Where did Dr. Neka go?!

To my dear patients,

As many of you already know, Mario and I had our first baby this year. He was born 2 months early (in early August). His name is Kian ("Kee-on") Anthony Amato. He is absolutely precious and is the light of our lives. Unfortunately, he was born with a serious and very rare birth defect known as “esophageal atresia,” in which he is missing most of his esophagus. He has been in the NICU in Denver ever since he was born. Because esophageal atresia is so rare, there is quite a bit of controversy regarding the best surgical treatment option. After months of research, discussions with various surgeons, and much prayer, my husband and I have decided to have Kian transported from Colorado Children’s Hospital to Boston Children’s Hospital and will therefore be moving to Boston for a few months with him. You see, Boston Children’s Hospital has the only clinic in the world that performs a relatively new and very complicated procedure that will induce growth of Kian’s esophagus over the course of several weeks, while he is in a medically-induced coma. This procedure, if successful, will give Kian the best chance at having a close-to-normal functioning esophagus. The entire procedure and recovery process will take, at minimum, 2 months to complete. Now, deciding to leave our life and business here in Longmont for a few months was not an easy decision to make. There is certainly a degree of discomfort that comes along with having our medically fragile newborn transported on a private air ambulance across the country, and not knowing where we will be living for the next few months. However, my husband and I feel this is the sacrifice we need to make for the future health and quality of life of our son.

Though I will miss you all while I'm away for a few months, know that you will be well taken care of. Julie and Brittany are two of the most reliable, intelligent, and kind-hearted people I have ever met and they will continue to take great care of you and your eyecare needs while I am out of the office. Recently, I was very fortunate to have the pleasure of meeting the warm and bubbly Dr. Adriana Garcia. She is an optometrist who recently moved back here from Illinois (she is a CSU grad), and has been kind enough to offer to take over for me during this stressful time in my life. I have faith that she will take great care of you during my leave of absence.

Now, some of you have asked me if there is anything you can do to help me at this time. A few friends have offered to set up a “go-fund-me” account for all the medical and business expenses that we will incur over the next few months. That is not necessary. Honestly, the main thing that helps is the continued support of our small business. Most of you know that we opened Sight Eyecare just 2 years ago. Being a business owner has not always been easy and there are certainly financial burdens that come along with leaving the practice for several months. However, I am still hopeful that we will continue to thrive, thanks to patients like you who continue to support family-owned businesses like ours. So I thank you for your continued support and business, even while I am away. Thank you so much for understanding my reasons for being unavailable for the next few months. I look forward to seeing you all when I return to Longmont, which will hopefully be by the end of the year. Kian looks forward to meeting you all soon as well! :)

Sincerely,

Dr. Neka Amato

Macular Degeneration in a nutshell

Macular degeneration is a disease of the central retina, and is more common over the age of 65. In its early stages, there are no symptoms. If it progresses, it can cause central vision loss. It does have the potential to lead to permanent blindness. Macular degeneration is something that can be diagnosed by your optometrist at your yearly eye exam. In its early stages, certain lifestyle changes are recommended to prevent progression (including diet changes, specific vitamin recommendations, and smoking cessation). In its more severe form, eye surgery is generally recommended to prevent progression. Retinal photos can be taken at our office to monitor progression. 
 

The reason why you should NOT swim with contact lenses in your eyes

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a relatively rare eye disease that can occur in contact lens wearers, caused by an amoeba that can be found in lake water, pool water, ocean water, soil, and even tap water. It is difficult to treat and therefore often leads to permanent vision loss. How can you prevent this disease from occurring? By following proper contact lens hygiene, of course! This includes replacing your contact lens case at least every 3 months, maintaining proper contact lens cleaning/storage habits, using a doctor-recommended contact lens solution, not reusing contact lens solution, and not swimming or showering with your contact lenses in your eyes.

Dr. Neka was featured in the "Inspiring Women in Business" section in the Longmont Times Call!

Why do newborns sleep just fine with the lights on?!

