How many can you match?

source: sunglassesmagazine.com

Why yearly eye exams are important for everyone

Why are yearly eye exams important for everyone?

Annual eye exams check more than just your vision and if you can see the bottom line of the eye chart.  The doctor will check so much more than that...she will check the eyes inside and out. 

Your overall heath: The eyes really are the “window to the soul”- the eye is one of the only places that Dr.’s can look inside the body (by looking in through the pupil) and see changes due to many systemic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Using retinal photography and slit lamp imaging, the Dr. at i2i eyecare can find more information about a person’s health than we would not have known otherwise.  Treating conditions before they become advanced can help a person stay on top of their overall health.

Computer Eye Strain:  Everyone is on a computer, using a smart phone or tablet.  The strain on the eyes can be very irritating to some.  Maybe a pair of computer glasses or some moisturizing eye drops will help.

Kids: The Dr. can also check visual efficiency, especially in children and young adults who may experience visual fatigue which may cause comfort and sustainability issues with schoolwork or issues with sports.  Headaches? Missing the ball? Let’s check the kid’s eyes and rule out any eye problems.

Contact Lenses: Contact lenses and the cornea they sit on, need to be checked annually to check the health of the front of the eye to prevent complications of long-term contact use.

Allergy Eyes: The Allergy Season will be coming earlier this year- please see Dr. Rogers if you need help with itchy, burning, pink or dry eyes.  There are many new methods and medications to treating these conditions.

Red Eye, Pink Eye, Dry Eye, Itchy Eyes? Don’t suffer through allergy season- see Dr. Rogers at i2i eyecare in Kenilworth

Kindergarten eye exams are required by the State of Illinois by licensed eye doctor.

Katy Perry Wearing MYKITA at the Grammys!

Katy Perry was seen sporting MYKITA at the Grammys!
You can look fabulous in blue glasses too, stop by i2i to try yours on today!!!

Breakfast with Tiffany's at i2i eyecare

Announcing our referral WINNER!!!!

Congratulations Leslie Talbot Armstrong!!You are the referral contest winner! Stop by to pick out your fabulous new pair of Ray Ban or Tory Burch sunglasses.

Wondering how you can win a FREE pair of sunglasses? This is how... Send friends or family to i2i eyecare for all their eye care needs, eye exams, contact lenses, or designer eyewear.  The patient with the most referrals will be our next WINNER. So start referring today!!

visit us at http://www.i2ieyecare.com/appointment.html to schedule your appointment online

~or~

follow us on FACEBOOK

What is the Difference Between an Optometrist, an Opthalmologist, and an Optician?

Ah, the 3 O’s- it’s so confusing to many people. I am an optometrist (OD) and I get asked this question ALL the time- my short answer is “I do everything, but cut.”   But basically, we are a team- we all work together to help our patients see the best that they can.

As an OPTOMETRIST, I’m the family eye doctor. (Like a General Practitioner or a Dentist)  I check your eyes inside and out.  I can prescribe glasses, contact lenses, and drops for eye infections or injuries.  

In addition, ODs do “problem oriented” exams, such as vision therapy for “lazy eye”, low vision aids, computer vision problems, as well as sports vision issues.  I am able to indentify medical eye conditions (Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal disease) that may need referrals to an ophthalmologist.

Optometrists can do pre-operative consultations & follow- ups to help you through various surgical procedures (such as LASIK and Cataracts) with an Ophthalmologist (& with MUCH shorter wait times!) 

Well, how long did you go to school?  Always the next question I am asked.  As an optometrist, I went to school for 4 years of undergraduate (usually pre-medical) college education (Go Badgers!) and another 4 years of post-graduate optometry school. (Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago).  THAT IS 8 YEARS!  I also maintain 32 hours of continuing education in the state of IL.

An OPHTHALMOLOGIST is…?  An ophthalmologist is a surgeon or “the one who cuts”.  They also go through 4 years of undergraduate (usually pre-medical too) college education and then complete a 4 year medical degree (M.D.).  Then they go on to a medical and surgical ophthalmology residency for 3 or more years depending on their area of specialty. (Cataracts, refractive surgery, glaucoma, or retinal specialist for example)

An ophthalmologist is trained to do a full eye exam, treat medical and ocular diseases, and perform surgical procedures (cataracts, LASIK, Strabismus).   Ophthalmologists manage eye-related complications from systemic diseases. (For example: diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors). 

