Happy New Year!

Wishes you a Happy New Year! Best wishes in 2011!

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to Dr. Amanda Barker-Assell! We hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

Last Week of the Year

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Don't forget - this is the last week to use your flex spending! Glasses and/or sunglasses are a great way to put the money to good use!

Christmas Video

Happy Holidays from Advanced Family Eye Care! Attached is a Christmas Video from our family to yours! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WieE2FfgWvQ

Gingerbread House Recipe

Here's a recipe for a Gingerbread House! Please visit the link: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/childrens-gingerbread-house/Detail.aspx
Happy Holidays!!!

Office Christmas Party

Advanced Family Eye Care had our office Christmas Party at Vesuvius Vineyards. What an incredible venue! We had a blast!

Christmas Party Photos #2

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month. Annual reports have shown that toy-related injuries amongst children continue to rise, including eye-related injuries. Noone wants to spend Christmas in the emergency room! See the attached link for safety precautions when purchasing toys ...for Christmas for your loved ones. Happy Holidays!

http://www.preventblindness.org/news/releases/toy_related_eye_injuries_increase.html

Santa Trivia

Which eyeglasses does Santa Claus wear? Round or Rectangular?

Christmas Trivia

Today's Christmas Trivia: What are frosty's eyes made out of?

Christmas Trivia

Today's Trivia Question: What is the color of Santa's eyes? Let us know what you think!

Holiday Style Show - TODAY!

Come join us for our Holiday Style Show TODAY from 2-7pm! We're looking forward to seeing you!

Holiday Red Eyes

Tis the season for red eyes! Remember to take extra care to protect your eyes. See the attached link to learn safety precautions regarding eye make-up, lotions, and proper contact lens care! Keep your eyes merry and white this holiday season!

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/holidayeyes.html

Holiday Style Show

Join us for our Holiday Style Show this Thursday, Dec 2nd, from 2-7pm! See hot new designer frames for 2011! Receive up to 50% on select frames and lenses! See you Thursday.

Turkey Eye Trivia

Did you know that….
-A turkey can twist its long neck 360 degrees, which in effect gives it eyes in the back of its head?
-A turkey has poor night vision, but can see better than a human with 20/20 vision during daylight hours? Their crisp vision is the turkey’s primary defense mechanism.
-A turkey’s ...eyes are set in the sides of its head for monocular vision? But a hen or gobbler makes up for a lack of 3D vision by cocking it’s head left or right to determine the distance to other turkeys or potential danger.
-A turkey, unlike a deer, can see and assimilate some colors? For example, both hens and subordinate toms react to the changing blues, red and whites of a dominant gobbler’s head and neck during the spring breeding season. A tom’s color-pulsing head stimulates hens for mating and suppresses the breeding urges of beta toms. http://www.turkeyhunting.com/

Holiday Frame Style Show

Join us for our Holiday Style Show on Thursday, December 2nd!

Daraja Children's Choir

Advanced Family Eye Care was honored to provide an eye exam to a member of Daraja Children's Choir from Africa. "Daraja means "bridge" in Swahili, and the 24 orphaned children have journeyed across the bridge all the way from Kenya to bring a taste of African worship and praise. The Choir wishes to inspire you with th...e hope and love they have found in Jesus Christ, in spite of the severe hardships they have faced. Their performances are a blend of traditional African song and dance and contemporary Christian music, which shares that hope in a unique and powerful way." The Choir will be performing in two U.S. tours this year. For more information, visit http://410bridge.org/daraja/

Thanksgiving Oreo Turkey Snack

Looking for easy and fun Thanksgiving crafts that you can do with children? Try the Oreo Turkey Snack!

What you need: Oreo cookies, Candy corn, Miniature
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Icing, Candy eyes
...
Directions:
Separate the Oreo into two pieces (you may want to use a knife to make sure
the cookies stay in tact). Add icing to the Oreo’s cookie icing and arrange five pieces of candy corn around the top of the Oreo that contains the most icing creating “feathers” and two across the bottom to create “feet” with white tip facing down. (Note:strategically place feet to prop and hold up the Oreo turkey. It may take you a few times to get the exact placing.)Re-close Oreo cookie using icing more icing to attach it if necessary. Using icing, attach the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with the widest part flat against the bottom of the face of the Oreo. Using icing, attach eyes and a piece of candy corn for a waddle.

Happy Thanksgiving from Advanced Family Eye Care!

*recipe found at http://www.examiner.com/stay-at-home-moms-in-austin/easy-thanksgiving-crafts-oreo-turkey-snack

Sunglasses for the Holidays!

Give A Little Sunshine! Sunglasses make the perfect holiday gift! The time is right for giving gifts to all the special people in your life…including yourself! They’re the perfect gift for anyone on your list who’s planning a winter getaway, or just planning to look fabulous all year-round! Gift certificates available.

Need extra cash for the holidays?

Advanced Family Eye Care is currently enrolling patients for 2 contact lens studies. This is an excellent way to make a little extra money with relatively little time involved!

