A long time patient came into the Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care in Bloomington last week to have his annual eye examination as his contact lens prescription had expired. He needed a new exam before we could reorder his annual supply of premium contact lenses (for those unfamiliar with wearing contact lenses, the Rx is only valid for one year and then the patient is required by law to have another eye examination and contact lens fit. Since contacts are placed directly on the eye, the Rx expiration date is different than for eye glasses. Go here for more information about Understanding you Contact Lens Rx.)
This patient's contact lens prescription hasn't changed in 10 years, so our Bloomington manager ordered an annual supply of contacts for him ahead of time, especially given that he is a +10.00 and his contacts are a special order item. When he came in for the eye examination we were able to give him his order at the time of service immediately after our Bloomington eye doctor released his prescription. He didn't have to wait and he was thrilled. As a long-time Bloomington Dr. Tavel patient, we knew his needs and were able to offer timely and excellent service.
When we were talking and he was showing me pictures, I noticed that he had photochromic lenses in his eye glasses. This makes perfect sense for his occupation as he goes outside a lot to look at roofs and then needs to come back inside to do paperwork and have meetings with customers like me. The photochromic lens is a great option as they change from light to dark when he walks outside, providing him with a tinted lens and then back to light when he walks inside, providing him with a clear lens. Ultimately, this lens option allows Dr. Tavel patients to wear the same eye glass lenses both inside and outside, instead of having to take their clear eye glasses off and put on their pair of prescription sunglasses when they go outside. While this may not be a big deal for most people to change from clear glasses to sunglasses, it would be for a contractor with his occupation where he is constantly going in and out of the sun. For him, the photochromic lens offers the best vision value.
I asked him how he likes the photochromic lenses he was wearing (he was wearing the Transitions brand) and he said he loves them and they are the best eye glasses he has ever had. Given the vast improvements made over the years with photochromic lenses, eye care doctors are recommending them more and more as a vision solution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8GMFkc3iSA
After watching this, the reason I laughed so hard is because it is so true (as with most comedy, I suppose). He mentions that it has been six years since his last eye examination and the reason he didn't go is that he was "too busy to see clearly". How many of us have been guilty of putting off going to see our eye care doctor because we didn't have time? While this clip is funny, the truth is that lost productivity due to poor eyesight alone costs this country millions of dollars every year because people put off going to their eye doctors to get a comprehensive eye examination and a renewed prescription for their contact lenses or eyeglasses. On top of this, according to the National Eye Institute, the number of Americans with major eye diseases is increasing, and vision loss is becoming a major public health problem.
Blindness or low vision affects 3.3 million Americans over the age of 40, or 1 in 28. This figure is projected to reach 5.5 million by the year 2020. The study identifies age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy as the most common eye diseases in Americans age 40 and over.
Worse yet, another study shows that most Americans don’t know the risks and warning signs of diseases that could cause blindness. In the "Survey of Public Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Eye Health and Disease," sponsored by the National Eye Institute and the Lions Clubs International Foundation, 71 percent of respondents said that eye sight loss would have the greatest impact on their day-to-day lives, but only eight percent knew that there are few early warning signs of glaucoma.
The answer is pretty simple, get in to see your Indianapolis or Indiana eye doctor and follow the mantra of "check yearly, see clearly."
"I wanted to let you know what an AWESOME job your Greenwood store is doing! I went in there because of a promotion that you were having on a contact exam and some contacts. I had low expectations due to the fact that Dr. Tavel is a chain and I have had exams at these types of chains before. Boy, was I wrong! Dr. S is an asset to that office! He did a great exam and I never felt rushed. Priscilla and Angela in the front office were amazing. My husband needed an exam and so I signed him up immediately. Dear Priscilla helped us get the most for our money and helped us use the promotions to our benefit (we don't have eye insurance, so this was very important!) Angela did the same thing for me! I was astonished at the quality of care and price of glasses that we got at Dr. Tavel. I don't think the prices could have been beat anywhere. And let me tell you, I know the service is unmatched! Please commend the Greenwood store and keep up the good work - we will be back!"
