Showing posts with label HEALTH & WELLNESS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HEALTH & WELLNESS. Show all posts
Special Effect Contact Lens Safety for Halloween
The Importance of Back-To-School Eye Exams
Although I am a few years away from officially sending my little boy off to school, I can already foresee a frenzied scramble in the weeks and days leading up to our first days of a new school year. Between shopping for back-to-school supplies and clothes, touring classrooms, meeting new teachers, immunizations and physicals- there are certainly a lot of items to check off those end of summer lists. But one fundamentally important back-to-school task I will never miss and all-too-often witness overlooked is the back-to-school eye exam.
It's All In a Smile- My Experience with Smile Brilliant At Home Teeth Whitening + ~*GIVEAWAY*~
A confident smile cannot be easily imitated. That's why I've always made it a point to take care of my smile since smiling is something that must be genuine when I'm greeting a patient or behind the camera lens in my style photography. To keep my smile white amidst my red wine and dark chocolate vices, I have tried numerous teeth whitening techniques ranging from kits you find on drug store shelves to Zoom (an in-office whitening process) all with varying results. But now I would like to share my experience with my most recent whitening effort, Smile Brilliant.
The Solar Eclipse- What You Need To Know And How To Protect Your Eyes
On August 21st America will be afforded a chance to witness some rare celestial entertainment as the sun temporarily disappears behind the moon producing a rare total solar eclipse. The skies on a course approximately 70 miles wide between Oregon and South Carolina, otherwise called the "path of totality" will experience the full event as the sun gets completely eclipsed by the moon. These fortunate viewers will be in for a real treat as skies rapidly darken and galaxies within the universe generally hidden will become exposed. This will be the first total solar eclipse the U.S. has been able to witness since 1979 and the first time ever a total solar eclipse will appear exclusively in U.S. skies. For this reason, the event has been dubbed the "Great American Eclipse".
The New Practice
A few weeks ago I mentioned to you all that I was joining a new practice, so I wanted to take some time to tell you all about this incredible new work venture. For those of you who may be new to my blog, let me professionally reintroduce myself. I am an optometrist (or primary eye care provider and treater of disorders of the eye and visual system) and have been practicing for six years. To say I love what I do would be an understatement. I always knew I wanted to go into some field of health care, but I had always been especially intrigued by the human brain's method of sensation and perception, so going into the field of optometry felt very natural and right. And even after six years I still feel as passionate about my career as the excited college graduate that first set foot in optometry school.
Fireworks Eye Safety
The Fourth of July. The day we celebrate the birth of the United States of America and commemorate the adoption of our Declaration of Independence from the British empire with picnics, parades and, most notoriously, fireworks displays. And while many find delight in these impressive, colorful sky light shows, many eye doctors are unable to see them as more than explosive pyrotechnics that have the potential to wipe out somebody's cornea. And no we're not just "fireworks duds." These concerns are for very good reason.
Fireworks injuries are responsible for an average of 11,900 visits to the emergency room around Independence Day and, regrettably, children under 19 have the highest rate of injury. Of the fireworks injuries reported to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, approximately 1 out of 6 were related to the eyes.1 The most common fireworks-related eye injuries include eyeball ruptures, thermal burns, contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies. And if you think those sound pretty terrible, they are, and they all have a great likelihood to result in permanent vision loss. To help avoid injuries you should follow these tips in order to love America more safely.
1. Watch the show rather than set them off, and use the money you saved to buy yourself something that won't blind you. Leave fireworks displays to professionals who are hopefully utilizing eye protection.
2. Never, EVER let children handle fireworks, even SPARKLERS. They are absolutely not toys and can reach temperatures of 2000 degrees.
3. Never touch an unexploded firework. Call your local fire or police department to have it properly removed.
4. If you are a bystander watching the show, make sure to be wearing protective eyewear, be at least 500 feet away and respect all safety barriers.
5. If despite all these warnings you still intend to set off consumer grade fireworks, you should ABSOLUTELY wear protective eyewear.
