This is a new video that the folks at VSP produced about the massive amount of time we spend on computers and electronic devices how how it can affect our vision. It is very well done and has some great stats. You can find out more about computer vision syndrome here.

(Click here to open video at Youtube.)

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

Donna, the winner of the summer sunglass contest, came in and picked out some fabulous, FREE Linea Roma sunglasses today!

She was also our 100th foursquare check-in! And she won a gift certificate last year from the Tiffany & Co. contest.  What a big winner she is! And it couldn’t happen to a nicer person! She’s been one of our biggest fans for a long time!

Stay tuned for your chance to win our next big contest! And in the meantime, don’t forget the sunglass sale we have going on: 20% to 40% on all sunglasses!

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

We at Bright Eyes Family Vision Care are thankful and humbled to have been nominated for the 2010 LocalShops1.com Best at grassroots marketing category. It is very cool to see that our efforts are noticed by the local independent business community. There are many wonderful businesses nominated and all should be congratulated:

As part of the selection process, there are five questions that nominees must answer. Below are the questions and my answers. We will find out the winners at the LS1 Birthday Bash. Come out with us and have a ball!

Give us your 30 second “Elevator Pitch”

At Bright Eyes Family Vision Care, we provide comprehensive eye care and quality eyewear for the whole family. Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford gets to know his patients, and makes sure each patient understands their visual conditions and what can be done to improve their eyesight or eye health. He also specializes in pediatrics, vision therapy, and specialty contact lenses, offering services not found at most optometry offices.

We have excellent staff who focus on patient care and customer service, whether helping a patient put on contacts for the first time, selecting glasses that look good on each person’s face, or working with children to help them improve visual skills for reading. Our best compliment is when patients refer other patients for exams, eyewear, or specialty care. Call our office to make an appointment, or stop by to check out our great selection of eyewear for the whole family.

What have been some of your best marketing campaigns?

When we have a campaign, we want it to be memorable and have people see that we do more than what you might expect from an eye doctor. There are two campaigns that exemplify this: Intensity Academy Hotsauce Giveaway and the Coach Social Media Contest.

At Bright Eyes we love to give away stuff and we love to support local businesses. For the last year we have been giving out free bottles of Intensity Academy Hotsauce to patients who pose for a picture with their bottle. The picture is then posted on Facebook and Twitter. It is a win all the way around. The patients get awesome sauce, Intensity Academy gets exposure, and we get noteworthy content to post online.

Bright Eyes also tries to encourage creativity whenever possible. Recently when we were giving away three pairs of Coach glasses/sunglasses, we encouraged people to tweet, blog, or text interesting things. The results were awesome! Patients were writing haiku about sunglasses, blogs about the contest, and song lyrics about Bright Eyes. It was awesome to receive the support of the community and to see how much fun people had!

What is the longest you’ve gone without checking Facebook?

Probably about a week. Although I am a big social media fan, I didn’t appreciate Facebook until much more recently. For a long time I put my time and energy into networks like Twitter, foursquare, Yelp, and eyecare specific networks.  I would use Facebook for big campaigns but would routinely forget to update it a lot. This may have something to do with the fact that I didn’t have a reliable Facebook app for my Blackberry.

I am now discovering how useful Facebook can be. I am trying new things to promote Bright Eyes, like the recent sunglass picture-tagging contest. I am using Facebook to help organize a group to teach others in my profession the benefits of social media. And, yes, I am using Facebook to reconnect with highschool friends.

What is the most rewarding part of having your own business?

I think this is a funny question because I had never even considered owning my own business until Optometry school. It seemed like a lot of work and responsibility. Then I realized that if I wanted to pursue the specialty that I was most interested in (children’s vision), I had to own my own business because only then would I be able to provide that type of care in the way I thought was best.

Now that I have owned Bright Eyes for four years I have learned this: it is a lot of work and is an enormous responsibility. But it is worth it because not only do I have the flexibility to take time off to be with my kids, I can also make decisions quickly, without having to ask anyone. When I found out that my YMCA spin class was holding a “Spin-a-thon” Fundraiser, I asked the staff if they were interested and we did it. It turned out to be a lot of fun and we helped raise $7,000 for the Building Strong Kids program. It is wonderful knowing that Bright Eyes is a strong part of the local community.

What are some of your favorite businesses (other than your own)?

There are so many great businesses in the Tampa Bay area that it is hard to narrow it down! But here are just a few of the businesses I love:

Intensity Academy Hot sauce

http://intensityacademy.com/

Because their sauce rocks and they are super great people. They are on fire, growing their business by word of mouth.

Pizza Mania

http://www.mypizzamania.com/

I love this place. The pizza is great and it is run by a close-knit Italian family.

