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Uptown EyeCare & Optical 2014 Newsletter
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1) We have Electronic Medical Records (EMR)!


In October of 2014, Uptown EyeCare & Optical began using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and converting most aspects of patient care into an electronic format. Throughout the next year we will be updating and scanning all health care information into each patient’s file so we can eliminate the need for paper charts all together. Although an upgrade of this magnitude can be lengthy, costly and time consuming, we believe it will be worth all the effort once it’s all completed.

How does this benefit you?  As an Uptown EyeCare & Optical patient, you will get a personal log in to access your own health information with our new HIPPA compliant, fully encrypted Patient Health Portal. Through this portal our doctors can share sensitive medical information with you and communicate with you directly. see EMR below...


 

Also In This Issue ...

Zeiss Cirrus Photo/OCT Picture

2) Wellness Retinal Imaging - What is it and why should it be part of your comprehensive eye exam?see Wellness Retinal Imaging below...

3) Digital Lens Technology - Keeping abreast with the newest lens technology.see Digital Lenses below...

4) Digital Takeover: 5 stats that reinforce back-to-school exams!

Every year, as the fall school semester begins, our doctors see lots of our little Portlanders complaining of symptoms which are synonymous with eye strain.  see Digital Takeover below...

5) Visian ICL - Introducing the newest refractive surgery option for moderate to severe nearsighted candidates! see Visian ICL below...

6) Use your HSA / FSA benefits before it’s too late... see HSA below...

7) Save 25% off a complete pair of glasses… see 25% OFF COUPON below...

Copyright © 2014 Uptown EyeCare & Optical, P.C., All rights reserved.

Phone: (503) 228-3838

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1) EMR Continued...


Important data, such as prescribed medications, medical conditions and other aspects of patient’s medical history can be accounted for and accessed faster and easier than ever before. In addition, our doctors can now electronically prescribe all eye care medication and check drug-to-drug interactions with any existing mediation you are taking as the prescription is being written.

The Patient Portal does not yet allow all of your medical information to be included, but the government is continuously updating these standards.  If you need a copy of your glasses, or contact lens prescription, it is still best to contact our office by email at info@uptowneyecareandoptical.com, or by calling us at 503-228-3838. As always, our staff is more than happy to get those prescriptions to you right away.

How will this upgrade affect your next appointment with us?  If we haven’t seen you since before October of 2014, we may ask you to arrive a few minutes before your visit in order to fill out some brief paperwork so we can keep your new electronic file as up to date as possible. 

All of us at Uptown EyeCare & Optical are excited to adopt this new health care industry standard.  We thank each of you in advance for your continued support and patience during this challenging, but exciting process.
LA Loop Picture
2) Wellness Retinal Imaging Continued...

A comprehensive eye exam, including a thorough dilated retinal (also called fundus) exam, can detect early signs of numerous diseases that affect not only your eyes and your sight, but also your overall health. Dilation is still considered the gold-standard examination of the fundus, as it provides wide 3-D views into the back of the eye.
 
Wellness Retinal Imaging helps our doctors find and document signs of a number of diseases that first appear in the retina, just by a click of a button. Although it is only a 2-D image of about a 45- degree angle into the back of the eye, it contains the most important structures for sight – the optic nerve, macula and main blood vessels. Some of the diseases that Retinal Wellness Imaging can help our doctors notice, document, and see more closely include: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Cancer, Diabetic Retinopathy, Hypertensive Retinopathy, Glaucoma, Retinal Detachment & Choroidal Nevi (freckles). The list goes on and on.

In addition to helping detect diseases early with this preventative screening, Wellness Retinal Images provide a permanent and historical record of changes in your eye. Images can be compared side-by-side and year after year. We can enlarge these images & even separate them into different areas of the retina to perform an in depth comparison, all to help discover even the most subtle changes and help monitor your health. You will review your images together with our doctor, who will point out the various structures of the retina and explain treatment options for any conditions revealed by the pictures. The more you know about eye health, the more likely you will understand and follow our doctor’s recommendations for prevention, and/or treatment.  
 
A few insurances pay for this retinal screening in full (a $39 value at our practice), some others decrease your out of pocket expenses. Sign up for Wellness Retinal Imaging during your next comprehensive eye exam at our practice, and let us provide you with the best eye care!

 
OCT Retina Picture

3) Digital Lenses Continued...


Do you have 20/20 vision with you glasses, but still feel like you are not seeing as clearly as you would like? 

A free-form digital lens may be the answer.  Also called high-definition lenses, digital technology reduces aberrations, giving you sharper vision from edge to edge of your lenses.  Free-form technology can surface lenses in increments of 0.01 diopter, compared with 0.125 increments in a conventional lens.  They can also take into account the positioning of your frames on your face, the wrap and angle, to give you the sharpest vision possible in all parts of you lenses. 

Whether you wear a single vision prescription, bifocal, or progressive multifocal, free-form digital lenses will provide sharper image quality, better peripheral vision, improved contrast sensitivity and less nighttime glare. 

Stop by and talk to one of our ABO Certified Opticians about the newest advancement in digital technology.  We live in an increasingly digital world, make sure you vision is not left behind!

4) Digital Takover Continued...


Every year, as the fall school semester begins, our doctors see lots of our little Portlanders complaining of symptoms which are synonymous with eye strain. These days our kids spend a large portion of time on digital devices both in and out of the classroom. Smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers all emit blue light that can be harmful to our eyes (by increasing the risk of macular degeneration for example) and our body (by disrupting our circadian rhythm). Visual problems caused by digital devices affect kids all over the country, and the American Optometric Association (AOA) has spent lots of time and effort trying to shine a light on this growing issue for our youth.

