Glaucoma can take your sight away. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this prevalent, sight-stealing disease. Glaucoma is called "the sneak thief of sight," since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as 40% of vision...
If you don’t wear glasses or contacts, scheduling an appointment with your eye doctor might be low on your to-do list. But needing a new RX isn't the only reason to visit the optometrist. Your eyes can reveal so much about your overall health, sometimes even before signs show up...
The pandemic has changed the way we look at working and learning by forcing us to do more of both from home. However, our increased reliance on screens and digital devices for remote work and virtual school might also be altering our actual vision and worsening a worldwide trend that was already reaching its own epidemic proportions.
We know schedules can get busy, and seeing your optometrist might not rise to the top of your to-do list. However now in these unprecedented times, keeping tabs on our eyes is more important than ever. Besides the typical vision changes that occur as we age, with the lockdown, homeschooling,...
Almost all issues can be identified and addressed with a comprehensive vision exam. If you want your kids to have a comfortable and successful transition return to the classroom, schedule a visit to EYEcenter Optometric as part of your back-to-school checklist.
The elastic, wafer-thin skin around the eyes starts to, in essence, stretch out. The adhesion to the cartilage plate can loosen. The result is that the three muscles tasked with keeping your eyes wide open find it much more difficult. If droopy eyelids make you feel tired, please ask our EYEcenter Optometric about Upneeq!
If you've never had your child's eyes examined or it's been a while, EYEcenter's own Dr. Meagan Herring wrote a letter to let you know what you can expect at your child's next (or first) eye exam... Dear Parent, I know you are curious about your child's first eye exam....
Is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting your child’s vision? Read on to learn why online learning can cause or worsen myopia in children, and what parents can do to preserve their children’s gift of sight.
From about the fourth or fifth grade, I knew I wanted to be an optometrist. Being nearsighted, I was at the optometrist’s office often, and I always loved the warm and welcoming staff. Today, replicating that experience for our patients is how we differentiate our five practices, and why after...
Randall Fuerst O.D., F.A.A.O. Last year, the CDC issued a report that stated the average US adult is using digital devices approximately eleven hours per day. I ask my adult patients how many hours they are using a computer, smartphone, or tablet-and these numbers are certainly borne out. Research is...
As we all don masks amidst the pandemic, more than just your nose and mouth can be obstructed. Fog caused by your breath escaping your mask causes unwanted fog on your eyewear too. The AARP offers these tips to avoid this annoying side effect. As more Americans don face masks...
In a recent research article published in the Journal, Metabolism-Clinical and Experimental, a group of researchers from the UK reviewed nearly 338,000 diabetic patients. They evaluated the percentages who had contracted Covid-19, and compared this to their glycemic control measure, known as hemoglobin A1c. This percentage of glucose in the...
"Most people have no idea they have glands in their eyelids” says Randall Fuerst, OD FAAO of EyeCenter Optometric. “ These tiny glands are implicated in more than 86% of patients suffering from dry eye disease. Called meibomian glands, a typical person has between 70-80 glands in their upper and lower...
Study Reveals Relationship Between Allergic Conjunctivitis Risk, Sudden Change In Temperature Healio (7/13, Cimberle) reports, “A retrospective study” evaluating “the effect of temperature change on allergic conjunctivitis for patient visits at all U.S. Veterans Affairs clinic from January 2010 to December 2013” revealed “a statistically significant relationship between allergic conjunctivitis...
1 in 4 kids has a vision issue significant enough to impact learning. During back to school season, it's typically our goal to educate parents on the importance of a complete visual system exam instead of relying on the vision screenings provided at school--and now with distance learning in place, their annual eye exam becomes...
As this author has stated during numerous personal interactions and is almost universally accepted by experts, the numbers of myopia patients, and especially among young people, has been experiencing a near-epidemic rise world-wide. To wit, myopia is now one of the leading causes of vision loss in the world. Dr....
My father, Fred Fuerst, founded EYEcenter Optometric in May, 1960—60 years ago last month! In the early years, when the practice was just starting out, that first office was adjacent to our home. When the phone rang, my mother would drop what she was doing and run to answer it....
Is Your Child Struggling With Reading?We Can Help! For your child to succeed in school, reading and writing skills are necessary. Proper vision development and visual processing skills are critical. It is a well-established fact that poor vision can affect learning in a number of ways. Vision issues will make...