If an eye injury from fireworks does occur, seek medical treatment IMMEDIATELY and follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
1. Do not rinse, rub or apply pressure to the eyes.
2. Do not try to remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
3. Do not put any ointments in the eye, and avoid taking blood thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.2
Although consumer grade fireworks remain legal in many states, the potential vision and life changing risks are simply not worth the bang.
1. Tu, Y. "Fireworks-Related Deaths and Emergency Department-Treated Injuries During 2015." 2015 Annual Fireworks Report. Consumer Product Safety Commission. June 2016.
2. "American Academy of Ophthalmology Urges Use of Protective Eyewear When Using Consumer Fireworks This Fourth of July" www.aoa.org June 22, 2015.
Fine Print: Guys, I am a licensed optometrist, but this post was not written to substitute for a face-to-face examination and diagnosis by another licensed eye care provider. This post was written to be solely for informational purposes. If you think you have an eye emergency, please call your eye doctor or go to an emergency room. You can read my disclaimer more thoroughly here.
Spot the Signs- Dr. Erin Lessner Discusses Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection
I am thrilled to debut The Northern Magnolia's first medical contributor, Dr. Erin Lessner. Dr. Lessner completed her prestigious ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at UCLA and currently practices at West End Plastic Surgery in Washington, DC. She is a beautiful person inside and out so it's only fitting that she entered into a profession in which she beautifies and enhances lives for a living. Whether she's performing cosmetic surgery for facial rejuvenation or repairing eyelids after injury or disease, Dr. Lessner not only helps patients meet their aesthetic goals but also performs life-saving and vision-saving procedures.
Staying Active with 3 Water
During a New England winter it's pretty easy to fall into a workout slump. At least that was the case for me. Between caring for Bennett and Brian's extended, unpredictable work schedule, I found it really difficult to maintain an exercise routine. It was difficult to find value in joining a gym I would rarely be able to use and I'm sorry if it sounds wimpy, but jogging in 30 degree temperatures combined with Boston's 20 mph wind gusts is just not my idea of a great time. But now that it's spring, aligning with its symbolism for rebirth and renewal, I'm lacing up my sneakers and getting back on the proverbial track.
Eyes and Vision During Pregnancy
With Mother's Day quickly approaching I can't help reflect on motherhood and how it is such an amazing, beautiful part of life associated with so many examples of selflessness starting right at conception. Pregnancy is obviously wearisome in so many ways, many of which are easily beheld, but there are also changes that occur that may not be as noticeable to the company you keep, including changes to the eyes and vision. Here is a list of some changes that might happen to the eyes and vision during pregnancy. Although many minor changes are normal, it is also important to be aware of what is not and requires quick medical attention.
Smart Snacking
When it comes to what food lives in our pantry and fridge, I steer a pretty tight ship. You won't find sugary drinks, foods containing a bunch of refined sugars that are high in calories with a bunch of preservatives, or generally foods that are processed. Sure we occasionally binge, but we reserve the unhealthy cheats for when we're out of town or having a family fun day in the city. I wasn't always so dictatorial when it came to what food my family ate. It took a while for me to break Brian of his Coca Cola habit, and I used to be able to spread Trader Joe's Cookie Butter on just about anything. Now, the only types of snack food we stock are wholesome, nutritious but yet still delicious.
Springtime Itchy Eyes
Spring is in bloom and, unfortunately for many, so are itchy watery eyes. The daisies, cherry blossoms and lush trees and grass now offering color to the once dull, winter landscape are certainly beautiful, but their pollen bestows a nuisance for many seasonal allergy sufferers. For millions of people, seasonal allergies is not just about sneezing, but can greatly impact the eye causing daily discomfort. You might be suffering from ocular allergies if you experience the following:
National Nutrition Month- Eye Health
March is National Nutrition Month according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and I thought it would be fun to share what foods out there are best for eye health. Just a few years ago it was thought that chomping on carrot sticks with all their beta-Carotene was the best food for your eyes, but recent research has revealed a number of foods that are superior to the orange veggies when it comes to promoting eye health and helping to decrease the risk of certain eye disease.
