What Is The Best Vision Correction For You?

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | November 3, 2009

Have you ever thought about how to improve your quality of life with the proper eye wear? Think about all the things you do every day and how you can make your visual life easier.

  • Everyday Living - Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses, Sunglasses
  • Work Environment – Computer eyeglasses (Gunnar Eyewear), Safety Eyewear, Reading glasses
  • Tennis- Sports protective eyeglasses, Sunglasses, Contact lenses
  • Golf- Golf Glasses, Contact Lenses, Sunglasses
  • Reading- Reading Glasses, Bifocals, Progressives
  • Biking- Sun glass wraps for protection with interchangeable lenses, Contact Lenses
  • Skiing- Ski Goggles with prescription eyeglass insert, Contact Lenses
  • Fishing- Polarized Sunglasses
  • Misc Sports- Contact Lenses, Sports safety eyewear
  • TV- Single Vision TV Glasses, (in addition to progressives for everyday living)
  • Computer- Computer Glasses, Progressives
  • Driving- Clear non-glare eyeglasses for night driving, Polarized Sunglasses for daytime. (One for each car)

This is just a thought. What do you think? What special needs do you have that need vision correction. How have you helped your vision today?

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

www.optixeyecare.com

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Flex Spending at Optix Family Eyecare

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | October 26, 2009

Flexible Spending

Many employers offer flex spending plans to their employees as a benefit to help reduce Uncle Sam’s tax bite.  A medical flex account is an employer-provided benefit that allows you to contribute a set amount from your paycheck in order to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses such as health insurance co-pays, uninsured treatments, or even over-the-counter drug purchases.

If you have been fortunate enough to be healthy this year, you may have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that you must use before year’s end?

Everyone needs eyecare to maintain healthy eyes and most people need eyewear to provide clear, comfortable vision.  An FSA can help reduce the costs.
An FSA can be used for:

Come speak to our staff at Optix Family Eyecare Center.  Let us help you maximize your benefits.

Joel Kestenbaum, OD
www.optixeyecare.com

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Retinal Camera For Better Eyecare

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | September 22, 2009

As my patients already know, Optix is known for its technology in helping our patients to achieve healthy eyes and the best possible vision.  Every year I personally evaluate the latest equipment and purchase one or more pieces of new technology for our patients well being.

Recently, we added a new Retinal Camera from Kowa. This is also called a fundus camera.  What is a retinal camera?  This special camera takes a high resolution digital photograph of the back of the eye allowing for easier diagnosis of diseases that affect the film of our eyes…… the retina.

What diseases can the retinal camera help diagnose?

  • Diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
  • Glaucoma
  • Hypertension
  • High Cholesterol
  • Brain Tumors
  • Cancer of the eye
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Fluid on the Retina
  • Retinal Holes or Tears

And many more

This simple test can be completed for most people without dilating the eyes.  It takes only a few seconds and the results are immediately available to the doctors to explain to our patients.  The retinal camera is an invaluable tool allowing the doctors to magnify even the smallest of images for easier diagnosis.  By attaching the images to our patient’s electronic file, we can compare small changes from year to year making treatment decisions easier.

Come see one of our associates.  At Optix, we provide 21st century eyecare.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum
Optix Family Eyecare Center
www.optixeyecare.com

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A Child’s Eyes Should Be A Parent’s Concern

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | August 23, 2009

Here are a few facts a parent should know.

  • 80% of learning is through the eyes.
  • 80% of a person’s lifetime exposure to ultraviolet light comes before he age of 18.
  • Vision screening in a pediatrician’s office is NOT an eye examination.
  • Vision screening in a school nurses office is NOT an eye examination.
  • An eye doctor should examine a child by age three.


Signs that a child might have a problem with their eyes are:
•    Difficulty making eye contact
•    Difficulty tracking moving objects
•    Constant or intermittent crossing or misalignment of one or both eyes
•    The pupils appear white
•    Red, crusty, watery or painful eyes
•    Droopy eyelids
•    Squinting often
•    Eye rubbing
•    Constant blinking
•    Eyes appear to bulge

Here are some definitions of some common terms related to the eyes:

•    Nearsightedness… Can see near but has difficulty seeing far away.
•    Farsightedness… The eyes work harder than normal to see far away and work. even harder to see close up.  High degrees of farsightedness need to be treated in children.
•    Astigmatism… A distorted image created by a misshapen cornea.
•    Glaucoma…related to elevated pressure inside the eye.
•    Lazy Eye or Amblyopia… reduced vision from lack of use.  Early detection (before age 5 is mandatory) and treatment is necessary to ensure best visual results.
So parents, please be concerned about your child’s eyes and have their eyes examined at the earliest age possible.  You will be assuring that they have all the visual tools for a proper education and enjoyment of life’s experiences.  Isn’t now a good time?

