) for your health issues from the convenience of your safe location.

How to schedule a Telehealth appointment:

Please call (828) 254-6757 or email us at [email protected]  and request a Telehealth appointment and we will find a convenient time for you to schedule a virtual consultation. If you must leave a message, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR DATE OF BIRTH!  You will be contacted by an Envision Eyecare team member at your designated telephone number.

Globally, we want to encourage good-natured health, happiness, engagement, and relaxation during this time!

There are a lot of emotions to experience in a time like this. Please take extra good care of yourself.

Well wishes always,

Dr. Larry Golson, OD and Dr. Eric Bryant, OD & Your Team at Envision Eyecare

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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Envision Eyecare Receives Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, Education, Eye Care & Eye Health, Featured, In the Media, Uncategorized.

At Eye Eco we are dedicated to finding solutions that provide relief from dry eyes, and we’re not the only ones.

Dry eyes affect more than 40 million Americans, but less than 5% of people have been properly diagnosed with Dry Eye Disease. Dry Eye Disorder can cause many health issues including obscured vision, dry skin, and even blindness. It can be caused by many things – including time looking at screens. For most of us that activity isn’t going away anytime soon.

At Eye Eco, we believe the best thing that can be done to keep eyes healthy and comfortable is regular visits to an eye care professional.

Because dry eye can have several causes, figuring out the cause is an important step in finding the best treatment option. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists do incredible work to make sure we can clearly and comfortably see everything in our lives.

Envision Eyecare receives the Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award

From left to right: Suzanne Paulson of Eye Eco, Dr. Larry Golson

We want to highlight some of the doctors who are as committed as we are to helping dry eye patients find relief. That is why we are starting a new campaign to acknowledge doctors by presenting them with Eye Eco‘s Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award.

Envision Eyecare in Asheville, North Carolina, is one of our first recipients of the award. Here’s what Dr. Larry Golson had to say about receiving the award and about treating patients with dry eye.

What were your thoughts when Envision Eyecare received the Eye Eco Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award?
We were really excited to get the award. We devote a good deal of our resources into treating dry eye. The Envision Eyecare team is trained on the condition as well as the many different treatments available. Then, after a comprehensive eye health evaluation, we design treatment plans for our patients individual needs. Finally, we spend adequate time educating out patients on his/her treatment plans and the products we are prescribing. We find our patients “buy in” and are more likely to be compliant when they understand their condition and why they’d benefit from the treatment. We have dry eye products on display in our reception area so patients are aware of the level of care we provide in this area. Our doctors research new technologies and then invest in the ones which will have the most benefit to our community of patients. We were surprised and honored when we received Eye Eco‘s Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award, as we are grateful to receive recognition for our care in this area.

Please tell us a little about Envision Eyecare:
Envision Eyecare opened in 2008 with two employees in Asheville, North Carolina. We understand the difference between eye care which is executed as a transaction, versus personalized eye care. Therefore, the focus is on personal eye care because we believe in living life to the fullest through the best eyesight and health. We take the time to educate our patients to ensure they leave with an in depth understanding about their eyes and the condition of their eyes. The Envision Eyecare Experience is provided in a beautiful space with well trained team members so our patients can gain a sense of what sets us apart from conventional eye care.

Do you have a story you can share about how your practice helped a patient(s) find relief from dry eyes? Please share.
We had a patient who had been suffering for years from debilitating dry eye. She was a local acupuncturist who had rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome, which she was treating holistically with acupuncture. Since she wasn’t getting her dry eye symptoms under control, she was willing to try anything to get relief from her dry eyes.

After trying several treatment modalities, a huge improvement was derived from the Lid Pro and Meibo Pro devices in conjunction with lid scrubs, artificial tears, and warm compress goggles. We were able to get her dry eye symptoms under control for the first time in over a decade. At one point, she actually texted me personally and said, “This is the best my eyes have felt, ever!”

