New Arrivals!

Today we decided to celebrate the coming of summer with sunny pictures of some of our newest frames. This time around we thought it'd be fun to enlist staff members to model their favorite new arrivals. Here's what they came up with:

First we have Shu-Chu, optician and frame designer for 141 Eyewear, modeling Tom Ford's super-hot "Nico" sunglass. Guaranteed to bring out the catwoman in you!

Now here is David, optician and resident blogger, brooding in Paul Smith's "Walsh." Vintage style with a signature Paul Smith color pattern.

Finally, our patient care coordinator, Melissa, is happily showing off her favorite new Paul Frank sunglass, "Gold In The Air Of Summer." What you can't see is the bee that was pollinating that hedge. Luckily he was too busy to bother our lovely model!

Spotlight: Ortho-K

This week I want to spotlight one of the lesser-known services we offer at The Eye Studio: Orthokeratology, known simply as Ortho-K. Ortho-K is a vision therapy for children and adults with mild to moderate nearsightedness (myopia) and some with mild farsightedness (hyperopia). It uses reverse geometry to reshape the cornea (the front surface of the eye), flattening the curve of that surface to compensate for prescription and allow the eyes to see more clearly without glasses. Retainer contact lenses are worn overnight and taken out in the morning. Gradually, over the course of days, visual acuity is improved until the patient no longer needs to wear glasses in order to see clearly. This therapy is temporary: like an oral retainer, if the patient stops using the Ortho-K lenses, his or her eyes will return to their previous prescription.

The benefits of Ortho-K are simply put in the form of a question: What would you be able to do if you didn't have to wear glasses? You could swim, drive, bike, ski, all without the distraction and inconvenience of eyewear--dust, fingerprints, edge distortion, temperature and perspiration, to name just a few. You could wear fashion sunglasses, stock safety glasses, hats and helmets that would normally get in the way if you were wearing glasses. You would have a clear, full periphery available to you without wearing any kind of correction.

Ortho-K is also often prescribed for children because it has been shown in many cases to slow down the increase in prescription that naturally occurs as their eyes grow. Wearing retainer lenses at night is actually safer than even wearing disposable contacts in most cases, as you wear them for less time (8 hours vs. 15+ hours in most contact wearers). And because it is non-surgical and completely reversible, it can be a good alternative to Lasik surgery. Not everyone can be treated with Ortho-K. The best way to find out if you are a candidate is to schedule a free consultation. Check out more details at our website: www.the-eyestudio.com.

More Lovely Comments

We are so fortunate here at The Eye Studio to be blessed with exceptional patients. Every now and then we get a lovely comment to remind us why we do what we do. Why is that? For you, of course! Here are some of those comments:

"Every experience has been overwhelmingly positive and I've referred more than one person to go to The Eye Studio. Dr Tsai is terrific and the optical staff are always helpful as well as extremely good at helping to pick out glasses!"

"My experiences with The Eye Studio have been exceptional, from friendliness, courtesy, and knowledge of staff and doctors to retail selection. I will definitely recommend to others."

"The Doctors and staff are all super. Professional, friendly, thorough, I've been extremely pleased with the quality of service and my confidence in both doctors couldn't be higher."

"The best part of my visit was seeing the photos of my eyes and having Dr. Thomas explain everything to me and pointing out the maculae and the optic nerve. I've had glasses for over 20 years and this was by far my best eye exam. Thanks!"

Thanks, everyone! You're lovely, and we appreciate it every day.

Dry Eye Spotlight: Tranquileyes

Dry eye is a serious condition that is now coming into the forefront of primary eye care. Over 50 million Americans suffer from dry eyes, whether it be lowered natural tear production, or their tear film evaporates too quickly because of their environment or allergies. Many other factors can also be involved, like contact lens use and exposure to smoke. Whatever the reason, if left unattended dry eye can lead to scarring of the cornea and even in some cases vision loss. Dry eye is often treated with rewetting drops, or medications like Restasis, which stimulates natural tear production. Closely monitored care can lead to life-changing results, and we here at The Eye Studio are always looking for new ways to deliver those results to our patients.