So how do I pick one… an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist? 

Look at everything and go where you are comfortable.   

Qualifications: Both ophthalmologists and optometrists must have degrees from an accredited medical or optometry school and be licensed to practice in their state.

Services offered: Make sure the doctor provides not only a wide range of eye care services, but the service(s) you need.

Professional experience: Seeing a large number of patients over time could mean a doctor has greater ability to detect and diagnose eye disorders.  Are they in good standing with their professional organizations? (i.e. American Optometric Association or American Academy of Ophthalmology.)

Other patients' degree of satisfaction: Ask family members, friends, and/or colleagues about the eye doctors they've seen. How satisfied are they with their eye care? This is a strong indicator of how satisfied you will be. When you visit an eye doctor, take note of how you're treated. Ask yourself whether you feel comfortable and confident with your choice. If not, keep looking.

Availability: Is your doctor there for you if you need them?  Large clinics and chain stores have a large turnover in doctors…do you never see the same doctor twice?  Maybe it is time to look for a doctor who knows you and your eyes!   & Yes, I am on-call in case of emergencies!  (& I get calls in the middle of the night- it does not bother me- that’s what I do!) 

Often optometrist & ophthalmologist work together in an eye clinic, as I have done for the past 15 years.  I would concentrate on the refraction (The “1 or 2” part) for glasses and contact lenses and minor infections and injuries; the ophthalmologist would concentrate on the more advanced eye diseases and surgeries, but we worked together in the optical and medical treatment of the patients.  It’s a great team!  For 15 years, I worked with some of the best surgical clinics in the area and received excellent experience in multiple (& very different) eye care settings.  Now that I have opened my own practice, if there is something in my eye exam that needs advanced treatment and/or further investigation I will send them over to the ophthalmologists that I work with in the area.  This also helps me be an advocate for my patients, which they find very helpful when navigating through these difficult diagnoses.

So then ... What's an Optician?  The Optician fills the lens prescriptions that ophthalmologists and optometrists write for glasses- very important step!

Opticians: Evaluate lens prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists.  Dispense, adjust, repair, and replace glasses, eyeglass frames, and contact lenses. They take measurements and design frame & lenses that best fits a patient's needs.  They are usually in charge of ordering and checking eye-related products, including contact and eyeglass lenses.

Opticians obtain a one- or two-year technical degree, certificate, or diploma.

This is the final step in the eye care process so it is very important part of the eye care team.  They must design and make a pair of glasses accurately and in the design that fits the need of the patient or the patient will not be satisfied with the care if the end product does not work for them.  This is a very important step!  That is why I went through about 70 resumes before I found the right fit- someone who is very knowledgeable in optics and a friendly person for my patients to deal with.  Nothing turns off a patient more than a rude person at the front desk, on the phone or at “check out.”

& FINALLY:

1)     Please do NOT go to the ER for an “eye only” related injury- (i.e. scratched or bumped eye or something in the eye)  PLEASE call your local eye doctor & save yourself a lot of time and pain.  (Waiting times = PAIN)

2)     If you're thinking of having laser eye surgery such as LASIK, don't let discount-price advertising be your guide. Your eye health depends on getting the best care -- not the best price.  THIS IS NOT A DRESS OR SUIT ON SALE- This is your eyes we are talking about.

i2i Gives Back!!

It’s not too late to participate in i2i eyecare’s charity event.

For the month of December i2i has donated a pair of mittens to the children of the Northwestern Settlement House. For every eye exam performed, every eyeglass purchase, and every sunglass purchase i2i will donate a pair of mittens on behalf of our patients.

This is a great opportunity to make a donation to a child at the Northwestern Settlement House. The Settlement was founded in 1891 in Chicago, IL. The goal of the Settlement is to provide family self-help for low income families. Dr. Lisanne Rogers has worked hard over the years with The Settlement and now has the opportunity to involve the community and i2i eyecare with events like this.

Don’t forget to use your flexible spending account by the end of the year. Use your flex dollars to treat yourself with glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses.

 
Visit www.i2ieyecare.com for more information or to schedule an appointment online.