Blind and Low Vision in Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area

Blindness rehabilitation is specialized training designed to teach a person who is blind or visually impaired adapted techniques to live and work in a sighted world. Whether a person is looking to return to work, maintain current employment, or attempting to maintain independence, learning these adapted techniques are essential.

Rehabilitation Counseling - A Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind can assist a person with uncorrectable vision loss in many ways. Many of our clients tell us that their eye doctor one day informed them that their vision loss was permanent and there was nothing else they could do. While this may have been true from a medical point of view, there is much that can be done with the proper counseling and rehabilitation. A Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind can help the individual to identify the resources available. They can also perform a comprehensive needs assessment to identify all barriers and together, they can develop a plan to overcome the obstacles one by one. While individual needs are different, some of the common components of a successful rehabilitation plan include the following:

Low Vision Evaluation – This is a specific type of eye examination performed by an optometrist who is specifically credentialed to perform low vision evaluations. They often work in conjunction with a Low Vision Therapist who takes the findings of the Low Vision Optometrist and assists the individual to identify and train on the right devices and learn proper viewing techniques to maximize remaining vision. Many people find that they can read materials again in a modified way.

Braille Instruction – Braille is a series of 6 raised dots that enables a person who is blind or with very low vision to read again with the use of their fingertips. Braille is just as relevant today as it was when it was invented by Louis Braille many years ago. Electronic devices are very handy, but they do not replace the functionality of Braille.

Vision Rehabilitation Therapy – When a person loses vision, simple everyday tasks can become very difficult to perform. These activities like shaving, applying make-up, making a phone call, using a stove safely, measuring ingredients for a favorite recipe, pouring a hot cup of coffee, using a washer and dryer and hundreds of other everyday tasks are challenging to accomplish without vision. However, with the proper training from a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, these and most others are all able attainable

Orientation and Mobility Instruction – Learning to travel safely in your environment is also a key component to independence and employment. When a person loses their sight, it is critically important that they learn how to safely navigate their environment and stay oriented to their surroundings. With the training of an Orientation and Mobility Specialist, people who are blind or living with low vision can learn how to safely walk their neighborhood, cross streets, navigate a college campus, use the transit systems and so much more.

Assistive Work Technology Evaluation – An Assistive Work Technology evaluation is the key to opening the world of technological possibilities for people with vision loss. While technology does not remove all barriers, when combined with the skills training mentioned previously, technology can be instrumental in assisting someone to become fully independent and a productive member of society.

Technology Access Training – Technology can be very instrumental to overcoming many of the barriers encountered by a person with vision loss. Today’s technology allows a blind person to read books, use a computer, identify colors, identify denominations of money, scan bar codes to obtain product information, pay bills, and so much more. With the proper and training, vision loss can be accommodated to overcome most barriers.

Source: Blind and Low Vision

Eye Allergy Season at Evolutionary Eye Care in Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area

Ah, the wonders of spring. Flowers are blooming, grass is growing, and seasonal allergies are wreaking havoc on all of my patients. Here are some suggestions as to what you can do to minimize the effects of these seasonal allergies:


Take an "over the counter" anti-histamine. These come in "drowsy" and "non-drowsy" versions. The "drowsy" products are the strongest and most effective, but they can make you feel like it's nap time. 

Prepare for your outing (golf, hike, etc.) in advance by pre-medicating either with a systemic anti-histamine product and/or an anti-histamine eye drop to control your allergy symptoms. 

Take a look at your environment and attempt to set it up to minimize the effects of seasonal allergies: Set up your sleeping area with an air purifier, close the windows at night (cool air will enter the house through open windows and bring pollen, etc. along with it), try to make all the products you use as hypo-allergenic as possible. 

Don't overlook "home remedies" such as cool compresses over the eyes, chamomile tea bags (cool of course) and cucumber slices over the eyes.

Finally, if you are unable to get sufficient help from the above suggestions, visit your health care professional or your Evolutionary Eye Care specialist for a thorough work up.

