Casella Eye Center

Making It All Count

ben — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:34:09 +0000

The visual system is a complex and multifactorial enigma, parts of which we are just beginning to explore. When we refract patients (check them for new glasses or contact lens prescriptions), we take precise measurements of their visual acuity, function, and defocus (among other aspects). The values we come up with are all important, but what’s really important is what happens when the patient puts on the new pair of glasses and walks out the door and into the real world.

The Visioffice, a novel instrument provided by Essilor (the largest optical lens company on the planet), allows us to take “real world” measurements of how a patient behaves visually. For instance, is a particular patient more of a “head turner” or an “eye turner”? Does he or she have a slight head cape to the right or left? What are the angles of the frame relative to his or her head position? As the optics of lenses get more and more sophisticated, these measurements matter more and more. The Visioffice instrument accomplishes these measurements in just a couple of minutes, and we’re very fortunate and thankful to Essilor for providing this new science to us. Stop in today and let us show you how precisely correct we can now make your visual world.

Transitions Now Better Than Ever

ben — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:26:24 +0000

Transitions lenses are light-activated lenses that turn dark in bright light. This technology has been around for several years, but now Transitions lenses are available for virtually all walks of life, from avid outdoors people to those who spend most of the day inside. Transitions lenses protect from UV radiation, as well as provide a comfortable light level for almost all activities of daily living. Call us or pop in if you want a demo so that you can “see” the difference that Transitions lenses make!

emPower lenses are here!!!

ben — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:37:11 +0000

The emPower lenses have arrived at Casella Eye Center!!! These new electronic multifocal lenses will arrive in our optical in early fall, and they are poised to change how we think about using glasses to focus. The creators of the emPower Lens realize that today’s society, with its ever-evolving technological advances, mandates a full and dynamic range of clear vision. The advent of the progressive lens brought about a whole new paradigm for the visual correction of patients with presbyopia (a universal condition causing a diminished focusing ability that usually comes on in one’s early 40’s). Now, a new technology has given way to another fundamental shift in how we view lens optics: instant manipulation of lens power by means of an electric current.

Here’s how it works: A transparent layer of liquid crystals within the emPower Lens undergoes a change in its index of refraction (or focusing power) with an automatic current of electricity from a micro-battery within the frame. The process seems simple enough, but the notion of accomplishing this in eyewear that looks and feels and weighs the same as a conventional pair of glasses is quite a complex and multifactorial achievement. We have personally tried these lenses, and they are truly superior for those with lifestyles demanding a dynamic range of clear vision. Whether working on a computer, reading, seeing a golf ball, or anything in between, these lenses can accomplish virtually any visual demand through use of the absolute newest optical technology available. Come get emPowered today!

When Time’s a Factor

ben — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:37:28 +0000

The advent of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography, or SD-OCT, has given us the ability to perform in vivo ( or “in the body”) histology of the tissues of the human eye with a resolution down to just a few microns — a tremendous feat that has led to key developments in the understanding of certain ocular diseases. This case is that of a young female who presented to our clinic with a shadow in her left eye’s vision. We discovered a retinal detachment in that eye, and we performed an OCT to determine how much of her macula (the part of the retina that gives central vision) was involved. As you can see in the image, her retina is detached just about halfway through her macula, leaving the other half flat and attached. Remarkably, she still had 20/20 vision in that eye! We knew that if the detachment had spread just a few more microns, then that 20/20 vision was going to go much further south, so we arranged for her to have the detachment repaired immediately. She did great in surgery, and, a full year later, still has 20/20 vision.