What we recognize at Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care is that any eye doctor can perform an eye exam and that our patients can buy eye glasses and premium contact lenses from a large number of locations. Where we have to differentiate ourselves is in offering the best customer services, from the best eye doctor and from the valued opticians offering guidance and information about which lenses are the best for each individuals eyes. Ultimately, this is what leads to true customer satisfaction, which is critical to our success in Greenwood, Indianapolis and all throughout Indiana.
To celebrate Dr. Tavel's newest Indiana Vision Center, we are offering a Grand Opening Contact Lens Sale at all Indianapolis Optical locations as well as all Vision Eye Centers across Indiana. This sale is spectacular for anyone who currently wears premium contact lenses or for anyone who is interested in wearing contacts for the first time. For $99.98, we are offering the following:
- Comprehensive Eye Examination
- Contact Lens Fitting Exam
- 2 boxes of Acuvue Oasys premium contact lenses
- One month supply of contact lens solution
- Fashion Sunglasses
This situation is actually quite similar to wearing glasses that have scratches all over the lenses or even wearing glasses that do not have an anti-reflective coating on the lens. When patients do not buy eye glasses regularly and try to make their scratched lenses last longer, they are impacting their vision. Sure, they can see, but it isn't the best vision possible. The same can be said for patients that do not have an anti-reflective (AR) coating on their lenses. AR coating, or sometimes referred to as "no-glare" lenses, reduce reflections on the lens due to light and glare. From a performance standpoint, this helps reduce rings from light, which is important when driving at night and also when looking at a computer monitor. From an appearance perspective, AR coatings reduce the reflections on the lens, creating a better look. When the glare is reduced on the outside of the lens, it allows others to look at your eyes without any annoying reflections, giving you a more natural look.
Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care recommends that you always have an annual eye examination from the best eye doctor possible for health reasons. In addition, we recommend that you buy eye glasses whenever your lenses become too scratched up and for most people we recommend anti-reflective lens coating to reduce glare and improve vision.
As with any of our Dr. Tavel stores, we will offer comprehensive eye examinations by a board certified Indiana eye doctor, premium contact lenses and eyeglasses. If you want to buy eye glasses or see the best eye doctor possible, come to our new location at 61 Boone Village in Zionsville or call 317-733-3344 for an appointment. Of course, you can also schedule on line at www.drtavel.com. We look forward to serving the Zionsville community.
Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care is doing its part to help with the Haitian Relief Effort. Due to the massive earthquake that hit last week, many of the buildings have been damaged and personal belongings destroyed. As Indiana Eye Doctors, it only makes sense that we would help the best way we know how, with the gift of sight. We are asking that anyone who has an old pair of eyeglasses come into one of our 20 Vision Eye Centers to donate their used eyeglasses. We will be working with the American Red Cross to get these glasses to those in need.
It is estimated that over 4 million pairs of eyeglasses and lenses are thrown out in a given year in the United States. Rather than toss that old frame and lenses, come into Dr. Tavel or a Vision Values by Dr. Tavel optical location to donate these to someone in need. If you have a pair that you don't wear, bring them in. If you only have a frame, bring it in. We will accept any donation of used eyewear. Go to our locations page to find the nearest Indianapolis Optical or Indiana Optical store to you.
Dr. Tavel and his associates have decided to join up with local communities and speak at various "Dine With a Doc" events. These are free events that welcome local senior public to hear doctors speak once per month, presenting topics that are educational and informative for the participants.
In January, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson from the New Castle Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care is speaking at Hickory Creek in New Castle. Her topic is going to be cataracts, which is the leading cause of blindness. A cataract is the clouding of the lens. The lens of our eye is made out of water and protein and as we get older, the protein can sometimes clump together, which causes the clouding effect.
It is important for patients to have an annual eye examination to monitor this closely. At initial onset, it is possible to mitigate the effecs of cataracts by getting glasses and lenses with a higher prescription. Ultimately, cataract surgery can be a great solution for restoring vision. It is actually one of the most frequent surgeries performed, with over 3 million done annually.
As a parent of a 5 year old boy, I am acutely concerned about the vision development aspect. It is important to make sure my son doesn't spend too much time playing on the computer or watching TV and that he is spending time outside where his far vision is going to get the most stimulation. Not only is this healthy for his body to be playing outdoors instead of sitting on a couch, but it is also healthy for his vision.
