Eye Sentiments
Wendy Tran, O.D.
*** Want to change your eye color?
There’s a cosmetic product that is causing a blaze on Tik-Tok. Drops that can change your eye color. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) just sounded the alarm on this non-prescription drops.
These products are not FDA approved, have not been tested for safety or efficacy, and could potentially damage the eyes.
The manufacturers claim that the drops include an ingredient that adjusts natural levels of melanin in the iris. There is no evidence that the formula can target the iris pigment. If the drops destroy the pigmented cells in the iris, it could potentially harm the eye, causing light sensitivity, eye inflammation and eventually vision loss. It’s also unclear how other parts of the eye that rely on melanin to function properly, such as the retina, would react to this ingredient.
The safest way to change eye color is with color contact lenses, prescribed by your eye doctor.
*** Back to school sentiment
We're in Back-to -school season. Yay! or Nay?
The other day I asked a young patient if she's excited about going back to school. She literally bounced off from her seat, clapping, "Yeah, Yeah! I already have my first day of school outfit!" The next patient was 'meh' about it. He said "I'm wearing uniforms, same outfits every year, new socks may be". Another patient thought school was a "waste of time". Hmm...
Parents' reactions vary too. Some are quite excited with Back-to-School.. more structure, less idle times, less video games. Other parents cry, especially if they're sending their kid far away to school.
For me, Back-to-school season is bittersweet. We have a kid going to school clear across the country, thriving and enjoying her community. She's on a wonderful journey. Yet we miss her.
I think of Life as being on a school bus, going and going, making stops along the way. People in our lives may stay on the bus with us for a long time (family and friends), or they may get off (family and friends become foes or no longer with us). Sometimes we get new people getting on our bus (new family and friends). Sometimes people who already got off the bus may decide to get on again (family or friends back in our lives).
The question is...The question is... Who's driving our bus? Are we the driver? making all decisions on where to go, when to stop? when to let people on or off?
I drove my own bus for awhile. That was exhausting! Then I let crazy people in my life drive my bus. That was worse!
These days I still drive it. But God is my navigator, my soul GPS. He steers the way. He helps me take a longer road to savor, or take short cuts when I needed to. He keeps good people on my bus. He let the crazies off and won't open the doors when they try to get on.
Beautiful!
Eye tip: To reduce eye strain while using the computer or reading, do the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds and look at a target 20 feet away.
*** Tips on buying sunglasses.
Buy sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Nothing less !
Make sure sunglasses have a tag/sticker that says they provide 100% UV protection.
Darker sunglasses do not mean 100% UV protection.
The intensity of the tint on sunglasses does not reflect how much UV they block.
Polarized sunglasses may not block UV 100%.
Polarized lenses reduce the glare. By itself it does not provide UV protection. Look for polarized sunglasses that says 100% UV block.
Check Lens quality. Lenses with inferior quality have poor optic which distorts vision.
Look through the lenses at a straight edge at a distant. If the edge does not tilt or distort, when you move your lenses, you have good quality lenses.
What about different colors in sunglasses?
Sunglasses with colored lenses may look cool, but they don’t block out more sun. For example, a brown or rose-colored lens can provide more contrast. Mirror lenses can reduce glare . Neither of them offer protection unless clearly stated 100% UV protection.
Prices do not equate to quality.
Sunglasses don't have to be expensive to be effective. Drugstore sunglasses labeled as 100% UV protection are a better choice than designer sunglasses with no protection.
Sunglasses don’t help in certain light conditions.
Normal sunglasses will not protect your eyes from certain light sources, for example: tanning beds, snowfields, and welding. You need special lens filters for these extreme situations. Also, sunglasses do not protect if you stare at a solar eclipse.
“Don’t Let the Eyes Fool You” 3-part Series. Part 1: Not all pink eyes are the same
There are some myths and muddled facts that I call “The Great Eye-Pretenders” circling around. To clarify them, I’m going to introduce you to a three-part series called “Don’t Let the Eyes Fool You!”
Lately, we’ve been seeing more of you. The common reason is: “I’ve got pink eye. I’ve been to the ER/urgent care (once, sometimes twice already) and it’s not getting better.” Now, you know I love books. My happy place is among books. I spend a lot of time and money; and I wear out my own eyeballs reading books. I’d skip my last meal for a book. The Amazon delivery people love me. I give them snacks every time I see them; because I know they’ll bring me books.