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum
Optix Family Eyecare Center
www.optixeyecare.com

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3 Tips That Will Help You Get Into Optometry School

By Matt | August 12, 2009

By: SUNY Optometry 2013 Student – Matt Geller

  1. Learn How To Express That Optometry Is Your Passion:
    There is nothing more desirable to an optometry school admissions panel than for you to be passionate about optometry. The biggest question in the minds of these distinguished individuals is “Is this person dedicated to optometry? Do they truly want this as their career?” If you are able to genuinely dictate that THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOURSELF then you have a true advantage over other students. Why is this so important? – Because an admissions panel knows that if optometry is your only option then you will go to great lengths to become a successful OD. Things like studying, passing classes, and passing the board exam are simple tasks in relation to the big picture. They know that a person with a passion and a goal cannot be taken off their purpose.
  2. Build Credibility:
    As discussed previously the Optometry school admissions department wants to know that Optometry is your passion and your true career choice. Well we all know, actions speak louder then words. Expressing your love and dedication to Optometry will only get you so far up the ladder. Schools want to see that your actions are in alignment with your words. So you need to have a well-detailed list of all your involvements in the field of Optometry and have a reason for why they have made you an exceptional pre-optometry student and why they will make you a great OD. Be able to articulate this clearly in a way that shows that your actions are direct indicators that Optometry is for you.
  3. Get Involved With An Optometrist:
    This can be anything from shadowing an optometrist to taking one out for lunch. It could involve e-mailing them, posting on optometry online forums, and even going to trade shows or seminars. In all of these situations Optometry Doctors are present and are more then willing to provide you with enlightening information. You should easily be able to shadow 5-10 doctors in all different fields of Optometry. Take notes on your interaction and bring them with you to your school interviews, not to read every last detail to the staff but as a reference to your organization and dedication. If you are lucky, a private practicing Optometrist will enjoy your dedication and your thirst for knowledge and take you under their wing and can quite possible provide you with future employment. At the very least, an OD will write you a letter of recommendation that you can add to your portfolio.

Stay focused and continue to innovate! Check back for another article soon and bookmark this blog for more great information.

-Matt Geller
www.OptixEyeCare.com

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Emergency Eye Doctor Visits!

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | August 10, 2009

Emergency Eyecare

This was a very interesting week for emergency visits to Optix.  I don’t think I can remember any time in my soon-to-be 30 years in practice that I have seen so many emergencies in one week.

  • Red eyes (conjunctivitis and broken blood vessels)
  • Dry eyes (38 year old mother)
  • Painful eyes
  • Severe headaches
  • Torn contact lens stuck under the lid
  • Sudden floating spots and flashes of light
  • Foreign bodies in the cornea (a tree trimmer)
  • Foreign bodies under the lids (an air conditioner repairman)
  • Swollen eyelids
  • Eye contusions from a fall into a chair (an elderly lady)
  • Sudden vision changes from uncontrolled diabetes (a 40 year old man)

As one can see, emergencies can come in many forms.  Fortunately, as an optometrist, my training affords me the ability to diagnose, and in most cases treat many of these emergencies.  So if the unfortunate circumstance arises that you, a friend or family member needs emergency eyecare, call my office and we will see you immediately.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum
Optix Family Eyecare Center
www.optixeyecare.com

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Sunglass Season

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | June 20, 2009

Is There Really A Sunglass Season?

It’s official.  Sunglass season is here.  But is there really a sunglass season?  The answer is: there is and there isn’t.

Ultraviolet light (UV A and UV B) is present in winter as well as summer.  Since people spend more time outdoors in summer, sunglass sales boom in spring.

Which sunglass is right for you?  Although most people concern themselves with the cosmetics of the frame, it is the lens that is the most important part of eye protection.  Not all lenses are alike.  There are sport lenses, golf or tennis lenses, biking, hiking, or skiing lenses, driving or fishing lenses and general-purpose sun lenses.

Some of the sunglass designers include Oakley which has multilayered, multicoated lenses.  Maui Jim is known for their polarized, multilayered, non-glare lenses.  Ray Ban has been the sunglass standard for many years and is probably the most well known.  Rudy Project is known for their high quality sports lenses.

Designers such as Bvlgari, Calvin Klein, Dior, Tiffany, Carrera and a host of others have made their own protective lenses in their high fashion sun wear.

Did you know that ultraviolet light exposure could be higher in the winter?  The sun is lower in the sky.  The trees are bare.  The snow is on the ground.  The glare and reflections may be higher than in warm weather.  And as we well know, where there is more sun glare, there is more ultraviolet light.  We know this because we sunburn in a shorter period of time at the beach or pool than in the backyard.  The same goes for UV glare in the winter.

More glare = more UV.

So why do more people think they only have to wear sunglasses in the warm weather?  The answer is education, education, and education.  As eyecare professionals, it is our job to educate our patients regarding UV eye protection in all seasons.  I like to think that for the last 25 years or so, my staff has been doing a good job of this.