What advice or tip do you have about treating patients with dry eye?
Many of our patients have become accustomed to having dry eye and don’t realize there’s an issue. Every person’s dry eye symptoms are different and there are many causes. It could be environmental, medication use, associated with a systemic condition or due to lifestyle habits. For instance, do they get enough sleep; do they drink enough water? Could the problem stem from too much caffeine or alcohol intake. Ask how often and for how long are they using devices on a daily basis. Look at their medications and consider medical conditions. Also age and gender demographics plays a role in who’s at risk for dry eye syndrome. Good dry eye care starts with asking enough questions and asking the right questions. Then really take time to develop a customized plan for the individual. Some patients just want to do the minimum and other patients will want to try everything. Compliance is key to success, so make sure the patient understands how important it is to follow the prescribed treatment plan.

Lastly, invest in products to help your patients, both retail and treatment devices. If you have the retail products on-hand (instead of sending them to the pharmacy) there is a higher chance of compliance using the highest quality products. It’s also convenient for the patient and adds to the practice’s revenue. Show them how to use the products and make sure they leave with a firm understanding on how to achieve relief. It’s amazing how grateful these patients become once relief is achieved.

What advice do you have for someone who is experiencing dry eye?
So many patients think their eyes are normal and don’t realize they are suffering from dry eye. It’s not until a doctor asks the right questions or has the right clinical assessment for the diagnosis to be made. Find a practice that takes the time to sit down with the patient to get the right info. So often the exam is rushed, which doesn’t allow time to assess the condition and adequately explain a treatment plan.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about Envision Eyecare, this award, or dry eye and treatment?
Dry eye treatment is a dynamic field and advances in treatment protocols are constantly being developed. It’s easy for eye doctors to get in a place in their head where they think, ‘I am so tired of hearing about this.’ Could I possible sit through another dry eye lecture or article? It is important to look at dry eye treatment with a ‘beginner’s mind.’ Look at it as though it’s something you’ve never seen before. Educate yourself on the new products and technologies. It is an opportunity to help a huge patient population and differentiate yourself from the competition.

At Eye Eco, we are very fortunate to be able to work with some of these passionate helpful people who are improving the lives of others. We plan to highlight more of these practices that are dedicated to providing relief. If you have a recommendation for a recipient of the Outstanding Dry Eye Practice Award, please send us an email at [email protected].

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.

!URGENT! Recall on solar eclipse glasses!

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

URGENT RECALL OF SOLAR GLASSES!

We are sorry to inform you that due to new information provided by Amazon the eclipse viewing glasses we purchased may not be certified for viewing the eclipse. We were told these glasses were certified but over the weekend we were informed the certification may not be legitimate. We ask that you do not use these eclipse glasses, we can not guarantee that they will properly protect your eyes. We will gladly refund anyone who purchased these glasses through us. Below is the information provided by amazon:

“To protect your eyes when viewing the sun or an eclipse, NASA and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) advise you to use solar eclipse glasses or other solar filters from recommended manufacturers.  Viewing the sun or an eclipse using any other glasses or filters could result in loss of vision or permanent blindness.  

Amazon has not received confirmation from the supplier of your order that they sourced the item from a recommended manufacturer.  We recommend that you DO NOT use this product to view the sun or the eclipse.”

Our office is so sorry for this inconvenience. Located below is a list given to us from the American Astronomical Society as recommendations on where to get your approved eclipse glasses. Please enjoy the eclipse safely!

  Solar Viewer Brands

Innovations in Contact Lens Technology

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

Innovations in Contact Lens Technology

 

Contact lenses are medical devices that can improve vision, add convenience to activities, and bandage an injury to improve comfort and aid healing.  It is very important to have a contact lens evaluation to make sure your eyes are healthy enough to wear them comfortably without damaging the ocular surface, and to ensure the contact fits your eye properly.  There have been many advances in contact lens technology over the last decade to enhance comfort, breathability and vision demands.  We will discuss the different types and modalities of contact lens, wear time schedules, and the benefits of utilizing new technology to expand the demographic of eligible contact lens candidates.

The majority of contact lens wearers are in soft contact lenses.  These lenses are available in daily disposable, 2 week disposable, and 1 month
disposable wear schedule regimens.  Daily disposables are the healthiest option with improved convenience and comfort.  The cost difference is negligible when the consideration of solution cost is no longer needed with daily disposables.  Also, the packaging is recyclable, except the foil.

When the eye is not completely round and has an oval curvature, it is termed astigmatism.  In order to correct astigmatism with contacts, we must use a toric contact that is larger in diameter and must be orientated properly to provide adequate vision.  Different designs of toric lenses are available for different shapes of the eye to provide the best vision and comfort.   