Source: Eye Allergy Season in Sugar Land

Your Eye Exam at Evolutionary Eye Care in Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area

Over the years I have noticed that patients can often struggle with the eye examination process. The actual part that patients struggle with is officially known as "the refraction". It is in this part of the exam sequence that the eye doctor is able to determine the best possible prescription for the patient. What makes this part of the exam sequence difficult for the patient is the subjective nature of the process. The patient is asked to make a choice between two offerings. The two offerings may both look a little blurred to the patient, making it a difficult choice. So, what is a patient to do? Here are some suggestions to make it easier for a patient to sit through the exam process and come out with a more exact prescription.

Chose the lens offering that represents the "lesser of two evils". What I mean by this is that the image presented to the patient is often artificially blurred by the placement of an additional lens in front of the eye. This additional lens does blur the image to a certain degree. While neither choice may be perfect, if the patient chooses the lesser of two evils the patient will be consistent and the doctor will be able to arrive at an exact prescription.

Some choices are very clear and easy to make and others will be more difficult. Just go with the flow. When the difficult choices are presented, understand that the doctor will retest you from different directions to make sure you are consistent in your choices. 

 
The end point, believe it or not, is when the patient cannot tell a difference between the choices presented. This can be confusing for the patient, but a perfect answer is, "I can't tell the difference....or they are "the same". In this case, the doctor will choose the least powerful choice for the prescription. All attempts are made to make sure that the prescription is not too strong. 

 
Some patients do better with the process if an eye drop is placed into the eye to help control the patient's focusing. Your doctor will make a decision as to whether this is necessary during the exam process. 

 
What about when you pick up your new prescription? How long should it take for a patient to adjust to a new prescription? This is a variable issue. Some patients will adjust to a new prescription immediately. Others may need anywhere between a few days to a few weeks to adjust. Be sure to communicate with your doctor if you are having trouble adjusting to your prescription. The laboratories that make the prescriptions will allow for the doctor to adjust the prescription if a patient is having difficulty. Some patients do better with a prescription that is not full strength. Others prefer a full strength prescription. Your doctor wants you to have the clearest and most comfortable prescription possible. Be aware that there is a time limit if the prescription has to be remade. I had a patient that came to me a year later and said that they did not like the prescription that had been written. Unfortunately, this is way past the warranty period. Please let the doctor know in a timely fashion if you are having difficulty and the problem will be solved.

If you have any additional questions regarding the above material please feel free to communicate with us

We are conveniently located in Greatwood,TX and we provide our services to our patients all over Sugar Land and Richmond area.

To get an appointment simply call (281) 545-4901 or drop by our location at 19875 Southwest Freeway Suite 180 Sugarland, TX 77479.

Source: Eye Exam at Evolutionary Eye Care

What is Astigmatism All About at Evolutionary Eye Care in Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area

For some time now, when you look at the television it’s sort of fuzzy and blurry but you’re not sure why. Sometimes, your eyes might feel a little tired or strained. You’ve noticed you have a slight headache by the end of the day. After debating the idea, you finally make an appointment to see your eye doctor. He says you need glasses or contacts to correct the astigmatism you have in your eye. Glasses, ok. Contacts, that’s fine. But wait - what is astigmatism all about?

Let’s start here. Go to a mirror and take a look at your eyes. There are parts you can see, and parts you cannot. This is important to note, since astigmatism affects both the visible and unseen parts of your eye. The following is a simple explanation of the parts of your eyes and what these parts do:

Parts of the eye you can see:

• Cornea - This is the "window" to your eyes. The front, clear part of your eye.
• Sclera - Is simply the white part of your eyes.
• Iris - Is the colored part of your eyes. You may have blue, green, brown, or something in between as the color of your eyes.
• Pupil - Is the center, small black part of your eyes.
• Conjunctiva - Is a thin layer of tissue covering the front of your eyes, except for the cornea. Ever had "pink eye"? The conjunctiva is the part that gets the infection.

The parts of the eye you don't see:

• Lens - It is inside your eye, behind the pupil.
• Retina - It changes light to the electrical impulses.
• Optic Nerve - It carries the impulses to your brain. For example, when you look at a dog, your brain lets you know you are looking at a dog.

Astigmatism

Now that you know the anatomy of the eye, we can dive into defining astigmatism. Astigmatism is when your cornea (the window), or the lens (inside the eye) is not perfectly round and smooth like it should be. Think of it like looking at a funhouse mirror where parts of you are stretched out and parts of you are squishy. As a result, your vision for both near and far items could appear unclear. 

