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For over twenty years we have been the first choice in eye care for thousands of patients, and we are delighted that you have chosen LaFollette Eye Clinic for your eye care needs.
As a nationally recognized eye clinic, we are dedicated to every aspect of your eyes including vision, fashion, health, and comfort. Our mission is to provide our patients with the highest quality eye care available anywhere.
Our experienced doctors and eye care professionals use the latest technology to diagnose and treat numerous eye diseases, all while providing the same legendary customer service that keeps our patients returning from as far away as Ohio, Texas, and Florida.
Thank you for visiting our website. Don’t forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter; all our friends are eligible for monthly awards! And if you have any questions, please call or contact us. We’re always excited to show you why LaFollette Eye Clinic is Clearly the Best in Sight.
A friend was asking me just this weekend about the difference between types of 3D films. This post should help. Thanks to The Optical Vision Site for alerting us to this great 3D Infographic from Sortable.com.
Variable Polarization and Tint a Breakthrough for Eyewear
Transitions Vantage lenses become darker and more polarized as sunlight increases
Transitions Optical has announced that their new technology, Transitions Vantage lenses, will be available to consumers beginning today. Why is it revolutionary? After all, variable tint lenses have existed for decades, and there are already examples of variable polarizing lenses.
What makes Transitions Vantage so incredible is the combination of the two abilities in one lens. Previously, variable tint (photochromic) lenses got darker in the sunlight, but didn’t polarize (see photo). And while variable polarizing lenses already exist, none of them has the ability to become completely clear for indoor use.
However, with Transitions Vantage lenses, the wearer can experience incredibly crisp, clear vision whether indoors or out. This is because not only does the lens darken in sunlight, but the geniuses at Transitions Optical use molecules that move and align when exposed to UV light. The more exposure, the more alignment, which increases polarization. This technology, which Transitions Optical claims has been in the works for almost a decade, is stunning.
The doctors and staff at LaFollette Eye Clinic are excited to be able to offer this incredible technology. We have recognized the benefits of lens polarization for years, and touted its positive effects on vision. Now for the first time, our patients can enjoy the technology in a lens that is also usable indoors.
Transitions Optical has announced availability beginning today. Why not check out a pair for yourself?
Good news for coffee drinkers: a recent study published in the journal Ophthalmology suggests caffeine increases tear production in some people. According to one researcher, the study was inspired by a patient who claimed that his eyes were less dry after having a cup of coffee with lunch. Go figure.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo’s School of Medicine tested 78 patients and found a significant increase in their tears after using caffeine. The results were even more pronounced for people who had genes that “amplify” the effects of caffeine in their bodies. The researchers cautiously suggest that caffeine may be a viable treatment option for some people with dry eyes.
Dry eye syndrome is a term that describes the broad category of ocular surface diseases that generally cause irritation and discomfort, with rare cases causing vision threatening effects. Millions in America have some form of dry eyes. Popular treatments include lid hygiene products and moisturizing drops. Moderate cases also may require prescription medication and minor surgeries.
The eye doctors at The Dry Eye Center at LaFollette Eye Clinic use a systematic approach to treat ocular surface disease using these and other treatments, and we’ve been reviewing the results of the study. We noted a few challenges (also recognized by the researchers): the results seemed to work better in some people than others, and the number of people tested was quite small. The doctors performing the study agree more research is needed.
Make no mistake: water is still the best way to hydrate the body, and the optometrists at LaFollette Eye Clinic do not prescribe caffeine as a treatment option for ocular surface disease. However, we do monitor current studies and use treatments proven by science. It looks as though we will more about the subject of ceffeine in the near future, and as always, we’ll keep our readers and patients informed as new discoveries emerge.
Here’s an interesting invention: goggles for dogs, or Doggles, as they are known. Featuring an extra wide bridge, deep lens cups, and padded foam, there is no mistaking these lenses were made with canines in mind. According to the website Doggles.com, the doggie eyewear is meant for both fashion and protection.
On the fashion side, Doggles are available in several colors and patterns. For protection, they block 100% of harmful UV rays, and they also reduce exposure for dogs that either have eye problems or need extra protection due to their environmant (see the second photo).
Doggles have been featured on Regis and Kelly, CNN, National Geographic, Animal Planet, and many others. The company also offers other products such as harnesses and eco-friendly dog toys.
Thanks to TonyRogers.com for this great photo of Doggles at work in Iraq. They protect the dogs' eyes from sand blowing in storms or near helicopters. Photo: U.S. Army photo/Pfc. William Servinski II
The doctors at LaFollette Eye Clinic don’t treat pets or their vision, but we thought this was a really neat and fun item!
Yesterday Google revealed some early photos showing the design of their augmented reality eyewear. They have dubbed it Project Glass, an improvement over the name “Google Goggles,” a term coined earlier this year.
