Orthokeratology - No risk guarantee

We think orthokeratology has such amazing benefits for your vision that we are offering a no risk guarantee. Try orthokeratology and if we can't give you happy daily vision through the day without glasses or contacts we will offer you a refund plus your choice of contacts, glasses or LASIK.

Orthokeratology is a revolutionary process where molds are worn at night to reshape your eyes during sleep. The molds are removed in the morning and clear vision is enjoyed during the day. It is safe for children and can even stop your prescription from getting worse.

Here's how it works. Call our office to receive our FREE consultation. If you qualify, you can receive orthokeratology for 1/2 the cost of LASIK. If it doesn't work for you you will receive your money back (minus the exam which is paid for by insurance anyway). You can then choose from free contact fitting ($90 value), 40% off glasses (up to $800 value) , or a $200 LASIK discount.

Learn more about orthokeratology at our website.

Our exlsuve line : Prodesign

The history and philosophy of Prodesign as outlined by the company.

ProDesign was originally founded in 1973 but ProDesign today is a completely different company compared to back then. Design philosophy, basic values and corporate identity have changed remarkably since the entire organisation was restructured in 2000 and it is difficult to make direct comparison between then and now.



Today, ProDesign is an ambitious company establishing a growing position in world markets through the ability to quickly recognize and pick up trends, supplying prompt deliveries, efficient inventory management, and support through our Danish headquarters and offices in Hamburg and San Francisco.



Clean Danish design is the basis of our products but we always add a twist of something surprising – something unexpected. We aim to balance classic and clean with bold and bright to continuously keep classic styles updated. The most important thing is always to create eyewear that dresses the face. The frame and the face must interact to obtain a beautiful and harmonic look. We never strive for creating a design object that demands all the attention but rather a piece of eyewear that completes and enhances the lines of the face



Like other Danish eyewear designers ProDesign works a lot with powerful effects and is fascinated by the way the right detail can completely change the look of a frame. To pick a certain effect, appoint it your characteristic feature and make it as powerful as possible without overdoing it. This can be a challenge when you also want to preserve the clean and simple lines of Danish Design. This is however what it is all about – challenging our creativity to create a perfect frame every time.

Most contact lens solutions don't kill Acanthamoeba

In the Los Angeles Times (7/22), Shara Yurkiewicz wrote, "Most contact lens solutions do not kill the type of amoeba that causes severe eye infections,[Acanthamoeba] according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." Investigators there examined "three species of amoebae that frequently cause the infection. They added solutions containing dormant, inactive forms (cysts) from each of these species to 11 different brands of contact lens solutions." Next, "the cysts were soaked in lens solution for between four to six hours (depending on the manufacturer's soaking time instructions) or 24 hours." The researchers then "watched for two weeks to see which cyst solutions resulted in the growth of active, disease causing amoebae." Notably, "out of 11 solutions tested, the only two that disinfected against the bugs after four to six hours were the two that contained hydrogen peroxide." AOACLS section

Eyeglasses make you smart

Nebraska's Journal Star (8/24) reported that eyeglasses are no longer "the fashion don't for kids they once were, as wearers and manufacturers have realized they can be another accessory used to make a style statement." These days, youngsters "are not relying on glasses merely for their utility, but what they say about them." Some children believe that glasses make them look more intelligent. Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, of the Ohio State University College of Optometry, "has studied both how children with glasses perceive themselves and how peers view them." He said that "other than intelligence, glasses didn't affect how kids viewed one another in relation to sports skills, socialization, honesty, shyness or attractiveness in his testing." Dr. Walline explained, "'Smart kids wear glasses' is the way the media portrays it, and kids pick up on it."

Hyperopic orthokeratology

Some new developments in orthokeratology allows us to perform orthokeratology on those who are far sighted. The wave contact lens system has been working to develop this new methodology to make it more predictable. It works much like myopic ortho-k but simply steepens the cornea instead of flattening it.

I have my first experience with this coming up. I am excited to see the results.

