# Focused Eye Care

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### Posts

#### A Crash Course on AMD
For people age 50 and older, age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes the gradual loss of central vision through the deterioration of the macula, or the part of the retina that gives us our sharp, detailed central vision. AMD can make it very difficult or even impossible to perform many daily tasks, such as driving, reading, and writing.
 
Recognize the Symptoms of AMD
A danger of AMD is that it doesn’t always have noticeable symptoms, so patients who don’t see their eye doctors for long periods might not realize anything is wrong. AMD is painless and the effects on vision might not appear right away. Gradually, though, blurry or dark patches will begin to develop in the central vision. Other symptoms are that things might start to look duller than they used to or appear warped.
 
Identify the Risk Factors
AMD doesn’t only affect older people, but age is the biggest risk factor and one reason why regular eye exams are so important. One of the unfortunate things about AMD is that we can’t control most of the risk factors, which also include race and genetics. White Americans are significantly more likely to develop AMD than other ethnic groups. However, there is one risk factor we can control: smoking.
 
The Two Types of AMD: Wet and Dry
There are two different types of AMD: wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration accounts for up to 90% of the cases, and it happens when the macula tissues thin over time while fatty deposits of drusen build up. While dry AMD is much more common, it also tends to be less serious, but it can develop into wet AMD.
Wet AMD occurs when new blood vessels grow under the retina in the body’s attempt to bolster the blood supply. The new blood vessels are weaker and less stable, and are prone to leaking fluid and scarring the macula, resulting in more serious vision loss that progresses faster.
 
Catching AMD Early and Slowing Its Progress
At this point in time, there is no cure for age-related macular degeneration, but there’s still a lot we can do. Outside of the eye doctor’s office, we can build and maintain healthy habits like eating right (including plenty of fish, carrots, eggs, and leafy greens), exercising, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking. A healthy lifestyle improves the health of the entire body, including the eyes. It will both help to reduce the risk of developing AMD and slow its progress after the diagnosis.
 
How the Eye Doctor Can Help
Regular eye exams are essential to catching eye diseases like AMD early on. Early detection makes it much easier to fight back and slow it down. If you have any (or multiple) risk factors of AMD, particularly a family history of the disease, give us a call or stop by to schedule your next appointment.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### A Few Tips for Protecting Your Eyesight
Having healthy eyesight is a critical component of maintaining a good quality of life.
As many as one sixth of adults struggle with an eye condition that threatens their sight, and far more will experience a certain amount of vision loss as they get older. Some of the leading causes of low vision and blindness are age-related, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, there are a few tips we can follow to minimize our risks and keep our eyes as healthy as possible.
 
Build Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Staying active and eating healthy aren’t just a good way to stay trim and fit, they help our eyes stay healthy! In particular, try to make fruits and dark leafy greens a significant part of your diet and get regular exercise. Just as important is avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking. Smoking in particular is a huge risk factor for many sight-threatening conditions.
 
Schedule Regular Physical Exams
Chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, if untreated, can lead to serious eye health problems. Diabetes is linked with diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and someone with untreated high blood pressure is more prone to eye strokes. All of these can result in permanent vision loss, which is why regular checkups at the doctor’s office are so important for eye health. The earlier a chronic condition is discovered, the earlier you can start fighting back!
 
Watch How Your Vision May Be Changing
Changes in eyesight tend to be very gradual, which can make them hard to notice at first. If you do notice a change, schedule an eye appointment. Whether it’s the early stages of a serious eye condition or you simply need a prescription updated, it’s important to get the eye doctor’s expertise. If you experience symptoms like flashes of light, eye pain or swelling, red eyes, or a sudden increase in how many floaters you see, however, get straight to the eye doctor.
 
Learn Your Risk Factors for Eye Diseases
If your family has a history of eye diseases, diabetes, or high blood pressure, it could mean you’re at higher risk of developing them too. Age is also a huge risk factor. We can’t control whether we fit into these high-risk categories or not, but we can take good precautions like sticking to a regular eye exam schedule and maintaining those healthy lifestyle habits.
 
Protect Your Eyes from the Sun
Keeping our eyes safe from harmful UV rays isn’t as easy as grabbing the cheapest pair of sunglasses we can find. We have to make sure the sunglasses we choose are specifically designed to block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays. If they do, it will be on the label. Sunglasses that don’t block UV rays can actually be worse than no sunglasses at all, because they lower our eyes’ defenses.
 
Schedule Your Eye Exams
Eye exams play a very important role in maintaining healthy eyesight for life. Some sight-threatening diseases cannot be reversed, but when they are caught early, there’s a lot we can do to slow or halt their progression. This is why regular eye exams can be the difference between permanent vision loss and successfully saving a patient’s sight. Your personal risk factors will determine how frequent those eye exams should be, but a good starting point is once every other year.
 
Bring Your Questions to the Optometrist
If you want more tips on how to keep your eyes healthy and your vision strong, or if you just need a recommendation on which sunglasses would be best, drop by or get in touch! We particularly want to hear from you if we haven’t in a while!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### All About Glaucoma
Our eyes are incredible, complicated organs. Many different components need to work together for us to be able to see.
This means that when one of those components breaks down, it can cause big problems for eyesight. A component you might not think of is the pressure of the fluid inside the eye. Glaucoma is an eye disease in which high intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve and leads to permanent vision loss.
 
The Balance of Fluid Inside the Eye
Our eyes are filled with a fluid called aqueous humor in the front chambers (in front of the lens) and a more gelatinous fluid in the larger chamber behind the lens. A healthy eye is able to keep the pressure of these fluids within healthy ranges, with about the same amount of fluid draining out through the pupil as is produced. Glaucoma interrupts this drainage cycle and causes pressure to rise dangerously.
 
Open-Angle and Angle-Closure Glaucoma
The main types of glaucoma are open-angle and angle-closure. Angle-closure glaucoma comes on quite suddenly when the iris physically blocks the drainage canals. It is usually heralded by multiple symptoms, including nausea, headaches, very blurred vision, rainbows around lights, and eye pain. If you experience symptoms like these, get straight to the eye doctor.
About 90 percent of glaucoma cases (about 2.7 million) are the open-angle variety. The way open-angle glaucoma happens is that the drainage canals in the eye get clogged, which prevents effective draining and leads to rising pressure. The process is extremely slow, so the patient might not detect the symptoms on their own until the disease has reached a late stage. This is one reason why regular comprehensive eye exams are so important. We can catch open-angle glaucoma early and begin treatment.
 
Glaucoma Risk Factors
We all have a certain level of risk of developing glaucoma, but some people are at a higher risk than others. People of Asian descent are at higher risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma. People over age 60, as well as African-Americans and Hispanics, are more at risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.
Heredity is one of the biggest risk factors. Studies have estimated that at least half of all glaucoma cases are familial. Specifically, someone with a sibling who’s been diagnosed is ten times more likely to develop glaucoma themselves. Eye injury and steroid use are also risk factors.
 
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
At this point in time, there is no cure for glaucoma and the vision loss that comes from it is irreversible. However, current treatments can halt the progress of the disease, especially if it is diagnosed early on. Protect your eyesight by learning about your risk factors and making sure you’re keeping up with your regular eye exam schedule.
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image by Flickr user Yann Cerri used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Are Stellest Lenses Right for Your Child?
If your child has nearsightedness, you've probably heard the diagnosis and wondered what happens next. Myopia doesn't just mean glasses; it means a potentially worsening condition each year as your child grows. High myopia is associated with a higher risk of eye diseases such as retinal detachments, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and early cataracts.

The team at Focused Eye Care provides myopia control services designed to protect children's vision for the long term. We serve families throughout Nashua, Milford, and the surrounding areas of New Hampshire with comprehensive options for managing nearsightedness. Our doctors, including Dr. Anjelica Donnelly and Dr. Kendra Phillis, both have training in myopia management and specialty contact lenses, offering families multiple pathways to slow progression.
Understanding Myopia in Children
Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long, causing distant objects to appear blurry. In children, this progression often accelerates during school years. The longer the eye becomes, the higher the prescription needed and the greater the risk for complications later in life.

Traditional glasses correct the blurriness, but they don't address the underlying progression. Each year, you may be back at our office with your child needing a stronger prescription. For many parents, this cycle raises concerns about their child's future eye health.
What Makes Stellest Lenses Different
Stellest lenses are a significant advancement in myopia management. As the first and only FDA market-authorized spectacle lens designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, Stellest uses innovative technology to reshape how light focuses in the eye. The lens features H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) technology, creating a specific pattern across the lens surface.

These lenses work throughout the day while your child wears glasses. Studies show Stellest slowed myopia progression by 71% on average when worn at least 12 hours daily. This means the lens doesn't just correct vision, it actively works to protect your child's eye health over time.
Who Benefits Most From Stellest
Stellest lenses work best for children between the ages of 6 and 12 who have progressive myopia. If your child's prescription keeps increasing at annual exams, or if your family has a history of high myopia, these lenses may be particularly beneficial. Children's eye exams help us track these changes and determine when intervention makes sense.

Stellest requires consistent wear to be effective. Children who already wear glasses regularly and can commit to wearing them for at least 10 hours a day, six days a week. The lenses look like regular glasses, so there's no adjustment to appearance, just protection happening behind the scenes.
Comparing Myopia Control Options
Beyond Stellest, we offer additional myopia management approaches at our practice. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) involves specially designed contact lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. Children wake up with clear vision throughout the day without needing glasses or contacts. This option works well for active children involved in sports or those who prefer not to wear glasses.

Specialty soft contact lenses provide another route for myopia control. These lenses use similar principles to Stellest but in contact lens form. Your child's lifestyle, comfort level with contacts, and specific vision needs all factor into which option makes the most sense. Dr. Catherine Johnson, our pediatric eye care specialist, has extensive experience helping families navigate these decisions.
Getting Started With Myopia Management at Focused Eye Care
Our team takes a thoughtful approach to myopia management. During your child's comprehensive eye exam, we measure not just their current prescription but also track how quickly their myopia has been progressing. We discuss your family history, your child's daily activities, and your preferences for treatment. From there, we recommend the approach that best fits your child's needs.

Focused Eye Care has earned recognition as "Best Optometrist" in the greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley region every year since acquiring our Milford location in 2021. All of our doctors are members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, with several serving as past presidents and board members. When you choose our practice for your child's myopia management, you're working with a team deeply invested in advancing eye care standards. Book an appointment to discuss whether Stellest lenses or another myopia control option is right for your child.

#### Back-to-School Eye Care: A Parent's Guide to Kids' Eye Exams
When it comes to your child's health, we know how important it is to get things right — and eye care is no exception.

At our Nashua and Milford, NH Focused Eye Care locations, we take children's eye health seriously. As back-to-school season approaches, now is the ideal time to schedule a pediatric eye exam before the busy school year begins. From first-time appointments to updated frames and new prescriptions, our team is proud to offer compassionate, experienced care for kids of every age and for the whole family.

We know medical appointments can feel intimidating for children (and parents!). That's why we've built our practice around being local, family-friendly and focused on making every visit as comfortable as possible.

To help families prepare for back-to-school appointments, we sat down with our pediatric optometrist, Dr. Catherine Johnson, to answer the questions we hear most often from parents in Nashua, Milford and the surrounding Southern New Hampshire communities.

When should my child have their first eye exam?

A child should have their first eye exam at 18 months old, then annually after that. Some children need to be seen even earlier — for example, if there are concerns about vision or development, if they have a medical condition that could affect the eyes or if there's a family history of childhood eye problems.

How do you keep kids (and parents) calm during eye exams?

At Focused Eye Care, we start every pediatric appointment by getting to know the child first. We ask what makes them nervous, what they're interested in and what specific concerns the family has before any testing begins. That conversation helps the whole family feel comfortable and at ease.

We believe eye exams can be both educational and fun, helping children feel comfortable every step of the way. The eye doctor's office might not be a kid's first choice for summer fun, but with toys, familiar characters and a little silliness mixed in with the serious parts, we help children leave with a positive memory of their visit. That makes every appointment after the first one a lot less scary — and sometimes even something they look forward to.

We involve kids in the process by explaining exactly what to expect before we begin, so nothing comes as a surprise, and we move at whatever pace is comfortable for that child. We always leave time for questions during and after the exam, provide handouts for any diagnosis that comes up and stay available by phone afterward, because it can take time for families to process what they've learned.

How do you make sure my child's eyeglass prescription is accurate?

For young children, or any child who can't reliably answer subjective questions like "Which is clearer, one or two?" — we measure the prescription objectively. This usually involves dilating eye drops, which prevent a child's eye-focusing system from fluctuating during measurement. We use tools like retinoscopes and automated instruments to get an objective reading, and even with older kids, we compare subjective and objective measurements to confirm accuracy.

This is one of the biggest differences between pediatric and adult eye exams: dilating drops help us get an accurate glasses prescription and let the doctor fully evaluate your child's eye health.

How do you help kids find the right glasses for their lifestyle?

Choosing frames starts with getting to know the child. Are they into sports? Do their glasses need to fit under a helmet? Are they rough on their belongings? Sensitive to sunlight? Answering those questions helps our Optical Experts recommend the right fit, whether that's flexible frames, sports goggles or sun-reactive lenses.

Beyond function, we make sure kids leave loving how their glasses look, too. From fun patterns to sparkly lenses, we carry a wide selection of kids' eyewear so every child finds a frame that feels like them.

Browse our pediatric frame selection and try on online

What makes Focused Eye Care a family-friendly practice?

Our doctors and staff welcome patients of every age with patience and understanding. Our pediatric patients get their own dedicated floor and play area, plus toys and child-sized clinical tools in the exam room. For busy families, we can schedule siblings back-to-back in the same visit. With doctors experienced in caring for all ages — from toddlers to grandparents — we love getting to know and care for entire families across our Nashua and Milford communities.

Ready to schedule your child's back-to-school eye exam?

Meet Dr. Catherine Johnson, Pediatric Optometrist

Dr. Catherine Johnson is Focused Eye Care's pediatric optometrist, with 20 years of experience caring for children's vision. She completed her residency in Pediatric Optometry at the New England College of Optometry, with clinical experience spanning specialty pediatric ophthalmology practices, community-based pediatric eye clinics and the low vision clinic at the Perkins School for the Blind, where she cared for children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities. She specializes in infants and young children, school-age kids and children and adults with disabilities.

One of the most rewarding parts of her work is watching a child with a strong prescription try on glasses for the first time and see their world open up. Outside the office, Dr. Johnson loves spending time with her three children and staying active through strength training, long walks and sports. Originally from Canada, she now lives in Andover, Massachusetts, with her husband and children.

#### Back-to-School Vision Checklist: A Parent’s Guide to Eye Health
Making sure your child starts the year with healthy eyes and clear sight can support everything from reading comprehension to confidence in the classroom.

 
Why Your Child’s Eye Exam Matters
Did you know that 80% of learning is visual? When children can’t see the board or struggle to focus on a page, it affects their ability to learn and thrive in school.

Routine eye exams are a powerful tool for early detection. Identifying and addressing vision issues early can help prevent:

 	Developmental delays
 	Trouble in school
 	Vision loss
 	Worsening of correctable conditions

 
Common Vision Conditions in Children
Some of the most common eye conditions we see in children include:

 	Nearsightedness (myopia) – when distant objects appear blurry
 	Farsightedness – when close-up tasks like reading are difficult
 	Lazy eye (amblyopia) – when one eye has reduced vision not correctable with glasses alone

Eye exams also give insight into your child’s overall health, sometimes revealing issues unrelated to vision.

 
When Should My Child Have an Eye Exam?
According to our doctors:

 	6-12 months old — first exam
 	Ongoing — children 12 months and older should receive yearly eye exams

Summer or early fall is the perfect time for an appointment, so your child heads into the school year ready to succeed.

 
Signs Your Child May Need Glasses
Sometimes, signs are obvious — headaches, squinting or difficulty in school. But often, there are no symptoms at all.

That’s why we recommend a complete vision examination for all school-age children, especially if they’re struggling with reading or focus.

As a parent, it can be emotional to find out your child needed help seeing and you didn’t realize it. You’re not alone. Many parents feel guilt or concern, but the most important thing is taking the next step now.

 
What to Expect at a Pediatric Eye Exam
Appointments generally take about 60 minutes and include:

 	Vision testing
 	Eye alignment and function checks
 	Overall eye health screening
 	Discussion about glasses, if needed

Our compassionate doctors take the time to help each child feel at ease. From calm explanations to friendly smiles, our goal is to make both kids and parents feel comfortable and cared for.

 
Choosing the Right Glasses for Your Child
If your child needs glasses, you’ll find a variety of kid-friendly frames at Focused Eye Care. Our optical experts are here to guide you through:

 	Proper sizing and fit
 	Prescription accuracy
 	Comfort and durability
 	Style preferences

We believe your child should feel confident in their glasses — so let them explore and pick a pair they love.

 
Caring for Glasses and Eyes

 	Help your child build good habits:
 	Keep lenses clean with a soft cloth
 	Use a glasses case when not wearing them
 	Be gentle when putting them on or taking them off
 	Ask about spring hinges for added durability

If your child plays sports or is especially active, we can help you choose frames that match their lifestyle.

