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.