The reason I mention books is because if I get a dollar every time I hear you, our dear dear patients, say “I have pink eye, I need antibiotics”, I’d have enough to open my own bookstore. (secret dream, but I digress…)
The term ‘pink eye’ describes how the eye look; it looks pink. That’s it !
Pink eye does not always mean an eye infection. Even if it were, we can’t treat it with any antibiotic.
In clinic, these are questions that you asked me, “What is ‘pink eye’? What caused it? How do we treat it? Will it come back? What will we do if it does? Is it contagious? Can I give it to my boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, kids, cats, dogs? Can I still get married tomorrow? Can I go to Belize? Can I play pickle ball tomorrow? I have a date, should I cancel?”
So, pink eye can be:
An eye infection. What type? Viral ? Bacterial? Fungal?
An eye allergy. What type? Acute? Chronic?
An acute attack of glaucoma. Oy! a sight-threatening emergency.
An accidental or intentional meeting with a fist.
What should you do?
*** “Don’t Let the Eyes Fool You” 3-part Series. Part 2: Not all blurry vision needs glasses.
Does the following scenario sounds like yours?
You can’t read texts on your phone. Can't see to drive. For... a while now.
So here’s your plan:
Go see your eye doctor during your lunch break. Get glasses. Pick them up in a couple days. Then get on with life.
She, your eye doctor, tells you: “You don’t need glasses”.
What ?? “But my vision is blurry!” You tell her.
What she says next is a blur because you can’t hear her.
Don’t want to.
Your mind has no space for problems.
In your mind, vision blurry = get glasses.
Except when it’s not.
You pick up a few buzz words among her jumbled rhetoric:
“Cataract”
“Puckering of the retina”
“Moles”
“Freckles”
“Sun damage”
Your vision problem can be fixed. But not from getting glasses.
*** “Don’t Let the Eyes Fool You” 3-part Series. Part 3: Not all 20/20 vision is perfect vision.
Not all 20/20 vision is perfect vision!
Patient-care is a joy; and perplexing and rewarding at times. Let me share with you some stories in our clinic.
We have a patient (who is now training to defend our country). He has 20/20 vision, can read perfectly, but not out loud.
We had another patient who can drive perfectly, but not at night. He sees two of everything.
How about a young real estate agent who sees perfectly all day…until sundown; then she gets blinding headaches. Every night at sundown.
How about a silver-haired grandma who, at 72, sees perfectly to drive. No glasses needed, except she dents her trash cans every time she backs her car out of the garage.
How about my own daughter, who loved soccer; was a champ as a left-field defender. Her coach put her on the right field, she can’t defend worth diddly-squat. What do all these people have in common?
They all have 20/20 vision. What don’t they have? Perfect vision.
What they do have (in no particular order) are: uncorrected astigmatism, perceptual processing disorder, poor depth-perception, eye muscle mis-alignment, monocular amblyopia.
Not all 20/20 vision is perfect vision. 20/20 is only a term to express how well you see. If you have 20/20 vision, you can read letters on an eye chart placed at 20 feet away. That’s it. You may also have a myriad of other vision difficulties that, once diagnosed and treated, can have life-changing results.
If it were my eye, I’d call Blink team. You’ll get the fastest, most efficient care possible, so that you can go to Belize, or play pickleball, or go on your date today. Let my colleagues at ER/urgent care take care of colds and flu and broken bones. They may not have an eye doctor on call, and they’d end up sending you back to Blink anyway.
*** Hope and Joy of Easter
Dear Blink Friends and Families,
How are you doing? May you and your families always have Health, Hope and Joy. Happy Easter!
Thinking about Easter coming up, I started asking myself: “What do I know and don’t know about Easter?” Here are some facts to share with you...
Easter is a celebration of Hope and Joy. To Christians, Easter began as a love story, thousands of years ago. In fact, John 3:16 tells us of such love. This bible verse was so important that, to date, people have googled it 94 millions times! More on this love story later…
Anyway, what happened was that Jesus died on a cross on a day called Good Friday. He was then resurrected and came back to life on Easter Sunday.