Is My Toddler Too Young For A VT Evaluation? A child’s vision changes rapidly as their bodies grow and develop. This is especially evident during the school years when reading, writing, homework, and after-school activities become a part of their normal daily routine. It’s essential for both parents and...
World Keratoconus Day! World Keratoconus Day (KC Day) 2019 is just a few months away. This day gives us the opportunity to raise awareness about the condition and what can be done to prevent it. What Is KC Day? World KC Day will take place on November 10th, 2019....
(BPT) - Spring is finally here, and while we say hello to lush green grass, flowers in bloom, and leaves on trees, for many it means the start of seasonal allergies. With nearly 66 million (1 in 5) Americans suffering from eye allergies and struggling with how to get the...
Washing your hands is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your community. But what about your glasses? Especially if you're taking them on and off throughout the day, they could be transferring germs to your face. Be sure to follow these...
Why Choose an Optometrist who Specializes in Contacts vs Ophthalmologists You need new contact lenses or maybe you’re just trying them out for the first time. How do you know who to turn to for the best advice and the right fit? At The Practice Name Scleral Lens and...
Right now, a lot is uncertain. One thing we know, our patients are our motivation to push through. Dr. Lee has a message for you during this unprecedented season....
Scleral Lenses Help Even Dry Eyes! When it comes to having dry eyes, you’ve probably tried everything you can think of to get some relief. From artificial tears to medicated drops, and maybe even homeopathic remedies, nothing seems to give you long-term relief. Until now. Scleral lenses may just...
Ask Our Citrus Heights Eye Doctors: Is There A Cure For Keratoconus? Is your vision blurry or cloudy? Is it hard to drive at night because you can’t clearly make out street lights or other cars? Do you get headaches a lot, especially when reading? Does your prescription change every...
Is Your Child Suffering From Nearsightedness?Here’s How You Can Help Proper vision is one of the most important elements of your child’s development. In school, sports, and other activities, the right vision skills are essential. Vision problems that are not addressed in time can cause serious consequences. One of the most...
At EYEcenter, we always want to be at the forefront of contact lens technologies and in the case of the current COVID-19 / Coronavirus challenge, we also want to keep our patients informed about the most current thinking about contact lens wear and COVID-19 as well as other systemic infection challenges....
Myopia – An Epidemic Across The Nation (And The World) When we think of the word “epidemic”, it brings to mind visions of desolated villages in third-world countries, overflowing hospitals, and quarantines. However, there are other less deadly, but equally serious, health concerns impacting people on a global scale....
Playing Outside Saves Kids’ Vision Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the most common refractive errors. A refractive error is what happens when light enters your eye and bends (refracts) improperly, which is usually the result of a misshapen cornea. As the light bends at an incorrect angle, it...
Dr. Fuerst spoke with future ODs on the latest eye-tracking technology from RightEye at the annual UC Berkeley student day on February 17, 2020. His interpretations of eye-tracking technology's application for mTBI (head trauma) and sports vision are outlined below. For more information on how eye tracking can give you...
Toddlers With Myopia: Eyewear And Their Future Like all refractive errors, myopia (also known as nearsightedness) is typically managed by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. These lenses correct the refractive error by bending (refracting) light correctly as it enters your eyes, which then sending signals to your brain so...
If your child is nearsighted (myopic), it may seem like a great idea to get him or her a new pair of glasses. They will surely improve how well your child sees but, unfortunately, will do nothing to slow myopia progression. You can offer your child MUCH more than a...
Changes in visual and cognitive function can take a toll on older adults’ ability to drive safely, and even ambulate safely in their homes. Optometrists play an important role in maximizing their patients’ vision as they age and helping patients and their families navigate decisions around visual function, independent living,...
Dry Eye Syndrome Chronic dry eyes or dry eye syndrome is a condition that can cause extreme discomfort, interfering with daily tasks and quality of life. Over the counter treatments and home remedies don’t always help and can often make the symptoms worse. Though the condition is more common in...
Gritty Eyes You know that gritty feeling in the eye when it feels like something’s in it or it just feels rough and scratchy? It’s not just your imagination, there are some sound medical reasons behind this feeling. If you have gritty eyes, contact Dry Eye Center at EYEcenter Optometric...
Spring Dry Eyes Spring is a time of renewal, when the harsh winter is just a memory and the outdoors seem to beckon us to go outside. While spring may be in the air, so are allergens. Allergies during the spring season can cause dry eyes and have a particularly...
Allergic reactions and Dry Eye Syndrome have overlapping symptoms. Read on to learn the differences and assess whether or not you should see an eye doctor.