Your baby's eyes are not very sensitive to light in the first month of life. In fact, the amount of light required for a 1-month-old infant to be aware that light is present (called the light detection threshold) is 50 times higher than that of an adult. So it's okay to leave some lights on in the nursery! It won't affect their ability to sleep, and it may help keep you from running into walls when you go in to check on them!

I know you're ready for summer. But are your eyes ready?

Summer is soon approaching! The kiddos are now out of school and pool/hiking season is about to commence! Just like your skin can burn when exposed to the sun's harmful rays, your eyes can suffer as well. Luckily, we offer a wide range of options for sun protection. The most popular option is for us to make you a separate pair of prescription sunglasses. Most vision insurance companies will give you a nice discount on this additional pair of Rx sunglasses, since protecting the eyes from harmful UV light is so important. The brands we carry include Rayban, Oakley, Coach, Kate Spade, Oliver Peoples, and Bebe, though actually any ophthalmic frame can be converted into a prescription sunglass. We recommend going with polarized sun lenses when possible, as the polarization will provide you with extra protection from sun and glare, which is especially important with such sports as fly fishing.

Don't like the idea of having a separate pair of glasses just for the outdoors? Sure. There are 2 other options available to you. First, there is the option to have your clear ophthalmic lenses made into "transitions" lenses, which makes the lenses turn into sunglasses as soon as you step outdoors. The second option is to have us make you a pair of magnetic sun clips, which are custom-designed to snap onto your new glasses. If you are wondering what the best option is for you, feel free to stop in and talk to us! Based on your daily activities, sporting activities, and visual needs, we would be happen to recommend what we feel is the best choice for you.

The TOP FIVE foods for EYE health!

It is a well known fact that carrots are good for the eyes. However, are there other foods that may be even better? In recent years, there has been more research done on the relationship between nutrition and eye health. Here, I hope to provide you with a brief summary of some of the most powerful foods that you can eat to protect your baby blues through the years.

1) Leafy Green Vegetables

Greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts are packed full of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that greatly reduce your risk of macular degeneration, an eye disease that can lead to blindness. Many Americans are low in these antioxidants, which are only obtained through diet. Can’t stand the taste of uncooked kale or spinach? Try adding them to a smoothie with your favorite fruits, for a nutrient-packed breakfast.

2)   Bell peppers

Just one yellow or orange pepper gives you about 4 times more Vitamin C than an orange! Vitamin C has been shown to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration as well as slow the onset of cataracts. Other great sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, and kiwi. Next time you make a salad, why not put some chopped bell peppers and strawberries on top? Delicious!

3)   Nuts and seeds

Almonds make a delicious mid-day snack and are rich in Vitamin E and zinc, both of which can protect your eyes from free radical damage. Other great sources of Vitamin E and Zinc include sunflower seeds and peanuts.

4)   Salmon

Those who eat fish rich in Omega-3s such as salmon, tuna, and halibut 2-3 times a week are at a lower risk for developing macular degeneration down the road. Additionally, these foods help provide relief from dry eyes. For the vegetarians out there, other great sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids include flax seeds, soybeans, and walnuts.

5)   Sweet potatoes

Providing even more Vitamin A than carrots, sweet potatoes help protect against dry eyes and night blindness. Other great sources of Vitamin A include mangoes, peaches, and yellow squash.

Though most eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration occur in the later years of life, the processes that lead to their development begin much earlier. A lifetime of good health will yield its benefits down the road, and it is never too late to take the first step into a healthy lifestyle. A multivitamin can provide you with some of the vitamins I mentioned, but the best source is through diet. So, fill your plate with variety and color. Here’s to years of great health!

Your sunglasses may be your future credit card?!

Just this week, Visa revealed a prototype pair of sunglasses that can be used like a credit card. A small chip resides in one of the arms and would be linked to your Visa account. So, rather than swiping a card, you would simply tap the payment terminal to complete the transaction. Visa's brand/marketing officer stated that it "ties back to our tagline of everywhere you want to be." These sunglasses aren't available for sale yet, as Visa is still testing the waters to get a feel for demand. Now the pressure is REALLY on to NOT lose your sunglasses! ;)