So if you want information about which sunglass is right for you, stop by Optix Family Eyecare Center for a free consultation.  At Optix, we are very proud to be one of the largest providers of sun wear on Long Island.

Have a great summer.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

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Lasik and Golf

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | June 17, 2009

Lasik and Golf

The top professional golfers from all over the world have descended on the Bethpage Black golf course to compete in this year’s 2009 US Open.  The two things they have in common are their love for golf and a vision………. a vision to win.

Speaking of vision, did you know that Tiger Woods had Laser Vision Correction (LASIK)?

So has…

  • Tom Kite
  • Fred Funk
  • Corey Pavin
  • Steve Elkington
  • Vijay Singh
  • Jesper Parnevik
  • and a host of other PGA professional golfers.

Many of these laser vision corrected golfers are at this week’s US Open.  Most have won tour events.  But no one has won more PGA tournaments than Tiger Woods who won consecutive tournaments after his LASIK procedure.  How good do you think Tiger’s vision is?

I am asked all the time if vision can be as good as with eyeglasses or contact lenses?  The answer is a resounding yes.  Many of my patients have achieved vision better than 20/20 after LASIK.  My son had LASIK in November, 2007 and continues to enjoy excellent vision.

I will reserve talking about the newest LASIK procedures for another blog.  Suffice it to say that LASIK may not only improve your enjoyment of golf, but also of life.  No contact lenses or eyeglasses to depend on……..just clear and comfortable vision every day.

Enjoy the US Open.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

Optix Family Eyecare Center

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How To Quickly Relieve Eye Allergies

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | June 5, 2009

It’s Allergy Season

It’s allergy season….as if you didn’t know already.  You and the masses are experiencing the symptoms of the season.  Every day my patients are calling for appointments due to eye discomfort.

The main symptoms of allergy eyes are red, itchy and watery eyes.  Fortunately, there are many remedies including prescription and over the counter.  For sudden swelling, ice is a good choice.  Antihistamines, like Benedryl, are often used for allergic reactions but one has to be careful of the side effect of drowsiness.  Zyrtec, once only available by prescription, is now available over-the-counter.

Todays over-the-counter topical remedies include Zaditor (twice a day), Naphcon A (up to 4 times per day), Opcon A, Visine A, and a host of others.  One must be careful though not to abuse these meds as they can cause a reaction if over used.

Prescription medications include once a day drops like Pataday, and twice a day drops like Patanol , Optivar, and Elestat.  Other topical eye drops include mild steroids and antihistamines.

Whatever your doctor recommends, it is a good idea to continue with these drops until allergy season is over.  The end of June is usually the time to stop unless you are still symptomatic.

So try to keep your hands to yourself and away from your eyes.   Enjoy the season.

Joel Kestenbaum, OD

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Disney and Optix Family Eyecare Center

By Dr. Joel Kestenbaum | May 21, 2009

Who would think that Disney World and Optix Family Eyecare Center have something in common?  As you will read below, it’s true.

As part of an educational seminar at the Disney Institute in Orlando Florida, I recently spent 2 days behind the scenes at Disney World and Epcot.  Fifty eye doctors attended a seminar geared toward running a healthy business, treating people (patients) with kindness, treating staff with the same kindness, and enjoying life in general.  After listening to some of the best kept secrets Disney has to offer, we were taken to Disney World to observe the Disney cast (employees) on the job.  It didn’t matter if a cast member was a Disney character or street cleaner, ticket taker or food service employee, tram engineer or security guard.  All cast members have a common goal.  Their goal is to create an environment to make people happy.  The Disney system runs as precise as a Swiss watch and it’s all behind the scenes.

At Optix, our staff has a common purpose.

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE HAPPINESS BY PROVIDING QUALITY VISION SOLUTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR PATIENTS WITH THE HELP OF A FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

It’s obvious that when you go to Disney World, you expect a great time.
What is equally obvious to Optix patients is that our staff goes out of our way to ensure their satisfaction.

Just like Disney World fans return year after year, Optix patients return year after year for vision care, contact lenses and eyeglasses.

What makes Disney World different from other amusement parks is the people who create the experience.  What makes Optix different from other eyecare providers is the people who create the experience. joel-kestenbaum

I’ve always known that you have to treat people the way you would want to be treated.  That is what has made Optix so successful.  The Disney Institute didn’t teach me this, my parents did.  So what did I learn at the Disney Institute?  They confirmed something I already knew.  That is to surround yourself with good people and enjoy life to its fullest. I have a great staff, a wonderful and caring life partner named Judy, incredible children, and remarkable friends.

Disney and Optix………  Creating Happiness For People

Joel Kestenbaum OD

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  • Insurance

    Contact us regarding your vision insurance so that we can assist you in managing your plan's benefits.