 
Healthy Vision Habits at Home
A few small changes can go a long way in protecting your child’s sight:

 	20-20-20 Rule — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds when using screens
 	Outdoor time — 2+ hours a day can help reduce the risk of myopia
 	Limit screen time:

 	Under 2: Avoid screens (except video chats)
 	Ages 2–5: Limit to 1 hour of high-quality programming per day
 	Age 6 and up: Set consistent limits and encourage breaks


 	Keep devices 18–24 inches away from the face

Nutrition also plays a role in eye development. Ask your doctor for tips or refer to our blog post on healthy eating for kids’ vision.

 
Free Download: Eye Health Coloring Pages
To help introduce young children to the idea of eye exams and glasses, we’re excited to offer printable coloring pages. They feature kids receiving eye exams, trying on glasses and more.

These pages are a fun, friendly way to talk with your child about what to expect — and get them excited about taking care of their eyes.

Need to schedule your child’s exam?
Visit FocusedEyeCareNH.com or call our Nashua office - 603-882-0311 or Milford office – 603-673-1330 today.

Let’s give every child the clear, confident start they deserve this school year!

 

#### Battle of the Sexes: Eye Health Edition
You might be surprised how different vision and eye health can be between men and women.
For instance, men are more likely to sustain a sight-threatening eye injury than women, but women are more vulnerable to a variety of eye diseases. What can men and women do to address their unique eye health concerns?

 
Women and Eye Diseases
Women are much more impacted by glaucoma (a group of conditions that cause permanent vision loss by damaging the optic nerve) and age-related macular degeneration (the gradual loss of central vision) than men. The reason is that women have longer life expectancies, so they more often grow old enough to be at greater risk. The best way to fight them is through early detection. Women are also more prone to chronic dry eye and basic refractive errors.

 
Eye Disease Risk Factors
Apart from age, other risk factors for eye diseases in women include pregnancy, menopause, and birth control due to the major changes in hormone levels that come with each. Hormone changes also increase the risk of dry eye. An overlooked risk factor is neglect. Many women prioritize the health needs of their families to the exclusion of their own. To all the busy moms out there, don’t forget to schedule your own appointments too!

 
Hormones Affect Men’s Eyes Too
During puberty, boys sometimes become temporarily nearsighted because their eyes are growing too. The effect doesn’t always go away. Fortunately, this is an issue easily corrected by glasses or contact lenses.

 
Men and Eye Injuries
Men tend to be more vulnerable to eye injuries because they more often work in dangerous jobs or play dangerous sports than women. What compounds this risk is that they are less willing to wear protective eyewear than women and more willing to tough something out if they do get injured. Wear your goggles! See an eye doctor if you have a problem!

 
How Vision Differs for Men and Women
Men and women also literally see things differently. Women are better at distinguishing between subtle color differences than men (men are actually sixteen times likelier to be colorblind than women), while men are better at tracking motion. So you can blame biology if you’ve ever argued over paint swatches with your significant other!

One theory to account for these differences is that they go back to the hunter-gatherer days when women needed to be able to tell nutritious plants apart from poisonous ones and men needed to be able to spot hunting game.

 
We’re Hoping to See You Soon!
As eye health professionals, we encourage our male patients to fight back the tendency to tough things out, and we encourage our female patients to prioritize their own health needs — schedule an appointment to come see us! Early detection is important for treating eye diseases and eye injuries alike, and even if everything else is fine, you could still be due for a prescription update.

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Be Careful When Buying Costume Contacts
Colored contact lenses are sometimes the perfect final touch to take a Halloween costume to the next level
Unfortunately, not all costume lenses are created equal — or with equal concern for wearer safety. With Halloween coming up, we want to give all of our costume-loving patients some guidance on how to find great costume lenses and care for them properly to protect their eye health.

 
Never Forget that Contact Lenses Are Medical Devices
Yes, that includes contact lenses that are only for appearance. Unlike a pair of glasses with no lenses, contact lenses are classified as medical devices whether they help you see clearly or not. Don’t just assume you can buy some costume lenses without getting a prescription even if your vision is 20/20 or better, because contact lens prescriptions are about the fit of the lenses on your corneas as much as they are about vision correction.

 
Beware Unscrupulous Vendors
This brings us to a common red flag when looking at costume lens vendors. If they require a prescription before they sell to you, then they are likely trustworthy. It is illegal to sell contacts in the US without requiring a prescription, so if a vendor tries that, run! You don’t know what other safety laws they’re willing to break if they’re already breaking that one, such as regulations on sanitation and quality of materials. It’s worth the money to pay a little more for lenses you know are safe.

 
Eyes Come in Different Shapes and Sizes
We touched on this already, but human eyeballs don’t all come in one identical shape and size. There’s no such thing as a one size fits all contact lens. If you try to wear a contact that doesn’t fit the particular curve of your eye, it might fall out or put you at risk of an eye injury. Just another reason that prescription is worth getting!

 
Take Good Care of Those Lenses Once You Get Them
After you’ve found a trustworthy vendor and purchased contacts that fit your prescription, it’s essential to take proper care of them and use them as directed so that your risk of eye infection is as low as possible. Here are a few tips to follow:

 	Thoroughly wash your hands before inserting or removing contact lenses.
 	Touch or rub your eyes as little as you can while the contacts are in.
 	Never clean your contacts with any substance besides fresh contact lens solution. (That means no water and DEFINITELY no saliva! Oral bacteria shouldn’t go anywhere near your eyes!)
 	We’ll repeat part of that last one because it’s important: only clean and store contact lenses in FRESH contact lens solution. Don’t try to make your solution last longer by reusing it.
 	Carefully read the instructions that come with your lenses. Don’t wear them longer than the instructions recommend, and replace them as often as the instructions say to.
 	Make sure to take your contacts out before falling asleep! This is a good idea with any contact lenses, but especially large scleral lenses that cover the whites of the eyes. Your eyes need to breathe!
 	Also important for scleral lenses, make sure to stay hydrated and use contact-friendly eyedrops as needed.

 
Let’s Get You That Contact Lens Prescription!
If you think your next Halloween costume could use a pair of cool contact lenses and you don’t have a prescription yet, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us! We’re also happy to answer any questions you might still have about costume lenses and give you a few recommendations on where to find some trustworthy vendors. Just make sure you send us pictures of your costume!

 

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Beyond Eye Drops: What Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Options Do You Have?
Dry eye symptoms affect millions of people who reach for lubricating artificial tears multiple times each day, only to find temporary relief that fades within hours. If basic eye drops no longer manage your burning, scratching, or watery eyes, you may benefit from treatments that address the underlying causes rather than just masking symptoms.

At Focused Eye Care, we provide advanced dry eye procedures at both our Nashua and Milford locations. Our doctors use diagnostic technologies like InflammaDry®, and TearLab Osmolarity Testing to identify the specific type of dry eye you have, then create treatment plans that target the root problem affecting your ocular surface.
Understanding Why Eye Drops Stop Working
Lubricating artificial tears provide moisture to your eyes, but they don't fix the glands, inflammation, or other issues causing your dry eye symptoms. Most chronic dry eye stems from Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), where the oil-producing glands along your eyelid edges become blocked. Without this oil layer, tears evaporate too quickly, leaving your eyes feeling dry even when you're producing adequate tears.

Standard eye drops add temporary moisture but wash away within minutes. You might find yourself applying drops four, six, or even ten times per day, yet your symptoms return almost immediately. This cycle indicates that your dry eye needs treatment targeting the blocked glands or inflammation rather than just adding more moisture to the surface.

Some people develop dry eye from reduced tear production rather than rapid evaporation. Others experience a combination of both issues. Identifying which problem affects you requires specialized testing that measures tear volume, osmolarity, and gland function.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Dry Eyes
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy uses controlled light pulses to reduce inflammation around your eyelids and improve the function of meibomian glands. Originally developed for dermatological conditions, IPL has become one of the most effective treatments for MGD-related dry eye.

During IPL treatment, we apply protective shields over your eyes, then deliver precise light pulses to the skin around your eyelids. The light energy reduces blood vessels that contribute to inflammation, allowing your meibomian glands to resume normal oil production. Most patients receive four to four treatments spaced two to four weeks apart, with results building over time.

IPL works particularly well for patients whose dry eye worsens with screen use, seasonal allergies, or autoimmune conditions. The treatment takes about 15 minutes per session, causes minimal discomfort, and requires no recovery time. You can return to work or normal activities immediately after each appointment.

We offer IPL therapy at both our Nashua and Milford offices, making this advanced treatment accessible to patients throughout New Hampshire.
LipiFlow Treatment
LipiFlow® combines controlled heat with gentle massage to unclog blocked meibomian glands. This FDA-approved procedure directly addresses the oil gland dysfunction that causes most chronic dry eye cases.

The treatment uses a device that fits over your eye, applying precise heat to your inner eyelid while simultaneously massaging the outer lid. This combination melts the hardened oils blocking your glands and expresses them out, essentially resetting your glands to function normally again. The entire process takes about 12 minutes per eye.

LipiFlow provides longer-lasting relief than daily eye drops because it restores your natural tear film rather than artificially supplementing it. Many patients experience improvement within days, with results continuing to develop over several weeks as glands resume healthy oil production.

Our Nashua location offers LipiFlow treatment for patients who haven't found adequate relief with other dry eye therapies. This option works well for people with moderate to severe MGD who want to reduce their dependence on artificial tears.
Prescription Medications for Dry Eye
Several prescription options address the inflammation and tear production issues underlying chronic dry eye symptoms:

 	Anti-inflammatory eye drops: These medications reduce the inflammation that damages tear-producing glands and disrupts the tear film. Treatment typically continues for several months to allow glands to heal.
 	Tear production stimulators: Some prescriptions increase your natural tear production rather than just adding moisture. These work best for patients with inadequate tear volume rather than rapid evaporation.
 	Steroid eye drops: Short-term steroid use can quickly reduce severe inflammation, providing relief while other treatments take effect. We use these carefully due to potential side effects with extended use.
 	Ointments for nighttime use: Thicker formulations protect your eyes during sleep when your natural blink rate drops to zero. Morning application works for people whose symptoms worsen throughout the day.

Prescription treatments require monitoring to ensure they're working effectively without causing side effects. We schedule follow-up visits to assess your response and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are tiny devices inserted into your tear ducts to slow drainage, keeping more natural tears on your eye surface. This simple procedure takes just minutes and provides immediate results for people whose eyes drain tears too quickly.

Your tears naturally drain through small openings in the inner corners of your upper and lower eyelids. When these drain tears faster than your eyes can produce them, punctal plugs block this drainage to maintain moisture. We typically start with temporary plugs that dissolve after a few weeks, allowing us to confirm this approach helps before placing permanent options.

Punctal plugs work well for people with low tear production but may not help if rapid evaporation causes your dry eye. We determine whether this treatment suits your specific condition through tear volume testing and careful evaluation of your symptoms.
How We Determine the Right Treatment
Choosing the best dry eye therapy starts with diagnostic testing. At Focused Eye Care, we use several technologies to evaluate your condition:

 	TearLab Osmolarity Testing measures the salt concentration in your tears. Higher osmolarity indicates dry eye severity and helps us track improvement over time.
 	InflammaDry® detects inflammatory markers in your tears, identifying whether inflammation contributes to your symptoms even when other signs aren't obvious.
 	Meibomian gland imaging shows which glands are blocked and how severely they've deteriorated. This information guides treatment selection and helps predict how well you'll respond to gland-focused therapies.
 	Tear break-up time evaluation reveals how quickly your tear film evaporates, indicating whether oil gland dysfunction or other factors cause your dry eye.

Based on these findings, we recommend treatments targeting your specific type of dry eye. Some patients benefit most from IPL, while others need LipiFlow, prescription medications, or a combination of approaches.
Undergo Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Today
Ready to move beyond temporary relief from eye drops? Schedule a comprehensive evaluation at our Nashua or Milford office. 

Our doctors, who are all members of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and New Hampshire Optometric Association (NHOA), have years of experience diagnosing and treating complex dry eye cases. We'll identify the cause of your symptoms and create a treatment plan that addresses the problem at its source, helping you achieve lasting comfort and clear vision.

#### Can Anti-Reflective Lenses Make Night Driving Safer?
Darkness transforms even familiar roads into challenging landscapes where oncoming headlights create blinding glares and street signs vanish into shadows. If you've ever found yourself squinting through your windshield at night, gripping the steering wheel tighter as light bounces off your glasses, you're experiencing one of the most common vision challenges drivers face. Yes, anti-reflective lenses can significantly improve night driving safety by reducing glare, improving contrast sensitivity, and allowing more light to reach your eyes.

At Focused Eye Care, we understand how frustrating and potentially dangerous night driving can become when glare interferes with your vision. Our optometrists in Nashua and Milford help drivers throughout New Hampshire discover how the right lens coatings can transform their nighttime driving experience, making every journey safer and more comfortable.
How Anti-Reflective Coatings Work
Anti-reflective coatings use multiple layers of microscopic materials that eliminate reflections from both the front and back surfaces of your lenses. When light hits untreated lenses, roughly 8% reflects back toward your eyes, creating distracting glares and reducing the amount of light actually reaching your retina. Anti-reflective technology virtually eliminates these reflections, allowing up to 99.5% of available light to pass through your lenses.

This increased light transmission makes a remarkable difference during night driving. Your eyes receive more of the light you need to see clearly while eliminating the competing reflections from dashboard lights, streetlamps, and oncoming traffic. The result is a clearer vision with less eye strain and better depth perception in low-light conditions.
The Science Behind Improved Night Vision
Night driving challenges your visual system in several ways. Your pupils dilate to gather more light, but this reduces your depth of field and makes you more sensitive to glare. Contrast sensitivity decreases in darkness, making it harder to distinguish objects from their backgrounds. Age-related changes in your eyes can further compound these difficulties.

Anti-reflective coatings address several of these challenges simultaneously. By reducing reflections, these coatings minimize the halos and starbursts around lights, which are often experienced with untreated lenses. They also improve contrast by eliminating competing light sources, helping you better distinguish pedestrians, road signs, and other vehicles against dark backgrounds.

Research shows drivers with anti-reflective lenses experience less visual discomfort and report feeling more confident during night driving. The reduced eye strain means you arrive at your destination feeling less fatigued, which is particularly important for longer nighttime journeys.
Additional Benefits Beyond Night Driving
While night driving improvement is often the primary motivation for choosing anti-reflective coatings, these lenses provide benefits throughout your day. Computer screens and digital devices create less glare, reducing digital eye strain during work hours. Indoor lighting appears more natural and comfortable, eliminating harsh reflections from fluorescent or LED fixtures.

Photography and video calls benefit from anti-reflective coatings as well. Without reflections obscuring your eyes, you appear more natural and engaged in photos and virtual meetings. The coatings also make your lenses nearly invisible, allowing others to see your eyes clearly during conversations.

These modern coatings often include additional protective features such as scratch resistance, water repellency, and UV protection. Some advanced options even filter blue light from digital screens while maintaining excellent optical clarity.
Choosing the Right Anti-Reflective Treatment
Not all anti-reflective coatings perform equally. Premium coatings offer superior durability, easier cleaning, and better optical performance than basic options. The best coatings resist fingerprints and smudges while maintaining their anti-reflective properties for years of reliable use.

Your lifestyle and visual needs influence the best coating choice. Frequent night drivers may benefit from coatings optimized for headlight glare reduction. Professional drivers or those spending significant time on computers might prefer options with blue light filtering capabilities.

Consider your prescription strength when selecting coatings as well. Higher prescriptions create more reflections, making anti-reflective treatment particularly beneficial. Even those with mild prescriptions or non-prescription sunglasses can experience meaningful improvements in visual comfort and clarity.
Contact Focused Eye Care for Better Night Vision
Don't let nighttime driving anxiety limit your mobility or compromise your safety. Our experienced optometrists have helped countless New Hampshire residents improve their night vision through properly fitted anti-reflective lenses customized for their unique needs and lifestyle demands.

We offer comprehensive eye examinations and lens consultations at both our Nashua and Milford locations, using advanced diagnostic equipment to ensure your vision correction provides optimal safety and comfort. Ready to experience clearer, safer night driving? Schedule your appointment with our team today.

#### Caring for Our Eye Health As We Age
Our eyesight, among many other things, tends to change as we get older.
For any serious changes, it’s critical to get an early diagnosis. Many sight-threatening conditions that are associated with advancing age are combatted best by being discovered in the early stages. That’s the biggest we encourage more frequent eye exams for older patients, but our eyesight also changes in more benign ways as we get older, and those can be quite an adjustment too.

 
Common Age-Related Vision Changes
Some of the most common changes to vision that come with age include:

 	Dulled color perception: as we get older, the colors we see can become dull or yellowish.
 	Less tear production: our eyes don’t produce the same amount of tears when we’re older, which can lead to dry eye symptoms. Our tears help us maintain eye health and clear vision, so this can be a serious inconvenience.
 	Needing more light to see: we start needing more light to see clearly.
 	Presbyopia: most adults over age 45 begin to need reading glasses, bifocals, or transition lenses because the lenses in their eyes are becoming less flexible, making it harder to focus on close objects.
 	Increased glare sensitivity: glare can become more bothersome with age, which is a big problem while driving. Polarized lenses help by eliminating glare.