Study Option #1
Tired of wearing reading glasses?Interested in an extra $90.00?
Start Date: Late November
Duration: Approximately one month
Number of Visits: 3 scheduled visits: 1) Baseline/Contact Lens Dispense, 2) 1 week, 3) 4 week/final visit
Inclusion/Exclusion:1) Must be between 40 and 48 years of age, 2) Have NEVER worn contact lenses, 3) Wear reading glasses for close work AND does not wear glasses to see distance, 4) Never had cataract surgery or refractive surgery and 5) Must be an established AFEC patient
*Certain prescription limitations apply

Study Option #2
Attention Clear Care Users!Interested in an extra $125.00?
Start Date: Early December
Duration: 1 monthNumber of Visits: 3 scheduled visits: 1) Baseline, 2) 2 week, 3) 1 month
Additional: Complete and return brief questionnaire each day for a month (using pre-paid envelopes)
Inclusion/Exclusion:1) Must be over 18yo, 2) Must wear soft contact lenses full time (CANNOT be daily disposables), 3) No overnight wearers, 4) You MUST currently use Clear Care as your daily solution, and 5) You must be an established AFEC patient.

We are seeking the following:
a. 3 patients in Air Optix Aqua contacts
b. 3 patients in Acuvue Oasys or Acuvue Advance
c. 3 patients in Biofinity lenses
d. 3 patients in either Frequency 55, Freshlook colors

If you are interested in participating, please contact jenniferspeight@seeadvanced.com for more information. We will accept the first 5 patients that are interested in study option #1 and the first 9 for study option #2. You will receive compensation upon completion of the study.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Happy Halloween!

Advanced Family Eye Care hopes you had a wonderful Halloween!

CRT

Are you tired of wearing contact lenses or glasses? We have a solution for you! Corneal Refractive Therapy, or CRT, is a non-surgical, reversible process that gently reshapes your cornea while you sleep, using specially designed oxygen permeable lenses. You are able to see throughout the day without any other correcti...on. There are no age restrictions. Call 704-822-9920 for more details! -Ashley, Clinical Technician

Happy Halloween!

Bring your child in for his or her exam between THIS WEEK dressed in their halloween costume and they will receive a special treat!

Congratulations Melissa and Justin!

One of our team members, Melissa, got married over the weekend! Congratulations Melissa and Justin! We wish you the best in your new life together. Marriage truly is a blessing!

A Halloween Candy Eyeball Recipe!

Blood Shot Candy Eyeballs
Ingredients:
2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
...1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 lb white candy coating (white chocolate)
24 brownReese's pieces or 24 brown M&M's
Icing:
1 tablespoon water
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
and confectioners' sugar, to right consistency for piping
Prep Time: 30 minutes
In a small mixing bowl, combine the confectioners sugar, peanut butter, and butter. Shape into 1" balls, and place on a waxed paper lined pan. Chill for 30 minutes, or until firm. In a microwave, melt white candy coating. Stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating, and place on waxed paper. Immediately press one Reese's Pieces or M&M candy on top of each eyeball for pupils. Let stand for 30 minutes, or until set. In a small bowl combine water, food coloring, and confectioners sugar. Mix well. Transfer to a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Cut a small whole in a corner of the bag. Pipe wavy lines downward from the candy, creating the look of bloodshot eyes. Store eye balls in an airtight container.
Provided by Linda on www.food.com

Maui Jim Offer

Come check out a NEW OFFER. Between now and November 30 receive $100 back on MauiPassport progressive Maui Jim sunglasses or $50 back on Single Vision Maui Jim sunglasses.

Halloween Treat!

Bring your child in for his or her exam between October 25th and 29th dressed in their halloween costume and receive a special treat!

Wild Eyes

Are you getting ready for Halloween? Check out ways to spice up this year's costume!!! http://www.wild-eyes.com/flash.htm

Toxoplasmosis

Have you ever heard of Toxoplasmosis? Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by parasites that can be transmitted to humans through infected cats and their feces or consuming raw or undercooked meat. Congenital Toxoplasmosis is actually the most common type of ocular toxoplasmosis due to maternal infection while pregna...nt. Damage consists of bilateral retinal scars, often involving central vision, causing irreversible vision loss. Always be careful around cats, especially if you are pegnant or immunocompromised.
photo from: http://www.retinacarecenter.com/medical_

Quote of the Day

"Vision. It reaches beyond the thing that is, into the conception of what can be. Imagination gives you the picture. Vision gives you the impulse to make the picture your own." --- Robert Collier

O. C. T.

OCT doesn't just stand for October!!! It also stands for Optical Coherence Tomography. Advanced Family Eye Care just purchased our very own OCT! We’re extremely excited about it! The OCT is a new, noninvasive, noncontact imaging technology which can image retinal structures through an undilated pupil. Cross-sectional images of the retina are produced in a similar fashion as B- scan ultrasonography, allowing the anatomic layers within the retina to be differentiated and retinal thickness to be measured. A variety of ocular pathologies can be described in the images, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. - Dr. Kim Hoyle

