Lordy, Lordy

Lordy, lordy, look who turned FORTY this year.  Pam had her fortieth on April 4th and Jenny just had her big 4-0 on December 5th.  Both of these gals are technicians that have worked for Carolina Ophthalmology for a number of years.  They may be old, but they still look good!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Bryan!

Happy birthday dear Dr. Bryan.  We love you and hope you have a great time in Scotland!

From the best staff ever... yours.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Have an eye appointment scheduled soon?  Don’t forget to bring a non-perishable item for our food drive.

This is our seventh year collecting food for the InterFaith Council (IFC) Food Pantry.  Items in need range from canned tuna, canned meats, soups, rice, beans, canned vegetables, canned fruits, juice, dry milk, cereals, spaghetti pasta and sauce;  as well as diapers, soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes, shampoo and related personal hygiene items.

The IFC & its Food Pantry is located at 110 W. Main Street in Carrboro. For information regarding donations or assistance, you may call 929-6380 or visit them on line.

Use Flexible Spending Account For LASIK

Don’t let time slip away and miss out on the opportunity to save on LASIK or other refractive procedures at Carolina Ophthalmology Associates.   Several of our patients are enjoying visual freedom by taking advantage of their Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) this year. Be among those fortunate enough to enjoy the long-term benefits of Custom LASIK procedure by utilizing your FSA and paying for it with tax-free dollars that you’ve earned.

These programs, also known as Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and Health Savings Account (HAS) are being offered by more and more companies.  Depending on your tax bracket, the savings associated with paying for your LASIK procedure with your FSA could be 30% or more!

If you aren’t sure about your company’s savings options, contact your human resources manager now to find out more.  Most companies renew their programs in October and have deadlines.

Contact Laura today for your free LASIK evaluation by calling 877-623-8811.

Internet Access Available

Carolina Ophthalmology Associates is excited to announce that we now have wireless internet services available. This will allow our patients or their companions the opportunity to enjoy access to online services while dilating in our office or if they prefer to step out by the pond, picnic, or lobby areas.

Make-Up Rules

You may not consider yourself as having sensitive skin, but the area around your eyes may be. When it comes to eyelid dermatitis whose symptoms can be stinging, itching and redness, beware of these culprits.

Mascara should be replace often due to bacteria that quickly grows within the container. Usually every three months is recommended. Also, you may want to skip the brighter colored mascaras as the added dyes can cause sensitivity too. Black is the least irritating of all.

The next time you have your nails polished, keep them away from your eyes. Believe it or not, freshly painted nails have irritants that are the top cause of dermatitis. Make sure if you do touch your eyes, your nail polish is completely dry. If your eyes are irritated and you're not sure of the cause, make an appoinment at Carolina Ophthalmolgy Associates today by phone or on line.

Meet Brittany

Congratulations go to Brittany, who has been with Carolina Ophthalmology Associates since June 2008. As a young girl, Brittany became interested in Ophthalmology from accompanying her grandfather to his retina appointments. Since then, she has gained experience in various aspects of Optometry and Ophthalmology.

After graduating from Campbell University with a degree in Biology, Brittany furthered her ophthalmology interest by completing the Certified Ophthalmic Technician (C.O.T.) training program sponsored by the Duke Eye Center and Duke School of Medicine. After months of dedication and hard work, Brittany is now certified through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel. She currently resides in Chapel Hill with her husband Steven.

Is “Eye Exam” On Your Child’s Back-to-School Checklist?

Preparing for the start of a new school year? Perhaps you should add Eye Exam to the top of your child’s school list.

“Starting by age five, children should have already had at least one eye exam by a professional” says Dr. James Bryan, MD. “Vision is a critical tool when it comes to your child learning.” In fact, experts say that 80% of what children learn in school is achieved visually. However, it is reported that one in four school-age children have some form of vision problem which can interfere with academic performance.

Family history can also play a role making it especially important that the child receives a complete eye exam if a parent or sibling is known to have any eye problems.

If you notice your child squinting, uninterested in reading, or seems to be "daydreaming" because he cannot see the letters in a book or on the board, it might be time to make an eye appointment.