 
Sight-Threatening Eye Conditions Associated With Age
As frustrating and inconvenient as all of these smaller issues can be, the biggest concerns are the sight-threatening conditions that are often associated with age. These conditions include:

 	Retinal detachment
 	Macular degeneration
 	Diabetic retinopathy
 	Glaucoma
 	Cataracts

Some of these conditions are not reversible, but as medicine and technology have advanced, they have become easier to treat or slow down, and more innovations will continue to improve their prognoses in the coming years. Early diagnosis is the most important tool we have, and that’s why regular eye exams are so critical.

 
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
Beyond regular eye exams, there is a lot we can all do at home to look after our eye health. UV-blocking sunglasses are a fantastic preventative measure whenever we’re out in the sun, no matter what time of year it is. If we maintain an active lifestyle with regular exercise, a diet full of nutritious foods, and avoiding dangerous habits like smoking, we can greatly reduce our eye disease risk factors while also getting all the other benefits of healthy living!

Another easy tip to reduce short-term discomfort if you tend to spend a lot of your day looking at screens for work (or fun) is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. It’s simple: after every 20 minutes of screentime, take a 20-second break looking at something at least 20 feet away. This will help minimize the effects of eye strain.

 
Our Goal Is Your LIfelong Vision Health!
We cannot overstate the importance of yearly eye exams. If it’s been longer than a year since we saw you and you’re over the age of 40, now would be an excellent time to schedule an appointment at our office!

 
We look forward to seeing you!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Caring for Your New Glasses: What to Expect from Focused Eye Care
Congratulations on your new eyewear — your glasses are as unique as you are. At Focused Eye Care, we’re honored you’ve trusted us with your eye care. Our mission is simple: to provide exceptional, personalized service that helps you see and feel your best.

From the moment you pick up your new glasses, our team is here for you. Every pair of glasses we dispense is carefully crafted to meet your individual needs. Our optometrists and opticians record precise measurements, use the latest technology and offer durable, high-quality frames so you can look — and see — your best.
Our Promise to You
At Focused Eye Care, we believe in putting People First — a value we live every day through our commitment to pursue excellence. That means providing best-in-class, personalized care at every step, including after you leave our office.

Adjustments, tune-ups and cleanings are always free, and no appointment is necessary — just stop by either of our locations anytime.

We stand behind the products we offer. All frames come with a 1-year warranty and lifetime repairs and adjustments. If your lenses feature Crizal® anti-glare coatings, they’re also covered by a 2-year scratch warranty. If your lenses scratch, Crizal® has you covered.
How to Care for Your Glasses at Home
Your lenses can pick up dust, fingerprints and smudges that affect your vision. Caring for them properly ensures clear sight and protects your investment:

 	Use lens cleaner with the cleaning cloth provided.
 	To remove grease and fingerprints, dish soap and tap water can also be used.
 	Dry lenses with your cleaning cloth.
 	Cleaning cloths may be laundered and dried, but avoid fabric softener.

Here When You Need Us
Our dedicated team provides eye care with compassion and expertise, supported by advanced technology. Whether you need a quick adjustment or a replacement cleaning cloth, we’re here to help — no appointment necessary.

#### Cataract Treatment Across History
The world’s leading cause of blindness has always been cataracts. Naturally, treatment has come a long way.
Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness — and treatment has come a long way. In the United States, more than 20 million adults over the age of 40 are affected by cataracts. By age 80, about half of all adults will have them.

In a healthy eye, the lens contains transparent proteins. When these proteins clump together and become opaque, they interfere with vision. Symptoms can include light sensitivity, dim or clouded vision, glare, halo effects around lights, double vision in one eye, faded colors, impaired night vision, and frequent changes to glasses prescriptions.

How Cataracts Were Treated in Ancient Times
The earliest known attempt to treat cataracts dates back to 600 BC, potentially making it one of the first ailments people tried to treat surgically. At the time, the method was known as “couching.” Practitioners would strike the eye with a blunt object to dislodge the cloudy lens. While this could sometimes restore light perception, it left the patient without the ability to focus—offering only partial improvement from blindness.

Later versions of couching used sharp instruments, which improved outcomes slightly. A significant breakthrough didn’t occur until 1747, when French surgeon Jacques Daviel succeeded in removing the cataract altogether. This marked a dramatic improvement, especially when combined with topical anesthesia. However, surgeons still lacked a way to replace the damaged lens with a clear one.

Claude Monet and Cataract Surgery in the 1920s
Cataracts can be frustrating for anyone—but especially for artists. French Impressionist Claude Monet began developing cataracts in his mid-fifties. The condition influenced his artwork, which became muddier in tone as his vision declined.

Monet initially avoided surgery after the poor outcomes from earlier treatments among his peers. He relied on eye drops until eventually agreeing to cataract surgery in one eye in 1923. Although he was a famously difficult patient, the combination of surgery and thick glasses significantly improved his sight. He continued painting with a renewed visual clarity for several years afterward.

Modern Cataract Surgery
If Monet faced cataracts today, he would likely undergo surgery without hesitation. Modern cataract surgery has a success rate of 98–99%. Thanks to advances in silicone and plastic materials, the cloudy natural lens can be replaced with a clear, artificial one—eliminating the need for thick corrective glasses.

Each year, about 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery. Most enjoy significantly improved vision afterward, with many achieving 20/20 vision for the first time in decades.

Are You Noticing Cataract Symptoms?
If you’ve noticed any changes to your vision that sound like those mentioned above, schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Today’s cataract treatments are safe, effective and widely available — there’s no reason to let cataracts limit your quality of life.

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Cataracts And Our Vision
Over 20 million adults age 40 and older and half of seniors 80 and older have cataracts, and that’s just in the US.
Because cataracts are so common, it’s important to know what they are, their symptoms, and how they can be treated.
The Basics Of Cataracts
Normally, the proteins inside the lenses of our eyes line up in a way that makes them completely transparent, but over time they can begin to clump together in a way that blocks light. This clump of proteins is a cataract. It doesn’t affect the rest of the eye’s anatomy, but it can dim or fully obscure vision. Cataracts are so common that they are the leading cause of blindness across the world.
Cataract Symptoms
Cataracts may only take up a small area of the eyes’ lenses when they first begin to form, and the effect isn’t that noticeable. However, over time, the following symptoms may appear:

 	Dim, blurry, or cloudy vision
 	Difficulty seeing at night
 	Light sensitivity and increased glare
 	Halo effect around lights
 	Frequent changes in corrective lense prescriptions
 	Fading or yellowing colors
 	Double vision in one eye

Causes Aside From Old Age
While advancing age is the most common risk factor for cataracts, plenty of people get them starting at age 40, and several things increase our chances of getting them, including:

 	Diabetes
 	Smoking
 	Family history of cataracts
 	UV radiation
 	High blood pressure
 	Previous eye injury or inflammation
 	Previous eye surgery
 	Obesity
 	Excessive alcohol consumption
 	Prolonged corticosteroid medication use

Now For The Good News
Eventually, glasses or contacts won’t be able to do enough to counter the effects of cataracts. Fortunately, an eye surgeon can easily remove the cataracts and restore the patient’s clear vision, and it only takes one short surgery per eye. Cataract surgery is such a low-risk, routine, and simple surgery that it is performed more frequently than any other surgery in the US — at a rate of three million surgeries per year!

Sometimes cataract surgery can even correct other vision problems, like astigmatism:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kIYj0hZ21OE
Are You Experiencing Symptoms?
If you or someone you love has been dealing with cataract symptoms, there’s no need to suffer in silence! Schedule an appointment with us so that we can start making a plan to get you or your loved one back to a life free of cloudy vision!

Thank you for being a part of our practice family!

Top image by Flickr user Adam McGuffie used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Childhood Myopia: Early Intervention Strategies and Treatment Options
If your child squints at the board from the back of the classroom or holds books closer to their face, they might have myopia. This common vision condition, also called nearsightedness, affects how clearly children see distant objects. More importantly, myopia often progresses during childhood, potentially increasing the risk of serious eye problems later in life.

The good news is myopia control has advanced significantly in recent years. At Focused Eye Care, our doctors help families protect their children's vision with proven treatment strategies. Rather than simply prescribing stronger glasses each year, our team can slow how quickly myopia worsens in many children.
Understanding Childhood Myopia Progression
Myopia occurs when the eye grows abnormally, creating vision problems children will carry into adulthood without proper intervention.
How Myopia Develops
Myopia develops when the eye grows too long from front to back. Light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it, making distant objects appear blurry. This typically starts between ages 6 and 12 and worsens as children grow.
Risk Factors and Progression Patterns
The rate of progression varies from child to child. Some children's myopia stabilizes quickly, while others experience steady increases in prescription strength throughout their school years. Without intervention, rapidly progressing myopia can lead to high myopia, which increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and early cataracts in adulthood.
Contributing Factors
Several factors influence myopia development and progression. Genetics plays a significant role. Children with myopic parents have a higher risk. Extended periods of close-up work, like reading or screen time, can contribute to progression. Spending less time outdoors has also been linked to increased myopia risk in children.
The Importance of Early Detection
Regular comprehensive eye exams are the foundation of early myopia detection. Many parents assume vision screenings at school are sufficient, but these basic tests often miss myopia in its early stages. A thorough children's eye exam by an optometrist includes more detailed assessments of how the eye focuses and measures the eye's overall health. Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam around age 6 months, another at age 3, and then before starting first grade.

Early detection matters because myopia control strategies work best when started as soon as possible after myopia develops. The earlier treatment begins, the more effectively it can slow progression during the critical growth years of childhood and adolescence. Annual eye exams help track any changes in vision and eye health.
Myopia Control Treatment Options
Today's myopia control methods go far beyond simply updating prescriptions each year, offering real solutions to slow progression.
Specialty Contact Lenses
Specialty contact lenses designed for myopia control work differently than standard contacts. These lenses create specific optical effects to help slow eye elongation while still providing clear vision. Multifocal soft contact lenses incorporate different zones to focus light in ways to reduce the stimulus for eye growth.

These specialized lenses have shown effectiveness in slowing myopia progression compared to single-vision glasses or regular contact lenses. Children as young as 7 or 8 can successfully wear these lenses with proper training and supervision. The lenses require careful fitting and follow-up care to ensure they center properly on the eye and the child maintains good lens hygiene.
Atropine Eye Drops
Low-dose atropine eye drops have emerged as an effective pharmaceutical approach to myopia control. Applied nightly, these drops slow myopia progression with minimal side effects. Low concentrations of atropine can reduce progression while avoiding the vision problems associated with higher doses.

Treatment with atropine drops requires consistent application and regular monitoring. The optometrist will start with a specific concentration and adjust based on how well myopia progression slows and whether any side effects develop. Most children tolerate the drops well, and parents find them easy to administer as part of the bedtime routine.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) offers a unique approach to myopia control using specially designed contact lenses worn overnight. These rigid gas-permeable lenses gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps, providing clear vision during the day without needing glasses or contact lenses. The corneal reshaping also creates the optical effects needed to slow myopia progression. Children wake up with clear vision and go through their entire day without corrective eyewear.

Ortho-K works well for active children who play sports or find daytime contact lenses uncomfortable. The treatment requires careful fitting by an optometrist trained in orthokeratology, along with regular follow-up visits to monitor corneal health and myopia progression. Most children adapt quickly to the wearing schedule, and parents appreciate the freedom from daytime eyewear.
Stellest Lenses
Stellest lenses represent breakthrough technology in myopia control through eyeglasses. These are the first and only FDA market-authorized spectacle lenses designed specifically to slow myopia progression in children. The lenses use innovative technology with microscopic lenslets across the surface to manage how light focuses in the eye, while the central zone provides clear vision for daily activities.

Stellest lenses offer an excellent option for children who cannot or prefer not to wear contact lenses. The treatment requires no special routines beyond wearing the glasses consistently throughout the day. Regular eye exams monitor how well the lenses control myopia progression and determine when prescription updates are needed.
Lifestyle Modifications
While not a standalone treatment, encouraging certain behaviors can support myopia control efforts. Children who spend more time outdoors tend to have slower myopia progression. Natural outdoor light may influence eye growth in beneficial ways. Aim for at least 1-2 hours of outdoor time daily.

Managing near-work activities can also help. While you shouldn't restrict reading or homework, encourage the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of close work, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Proper lighting, good posture, and maintaining a reasonable distance from books and screens all contribute to eye health.
Creating a Treatment Plan
The right myopia control approach depends on your child's age, degree of myopia, lifestyle, and overall health. Many factors go into this decision, including how rapidly the myopia is progressing and your family's ability to manage different treatment requirements. Some children do well with specialty contact lenses, particularly those involved in sports or other activities where glasses prove inconvenient.

A treatment plan also includes regular monitoring to assess effectiveness. Your child will need follow-up visits every 3-6 months to measure vision changes and evaluate eye growth. These appointments allow the optometrist to adjust the treatment approach if needed and ensure the eyes remain healthy.
Schedule Your Child's Eye Exam at Focused Eye Care
Focused Eye Care has served families in Nashua and Milford for over six decades, with recognition as "Best Optometrist" in the greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley region. Our doctors stay current with the latest myopia control research and technologies to provide the most effective care for children with progressive nearsightedness. We work with multiple insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible to all families throughout New Hampshire.

With 10 doctors on staff, including pediatric vision specialists, we provide the thorough, personalized care your child needs to protect their vision. Book an appointment today to discuss how we can help manage your child's myopia and reduce their risk of serious eye problems in the future.

#### Comprehensive Eye Exams and Education
Name five things you would expect to find in every school nurse’s office.
Was the big E-eye chart on your list? That’s the Snellen chart, named after Herman Snellen, a 19th-century Dutch eye doctor who developed it, and it’s a great diagnostic tool for catching nearsightedness. Unfortunately, nearsightedness is far from the only vision problem a child could have—or the only one that can impact their education. This is why comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist are so important for children starting school.

 
The Link Between Eyesight and Learning
Up to 80% of a sighted person’s learning is linked to their vision. The ability to see clearly and effectively perform visual tasks is critical to a developing child’s social life, education, and performance in sports. They spend a large portion of their time at school reading textbooks, writing in notebooks, and reading off of whiteboards, all of which require good vision.

 
The Invisible Vision Problems
If a child has one of the many vision problems unrelated to nearsightedness, there’s a serious risk that it won’t be diagnosed, whether it’s farsightedness, color blindness, astigmatism, poor hand-eye coordination, poor visual perception, or an error in their binocular vision that impacts their ability to focus, track, and team. Any of these problems can make simple school tasks harder and less enjoyable and have a major impact on their learning.

 
The Impact of an Undiagnosed Vision Problem
If something goes wrong with our eyesight when we’re adults, we can more easily recognize that it’s a problem with our eyes, not just a normal thing that everyone experiences but only we struggle to manage. Kids, on the other hand, may think that they are the problem — that they aren’t smart enough to succeed in school or that learning is boring. Adults can inadvertently reinforce these attitudes because they might think the child has a learning disorder instead of a vision problem.

 
Recognize Common Eye Problem Symptoms
Some eye problems are very obvious, such as an eye pointing in the wrong direction, but many symptoms are subtle. Watch for any of the following if you are a parent:

 	Difficulty with reading comprehension
 	Difficulty completing schoolwork
 	A short attention span (especially for close work)
 	A habit of covering one eye
 	Frequent headaches
 	Frequent blinking and eye-rubbing
 	Fidgeting

If your child has these symptoms, make sure to at least rule out vision problems by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam before assuming the problem is a learning disorder.

 
Give Your Child’s Education the Best Start With an Eye Exam
The earlier we can diagnose and treat a vision problem, whether through glasses, visual therapy, or some other treatment, the less time it will have to hinder a child’s education, their social life, or the activities they might otherwise excel at and enjoy. With school about to start, now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s comprehensive eye exam. We can diagnose or rule out the less obvious eye problems the school nurse will miss with the big E chart!

 
Helping our patients see clearly is what we love!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Contact Lens Options for Hard-to-Fit Eyes
Not everyone can wear standard soft contact lenses comfortably or effectively. People with irregular corneas, high astigmatism, keratoconus, or corneal scarring often struggle to find contact lenses providing clear, stable vision.

At Focused Eye Care, our doctors offer advanced specialty contact lens fitting solutions for patients whose vision cannot be corrected by conventional methods. Hard-to-fit eyes require personalized fitting strategies and custom lens designs. With the right approach, most people with challenging prescriptions or corneal irregularities can enjoy the freedom and clarity contact lenses provide.
Why Some Eyes Are Harder to Fit
Your eyes may be considered hard to fit if you have any of the following conditions:

 	High astigmatism causes an irregular corneal curvature, making it difficult for standard spherical lenses to fit properly and provide clear vision.
 	Keratoconus causes your cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape, distorting your vision and preventing regular contact lenses from centering correctly on your eye.
 	Corneal scarring from injury or infection creates uneven surfaces that standard lenses cannot accommodate, resulting in discomfort and blurred vision.
 	Dry eye symptoms can make wearing lenses uncomfortable or impossible with conventional options, as standard lenses can worsen dryness and irritation.
 	Post-surgical corneas, whether from LASIK, cataract surgery, or corneal transplants, often require custom lens designs to achieve optimal vision and comfort.
 	Giant papillary conjunctivitis develops when your eyelids react to contact lens wear, creating bumps under the upper lid and causing discomfort with traditional lenses.
 	Presbyopia after age 40 means you need both distance and near vision correction, which typically requires multifocal or custom lens designs.