InfantSEE

Attention parents...Ever wondered what your infant can see? We have the answers to your questions. Here atAdvanced Family Eye Care we start seeing infants as young as 6 months. Our InfantSEE program offers no cost eye exam between 6-12 months. The first year of life is one of the most critical stages in childhood development. From
the moment they open their eyes, newborns undergo dramatic physical and mental changes. Don’t forget to bring your little one in today for his or her first eye exam. Call out office today at 704-822-9920.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes by causing deterioration of the blood vessels in the retina. These weakened vessels may leak fluid or blood. If left untreated, this leakage can lead to blindness. Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness under the age of 65. An annual dilated eye examination, along with a strict control of blood sugar, is imperative in delaying the onset of diabetic retinopathy and slowing the progression of early case. Call our office today at 704-822-9920 to schedule your eye examination. - Melissa Stoltz

Retinoblastoma and InfantSEE

Every parent dreads to hear the word "cancer," but cancer has a high prevalence in the United States. Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer occurring in young children that develops in the retina, the light sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Advanced Family Eye Care offers a no cost comprehensive eye examin...ation to infant’s ages 6 months – 12 months. Early detection of cancer can greatly reduce the severity of the illness and increase life expectancy. - Amber Smith
*Photo of an infant after removal of her retinoblastoma found during an InfantSEE exam

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

A Posterior Vitreous Detachment, or PVD, is a common condition were the vitreous (a jelly like substance that makes up the volume of the eye) becomes more of a liquid and peels away from the retina. This condition can become more common with age and higher prescriptions. Most common symptoms are floaters or flashes o...f light. If you have experienced this please contact our office ASAP. - Brooke Fish

Thank you to our staff!

Drs. Barker-Assell, Assell, and Hoyle would like to take the time to say thank you to our staff. You truly are the foundation of our practice and you are very much appreciated! You are amazing!

Cole Haan

As architects of modern American style, Cole Haan celebrates where classic meets cool with a spirited attitude that trumps age. The brand’s fashionable design merges with innovation to re-imagine product in simple, yet remarkable ways. Cole Haan Eyewear effortlessly fuses form with function and focuses on simple styling with a decided edge. The result is a look that is timeless...

Sports Goggles

Did you know that a person with a sports related eye injury visits an emergency room every 13 minutes? Over 85% of children do not utilize protective eyewear in situations that represent a risk of eye injury. Regular glasses and contact lenses provide little or no protection. Liberty Sport provides eye protection to... significantly reduce the risk of a sport-related eye injury. Ask Drs. Barker-Assell, Assell, or Hoyle about options for your child!

Coloring Contest!

Coloring Contest! Please click on the link below to print off our selected page from Twinkle & Eyenstein's Coloring Book. The contest is open to anyone 8 years old and younger. The first 10 patients to bring in their colored picture will receive a coupon for a free frosty from Wendy’s. All pictures will be proudly displayed in our office. Have fun!

http://www.keystoneblind.org/wiseweb/cbook1.htm

Vision Therapy Success!

‎"I am simply amazed by the progress Luke Heavner had made since he began VT with Advanced Therapy. The areas in which Luke struggled in the classroom, have over a very short time diminished significantly. Most importantly, I see his level of self-confidence greatly increasing. As a teacher of young children, I know ...the important role self-confidence plays in academic success. VT has given Luke the help he needed to become successful in the classroom. I've watched him develop strategies using VT that will lend themselves beautifully in the classroom. Each week his overall confidence seems to improve as he works on the VT computer program. He is ecouraged as he monitors his perfromance, and sees that he is getting better each week with the VT games. As a teacher and a mom, I know that it can be very intimidating and frightening to hear the word "therapy". I commend Luke's parent's for responding so positively to the recommendations from Dr. Barker and Jennifer. It takes a solid committment from a parent to follow through with VT. It is also an investment of time and money. However, I can't stress enough how valuable and successful I believe, based on my experience with Luke, VT actually is. I believe Luke will reap the rewards of VT throughout his academic career. Children don't need to give up on school in Kindergarten, when the help they need is available. Intervention is a good thing, and Advanced Therapy "gets" this from a childs perspective." -Pam Sigmon, Luke's TeacherSee More

Congratulations Bailey!

Congratulations, Bailey Johnson, the winner of our photo contest a couple of weeks ago! Enjoy your movie tickets, Bailey!

Back To School Screenings

We have had a wonderful turn out with our free "Back to School" screenings at Advanced Family Eye Care! If you haven't done so already, schedule your child for a free screening!

East Lincoln Football Screenings

Last week, Advanced Family Eye Care provided vision screenings for the East Lincoln football players! Not only did the staff have a blast, but it looks like the players had some fun too! Photos from the event are below! Good luck to the Mustangs this season!