More interesting facts about Easter:
Easter is celebrated ever year on the Sunday after the full moon following March 21st.
The origin of the Easter Bunny began in Germany, as symbol of the Pagan Goddess of Spring and Fertility.
Easter was named after the Fertility Goddess and a Goddess of Dawn and Light named Eostre.
Cadbury’s makes 500 million Creme Eggs every year! If you piled them on top of each other, it would be 10 times higher than Mount Everest.
Egg painting originates from a Ukrainian tradition- as a symbol of Gods and Goddesses of health and fertility.
The world’s largest Easter egg was made in Alberta, Canada, weighs 5000 lbs, standing 31 ft tall and 18 ft wide, and took 12,000 hours to complete.
Pretzels used to be Easter’s food of choice because the twists resemble arms crossing in prayer.
In Germany, it is illegal to dance on Good Friday, out of respect for Christians, who mourn the death of Jesus on Good Friday.
In 2007, a Faberge Easter egg sold for 18.5 million.
The white color of Easter lilies represents purity and innocence. There's also a symbolic representation between the lily's blooming process and Christ's resurrection. The flower bulb placed beneath Earth's surface is attributed to Jesus' death, while the actual sprouting of the flower symbolizes his resurrection
Dressing up for Easter comes from a superstition that wearing new clothes on Easter meant that you'd have good luck for the rest of the year.
Other interesting statistics:
$24 Billion: Easter-related spending made in 2023.
What’s in an Easter basket: 44% chocolate egg, 20% jelly beans, 18% egg shaped candies and 12% marshmallows.
180 millions of eggs are purchased on Easter.
81% parents confessed to stealing candies from their kids’ stash.
Top Easter activities: Easter egg hunt 83%, Eating candies 69%, Dyeing eggs 69%, Taking family photos 58%, Making Easter dinner 58%.
78% share of people who eat chocolate bunnies’ ears first.
Church attendance: #1 Easter, #2 Christmas, #3 Palm Sunday, #4 Mother’s Day.
Back to the love story. When my kids were little, we would play a game called "I love you this much!" I would start by putting my palms facing each other, about 12 inches apart, and I'd say: "I love you this much!" Then my kids would have their little palms wider then mine and they'd say: " No, I love you this much!" We would try to put our arms farther and farther apart, saying it louder and louder: "I love you this much!" Then we'd love each other to the ceiling, to the trees, then all the way to the moon and back. My kids would go to "infinity and back" and I would go with "I love you to infinity times infinity and back!"
Easter begins with that kind of love. John 3:16 tells us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Who? "God so loved the world". That means all of us, the loveable and the un-loveable, believers and non-believers, everyone!
How much? So much love that "he gave up his one and only son",
Why? so that we may have eternal life. What's more lasting than eternal life? The cars we want? The houses we must have? The perfect career? Perfect marriage? Perfect life?
So, Easter is about Love, and the Hope of knowing Perfect Love!
*** Eye care during colder months.
Food: Eat carrot, sweet potato, guava, leafy greens, red beets, broccoli.
Eat Omega-3 fatty acids food such as salmon, cod, nuts or take omega 3 supplements.
Drink more water.
Use a humidifier or air purifier.
Heat: turn your heaters and heating vents away from your face and eyes, both at home and in the car. In the car, turn on the seat warmer or point the heat vents at your feet instead of pointing them at your face. This will reduce dry eyes.
Use lubricant eye drops.
Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the wind, cold and UV glare. Snow blindness, a form of photokeratitis or sunburn on the eye, is a painful condition that can cause blurred vision, light sensitivity, and even temporary vision loss. Snow blindness can further lead to serious conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
Screen use: set the brightness of your screen to match the room lighting. This helps reduce eye strain. Take regular screen breaks. Use the 20-20-20 rule. “every 20 minutes, look at a distant object 20 feet away, for 20 seconds.”
How about emotional symptoms? How are your hearts? To you whose hearts are full of joy and gratitude, I'm there. To you who feel lost, or hurting; to your hearts filled with regrets or resentment, I see you and hope that this season will pass. To your hearts that miss someone so much that it hurts, I know. May you be blessed with the strength and comfort you need to get through what you're going through right now.