Several advanced lens designs can address these challenging situations and restore clear, comfortable vision for most patients.
Specialty Contact Lens Options
Rigid gas permeable lenses, often called RGPs or hard lenses, maintain their shape on your eye and vault over corneal irregularities. They provide sharper vision than soft lenses for many hard-to-fit conditions. While they require an adaptation period, most wearers find them comfortable after a few weeks of consistent wear. Scleral lenses are larger-diameter rigid lenses resting on the white part of your eye rather than the cornea. They create a fluid reservoir between the lens and your cornea, which makes them excellent for dry eye sufferers and those with corneal irregularities.

The fluid layer smooths out corneal distortions and provides consistent, stable vision throughout the day. Hybrid lenses combine a rigid center with a soft outer skirt, offering the clarity of gas-permeable lenses with the comfort of soft lenses. Toric soft lenses correct astigmatism using weighted designs or stabilization zones to keep the prescription oriented adequately on your eye. Custom soft lenses can be manufactured with parameters outside the standard ranges for unusual prescriptions or eye shapes.
What to Expect During Specialty Lens Fitting
The fitting process for specialty contact lenses requires more time and precision than standard  fittings. Our doctors will perform detailed measurements of your corneal shape using advanced diagnostic equipment. We'll evaluate your tear film quality and measure your cornea's curvature and diameter to select the best lens type for your needs.

You'll try diagnostic lenses in the office to assess fit, comfort, and vision quality. We'll adjust the lens parameters based on the initial lenses' performance. Follow-up appointments allow us to refine the fit and ensure your eyes are responding well to the lenses. Your doctor will provide instructions on proper insertion, removal, and care for your specific lens type. The adaptation period varies by lens type. Soft custom lenses typically feel comfortable immediately, while rigid lenses may take one to two weeks of gradual wear to feel natural.
Caring for Specialty Contact Lenses
Proper care extends the life of your lenses and protects your eye health. Most rigid gas-permeable and scleral lenses require multipurpose solutions or hydrogen peroxide cleaning systems. Daily cleaning removes protein deposits and lipid buildup, which cloud your vision and harbor bacteria. For scleral lenses, fill the bowl with saline solution before insertion to create a fluid reservoir.

Never use tap water to clean or store your lenses, as it can contain microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections. Replace your contact lens case every three months to prevent bacterial contamination. Schedule regular follow-up eye exams to monitor your eye health and update your prescription if needed. The contact lens team at both our Nashua and Milford locations can guide you through proper care techniques and answer any questions about maintaining your lenses.
Schedule Your Specialty Contact Lens Consultation at Focused Eye Care
If you've been told you can't wear contact lenses, or if your current lenses don't provide the vision or comfort you need, custom contact lenses may be the solution. Our doctors have extensive training in advanced contact lens fitting techniques and stay current with the latest lens technologies. We work with patients who have complex prescriptions, corneal irregularities, and dry-eye needs to identify contact lens options that restore clear, comfortable vision.

Focused Eye Care serves patients throughout New Hampshire with comprehensive eye care services. All of our doctors are members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, ensuring you receive care based on the highest professional standards. Contact us today to schedule your custom contact lens evaluation and discover the difference personalized fitting can make.

#### Convincing Your Child That Glasses Rule
Wearing glasses for the first time can be a difficult adjustment for any child.
Being able to see clearly might not always seem worth it to them compared to how strange the glasses feel on their nose and ears or what their peers think, so what can you do as a parent to help them get in the habit and really love their glasses? We’ve come up with five good approaches you can use.
 
1. Make Sure Their Glasses Fit
Ill-fitting glasses, no matter how perfectly they correct your child’s vision, are not going to be fun to wear, and they will be taking them off every chance they get. Whether they fall too easily or pinch too hard, we have tools at our practice to correct the fit of glasses. If your child’s glasses don’t fit properly, come see us so we can adjust them.
 
2. Set Goals For Wearing Glasses
For a child who isn’t willing to wear their glasses full-time from the start, a gradual ramp-up might be a good idea. You can begin small by expecting them to wear their glasses for just a half-hour, then increase to an hour, then two, and ultimately they’ll be wearing them all day. You could offer small prizes for achieving these milestones to give them more motivation.
 
3. Find Bespectacled Role Models
A great way to combat your child’s worries that they’ll be made fun of for wearing glasses is to remind them that some pretty awesome people wear glasses too. Show them pictures of some of their favorite actors or inspirational figures wearing glasses, and point out that characters like Harry Potter, Superman, and Supergirl wear glasses (even if the latter two only wear them as their mild-mannered disguises).
 
4. Let Them Choose Their Glasses
Another essential for helping your child feel confident in their glasses is to let them pick out their own frames! Glasses are like a customizable facial feature, and that makes them a wonderful expression of personal style. So forget about your own ideas of color coordination and fashion, because your child has their own idea of what cool glasses look like.
A similar factor to think about is how the glasses make your child look for their age. A toddler should wear glasses made for toddlers, but older children will feel embarrassed to wear “baby glasses.” They want adults and other kids to respect them for how grown-up they seem, and their glasses are part of that.
 
5. Stand Firm And Enlist Help
Perhaps the most important thing to do is to remain firm in your expectations. Even with the perfect, well-fitting glasses and good role models to look up to, if you aren’t a stickler about making sure your child meets their glasses goals, it might not matter. And for the times and places when you aren’t around to check that the glasses are on, you might be able to recruit other adults, like their teachers, to help.
 
We Can Help Too!
Another group of adults who can help your child grow to love wearing glasses is the team at our practice! We’re the biggest glasses fans you’ll meet, and we’re happy to share our enthusiasm. We’d love to hear from you, whether these five tips did the trick or if you need a few other ideas to try. We can’t wait to see your child looking happy and confident in their glasses!
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Corrective Lenses Through History
Since as early as 60 A.D., people have been using vision-correcting tools to help them see.
Around that time, the Roman philosopher Seneca used a glass globe of water to magnify text, while Emperor Nero needed a magnifying emerald to see gladiator fights. Thanks to millennia of innovations since then, we don’t need to rely on water bowls or jewels, and it’s fascinating to see how we got here!
 
Centuries of Evolving Corrective Lenses
The monks of 10th century Europe came up with the next big leap forward in technology for helping with vision. They needed to be able to see small details to do their beautiful illuminated calligraphy work, and so they used polished domes of transparent quartz called “reading stones.”
It would be another couple of centuries before it occurred to anyone to fix reading stones on wearable frames for easy use. The identity of the inventor of these early spectacles is unknown, though a Florentinian named Salvino D’armati is often credited for it.
 
Glasses Working Their Way Down the Class System
When spectacles were first invented, they could only be made out of very expensive materials like crystal, which made them a status symbol for the wealthy and too costly for anyone else. However, with the skyrocketing literacy rates of Europe after the invention of the printing press in 1440, demand for affordable reading glasses increased. They started using glass to make the lenses, which was much cheaper than crystal.
 
Folding Frames and Prescription Lenses
Glasses still had a long way to go. The frames weren’t like modern ones; they had to perch on the nose or be held with a handle, and glass blowers who made the lenses couldn’t fine-tune them very much for people with different refractive errors. Glasses finally became hands-free in the 1700s when the temples (the portion that extends back past the ear) were added.
We credit Benjamin Franklin with the invention of bifocals, and that was also when hinges were introduced so that glasses could be folded and stored more compactly. Eye doctors were getting better all the time at tailoring lenses to patients’ individual needs, including cylindrical lenses to correct astigmatism in the early 1800s, and finally, in 1862, Dutch eye doctor Herman Snellen invented the “big E” chart, standardizing vision correction.
 
Glasses Today
We’re so fortunate to be able to get glasses (or contact lenses) that exactly address our vision problems, and we can also choose from a range of materials and coatings and a variety of shapes and colors to suit our style. Modern optometrists stand on the shoulders of giants! If you’re looking for a new pair of glasses or need an updated prescription, we’re happy to help.
 
It’s amazing how far glasses have come!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Diabetes and Eyesight
Healthy vision is one of the many things diabetes can harm if it isn’t carefully controlled.
This is true for both type 1, type 2, and even gestational diabetes (which works like type 2 while it lasts). With diabetes, the risk of developing a number of eye diseases goes up, including cataracts, diabetic macular edema (DME), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. If you combine these diseases under the umbrella term “diabetic eye disease,” that makes diabetes a worldwide leading cause of blindness.
 
How Diabetes Works
Having type 2 or gestational diabetes means that the body is unable to effectively use insulin to regulate blood sugar. Type 1 means that the body cannot produce enough (or any) insulin to begin with. When diabetes isn’t carefully managed, it results in periods of dangerously high blood sugar, which feeds harmful bacteria and makes the blood more acidic. So how does this impact eyes?
 
Diabetes and Cataracts
A diabetic person is as much as five times more likely to develop cataracts than someone without diabetes. Why? Because high blood sugar can make the lens of the eye swell and cause opaque proteins to accumulate there, which turns it cloudy. Thanks to modern cataract removal surgery, however, cataracts are very treatable.
 
Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Edema
When the blood is more acidic from high blood sugar, it can actually damage blood vessels. This is a big problem for the tiny capillaries that nourish the retina at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is when those capillaries leak. The body attempts to repair the damage by growing new blood vessels, but these are less stable and even more likely to leak than the old ones. There aren’t always symptoms at first, but a common one is dark blotches or floaters in the field of vision.
About 10% of people who get diabetic retinopathy eventually develop its cousin, DME, which is the buildup of fluid in the macula (the part of the retina that gives us our detailed central vision). The fluid distorts vision and washes out colors. It may need surgical treatment to restore more normal vision.
 
Diabetes and Glaucoma
It might surprise you to learn that the fluid inside our eyes doesn’t just sit there for our entire lives. Our eyes are actually replacing that fluid bit by bit all the time, and it’s an important part of eye health. Glaucoma is what happens when that process gets blocked and pressure builds against the optic nerve until it causes damage (which can be as severe as permanent blindness). A diabetic is more likely to develop glaucoma, and it doesn’t always have obvious symptoms at first. The best way to catch it is with regular eye exams!
 
Eye Exams Can Save Your Sight
Regular eye exams are particularly important for helping diabetics protect their eyesight, because we can keep an eye out for early symptoms and reduce the risk of blindness by up to 95%. However, the most important thing is managing the diabetes. If the patient can keep their blood sugar as close to normal as possible, then they can reduce their risk levels for these eye diseases down to something closer to what people without diabetes experience. From there, we do the rest!
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Different Types Of Sunglasses
A good pair of sunglasses is a wonderful thing to have on a bright summer day, but why is that?
How do our sunglasses work? It’s not just about the dark tint. Different lenses have different effects, and knowing what those are enables you to choose the sunglasses that are best for you!

The Color Of The Lens Matters
Colored sunglasses lenses look pretty awesome, but did you know that they actually serve a purpose? If your lenses are yellow or amber, that makes them great for outdoor sports — snow sports especially, because they filter out the blue light glaring off the snow. They also increase contrast and improve your depth perception, which helps you see the changes in the snowy terrain.

Purple or rose lenses create greater contrast between objects and a blue or green background, and that makes them perfect for waterskiing and hunting! If you’d rather not have the colors you see altered by your lenses, though, you might prefer ones that are black, gray, or green. Green doesn’t change much about the colors you see, but it does still filter out blue light.

The Effect Of Mirrored Lenses
If you love the look of Aviator sunglasses, we’re right there with you. Like colored lenses, mirrored lenses have a greater benefit than just the cool look. They significantly reduce the amount of light that will reach your eyes because most of it bounces off the mirrored surface. This makes them great for sandy or snowy conditions, high altitudes, and being on the water. Wraparound mirror sunglasses are also pretty good for extreme sports.

Get Rid Of Glare With Polarized Lenses
If you want sunglasses that eliminate glare, polarized lenses are the way to go. They essentially work like windows with microscopic built-in blinds. Light is only able to enter from certain directions. This means that any light that has bounced off of surfaces around you, like water or a nearby car, can’t come through and hurt your eyes!

Polarised lenses tend to be pricier than other types, but they make driving on a bright day much easier, and they’re wonderful to have for an outdoor adventure.

Check out this video to learn more about polarized lenses:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/QO-QjSMTYr4?feature=oembed
Beware Cheap Sunglasses
The price tags on high-quality sunglasses can make a lot of people balk, but these lenses are worth the extra cost. Cheap sunglasses can actually put your eyes in more danger than if you simply went without sunglasses altogether. Being dark-tinted does not mean the lenses offer your eyes crucial UV-protection. Instead, they can trick your pupils into dilating, which lets even more of those harmful rays in. At least when you’re squinting against the bright light, your pupils know to contract.
Come To Us With Your Sunglasses Questions!
If you still have questions about what kinds of sunglasses would be right for you, just ask us! We can help you make sure you get sunglasses that protect your eyes the best for your favorite outdoor activities. In particular, we can help you make sure your sunglasses offer full UV protection!
We hope all of our wonderful patients have a fantastic summer!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Don’t Forget Your Sunglasses!
With summer almost here, many of us are looking forward to spending a lot of time outdoors.
Before we head out, though, we need to make sure we’re protecting ourselves from the sun’s UV rays, both with sunscreen for our skin and with sunglasses for our eyes.
Why We Need UV Protection
We all know that we can get nasty sunburns if we stay outside too long without sunscreen, but did you know that our eyes can be damaged in similar ways by too much sunlight? UV-A rays reach all the way to our retinas and can lead to macular degeneration (loss of central vision), while UV-B rays affect the cornea and lens, causing corneal sunburns and increasing the risk of developing cataracts.
Sunglasses Have Come A Long Way
The earliest form of sunglasses were flattened walrus ivory with slits across the front, made by the Inuit people to protect against glare from the snow. They worked pretty well, and the same principle is used in modern polarized lenses. Non-polarized sunglasses became popular thanks to early film stars, but polarized lenses weren’t developed until the mid-1930s.

Over the decades, sunglasses have gone through numerous different styles. The cat-eye frame was made popular in the 1950s by Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, the ’60s saw the big bug-eyed frames take off because of Jackie Kennedy, and so on. These days, everyone has a unique style, taking inspiration from many of the past decades. And while we always like to look cool in our shades, the most important factor should always be that they do an effective job of protecting our eyes from the sun.
Finding The Right Pair
The first thing to look for when choosing new sunglasses is UV protection. When you buy sunglasses, make sure the label says they block at least 99 percent of UV rays. The next thing to look for is the size. Although most sunglasses are chosen for their style, opting for a style that has wider frames will allow more coverage and protection. Choosing frames that sit closer to the eyes will help to make sure you get more coverage too!

Another variable to consider apart from style is the color of the lenses, because different colors provide different benefits. Yellow and amber lenses filter out blue light, which makes them great for sports, while rose and purple lenses increase contrast against blue and green backgrounds, which makes them great for hunting and water skiing. Whatever color you choose, though, polarized lenses will give you the best glare reduction.
Come Try On Our Shades
If you’re still not sure which sunglasses are right for you, don’t stress. Come see us and we can help you pick out the perfect ones to suit your style and protect your eyes. We can fit them to you as well and make sure you’ll get the most UV protection possible!
We can’t wait to see you in your shades!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Dr. Catherine Johnson, O.D./F.A.A.O., Joins Focused Eye Care
Expertise in Pediatric Optometry Expands Services for Young Children
NASHUA, N.H. (January 8, 2024) – Focused Eye Care, a practice dedicated to providing comprehensive eye health and vision care services to southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts, recently welcomed Catherine Johnson, Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) and Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (F.A.A.O.), to its growing team in a newly created pediatric role. Bringing 16 years of specialized training and extensive experience in pediatric optometry to Focused Eye Care, Dr. Johnson will expand the practice’s ability to serve very young children as well as individuals with disabilities.

“Children’s vision and eye health has always been a top priority at Focused Eye Care,” said Dr. Sarah Jagatic, O.D., a partner of the practice. “With Dr. Johnson on board, we now offer pediatric expertise and services for children and individuals with disabilities that are unmatched in southern New Hampshire.”

Dr. Johnson earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from New England College of Optometry (NECO) and completed her pediatric optometry residency at the same institution. She subsequently became an associate professor at NECO while providing pediatric eye care services at school-based clinics in Boston and Perkins school for the Blind in Watertown Massachusetts. She later joined Specialized Pediatric Eye Care; a community-based child’s vision specialty office based in Massachusetts. She has been involved in numerous research studies and has written extensively about pediatric vision topics, including amblyopia, the role of vision and eye health in optimizing learning and issues surrounding access to care. Dr. Johnson has donated her time to international eye care missions and a broad range of regional causes. She continues to serve as a Coalition Member for Children’s Vision Massachusetts.

Dr. Johnson has worked at Perkins School for the Blind and other organizations serving individuals with disabilities, finding it deeply rewarding to advance public health for all populations. Her passion for her work with children carries over to her practice, where she focuses on each child’s unique visual and developmental needs.

“I value working with community members to treat eye health holistically, particularly when vision plays such an important role in childhood development,” said Dr. Johnson.

