Dr. Bladh, O.D. Optometry Inc.

If you've spent time at Dr. Bladh's office, you know what anti-reflective (A/R) coating is and does. Back in the early days of optometry, A/R coating was primarily used to get rid of glare when taking pictures and get a clearer view of the world through your lenses. Both solid reasons to commit to adding this product onto your glasses, but there were some flaws. Typically, the lenses were hard to keep clean and often times the coating would peel after several months so scientists went back to the lab and developed newer technology to combat those problems. After perfecting the anti-reflective product, laboratories started to add other benefits to the coating (insert blue-light filters). The most recent advancement has come with the recent COVID-19 pandemic as a way to defend your eyes from harmful blue light rays as well as BACTERIA! Yes you read that correctly; the new blue-light A/R coating has been ISO-certified as anti-bacterial technology. Sound like a gimm...

Vision Service Plan (VSP) members already have the backing of one of the strongest vision insurance companies in the United States. There are several plans that VSP offers, but one that gets unnoticed the most is their Primary EyeCare plan. This plan allows patients to visit one of the participating VSP doctors for acute and sometimes chronic diagnosis. Think pinkeye, infections, foreign body removal , etc. Instead of waiting for hours at urgent care or the ER to visit someone who might see an eye problem twice in the month, you can instead visit Dr. Bladh, who sees almost 2 eye problems per day. Not only is the experience alone worth the PEC plan, the time you wait to see Dr. Bladh is less than half the time you would wait to see an inexperienced doc at urgent care!  The only problem with the PEC plan under VSPs umbrella of options is the fact that most employers opt out of these services and figure you can go see your primary care physician instead. Well, with the r...

Everyone seems to be staring at a screen these days, whether their computer, their smartphone or another digital device. The stress it puts on your eyes can cause a condition called "digital eye strain" (DES) or "computer vision syndrome" (CVS) . Symptoms include eye fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, red eyes, and eye twitching. How To Protect Your Eyes While You Work Below are a few things you can do to lower your risk or mitigate any discomfort associated with DES. 1. See your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent or treat symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome. During your eye doctor’s appointment, make sure to speak with Dr. Bladh about your working habits, including the frequency and length of time you use a computer and other devices at work and at home. If you get a chance before you come, measure the distance between your eyes and your comp...

Anyone who has purchased a pair of sunglasses from Dr. Bladh OD knows that we make sure you look good in what you purchase and sure, sunglasses might add the final touches to your chic ensemble, but the real reason to purchase your shades is to protect your eyes from the sun. Not only does glare from the sun make it difficult to see, but the UV rays it reflects can cause permanent damage to your eyes and vision. You want to make sure your sunglasses offer optimal protection, fit, comfort and of course, the best possible vision. Here are some things to consider when purchasing your next pair. UV Protection There are two types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB . UVA rays are less intense yet more prevalent than UVB rays, making up 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth. They have been linked to skin cancer, aging and the development of cataracts. UVB rays are very dangerous to the eyes and are the primary cause of sunburns and cancer. While they are dangerous year r...

If you want strong, healthy eyes and clear vision for life, a major step you can take is to protect your eyes from UV radiation.  Wearing proper eye protection from the sun reduces the risk of a number of eye diseases and other conditions that are caused or worsened by UV exposure. Eye Diseases Linked to UV Exposure UV exposure has been linked to a number of serious eye diseases including macular degeneration and cataracts. Macular Degeneration Macular degeneration  is a condition in which the macula of the eye breaks down, leading to a loss of central vision and is a leading cause of age-related vision loss.  Macular degeneration develops over time so a lifetime of exposure to UV can contribute it’s likelihood. Cataracts Cataracts  occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes clouded, resulting in blurred vision and eventually blindness. The lens is responsible for focusing the light that comes into the eye, allowing clear vision. Cataracts can be...

We all experience the occasional  eyelid twitch , which is when the muscle of the eyelid spasms involuntarily. Usually, it comes and goes without intervention and while sure, it can be irritating, is a twitching eyelid ever something to be concerned about? An eyelid twitch, also known as a myokymia, can affect the upper or lower lid and usually lasts for at least a few seconds and then may continue off and on for a few minutes. Usually unpredictable, twitching episodes can last several days and sometimes they may go away and then return weeks or months later. Causes of Eyelid Twitching Although they may be bothersome, most eyelid twitches are nothing to cause concern and usually resolve on their own. However, in some rare cases, they may be a sign of a more serious problem, especially if they are accompanied by other symptoms - we will discuss this further below. Some known causes of eyelid twitches include: Fatigue or lack of sleep Stress Eye irritation or dry e...

Infant Eyesight Despite nine months of growth in utero, babies are not born with fully developed eyes and vision - just like they can't walk or talk yet. Over the first few months of life, their visual systems continue to progress, stimulated by their surroundings. Babies will develop the ability to track objects, focus their eyes, and move them like a team. Their visual acuity will improve and they will gradually be able to see more colors. They will also form the neural connections that will allow them to process what they see, to understand and interact with the world around them.Healthy eyes and good vision are necessary for proper and timely progress; ocular or visual problems can lead to developmental delays. So how do you know if your infant is developing normally? What can you do to ensure your baby's eye health and vision are on track? While infant eye problems are not common, here are some steps you can take to ensure your child's eyes are healthy. ...

