I’m not much of a baseball fan, but this article in the St. Pete Times caught my eye:

Lasik eye surgery gains popularity in baseball world

If you are considering LASIK, check out the Benefits and Risks of LASIK. Fortunately, there are some very good LASIK surgeons in Tampa. After a comprehensive eye and vision exam, I can tell you if are a good candiate or not and guide you through the process.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

Summer is here and that means that it is time to protect your eyes and look good doing it! Come in on July 26 and check out the complete line of Coach, Calvin Klein, and ck sunglasses.

For this day only, we’ll have every style in every color. You can get them with or without prescription.

During the event, all Coach, Calvin Klein and ck sunglasses will be 25% off and for every adult pair purchase, receive a free pair of child’s sunglasses. (Discount cannot be combined with other discount, coupon, or vision plan).

We hope to see you! Call for more information or click here for directions.

If you ever read a summary of a comprehensive exam, you may get a little confused by all the technical vision terms. To try to make it more easy to understand, I have listed a below a brief explanation of the testing done during a comprehensive eye and vision exam.

This does not cover every single test, but the majority of them. Because each patient is different, each exam uses different tests. You may find a Glossary of Vision Terms helpful, as well.

• MEDICAL HISTORY: Questions about past and current medical problems.
• VISUAL HISTORY: Questions about past and current vision problems.
• VISUAL ACUITY: Sharpness or clearness of eyesight at a specific distance.
• KERATOMETRY: Measures the shape of the front part of the eye (the cornea) where light enters.
• EXTRA OCULAR MUSCLES: Measures how accurately the eyes move while following an object and looking back and forth between targets.
• COVER TEST (NEAR): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at near.
• COVER TEST (DIST): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at distance.
• NEAR POINT CONVERGENCE: Measures the ability to converge – the eyes turning towards each other when looking at an object up close.
• STEREOPSIS: Measures the ability of the eyes to work together to see fine detail with depth perception “3D”.
• NEAR POINT ACCOMMODATION: Measures how close each eye is able to see clearly.
• PHORIA (NEAR): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at near.
• PHORIA (DISTANCE): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at distance.
• NEAR VERGENCE (BI): Measures the ability to converge – the eyes turning towards each other when looking at an object up close.
• NEAR VERGENCE (BO): Measures the ability to diverge – the eyes turning outwards at an object.
• ACA RATIO: Measures how much the eyes converge while focusing up close.
• NEGATIVE RELATIVE ACCOMMODATION: Measures the maximum ability to relax focusing while maintaining clear, single binocular vision.
• POSITIVE RELATIVE ACCOMMODATION: Measures the maximum ability to focus while maintaining clear, single binocular vision.
• MEM RETINOSCOPY: Measures the accuracy of focusing while looking at an object up close.
• REFRACTION: Measures the nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism of the eyes.
• EXTERNAL EXAM: Determines health of the eyes by observation.
• SLIT-LAMP EXAM: Determines the health of the eyes with a microscope.
• OPHTHALMOSCOPY: Uses special lenses to look inside the eye for diseases.
• TONOMETRY: Measures the pressure inside the eyes.
• DILATION ORDERS: Specifies the type of eye drops and method used to evaluate inside the eyes.
• CUP/DISC RATIO: A way of measuring the health of the optic nerve. Useful in glaucoma and other eye disease cases.
• ASSESSMENT: States what the known visual or eye health problems are.
• PLAN: Summarizes the recommendations for the treatment of the problems.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

I have recently been made aware of a wonderful new line of eyeglasses frames called Specs 4 Us.

Their Mission: To improve the sight and quality of life for children with Down Syndrome by providing custom frames that fit their unique needs.

I have seen many patients with special needs and I know how difficult it can be to find glasses that work well. These frames are designed specifically for these patients and they work well, as shown in the picture below.

We do not yet have these frames in the office, but we can order them. We hope to have a selection soon. In the meantime, please check out the official site for more information.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

The other day when I was beginning the follow-up for a patient who is doing Precise Corneal Reshaping, I was handed a small Thank You card.

This patient is a wonderful 10 year old girl, who is very funny.  She and her mother were very interested in PCR because the girl’s prescription in her glasses had been increasing every six months – interested enough to drive  from Pinellas to the Westchase area of Tampa, several times.  When she started, we talked about how PCR might be difficult because her prescription was high, but that it would give her the best chance of minimizing future increases.

Well, after 1 week of wearing the reshaping lenses, she was seeing almost 20/20 without glasses or contacts. She was able to swim and do other summer activities without worry. She was so excited that she wrote the note below:

This is the great thing about being a doctor! Letters like this!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
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(From MyVisionTest Newsletter)

A new study published in the June 2008 edition of the British Journal of Ophthalmology finds that a physician with a positive attitude can have a significant effect on the patient’s overall quality of life. The study involved 247 patients in a vitreoretinal clinic. The researchers first interviewed the patients and assessed their quality of life with a standardized questionnaire (baseline). Each patient was then presented with two scenarios for their ocular condition: one which emphasized the possible negative consequences (bad-news scenario), and one that emphasized the positive consequences (good-news scenario). In each case the long-term prognosis for the condition was the same, only the doctor’s presentation of possible consequences was different. The researchers found no change from baseline following the good-news scenario, but a 70% diminution in patient’s perceived well-being following the bad-news scenario. The researchers conclude that patients had a considerably poorer outlook on life when their physician emphasized the possible negative consequences associated with their eye disease(s), as opposed to a more positive approach.