Speaking of hearts. Funny story... So this past Valentine, one of my team and I had no plans except to sleep. So I bought us heart-shaped pizzas. The man at Papa John's asked me if I wanted the pizzas pre-cut into slices. I said "No. I don't want a broken-heart pizza!" 😂
"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2-Corinthians 1:4 NLT
*** Contact Lenses. The question is… Why not?
Contact Lenses have had significant development within recent years. Here some updates...
Contacts can now correct all refractive and medical conditions, common or uncommon. They have high oxygen content, have built-in UV block and blue light block. They are super comfortable, super convenient, just wear and toss- no more cleaning solutions. Contacts move with your eyes, giving you wider peripheral vision. They can eliminate distortions or reflections that come with glasses. They're ideal for active lifestyles. Recently, we've been able to slow down the progression of near-sightedness using contacts.
Contacts are life changing too. Here are stories in our clinic that will make you smile..
We've seen shy, awkward teenagers, face full of acne, teeth covered in metals, get transformed into confident smiling people, just by wearing contact lenses!
How about a competitive swimmer who, by wearing contacts, knocked seconds off her time, winning competitions after competitions?
What about a widower who after trying contacts for the first time, finding joy again? He took up ballroom dancing and met his new love at a dance hall.
If you're interested, you can now try contact lenses even if you:
Have Astigmatism.
Wear Bifocal or Progressive Glasses.
Have dry eyes or allergies.
Have irregular-shaped corneas since birth or from eye diseases or surgeries.
Are too young, too old, or not too keen on putting something in your eyes.
The reasons why you couldn't wear contact lenses before now have become why not?
*** Digital Eyestrain
In clinic, everyone tells me "my eyes feel tired when I'm using the computer." It's almost an accepted universal problem in our digital age. Fortunately, the eyestrain has a name, Digital Eyestrain Syndrome (CVS) or Computer Vision Syndrome and it has management solutions:
When using your computer, do you have:
Headaches? Blurred vision?
Tired, burning or watery eyes?
Neck and shoulder pain from having to tilt your head or lean forward while using the computer?
You may have CVS - Digital Eyestrain Syndrome.
Causes:
Uncorrected vision problems (farsighted or astigmatism)
Eye muscles not aligned properly.
Dry cornea surface caused by infrequent blinking.
Improper glasses for computer use.
Glare and poor lighting, improper working distances, poor seating posture.
Management:
Wear eyewear appropriate for computer use. (Eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed for general use may not be adequate for computer work).
Take Omega 3 fatty acid supplement
Reminder to Blink frequently.
Reminder to take breaks.
Ergonomic work station: use glare-reduction coating on glasses and computer screen, place document holder besides the computer screen, put screen height below eye level.
For severe symptoms, Vision therapy, also called visual training, is a structured program of visual activities prescribed to improve visual abilities. Treatment may include office-based as well as home training procedures.
During your eye exam, we have testing that evaluate how the eye muscles focus and function as a team. There are special lens designs, prism, tint and coating that will help to alleviate eyestrain. If your symptoms are severe, we can refer you to see a Vision Therapy Specialist. If you've been experiencing digital eyestrain, why don't you contact our office and schedule an eye exam?
*** Peace and Joy
"May God grant you always...
a sunbeam to warm you,
a moonbeam to charm you,
an angel to guard you,
laughter to cheer you,
faithful friends near you, and...
whenever you pray,
Heaven to hear you!'
*** Did You Know? Fun Facts about The eyes.
Our eyes are about 1 inch across and weigh about 0.25 oz. Interesting, right?
Newborns don’t produce tears. They make crying sounds, but the tears don’t start flowing until they are about 4-13 weeks old. Hmm. what about those silent mad tears?
The most common eye color is brown. 1 in 4 people have blue eyes. 1 in 100 people have green eyes.
Heterochromia is when someone has two different colored eyes. I once had a patient requesting a different colored contact lens in each eye.
People with blue eyes are more tolerant of alcohol and less tolerant of the sun. Hmm. Didn't know the first part, the second part I knew.