Flying Pig Communications

http://flyingpigcommunications.com/

This is Laura Petrolino’s company and she is a powerhouse. She helped in the early stages of the development of Foursquare Day. She is a multi-talented triathlete with tons of experience.

Papergirl Press

http://www.papergirlpressphoto.com/

I have had the pleasure of being photographed several times by Melanie and it is always fun. She has been to my office to take pictures of myself and the staff. I am so pleased with her work that I have used three of her pictures for profile pictures, as well as have them featured on our Facebook page, website, blogs and magazines.

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

Although anime  or “Circle Lenses” have been around for a while, thanks to Lady Gaga they are surging in popularity right now. But remember that only FDA approved contact lenses prescribed by an eye doctor are considered safe to wear. By law lenses cannot be sold without a valid contact lens prescription.

If you have any questions about the safety of your lenses, please contact us.

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

The American Optometric Association (AOA) Statement Regarding Circle Contact Lenses

Patient safety and access to adequate eye care is always our concern. With the growing interest in “circle lenses,” colored plano and prescription contact lenses imported primarily from Asia, the AOA is once again working to inform consumers of the risk of these illegal lenses. And, last month, AOA staff led one of the largest meetings of federal officials concerned about the illegal sale of these and other decorative contact lenses, convened by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“With the FDA’s focus of ‘Protecting and Promoting Health,’ the recent gathering served as an outstanding platform to brainstorm with FDA officials,” states Joe E. Ellis, O.D. President of the American Optometric Association.  “We found that FDA officials were shocked, as well as dismayed, by how easy these lenses can be obtained, and how aggressively adolescents and young adults are targeted.”

The AOA is responding to numerous requests for information and interviews from media outlets across the country.  “We are working with the consumer media to encourage people to visit an eye care professional and get a proper prescription.  A beauty fad is not worth causing problems with your sight,” adds Dr. Ellis.

Consumers should not use any contact lenses, whether they are circle lenses, or otherwise, without a proper examination and prescription by an eye care professional.  Risks associated with the improper use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, corneal swelling, eye infection, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit and/or improper lens care.  Additional problems may result in a reduction of visual acuity, diminished contrast sensitivity, or reduced peripheral vision and other general eye and vision impairments.  Optometrists are encouraged to report any violations of the sale of contact lenses, or any adverse health consequences, to AOA’s Washington office.



Boy, the Social Media Day Meetup last night at Tampa Bay Brewing Company was great. Tampa really rocked it last night like I knew we would. It was fun to see lots of friends and patients there. We were happy to give away two Bright Eyes gift certificates. I don’t know who the lucky winners were, but if it was you, let me know. We’d like to give you a shout out!

If you’ve been a patient of Bright Eyes for a while, you know that we love to give away stuff! We’ve  given away books,  a pair of Tiffany and Co. sunglasses, Prada frames, Nike frames, multiple Coach frames, and more gift certificates than we can count!

And we are at it again starting today! It is summertime and that means it is time to give away some new sunglasses!

Here is how to win:  Just go to the starfish picture on our Facebook page by clicking here. We have picked a pre-determined “winning point” on the picture. Tag yourself anywhere in the photo. That’s it. It is so easy!

On the morning of July 9th, whoever tagged closest to the winning point will be able to choose, in person, from our entire collection of Linea Roma sunglasses! (That’s the kind that I wear.)

But there is one catch: The picture must have 50 tags, or else there will not be a winner. Tag your friends and family or whoever else might want free sunglasses to make sure there are 50 people tagged before July 9th!

But wait, there’s more! Not only are we giving away sunglasses, but during the month of July every pair of shades is on sale. That’s right. Save between 10% and 40% on every line of sunglasses we carry: Linea Roma, Kate Spade, Costa Del Mar, Bulgari, Coach, Tiffany & Co, and more!

So tag the photo and stop by to check out the sale. If you have any questions, let us know. Good luck!

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

I am a 36 year old male and have struggled with mild to moderate amblyopia most of my life. I am able to fuse close up and have very good hand eye coordination but at distance, such as driving, I am unable to fuse and the resulting strain worsens the eye turn. Is vision therapy still a viable option at my age?

This is an impossible question to answer without the benefit for a full, thorough vision exam. This would show the cause and severity of the amblyopia, eye turn,  and other visual problems that you may have and identify areas of possible improvement.

But even without the particulars in your case, I can say a few things generally. Because the purpose of vision therapy is to help you develop visual skills that may be lacking, there is not point in life when it is not possible to receive some benefit from vision therapy. The real question is this: Are you bothered enough by your visual problem that you would like to take the steps to improve the situation. (Case in point, this video of a 101 year old vision therapy patient.)

But I don’t want to paint vision therapy as a panacea either, because some conditions are very complicated and can take a significant amount of time, effort, and expense to improve. Some conditions are best treated with a combination of vision therapy and other methods, such as special glasses or surgery. Yet other conditions are better left untreated.

