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Quality Services |
Our Services |
At Columbia Point Vision we strive to provide you the very best in eye care and eyewear. Our routine eye examination consists of:
- A thorough medical and eye health history
- Blood pressure measurement
- Peripheral vision evaluation
- Testing for stereopsis (how the eyes work together)
- Color vision testing
- Neurological testing
- Refraction (determines the appropriate prescription for you)
- Internal and external evaluation of your eye health
- Glaucoma screening
In addition to routine eye examinations we also provide the following:- Digital retinal photography
- GDx laser evaluation of the optic nerve and nerve fiber layer
- Fitting and evaluation of all types of contact lenses including bifocal contact lenses
- Non surgical treatment for clear vision without contact lenses or glasses
- Diagnosis and management of eye diseases and conditions such as:
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Iritis
- Keratitis
- Keratoconus
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
- Dry eyes
- Diabetic eye disease
- Hypertensive eye disease
- Removal of corneal and conjunctival foreign bodies
- Pre and postoperative care for ocular surgeries including LASIK and PRK
- Referral to ocular surgeons when appropriate
- Nutritional recommendations for various ocular conditions such as macular degeneration and dry eyes
- 24 hour emergency eyecare
Our dispensary has hundreds of frames from several top designers in many different styles. Allow our experts to assist you in choosing the perfect frame and lens combinations to satisfy all your visual needs.We are providers for many vision as well as medical insurance plans. Please call our insurance experts for any billing questions. We will be happy to bill your insurance if we are providers or provide you with all you need to submit it yourself if we are not. Safety Eyewear provider for: - U.S.Safety
- Fluor Daniel Hanford
- Battelle
- CH2MHill
- Bechtel
- A.O. Safety
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Dry Eye |
Artificial tears and lubricants offer temporary relief from the symptoms of dry eye which typically include scratchy, burning eyes. Punctal plugs which close off the tear drainage ducts sometimes offer more lasting relief. However, neither approach addresses the real problem which is that the eyes are not producing enough good quality tears. The following nutritional recommendations aid the body in producing more and better tears.
Nutritional Recommendations
Flax oil or evening primrose oil in capsule
form--2 gms/day [avoid omega-3 oils if nursing, if
using anticoagulants (eg warfarin, aspirin), if have
type 2 diabetes, and children should not use]
Maxlife CoQ10 formula (by TwinLab)--2
capsules/day
Avoid use of margarines, fried foods, saturated
fats and nutrasweet
Daily Supplements
20,000 to 40,000 units vitamin A as beta
carotene
1000 mg vitamin C
1000 mg bioflavinoids as quercetin
25 mg B2
50-75 mg B6
15-25 mg zinc
500-1000 mg omega 3 oils (flax oil is a good
source)
Be careful of medications that cause dryness
antihistamines
atropine, scopolamine
vitamin A analogs (isotretinoin)
diuretics
codeine
decongestants(sudafed)
marijuana
beta blockers
tranquilizers (elavil, valium, diazepam)
niacin
morphine
cancer drugs
decongestant eye drops
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Macular Degeneration |
At present there is no effective cure for macular degeneration. The best treatment is prevention. The following steps are recommended to stop or slow the progression of macular degeneration:
Increase lutein intake
eat 3 - 5 1/2 cup servings of spinach, kale
or collard greens per week
eat 5 - 6 servings of fresh fruit and
vegetables per day
take lutein supplements up to 6 mg/day (as
little as 2 mg/day has been found to be
therapeutic in some cases)
Increase glutathione levels
take 1000 mg of vitamin C/day
drink herbal milk
eat sulfur rich foods--e.g. asparagus,
garlic, onions, eggs
Increase capillary strength
take > 100 mg/day of bilberry, grape seed,
or cranberry extracts
Decrease exposure to UV and blue sunlight
wear glasses with a UV filter
wear a broad brimmed hat outdoors
Stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake
Avoid excessive use of blood thinners like
aspirin and ibuprofen
Reduce caffeine intake (caffeine constricts
blood vessels and reduces retinal blood flow)
Take daily nutritional supplements
20,000 - 40,000 units of vitamin A
500 - 1000 mg omega 3 oil
100 mg N-acetyl cysteine
100 micrograms selenium
1000 - 3000 mg bioflavinoids from quercetin,
bilberry, or ginko biloba
400 - 800 units vitamin E
100 mg garlic
15 - 25 mg zinc
100 mg amino acid taurine
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Cataracts |
Cataract formation is a natural consequence of the aging process. However with proper protection and good nutrition it is possible to slow their development and occasionally reverse their formation.
Risk Factors:
UV rays
Photosensitizing medications--e.g.. psoralens,
thiazides, sulfa, tetracycline
Infrared heat rays
Toxic substances--e.g.. mercury, ethylene gas
High blood sugar
Drugs--e.g.. steroids
Smoking
Alcohol
Undernutrition
Trauma, electric shock, ionizing radiation,
x-rays
Dehydration
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment
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Preventive Therapy:
Protection from UV
wear glasses with UV filtering protection
wear a broad brimmed hat outdoors
Antioxidant therapy (daily dosages)
400 - 800 units vit E -500 - 1000 mg vit C
10,000 - 25,000 units vit A as beta carotene
15-25 mg zinc -100 mg L-cysteine or
N-acetyl-cystein
250 mg rutin (a bioflavinoid)
1000 - 3000 mg quercetin (a bioflavinoid) to
prevent diabetic cataracts
200 mcg chromium to control blood sugar
fluctuations
25 -50 mg vit B12
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Stop smoking and drinking
Increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables
Control blood sugar levels
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Diabetic Eye Diseases |
Diabetes of long standing duration, especially more than 5 years, may cause retinal swelling(edema), growth of abnormal retinal blood vessels (neovascularization) and/or retinal hemorrhage.
