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I N S I G H T

N e w s l e t t e r

Volume 1, Issue 4

In this issue:

LASIK Seminar on Nov 2

Don't forget about our free Custom Vue LASIK Seminar on November 2.
Read More..

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month

Diabetic cases have skyrocketed across the country and diabetic eye disease is now the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults.
Read More..

Make the Most of Your Health Care Benefits Before Year's End

Healthy sight is more than correcting eyesight to 20/20 acuity. It involves enhancing everyday visual quality and preserving the health and well-being of your eyes.
Read More..

Your Healthy Sight: Vision & Glare

Light is essential to vision. But too much or too little light diminishes visual quality. Simply put, too much light causes glare.
Read More..

Extras:

Web Site Feature: Dr. Thomas

Dr. Thomas founded Northland Eye Care in 2003 with the goal of building the extraordinary eye care practice in Northern Arizona.
Read More..

Partner: Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center

Northland Eye Care provides LASIK services through our partnership with Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center of Scottsdale.
Visit Hale-Qamar

Don't Forget about our Free Custom Vue LASIK Seminar

Just a reminder for those of you who have registered, our LASIK seminar is coming up on Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 7:00 pm. It will be located in the McGee Auditorium at Flagstaff Medical Center. Contact us if you have any questions.

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month

Diabetic cases have skyrocketed across the country and diabetic eye disease is now the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, meaning their blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Without effective treatment, those cases can eventually develop into diabetes. Read more by visiting Prevent Blindness America and the American Diabetes Association.

Make the Most of Your Health Care Benefits Before the End of the Year!

Dec 31 is the deadline! If you participate in a Health Savings Account, "Flex Plan" or "Cafeteria Plan" through your company benefits program, time is running out. Most plans require that you spend the money you've contributed by December 31st or lose it for good.

Many "traditional" vision plans also renew at the beginning of the year, therefore, you'll want to get any needed vision care for all covered family members while you still have benefits this year. Also, with the rising cost of health care, most employers are looking at switching to lower cost/lower benefit policies for their employees after the first of the year. There is a good chance next years' coverage may not be as good as this years'.

Since we are rapidly approaching the end of the year it would be wise to use your benefits now!

As always we will be happy to verify your benefits and complete any insurance forms. If you have any questions feel free to call Northland Eye Care at 928-226-9300. December appointments are already being booked!

Here is a list of vision-related services and expenses that may qualify:

  • LASIK
  • Gentle Vision Shaping
  • Prescription Sunglasses
  • Eyeglasses
  • Eye Health Examination
  • Contact Lenses

Your Healthy Sight: Vision & Glare

Light is essential to vision. But too much or too little light diminishes visual quality. Simply put, too much light causes glare. Glare, or extreme brightness, can be distracting and even dangerous. It can happen day or night in a number of ways, such as moving from shade into bright sunlight or when light reflects from shiny surfaces. The potential results of glare are squinting, eye strain, eye fatigue and, in extreme cases, temporary blindness. Glare can impair visual comfort and visual quality, which can diminish healthy sight.

There are four types of glare:

Distracting glare

This comes from light reflected off the front of your lenses so that others can't see your eyes, or from light reflected off the back or inside of your lenses so that you see the reflection of your own lenses in your field of vision. It can also come from car headlights or streetlights at night. It causes eye fatigue and annoyance.

Discomforting glare

Vision with Glare This comes from everyday bright sunlight. It can occur, depending upon one's sensitivity, in any weather, at any time of day, in any level or intensity of light, or going from one lighting condition to another. It can bring on squinting and eye fatigue.

Disabling glare

This type of glare comes from excessive, intense light, such as that experienced when facing into the sun. It can block vision, because it can result in reduced contrast of the retinal image.

Blinding or reflected glare

This comes from light reflected off smooth, shiny surfaces such as water, sand, or snow. It can be strong enough to block vision. This reflected light is polarized and requires polarized lenses to reduce it optimally.

Transitions® Lenses reduce glare.

Vision without Glare Transitions Lenses with an anti-reflective (AR) coating are the optimal everyday choice for reducing distracting, discomforting and disabling glare.* You can improve the overall quality of your vision by reducing glare with Transitions Lenses. They can help ensure that the quality of your vision will be at its best at all times, all day, every day.

Transitions Lenses reduce glare and provide these important benefits:

  • Help prevent the loss of visibility
  • Improve visual quality and visual comfort
  • Provide a comfortable level of light
  • Reduce squinting and eye fatigue
  • Improve contrast

*In extreme conditions, we recommend polarized sunglasses that also block 100% UV radiation and help reduce blinding glare.