The American Academy of Pediatrics periodically makes recommendations or formulates guidelines for parents to follow in their child-rearing. They recommend certain ages for starting infants on solid foods, how much sleep growing children should try to get as they age and how much media time or exposure to devices that...
Did you know your FSA account can help you pay for eye exams, new glasses, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses? And, what you can get for your FSA dollars might surprise you -- in a good way. There’s one catch--if you don’t use your FSA before the end of the...
Halloween is almost here, and we know it’s important to some that their ensemble has spooky details, from their eyes to their toes. Taking your costume to the next level can include decorative contact lenses, and we want to remind everyone there are scary risks that come from wearing these...
1 in 4 kids has a vision issue significant enough to impact learning. During back to school season, it's our goal to educate parents on the importance of a complete visual system exam instead of relying on the vision screenings provided at school. Give your students the tools to reach their full potential--read...
Make sure your student gets an evaluation of their complete visual system. This will uncover potential difficulties with any of the above skills, and if one is found, help you plan treatment options
A big part of EYEcenter culture and brand is looking for ways to give back to our community. We were fortunate to be given that opportunity in the form of a partnership with Dress 2 Soar, an organization that provides local teens with services to help them once they leave the...
Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades and fireworks. EYEcenter joins the National Safety Council in advising everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home. Consider the following facts: In 2017, eight people died and over 12,000 were injured badly enough...
How your devices are contributing to changes in your vision, and what you can do to help prevent it Although it’s environmentally friendly, blue light can affect your vision in big ways. And with the digital lifestyles many of us are living, we may be paying a price for basking...
Specialty lenses for keratoconus and other corneal disorders It used to be that people with keratoconus and other corneal irregularities were not able to wear contacts. Nowadays though, advanced materials and high-tech engineering have led to the development of contact lenses for almost every vision condition. A diverse range of...
More sunshine means new beginnings, gorgeous flowers, and more time outside. But for people with allergies, spring brings one more thing: suffering. If checking the pollen count comes before enjoying the scenery, that’s not right! We can help. Come see us for relief! In the meantime, here are 5 things...
Some of life’s most basic activities rely on your eyes, eye muscles and brain working together: driving a car, reading a book, playing a sport and simply maintaining your balance or coordination. This is what’s known as functional vision. Signs that you may have a functional vision issue include: Difficulty...
I am part of a large, full-scope optometry group practice with access to a wide range of diagnostic and treatment technologies. Eye tracking is a technology that our practice has been exploring recently—and I believe it has great potential to help patients and practices of all sizes. We initially added...
At EYEcenter, we talk a lot about your eye health and the products that help to care for your vision. While we continually emphasize these factors in our partnership with you, we also want you to know we understand the importance of another element: the amazing customer experience that comes...
Now that mid-year progress reports are out, you might see some places your child is struggling in the classroom. Did you know 80% of learning is dependent on vision? And sight is more than just whether or not your child needs glasses--problems witheye teaming, tracking or focusing might be the culprit. Not to worry!...
What’s your new year’s resolution? Does it have anything to do with your health? We have a few easy ways to keep your goal of healthy eyes and vision at the top of your priorities list all year long! WINTER Eat healthy. We know the holidays can be especially tempting...
Watery, scratchy eyes are a drag. But you don't have to live with them! Relief is easier than you might think! Click here for more information and give us a call, we can help. Read more About Dry Eyes Here...
Attention members of the uniformed services: Your TRICARE insurance is about to give you even more coverage! Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will be offered to certain Tricare members for 2019 coverage. That means starting in 2019, military retirees, their families and family members of active duty...
Have you heard of the eye disease with no symptoms? Scary right? It’s true--in it’s early stages, diabetic eye disease won’t give you any sign it exists. But there’s good news--your optometrist knows what to look for. Diabetes can lead to a wide variety health complications, including vision loss. In...
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation. For the second year, EYEcenter decided to join the Sacramento event from Making Strides: a 3-mile walk down Capitol Mall, across the Tower Bridge and past Raley Field to the gateway, and back....
October is Contact Lens Safety Month. Good habits and proper contact lens care can prevent infection and keep your eyes and vision safe, comfortable, healthy and strong. With Halloween coming up we thought we would give some extra contact safety tips! Here are some ways you can care for your...