Microneedle patch for painless AMD treatment

The Time (8/19, Sharples) Wellness blog reported that, according to a study presented Aug. 19 at a chemical society meeting, researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University "have developed a patch that has five rows of tiny 'microneedles' about as wide as human hairs that can be used to painlessly administer vaccines and other medications." Testing the device on mice, the investigators found that an influenza "vaccine, administered via the patch, yielded the exact same level of protection as a traditional shot." The team hopes "to begin a trial in humans in 2010." Notably, "this specific patch is the only one so far that has been designed not only to administer drugs through the skin, but also via the surface of the eye," which is "promising news for patients" with age-related "macular degeneration, which can require regular shots into the eye as part of treatment."
HealthDay (8/19, Preidt) reported that the patch, by offering "a painless alternative to hypodermic needles," could someday "make flu shots a thing of the past, and treatment of diseases such as diabetes safer and more effective." Study author Mark Prausnitz, PhD, explained, "Although it would probably first be used in a clinical setting, our vision is to have a self-administered flu vaccine patch." Instead of visiting a physician to get a flu shot, patients could "stop by the pharmacy or even get a patch in the mail and self-apply. We think that could very much increase the vaccine coverage since it would be easier for people to be vaccinated," Prausnitz stated. The patch could prove beneficial to patients with AMD, he pointed out, helping them to avoid the "real safety concerns about that kind of repeated injection into the eye."
Detailing how the medicine-coated patch is able to work painlessly, the UK's Daily Mail (8/20) reports that "it reaches far enough through the skin to deliver the drug, but not deep enough to hit the nerves that cause" discomfort. (courtesy AOA)

If you have diabetes get your eyes checked.

In a medical column in Florida's Palm Beach Post (8/17), Andrew A. Moshfeghi, MD, of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, explained, "The longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic eye disease, which is the leading cause of blindness in young and middle-aged adults." Dr. Moshfeghi pointed out that "diabetic eye disease" may include "diabetic retinopathy -- damage to the blood vessels in the retina," as well as glaucoma and cataracts. He provided tips for patients with diabetes to "promote good eye health," including eating well, maintaining "a healthy weight," getting "regular physical activity," taking medicines as prescribed, monitoring "blood sugar daily" and keeping "daily blood sugar less than 140," quitting smoking, and getting "a dilated eye exam once a year." Eye examinations are particularly important, he wrote, because "finding eye problems early and getting treatment right away will help prevent more serious problems later on."

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in Australia

Australia's ABC News (8/16) reported that, according to Australia's Indigenous Health Minister, Warren Snowdon, "glaucoma continues to be one of the leading causes of blindness" in that country, with an estimated 300,000 people suffering from the disorder. Snowdon pointed out that approximately half of these people "do not even know they have the" disease, "and therefore do not seek treatment," which may lead to blindness.

A new link between Diabetes and Eye disease

Rancho Cordova, Calif., July 14, 2009 – A recent study conducted by VSP® Vision Care and the Columbus Research Foundation (CRF) showed that 98 percent of study participants who had a grayish-white ring around the cornea, an eye condition called corneal arcus, also had metabolic issues related to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol which can lead to cardiovascular disease.

"This study demonstrates how important innovative approaches to healthcare are, and how comprehensive eye exams should be used as a screening for prevalent metabolic conditions," noted Dr. Steven Leichter, Medical Director of CRF. “Greater partnership between relevant healthcare providers may enhance the efficiency of our healthcare system and, in the end, reduce healthcare costs."

The study conducted in partnership with the CRF between April and September, 2008 with 2,000 patients, aimed to show the benefits of early detection through eye exams in overall health. In addition to an eye exam, VSP eye doctors screened patients for other health risks and referred at-risk patients to the CRF for diagnosis and additional testing.

“When you take into consideration that only 21 percent of adults receive a preventive health exam annually, while 61 percent of American adults with vision coverage receive annual eye exams, vision care plays a crucial role in the early detection of chronic diseases,” said Susan Egbert, Director of Utilization and Quality Management, VSP Vision Care.