According to a brief press release, Google describes the eyewear as “there when you need it” and “out of your way when you don’t.” The goal is to allow users to explore and share their world more seamlessly than with smartphones. The eyewear is obviously not designed to use while driving (we think) as it may possibly block some vision. But then again, smartphones aren’t for use while driving either.
Interestingly, and to their credit, Google is hoping for feedback on the release. They’d like to “start a conversation and learn from your valuable input.” They even ask the question, “What would you like to see from Project Glass?”
How would you answer that question? While you decide, enjoy the video below. Google developed it as a way to show how Project Glass may be used in the course of a normal day. And check out the LaFollette Eye Clinic Facebook page for an album of different Project glass photos. Hey, why not like us while you’re there? We’ll keep you up to date on Project Glass and other great advancements in technology.
If you have macular degeneration, chances are (hopefully) that your eye doctor will discuss proper diet and vitamin supplementation. But at LaFollette Eye Clinic, each optometrist can tell numerous stories of patients either disregarding or changing treatment regimens. This is probably due to the great confusion surrounding vitamins in general. Patients wonder whether they will help, and if they do, whether the cheaper alternatives will also be effective at preserving their vision.
Look at the photos to see the improvement in a patient who is regularly using supplements for macular degeneration.
The Same Eye After Two Years of Vitamin Therapy
A quick anatomy lesson: the photos show the inside of the back portion of the patient’s eye. The yellow disc is the tip of the optic nerve, out of which arteries and veins radiate. The dark red spot left of center is the macula. In the first photo, both drusen (white spots) and pigment aggreagation (darker spots inside drusen) are apparent. This is early macular degeneration.
Note the reduction in both the pigment and drusen in the second photo, which was taken two years after the patient began regularly using vitamins specifically formulated for macular degeneration (you may have to maximize the photos to appreciate the difference). Like many patients, he mentioned the monthly cost of his vitamins. After having seen the photos, however, he no longer questions the value of sticking with his treatment plan.
The photos show just one example. However, numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of proper diet and vitamin supplementation in slowing (and sometimes reversing) the effects of macular degeneration. There is no arguing the treatment is effective.
For a review of good dietary practices for the eyes, check out this previous post. As for vitamins, it’s best to stick with what your eye doctor prescribes. Why? A careful look at most over-the-counter vitamin supplements reveals the answer: most don’t have nearly enough essential ingredients. For example, a certain amount of lutein (an essential yellow pigment found in the macula) is required for effectiveness. Although most studies show this amount to be anywhere from six to ten milligrams, most OTC vitamin preparations contain only micrograms. This is enough to put “lutien” on the bottle, but not nearly enough for effective treatment.
Multiply this effect across the range of nutrients needed in a supplement, and you get a nice looking pill with an attractive label, a cheaper price, but no scientifically proven benefit. Most popular OTC vitamins fall into this category. The doctors and staff at LaFollette Eye Clinic constantly battle this type of deceptive marketing.
Proper diet and vitamin therapy is essential to treat macular degeneration. Simply put, it works. But listen to your eye doctor’s treatment regimen and stick with it, avoiding the marketing schemes of less effective vitamins.
Think Tank Composed of Nation’s Leading Optometrists Holds Inaugural Meeting in Dallas
This past weekend a group of leading optometrists met in Dallas to discuss challenging issues facing both the health care industry and patients across the nation. It was the first meeting of the Leadership Council, part of an already world-class group of eye doctors known as the Cleinman Performance Network.
Topics discussed include optometric and professional leadership, political roles for optometrists, the future of health and vision care, and the health of our nation. Of particular interest and value was a brainstorming session exploring the challenges and opportunities technology presents to both doctors and patients. The group plans to meet biannually, to keep their finger on the pulse of our country’s health and vision care.
The group was facilitated by Al Cleinman, founder and CEO of Cleinman Performance Partners. See the photograph below for information about who attended:
From left to right: Al Cleinman, facilitator; Dr. Tom Motisi, New Berlin, WI; Dr. Mike Heil, Seattle, WA, Dr. Susan Keene, Marion, VA, Dr. Chris Olson, Mt. Pleasant, IA; Dr. Andy Howard, LaFollette, TN
According to a news release dated February 8, 2012, a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has renewed several grants with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The efforts of physiology professor Gadiparthi Rao, PhD will bring in more than $6 million in research funding to the UTHSC. The grant renewals are significant not only for the amount, but also for the fact they were received in spite of the current economy.
The funding is expected to allow Dr. Rao to continue groundbreaking research into the role of lipids (fats and related molecules) and cytokines (regulatory proteins) in the body. Specifically, how they affect the vascular system and how such changes relate to retinopathies, or damage to the retina of the eye.
Dr. Rao is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, and he serves on the editorial board of Circulation Research and Arteriosclerosis and Vascular Biology, two prestigious journals of the American Heart Association.
The eye doctors and professional team at LaFollette Eye Clinic are proud of Dr. Rao and his accomplishments. We look forward to the potential advances in understanding, treating, and preventing such vascular conditions as macular degeneration and glaucoma, as well as other retinopathies that affect the eyes and vision of our patients.