Hard contacts are usually indicated for irregular corneal shapes and can be initially uncomfortable.  For those who find hard lenses unbearable, a blended(soft and hard) contact or scleral contact lens can be a valuable alternative to treat corneal diseases that cause irregularity.  

As we age, the ability to see up close slowly diminishes and a different modality of contact lenses are necessary.  Three main choices are multifocals, monovision and distance vision only with readers over the contacts as needed for near vision tasks.  Multifocals are the best option to try first because it provides seamless vision from distance to near, but is pupil size dependent so these do not work perfectly for everyone.  Monovision is when we fit the dominant eye for distance and the non-dominant eye for reading.  This seems like it would create imbalance or eye strain, but works very well for the majority of people who are not comfortable with multifocals.  These two modalities can be modified and used in combination dependent on patient visual demand.  If neither of these options is adequate, correcting the distance vision with the use of readers
over the contacts is a last resort.

Ortho-keratology is the science of using hard contacts during sleeping hours to gently change the curvature of the eye overnight, so no correction is needed during the day.  The initial comfort is sometimes an issue, but improves over time.  This has been implicated in reducing the progression of nearsightedness in the adolescence.   

Newer innovations in contacts have become exciting for other demographics as well.  A brand new lenses has been released specifically geared for the avid device user to reduce computer fatigue and enhance performance.  Also, bluetooth technology incorporated in the contact is on the horizon to monitor eye pressure and blood glucose, in order to better manage glaucoma and diabetes.

POWER.

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, In the Media, Personal Development, Uncategorized. No Comments on POWER.

POWER: Such a simple word and yet a word that many of us struggle with constantly. Heaven forbid or help the person who attempts to render us powerless.  And let’s not begin the debate of when family, friends and colleagues deem us far too powerful leading to conflict, competition and just a whole lot of crazy.  We live in a world of inner turmoil always wondering if we’re coming across too strong (powerful) or not strong enough?

Real power comes from a strong inner strength, an indomitable spirit and unshakeable awareness of one’s own truth and the truth of the rest of the world devoid of judgment or discrimination.  For many of us our first impression, experience or example of any kind of power was abusive, destructive or controlling.  For you to really take grasp of your own personal power you will need to redefine it what this means to you first and foremost.

You’ll want to ask yourself what it means to have power, to be powerful and to show up powerfully for myself in my life.

Remember, the most powerful thing anyone could accomplish is to convince you you have no power over your life or circumstance.  In this manner and many others, we are constantly giving our power away in big and small ways.  We give our power away in our decision to remain quite, in our thinking to defer to others for the answers believing ourselves lacking and in expecting very little of our very self.

Your awareness of the fact that only you have the power to decide who you will be is a powerful truth that is waiting your embrace.  So the next time you have a minute, ask yourself this question and be honest: Why are YOU afraid to accept you are much more powerful than you are willing to believe? What is it that you are afraid of?  And, why are you afraid of it?

It is often said when you know the questions to ask, you will be led to the right answers: your truth.

A Fun Filled Celebration for our 5th Anniversary!

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, Fun and Games, In the Media, Uncategorized. No Comments on A Fun Filled Celebration for our 5th Anniversary!

On October 24th, Envision celebrated it’s 5th Anniversary Party with a Spectacular Spectacle Event! We were thrilled to have several of our vendors in the office, showcasing their products. It was an exciting celebration for the Envision Team and for our wonderful community of patients!

The owners of our newest frame line Frieze Frames, Marc and Jason were here to show off their entire line of amazing eye wear. One lucky attendee won the door prize of a FREE Frieze Frame. We don’t think she’ll be preferring contacts when she gets these fabulous new frames on her face! We also had Jerry from Europa International here, showcasing his line of awesome sun wear. Two lucky winners took home FREE sunglasses from their door prizes! Beth from Alcon was also here, sharing information on the latest in contact lens technology with Ciba brand contacts.

In an effort to support our local community, we called on City Bakery on Charlotte Street to make our fabulous cake. Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian catered the event with an amazing spread of scrumptious appetizers. Metro Wines on Charlotte Street provided the delicious wine we served.

