1. Check with family and friends to recommend an experienced optometrist.
2. Check with your insurance company for a list of optometrists covered under your plan.
3. The optometric association can be contacted for a list of eye doctors.
4. You can call the hospital for details if they have an optometry department.
5. Ask other health professionals including your family doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or nurse.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

The technical name is a floater (seriously) and they are imperfections within the jelly-like substance behind the pupil of the eye called the vitreous. When light enters the eye and hits these imperfections small shadows are created on the surface of the retina that are perceived as amoebas, threads, or spots in the vision. The vitreous gel inside our eye changes as we age (more imperfections-imagine that) so floaters generally become more noticeable as we get older.

One or two floaters that are brief in appearance are usually normal.  We become more concerned with persistent floaters that blur the vision or that are accompanied with flashes of light in the vision.  Flashes of light can indicate traction on the retina which can result in retinal tears or detachments. Persistent floaters can also be an indication of other problems such as hemorrhages or inflammatory conditions within the eye.  If you have persistent floaters or flashes of light in your vision, then you should should have your eyes examined as soon as possible.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

For years, chain opticals have manipulated sales and discount vision plans to create an illusion of savings for consumers.  The sales and vision discounts are generally just reductions from regular prices that are set artificially high to begin with.   It’s a common marketing ploy to make people believe they are getting a bargain.

So how do you get the best glasses?

1.  Lenses first.

Your doctor is your best resource for recommending which brand and type of lens is best based on your individual vision needs, past history, and current prescription.  I recommend Zeiss lenses most often for their commitment to having the best ophthalmic lenses.

2.  Frame next.

Frames truly represent our personality and run the gamut of utilitarian to high fashion.  An optician can help you make sure the frame you like is compatible with the lenses you require.

3.  Value.

Consider the quality of the eyeglasses, the expertise of the staff, and the warranty before your purchase.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

Most aberrations are typical and refractive in nature such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.  These are called low order aberrations and can be compensated for with ordinary eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Other aberrations are less typical such as coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration.  These cannot be compensated for with ordinary glasses and contact lenses and are called high order aberrations.

We can now measure many of these aberrations with an instrument called an abberometer.  I find that about 10 to 20 percent of people I measure have significant nighttime higher order aberrations.  If you have night vision trouble you probably have significant higher order aberrations under low light conditions and you should be measured!

Based on these advanced measurements a pair of custom eyeglass lenses (free form/individual lenses) can be made to compensate for both your low order and higher order aberrations to improve acuity and contrast; especially in low light or nighttime conditions.  At this time we are not able to compensate for all higher order aberrations, but our abberometer has a simulation mode which can accurately predict who is able to benefit from this new technology.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

Do you have an infant and wonder how they see? We begin seeing infants starting at 6 months of age and can test your baby to make sure their eyes are healthy and developing properly. Gray Family Vision participates in InfantSEE, a free eye examination for infants 6-12 months of age.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

Glaucoma Facts:

• Nearly 50% of your vision can be lost without you noticing.
• Approximately 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma.
• About half of them don’t know they have glaucoma.
• Glaucoma is the number one cause of preventable blindness.
• Glaucoma can be detected during routine eye examination with your optometrist.

Get checked for glaucoma!

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

Our online schedule here.

Anti-Reflective Coating Benefits

• Improve night vision
• Reduce eye strain on computer
• Best looking lenses possible

There are differences between manufactures and the best quality anti-reflective coatings repel dirt/dust, reduce visible smudging, and offer greater scratch resistance.  Zeiss invented the process back in 1935 and I believe is still the industry leader, but Crizal, Kodak, Pentax, and Hoya are also good choices.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

You may have heard of the expanding contact lens recall.  It now affects approximately five million contact lenses that may be contaminated with oil residue and has been linked to blurred vision, eye injuries, and severe pain.  The brands affected by the recall are Avaira Sphere and Avaira Toric contact lenses.  No other brands are included in the recall at this time.  Feel free to call the our office (657-4488) if you have questions or concerns about your brand of lenses.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.

This post will discuss the two most common eye signs that I see of elevated cholesterol.

1. Xanthelasma.  Light brown or yellow elevated patches on the eyelid.  They are painless and are most common on the inner half of the eyelid. 
2. Corneal Arcus.  White or grayish ring around the edge of the cornea.  Many times only visible during the microscope portion of your eye exam.

Both xanthelasma and cornea arcus are associated with elevated cholesterol.  Interestingly, a study published in the September 15, 2011 British Medical Journal found that only xanthelasma were associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

By Dr. Cook, O.D.