As promised, we’d like to keep you informed of the construction being done on our property:

As construction begins on our new building we are re-routing traffic to our rear parking lot.  Our new entry door will be on the north side of the building and not the front.  There will be directional signage and an attendant to help you if you need assistance.

We appreciate your patronage and your patience and we hope this will be a smooth transition for you. Please do not forget your coupon for our optical shop. These coupons are good for 20%off a complete pair of glasses. You can pick up your coupon at the front desk and redeem it in our optical department on the day of your visit.

We are happy to inform you that the construction for our new building has officially begun! The sounds of bulldozers are getting to be familiar, but we are extremely excited about the new building.

The first phase of construction is the development of a larger parking lot in the rear of our existing building. We have freed up as much parking as possible for our patients in the front of the building until this area is ready. Please extend us your patience as we all wait for this to be available. The contractors are moving as quickly as possible, we are expecting the parking lot construction to be finished  April 6th.

The construction of the new building will begin April 24th and we hope to be moved in by October 2012. We hope that you are as excited as we are for the new building and we will keep you posted on this blog as we move into different phases of the project.

To show you our appreciation of your loyalty and patience we are offering you a coupon for 20% off a complete purchase of frames and lenses at our optical boutique. This coupon must be redeemed on the day of your exam.

 By: Christina Gonzalez

We have been seeing a lot of patients this month with dry, itchy, red eyes. I thought you may be interested in hearing what causes eye allergies and some ways to treat them on your own.

One out of five Americans experience some degree of eye allergies. As many Texans know, there is a lot of pollen and allergens in the air that cause allergies. It is hard to avoid them unless you decide to stay indoors.

Symptoms of eye allergies include:

• Itchy eyes

• Redness

• Tearing

• Blurred vision

• Swelling of the eyelids

• Sensitivity to light

The first thing you may consider trying is over the counter allergy drops. NOT the “red out” drops.

You may also try applying a warm compress to the eyes and use a drop of artificial tears in the morning. This will help keep the oil glands surrounding the eyes clean and ensure that you are starting your day with clean, lubricated eyes. Be sure not to rub the eyes when they itch as this will worsen the symptoms.

If these simple remedies do not help, you may want to consider making an appointment with your Ophthalmologist. They can prescribe stronger allergy medications.

You can help keep your home free of allergens by using air purifiers and change your air filters regularly.

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Are you on Medicare? Will you still have a physician in 2012?

With the scheduled 27% pay cut doctors are expected to see nationwide in 2012, many Texan doctors are choosing NOT to accept patients paying with Medicare benefits. This could mean YOU! Many seniors, military families and patients with disabilities are at serious risk of losing their doctors.

These pay cuts have been pushed back from January to March 2012. Congress has been pushing these cuts back and temporary patching the reform for years, but these temporary patches have cost taxpayers billions of dollars. The cost of the permanent repeal is now nearly $300 billion. If Congress does not come up with a permanent solution the cost will double in the next five years.

The Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association have teamed up to ask Congress to permanently stop the Sustainable Growth Rate formula that threatens healthcare for seniors and military families. Instead, they are asking Congress to use the projected spending that will no longer be needed from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to pay for these healthcare costs.

A recent survey found that almost half the physicians in Texas would consider not accepting Medicare insurance if the pay cut occurs. Find out more about the bill that may jeopardize your future healthcare at the links below.

View the Texas Medical Association survey [PDF]

Disclosure: Information found at Texas Medical Association

New Collegiate Maui Jim Sunglasses

By:  Christina Gonzalez-Patient Services Representative

One of the most popular named sunglasses has joined forces with your favorite college football teams. Yes, Maui Jim’s new lines of college sunglasses are here and of course we have the UT Texas Longhorns Maui Jim sunglasses for all of our UT fans. We can also order other collegiate football teams. These sunglasses are like any other Maui Jim sunglasses that have the Polarized plus 2 Lens technologies. Once these awesome lenses are put on, instantly the glare is gone; UV that can damage the eyes is gone. Everything you can see through these sunglasses is crisper and clearer.

So, come on by our optical shop to check out these awesome sunglasses, we have four frames from which to choose from.