We blink about 15-20 times every minute. Much less when staring at the computer. That's why our eyes feel dry. We do have natural options for dry eye treatment. See us!
Life span of an eyelash is 5 months. Lash-extension serum only work temporarily until the lashes fall out.
Our eyes contain 7 million cones which help us see details and color, and 100 million rods which help us see in the dark.
We can get sunburn in our eyes. Eyes can develop freckles and moles, running similar risks of eye cancer, just like skin cancer. Get your kids to wear sunglasses, you too!
It is a myth that you can lose your contact lens behind the eye. The conjunctiva, a moist lining inside they eye will block it from falling to the back. Yep! So if you want 'em, get 'em. Don't be afraid.
Having 20/20 vision does not mean our eyes are perfect. It only means that we have excellent central vision. We can have eye diseases and not know it. True fact! If you haven't already, schedule your eye exam today!
Children with vision problems are often misdiagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning difficulties. I can tell you stories of how often this is true. It's sad. Parents, schedule your children's eye exams asap!
There are NO pain nerves inside the eye, you could have serious eye conditions, like glaucoma and macular degeneration, and not feel it until you have permanent vision loss. 100% scary fact. Be pro-active, schedule your eye exam today if you haven't already.
80% of vision problems worldwide are avoidable or even curable. True. and True!
*** Feast for The Eyes
As promised, the following are recipes that are good for Eye Health.
More yummy recipes:
https://www.macular.org/care-and-treatment/nutrition/feast-for-the-eyes
*** Do's and Dont's for Good Eye Health:
1. DO eat healthy foods: kale, spinach, collard green, red and orange colored fruits.
2. DO eat fish high in omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, albacore tuna.
3. DO use olive, canola or flaxseed oil in moderation.
4. DO exercise for 1/2 hour a day: walking, yoga, aerobic activities.
5. DO wear sunglasses and a hat outdoors. UV rays causes cataracts and macular degeneration. Remember you can get sunburn on a cloudy day.
6. DO take frequent breaks from electronic devices. Follow 20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at the distant for 20 seconds.
7. DO take supplements which include lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, D, E zinc and omega-3 fatty acides (fish oil) if there is a history of macular degeneration.
8. DON'T smoke.
9. DON'T indulge on alcohol, processed snack foods such as cakes, cookies, potato chips, candies, soda drink, etc.
10. DO find reasons to laugh. Me? I laugh when rain drops tickle my face. I laugh when I see children or animals at play. I absolutely laugh when a child cups her hands over my ears and whisper a secret.
Here are some laughs to share:
What's an optometrist's favorite dessert? Eyes cream!
What's an optometrist's favorite pick-up line? Hey! Something's wrong with my eyes - I can't take them off you!
Why do optometrists die late? Because they often dilate!
What does an optometrist say when her patients complain about her jokes? That's just how eye roll!
*** When the doctor becomes a patient
What happened…?
The day started like any other day, Blink team and I in good spirit. It was a full day in clinic. I was at my desk and suddenly my left eye saw an explosion of black and grey curvy lines and dots and spots. I’ve had floaters before, but these were different. “No, no! Not now! Not now!” was my first thought. My next action was to finish clinic, because I wanted to act like nothing had happened. “May be this will go away or get better”, I told myself.
What came next was a diagnosis of vitreous detachment, a retina tear with hemorrhage, followed by emergency retina surgery. The sequence of events was surreal. I felt like I was in the middle of a science fiction movie. Scenes of my surgeon, Dr. Gupta, taking her shoes off. Patient (me) wondering “Why in the world would she take off her shoes right now?” (So that she could press the laser paddle on the floor). Images of blinding white lights followed by an explosion of neon-colored flashing lights. Patient (still me) saying over and over “This is soooo cool!”. Wobbly-sounding words from Dr. Gupta, “Patients don’t often say that. I’m glad you think this is so cool!” Then the whole thing went pitch black, Poof! as if the show has ended. “Hmm. This cannot be good, right?” The light abruptly turned back on, foggy as can be, but it did turn back on. Pheww…! Close up to the patient (still me) mumbling…“Thank God I have a spare eye.”
The days after that were filled with flooding emotions… “Woe is me” is one of them. "Scared? Yes. Very scared. “Frustrated?” Yes. That too. “Why me”? was an odd one. I kept thinking “Why me? Why now?”