Until now, health professionals have assumed that the occurrence of arcus is related to high cholesterol. However, this study shows there is a newly discovered and even stronger relationship between arcus and high fasting blood sugar that needs to be explored further. In fact, follow-up testing for patients who had arcus showed that:

* Eighty-eight percent had high fasting blood sugar.
* Forty-five percent had an elevated hemoglobin A1c.
* Sixty-six percent had an elevated body mass index.
* Sixty-four percent had high blood pressure.
* Twenty-one percent had elevated LDL cholesterol.

“Through this collaborative study, VSP Vision Care has found a breakthrough that will improve the lives of millions of Americans by connecting eye diagnostics with overall health, showing the numerous benefits of eye exams and early disease detection,” said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation (CHT). Gingrich and the CHT facilitated the partnership between VSP and the CRF through their Georgia Project.

In addition, at-risk patients with a vision related concern who were referred to the CRF kept their appointments 100 percent of the time. At-risk patients, who had no vision related issues, only kept their appointments 54 percent of the time. This study reaffirms that vision is a strong motivator for patients to seek additional health screenings and medical care to better manage their chronic conditions. Source

FDA studies life after LASIK

The Chicago Tribune /US News & World Report (8/11, Shulman) reported that "in response to a" recent "Food and Drug Administration public forum on LASIK...an FDA advisory panel has recommended ways to make warnings of the risks more clear," suggesting that "photos depicting what people with visual impairment actually see be made available to those considering the surgery, as well as information on conditions, such as large pupils and severe nearsightedness, which would disqualify a person from the procedure, and statistics on side effects." The agency, along with "a number of organizations, including the National Eye Institute," has "formed a task force to study quality of life post-LASIK and figure out how to minimize problems." Nevertheless, "patient satisfaction hovers around 95 percent" with the procedure, according to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. The FDA pointed out that "only about one percent of patients report worse vision and have permanent side effects," such as "eye pain, dry eye, and poor night vision."(courtesy AOA)

Implants that can help AMD

The UK's Daily Mail (8/11, Hurst) describes the experiences of Roger Biss, "one of the first people in the world to have a new operation which actually restores sight." Biss, who has the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), recently underwent surgery which involved "putting a tiny implant in" the "eye to magnify whatever" he "was looking at, so the images wouldn't just fall on" his central "blind spot, but on a surrounding bit of healthy eye, which would be able to send signals to" the "brain about what" he "was seeing." Biss was operated on by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz, inventor of the Lipshitz macular implant. In the "first time the operation had been done in Europe or America," Dr. Lipshitz implanted the device in Biss' left eye during an outpatient procedure. Biss no longer has a blind spot in that eye and can watch television again. To date, "only a dozen patients have had the operation...but results are extremely encouraging," according to ophthalmic surgeon Andrew Luff. (courtesy AOA)

Clear View Eye Care can diagnose and manage macular degeneration. We are excited about these new and continued developments in treating one of the leading causes of blindness.

New frames

Clear View just got in some new frames today. We have some new rimless frames and some fancy new plastic frames also. These are quality frames with unique style. Each frame is handpicked by our office to make you look good and get the most for your money. Check out the pictures.

Benefits of Multifocal contact lenses

I came across this interesting article from Bausch and Lomb demonstrating the benefits of bifocal contact lenses:

Valuing freedom, confidence, and a sense of control, today's emerging presbyopes thrive on doing the things they love to do.

Bausch & Lomb Multi-Focal contact lenses allow them to live actively and confidently, without the discomfort and annoyance reading glasses may cause.


Multifocal contact lenses benefit emerging presbyopes in a number of ways:

Insight
Changing vision can reduce emerging presbyopes' ability to perform certain tasks, which in turn can hinder their confidence and sense of freedom

Bausch & Lomb Multifocal benefit: With the ability to see at every distance, patients can still do what they want to do, helping them maintain a positive self-image

Insight
Only 28% of presbyopes with correction other than multifocal contact lenses say their vision correction "doesn't get in the way of daily life"1

Bausch & Lomb Multifocal benefit: 81% of multifocal contact lens wearers say their lenses don't disrupt their lives1

Insight
Reading glasses can remind emerging presbyopes of their age, making them self-conscious, uncomfortable, and feeling unlike themselves.