This outcome of this study illustrates the increased need to have an annual eye examination. As we are spending more and more time at computers, using smart-phones with small text, etc, our vision is likely to get worse, which means we need to see our Indianapolis eye doctors on a regular basis to monitor our eye health and our vision needs.
Daily Disposables - These lenses are changed every day, which means that you get to put in a new pair each morning that is free from built-up deposits on the lens. People who suffer from allergies are also going to be more comfortable in these as any allergens that stick to the lens go away with a new pair.
FDA-indicated for dryness - CooperVision has a lens, Proclear, that is FDA approved for improving comfort due to dry eye.
Low Water Lenses - I used to think that I wanted a lens with a high water content to alleviate the dry eye issue. However, I found that lenses with high water content need to be in a moist environment so if your eyes are dry to begin with, these will essentially dehydrate.
As with any of this, I recommend you see your eye care doctor or Indiana optometrist for an eye examination and an accurate assessment of your eye health and vision needs. The best eye doctors (who can be found at Dr. Tavel, by the way) will provide you with an appropriate solution to your dry eyes.
This is a great award for an Indiana company that Dr. Tavel has done business with for years. While they are mostly recognized for their handbags, Vera Bradley also has a great line of eyeglasses. Dr. Tavel carries the Vera Bradley frame line in all of its vision eye centers across Indiana, which includes Indianapolis, South Bend, Elkhart, Kokomo, Anderson, New Castle, Muncie, Richmond, Bloomington, Shelbyville, Columbus, Terre Haute, Fishers and Greenwood.
The Vera Bradley eyeglasses are much like their handbags in that they have intricate designs that are very unique and fun, not to mention comfortable. It is no wonder they were named Vendor of the Year, with all that they have to offer.
Recently, one of my good friends came down with Pink Eye. When most people think of Pink Eye, they think of young children at school, spreading this contagious disease to one another as they don't wash their hands often enough. The reality is that adults can contract this as well and some of the most likely adult candidates are contact lens wearers.
Why are contact lens wearers more vulnerable to pink eye and what was likely the primary cause of my friend getting pink eye? Poor hygiene in the handling of contact lenses and contact lens cases can contribute mightily to infections of this sort. My friend has a very bad habit of not changing or cleaning her premium contact lenses for months at a time.
So, when she went to get an eye examination with one of our Indianapolis eye doctors, she was told to throw away her contacts, replace her contact lens case and wear her eyeglasses for a few days to help alleviate the symptoms. The problem was that when she put her glasses on, they had a 3 year old prescription in them that was off substantially and her vision was impaired. Since she wears contact lenses all the time, she saw very little need to have an updated pair of glasses. Needless to say, she came back in to one of our Indianapolis locations and ordered a new pair of glasses.
Two morals to this story: (1) contact lens wearers need to follow the guidelines of their wear schedule so as to have the best eye health and (2) even those patients who wear contacts 24/7 have a need to have a back-up pair of glasses.
The reasons are two-fold: better eye health and better comfort. The reasons it is better for eye health are simple:
- Since you have to change your lens on a daily basis, this promotes good ocular health. Daily Disposables have the highest compliance rate of any modality at 94%.
- Daily Replacement means less deposit build up, reducing problems associated with this, such as GPC
- Daily disposables have the lowest infection rate since you are putting in a new, fresh lens every day
The reasons for better comfort are obvious as well. Putting in a new lens every day means you are getting a fresh lens with no deposit build-up, allowing for a more comfortable wearing experience.
If you haven't tried daily disposable contact lenses, please take some time when you see your Indianapolis Optometrist or Indiana Eye Doctor to discuss this modality and the benefits it can provide.
Dr. Tavel is pleased to announce sponsorship of Kappa Alpha Theta's Little 500 bike team at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Dr. Tavel will be providing all members of the sorority's team with Rudy Project Sunglasses to enhance their vision throughout the season of cycling events.
Rudy Project is a performance eyewear company that specializes in sports eyewear, and is especially well known among cycling enthusiasts. Each Rudy Project frame is made in Italy using the latest lens technologies and the lightest weight frames. All Rudy products are adjustable, comfortable and customizable, as well as tested and approved by athletes. Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care is an official Rudy Project vendor, which means you can get this great brand at any of our stores, including all Indianapolis Optical locations, our Anderson Vision Center, Columbus, Bloomington, Kokomo, Terre Haute, Shelbyville, Muncie, Richmond, Elkhart, South Bend, New Castle or on-line at www.drtavel.com.