We are also offering 20% off selected sunglasses from now until December 31^st.  They make the perfect Christmas gift for your football fanatic.

Diabetes Awareness Month

  November 2011

By: Leah Johnson – Certified Ophthalmic Assistant

In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month I would like to discuss some of the effects diabetes can have on the eyes as well as how you can help protect your eyes from this disease. Whether you were recently diagnosed or have been living with diabetes for many years, there is always something to learn about management of the disease.

Diabetic eye disease is a group of debilitating eye problems diabetics face with complications from the disease. All people with diabetes, type 1 and 2, are at risk for diabetic eye disease and can often go undetected by the patient until it is too late. Even with excellent sugar control, diabetic retinopathy can affect any diabetic. This is why annual comprehensive eye exams are important for all diabetics. You can also find more information about Diabetic Retinopathy on our website by clicking this link.

In addition to annual eye exams, diabetics can protect their eyes by controlling blood sugars. Glucose self-monitoring is extremely important when attempting to balance your blood sugar levels throughout the day. Knowing this level can help you make good food choices. A1C blood tests are important to track blood glucose levels over a period of time. Most doctors suggest testing this every 3-6 months.

Diabetics benefit greatly from daily exercises. Exercise helps keep sugar levels in better control.  Studies show that exercising diabetics not only lower blood glucose levels but also reduce risks of heart attack, stroke, and diabetic related eye and kidney problems. Remember that when exercising, it is important for diabetics to check blood glucose levels to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.

The holiday season is upon us. Eating smart is essential for a healthy diabetic. Forget the butter; flavor this year’s turkey with herbs to make a wonderful, healthy meal this Thanksgiving. Here is a great diabetic recipe I found on Epicurious.com. Enjoy!

Turkey

• 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh rosemary leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh thyme leaves
• 22 medium garlic cloves (about 3 heads)
• 1 (10- to 12-pound) turkey, preferably organic or free-range
• 1 large or 2 medium onions, sliced into thin rings
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon grapeseed oil

Preparation

One day ahead:
Process herbs and garlic in food processor until finely minced. Set aside.

Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water; pat dry with paper towels. Trim excess fat. Place turkey in large nonreactive bowl. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by gently inserting fingers between skin and meat. Sprinkle kosher salt and pepper under and over skin. Then spread garlic-herb rub under skin and gently press skin to adhere. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck into turkey. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

To roast:
Let turkey stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving. Set oven rack at lowest position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spread sliced onions on bottom of heavy-bottomed roasting pan and place fitted rack over top. (Or place the turkey directly on bed of onions. They will prevent sticking and flavor drippings.) Brush turkey with grapeseed oil and carefully transfer to rack. Brush one side of double-folded sheet of aluminum foil with grapeseed oil and tent, greased side down, over turkey breast. Place turkey in oven so legs face back of oven and bird, breast side up, faces door. Place wrapped garlic on oven rack.

Roast 45 minutes. Remove garlic from oven. Remove foil from turkey and turn pan around. Roast until thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh registers 170°F and juices run clear when thigh is pierced with fork (see note below), about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer turkey to platter and reserve pan drippings. Let turkey stand 20 minutes before carving.

Prepare gravy while turkey rests:
Pour drippings into 4-cup glass measure, and skim off fat that rises to surface, reserving 1 tablespoon fat (see tip below). Add enough broth to drippings to measure 3 cups.

Separate roasted garlic cloves. Squeeze pulp into small bowl and mash well with fork. In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat reserved fat. Add garlic and flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in broth mixture. Bring to boil over high heat, whisking constantly, and remove from heat. Carve turkey and serve with gravy.

NOTE: To gauge turkey doneness, an instant thermometer should be inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that this meatiest part be cooked to 180°F. Other cooking experts believe that the bird can safely be removed from the oven at 170°F, because the internal temperature will rise an additional 10 degrees as the turkey rests.

(Austin, TX) — The arrival of spring means that many Austinites are experiencing itchy, watery eyes and a range of other seasonal eye allergy symptoms.