Bausch & Lomb Multifocal benefit: Multifocal contact lenses can eliminate the need for reading glasses, keeping patients confident and independent. Source

Multifocal contacts are a very interesting option for people. I love to fit these lenses because it can give functional vision at distance and near with little time needed for adaptation. There can be some compromise in clarity vs. glasses when doing soft Multifocals but can be a great way to keep a long term contact lens wearer in contacts after 40. It is also a great option for those who have never worn glasses and now need some help up close.

Kids should have an eye exam by age 3

The Windsor Star examins the need for eye exams in young children. "Young children should have a thorough eye examination." It goes on to explain that "two particular conditions that are of concern at a young age include eye muscle problems such as 'crossed eyes' (strabismus) and 'lazy eye' (amblyopia)." Both of these conditions are easy to treat if detected early.

Dr. Todd Wilbee goes on to explain that children often do not complain of vision problems and are often not aware of problems thay may have. Signs that their vision may be suffering include low performance in school, losing place while reading and holding material very close. Teachers can also be a great resource for detecting vision problems.

Another video on Orthokeratology

Glasses that adjust focus.

The New York Times (8/5, D3, Markoff) reports that applied physicist Stephen Kurtin, PhD, has invented eyeglasses that "he believes can free nearly two billion people around the world from bifocals, trifocals, and progressive lenses." The eyeglasses "have a tiny adjustable slider on the bridge of the frame that makes it possible to focus alternately on the page of a book, a computer screen, or a mountain range in the distance." Kurtin "has succeeded in creating glasses with a mechanically adjustable focus," which "he says...are better than other glasses and some forms of LASIK surgery." Just "this month, TruFocals, the company he founded three years ago, has begun selling its first adjustable focusing eyeglasses through a small group of optometrists and will soon sell directly online." The "first to become commercially available" in the US, the TruFocal eyeglasses will "sell for $895." They "consist of a lens that is comparable in thickness to that of commercial eyeglasses."

Eye drops with nerve growth factor may help glaucoma

Following a Canadian Press story, HealthDay (8/4, Mozes) reported that, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, researchers from Italy's University of Rome "found that the topical use of nerve growth factor" in eye drops "spares retinal ganglion cells from nerve damage caused by the build-up of eye pressure associated with glaucoma." Focusing "on using nerve growth factor in eye drops to treat dozens of rats in whom glaucoma was induced," the team "documented a significant drop in the rate of retinal cell death." Next, the investigators "tested the nerve growth factor eye drops on three patients with advanced glaucoma." Not only did "the vision of two of the patients actually" improve "and the vision of the third patient" stabilize, but "the observed improvements in visual field, optic nerve function, contrast sensitivity and visual acuity remained in place 18 months after the first eye drops were administered," the authors said. (courtesy AOA)

Eye exams can detect disease in other parts of the body.

We are not talking about iridology. The condition of the eyes can be a great indicator of overall health.

The UK's Daily Mail (8/4, Lambert) reports that "research from the" UK's "College of Optometrists suggests that a quarter of adults have gone for more than two years without having their eyes examined, while 18 percent have left it more than three years." Putting off an eye examination may be risky, since "optometrists are trained not just to pick up vision defects, but also to spot symptoms in the eye that are a sign of a dozen serious diseases elsewhere" in the body. The article goes on to detail the experience of five patients ranging in age from 23 to 72 whose optometrists discovered ulcerative colitis, pilocytic astrocytoma, myasthenia gravis, type 1 diabetes, and dangerously high blood pressure during routine eye examinations.
Survey suggests nearly two-thirds of children under six have never had an eye examination. HealthDay (8/3, Preidt) reported that, according to a survey conducted by Prevent Blindness America and VSP Vision Care, "more than 20 percent of kids aged 12 to 17 have trouble seeing the classroom chalkboard." Specifically, "of the nearly 1,500 children in the survey, more than 25 percent of the teen age group complained of headaches, even though 45 percent of them wore some type of prescription eyewear." Approximately "25 percent of children aged six to 11 wear prescription glasses." Children's eye problems also increased with age, with myopia being "the most common vision problem in older children." Notably, the survey indicated that "more than 66 percent of those under the age of six have never had their eyes examined by an eye doctor." Prevent Blindness America urged parents to have their children's "vision checked regularly." (courtesy AOA)