Then they came… Faith surfaced from beneath it all. Hope followed. Then Peace next. The question “Why me?” became “Why not me?”
Why it happened…
I am extremely nearsighted, to the tune of 12 diopters of myopia. It all started as a child. As myopia increases, my eyes grew longer, making it weaker structurally. Statistically “for each 1D increase in myopia, the risk of myopic maculopathy increases by 67%. Conversely, every 1D reduction in myopia reduces the lifetime risk of myopic maculopathy by 40%.”* There was no intervention available at that time. Had my myopia been managed, my eye would have a different trajectory. So, the question is legitimate, “why not me?”
With timely diagnosis, excellent surgical outcome and lots of prayers, I am on my way to a complete recovery. Each day that I can see is a gift. Each day in clinic brings a renewed understanding and compassion of what some of you have gone through, are going through. I am now a relentless ‘sight defender’. Controlling the damaging effect of myopia is now my mission. This cannot happen to another of my patients, to any of your kiddos. Not if we can help it! Will you help me? Will you spread the word?
***The epidemic of nearsighted
I want to share with you some notable trend in clinic. Since Covid where online learning and remote work schedule became the norm, we’re seeing an increase in prescription, more noticeably in our kiddos. Kids are needing glasses at a younger age; and if they already wear glasses, their vision changes more frequently. There is a plethora of research on this current topic of concern for children: the progression of myopia. While not a cause-and-effect relationship, researchers suggest that children who spend more time indoors doing near-focused activities and on their electronic devices have a higher rate of myopia than those who spend more time outdoors. On that note, I want to share with you some clinical details:
The problem:
Myopia (near-sightedness) is very common. Fifty percent of the people who wear glasses are nearsighted. Without intervention, the global prevalence is projected to reach 50% by the year 2050. Statistically, “each additional 1 diopter of myopia is associated with a 58%, 20%, 21%, and 30% increase in the risk of myopic maculopathy, open-angle glaucoma, posterior subcapsular cataract, and retinal detachment, respectively”. Yikes!
Risk Factors:
Studies show myopia is more common among children. The following factors will increase a patient's risk for myopia progression:
Age of onset—younger than 10 years old or less than 0.75 diopters of myopia by age six.
Genetics—having two parents increases risk more than one parent.
Behavioral—patients that routinely spend more time on near-focused activities, eg. electronic devices and less time outdoors.
Female gender
Asian ethnicity
The solution:
While myopia cannot be reversed, doctors are looking at treatment to slow down its progression. Current therapies include spending time outdoors, frequent breaks from near-focused activities, low-dose atropine drops, glasses, dual-focus contact lenses, and overnight-wear contact lenses (Ortho-K).
Blink Optometry Myopia Management Clinic is now open!
***Gratitude
My heart begins with gratitude. By God's grace, my family and friends are healthy and well. Blink celebrates our 26th year anniversary this year. Our team thank you for your encouragement and support. We feel blessed and grateful....What about you? What are you grateful for?
The word "Endurance" kept entering my mind. You've shared with me some heart-wrenching amazing stories of pain and suffering. The world is going through much of that right now. I too have my share of heartaches and tears. May I tell you a story of a wooden ship name "Endurance"? Her Captain, Ernest Shackleton and his crew had a story to tell; a story of survival and strength under horrific desperate overwhelming circumstances. The men survived but the Endurance disappeared beneath10,000 feet of icy water in the Antarctic sea. This month, she was found, 106 years later, still intact. In mesmerizing detail, her name, "Endurance" is still visible on the stern. Click here to read about the Endurance story... In the midst of our circumstances, how do we go through it and come out the other side?
How? How do we do this thing called life and help others? May I share this simple and profound tip found in my all time favorite book?
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:6-18 NLT
***Gratitude
Dear Blink Optometry families and friends,
How are you doing? As we head toward the holidays, Blink Team and I want to thank you again for your support. Thank you for the opportunity to serve your vision needs, but also, on occasions, to share in your personal lives. Through your stories, I hear a common theme of "Hope". We are still going through the pandemic. Our economy is recovering. Our health and financing are getting better. Our loved ones are going to back to in-persons schools or work. Baby steps by baby steps we are moving forward, with HOPE in our hearts.
