Five Points Eye Care Center is the best place in the Athens area to keep your eyes healthy while also helping you achieve the finest possible vision. Our optometrists’ offer specialized care for people who have lost vision from eye diseases (our low vision rehabilitation clinic), children with vision and visual processing problems (our vision therapy and pediatric clinic) and patients with their challenging contact lens or glasses needs. Let us know how we can help you!
Blue Light Emission In Our High Tech World
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Increasing evidence suggests that blue light has a dark side. At night, it can suppress the secretion of melatonin and wreak havoc on our circadian rhythms, and recent studies have shown that extended exposure to blue light can damage the retina. Through new research from the University of Toledo, we now know that when blue light hits a molecule called retinal, it triggers a cascade of chemical reactions that could be toxic to cells in the retina of the eye.
The study found that when an anti-oxidant molecule called alpha-tocopherol is present, which is a form of vitamin E, it reduces the damage caused by blue light and retinal, and prevents cells from dying.
Unfortunately, as we age, vitamin E levels dwindle, and we lose this protection. The researchers suggest that progressive destruction of light-detecting cells in the eyes due to prolonged exposure to blue light could therefore contribute to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness.
What can we do about it?
- Many smartphone companies have started including a blue light filter in their screens to abate this issue, such as the “Night Shift” setting.
- Limit or avoid smartphone and laptop use when it’s dark — something you should be doing anyway if you want to get a good night’s sleep due to blue lights disruption of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
- You can also add blue light protection to your ophthalmic lenses that help decrease blue light from both screens and sunlight. It typically adds a slightly yellow tint due to the filter, but can ease the strain electronic devices put on your eyes and help fight the effects of blue light exposure. Ask your optician to explain further!
We now have
Gucci frames!
Vision Therapy Success Story
Our Vision Therapy Clinic helps kids who are struggling to read and have problems with their schoolwork. We also work to give them back their confidence. Liam and his family agree. For Liam, difficulty reading and writing were major issues. He successfully completed Vision Therapy and for the first time ever he asked if he had to stop reading because he wanted to finish the book! His reading level has greatly improved as well. Although they were initially concerned about the cost and time commitment of Vision Therapy, his parents would not think twice if they had to do it all over again.
We would love to help you or someone you know who may have similar struggles!
Every month, we have our employees nominate another employee for our “Fred Award.” A “Fred” is someone who goes out of their way to uphold our practice core values of Excellence in Eye Care, Patients Come First, and Lead by Example. As a practice, we not only want our employees to come to work to get the day’s job done, but to strive to work harder each and every day for the sake of the practice as a whole.The Fred Award for the month of September goes to Nate Sedlacek. He, along with the help of Dr. Jon Forche, selflessly helped a patient move and start their car in the parking lot when it became clear that they were having car trouble. Thank you Nate, we appreciate you and your multi-talents!
If you purchase a year supply of contact lenses, you will get a 20% discount off any glasses, including non-prescription sunglasses!