Good nutritition and exercise can be helpful in controlling diabetic eye diseases.
As always the best source of nutrients is a good diet, unfortunately very few of us eat properly and get all the nutrients we need, if you fall is this category then nutritional supplements can be a good idea.
Exercise
30 minute brisk walk daily
lose weight. Diabetes is as common as a
42inch waist line.
Nutrition
decrease fat intake to 10% (most americans
intake 40% fat)
minimize the use of refined sugars
eat foods rich in bioflavinoids
(blueberries, cherries, rasberries, red onions)
supplements (daily doses)
vit C--1000 mg
vit B complex
vit A--20,000-40,000 units
vit E 250-400 units (d-alpha form
(natural), not dl-alpha (synthetic))
bioflavinoids--1000-5000 mg (especially
quercetin, bilberry*)
magnesium--250-400 mg at bedtime
Avoid
alcohol
tobacco
lard, margarine and fried foods
*bilberry is routinely prescribed in europe and
especially Germany to prevent diabetic retinopathy
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Glaucoma |
Glaucoma is an eye disease characterized by the presence of optic nerve damage and the gradual loss of peripheral vision with potential for total blindness without pain or other symptoms. Underlying factors involved in glaucoma may be overall poor health, obesity, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, diabetes, vascular (blood vessel) disease, and changes within the eyes caused by advancing age, as well allergies and digestive problems.
Risk factors that increase the chances of developing glaucoma include the following:
General:
anxiety/stress
obesity
lack of exercise
inverted body positions
tight collars around necks (neckties too
tight)
exposure to heavy metals
cigarette smoking
Systemic factors:
high blood pressure
atherosclerosis
cerebrovascular disease
diabetes
allergy
thyroid disease
peripheral vascular disease
coronary artery disease
low blood pressure
Nutrition and water balance:
excessive fluid intake (more than 8 ounces
per hour)
Ocular factors:
high myopia
narrow drainage openings
hemorrhage of optic nerve
exfoliation syndrome
chronic eye and lid allergy
pigment loss from the iris
occlusion of central retinal vein
abnormal optic nerve shape
Preventive measures:
maintain good cardiovascular health
limit caffeine intake
avoid tobacco
exercise regularly
Nutrition (daily recommendation):
limit fat intake to 10% of diet
Beta carotene = 25,000 units vit A
Omega 3 oils, cod liver or flax (500-2500 mg
at bedtime)
Vit B complex to include thiamin,
riboflavin, niacin and vit B6(25-50mg) and
vitamin B12(500-1500 micrograms)
Zinc(15-25 mg)
Garlic(500-1000mg)
Quercetin or rutin (1000-3000 mg)
Vit E (400 units)
Vit C (1000 mg)
**The objective of nutritional supplements is to clean
out congested blood vessels in the eyes
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Night Blindness |
Very few people are truly night blind. Most people who say the are night blind will benefit from an updated prescription to optimize focusing. For people with cataracts, surgery is likely the best option. In some cases nutritional deficiencies reduce night vision. For these people the following may be helpful.
Nutritional Recommendations
Night blindness is often the first sign of
vitamin A deficiency.
People who have undergone intestinal bypass
surgery or who have cirrhosis of the liver are prone
to night blindness due to interference with vitamin
A metabolism. Zinc is required to release vitamin A
from the liver.
Bilberry was found to improve night vision by
British pilots during WWII, since then a number of
medical reports confirm that bilberry improves night
vision.
Wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight can help
the eyes adapt quicker when dusk occurs
Daily Supplements
20,000 to 40,000 units vitamin A as beta
carotene
1000 mg vitamin C
25 mg zinc
1000-3000 mg bilberry
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Avoid smoking and high intake of alcohol
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Vitamin & Mineral Sources |
Vitamin A
orange and yellow vegetables such as yams,
carrots and sweet potatoes
Vitamin B's
brewers yeast, wheat germ, beans, whole grains,
halibut, salmon, tuna, almonds, peanuts, sun flower
seeds, avacados, bananas, bran, carrots, rice,
soybeans, lentils, peas, green leafy vegetables
Vitamin C
papayas, oranges, lemons, watermelon
Vitamin D
sunshine, cod liver oil, salmon
Vitamin E
wheat germ, nuts
Selenium
garlic, onions, seafood, celery, bran, broccoli,
cabbage, yeast
Magnesium
almonds, fish, soybeans, wheat germ, leafy green
vegetables
Zinc
small amounts in meats
Bioflavinoids(quercetin, rutin, bilberry, ginko
biloba, pycnogenol, citrus, hesperidin)
cherries, blueberries, citrus fruits, buckwheat,
red onions
Coenzyme Q10
beef
Omega-6 Fats
evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, borage,
black currant seed, human mother's milk
Omega-3 Fats
cold water fish--salmon, tuna, halibut,
mackerel, cod; flax seed oil
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Honored Insurance Plans |
Asuris
Premera
Northstar
Lifewise
First Choice
Benesight
Zenith
Cigna
Health Comp
United Health Care
Uniform
L&I
Pacific Vision
VSP
NW Sheetmetal
Medicare
WAUSAU
Aetna
William Earhart
CHPW
and many others
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