Another way we decided to support our community with our event was by donating a portion of our proceeds to The Western North Carolina AIDS Project. The executive director of WNCAP was here with his team to share their mission with our guests. Due to the success of our event, we were able to donate $851 to their cause. We couldn’t have been more proud to celebrate 5 years in business with such an exciting and fun event!

 

 

My Journey to my Dream Career

Written by Envision Eyecare on . Posted in About Envision Eyecare, Asheville, Education, Eye Care & Eye Health, Eyewear, In the Media, Travel and Photography, Uncategorized. No Comments on My Journey to my Dream Career

My name is Ashley Glass and I am an Expert Optician at Envision Eyecare here in Asheville, NC. I want to share my story with you as to how I came to find this incredible opportunity. Why is this so important to me? There are so many people today that are “unhappy” with their “jobs”. I was one of them. Some people do something about it, and some just settle for where they are. Here is my story of how, not settling for what was in front of me and actually taking a chance, landed me in my dream career.

About 5 months ago, I turned 28 and really took a look at my professional life. I knew that I was widely skilled in many areas but wasn’t fulfilled with the job I was working. And yes I said “job” not “career”. In life’s circumstances, I learned early on the difference between a job and a career. I know that with a career I would feel a little more stable. I wanted to wake up everyday and change lives. I wanted to be able to be myself and not just another robot.  In fact, I was REALLY unhappy and knew my daily routine had to change. I knew that I had to find my career and couldn’t continue to just work at a “job”.

AshleyGlass.CaughtYaPicTo share my story completely and how this transformation began I have to jump back to a little over 2 years ago: I was living in Virginia. I was born and raised in a small town in south western Virginia. I grew up on a farm and loved the mountains. I woke up one day and looked around and realized the town I had grown up in could no longer offer me what I wanted out of life. So what did I do? I packed my little car and moved to the first place I ever said I would live; Charleston, SC. It’s a beautiful place. I was excited to start over and to begin a new journey in my life.

I jumped right into what I thought was going to be my career in the car business. Thinking back now, my whole family had worked in the car industry at some point so I figured this was a good start to my future. I realized quickly that communication and professionalism were extremely important to me. When I found that those attributes started to lack, it made me start doubting some of my choices. What I thought was going to be a “career”, resulted in a “job” that I was not happy working. I did not want to go to work anymore and, in addition, did not even feel comfortable talking to my superiors. I didn’t want to live in such a beautiful place, just to be limited by a job that was not living up to my expectations.

That’s when I heard about an opportunity to come work for Envision Eyecare. I had never pictured myself working in the medical field, but something about the opportunity was very intriguing. Becoming an optician sounded like the answer to all of my desires and professional dreams. I had always had a passion for fashion and a craving to change people’s lives every day. After interviewing with Dr. Golson and his associate, Mark Hinton, I knew I had finally found my answer.

Then there was THE question: Could I really leave the beach to go back to the mountains? I had moved to Charleston for the sole purpose of the beach.  I had visited Asheville several times the year before. Katie, one of the opticians already at Envision Eyecare, and I have been friends since college. In my few visits to see her, I started to fall in love with this tiny town. I started falling in love with local restaurants, the people, and the unlimited adventuring that Asheville offers. I even remember saying one time that “if I decide to move from Charleston, Asheville would be where I would go”. So I once again loaded up my little car, attached it to the back of U-Haul and made the journey to Asheville, NC.

From my very first day at Envision Eyecare I was astounded. The team members were all so kind, approachable, and just made everyday a joy to be at the office. My doubts about communication and professionalism were diminished from the very first day. I wake up every day and am eager to get to work. I get to change people’s lives everyday through their sight. When I go home at the end of every day, I know that I made a difference. I am excited and proud to work with such talented people; people who could challenge me on a daily basis to become a better person, and not just professionally, but personally as well. I can not tell you how nice it is to have superiors that respect and support me the way they do at Envision. I am truly thankful to the team for helping my transition to a new city and a new career to be so rewarding.

I hope that by sharing my story that it will help others realize that they don’t have to settle for less. After a little hard work and taking a few chances, you really can have it all in the career of your dreams. I look forward to my story continuing and growing with the amazing eye care practice that is Envision Eyecare.

Ashley Glass, Expert Optician