Dr. Johnson resides in Andover, Massachusetts with her husband and three children.

#### Dr. Lyudmila Sutherland, O.D., Joins Focused Eye Care
Dr. Sutherland provides comprehensive eye care as well as management of dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and other ocular conditions.
Nashua, N.H. (June 17, 2024) – Focused Eye Care, an optometry office focused on serving the needs and treatment of patients living in the Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts areas, has recently welcomed Dr. Lyudmila Sutherland to its ever-growing team. With over a decade of experience in optometry, Dr. Sutherland provides comprehensive eye care as well as management of dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and other ocular conditions.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sutherland to Focused Eye Care," said Dr. Sarah Jagatic, "Dr. Sutherland brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, and we’re confident she will provide exceptional, compassionate care to our patients."

After graduating from an accelerated program from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, Dr. Sutherland earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2012 from the New England College of Optometry. She completed her residency through the VA Boston Healthcare System, specializing in working with low-vision patients and individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

After completing her residency, she began working at Eye Center of the North Shore in Salem, MA, beginning her career-long specialization in comprehensive eye care, management of ocular diseases and dry eye syndrome. During her time with the Eye Center, Dr. Sutherland also continued to serve low-vision patients, working closely with both occupational therapists from Massachusetts Association for the Blind (MAB) and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB).

Dr. Sutherland has also spent time as an optometrist at Ocean Eye Care in Gloucester, MA and Lens Doctors INC and MyEyeDr in Manchester, NH before joining the Focused Eye Care team.

"As an eye care provider, I value the importance of personalized care for the entire family," said Dr. Sutherland. "I am thrilled to join the team at Focused Eye Care, where the highest quality of care is emphasized for every patient."

Dr. Sutherland resides in Bedford, NH with her husband and two children.

#### Dr. Ronald Coutu, O.D., Joins Focused Eye Care
Noted optometrist brings more than 30 years of experience to new position
Nashua, N.H. (March 29, 2024) – Focused Eye Care, a well-established southern New Hampshire practice providing comprehensive eye health and optometry services, has announced that optometrist Ronald Coutu has joined its growing team. Dr. Coutu brings more than 30 years of practice experience to Focused Eye Care and has served for more than 14 years on the board of directors for the New Hampshire Optometric Association (NHOA). He focuses his work on medical-based optometry with a sub-specialty in contact lens fitting for both specialty and standard contact lenses.

“Dr. Coutu brings a reputation for outstanding service and deep knowledge about medical optometry, including issues related to diabetes, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. We are delighted to welcome him to our expanding practice,” said Sarah Jagatic, OD, partner in the practice.

Before joining Focused Eye Care, Dr. Coutu was a staff optometrist at Nashua Eye Associates P.A. in Milford for 32 years. Early in his career, he served as an adjunct professor in the ophthalmic medical assistant program at Nashua Community College and as a clinical instructor at the New England Eye Institute.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vt., Dr. Coutu received his M.B.A. from Plymouth State University and his Doctor of Optometry (OD) from The New England College of Optometry. He has received numerous awards throughout his career and has been voted Best Optometrist of the Souhegan Valley three times by the Greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“I am excited for a new chapter in my career at Focused Eye Care, doing what I love, which is to help people with eye care,” said Dr. Coutu.

Dr. Coutu resides in Bedford with his wife Patty and their dog Lola.

#### Eye Care for Diabetics: How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Checked?
Diabetes affects nearly every system in the body, including the eyes. High blood sugar levels damage delicate blood vessels in the retina over time, increasing the risk of diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and other vision-threatening conditions. For diabetics, the question is not whether to schedule specialty eye care, but rather how often to protect their vision and catch problems early.

At Focused Eye Care, our team of 10 doctors has been serving patients in Nashua and Milford, New Hampshire, since 1962. Our doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating diabetic eye disease and are all members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association. 
How Diabetes Damages Your Eyes
Diabetes harms vision by weakening the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. When blood sugar levels remain elevated, these vessels can leak fluid, swell, or develop abnormal new blood vessels that bleed into the eye. This condition, known as diabetic retinopathy, develops gradually and often without noticeable symptoms in its early stages.
Stages of Diabetic Eye Disease
The progression of diabetic eye disease occurs in distinct phases. Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy is the early stage where small blood vessels begin to weaken and leak. As the condition advances to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, new, fragile blood vessels grow on the retina's surface and can cause sudden vision loss if they bleed. Diabetic macular edema, which occurs when fluid accumulates in the macula, affects the sharp central vision needed for reading and recognizing faces.

Beyond retinopathy, diabetes increases the risk of other eye conditions. People with diabetes develop cataracts at younger ages and face twice the risk of glaucoma compared to those without diabetes. 
Recommended Exam Schedule for Diabetics
You should have an eye exam at least every year if you have diabetes. Annual comprehensive eye exams allow our doctors to detect changes in your retinal health before symptoms appear. Early detection provides the best opportunity to preserve vision through timely treatment.

Patients with existing diabetic eye disease or additional risk factors may need more frequent exams every six months or quarterly. Our doctors at Focused Eye Care tailor exam schedules to individual disease progression, blood sugar control, and overall health status. 

What Happens During Your Diabetic Eye Exam

A comprehensive diabetic eye exam extends beyond a simple vision check. Our doctors perform a thorough evaluation using advanced diagnostic technologies to assess retinal health and detect early signs of damage. The exam includes visual acuity testing, dilated eye examination to view the entire retina, tonometry to measure eye pressure, and specialized imaging to document changes over time.
Advanced Technology for Early Detection
Focused Eye Care uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to identify diabetic eye disease in its earliest stages. Optical Coherence Tomography provides detailed cross-sectional images of the retina, revealing even subtle changes in retinal thickness or fluid accumulation that may not be visible during a standard exam. Optomap technology captures ultra-widefield images of the retina, providing comprehensive views of the peripheral retina where diabetic changes often first appear. Our doctors utilize these advanced tools to accurately monitor disease progression and adjust treatment plans as needed.
Treatment and Management Options
Treatment for diabetic eye disease depends on the stage and severity of damage. For early-stage diabetic retinopathy, careful blood sugar management combined with regular monitoring may be sufficient to slow progression. More advanced cases may require interventions such as laser treatment to seal leaking blood vessels, injections to reduce swelling and prevent new blood vessel growth, or surgical procedures for severe complications.

Our doctors coordinate care with your endocrinologist and primary care physician to ensure comprehensive diabetes management. This team approach addresses both systemic health and eye health, thereby optimizing patient outcomes. 
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Attention
While annual exams are essential, certain symptoms require urgent evaluation. Schedule an appointment immediately if you experience any of the following warning signs:

 	Sudden vision loss: characterized by blurred vision, new floaters, or dark spots in your field of vision, may indicate bleeding in the eye or retinal detachment, both of which require prompt treatment.
 	Flashes of light: sudden flashes could signal retinal problems that need urgent evaluation to prevent permanent damage.
 	Difficulty reading: changes in near vision or trouble seeing fine details may indicate macular edema affecting central vision.
 	Eye pain or redness: discomfort, pain, or redness may signal increased eye pressure, infection, or other complications requiring immediate care.

Our team provides emergency eye care for urgent situations. Our extensive experience in emergency eye care makes us well-equipped to handle diabetic eye emergencies at our Nashua and Milford locations.
Protecting Your Vision Through Regular Care at Focused Eye Care
Regularly maintaining annual eye exams is one of the most effective ways to prevent vision loss associated with diabetes. Regular monitoring allows our doctors to detect changes early and intervene before irreversible damage occurs. Combined with proper blood sugar management, blood pressure control, and healthy lifestyle choices, consistent eye care provides the foundation for preserving vision throughout life.

Focused Eye Care has been recognized as the "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area and the greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley region, reflecting our commitment to exceptional care. Whether you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes or have been managing the condition for years, establishing a relationship with our experienced team ensures your vision receives the attention it deserves. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today at one of our convenient locations in Nashua or Milford.

#### Eye Color Trivia
One of the first things we notice about someone when we meet them is their eyes.
The color, the shape, the expression, the eyelashes and eyebrows. In this post, we’re just going to focus on the color, because it’s a lot more complicated than you might expect!
How Common Is Your Eye Color?
The exact statistics of human eye color are hard to pin down, but in general, brown eyes (whether light or dark) are by far the most common across the world. In northern Europe, nearly everyone has blue eyes, but that number drops dramatically everywhere else, to the point where blue eyes are practically nonexistent in South America, Asia, and Africa.
The least common eye color is green. There are many slight variations in each of these colors, and sometimes more unusual colors will appear, such as amber, gray, and, in people with albinism, pale pinkish-blue. Another rare possibility is heterochromia, or having two different eye colors. Babies are often born with blue eyes, but the color changes as the melanin develops in their irises over time.
Behind Blue Eyes: Eye Color Genetics
The color of our eyes is determined by multiple different genes, most notably OCA2 and HERC2. Because multiple genes are involved, you can’t always predict a baby’s eye color. In general, brown eyes are more dominant and blue more recessive, but blue-eyed parents will sometimes still have a brown-eyed child.
One of the most interesting things researchers have uncovered about eye color is that blue eyes are the result of a single mutation to the OCA2 gene that turns off its ability to produce brown eyes. This means that everyone with blue eyes shares a common ancestor from between six and ten thousand years ago.


https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOiV6pUF6lI?feature=oembed


The Function Of Eye Color
As interesting as it is that blue eyes all come from one person with a genetic mutation, they do come with a slight disadvantage. The absence of melanin in the irises leaves blue-eyed people more vulnerable to damage from UV rays (which means it’s extra important to wear sunglasses if you have blue eyes).
Interested In Trying Out Another Color?
Every pair of eyes is unique and beautiful, but if you’ve been wondering what a different eye color would look like on you, we can help you find the perfect pair of color contact lenses, so come see us soon!
Our patients are a sight for sore eyes!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Eye Exams: Vital to Your Child’s Education
A staple of every school nurse’s office is the big E eye chart.
That chart, the formal name of which is the Snellen chart (after the 19th-century Dutch eye doctor Herman Snellen who developed it), is certainly a good diagnostic tool for catching nearsightedness, but there are many other things that could be wrong with a child’s eyesight. That’s why a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist is a must before your child starts school.
 
How Vision and Learning Are Linked
Sighted people use our vision for up to 80% of our learning. Being able to see clearly and perform visual tasks effectively is enormously important to a developing child’s education, social life, and even how well they do in sports. They spend much of their time in class reading off whiteboards, reading textbooks, and writing in notebooks. All of that requires good vision.
 
The Vision Problems We Don’t Hear About
If a child has a vision problem other than nearsightedness, there’s a good chance it won’t be diagnosed. This could be farsightedness, color blindness, astigmatism, poor visual perception, poor hand-eye coordination, or problems with binocular vision such as focusing, tracking, and teaming. Any of these problems will make simple tasks in school much harder and less enjoyable.
 
An Undiagnosed Vision Problem Over Time
When something goes wrong with our eyesight as adults, we usually recognize that there’s a problem and we can describe our experience to the people around us. That’s not what happens with kids. A child experiencing difficulty with visual tasks at school won’t assume the problem is with their eyes; they’ll just think they aren’t smart enough for school, or that learning isn’t fun. Adults often reinforce this mistaken belief because vision problems share so many symptoms with learning disorders that they are often misdiagnosed as them.
 
Learn to Recognize Common Symptoms of Eye Problems
An eye pointing in the wrong direction is a very easy problem to spot, but many of the symptoms are subtler than that. Keep an eye out for any of the following, which could indicate an undiagnosed eye problem:

Reading comprehension difficulty
Trouble completing school work
Short attention span (especially when it involves close-up work)
Frequent headaches
A habit of covering one eye
Frequent eye rubbing and blinking
Fidgeting

 
Even if these symptoms seem like a learning disorder, at least rule out a vision problem as the cause by going to the eye doctor first.
 
Begin Your Child’s Education Right With an Eye Exam
The sooner a vision problem is diagnosed and treated (whether through glasses, visual therapy, or some other treatment), the less it will be able to negatively impact a child’s education, social life, and any activities they might otherwise enjoy and excel at. With school starting up again, now is the perfect time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your child. We’ll be able to diagnose or rule out any lesser-known eye problems that the school nurse would miss with the big E chart and make a treatment plan!
 
We love seeing our patients and helping our patients see us clearly!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Eye Safety in the Workplace
For Workplace Eye Wellness Month, we’re giving you a guide to protecting your eye health at work!
Obviously, eye safety will mean something very different depending on the type of work you do. Working on a computer is very different from working at a worksite, so we’re dividing the tips into two categories; one for office-type jobs and another for jobs heavy on physical labor.
 
Eye Safety at a Worksite
Many jobs involved in repair, maintenance, and construction can pose a significant eye safety risk. Welders, carpenters, miners, and chemists working in labs are all at risk in different ways, to the point where 2,000 workers in jobs like these need treatment for eye injuries every day.
That’s way too many daily eye injuries, especially considering that 90% of them are preventable if everyone uses the right eye protection equipment. Before you start working, make sure to put on the safety goggles, glasses, full-face respirator, or face shield for welding. This equipment may well save your eyesight!
 
Maintaining Healthy Eyes in the Office
In an office job, the risk of projectiles or chemicals flying into your eyes is much lower, but there is a major risk of developing digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome) after spending many hours a day staring at a computer screen. Common symptoms include dry eye, neck pain, back strain, more frequent headaches, and reduced attentiveness.
While digital eye strain isn’t connected to long-term damage to eye health, it can be unpleasant enough in the short term as it leaves the eyes tired and irritated and makes it harder to focus on the tasks you’re trying to complete. So how do we deal with digital eye strain?
 
Defeating the Strain
It doesn’t take protective goggles or face shields to fight eye strain (though some people do get a lot out of wearing computer glasses, which block blue light, or they use an anti-glare screen).
The simplest steps we can take to give our eyes some rest is to angle our screens properly (they should be a arm’s length from our faces and tilted so that the middle of the screen is slightly below eye level) and to follow the 20-20-20 rule (take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and focus on something 20 feet away.
 
Come to Us With Your Workplace Eye Safety Concerns
We’re happy to answer any of your questions or check to make sure everything is healthy if you’re concerned about the risk of eye injury or strain in your workplace. We want to give our patients all the information they need to protect their eyes effectively. We’d also love to see you if it’s been a long time since your last appointment!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Eyebrows and Eyelashes
Our eyebrows and eyelashes aren’t just there for decoration.
They’re not even just there for helping us make different facial expressions or to make our eyes stand out. They’re actually the first line of defense our eyes have against airborne contaminants and other hazards.
 
How Eyelashes Protect Our Eyes
It might seem weird to think of eyelashes as anything but decorative, and while they certainly are beautiful, they’re also doing a lot of work to keep dust, debris, and dirt in the air from reaching our eyes. When we close our eyes, our eyelashes form an impenetrable barrier against these irritants. They’re also highly sensitive, triggering a blinking reflex when touched so that an incoming foreign object won’t get closer to the eye itself. That’s why it can be so hard to keep your eyes open while applying eye makeup!
Our eyelashes are just the right length and thickness to keep dust out of our eyes and help them to not dry out too quickly. Wearing false lashes can actually throw off these important functions, increasing the risk of dry eye and dust exposure. Some people may have allergic reactions to the false lashes or even get an eye infection. Cosmetic solutions like eyelash extensions also carry the risk of temporary or permanent loss of eyelashes.
 
The Function of Eyebrows
Because eyelashes are so close to the surface of our eyes, it’s easy to see how they protect them, but eyebrows are much farther away. What can they really do? In fact, eyebrows help to channel liquid away from our eyes and down the sides of our faces, whether that’s sweat or raindrops or something else. The angle the individual hairs grow and the arching shape of the brows are all part of this.
Just as cosmetically enhancing our eyelashes can interfere with their protective function, overplucking our eyebrows can make them worse at their job. That’s why we hope the trend of bold, thick eyebrows is here to stay!
 
Bring Us Your Eye Concerns, Including Brows and Lashes
As long as we aren’t overdoing it with plucking and eye makeup, our eyebrows and eyelashes will usually stay pretty healthy on their own. However, they can develop problems like inflammation, ingrown hairs, and hair loss. If this happens to you, we can help! We’ll take a look and help discover the cause of the problem, recommend treatment if necessary, and make a plan to prevent it from recurring.
 
Take good care of those beautiful brows and lashes!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Eyes Can Be an Access Point for Germs
When was the last time you rubbed your eyes?
Most of us do it often enough that we might not even notice it every time it happens. Whether we’re tired, our eyes are dry or itchy, or we get something stuck in one of them, rubbing them is a quick and easy way to make them feel better — except it’s probably doing more harm than good. Every time we rub our eyes, we contaminate them with germs from our fingers, including viruses.

 
Germs on Our Skin, Hands, and Fingernails
Many different types of microorganisms live on our skin, making up a microscopic ecosystem called “skin flora.” Some of these microorganisms are beneficial, but others can cause diseases or infections if they get past the skin barrier, and the eyes are a convenient entry point for them. Our hands pick up germs from everything we touch, and a lot of those germs stay trapped under our fingernails, where they can breed and spread to other surfaces, eyes included.