The Little 500, an annual event produced by the IU Student Foundation, includes numerous bike teams from IU's fraternities, sororities, student groups, residence halls, and various other independent student teams. There are two races-- the women's race on Friday of Little 500 week and the men's race on Saturday. Both occur at the end of April. Kappa Alpha Theta founded the women's race and has won it four times along with numerous other top 5 finishes!
Our company is proud to sponsor such an involved and strong women's bike team.
We wish the team the best of luck this season and look forward to a strong series of cycling events with Kappa Alpha Theta! For more information on Rudy Project Eyewear, contact your nearest Dr. Tavel location.
The game was great, the atmosphere was fantastic and the show of support from local Indianapolis and Indiana residents was phenomenal. I ran into several friends at the game and some old college friends from South Bend and Elkhart that I haven't seen in years. The interesting part about the night was that more than one of my buddies brought up their health savings plans or flex spending accounts and were asking about getting in to use that before the end of the year. We are at the biggest football game of the year and these guys want to talk about their health insurance plans!
It shows you how important it is to use health benefits before they expire. The great part about these plans is that you can use them for many health related reasons, specifically eye care. These plans can be used for eye examinations, contact lens fit examinations, purchasing frames and lenses and purchasing premium contact lenses. One of my friends from Columbus, Indiana was planning on using more of his health savings for the baby they had this year. When they didn't use as much as expected, he now has some funds that HE HAS TO USE. The great part is that now he can come to Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care and get the prescription sunglasses that he has wanted for some time.
This is a great opportunity for anyone with a plan like this. Go see your Indianapolis eye care doctor or come in to any of our Indiana Vision Centers before the end of the year and we will be sure to take care of you.
It was a great fall day in Indiana and I got some sun, which is rare for early November. It got me thinking about how most people are unaware that extended exposure to the same harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that affect their skin can also harm their eyes. While outside on Saturday, all of the children's eyes were exposed to the sun's rays. Some of the parents on the sidelines had sunglasses on, while others were wearing hats, which are both helpful in blocking UV rays from reaching the eyes. When I am outside, I typically wear contact lenses that block UV rays and I also wear polarized sunglasses, which are great for absorbing and blocking UV rays, while also reducing glare from the sun.
The next time you and your children are playing outside, stay focused on the health of your eyes by wearing sunglasses, brimmed hats or premium contact lenses with UV blocking. If you don't have these items available, make sure you go to your Indianapolis Optometrist, Eye Doctor or a local vision eye center.
The Transition lenses of today are much more efficient. They adjust very well to lighting conditions, going from clear indoors to sunglass-dark outdoors. These lenses are great in that they change much quicker than they used to and the lenses will get very clear inside. The nice part about Transition lenses is that they also help reduce eye strain and fatigue as you don't have to squint so much once you walk outside into the sun.
I recommend that anyone who intends to buy eye glasses, and doesn't want to buy an additional pair of prescription sunglasses, give Transitions lenses a test drive. You will be surprised at how convenient these lenses are and how comfortable they are for your lifestyle (assuming you go outside!). The next time you see your Indianapolis eye doctor, ask him or her their opinion on Transition lenses and you will likely find that the best eye doctors recommend them.
I was reading the latest issue of Eyecare Business magazine and they had some great statistics regarding children's vision.
- 23 million children have vision problems
- 95% of vision issues can be corrected if detected and treated early
- 7 - 12% of children have eye problems that may lead to permanent loss of vision if not detected and treated in time
- 2.4 million (or 10.5% of) children between the ages of zero and four are affected
- 86% don't have eyes examined before first grade
- Only 14% have their eyes examined before age 18
-- Source: PediaVision
Of all the statistics, the last one was the most surprising. As a family eye care practice, Dr. Tavel sees thousands of children every year for eye examinations, glasses and lenses and contact lenses. One of our primary goals is to educate families that they need to see an eye care doctor on an annual basis, even if you do not need to buy eye glasses. Looks like we need to continue spreading the word based on that last statistic...
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