I also hear your words of "Gratitude". Amen to that! We are blessed that we are still here. We've lost lives, and possessions and ideals. But we are still here, and grateful to be here. Last year, when doubts entered my mind (for a second, a mere too long of a second), I thought that my career would end in 2020. An optometrist who ends her career in 2020? We were shut down for so long I thought "what if i forget how to do my job?" or "Who am I if I couldn't do my job?" With your support, we rolled up our sleeves. We made donations. We pulled out old sewing machines and we made masks; to the tune of 2000 pounds worth of supplies to people experience homelessness and over 2000 masks to nursing homes and people in our communities. I'm humbled beyond words how you helped.
"I've been thinking 'bout time
And where does it go
How can I stop my life from passing me by, I don't know
I've been thinking 'bout family and how it's going so fast
Will I wake up one morning just wishing that I could go back
I've been thinking 'bout lately, maybe
I can make a change and let you change me
So, with all of my heart this is my prayer
Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
'Cause I don't wanna miss what you have for me
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I'm chasing after
'Cause I don't wanna miss what you have for me
Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment
Keep me in the moment
'Cause I don't wanna miss what you have for me"
Thanksgiving (Author: Unknown)
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of on yourself.
Night's Blessings (Author: Eldred Herbert)
When I go to bed and cannot sleep,
I don't waste time by counting sheep;
I count all my blessings, one by one,
From the early morn till the settling sun;
The day so new, the sunrise so clear,
I started my day with thankful prayer;
Thanked God for my spouse and children too,
Freckled-face boy, girl with eyes of blue.
Thanked God for ability to work,
And from life's battle I did not shirk;
thanked Him for guidance through the day,
He is my Buckler from tempter's sway.
And when I was tempted to be rude,
I turned to my Lord in solitude;
His strength sufficient, my soul restored,
Just one more blessing from the Lord.
When day is done and I lay in bed,
I feel God's blessing upon my head.
If you are restless and cannot sleep,
Just count your blessings instead of sheep;
You will find the solitude is right,
You will feel His presence in the night;
Then rest shall come, repose in sleep,
When you count blessings instead of sheep.
And my personal favorite…
Doubt sees the obstacles. Faith sees the way
Doubt sees the darkest night. Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step. Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions "Who believes?"
Faith answers, "I"
*** Dry eyes - what to do:
Over-the-counter artificial tears. I recommend Blink tears, Refresh tears or Systane drops, to be used every 4 hours.
Cool your eyes. Keeping artificial tears in the refrigerator is a great way to have something cool ready to lubricate your eyes. Lying down with a cold compress over your eyes is also soothing.
Stay indoors. Particularly if you have medical conditions that makes you more sensitive to the smoke, it’s best to close the windows and stay indoors as much as possible. Staying indoors will keep poluttants from getting into not only your airway, but your eyes.
Wear glasses or goggles. Specialty goggles that are often prescribed to patients with dry eye can be a great option for anyone experiencing sensitivity to smoke in the air. And close-fitting glasses or sunglasses will provide at least some barrier that slows the stream of air going into your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to use contact lens rewetting drops every 4 hours. I recommend Blink for Contacts made by Johnson and Johnson.
Improve your indoor air with an air filter. A HEPA air purifier can help keep wildfire smoke out of your home.
If these measures don't bring quick relief, please contact us for assistance.
*** Feast for the Eyes
Which Foods Top the List for Eye Health?
Spinach and kale are the superfoods are the best! They come packed with largest amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids and antioxidants with important health benefits in many parts of the body, including your eyes. Specifically, those antioxidants lower the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. The American Optometric Association reports, “…antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin likely play a role in preventing cataracts. In fact, a recent study demonstrated that higher dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin and vitamin E was associated with a significantly decreased risk of cataract formation.”
How Much Should You Eat to Maximize the Benefits to Your Eyes?