 
How Do Our Eyes Defend Themselves?
Fortunately, our eyes aren’t entirely without their own defenses. Our eyelashes are there to keep out irritants, and blinking helps with that too. We also have the tear film, a three-layer drainage system that protects the cornea from debris and germs that manage to reach the surface of the eye. The trouble is that when we rub our eyes, we run the risk of causing tiny injuries to the cornea, giving germs the opening they need to get inside.

 
How Can We Protect Our Eyes From Germs?
We can’t always avoid touching our eyes, especially if we wear contact lenses, but it’s best to keep the contact to a minimum and thoroughly wash our hands with soap before touching them. We should also keep our fingernails trimmed to minimize the ability of germs to hide under them. Germs under fingernails are actually the main reason medical professionals wear gloves when working with patients! They’re that hard to get rid of! Also, this concern applies to fake nails as much as real ones.

 
Contact Us With your Eye Infection Concerns
Anytime you’re experiencing symptoms like itchiness, redness, tenderness, watering, or burning in your eye, it could mean you have an eye infection. Get in touch with us and set up an appointment so we can make sure it’s not something worse, and definitely resist the urge to rub your eyes in the meantime!

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Eyesight Is More Than 20/20 Vision
We tend to think of 20/20 vision being a synonym for perfect eyesight, but that isn’t quite true.
All it means when someone has 20/20 vision is that they have normal visual acuity without refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. There is a wide range of vision problems that have nothing to do with refraction, and they are unfortunately much more likely to remain undiagnosed and untreated.
 
What Are the Symptoms of an Undiagnosed Vision Problem?
Some symptoms of an eye problem are very obvious, like a lazy eye or crossed eyes. Most symptoms are subtler, particularly in children. Little kids don’t realize that what they’re experiencing with their eyesight isn’t normal, which means it wouldn’t occur to them to tell an adult. They are expected to perform at the level of children with normal eyesight and may not be able to, which results in frustrated adults, confused and upset children, and a lot of misdiagnosed learning disorders.
The symptoms we’re talking about are:

Difficulty concentrating
Reading comprehension problems
Short attention span (especially with close-up work)
Frequent headaches
Neck strain
Dizziness
Double vision
Poor depth perception
Frequent blinking and eye rubbing

 
Functioning Binocular Vision Matters
We don’t just need our eyes to work individually, we need them to work as a team, which is called binocular vision. If you close one eye, then the other, you will notice that you see things from a slightly different angle because of the distance between your eyes. Our brains use those two images to create a 3D image, which is how we can tell how far away different objects are from us. A number of different conditions can hamper binocular vision:

Convergence insufficiency, where the eyes struggle to turn inward to focus on close objects.
Convergence excess, where the eyes turn inward too much when focusing on close objects.
Divergence excess, where the eyes turn outward too much when focusing on distant objects.
Divergence insufficiency, where the eyes struggle to turn outward to focus on distant objects.
Strabismus, where one eye turns inward or outward.
Amblyopia or “lazy eye,” often the result of a severe refractive error in one eye or strabismus. To compensate, the brain will favor visual input from just one eye, which makes the other worsen in acuity.
Vertical heterophoria, where the eyes are misaligned vertically, which makes them strain to create a coherent image together.

Most of these forms of binocular vision dysfunction can be treated with visual therapy or corrected with special glasses if they are diagnosed, though some are best treated with surgery.
 
This Is Why Comprehensive Eye Exams Matter
It’s great that kids can take the big E eye test with the school nurse, but only a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist can check for eye problems that have nothing to do with 20/20 vision, and catching these problems early is hugely important to a child’s education. Many adults still haven’t been diagnosed or treated for them as well. If you think you or your child might be experiencing any of the symptoms we listed here, it could be a lesser-known vision problem, so don’t hesitate to schedule an eye exam!
 
Our top priority is your clear, comfortable vision!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Face Shape and Glasses Frames
Do you choose glasses frames based on how well they fit the shape of your face?
Whatever glasses you wear, they will be a large portion of anyone’s first impression of you. Aside from helping you see, glasses are a great way to show off your personality, but there are a few things to take into consideration besides your own sense of style.

 
The Foundation: Your Face Shape
Our faces might not literally be square or heart-shaped, but our features still tend to give the impression of a particular shape, depending on position and size. Here’s a quick summary:

 	A square face is one with a strong jawline and wide forehead, and its length and width are about equal.
 	A round face has fuller cheeks, a rounded hairline and chin, and is also about as wide as it is long.
 	An oval face is similar to a round face except that it’s thinner and longer.
 	A heart-shaped face involves a narrow chin, wide cheeks and forehead, and sometimes even a widow’s peak.

If you’re not sure what your face shape is, you can find out with a mirror and a washable marker. Close one eye and draw the outline of your face on the mirror. The result should resemble one of the face shapes we’ve described.

 
Choosing the Right Frame Shape
Once you know the shape of your face, you can find a pair of glasses that complement it. Different frame shapes look flattering on some faces and unflattering on others. Adding a pair of rectangular glasses to a square face, for instance, will only emphasize its squareness, while rounder frames can help to soften the angles — and vice versa, with rectangular glasses on a round or oval face.

 
Beyond the Shape
There are other factors to think about when choosing your ideal frames than just their shape, such as size, color, thickness, and material. You don’t want them to be too large or too small for your face. This is particularly true for kids, who can quickly grow out of a pair of glasses. They want their glasses to fit and reflect how grown up they are.

Consider how your frames can complement your skin tone. Warm skin tones look better with cool colors like dark tortoise, blue, jade, pink, magenta, plum, blue-gray, rose-brown, silver, or black. Cool skin tones look better in blond tortoise, warm blue, fire-engine red, off-white, coral, orange, peach, copper, gold, khaki, or camel frames.

 
Still Need Help Deciding?
Hopefully. we’ve already helped you know where to start when you choose your next frames, but if you still aren’t sure what will look great on you, we’re happy to offer our recommendations. We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!

 
We can’t wait to see you in your perfect frames!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Finding Your Perfect Summer Shades
Summer is a great time to get some cool sunglasses and relax on the beach, but we should really be wearing our sunglasses all year.
Choosing the right pair of sunglasses is a little more complicated than finding the ones that best suit your style. Our first priority should always be finding the pair that offers the right protection for our eyes.
Do The Sunglasses Offer UV Protection?
UV protection is absolutely the most important feature of any pair of sunglasses. When you’re looking for a pair, check the labels to make sure they block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Also consider getting sunglasses with large lenses that offer more coverage and protection for your eyes.
Go Polarized For Glare Elimination
A lot of the time, it isn’t just the direct light from the sun but the glare off reflective objects that causes us the most trouble when we’re outside. Car windshields and the surface of water and snow are particularly big culprits. Luckily, modern sunglasses have that covered with polarized lenses.
Polarized lenses filter out light waves coming in at certain angles, which gets rid of the glare. They’re an especially good option for fishermen, because no glare means you can see what’s under the surface of the water!
Tailor Your Lens Color To Your Outdoor Activities
Depending on what your favorite outdoor activities are, you may actually benefit from different lens colors in your sunglasses. Yellow or orange lenses filter out blue light, which will sharpen your focus for cycling, shooting, handball, racquetball, tennis, and even winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.
Amber or rose-tinted sunglasses increase contrast on a bright day, so they help for water sports. Dark amber, copper, or brown lenses block a lot of blue light and help increase contrast and visual acuity, which is helpful for things like baseball, fishing and golf. And no matter what you like doing outside, an anti-reflective coating will help reduce a lot of glare.
Keep Your Eyes Safe And Look Great Doing It!
Now that you know more about what kinds of lenses to look for, you can find the perfect pair of sunglasses that protect your eyes while making you look great. Stop by our practice for more tips or specific recommendations, and take a look at our selection of sunglasses!
We can’t wait to see you rocking those shades!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Fireworks and Common Sense Eye Safety
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Independence Day celebrations?
Most likely, you thought of fireworks. They are certainly a dazzling and exciting part of the festivities, but they can also be a serious hazard if not handled with caution. Fireworks aren’t just pretty to look at, they are explosives. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s report, in 2021 at least 18 people across the country died in incidents with fireworks and about 15,600 needed treatment in a hospital. 15% of those injuries were eye injuries.

 
The Dangers Inherent in Fireworks
How are fireworks so dangerous? Even sparklers burn as hot as 3000°F, and fireworks throw off live sparks and pieces of shrapnel, any of which can cause permanent vision loss if it reaches the eye. It’s critical to treat these pyrotechnic devices as explosives and take precautions so that our celebrations aren’t marred by injuries.

 
Tips for Fireworks Safety
The first, most important safety tip with fireworks is to stay out of range if they go in the wrong direction and simply enjoy the professional fireworks displays without personally handling any of them. However, we know many people love doing fireworks themselves. Provided that they’re within the legal limits of the area, here are essential safety rules to follow:

 	Carefully read all of the instructions for any firework you plan to use, particularly the minimum safe distance described. Follow all of these instructions!
 	NEVER aim a firework of any size at a person or animal (or yourself).
 	NEVER look into the tube of an unexploded firework if it seems like a dud.
 	Wear safety goggles at all times if you’re working closely with fireworks. This simple piece of safety equipment could be the difference between walking away uninjured and being permanently blinded in a firework accident.
 	Make sure that any older child using fireworks is closely supervised, and keep younger children away from fireworks altogether (including firecrackers and sparklers).
 	Follow all the local and state laws about fireworks.
 	Only handle fireworks while sober.

 
What to Do If an Accident Happens
Following all of the safety instructions will be enough to prevent most injuries from fireworks, but if an accident does happen, the next steps are critical. If there’s a piece of firework in the injured eye, don’t attempt to remove it. Tape a cup over the injured eye to protect it and keep the injured person from trying to touch it. Go straight to the emergency room. The sooner doctors can begin treating the injury, the better the chances are for recovery.

 
Enjoy Your Independence Day!
We wish all of our patients a fun 4th of July with family, friends, good food, and no fireworks-related injuries! To learn more about how you can keep your celebration safe for everyone present, we’d be happy to discuss it with you. Send us an email or give us a call.

 
Happy Independence Day!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Flaxseed Oil Or Fish Oil For Dry Eye?
If you’ve ever been near the pharmacy in a grocery store, you’ve probably seen the aisles of nutrition supplements for sale.
These products claim to have a variety of benefits, but today we just want to focus on two: flaxseed oil and fish oil, and what they can do to combat dry eye.
The Dangers Of Dry Eye
The tear film is the eye’s first line of defense against irritants and germs, trapping them so they can be flushed away with each blink. Tears also help our eyes move comfortably. Tear production is somewhat complex, as there are three layers to the tear film that need to stay balanced. Whether overall tear production decreases, the oily layer is disrupted, or the balance is compromised, if something goes wrong, the result can be dry, itchy, irritated, and vulnerable eyes.

There are a number of things we can do to treat dry eye, including taking more breaks from staring at our screens, switching from contact lenses to glasses, and using eye drops, but we can also incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids into our diets. Two great sources of these are flaxseed oil and fish oil.
Flaxseed Oil
What makes flaxseed oil good for our eyes is that it contains high levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an important omega-3. The digestion process converts it into two omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that promote strong cell membranes throughout the body, including in the eyes.

Flaxseed oil supplements come in both liquid and capsule form, but you can grind your own flaxseeds and sprinkle them over a salad or add them to a smoothie instead for the same omega-3 benefits. The capsules may be the most convenient, but it can take a large number of them to achieve the desired dose.
Fish Oil
Flaxseed oil will probably be the better choice for vegetarians, but it doesn’t provide as much EPA and DHA as fish oil. Our bodies only convert a small percentage of ALA from plant-based foods into these omega-3 fatty acids, but EPA and DHA are already present in fish oil, so we can get the full benefit without having to break them down first.

If fish oil capsules tend to leave a fishy taste in your mouth, you might prefer to get your omega-3 benefits from delicious grilled fish instead! The best fish for EPA and DHA are salmon, tuna, halibut, and sablefish.
Bring Us Your Omega-3 And Dry Eye Questions
As with all supplements and remedies, it’s important to seek professional medical advice before taking matters into your own hands. What works for other people won’t always work for you, so give us a call or schedule an appointment so that we can determine whether flaxseed oil or fish oil is a good dry eye solution!
We can help you choose the best option for your eye health!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Germs Can Infiltrate the Body Via the Eyes
Do you have a habit of rubbing your eyes?
It’s the kind of thing we tend to do without really noticing whenever we’re tired, our eyes are itchy or dry, or we get something stuck in them. It’s an automatic response to try to alleviate the issue. The trouble is that it’s likely to do more harm than good. Each time we touch our eyes, we’re introducing all kinds of germs from our fingers and whatever else we’ve touched.

 
The Microorganisms on Our Skin, Hands, and Fingernails
A wide variety of microscopic organisms live on our skin. They make up an entire ecosystem referred to as “skin flora.” They aren’t all bad; some microorganisms are actually beneficial to our health. Others can cause infections or diseases if they get past the barrier of the skin, which is what makes the eyes such a convenient entry point for them. Germs stick to our skin any time we touch a surface, and they particularly become trapped under the fingernails where they can breed and spread to other surfaces.

 
The Eye’s Defenses
The good news is that our eyes aren’t completely defenseless. Eyelashes aren’t just there to flutter at a crush, they keep out irritants. Blinking sweeps away debris that enters the eye. The tear film is a complex three-layer drainage system that keeps irritants away kind of like a moat around a castle. However, when we rub our eyes, we can create injuries to the cornea that give germs a way to get past our defenses.

 
Helping Protect Our Eyes from Germs
We encourage our patients to avoid frequently touching their eyes, particularly those who wear contact lenses. On occasions when you need to, such as to put in those contacts or take them out, you can minimize the risk of infection or contamination by washing your hands with soap first and keeping your fingernails trimmed. Fingernail germs are so difficult to scrub away that they’re the main reason doctors and nurses wear medical gloves! (Fake nails aren’t exempt from this problem either.)

 
Bring Us Your Eye Infection Concerns
If you’re ever experiencing eye symptoms like redness, itchiness, watering, tenderness, or burning, that could mean an eye infection. Schedule an appointment so that we can help you fight the infection or determine if it’s something else, and try not to rub your eyes in the meantime!

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Glasses Care and Contact Lens Safety
Glasses or contact lenses might be small, but they make a massive difference in our daily lives.
Anyone who wears glasses or contacts (unless they’ve had them since they were toddlers) can remember what it was like to suddenly be able to see individual leaves and blades of grass when they started wearing them, and being able to see clearly is critical for so many things we do every day. That’s why taking good care of our lenses is so important!
 
Proper Glasses Care
Glasses tend to gather dust, oil, and other small debris throughout the day, and so they require a lot of cleaning. It might be tempting to reach for the corner of your shirt, but it’s better to use a cotton or microfiber cloth with glasses cleaner. A drop of dish soap in a small spray bottle of water makes a pretty good homemade glasses cleaner if you don’t already have some.
If you don’t have a glasses cloth handy, the edge of a cotton shirt can work in a pinch, but definitely avoid any wood-based materials like tissues or napkins. Anything made of wood pulp can easily leave scratches in a glasses lens. You also want to avoid using chemical cleaners like window cleaner or ammonia, as they will dissolve the protective coatings on your lens.
Aside from using the right materials to clean it, you should really store your glasses in their case when you aren’t wearing them. Try not to fall asleep with them on because you could damage them in your sleep!
 
Care and Safety of Your Contact Lenses
Taking care of contact lenses is a slightly more involved process. Contact lenses are medical devices that sit directly on the eye, so cleaning them is more about hygiene than maintenance. Here are the major points:

Make sure to only ever handle your contact lenses with freshly cleaned hands.
Never reuse contact lens solution for cleaning or storage. All it takes is one use to contaminate the solution!
Never use water on contact lenses (definitely never use spit!). All sources of freshwater contain microorganisms that you don’t want in your eyes.
Follow the packaging instructions for how frequently to replace your contacts and how long to wear them before taking them out.

Don’t cut corners on your contact lens care! Even if it saves you a little money in new bottles of contact lens solution, it could cost you an eye infection somewhere down the line. The trade-off isn’t worth it.
 
Extra Tips for Preventing Eye Infections
Anyone who wears contacts should be especially diligent about minimizing their eye infection risk. That includes things like avoiding rubbing your eyes (because it could introduce germs, damage the lens, or scratch your cornea), remembering to blink often, staying hydrated, and using eye drops if your eyes ever feel too dry. That all goes hand-in-hand with our previous advice!
 
Come to Us With Any Lens Problems or Questions
Whether you have glasses or contacts, feel free to bring us your questions about how to properly care for them. We want to make sure our patients are getting the most out of their corrective lenses! Also make sure to get in touch if you experience irritation, redness, or other symptoms of an eye infection, and even if everything seems to be going great, your regular eye exams still matter. Not every eye problem or prescription update is obvious to the patient.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Glasses, Contacts, and Makeup
Using makeup to enhance your style or look your best can get a little trickier when glasses or contacts are in the equation.
For glasses wearers, your makeup approach might have to adjust depending on what kind of frames you have and whether your prescription makes your eyes look bigger or smaller than normal. Contacts wearers, on the other hand, are more vulnerable to eye irritation from their makeup. Whichever camp you’re in, we’ve got some tips for you!
 