It’s that time of the year again. Each February, the optometric community bands together to create awareness about  age-related macular degeneration (AMD) . AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people 50 years and older; early detection plays a key role in the outcome of the disease. That’s why bringing awareness to the disease and its risk factors is so important. Macular degeneration  is a disease that damages the macula, which is a small area in the center of the retina responsible for sharp, clear central vision. The disease comes in two forms, wet AMD and dry AMD. The most common form, dry AMD, which affects around 80% of AMD patients, is when the macula gradually thins, and small clusters of protein called drusen begin to grow. Drusen result from cells in the macula that cannot rid themselves of metabolic waste called lipofuscin. The lipofuscin accumulates as drusen which causes a gradual vision decline. Dry AMD can turn into wet AMD when abnormal new b...

If you've made it this far, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are one of the few to have found your solution to the absurd contact lens prices out there. For years you have heard about how great a deal it is to buy a year supply and get a rebate. At first it was a mail in rebate and you were lucky to see the $30 check come in the mail within 3 months. I remember getting a rebate check 6 months later and had completely forgotten that I even sent it in! How many of us, year after year, have every intention of submitting that rebate, but year after year, completely forgot to do it. Ever started the process, get busy with a call, or that toddler won't let you have 5 minutes to fill out the forms and send it in? Dr. Bladh understands completely how you feel! For this reason we have started our own monthly subscription service in order to take the pain out of contact lenses for good! Contact lenses are God's gift to the optical world and we want to share that gift with everyone! I...

Every good pair of eyes eventually gets old, and with age comes a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia, which usually begins to set in some time around 40, occurs when the lens of the eye begins to stiffen, making near vision (such as reading books, menus, and computer screens) blurry. You may have this age-related farsightedness if you notice yourself holding the newspaper further and further away in order to make out the words, and you may begin to experience headaches or eyestrain as well. The good news is, presbyopia is very common. It happens to most of us eventually and these days there are a number of good options to correct it. First of all, let’s take a look at what causes the condition. What Causes Presbyopia? As the eye ages, the natural lens begins to lose its elasticity as the focusing muscles (the ciliary muscles) surrounding the lens have difficulty changing the shape of the lens. The lens is responsible for focusing light that comes into the eye ...

We are so happy to announce that we have become the vision provider of choice for the Lincoln Vision Connect network of Lincoln Financial Group ! With 81,000 members actively participating in this current vision plan we have increased our training and staffing capability in order to accommodate this growing population. In an effort to minimize our carbon footprint we have worked out a way with Lincoln Financial to only require the name and DOB of you, the patient, so you are not required to print off anything and we can look up your eligibility electronically. Lincoln provides a full-featured vision plan that you are able to take advantage of coming to Dr. Bladh's office . Having an annual eye exam is part of your sustainable overall health. Did you know that almost 80% of what your brain processes comes directly from your eyes? The comedy sketch from Brian Regan always comes to mind when I think about the importance of seeing clearly and making sure your visual health is...

Light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, is a condition in which bright light - either natural sunlight or artificial light -  can cause significant discomfort, pain and intolerance. People that experience light sensitivity will find themselves needing to close their eyes or squint when exposed to light and often experience headaches and nausea as well.  In mild cases, the discomfort accompanies exposure to bright lights or harsh sunlight, but in severe cases even a small amount of light can cause pain and discomfort. Photophobia is more common in individuals with light eyes. This is because the greater amounts of pigment in darker eyes help to protect the eye from the harsh rays of light. The darker pigment of the iris and choroid absorbs the light, rather than reflecting the light and causing internal reflection or glare experienced by those with lighter eyes. People with albinism, which is a total lack of eye pigment, also experience significant light sensi...

A black eye , also known as a periorbital hematoma, is usually not an injury of the actual eye (which is why it is called “periorbital”- around the eye). It typically occurs when there is an injury to the face or the eye socket which causes bleeding beneath the skin and bruising. The term, “black eye” comes from the dark coloring of the bruising that occurs underneath the skin around the eye. When a blunt force hits the eye socket, this can cause capillaries in the area to burst, causing hemorrha ging, also known as a hematoma. This blood can accumulate in the eye socket and as it begins to be reabsorbed into the surrounding tissues, the colors of the bruising begin to change. That’s why you will often notice the coloring of the black eye to go from a dark purplish-red color to brownish and then yellow. Sometimes along with the external bruising, you might also notice a small amount of bleeding on the white surface of the eye, which is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Thi...

We understand the patient-doctor relationship, wherein us as doctors are more concerned about the health of the eyes and the majority of our patients are more concerned about looking good in what they wear. So we have been able to offer the best of both worlds and combine these different ways of thinking with what we do. This is one of the main reasons we are putting such a big emphasis on making sure each of our patients knows about June 27th, NATIONAL SUNGLASSES DAY (I really wish we could have you read it with a booming echo instead of thinking we're just yelling via this blog post in all caps)! On a more serious note, we are offering 25% off for anyone who comes into the office and purchases sunglasses on 6/27. All of our frames have UV protection and are ensured to protect you from the sun while still making you look good! With brands like Ray-Ban , Tom Ford, Tiffany & Co and Oakley to name a few, you're sure to find something that you love. We...