Congratulations, Dr. Rao. May your efforts be fruitful.
By now you’ve probably heard the rumor that sugary foods and drinks will soon be taxed and regulated like alcohol and cigarettes. While the rumor isn’t true (yet), it stems from a highly publicized article in the journal Nature dated February 2nd. According to a follow up article at Time.com, regulating sugary foods will be a challenge in today’s culture because we have an emotional attachment to sugar. We celebrate birthdays with cake, not salad.
Another problem is sugar’s prevalence in our lives. No one has to look very far before they find more than enough to satisfy their cravings. Just this morning a well-meaning vendor brought two dozen doughnuts for the eye doctors and staff at LaFollette Eye Clinic. I looked them over, since they were baked at a local shop whose artisans are long on talent, if not nutrition. They were pretty, but I didn’t touch one. I abstained not because I’m worried about my hips, but because I want to protect my heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and yes, my eyes.
Colorful fruits and veggies are great for the eyes!
The far-reaching damaging effects of excess sugar are no secret, but they are beyond the scope of this post. Fortunately, good nutrition is also no secret, especially as it relates to our eyes and vision. Here’s a good rule of thumb that’s easy to remember: food that’s prettiest to the eyes (i.e., most colorful) is generally better. Remember, though, that it should be natural (as it came from the ground) and not processed (as it came from the box of doughnuts).
Read on to discover seven foods to eat for better vision and eye health:
1. Leafy greens: spinach, chard, kale, and collards. These nutrient packed powerhouses are listed first for a reason. First, they contain the pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which are naturally found in the eyes. They both improve vision and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Second, they provide carotenoids, a provitamin A that is converted to natural vitamin A (retinol) by the body. Vitamin A is also known to reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Third, they contain vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants protect retinal cells from UV radiation, again reducing the risk of macular degeneration. Are you noticing a pattern here?
2. Berries: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Berries are high in antioxidants, protecting against macular degeneration and cataracts.
3. Colored fruits and vegetables: this broad category has two parts. Orange-colored fruits and vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, cantaloupe, apricots) provide beta-carotene, the most common type of carotenoid that supports retinal health and protects against macular degeneration and cataracts. Other colorful fruits and vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, strawberries, cantaloupe, oranges) contain vitamin C, a key protective antioxidant.
4. Fish: specifically, salmon and sardines. These fish are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of macular degeneration and also have additional benefits for dry eyes and other ocular surface dieases. Many fish are also good sources of another potent antioxidant, vitamin D.
5. Nuts: almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and even peanut butter. These are sources of vitamin E, yet another powerful antioxidant. Wheat germ and avocados are also good sources of vitamin E.
6. Lean meat: lean beef and turkey. Here’s where you’ll get plenty of zinc, which helps your body absorb all those antioxidants you’ve been reading about.
7. Milk: contains riboflavin (a B vitamin) and natural vitamin A (retinol). Riboflavin can help prevent cataracts, and as mentioned before, vitamin A helps prevent macular degeneration.
Meet Roxanne. I had the pleasure of hearing her story last week. I think you’ll find it interesting.
Roxanne works in an industrial paint booth. Earlier on the day I met her, there was an accident in the booth. It seems a paint canister became highly pressurized, and it exploded paint all over Roxanne and her coworker. Fortunately, Roxanne was wearing her safety eyewear. Unfortunately, it was her only pair of glasses. Subsequent attempts to remove the paint only fogged up the lenses, obscuring her vision. Hence my meeting her.
She was still wearing her (now completely silver) cap when I saw her for the first time, and when she removed it I noticed her neatly shaven head, complete with a mohawk. “When I woke up this morning, I had hair like hers,” she said, referring to one of our Certified Paraoptometrics. Her hair was well below shoulder length. Roxanne had been forced to shave her head due to the massive volume of paint that had coated her hair!
Interestingly, Roxanne was in a fantastic mood. Here she was, no glasses and very little hair, making my day better with her attitude. Another staff member at LaFollette Eye Clinic noted that if she had to shave her head she’d be curled up in a corner weeping. So why was Roxanne so happy?
I’ve learned the best way to get the answer to a question is to ask it, so I did: “How on earth are you not more upset about what’s happened today?”
“It’s just hair,” she said. “I’m ok and my partner is ok, neither of us got hurt. The equipment can be replaced, and I still have my job. Besides, I’ve had hair this short before.”
Taking the bait, I asked why. And it turns out Roxanne was a member of the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. That’s right. Before she was dodging exploding paint canisters she was jumping out of perfectly good airplanes for the United States Army. Where, she informed me, “there is no whining.” No wonder she was in such a good mood!
I thanked her profusely for making my day. Not because she is a woman with a mohawk, but because she displayed such a thankful attitude on a day most of us would write off as one of our worst. Thanks again, Roxanne. I never know when I’ll learn a life lesson, but it seems you taught me a valuable one.
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