News

Capital Office

Opticians - Primary Eyecare Center Leave a comment  

20160418_145720

Dr.  Sage Hider with house majority leader, Kevin McCarthy, at his Capital office in Washington DC.


California Optometric Association

Opticians - Primary Eyecare Center Leave a comment  

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Dr. Sage Hider, president elect of the California Optometric Association with Assemblymember, Evan Low and the rest of the COA Board.


Battling Blue Light

Opticians - Primary Eyecare Center Leave a comment  

BATTLING BLUE LIGHT
Why worry about blue light?

• 62 percent of surveyed respondents spend five or more hours on their digital devices every day
• 14 percent spend at least 10 hours a day on their devices
• Chronic exposure to blue-light-producing LED lights creates retinal injury
• Reading on blue-lite-reading devices before bed:
* prolongs the time it takes to fall asleep
* delays the circadian clock
* reduces the amount and delays the timing of REM sleep
* reduces alertness the following morning
• An association has been found between dysfunctional sleep-wake cycles and other health problems, such as diabetes and some forms of cancer

The doctors at Primary Eyecare Center recommend selective filtering of harmful Blue-Violet light for all of our users of digital devices. Ask your doctor or optician for more information.


Holiday Fun!

Lauren Tackett, OD Leave a comment  
Primary Eyecare Billers

Primary Eyecare Billers – Michelle and Tawni

PEC HOLIDAY PARTY

Dr. Immoos gift giving with Erik and Michelle

Dr. Immoos gift-giving with Erik and Michelle

Gift Exchange

Gift Exchange – Melissa

 

Atascadero Staff

Atascadero Staff with Docs

 

San Luis Obispo Staff

San Luis Obispo Staff with Docs

Man of the Hour - Dr. Hider

Man of the Hour – Dr. Hider

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raffle - Jen and Dr. Tackett

Raffle – Jen and Dr. Tackett

Drs. Hider, Immoos, Cormier and Tackett

Sage Hider, OD                   Elaine Cormier, OD         Quyen Immoos, OD           Lauren Tackett, OD

 


No More Air Puff!

Lauren Tackett, OD Leave a comment  

Many patients hate the dreaded “air puff” test during their annual eye exam. A quick and painless technology is now available in our office to test for glaucoma. The Icare tonometer is based on a new technology that does not require an air puff or eyedrops. The measurement is barely noticeable and our patients much prefer it to the old methods.

What is glaucoma and why is it important to test for it? 

Glaucoma refers to a group of related eye disorders that all cause damage to the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. Glaucoma usually has few or no initial symptoms. In most cases, glaucoma is associated with higher-than-normal pressure inside the eye. But it also can occur when intraocular pressure (IOP) is normal. If untreated or uncontrolled, glaucoma first causes peripheral vision loss and can eventually lead to blindness.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the most common type of glaucoma — called primary open-angle glaucoma — affects an estimated 2.2 million people in the United States, and that number is expected to increase to 3.3 million by 2020 as the U.S. population ages.

Glaucoma often is called the “silent thief of sight,” because most types cause no pain and produce no symptoms until noticeable vision loss occurs. For this reason, glaucoma often progresses undetected until the optic nerve already has been irreversibly damaged, with varying degrees of permanent vision loss. Because most cases of glaucoma have few or no early symptoms, about half of Americans with glaucoma don’t know they have it. Glaucoma is also more common as we age.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma.htm#glaucomascreening

Visit Primary Eyecare Center today for your annual eye exam.

 

 


Can I Swim with my Contact Lenses?

Lauren Tackett, OD 3 Comments

We are often asked this question…

Can I Swim with my Contact Lenses?

The FDA recommends never exposing your contact lenses to any kind of water, including tap water, swimming pools, lakes, oceans or hot tubs.

If water gets in your eyes when swimming, you should remove and throw away your contact lenses as soon as possible to lower your risk of eye infection.

At Primary Eyecare Center, we offer prescription swim goggles and other protective Rx-able sports eyewear. The safest option is to swim with prescription goggles. This is the least risky option. If you decide to swim with contact lenses, daily disposables are the safest way to go. These lenses are the most hygienic form of contact lens wear available. They are worn and thrown away at the end of the day. It is best to throw these contacts away as soon as you get out of the swimming pool to minimize your risk since they soak up chemicals and possibly micro-organisms in the water. Leaving the contacts on after swimming is very risky. You should never swim with your eyes open in the water, especially while wearing your contact lenses.

Rigid gas permeable contacts (RGPs) should never be worn while swimming. They are more likely to pop out of the eyes while swimming. Soft contact lenses often remain on your eye when swimming, however, they will easily absorb chlorine or bacteria, which can increase your risk of eye problems, including infection. Chlorine also causes punctate keratitis (cell death of the surface cells of the cornea). This can predispose the cornea to infection by bacteria or other parasites present in the water or on your contact lenses.

See an optometrist immediately if you experience lasting redness, eye irritation or sensitivity to light after swimming in the water.


NEW COLOR CONTACTS AVAILABLE!

Lauren Tackett, OD Leave a comment  

NEW COLOR CONTACTS AVAILABLE AT OUR OFFICE!

  • There have been new developments in 2015 to improve color contact lens technology.
  • Color contacts now allow for better comfort and more natural appearance.
  • Visit our office to try these new lenses!

 

Air Optix Colors and 1-day Acuvue Define

 

air_optix_colors_cropped_2   Define


Introducing Proclear®

Lauren Tackett, OD Leave a comment  

NEW Proclear® 1 day multifocal lenses are now available in our office!

Proclear® 1 day multifocal contact lensesTired of always having to pick up your reading glasses to see up close? Until now one-day disposable contact lenses could not correct both distance and close vision. With the latest in contact lens technology, you can have a daily disposable contact lens with a Multi-focal design to decrease your reliance on reading glasses. Read more


Experience Individualized-fit Technology

Lauren Tackett, OD Leave a comment  

Experience “individualized-fit” technology at our office to give you the best vision with your new glasses!

Introducing the VisiOffice—an advanced new instrument that allows us to personalize your lenses on multiple levels, providing the crispest and cleanest vision possible. Instead of a ruler, this computerized instrument provides a dynamic 3D measurement of the eye to customize and most accurately fit your next pair of eyeglasses!

The Visioffice system allows us to deliver the most precise and individualized vision in glasses. These extensive and precise measurements are particularly important in fitting no-line bifocal (progressive) glasses to ensure the best possible vision at every distance.


Yes, we text

Lauren Tackett, OD 1

We can communicate with you by text and email now!

Woman texting while eating, while using a laptop

We are able to send email and text message reminders for your appointment and to alert you that your glasses or contacts are ready for pick up. If you would like to communicate with us via text or email, you must “opt in” the first time you receive a text or email from Primary Eyecare Center. You can also order your contact lenses, request appointments and fill out new patient paperwork online to save you time in the office.