More than Seeing Clearly

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:45:06 +0000

Most people know hypertension, or high blood pressure, as the “silent killer.” It can build for decades with little to no symptoms and can cause irreversible damage and even death if left untreated. However, most people do not think of glaucoma as the “silent blinder,” but it can build for decades and cause irreversible damage and even total (lights out) blindness if left untreated. Most health care professionals agree that checking someone’s blood pressure is one of the biggest favors one can do for another. Checking someone’s eye pressure is just as easy and just as noninvasive! Glaucoma can occur in the absence of high eye pressure, just as cardiovascular damage can occur in the absence of hypertension. So, a comprehensive eye examination is needed to check for both its existence and its risk factors, the biggest of which is high eye pressure. In short, good vision and comfortable eyes do not necessarily signify good ocular health, so regular eye care is needed to help ensure a lifetime of seeing all that Earth has to offer.

The Enigmatic “Dry Eye”

ben — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:13:49 +0000

Dry Eye Syndrome has made its way to the forefront of chronic eye disease in the past few years (thanks in part to new etiological discoveries yielding novel treatment strategies — and the ever-aging population). However, I have very few patients actually complain of their eyes feeling “dry”. Most patients with dry eyes will complain of excess tearing, or watery eyes. This is an interesting phenomenon known as “paradoxical tearing”. Here’s a simple step-by-step explanation for how this happens: A patient’s tears don’t function properly — The ocular surfaces get dry — The eyes and brain react by secreting more tears — These are the type of tears secreted when a person yawns or cries (the type that “run”). In short, the first sign of a “dry” eye is usually a “wet” eye. In most cases, we are able to restore a patient’s natural tear physiology and/or help him or her make more of the correct kind of tears, along with their correct components. The key to this is an early and accurate diagnosis, as there are several “flavors” of Dry Eye Disease out there — each one treated a bit differently from the others.

Buddy Holly

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:42:52 +0000

Celebrities have been sporting specs for thousands of years – the earliest examples date back 2000 years to Imperial China. But Buddy Holly did something no other bespectacled celeb had managed to do. Perhaps it was his innovative take on American music, perhaps it was his less-is-more approach to eyewear. Whatever the reason, the late, great rocker made wearing glasses a status symbol rather than a necessity.

da Vinci

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:46:42 +0000

“The eyes are the gateway to the soul.” Was Herman Melville simply stating the obvious with this
famous quote, or was he onto something a bit more — for lack of a less Woody Allen-esque term –
metaphysical? Whatever the case may be, staring at the Mona Lisa today probably has an equally
stirring yet hypnotic effect as it did when it was first unveiled in the early 1500’s. Interestingly, people
are usually so captivated by her eyes that they totally miss the fact that the horizon is unevenly split on
her right and left side. Da Vinci was sure to have had a good laugh at this common oversight, but, even
in the avant-garde art world in which we live, the eyes are what we are drawn to mostly and more often
than any other aspect of a work. We relate to them, almost as if in some sort of thought-driven
dialogue. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the eyes and vision continue to be one of the most
philosophical aspects in the scientific arena today, just as they were in Da Vinci’s paradigm. There
truly is an art to every science.

Johnny Depp

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:44:54 +0000

From Johnny Depp to Fergie, celebrity choice for designer eye wear continues to hinge on bold and noticeable rather than sleek and subtle. It’s almost as though glasses are accomplishing what purses did in the 80’s 90’s: wear your personality on your face.Looking at the latest Rayban and Coach designs for eye wear reveals that the designers are pushing this cultural milieu on to the mainstream, as well. In other words, as far as designer eye wear is concerned, big is the new small. Thankfully, it’s not the 70’s all over again (some fashion concepts are just unforgiveable). However, you may want to go ahead and pull out those old wayfarer sunglasses (you know, the ones upstairs in the same box as those shirts with the alligators on them). You never know what’ll come back around.

A site for sore eyes

admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:21:46 +0000

Welcome to the new digital home of Casella Eye Center. At Casella, we’re proud to be part of the Augusta community, of our long history here and the generations of families that have chose to see a Dr. Casella for three generations. That’s why this site has been designed as a place where patients can learn about eye health as well as the doctors they have entrusted their precious sense of sight to.

Come on in. Take a look and see.