Besides giving you the most thorough eye care with the most advanced methods, EYEcenter Optometric’s goal is to employ the best doctors. We’re so excited to say we’ve added another fantastic optometrist to our team! Dr. Thanh Tran’s first interest in optometry came while working as a tech at a...
World Sight Day (WSD) is an international day of awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. This year World Sight Day falls on 11 October 2018. WSD is co-ordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention...
October is “Contact Lens Safety Awareness Month” and EYEcenter is taking steps to educate our patients in the best ways to care for their eyes through the safe use and care of contact lenses. With Halloween coming up, colored contact lenses have become a popular new trend to add to...
EYEcenter Optometric is excited to be offering a Sports Vision Screening Event on October 6, 2018, at our Gold River location (2200 Sunrise Boulevard, Suite 120, Gold River, CA 95670). Many people do not even know what a sports vision screening is or how it can help your aspiring sports...
It’s that time of year again. Back to school and back to learning! We know you care about giving your kids the best tools for the classroom, and that includes their eyewear. But sometimes it's not easy to choose a pair that suits your child. Click on the image below to...
At EYEcenter we know our patients like to be informed. We get a lot of questions regarding the differences between our various roles at the office. We created this guide with the help of VSP to clear up confusion, so you can be sure you’re asking the right questions of...
July is UV Awareness Month. UV rays can come from many directions. They radiate directly from the sun, but they are also reflected from the ground, from water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces. Over time, the effects of UV rays may help cause a number of eye problems. You...
Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States, and the leading cause of blindness in the world. A condition that commonly develops as the eye ages, by the time we reach 80, more than half of us will have developed a cataract. What is a cataract?...
Your vision is one of the first senses you may notice changing as you get older. Age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts commonly cause impaired vision and blindness in older adults. But lifestyle changes, including good nutrition, could help delay or prevent certain eye problems. Adopt a...
Think about this: We use our eyes to take in 90% of everything going on around us. All other senses combined are just ten percent. Wouldn’t it be nice to know your eyes are helping you react to and absorb everything they possibly can throughout your day? But how can...
From the moment you wake up until you go to bed at night, your eyes are working to bring you the world. In fact, they deliver 80% of the information you take in every day — about your loved ones, your job, and all the things you love to see...
Did you know that 90% of sports eye injuries are avoidable? Take the following steps to avoid them. Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month is dedicated to educating athletes on how to keep eyes healthy for life. Prevent Blindness America reports that hospital emergency rooms treat more than 40,000 eye injuries...
Three beautiful new frames. Four trendy colors. Sounds great right? But the newest line of eyewear at EYEcenter has even more to offer. Level glasses integrate activity tracking technology into a beautiful piece of eyewear. The tech is embedded in the temple of the frames. “Level is basically a fitness...
Dr. Fred Fuerst founded the first EYEcenter in Sacramento in 1960. Back then Dr. Fred imagined a mix of quality care, family values, and compassion for his practice. This culture he envisioned still thrives at EYEcenter today: a combination of nurturing care and advanced methods, respectful of our roots yet...
Educate yourself on ways to protect vision on the job The dangers of blue light, digital devices and vision, and eye injury prevention are all topics we can brush up on in order to promote eye health at work. This month is the perfect time to do it! Just like...
Light yet stable, precise yet dynamic. Harmonious in shapes, efficient in function. EYEcenter is excited to bring you LOOK—the handmade frame line custom designed for you. All elements–even the cases– are made in Italy. Some designers outsource their materials and manufacturing. However, LOOK combines their advanced technology in materials with...
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans over 50 years old. Know your health and family history, and educate yourself on this disorder--it’s important to protect your vision! Age-Related Macular Degeneration / Low Vision Awareness Month is sponsored by Prevent Blindness America. What is Age-related macular degeneration...
It’s a problem only those who wear glasses understand. You’re trying to take a selfie, but every time it seems like there’s a large glare where your eyes should be in the photo. That’s likely caused by the lack of an AR coating on your lenses. While it might make...
If your child has myopia (nearsightedness), you're probably wondering if there’s a cure — or at least something that can be done to slow its progression so your child doesn't need stronger glasses year after year. There's good news: A number of recent studies suggest it may indeed be possible...
With cold winter temperatures come wind, dry indoor air and blasting heat, all of which can be annoying to your eyes. In fact, this season is the most common time of year that people complain about dry, itchy and watery eyes. The good news is, even if it’s miserable outside...
The movement of our eyes tells a lot about where our attention is and what our brain is doing. Where do we look? What do we look at, and how much time do we spend looking at it? How do our pupils react to different kinds of visual stimulation? When...