“Cedar season is over, but that’s not the end of allergy trouble in Central Texas,” says Dr. K. Randy Pierce, a board-certified ophthalmologist with Eye Physicians of Austin. “Oak and elm pollen are creating eye allergy problems right now, and grass pollen isn’t far behind.”

The most common eye allergy symptoms are redness, tearing, burning, blurred vision, and excess mucous production. The most effective way to reduce symptoms is to avoid the allergen, but if that’s not possible, effective treatments are available.

“Cold compresses help soothe the eyes and reduce irritation, and artificial tears or eyedrops help flush allergens out of your eyes. Over-the-counter antihistamine drops can also reduce the symptoms for many people,” says Dr. Pierce.

“The good news is that seasonal allergies don’t last forever,” he adds. “When the pollen goes away, so do the symptoms. If the symptoms persist, you probably have an allergy to dust, pet dander, or another substance that you encounter on a daily basis. If that’s the case, consult an ophthalmologist to find out how to treat your ongoing allergy. Prescription eye drops are available to treat chronic allergic symptoms.”

For more information about eye care and Spring allergies or an interview with allergy expert Dr. K. Randy Pierce to discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatments of eye allergies please call 512-583-2020

AUSTIN, TX — Millions of American women suffer from common menopause complications without realizing it. Increasing facial wrinkles and dry eye are among the side effects that are linked to menopause and can be effectively treated. Dr. Dawn Buckingham, an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon with Eye Physicians of Austin, urges women to learn more about these common side effects and treatments during Menopause Awareness Month.

“Menopause is a lengthy process that affects virtually every part of a woman’s body,” says Dr. Buckingham. “Women have learned to deal with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms, but they often overlook the effects on their skin and eyes.”

Facial Wrinkles

Decreased estrogen levels that occur during menopause can cause the skin to become thinner, dryer, and more wrinkled.
Facial wrinkles can negatively affect a woman’s appearance, self-image, and confidence.
In addition to proper nutrition and skin care, effective treatments include BOTOX injections, and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
Dry Eye

A recent survey (released in April 2006 by the Society for Women’s Health Research) shows that 62 percent of older women experience dry eye, but only 59 percent of sufferers consult their doctor. Only 16 percent of women knew that dry eye can be linked to hormone changes that occur during menopause.
Chronic dry eye can affect reading, driving, working on a computer, and other daily activities.
Treatments depend on the specific cause of dry eye. Non-surgical treatments include blinking exercises, increasing humidity at home or work, and use of artificial tears or moisturizing ointment. There are also several prescription medications for dry eyes. If these methods fail, small plugs may be inserted in the corners of the eyes to limit tear drainage, or the drainage tubes in the eyes may be surgically closed.
Dr. Buckingham is available for interviews about the effects of menopause on women’s skin and eyes and can discuss a variety of lifestyle changes and medical treatments.

Throughout its history, Eye Physicians of Austin has been a leader in medical and surgical eye treatments. Co-founder Dr. Robert L. Rock was the first corneal transplant surgeon in Austin and has been a clinical professor in corneal surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for more than 40 years

Dr. George C. Thorne, Jr., maintains one the state’s busiest ophthalmologic practices and has performed more corneal transplants than any other surgeon in the Austin area.

Dr. Thorne, Dr. Jim McNabb, Dr. K. Randy Pierce, and Dr. Mark Plunkett recently introduced IntraLase, the latest generation of LASIK surgery, to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The IntraLase provides better results with fewer complications than traditional vision correction surgery.

In addition, Eye Physicians of Austin offers other highly advanced services. Dr. McNabb is board-certified in nutrition and provides nutrition counseling the help patients protect and promote their vision and general health. Dr. Peter Wollan is a glaucoma specialist who provides a variety of corrective procedures and ongoing treatment. Dr. Dawn Buckingham is an occuloplastic reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon who provides medical and surgical services ranging from wrinkle reduction using BOTOX to brow and eye lifts to treatment of dry eyes, a common side effect of menopause.

All Eye Physicians of Austin ophthalmologists provide routine eye care to a wide variety of patients. For more information, call 512/583-2020 or go to eyephysiciansofaustin.com.