Astigmatism is quite common and is NOT any kind of eye disease. Some people are born with astigmatism; others develop it with age. Astigmatism does not change the shape of your eye to look like a football. It is still round; it's just the cornea is more curved in some areas and flatter in other areas. That is why your vision is blurry and your eyes might hurt.

Patients are able to have clear vision during the day, without surgery! So whether you need new glasses or contacts, or need more focused medical care, Evolutionary Eye care is here for you.

Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/about-us/

Dry Eye Clinic at Evolutionary Eye Care in Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area

We are very excited about our new Dry Eye Clinic at Evolutionary Eye Care.  We are able to help patients with all of their dry eye issues. 

Dry eyes can be a very complicated subject.  The reason is that there are different causes of dry eyes.  Dry eyes can be caused by certain medications, computer and cell phone usage, certain eyelid conditions such as blepharitis and many other causes. 

There are two main types of dry eyes.  One is due to a patient's eyes not making enough tears.  This is called tear insufficiency dry eyes.  The other cause of dry eyes is called evaporative dry eyes. 

In tear insufficiency dry eyes we just do not make enough tears to keep our eyes lubricated.  There are many underlying conditions that can contribute to this problem.  There are different ways to help this problem that can be as simple as using tear supplements to more complicated approaches that involve using a medication to  help our eyes create more tears.

In evaporative dry eyes our eyes don't make enough of the oil that our eyes normally make and this lack of oil, which functions sort of like an oil slick on water, allows our tears to evaporate too quickly.  It is possible to treat the oil glands that are meant to produce this oil to get them to properly secrete the oil that our eyes need.

It is also very important to create a healthy ocular surface when treating dry eyes.  This can be helped by properly cleaning the eyelashes and lids and sometime by the short time usage of certain treatment medications that can help bring the ocular surface back into a healthy state. 

If any readers feel that they may be helped by seeking treatment for dry eyes, please contact Evolutionary Eye Care and our Dry Eye Clinic of Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area to schedule a consultation. 


Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/contact-us/

About Evolutionary Eye Care in Sugar Land, GreatWood and Richmond

Headed by Dr. David and Dr. Anith, Evolutionary Eye Care is a leading provider of Comprehensive eye exams (glasses, contacts), Medically necessary contact lens fitting (Kerataconus, post surgical, Ortho-keratology), Vision therapy, Pediatric care, Low vision,Glaucoma, and Diabetic exams. We are conveniently located in Greatwood,TX and we provide our services to our patients all over Sugar Land and Richmond area.

To get an appointment simply call (281) 545-4901 or drop by our location at 19875 Southwest Freeway Suite 180
Sugarland, TX 77479

Message from our Specialists

 

Dr. David Chau

Dr. David Chau is an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist having received his degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry. A native New Yorker, he received his Bachelors and Masters in Biology from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. Dr. Chau then received his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Houston.

Dr. Anith Pillai

Dr. Anith Pillai is a Therapeutic Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. He was raised in Sugarland, Texas where he attended school all the way through his sophomore year of high school, upon which he continued his education at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science in Denton, TX. He then moved to Austin, Texas to complete his B.A. in Biology at the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘em Horns!). His educational career sent him back to his hometown of Houston, Texas at the University of Houston College of Optometry, where he received his Doctorate of Optometry.

Source: About Evolutionary Eye Care in Sugar Land

Best Eye Cosmetics Service in Evolutionary Eye Care

Zoria Boost Lash Intensifying Serum

Boost Lash Intensifying Serum utilizes patented technology to naturally stimulate, strengthen and condition eyelashes creating a dramatically longer, fuller, darker look.

Zoria Makeup Remover

gentle, water-base makeup remover that effectively removes cosmetics without irritating the eyes or leaving residue. Ideal for individuals with sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. No oils, dyes,parabens or fragrances

Air Optix Colors

Breathable Color Contact lenses that can enhance your look!
Virual Color Studio – try on your color!