Vision Therapy Success Story: Bryson Most children have no idea how they are supposed to see. When they have double vision, when words jump around the page in a book, or when they lose their place so easily that reading and tracking visual stimuli is nearly impossible, kids assume that’s...
Too often, accidents involving children and toys occur and may result in eye injuries. Each year, thousands of children age 14 and younger suffered serious eye injuries, even blindness, from toys. EYEcenter wants your children to play it safe--no matter what the season! Here are some tips to help, courtesy...
Between all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you can spend a lot of money. Gifts, parties, clothes, travel – the list goes on and on! This is definitely a time of year when you don’t want to leave money sitting on the table. Yet, that is...
EYEcenter Optometric prides itself on staying ahead of the curve. From advanced methods in vision care to the latest technology, we always aim to stay a step ahead. But throughout our nearly 58-year history, EYEcenter has also stayed true to its roots. From keeping the business in the family (founder...
November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. EYEcenter wants our patients to love and preserve their vision, whether they have diabetes or not--but during this time, please educate yourself on these conditions that could now or someday affect you or a loved one. Diabetic eye disease is a group of...
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation. This year, EYEcenter decided to join the Sacramento event from Making Strides: a 3-mile walk down Capitol Mall, across the Tower Bridge and past Raley Field to the gateway, and back. Part of...
If you have trouble handling soft contacts when trying to put them on your eye, often it could be because you're blinking before the lens touches your eye. Dr. Lilley has an easy way to train yourself to fix this problem. It may take a little practice, but once you...
Halloween is almost here, and the desire to take your costume to the next level can sometimes involve decorative contact lenses. Whether you’re dressing up as a zombie, a vampire or a cat this year, we want to remind everyone that there is a risk that comes with purchasing and...
Vision and learning are intimately related. In fact, experts say that roughly 80 percent of what a child learns in school is information that is presented visually. So good vision is essential for students of all ages to reach their full academic potential. Statistics show that 1 in 4 school-aged...
Dry, gritty eyes are no fun, and the effects they can have on your vision and quality of life are significant. Dry eye is one of the leading causes of patient visits to their optometrist. The lack of ability to produce enough quality tears to lubricate the eye can lead...
Dr. Randall Fuerst is our resident expert on dry eye disease and treatment. Dry eye has historically been associated with older patient demographics, but symptoms are now being seen in EYEcenter patients of all ages. 'Dry Eye has become a passion due to the prevalence of the problem to my...
How many hours each day do you spend staring at a screen of some sort? One? Three? Five? More? EYEcenter wants you to know what this could mean for your vision. According to the American Optometric Association, the average American worker spends seven hours a day on the computer alone,...
Dr. Lilley is our resident specialist on myopia (nearsightedness) and myopia control. When Dr. Lilley learned that you could improve eyesight without glasses using a non-surgical procedure called Orthokeratology, he used his own eyes as a case study. The rest is history-- in his 40 years as an optometrist, he...
Most children have no idea how they are supposed to see. When they have double vision, when words jump around the page in a book, or when they lose their place so easily that reading and tracking visual stimuli is nearly impossible, kids assume that’s normal. They can go through...
Did you know that 90% of sports eye injuries are avoidable? Take the following steps to avoid them. Most fall sports are well underway by the end of August. That means September is the perfect opportunity to ensure that we are well-equipped with sports safety glasses. After all, September is...
EYEcenter’s Dr. John Coen reflects on his recent ministry trip, performing eye exams in Tijuana EYEcenter’s Dr. John Coen has just returned from his annual trip with Amor Ministries to the Mexico Family Camp. This was the eighth year that Dr. Coen has joined families from across the U.S. on...
Starting August 21st, we'll be selecting one lucky person every week this back to school season to win a free pair of Ray-Ban or Nike sunglasses! To be entered in our weekly drawing, simply LIKE our Facebook page, and take a picture of yourself or your child doing something to...
With back-to-school time around the corner, parents will be scrambling to buy new school supplies and clothes. As they tick off their long list of school to-dos, we would like to remind parents not to neglect one of the most important learning tools: their children’s eyes. Good vision and overall...
Tips on how to safely view this once-in-a-lifetime event On Aug. 21, millions of people in the U.S. will see day turn to night as North America falls under the path of a total solar eclipse. This will be the first total solar eclipse to cross the entire U.S. in...
*Please note that the content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.