Make Your Makeup and Glasses Work Together
Whether you prefer a bold makeup look or a neutral one, here are some basics for making your makeup work well with your glasses:

Bold or bright lipstick can help to balance out the shape of your face if you wear glasses with thick or dark frames.
Concealer is great for hiding the illusion (or reality) of dark circles under the eyes caused by frame shadows.
Glasses slipping down? Dab some primer on the bridge of your nose to keep them in place. Guys can try this too!
Bold eyeshadow can look too busy or overwhelming, so try staying neutral or bright for a look that will help your eyes really pop.
Keep your glasses free of mascara streaks by applying it more to the roots than the tips of your lashes, and curling them will help them not stick out far enough to touch the lenses.

 
Choose Frames to Suit Your Makeup Style
If you love makeup and like to wear a lot of it to create your look, then thin wire frames or rimless glasses might work best. Anyone who prefers minimal or more neutral makeup can add a little more flair to their appearance with thicker frames. Try a few different combinations together to find the look that suits you best!
Size is also important. You can get away with more dramatic eye makeup with bigger frames. However, smaller frames are less competition for your eyebrows. There are several tradeoffs to consider. What are your makeup goals?
 
Lenses Factor in Too
If you have a strong prescription that makes your eyes look unusually large or small, makeup is a great way to offset that effect. Matte and liquid eyeshadow help to make eyes appear smaller. If your eyes look small in glasses, try lighter eyeshadows and liners and using more mascara for an enlarging effect.
 
Contact Lens Makeup Tips
For contacts wearers, the concerns are less about looks and more about good sanitation practices. Put contacts in before applying makeup. Always wash your hands before touching your contacts, and only use non-allergenic makeup. Cream eyeshadow is a better choice than powder for avoiding irritation, and stick to water-based ones. Steer clear of the waterline too! Remove contacts before removing makeup. Finally, don’t use makeup that is expired and definitely don’t use someone else’s makeup!
 
Need a Style Change?
If you’re having a hard time achieving the look you want, maybe the problem isn’t your makeup but your current frames! We’d love to help you choose a pair that suits you, so give us a call or come by and check out our selection.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Glaucoma 101: Eyes Under Pressure
Human eyesight is an incredibly complex system, and a problem anywhere along the way can lead to seriously compromised vision.
One such problem is glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that affect millions of people in the US, making it the second most common cause of vision loss and blindness in the country. In most cases, glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve from increased pressure in the eye.
Intraocular Pressure: A Delicate Balance
The human eye is filled with fluid — aqueous humor in the front chambers, vitreous humor in the larger rear chamber behind the lens. In a healthy eye, the pressure of this fluid remains within a safe range because the amount of aqueous humor being produced is roughly equal to the amount flowing out through the pupil. In an eye with glaucoma, this drainage system does not work the way it should.
2 Common Types Of Glaucoma
At least three million Americans have open-angle glaucoma, which comes on very gradually (over the course of years) and accounts for 90 percent of glaucoma cases. The drainage canals of the eye become clogged, stopping the fluid from draining effectively and causing the pressure to build. Because this process is so slow and vision isn’t noticeably affected until late in the disease, regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for catching it early on and halting its progress.
The second most common type of glaucoma is angle-closure glaucoma. Unlike the gradual progression of open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma happens very suddenly, when the iris (the colorful circular muscle that regulates the amount of light that comes in through the pupil) actually blocks the drainage canals. This tends to come with a variety of symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, eye pain, very blurred vision, and rainbows around lights. Get to the eye doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.


https://www.youtube.com/embed/KT9eW809gNA?feature=oembed


Common Risk Factors
While everyone has some risk of developing glaucoma, certain factors can make it more likely. Glaucoma is far more common in people over 60, particularly African Americans and Hispanics. People of Asian descent are at greater risk of angle-closure glaucoma.
A major risk factor for glaucoma is heredity. Studies estimate that over half of glaucoma cases are familial. Someone with a sibling who has glaucoma is ten times more likely to develop it than someone who doesn’t. Other risk factors include eye injury and steroid use.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible and there is currently no cure for the disease, but medication and/or surgery can halt its progress as long as it is diagnosed in time. The key to early diagnosis is regular eye exams, especially for those with a high risk of developing the condition. Make sure you’re familiar with your family’s eye health history, and don’t forget to keep us in the loop!
Your lifelong healthy vision is our top priority!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Guide to Vision Financing: Insurance and Tiered Membership Benefits for Nashua and Milford Families
The cost of comprehensive eye care shouldn't stand between your family and optimal vision health. Understanding your payment options can transform eye care from a financial burden into an accessible priority for everyone in your household.

At Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford, our team collaborates with a wide range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make high-quality eye care accessible to families throughout New Hampshire. We also offer flexible financing solutions to ensure financial concerns never compromise your family's vision health.
Understanding Vision Insurance Coverage
Vision insurance differs significantly from medical insurance, and understanding both can help you maximize your benefits. Most vision plans provide coverage for routine eye exams, prescription eyewear, and contact lenses on an annual or biannual basis. These plans typically include allowances for frames, lenses, and lens enhancements, such as anti-reflective coatings or progressive lenses.

Medical insurance, on the other hand, covers eye exams and treatments related to medical conditions such as dry eye, glaucoma, conjunctivitis, or diabetic eye disease. Many patients are unaware that their medical insurance may cover certain eye care services, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars annually. Our knowledgeable staff can help you understand which services fall under vision versus medical coverage, ensuring you receive the maximum benefits available under your specific plan.
Care Credit Financing for Comprehensive Eye Care
For treatments or products not fully covered by insurance, we offer CareCredit financing to help spread the costs over time. CareCredit provides promotional financing options, including interest-free periods, making advanced treatments such as specialty contact lenses, dry eye therapy, or premium eyewear more accessible to our patients.

This flexible financing option allows you to proceed with recommended treatments without delay. Whether you need specialty lenses for hard-to-fit eyes, advanced dry eye treatment, or comprehensive eyewear for your entire family, CareCredit helps you say yes to the care you need, when you need it. The application process is quick and straightforward, with instant approval decisions available in most cases.
Focused VIP Membership Plans
We recently launched tiered membership plans called Focused VIP, designed to ease the financial burden for patients without vision insurance. These membership plans provide comprehensive eye care benefits at predictable annual rates, removing the uncertainty of pay-per-visit costs.
Benefits of Membership Plans
Our tiered membership structure enables families to select the level of coverage that best suits their needs and budget. These plans typically include annual comprehensive eye exams, discounts on eyewear and contact lenses, and priority scheduling for our members. For families without traditional vision insurance, membership plans offer significant savings compared to paying for services individually.

The Focused VIP plans also provide peace of mind. Instead of postponing necessary eye care due to cost concerns, members can schedule regular exams knowing their annual eye care costs are covered. This preventive approach helps identify vision problems early, when they're most treatable, potentially saving members from more costly interventions down the road.
Maximizing Your Benefits Throughout the Year
Understanding when and how to use your vision benefits can significantly impact your out-of-pocket expenses. Most vision insurance plans reset annually, meaning unused benefits don't roll over to the following year. Scheduling your family's comprehensive eye exams before your plan year ends ensures you don't lose valuable benefits.

Many families benefit from the strategic timing of their eye care appointments. For example, if your child needs new glasses and your plan renews in January, scheduling their exam in late December allows you to use current-year benefits for the exam and new-year benefits for the glasses. Our staff can help you understand these timing strategies to maximize your coverage.

Additionally, some plans offer separate allowances for glasses and contact lenses, allowing you to obtain both within the same benefit period. Understanding these nuances helps you extract maximum value from your insurance investment. Our opticians are well-versed in various plan structures and can guide you through the process of utilizing all available benefits.
Medical Insurance for Eye Disease Management
Eye diseases and conditions often fall under medical insurance rather than vision insurance. Conditions like glaucoma, dry eye, diabetic retinopathy, and conjunctivitis typically qualify for coverage under your medical plan. Our experienced optometrists diagnose and treat a wide range of eye diseases and conditions, working with your insurance to ensure appropriate coverage.

Understanding this distinction is crucial. If you arrive for a routine vision exam and mention symptoms such as persistent dryness, redness, or discomfort, our doctors may identify a medical condition that requires additional testing or treatment. These services are billed to your medical insurance and may be covered, potentially with different copays or deductibles than your vision plan
Financial Planning for Specialty Services
Certain advanced services like specialty contact lens fittings, myopia control treatments, or intensive dry eye therapy may involve costs beyond standard insurance coverage. Our staff provides detailed cost estimates before beginning treatment, allowing you to make informed decisions about your care. We believe financial transparency is essential to building trust with our patients.

For families interested in myopia control treatments or specialty lenses, understanding the total investment helps with family budgeting. These treatments often provide long-term value by slowing myopia progression or offering vision solutions that are impossible with standard contact lenses. When you understand both the costs and benefits, you can make confident decisions about investing in your family's vision health.
Your Trusted Partners in Vision Care at Focused Eye Care
For over 60 years, Focused Eye Care has served families throughout Nashua, Milford, and the surrounding communities with comprehensive optometry services. Our 10 optometrists, all members of the American Optometric Association and New Hampshire Optometric Association, bring diverse areas of focus to our practice, from pediatric care to emergency services. We've been voted "Best Optometrist" in both the greater Nashua area and the Merrimack and Souhegan Valley regions, reflecting our commitment to exceptional care.

Understanding your financing options shouldn't be complicated. Our experienced staff takes the time to review your insurance coverage, explain your benefits, and present all available payment options, including Care Credit and our Focused VIP membership plans. Whether you need routine eye exams, specialty contact lenses, or treatment for eye diseases, we're committed to making quality eye care accessible and affordable for your entire family. Schedule your appointment at our Nashua or Milford location today and discover how we can help you maximize your vision benefits.

#### Healthy Recipe for Vision Health
Many factors contribute to your vision health. Even your diet can impact your eyes! Discover some healthy recipes full of nutrients geared to promote vision health.

Gluten-Free: Citrus-Lentil Spinach Salad with Sunflower Seeds

Lentils carry zinc. Spinach provides lutein and zeaxanthin. Citrus delivers vitamin C. Avocado contributes healthy fats that help the body absorb carotenoids. Sunflower seeds provide vitamin E.

Ingredients (2 servings)

 	1 cup cooked green or brown lentils, cooled
 	2 cups fresh baby spinach
 	1 cup chopped cucumber
 	1 medium orange, segmented
 	1 avocado, sliced
 	2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
 	2 tablespoons chopped parsley

For the dressing

 	Juice of 1 lemon
 	1 tablespoon olive oil
 	1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
 	Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 	In a large bowl, combine lentils, spinach, cucumber, orange segments and parsley.
 	Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper until smooth.
 	Toss the salad with the dressing until evenly coated.
 	Top with avocado and sunflower seeds before serving.

#### Helping Child Vision Development
Did you know that babies have to learn how to see?
It might seem strange, since using our eyes is something we do automatically all day, but babies need to develop a number of visual skills in order to effectively use their eyes and process what they’re seeing, just like they have to learn how to walk and talk. Parents can be a big help to this process, particularly by choosing age-appropriate toys.
 
What a Baby Sees in the First Six Months
An infant’s world is made up of light, shadow, and blurry shapes. They can only effectively focus on things 8-15 inches away — coincidentally the perfect distance to see the face of the person holding them! Over time, they begin to see things more clearly and sharply, and parents can help in several ways:

Fill their surroundings with color. It takes a few weeks before a baby’s color vision starts to develop, and once it does, they won’t be able to get enough of bright, pretty colors. That’s why they enjoy mobiles.
Help them get used to tracking movement with their eyes by moving objects in front of them.
Play peek-a-boo. This isn’t only to make them laugh (even though that already makes it worth doing); it’s a great way of giving them practice focusing their eyes.

 
The Dramatic Progress in Months 6-12
Hand-eye coordination begins to develop around month six, and parents can help by keeping Baby well supplied with colorful objects to grab and play with. Crawling also helps them learn coordination (which does sometimes come at the price of some bumps on the noggin, since they haven’t learned that their heads don’t stop at their eyes yet).
Months 6-12 are when your baby will get bored of peek-a-boo. The reason they love peek-a-boo so much in the early months is that they don’t understand object permanence yet, so it looks like magic to them, but eventually they figure out the trick: Mom and Dad aren’t blinking out of existence when they’re out of sight, they’re just hiding behind their hands! At this point, you can change the game and start hiding toys under a blanket and challenging them to find them.
 
Toddlerhood and Advanced Visual Skills
Toddlers gain a lot of coordination when they learn to walk, and playing with balls helps too. Comprehension and balance are big factors in a toddler’s visual skills. When they begin talking, they start putting names to the objects they see, and around age two, they might discover burgeoning artistic talent. Make sure they have access to paper and crayons! Big, interlocking blocks or wooden blocks are also great for toddlers.
 
Early Childhood Eye Exams
As important as it is to provide the right types of toys and play the right games with your baby, eye exams are critical too. Babies and toddlers lack the words and understanding to communicate to us if something is wrong with their eyesight, so more than anyone else, they need an eye doctor to check for them. This is why we recommend scheduling the first eye exam at six months and another around their third birthday.
 
Let’s get your child started on a life of healthy vision together!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Heterochromia: When Eyes Don’t Match
What’s the first thing you notice about a person when you meet them?
Statistically, there’s a good chance it’s their eye color! A striking pair of eyes can really make an impression — and that goes double when they’re two different colors. The scientific term for having different colored eyes is heterochromia, and it affects only six people in every thousand (though it’s much more common in cats and dogs). It can happen in a few different ways and for different reasons.
 
Types of Heterochromia
Josh Henderson and Alice Eve are famous examples of heterochromia, each with one green eye and one blue. Not all heterochromia involves two completely mismatched irises (which is called complete heterochromia or heterochromia iridium), however. It could also just be one patch of a different color in one iris (segmental heterochromia or heterochromia iridis). A good example of this is Henry Cavill, who has a patch of brown in his left iris.
The most common type of heterochromia isn’t mismatched at all. It’s called central heterochromia, and it’s where the irises have a different color than the main color around the pupils. For instance, Olivia Wilde has blue eyes with rings of brown at the center. It might not be as eye-catching as mismatched irises, but the results are still pretty memorable.
 
What Causes Heterochromia?
For most people who have it, heterochromia is just a harmless genetic mutation that affects the way pigment develops in their irises, but it can also happen because of an injury or a disease. David Bowie had one permanently dilated pupil that made his eyes appear to be two different colors. Diabetes, eye tumors, and glaucoma can also make the eyes look less like each other. Mila Kunis’s heterochromia comes from having prolonged inflammation in one of her irises.
 
The Folklore of Heterochromia
Mismatched eyes have meant different things to different cultures throughout history. The pagans of eastern Europe thought they were witch eyes, while some Native American cultures believed they were ghost eyes that had the ability to see into heaven and earth. Modern culture mostly just sees them as being really cool.
 
However Many Eye Colors You Have, We Want to See Them!
The vast majority of people who weren’t born with heterochromia aren’t going to develop it for injury or disease-related injuries, but any changes you do notice with your eyesight are worth bringing to our attention. If it’s been a while since we last saw you, don’t wait to schedule your next eye exam!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Hey Kids, Your Glasses Are Awesome!
Kids often struggle to adjust to having to wear glasses
They’re already used to not being able to see clearly; the strange feeling of the glasses on their nose and ears and possibly teasing from their peers might not seem like a great trade for clear vision. What is a parent to do? Good eyesight is crucial for so many things in a growing child’s life, particularly education, so how can we help our kids gain a more positive outlook on their glasses?
 
The Glasses Should Fit and Be Age-Appropriate
No kid is going to want to tolerate wearing ill-fitting glasses. They’ll find every opportunity to take them off or “forget” them when getting ready for school. If your child’s current glasses don’t fit, we have tools to adjust them at our practice. It could also be time for a new pair. Kids grow fast, and the glasses they wear should be right for their age. In fact, glasses that fit properly can even be part of the “big kid” image they want!
 
Set Glasses-Wearing Goals Together
Sometimes a child doesn’t want to jump directly into wearing glasses all day, but you can help them get there with some glasses goals. You can even start out as small as asking them to wear their glasses for just half an hour each day if that’s what it takes. Then you can gradually increase the duration of time until they’re wearing their glasses all day! If it helps, sweeten the deal for them with some small prizes for reaching each milestone in their glasses journey.
 
Give them Good Glasses-Wearing Role Models
Make sure your child knows that they aren’t the only one who has to wear glasses. There are some pretty awesome people in real life and fictional characters who wear them too. Harry Potter wears glasses, Tony Stark sometimes wears them to interface with his technology, and don’t forget about Superman and Supergirl! Your child is in some truly awesome company.
 
Stay Strong and Use Reinforcements
We know how hard those big adorable eyes can be to resist, but you have to stay strong about your expectations for your child wearing their glasses. For situations where you’re not there to make sure they’re keeping the glasses on, feel free to enlist the help of teachers, babysitters, and other authority figures too!
 