Please call our office to schedule an appointment for your child with either Dr. Bryan or Dr. Scroggs at 919-967-4836.

Latisse...Voluptuous Lashes Can Be Yours!

Do you wish you had long, beautiful eye lashes? Well it can be reality thanks to the makers of Botox, drug giant Allergan. Latisse is the first prescription product which has been approved by the FDA to grow thicker, fuller lashes in just 4 to 8 weeks of regular daily use.

If you love lash extensions and dye but are tired of spending an hour at the salon every month, Latisse is a better, safer and less expensive alternative. The result is a more natural look with all of the advantages of long, thick, full lashes.

Follow our blog to see how Latisse works as we will do our own demo on a lucky staff member!

For more information on Latisse, call Carolina Ophthalmology Associates at 945-3937.

If You've Had Vision Correction, You WANT to Read This

As technology evolves, we have discovered that it is crucial for refractive surgery patients (if you’ve had LASIK, PRK, etc) to keep a record of pre-operation information that will be needed for future eye surgery, such as cataract surgery.

Dr. Bryan has started giving his patients their surgical operative report with vital information such as their eyes’ pre-operative measurements. This is an essential part of your health files and should be kept in a safe place for future reference. If you’ve had one of these surgeries, including RK (radial keratotomy) with Dr. Bryan when he began at Durham Clinic in 1993 (which later changed their name to Regional Specialty Physicians), then call Pam now to get your information at 919-945-3937. Also note that Dr. Bryan was in practice with North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat in 2000 before opening his private practice with Dr. Scroggs which is now Carolina Ophthalmology Associates.

This is yet another excellent reason why you made the decision to have YOUR surgery with Dr. Bryan and not the bargain basement down the street that no longer has your information after seven years or worse yet, has gone out of business.

Hello, I’m Shannon and I work as the Insurance Coordinator at Carolina Ophthalmology Associates.

I started working here as a receptionist in November 2006. For those of you that recognize me, I’m still here, just less visible since I’m no longer greeting you from the front desk.

Now, I’m using my 15+ years of experience in medical billing to better assist our patients. So, whether you have a question regarding your bill or need an insurance question answered, I can be reached by phone at 919-967-4836 or via e-mail at ShannonR@Carolina2020.com.

Baby Love

Congratulations to our technician Jeanette and her husband Robert on the arrival of a new baby boy!

Jacob Louis Clemons was born on May 18, 2009 at 8:10 pm weighing 7lbs and 4oz.

Carolina Ophthalmology Associates Voted Best Vision Center

Carolina Ophthalmology Associates was voted as the Best Vision Center by the readers of The Chapel Hill News paper. Dr. Mark Scroggs responds, “We are pleased to accept the 2009 Rose Award and would like to thank our patients that voted for us.”

For more information on our award winning practice, please visit our web site at www.carolina2020.com or call (919) 967-4836 for an appointment.

Eye Allergies

“I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers/Of April, May, of June, and July flowers”.

Although it may be beautiful outdoors, the signs and symptoms of pollen allergy are not. They can include: sneezing, runny or clogged nose, itchy throat, teary, itchy eyes, red-rimmed eyes, allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by restricted blood flow near the sinuses) and the "allergic salute" (persistent upward rubbing of the nose that causes a crease mark across it).

Most allergens guilty for eye symptoms are airborne. There is no way to totally avoid the pollen, mold, dust, and animal dander that trigger our unpleasant symptoms. If not treated, an eye allergy can cause inflammation and irritation of eye tissue, leading to the condition allergic conjunctivitis.