This year's AOA “Ready-for-School” public awareness campaign has circulated nationwide since the end of summer. Its aim is to promote the necessity of back to school eye exams and (paired with results from recent surveys) make us aware that there is a stark contrast between parents' and kids' perceptions of digital device use.

Digital devices take a toll
The Ready-for-School campaign includes materials that give recommendations for avoiding digital eye strain, including the 20-20-20 rule while using screens: Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and fixate vision on something 20 feet away.

But do parents, and for that matter students, know these recommendations? According to results of the AOA's 2014 American Eye-Q and a children's omnibus survey, the integration of technology into the classroom gives more of a reason for children to get an eye exam, because:
  1. Kids are digitally connected longer than parents think. Eighty-three percent of children report using an electronic device more than 3 hours daily, while only 40 percent of parents think their kids exceed that mark; furthermore, 42 percent of kids report 5 hours of use or more versus only 10 percent of parents that think the same thing;
  2. All that time can cause eye problems. Eighty percent of children report their eyes have burned, itched, felt tired or had blurry vision after using an electronic device;
  3. Kids aren't taking appropriate breaks. Students aren't following the 20-20-20 rule—14 percent report taking a visual break from their device every 20 minutes. A third of kids report taking breaks every few hours or not at all;
  4. Most learning happens visually. An estimated 75 to 90 percent of all classroom learning happens through visual pathways—nearly all tasks a child performs depend on good vision;
  5. More could be done to get kids in the exam chair. Almost a third of parents report a child should be 3 years or older before visiting the eye doctor for his or her first comprehensive eye exam, while another 28 percent report they don't know when their child should first be seen.
The AOA recommends every child be seen by an optometrist soon after 6 months of age and before the age of 3, and as a result of the pediatric essential health benefit in the Affordable Care Act, children are now covered for yearly comprehensive eye exams through age 18.

Here at Uptown EyeCare & Optical we regularly see kids from 6 months of age and up.  Our doctors are passionate about protecting the eye health and vision of our patients of all ages.  Contact our office, or visit our website at www.uptowneyecareandoptical.com and schedule an appointment for all the members of your family today!
CRT Picture
5) Visian ICL Continued...

Imagine perfect vision without glasses or contacts…The Visian ICL is a revolutionary alternative to LASIK that provides a whole new level of vision quality.

Unlike traditional contact lenses, the Visian ICL lens is placed into the eye, behind the iris (the colored part of your eye) and in front of the natural lens where it is designed to stay permanently in place. This enables light to focus properly on the retina and to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness for those under 45 years of age. As an added benefit, the Visian ICL lens material contains UV protection. Patients can’t feel or see the Visian ICL in their eyes.

The lens is intended to remain in place in the eye without maintenance, and a routine annual visit with our doctor is recommended to make sure everything remains safe and effective. If your vision changes dramatically, the Visian ICL can be removed and replaced.
 
The procedure usually takes about 15-20 minutes. A small opening is made into your cornea and the Visian ICL is inserted and positioned in the eye. The procedure is painless because of the numbing medication. Patients usually experience an immediate improvement in their sight. Recovery time is pain free and short.

The Visian ICL is suitable for patients with a thin cornea, prescription ranges from -3D to -20D myopia and less than 1.25 D of astigmatism (since it does not correct astigmatism), and is an ideal option for patients with dry eye, irregular corneas and large pupils.
 
Before surgery our doctors will need to complete a full comprehensive eye exam to check the health of your eyes. In addition to the comprehensive eye examination, you will need a complimentary screening at the surgical center prior to the pre-op exam to see if you are a candidate for this procedure. Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (a laser opening in your iris) at the surgical center needs to be done after the pre-op, or a few days to few weeks prior to the surgery, to assure adequate eye pressure after the surgery.
 
Come by and ask our doctors today about Visian ICL and enjoy the benefits of corrected vision without compromise.

 
6) HSA Continued... Time is running out. Don't let your flex account!

The end of the year is approaching quickly. What better way to get ready for another year than resolving to have your best possible vision? Health Savings Accounts (HSA) & Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) have only a limited amount of time for you to spend your hard earned pre-tax money.

Don’t forget that eyewear is considered a medical device and can be paid for with these types of accounts!  It’s a great time to get that pair of glasses you’ve had your eye on, or a new pair of sunglasses so you are ready for the spring.  It’s even a perfect time to invest in additional pairs of glasses so you can expand your eyeglass wardrobe!  Need more contacts?  Don’t worry, your hsa/fsa account will cover those as well!  If your prescriptions have expired, now is the perfect time to come in and have all of your eyewear needs taken care of. Call us at 503-228-3838 to schedule your annual eye exam. While you are here utilizing your hsa/fsa account, don’t forget to bring your existing pairs of glasses to have them adjusted.

Every three to four months your glasses should be tightened and adjusted so we can keep them in tip top shape!  Our ABO Certified Opticians are here 6 days a week to help with all of your adjustment needs. 

All of us at Uptown Eyecare & Optical look forward to seeing you before the end of 2014!

7) 25% OFF COUPON Continued...

25% Voucher Front
25% Voucher Back

Wishing You Peace, Love & Joy This Season and a Very Happy New Year in 2015!