Today I want to focus on a product that may help you find relief from dry eyes: Tranquileyes. Just like our skin needs to be rehydrated, our eyes need a break from harsh dry air. The Tranquileyes system shields the eyes from the outside world, either while you sleep or just to take a break during the day. It can be used as hot or cold compresses and with herbal remedies to soothe your irritated eyes. The mask traps moisture in the eyes, rather than letting it escape into the air. Comforting foam cushions the eyes and promotes healing and natural tear production. It can be used in conjunction with Restasis and rewetting drops to attack the problem from many angles, and the kit is customizable with washable covers in many different prints and colors. Stop by to check it out, or look it up online: http://www.eyeeco.com/

Sharing the Love

It's a sunny May morning. A warm breeze is wafting down 9th Ave and with it warm feelings from our wonderful patients. Allow me to share some:

I really appreciate the personal, friendly service I always receive from your office, and have recommended you to several friends who are now patients too. Thanks for the great service.

You guys are amazing--so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I look forward to my annual visit because I know I'll always get royal treatment and leave with some new fabulous glasses! Thanks for everything.

We always appreciate the staff's willingness to assist us with adjustments to glasses, insurance questions and overall needs and satisfaction. They are all very customer service oriented and fantastic helpers - thanks!

I can't really suggest anything - the Eye Studio was really excellent in every way. They were SO helpful with insurance which is usually a nightmare and they were very patient with me considering I am very uncomfortable with eye things. :) This has been my best eye exam and I would easily recommend them to others.

We are so thankful for the support we get from our patients, and we love that our care for them gets reciprocated in such a lovely way. Thanks a ton!

Andy Wolf is Here!

Come in and check it out, Andy Wolf is officially here! Check it out in person or online: www.andywolf-eyewear.com

New Product: Andy Wolf Eyewear

At The Eye Studio we endeavor to introduce our customers to products that we believe will stand up to the test of time. One of the problems is weeding out the gimmicks in search of something real that will last. Andy Wolf Eyewear is no gimmick. These frames are meticulously handmade, from drawing to prototype to the finished product. It may take a little bit more time to make a product like this--aging the acetate, carving out the shape of the frame using templates, hand finishing and polishing--but the end result is worth all of the effort. These frames feel real and timeless, a quality that is important in the ever-changing world of eye fashions, many of which can be fleeting fads. We believe that Andy Wolf is here to stay. The frames should arrive at the store within the next two weeks, for now you can check out their story and some videos of the production process at www.andywolf-eyewear.com.

New eyewear: Official US Open Sunglasses by MODO

The US Open doesn't start until August 30th, but it's never too early for true fans to get a head start on their favorite tournament with some official US Open swag. For the first time The Eye Studio is proud to carry the exclusive US Open Performance sunglasses manufactured by MODO! These new sunglasses come with a protective US Open logo hard shell case and microfiber cleaning cloth. These non-prescription sunglasses were designed with tennis in mind, with High Chromatic Definition lenses that intensify natural color contrasts, improving reaction time. An oleophobic and hydrophobic lens surface repels water, moisture, grease, and fingerprints, while the anti-reflective coating reduces reflections, improving visual comfort in the bright sun. Super light-weight and affordable, these frames were made well for all kinds of sports, not just tennis. Come in and check them out!

New Arrivals: Sunglasses!

We continue the series of new frame arrivals with some scintillating sunglass styles.

First up is one of our favorite new brands here at The Eye Studio, Eco. Made of 95% post- and pre-consumer recycled content, but not sacrificing the cool factor. Check it out at www.eco-optics.com. Here is mod. 107 in red:

Next we have a beautiful new Lafont sunglass, Daisy, in a black/white carved pattern. Cute and catty:

And finally for your viewing pleasure is a very limited Ice Blue color of Paul Frank's Sans Soleil. This is #56 of 150:

iZon: Not Just Hi-Def, Safer Too

Here at The Eye Studio we get really excited about these new iZon HD lenses because they offer a clarity never before possible in prescription eyeglasses. By scanning the surface of the eye and picking up irregularities in shape they can actually compensate for problems unique to individual eyes, not just mathematically similar to a pre-measured "power." It's something you really have to see to believe, and it's hard as eye care professionals not to get excited about it.

Well, now there's a new reason to get excited. In a third-party testing environment, iZon has been shown to be safer for driving at night than conventional eyeglass lenses. Here's what they said:

In nighttime driving tests, using an FDA validated night driving simulator, iZon High Resolution Lenses significantly improved nighttime driving performance over conventional glasses. iZon wearers driving at 55 MPH, under glare conditions, were able to detect, recognize and react to a pedestrian in the road on average 20 feet faster. This represents a significant safety margin, and quite possibly, the difference between life and death.

Read more about iZon and how you can get clearer, crisper vision at the iZon website.