I would recommend against any of the “improve your vision” ads on TV or the internet. Many of these have elements of legitimate therapy, but they tend to over-promise and do not match the person with the appropriate therapy. Instead, only pursue therapy from a doctor with specialized training in visual function and vision therapy.

Have you read Susan Barry’s book, “Fixing My Gaze“? I very highly recommend it. You may also find this blog interesting: http://seeing3d.blogspot.com/.

If you would like more information about the evaluation or vision therapy, please do not hesitate to call and speak to Edna or myself.

Best Wishes.

-Dr. Nate

Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

UPDATE: Bright Eyes is happy to be giving away two $100 gift certificates at the Social Media Day Meetup! It is the least we can do to support this great event and Tampa Bay Tech! There are tons of other great door prizes also, including food, concert tickets, and more! So come on down!

If you haven’t heard yet, this Wednesday night will be the biggest social media event in Tamp Bay since Foursquare Day. The event was conceived by Mashable as a means to get together and celebrate Social Media. It is called Social Media Day, and there are over 100 people planning to attend the local event! In fact, Tampa currently has the 14th largest gathering of the 550 in the world according Mashable’s Meetup Everywhere page.

The Social Media Day locally is being organized by Jordan Leonard and Kyle Williams. It is being held at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company at 6pm on Wednesday 6/30. You can find out more details about the event, as well as RSVP and catch up on the pre-event conversation here. When making plans, don’t forget to use the hashtag #TMMUP.

The local success of this event is just more evidence that Tampa Bay has a vibrant and growing tech scene. We at Bright Eyes are so excited about it, we are closing early this Wednesday to take part. So if you see me and the Bright Eyes staff be sure to say hello!

-Dr. Nate

Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

At Bright Eyes, we try to stay current in the opportunities given to our patients. As contact lens companies go, it’s usually in the form of rebates and annual supply savings. Recently however, one company has gone above and beyond the product savings to offer an opportunity in an activity many of us and our kids participate in but usually don’t associate with wearing contacts: athletics. Contact lenses are a necessary piece of “equipment” in many athletes’ gear bags. Because glasses are cumbersome and can even be dangerous in certain sports, contacts are a comfortable and healthy alternative that give athletes a crisp and complete field of vision.

CooperVision, a company that manufactures, among others, the Proclear, Biofinity, Biomedics, and Frequency line of contacts, is holding a contest in which it will award ten prizes of $2,500 to athletic teams, athletes, or even community sporting organizations. They want to make sure teams and individuals have the proper “gear” to help them compete. Plus any member of the team who currently wears contacts or glasses will also have the chance to be fitted with CooperVision contact lenses for an entire year.

To enter you must complete the online form and create a short video or series of photos introducing your team and why you think you should win. What could you use the grant for? Whatever you think your team needs to succeed: new jerseys or uniforms, new equipment, transportation funds to your next away game.  You must hurry though, because the deadline to submit is June 25th.

Visit the link below for additional information and to submit your video and application.

http://www.mycontactsports.com/

All the best,

Justin Schoonover

If you take a look at the June issue of World of Westchase, on page 22, you’ll find a feature story on Dr. Nate. The article discusses his involvement with social media, Foursquare Day, as well as Dr. Nate’s passion for children’s vision. The article refers to him as an optician. Although Dr. Nate is an optometrist, he is actually a certified optician, too. Click here to find out the difference.

If you do not have copy of WOW handy, you can also read the article online titled as  A Social Media Visionary (PDF, pg 4).

Thanks, WOW!

Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

As patients of Bright Eyes Family Vision Care know, I am interested in new and interesting ways to connect. For example, I was one of the first in the Tampa Bay area to use foursquare and had a blast taking it to new heights with Foursquare Day.

Well, thanks to this story in Mashable, I have found something really cool that I want to share: Empire Avenue. The concept is super simple: buy and sell stock in people and websites. Then apply common sense. Buy low, sell high, and go for long-term rewards in the form of dividends. And it is FREE.

For example, one of my favorite Tampa bloggers is Miss Destructo. Minutes after she joined (Ticker: MSDSTO), I bought two hundred shares of her at 10.00 virtual credits per share. Not less than 24 hours later, her stock is currently at 17.95! I expect it will climb even higher after she attends the Mashable Media Summit this week in NYC so get some shares at bargain prices while you can!

If you’d like to invest in some virtual shares of your favorite optometry practice, Bright Eyes was able to score the ticker symbol EYES. You can also buy stock in Dr. Nate (ticker: NATEBW). Since Empire Avenue is in beta, you need an invitation. Just email me at doc@brighteyestampa.com if you’d like one. And then let me know when you join, so I can buy stock in you!

Have fun!

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LocalShops1.com

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