As there is no cure for eye allergy here’s what you could do to keep the culprits out of your house and minimize the damage:

• AVOID RUBBING YOUR EYES! Cool compresses can help soothe
• Remove contact lenses as soon as symptoms appear.
• Stay indoors when the pollen counts are at its peak, or if it is windy outside.
• Keep windows shut and the air conditioner on
• Use artificial tears and/or make an eye appointment to get prescribed a liquid antihistamine to put in your eyes
• Wear glasses or sunglasses outdoors
• Minimize clutter, book collections, and anything that collects dust and pollens
• Keep pets outside or bathe them often and don't let them sleep in your bed
• Wash your hair every day to rinse off dust and pollen, and if you've been in the yard, leave shoes at the door and wash your clothes in hot water as soon as possible

For Severe Cases, in addition to above:

• Allergy-proof your home; put dust-mite-proof covers on bedding and pillows; clean surfaces with a damp mop, rag, or shampooer rather than dry sweeping or dusting.
• Purchase an air filter to clean out pollens, molds and dust
• Use a dehumidifier in damp areas like the basement
• Install wood, tile or vinyl floors rather than carpet because they can be mopped regularly. If you do have carpets, have someone else do the vacuuming
• Make an eye appointment before you experience problems. Oral antihistamines rarely help with ocular symptoms.

You won't be able to eliminate every allergen from your home, but with these steps you can make it a comfortable place even during the peak of allergy season.

On This Day, April 6th...

Happy Birthday

Dr. Scroggs

...We think you're awesome!

-COA Staff

Happy Birthday COA!

March marks the eighth year anniversary for Carolina Ophthalmology Associates. Wanting to provide a more personal hometown feel for their patients, Drs. Mark Scroggs and James Bryan left their positions at NC Eye and Ear Hospital in 2001 to open their own private practice that was located on East Franklin Street.

Since then, we moved our four employees from an office with two exam rooms to the Boyd Hall Building on VilCom Circle that we are currently located in that entails six exam rooms, an expanded optical shop, a laser suite and 12 employees.

The physicians have been careful to balance growth without compensating the patients’ personal experience. Dr. Scroggs explains, “We have an emphasis on the patient’s care and continue to build and improve upon their satisfaction whether they are here for a routine exam or a complex ocular condition.”

As with any anniversary, the family at COA must also look to the future while reflecting on our past. Dr. Bryan adds, “We are constantly focusing on creating the best possible eye care practice that the people in our community and their families can trust and want to refer others.”

If there is any area of our practice that you feel could improve, please let us know by sending an email to want2see@carolina2020.com. We do value your comments and suggestions.

Where Are You Going to Buy Your Glasses?

The bargains you can get online can be tempting, especially during this unstable economy, but how much does it really save you? Here are some things to consider before you go online to make your purchase. It takes a good bit of time and educating oneself to get a pair of glasses online that you’re going to really love and you’ll need to be comfortable making the following decisions for yourself.

So you want to know how a pair of glasses looks on you, simply try them on if you’re at The Vision Place. Optical websites offer creative solutions to address this important issue, but is it really the same? Online you may not be able to see the small details and you won’t know how they’re going to fit or feel until they arrive at your door step two weeks later.

In many ways, it is easier to select glasses if you have an optician helping you. Every frame is a custom job, so when you visit the optician, it is their job to take various measurements to ensure a proper fit that is specific to the size of your head, the distance between your pupils and that fit the bridge of your nose properly. Other wise, you may end up with a frame that is either too snug and pinches your nose and behind your ears or too loose and slides down your nose every time you lean over.

Another issue is measuring your own pupil distance (PD). If you don’t measure the distance between your pupils properly, then you may end up getting headaches if you're not looking directly through the centers of the lenses. Bifocals are especially tricky and are often avoided altogether by these types of web-based optical sites.

You will also need to educate yourself with everything that the optician usually guides you through such as deciding what lens material to use, which tint you may want and don’t forget about ultraviolet, crizal, anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings… When making each decision on your own, what one may have thought would be a “fun” process can soon become overwhelming.

Last of all, beware of the various return policies. What if the prescription is wrong due to a doctor error or your vision changes in a month? Is there a warranty on the frame or lenses and if so, for how long? Our optical shop offers a 12 month manufacturer’s warranty and a 1 month money back guarantee for prescription changes/errors. If you can’t see properly out of your new glasses, bring them back.

At The Vision Place, you will have a qualified optician that is certified and available to assist you during each step of your purchase, making recommendations that will be best for you and your lifestyle. What’s more, UV protection, anti-scratch coating, a case and cleaning cloth is included with every purchase at no extra cost!