According to The Scripps Research Institute, studies have shown that those who ate spinach three times per week had a 43 percent lower risk of developing macular degeneration. The body cannot make lutein, so you must get it from food or supplements. You can also give your body a boost with these antioxidants through supplements, but if possible, you don’t want to only count on popping a pill to get these nutrients. Your best sources of vitamins and antioxidants are from whole foods, since it may be a food’s combination of nutrients that have a synergistic effect. While in many cases eating raw vegetables is preferred, studies show that the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in spinach is actually HIGHER and becomes more easily absorbed when cooked.
Not Big on Veggies? Here Are Some Other Foods High in Lutein and Zeaxanthin.
These antioxidants are also found in egg yolks, kiwi and red seedless grapes. Some research has even shown that due to an egg yolk’s fat content, the lutein and zeaxanthin from an egg may be more easily absorbed by the body than from other sources.
A key point to always remember is that the use of antioxidants cannot reverse the damage caused by age related macular degeneration or cataracts; however, it may prevent or slow the progression.
Try This Eye-Healthy (and Mouth-Watering) Recipe
Getting hungry yet? Here’s a recipe that includes both spinach and eggs for a great one-two punch of eye nutrition. Try this overnight savory breakfast casserole from our friends at Neighbor Food Blog: https://neighborfoodblog.com/2019/11/overnight-breakfast-casserole-with-bacon.html
“Faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible” Luke 1:37
***Digital Eyestrain
Follow a 20/20 rule while using digital devices. For each 20 minutes of use, take a 20 seconds break. Get up, stretch, go get a drink of water, etc.
Use artificial tears to relieve irritated, red or dry eyes. Refresh tears, Blink tears, Systane, Thera-Tears are excellent over-the-counter products. If symptoms persist, please see me. Click here to schedule an appointment.
Wear glasses that have blue light block treatment in them. Right now, when you purchase any frame, you'll get non-prescription blue light blocked lenses at no charge. I recommend getting them for you and your kids, even if you see 20/20. Until contact lenses have built-in blue light block, I recommend getting these glasses to wear on top of your contact lenses while using your digital devices. On a side note, a quick google search online shows a plethora of 'blue light block' glasses ranging from $20-$150. I hesitate to vouch for any of them, since there are no standardized guidelines on their optical qualitties. As a vision clinic, we're under strict federal and state guidelines to provide only optically-pure glass lenses. So stop by Blink and see what's available
*** Remember Covid ??
Clinic procedure:
* Prior to the visit, you'll be asked to submit all forms on-line, including insurance information by using this link: https://blink.primenexus.com/public/patient-form/all/
* You'll be asked to wear a mask during your visit. If you don't have your own, one will be provided.
* Please wait in the car and call us at 949-581-8222 when you arrive.
* As soon as your exam room is available, we'll ask you to come in.
* You'll be asked to wash your hands upon entering, or put on disposable gloves provided by our clinic.
* At the door, we'll ask the following Covid 19 symptom questions: "Have you experienced any fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste in the past 14 days? Have you been diagnosed with Covid-19 or been exposed to someone diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past 14 days? Have you traveled, or been in close contact with someone who has traveled to areas affected by the corona virus?"
If the answer is No to the above questions, we will take your temperature using a non-contact thermometer. If your temperature is below 100, you’ll be admitted inside the clinic. If not, your exam appointment will be rescheduled.
Our Masks Project’s goal of 2000 masks was a success. Fifteen (15) organizations benefited from our donations:
Mental Health Association of Orange County.
Isaiah House (helping homeless people)
IHope (Interfaith Homeless Outreach Project for Empowerment
Saddle Back Church
Calgary Church Community Church
Saddle Back Motel Church Ministry
Serve the People Community Clinic
Huntington Terrace Retirement Home
Casa Doctora 3 Nursing home
Heritage Pointe Retirement Home
CVS Pharmacy in Laguna Woods
Venture Academy Adult Transition program (helping adults with disabilities)
Town and Country Manor Nursing Facility.
Blink Optometry patients and families.
San Clemente Villas by The Sea Skilled-Nursing Facility.
"For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, mutual affection; and the mutual affection, love" 2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV
"Faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible" Luke 1:37 (NIV)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12 NIV
“Dear friends, we are praying that all will be well with you and that your body will be as healthy as we know your soul is." 3 John 1:2
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light." Mathew 6:22 NLT