Source: Evolutionary Eye Care Cosmetics

Ortho-K Treatment in Sugar Land – Greatwood, TX

Imagine waking up each morning with crisp, clear vision, without the use of contact lenses, glasses, or surgery.  Sound too good to be true?  It is possible with Orthokeratology!  Ortho-k is a process that utilizes gas permeable contact lenses worn only while you sleep to correct your vision.  The process gently reshapes the cornea (front windshield of the eye) at night, and allows for clear vision during the day without glasses or contact lenses.  The process is reversible, so permanent changes are done to the eye, unlike LASIK or other refractive surgery.  Ortho-K has also been studied to reduce myopic progression in children.  With the increase of tablets, computers, and smartphones, nearsightedness, or myopia, has increased dramatically in the youth population.  Ortho-k has shown to slow the myopic progression in several studies.  Dr. Pillai uses Cornea Refractive Therapy (CRT) lenses to provide Ortho-K correction.  CRT is FDA approved for overnight corrective therapy, and Dr. Pillai is a CRT certified practitioner.

ARE CRT LENSES SAFE?

Overnight contact lens wear can be a major health concern if not done properly.  Sleeping in soft contact lenses can lead to inflammation and infection of the eye.  CRT lenses are FDA approved for overnight wear.  The lenses are high oxygen permeability, allowing them to be breathable, even during sleep. 

ORTHO-K FOR CHILDREN AND ITS IMPORTANCE

Myopia, or nearsightedness, has become an epidemic in the United States.  In the last 45 years, myopia has increased 66%!  It affects 1 in 3 Americans.  This increase is startling and is a major health concern.  Increase in myopia also increases a person’s risk for serious eye diseases such as retinal detachments and glaucoma, which can be blinding! Several studies have investigated ortho-k as an option to slow myopic progression.  A recent 2015 study 

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4391793/) shows that ortho-k can slow myopic progression by as much as 45%!  The increase in myopia seen today puts children at greater risk for eye-related problems down the road.  Ortho-k can not only correct their vision, but it can help prevent it from progressing. 

Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/ortho-k/

Low Vision rehabilitation in Sugar Land, Greatwood and Richmond area

Dr. Chau specializes in low vision rehabilitation. He has trained with some of the premiere low vision providers in helping individuals re-establish their independence. Low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be treated by conventional glasses, contact lenses, or surgical intervention. At Evolutionary Eye Care, we understand these struggles can be extremely difficult for individuals and their families cope both mentally and physically.

Dr. Chau will work thoroughly with patient determine what activities has become increasingly difficult or discontinue due to your vision loss. At the completion of the exam, he will develop a personalize low vision rehabilitation plan where he prescribe and train individual how to utilizes devices to improve day-to-day independence. Many patients may require multiple devices to assist them for different task. Once you are happy with your improved independence, we will return your care back to your previous eye care provider.



Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/low-vision/

Diabetes Exams in Sugar Land, Greatwood and Richmond Area

Diabetes is a multi-system disease that can show changes in the retinal vasculature. With advanced imaging with the Optomap and Optomap+, our doctors are able to view the entire retinal with a single image, and compare changes over time. This advanced imaging software can detect early diabetic changes that may not show up on routine exams elsewhere, and can track changes year after year to check for progression.

Benefits of an optomap

The benefits of having an optomap ultra-widefield retinal image taken are: Early protection from vision impairment or blindness Early detection of life-threatening diseases like cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease
The unique optomap ultra-widefield view helps your eye care practitioner detect early signs of retinal disease more effectively and efficiently than with traditional eye exams
Early detection means successful treatments can be administered and reduces the risk to your sight and health.

These are just some of the tools Evolutionary Eye Care has invested in to ensure that we are providing the highest quality care to all our patients.


Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/diabetic-exams/

Pediatric Eye Exams in Greatwood, Sugar Land & Richmond Area

Pediatric eye exams is extremely important because many times when conditions are left untreated it can leave a serious effect on a child’s development, learning ability, and can often time lead to misdiagnosis of certain chronic condition such as ADHD and dyslexia.  According to the American Optometric Association, 1 in 4 children suffer from some form of vision-related conditions.

Here at Evolutionary Eye Care, Dr. Chau is a firm believer in early intervention and specializes in vision therapy/pediatric eye care.  He is an InfantSEE provider, which is a public health program founded by Optometry Care-the AOA foundation, that provides comprehensive eye care for 6 months to 12 month old at no charge to the public.  During the evaluation Dr. Chau will determine if your child has strabismus (eye turn), amblyopia (lazy eye).  Also, ocular motility, peripheral visions and dilated fundus examination will be performed to determine any health issues such as retinoblastoma, cataracts or glaucoma.

Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/pediatric-care/

Vision Therapy in Sugar Land, Greatwood and Richmond

Here at Evolutionary Eye Care, we provide specialized care for all vision needs.  Dr. Chau provides vision therapy which ensures that the entire visual system is functioning properly.  Vision therapy is an ocular physical therapy that helps the brain and the eye communicate properly.  This  ensure the visual skills needed for good vision is functioning coherently and efficiently.  Therapy can be intensive and utilizing filter, lenses, prism and both computerized and non-computerized assisted activity.  Vision therapy may be beneficial for those struggling in school, suffering from eyestrain/headaches, fluctuating vision, suffering from- double vision or been diagnosis with a learning disability.



Source: Vision Therapy in Sugar Land

Contact Lenses in Sugar Land, Greatwood and surrounding area

Dr. Pillai specializes in medically necessary contact lens exams for patients with corneal diseases such as Keratoconus, Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, and post-surgical corneas.  Dr. Pillai offers RGP and scleral lenses for corneal disease management.  Dr. Pillai is also certified for the evaluation and management with the the new custom soft contact lens for Keratoconus, the Kerasoft IC! 

He has extensive experience in fitting patients with the most advanced advanced contact lens modalities, to provide patients with crisp, clear vision like they’ve never seen before.  These lenses include the Synergeyes Hybrid Contact Lens

Dr. Pillai also provides laser-less vision correction with orthokeratology.  Through this process, patient can use lenses only while sleeping, and wake up with clear, comfortable vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses!  Studies have also shown this process to help slow the progression of nearsightedness for adolescents.

Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/contact-lens/

Eye Exams in Sugar Land, Greatwood & Richmond Area

Experience eye exams for the new era!  HD Digital Refraction systems for the most accurate prescriptions in half the time.  Optomap Retinal imaging allows our doctors to check for eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, and Diabetic Retinopathy without the use of dilation drops*.  The most advanced technology offers you and your family customized and tailored health exams and vision correction.

The optomap Retinal Exam

The optomap exam is fast, painless and comfortable. Nothing touches your eye at any time. It is suitable for the whole family. To have the exam, you simply look into the device one eye at a time (like looking through a keyhole) and you will see a comfortable flash of light to let you know the image of your retina has been taken.

Under normal circumstances, dilation drops might not be necessary, but your eye care practioner will decide if your pupils need to be dilated depending on your conditions. The capture takes less than a second. Images are available immediately for review. You can see your own retina. You see exactly what your eye care practioner sees – even in a 3D animation.

Early signs of disease can be present in the periphery of your retina and remain undetected for a long time when using traditional methods.

Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/eye-exams/

Evolutionary Eye Care | Eye Doctor in Sugar Land, Greatwood and Richmond

Evolutionary Eye Care is dedicated to providing the most advanced medical eye care, tailored for you and your family. We have invested in the most advanced medical equipment to provide our patients with the best eye care possible.

Our sophisticated equipment not only allows for advanced treatment options, but also convenient eye exams for you and your family. At Evolutionary Eye care we provide HD Digital Refraction systems, giving our patients the most accurate prescription, in approximately half the time of a traditional refraction. We also provide Optomap Retinal Imaging, which allows our doctors to view the retina, without any dilation drops! This allows patients to continue their day without the side effects of dilation, and no drops are required.

As advanced as our equipment is, the staff and doctors are what really make our practice special. Dr. Pillai and Dr. Chau strive for the best patient experience possible, and take time to explain all exam findings and treatment options. Dr. Chau and Dr. Pillai also specialize in medical care including Low vision, Pediatrics, Binocular vision, Glaucoma, Diabetic eye care, Specialty contact lens fitting such as Keratoconus. Their training in these fields provides full scope eye care for all their patients’ needs. Dr. Chau is apart of the InfantSEE program, which provides free eye exams to children under 12 months of age. Dr. Pillai provides laser free vision correction with orthokeratology. Patients are able to have clear vision during the day, without surgery! So whether you need new glasses or contacts, or need more focused medical care, Evolutionary Eye care is here for you.

Source: http://evolutionaryeyecare.com/