The Makeup of Two Entrepreneurs- Chapter 3
I don't believe I have ever placed a disclaimer BEFORE any of my blog posts, but here it goes- I am not a tax professional. Actually, I'm far from it. Until committing myself to starting the cosmetic business a few months ago, my knowledge about anything didn't extend far past eyeballs. Most of this information is newly researched as I am setting up our eCommerce platform on our website, but I wanted to put it out there since I had a good amount of difficulty locating some of this information myself. If you find some of this applies to you and you need more details please contact a tax professional!
The third chapter in our entrepreneurial series is dedicated to a topic that has been causing me to turn up the Enya and try to recall breathing techniques from yoga classes I last took 2 years ago.
Taxes.
Otherwise known as Buzz Killington or the Biff to my Marty McFly.
The Makeup of Two Entrepreneurs- Chapter 2
Macular Degeneration Awareness Month
When you think of the month of February, Valentine's Day or perhaps even Groundhog Day might come to mind. However, the purpose of this post is to bring something else to your thoughts this month aside from cupid's arrow and a great Bill Murray movie. February has also been designated Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, and for good reason. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects more than 1.75 million in the US and is the leading cause of central vision loss in individuals over 50. The disease causes deterioration of the macula, a small area of the retina (the light sensitive tissue within the back of your eye) that is responsible for your fine, detailed vision. AMD can cause blurred, distorted and even missing spots in the central vision and usually affects both eyes. AMD can be very debilitating since a loss of central vision can hinder near activities such as reading or using the computer and, in more advanced cases, be visually significant enough to restrict the ability to drive, causing those affected to surrender their independence.
The Makeup of Two Entrepreneurs- Chapter 1
I have been dreaming of creating this post for quite some time but have always found a new reason to replace it with another topic. This is something I've really been wanting to share but felt restrained by a fear of failing in front of a crowd. But after going back and forth again and again in my head, I concluded that not sharing this information out of fear of failure was a terrible attitude to have when starting a new business. Therefore, I decided what might be more advantageous would be to share this entrepreneurial journey with you in a new blog series,"The Makeup of Two Entrepreneurs". In this series, you will be able to come and learn the story of what happens when two eye doctors are trying to start a cosmetic business with their savings and their American dream. It will be a place of honesty where you will most likely hear the trials and tribulations of launching a new business, but I hope it will also be a place to inspire other entrepreneurs.
Favorite Green Smoothie
When Bennett was born I became so absorbed in motherhood and making sure that I was continuing to balance all of my other responsibilities competently that taking care of myself kind of fell by the wayside. I started making a habit of skipping meals, which is embarrassing and difficult to admit since I was a breastfeeding mother. I knew I needed a change so I started with making sure I was having a nutritious breakfast.
Glaucoma Awareness Month
Call me Ishmael. Just kidding. Have you ever been stuck on the first sentence of a piece of writing because you want it to be truly impactful? Because you want your fervor for the matter to be conveyed through every word. This is that kind of post. This is about something I am all too close to. Something that I see in practice all too often.
Winter Dry Eyes
It's commonly known that the cold winter months can lead to dry skin and chapped lips. You might change your nightly routine by applying a thicker moisturizer or oil to try and resuscitate your lifeless skin. You might also spend November-March living in an 8th grade flashback with your lips constantly tasting like cherry ChapStick. What is not as well known is the effect that the same dry winter air can have on the eyes. During the winter, the cold dry wind outside as well as the heat you're blasting inside causes a disruption in the stability of your tears, and new tear production just can't keep up, so your eyes become dehydrated. You might be experiencing symptoms of dry eyes and not even realize it.
A Better Day to Day For a Better Year
At the beginning of the New Year I always do a sort of audit of my life and figure out if there are ways I can make daily tasks easier and, in turn, myself more efficient and productive. I learned very quickly in motherhood that I have to be much more disciplined when it comes to abiding by a daily routine if I have any hope of taking any time out for myself. This is especially true now with a mischievous crawling / almost walking one year old that my eyes have to remain on at all times. Today, I'm sharing a few tips that have helped me complete my daily tasks more efficiently so everything gets done and I still find some time to pick up that work of fiction, take a bubble bath with some vino, or binge some Netflix in the evening.