Repurposing a Glaucoma Medication

In the New York Times (8/2, MM15) Consumed column, Rob Walker discussed advertising claims made by the eyelash-enhancing drug Latisse [bimatoprost], "a recent offering from Allergan, the company best known for Botox [botulinum toxin type A], its physician-administered cosmetic-injection product." The Times noted that "during clinical testing of a glaucoma medication called Lumigan [bimatoprost ophthalmic], Allergan's researchers noted a side effect: eyelash growth." So, "recognizing the market potential for such a thing, the company conducted a new safety-and-efficacy study, this time making the former side effect the main focus, explained Robert Grant, the president of Allergan Medical, the company's aesthetic-products division." In December, 2008, "the Food and Drug Administration gave Allergan clearance for this new use." In advertisements, "Allergan isn't making a disease-related claim about Latisse, but rather positioning it, like Botox, as part of what the company calls a 'science of rejuvenation.'"

FDA discussed no-rub contact lens solutions

From "Off-the-cuff" by Art Epstein OD: In mid-May, the FDA sent a letter to manufacturers who have marketing clearance for no-rub multipurpose contact lens solutions. The letter expressed apparent FDA concerns with “no-rub” solutions, and was ostensibly based on “the discussion and recommendation of the Ophthalmic Devices Panel Advisory Committee”. I attended that advisory panel meeting and what the FDA reports and what I observed were considerably different.

The letter explains that the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) worked with “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) twice in the past two years concerning outbreaks of rare corneal pathogens associated with use of specific “no-rub” contact lens multipurpose solutions”. However, as you will read in the next paragraph, despite the apparently intentional emphasis, the products' “no-rub” approval had nothing to do with the outbreaks—at least not according to the US CDC.

As a clinician, I found the presentation by Jennifer Rabke Verani, MD, MPH, who represented the CDC, the most intriguing part of the panel meeting. Dr. Verani reported that patient hygiene, including rubbing and rinsing or even hand washing, played no role in either the Fusarium or Acanthamoeba outbreaks. The CDC concluded that both outbreaks were due to insufficient anti-microbial efficacy and were not associated with the lack of rubbing and rinsing by patients. These important conclusions appear to have been ignored by the FDA.

According to the FDA, the Advisory Committee concluded “that there is improvement in lens care when using a “rub-and-rinse” regimen as compared to a “rinse alone” regimen”. This is because “rub-and-rinse” regimens help prevent microbial adhesion to the contact lens, help prevent formation of biofilms, and generally reduce the microbial load on the lens and the lens case”. I would agree that rubbing likely results in cleaner lenses, but the FDA's broad generalizations are neither totally accurate nor scientifically sound. Despite the long held belief that rubbing reduces infection risk, we still lack the clinical or scientific evidence to prove it.

Panel member Dr. Tim McMahon, perhaps recognizing the potential safety net provided by an advanced no-rub formulation, recommended supporting no-rub labeling, provided products could meet the same stringent antimicrobial requirements necessary for rub products. To my recollection, the panel agreed with Tim.

The direction the FDA appears too be taking is worrisome. We don't fully know what constitutes an infectious load on a contact lens or what co-factors predispose a cornea to infection. Likewise, disregarding statistically valid conclusions from two in-depth epidemiological investigations is inexplicable. If the FDA intends to promulgate new rules to help safeguard contact lens wearers, at the very least, new regulations should be based on science rather than on dogma or regulatory agenda.