Encourage Your Child to Choose Their Own Frames
One of the best ways to encourage your child to love their glasses and feel confident wearing them is to let them pick their frames! Glasses can be an amazing expression of personal style. Don’t worry if they choose something with bright colors that might not match much of their wardrobe. The goal is to get them used to wearing their glasses, and they’ll never feel cooler than when they’re wearing the glasses they chose themselves.
 
The Eye Doctor Is Your Best Ally
No one knows glasses or how awesome they are better than the team at our practice, and we’re happy to share our enthusiasm with your child if they’re having trouble adjusting. Give us a call or bring your child to our office if you’d like more advice on helping them love their glasses!
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Holiday Food Drive
Please help us in collecting non-perishable food and personal items this holiday season. Donations received between now and the end of December will go to the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter and Milford SHARE Outreach. Donations can be dropped off at either our Nashua or Milford office.

Recommended items include:

 	Pasta & Rice
 	Canned goods
 	Mac & Cheese
 	Beans
 	Cereal
 	Peanut Butter
 	Toothbrushes
 	Toothpaste
 	Dental floss
 	Body wash
 	Shampoo
 	Conditioner
 	Deodorant

#### How Do Animals See?
Human eyes are amazing, but there are some eyes in the animal kingdom that are pretty impressive too.
Let’s look at a few of the most powerful eyes in nature and find out what makes them work so differently from the way ours do.

 
The Main Similarities and Differences
The main thing all eyes have in common is that they focus light onto a retina and translate the image into signals in the brain. That requires different adaptations depending on what the animal must do to survive. Adaptations we need as humans include detailed depth perception, color vision, and the ability to see movement.

A big difference between a predator animal and a prey animal is the location of their eyes in their skulls. We have our eyes in front like predator animals, while prey animals such as sheep and horses have their eyes on the sides. This gives them a very wide field of vision and makes it harder for a predator to sneak up on them. Predator animals use their front-facing eyes for binocular vision and the ability to pinpoint how far away a prey animal is.

These aren’t the only differences, however. An eagle, for example, has a deeper fovea than we do, meaning that they basically have built-in telephoto lenses. They are able to see detail at far greater distances than we can, and they have a wider field of vision. They can also see in the UV spectrum!

 
Which Animals Have the Best Eyesight?
While eagles might rule the daytime skies, their eyes aren’t the top in every category. There are all kinds of incredible eyes in the wild.

 	Best color vision (as far as we know): the bluebottle butterfly. We have only three types of cones to detect colors, but these butterflies have fifteen, some of which work in the UV spectrum.
 	Best night vision: owls. Their eyes are shaped like tubes and don’t move in their sockets (which is why they swivel their heads so much). Their eyes are large and their retinas have five times as many rods as ours, and the tapetum lucidum reflects light back across their retinas again for even sharper night vision.
 	Best underwater vision: sharks. Their eyes are well adapted to hunting in the water, often including a protective layer and the same tapetum lucidum like owls have for seeing through dark or murky water.
 	Most complicated eyes: the mantis shrimp. Their eyestalks move independently and contain three separate compound eyes each, the segments of which do different things and communicate with different parts of the brain. They have twelve types of photoreceptors.

 
If Your Vision Is Changing, We Should Know
Our eyes won’t ever be able to do what these other species’ eyes can do, but if you’re noticing a change in your vision, make sure to schedule an appointment so we can find out what’s happening. We want to make sure your prescription is up-to-date and that no eye conditions are emerging.

 
We look forward to seeing our wonderful patients!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How Does Animal Eyesight Work?
We wouldn’t have gone into the optometry field if we weren’t fascinated by eyes, and there are some incredible ones in nature.
There is such incredible variation in how eyes work across the animal kingdom that we could spend years studying and barely scratch the surface, so to start out, we just want to take a brief look at some of the most impressive features of animal eyes.
 
What Makes Your Cat’s Eyes Glow in the Dark?
They don’t literally glow, but anyone with a cat has probably gotten a scare at least once when headlights or a flashlight caught their eyes and lit them up like lasers. This happens because cats and many other animal species have a special piece of anatomy behind their retinas called the tapetum lucidum. It works like a mirror. Light passes through the retina, hits the tapetum lucidum, and bounces back to go through the retina again.
What is the value of having this built-in mirror? Night vision! Animals with tapeta lucida can see in the dark much better than we can. However, it comes at a price: their vision is always a little bit blurry because the light doesn’t hit the retina in exactly the same place when it bounces back out. Given the choice, we think we’d stick with detail vision over night vision.
 
What About a Cat’s Slit Pupils?
Maybe you’ve noticed that, unlike housecats, big cats like lions and tigers have round pupils. The reason for this difference is…their height! Predators tall enough to see above the grass (like big cats, wolves, and even birds of prey) have round pupils, but shorter predators like housecats, foxes, and even alligators all have vertical pupils because they help them see movement between the blades of grass better.
 
What Colors Do Animals See?
Animals don’t all see the same colors we do. For instance, dogs can’t see red light, so they live in a world of yellows, blues, and browns. So do cats and cows (which means the red color of the flag isn’t what riles up bulls), but other animals can see more colors than we can. Bees and butterflies can see ultraviolet colors, and so can birds! This helps them track down their food.
 
Dragonflies See in Super-Speed
Our eyes process images at about 60 frames per second, which is why we see a continuous stream of motion when we watch movies instead of the individual still images flickering past. A dragonfly might have a harder time enjoying a movie because it can see 200 frames per second — and with compound eyes, so they’re seeing super fast across thousands of tiny lenses instead of two! They’re not easy to sneak up on!
 
Let Us Know Which Animal Eyes are Your Favorites!
We’d love to hear what our patients’ favorite eyes are in the animal kingdom, and what they like most about them. That would be a fun discussion to have when you come in for your next eye exam, while we check to make sure everything looks healthy and update a prescription if needed.
 
We have the best patients!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How Does IPL Work to Relieve Dry Eyes?
Intense Pulsed Light therapy uses controlled pulses of light energy to treat the underlying causes of dry eye symptoms. If you've struggled with burning, irritation, and constant discomfort despite trying artificial tears and warm compresses, IPL offers a solution by addressing the root problem rather than just masking symptoms.

At Focused Eye Care, our team provides comprehensive dry eye treatment using IPL technology at both our Nashua and Milford locations. This advanced therapy targets inflammation and improves meibomian gland function to restore lasting comfort to your eyes.
Understanding the Science Behind IPL Treatment
IPL technology works by targeting inflammation around your eyelids and improving the function of your meibomian glands. These small glands along your eyelid margins produce the oil layer of your tears, and when they become clogged or dysfunctional, you experience dryness, burning, and irritation.

During an IPL session, your eye doctor applies brief pulses of light to the skin around your eyes. This light energy penetrates the tissue and generates heat, which melts away blockages in your meibomian glands. The treatment also reduces inflammation by targeting abnormal blood vessels contributing to eyelid problems.

IPL therapy addresses meibomian gland dysfunction, which accounts for about 85% of dry eye cases. When these glands don't produce enough oil, your tears evaporate too quickly and leave your eyes feeling dry and uncomfortable throughout the day. 
What Happens During an IPL Treatment Session
The procedure takes about 15 minutes per session. Your technician begins by placing protective shields over your eyes, then applies a cooling gel to your face to protect your skin and help conduct the light energy. The IPL device is positioned near your eyelids, and you may see brief flashes of light as the treatment progresses.

The sensation is often described as a slight warming or tingling feeling. Most patients find the procedure comfortable and resume normal activities immediately afterward. You might experience mild redness or swelling around the treatment area, but these effects typically resolve within a few hours.

After your treatment, your eye doctor may perform a gentle expression of your meibomian glands to help clear out softened blockages. This step maximizes the benefits of the light therapy and helps restore healthy oil flow to your tear film. Most patients need three to four treatments spaced three to four weeks apart to achieve optimal results, though you may notice improvement after your first session.
Who Benefits Most From IPL Therapy
IPL treatment works especially well for patients who haven't found adequate relief with traditional treatments. If you've struggled with dry eye symptoms for months or years despite trying over-the-counter options or even medication drop therapies, IPL may offer the solution you need.

Several conditions respond particularly well to IPL therapy:

 	Meibomian gland dysfunction: blocked or inflamed oil glands along your eyelid margins cause tears to evaporate too quickly and lead to persistent dryness and discomfort.
 	Rosacea-related dry eye: facial redness and inflammation often extend to the eyelids and meibomian glands, making IPL an ideal treatment as it addresses both skin and eye symptoms simultaneously.
 	Chronic blepharitis: ongoing eyelid inflammation creates a cycle of irritation and gland dysfunction, which IPL helps break by reducing inflammation and improving gland secretions.
 	Evaporative dry eye: when your tears dry up faster than your body can produce them, IPL restores the protective oil layer and extends how long tears stay on your eye surface.

These conditions all share a common thread of inflammation and gland dysfunction, which makes them responsive to IPL's targeted approach. However, IPL may not be suitable for everyone, and your eye doctor will evaluate your specific condition to determine if you're a good candidate.
Combining IPL With Other Dry Eye Treatments
While IPL is highly effective on its own, many patients achieve even better results when it's combined with other therapies. Your eye doctor might recommend specialty contact lenses helping protect your eye surface, or prescription medications reducing inflammation.

LipiFlow is another advanced treatment available at our Nashua location working well alongside IPL. This therapy uses heat and gentle massage to clear blocked meibomian glands, and when used in combination with IPL, it can provide comprehensive relief for stubborn dry eye symptoms.

Lifestyle modifications also play an important role in managing dry eyes. Staying hydrated, taking breaks during screen time, and using a humidifier can all support the improvements you achieve with IPL treatment.
Long-Term Results and Maintenance
The benefits of IPL therapy can last for several months to over a year. Many patients notice a significant reduction in their dry eye symptoms and find they need fewer artificial tears or other supportive treatments. The improved function of your meibomian glands means your natural tear film works more effectively to keep your eyes comfortable.

You may need periodic maintenance treatments to sustain your results. Your eye doctor will monitor your progress during annual eye exams and recommend additional sessions if your symptoms begin to return. Most patients find maintenance treatments are needed less frequently than the initial series.

The investment in IPL treatment often pays off through improved quality of life. When your eyes feel comfortable throughout the day, you can work, read, and enjoy activities without constant irritation or the need to frequently use eye drops.
Schedule Your Dry Eye Consultation at Focused Eye Care
I need to check the sitemap in the client packet to provide the correct internal link for the appointment booking.Our team evaluates your dry eye condition thoroughly to determine the most effective treatment approach for your needs. We use advanced diagnostic technology to assess your tear film quality and meibomian gland function before recommending IPL or other therapies. Dr. Kelly MacDonald, Dr. Scott Huffer, Dr. Sarah Jagatic, Dr. Christina Phillis, Dr. Maureen Donnelly, Dr. Erin Bryant, Dr. Laura Waible, Dr. Kyle Johnson, Dr. Lyudmila Sutherland, and Dr. Kristin Coutu bring extensive experience in dry eye treatment to our practice, and all of our doctors are members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

You don't have to live with the discomfort of dry eyes when effective treatment options are available. Book an appointment to explore how IPL therapy can restore comfort to your eyes and improve your daily quality of life.

#### How Eye Color Works
Human eye color comes from melanin, the same compound that determines skin and hair color.
Melanin absorbs light, even some UV light, which is important for the iris — the part of the eye that controls how much light enters the pupil.
 
Melanin and Pigment Types
There are two different types of melanin a person could have in their irises: eumelanin, which produces a rich chocolate brown color, and pheomelanin, which produces a range of amber, green, or hazel colors. Blue eyes, on the other hand, get their color from having relatively little eumelanin. The pigment itself isn’t blue, but the way the light scatters around the front layer of the iris ends up appearing blue — the same way the sky appears blue!
Green eyes come from a combination of both types of melanin in low enough levels to also get a bit of the light scattering effect. Hazel eyes have enough melanin that they don’t get the light scattering effect. Red and “violet” eyes (very rare) come from having almost no melanin at all, so you actually see the color of the underlying blood vessels or it combines with the light scattering effect to produce violet. This is typical in albinism.
 
How Common Are Different Eye Colors?
Living in an English-speaking country, it might seem like different eye colors happen at a similar rate, but across the world, this is not the case at all. Brown eyes are by far the most common.

70-79% of people have brown eyes.
8-10% have blue eyes.
5% have hazel eyes.
5% have amber (very light brown) eyes.
3% have gray eyes.
2% have green eyes.
Less than 1% have red or violet eyes.
Less than 1% have heterochromia (partly or completely different-colored eyes).

 
Eye Color Genetics Is Complicated
We used to think that eye color is determined by just one gene, but in recent years scientists have found that it’s actually many genes acting in tandem, and tiny tweaks to any of those genes can result in a different color. There are two genes that are strongly associated with eye color, but as many as 16 play some role in it. That means it’s not so easy to predict a child’s eye color based on their parents’. Blue-eyed parents won’t always produce only blue-eyed children.
 
“Baby Blues”
Many babies are born with blue or gray eyes but then develop a different eye color as they get older. This tendency is most common among caucasian babies. The reason a baby doesn’t always have their permanent eye color yet when they’re born is that the cells that produce melanin sometimes need light to trigger melanin production, which obviously won’t happen until after they’re born!
 
Other Ways Eye Color Can Change
Some people may claim that their eye color changes from day to day, but this is likely due to how their eyes reflect the color of the clothes they choose each day. Eye color can appear different if the pupil changes size or if the person is in bright or dim light. Apart from the gradual change over time if their eyes produce more melanin as they get older, an eye injury could cause a permanent eye color change.
 
We Can Help If You’re Interested in Color Contacts
Don’t sit around waiting for an unlikely natural eye color change; if you’re interested in seeing how your eyes would look if they were a different color, we can help by recommending a pair of color contact lenses! If you’ve noticed a change in your eyes’ appearance and are concerned, schedule an appointment and we can determine the cause.
 
Our patients have the most beautiful eyes!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How Germs Can Travel to Our Eyes
Most of us rub our eyes many times in the course of the day without really thinking about it.
Whether we’re tired, our eyes feel dry or itchy, or there’s something stuck in one of them, it seems like the easiest way to make it feel better is to rub them a little. Unfortunately, doing that is a great way to spread germs from our fingers to our eyes.
 
The Germs on Our Skin and Hands
Many types of microorganisms live on our skin all the time, including on our faces and hands. This microscopic ecosystem is known as “skin flora,” and it can contain around a thousand species of bacteria, as well as viruses and other germs. Some are beneficial, while others could lead to disease or infection, especially if they get into our eyes.
 
The Eye’s Natural Defenses
Eyes are more vulnerable than skin to disease and infection-causing germs, but they aren’t defenseless. The eyelashes help to keep irritants out, as does the simple action of blinking. Next, the tear film is a three-layer drainage system to protect the cornea from germs and debris that actually reach the eye’s surface. However, when we rub our eyes, we may accidentally cause tiny injuries to the cornea, giving germs an opening to get inside and cause an infection.
 
Protecting Our Eyes from Germs
Sometimes, touching our eyes is unavoidable. People who wear contact lenses obviously have to touch their eyes every time they insert and remove them. On the whole, it’s best to keep contact to a minimum, but at the very least, we should be thoroughly washing our hands with soap prior to touching our eyes.
It’s especially important to keep fingernails trimmed to prevent the transfer of germs to our eyes. All kinds of germs and debris collect under them from everything else we touch throughout the day, and it is almost impossible to clean them well enough when they’re long. In fact, germs collecting under fingernails is the main reason medical professionals wear gloves when interacting with patients! This goes for fake nails just as much as natural ones.
 
Worried About an Eye Infection? Let Us Know!
If you’re experiencing any symptoms like redness, itchiness, tenderness, burning, or a lot of eye-watering, they could be signs of an eye infection. Please give us a call so we can discuss the next steps to ensure that your eyes are healthy, and try to touch them as little as possible in the meantime.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How Often Do We Need Eye Exams?
Most dentists will recommend a cleaning and dental exam twice a year, but how often do we need our eyes checked?
It’s as important to get preventative care for our eyes as for our teeth, and that means getting eye exams when we don’t need an updated prescription for our glasses or contact lenses. Human eyes are incredibly complex organs with many ways for something to go wrong. Regular eye exams are how we ensure that problems are caught early — the best time to catch them.

 
What Does a “Regular” Eye Exam Mean for Me?
Each patient’s ideal eye exam schedule depends on their age and any risk factors they have. Broadly, we recommend that children get their first eye exam around six months old, their second around their third birthday, and another before they start first grade.

Early childhood eye exams are critical for catching, diagnosing, and treating vision problems that can seriously interfere with their learning. A shocking number of these eye conditions go undiagnosed (including by the school nurse, who is no substitute for an eye doctor).

For older kids and adults, eye exams every two years is usually enough until about age 60. Beyond that, we’d like to see our patients once a year. However, some cases are different and require more frequent appointments within these age groups.

 
Risk Factors for Eye Disease
A major risk factor is a family history of glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases — or even a family history of hypertension or diabetes. Certain medications can cause dry eye as a side effect, which is a risk factor for some eye problems. It’s important to keep track of such side effects so that they don’t develop into major discomfort or even eye infections.

A risk factor that can be controlled is a smoking habit. Smoking dramatically raises the risk of most sight-threatening eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Another controllable risk factor is UV exposure. The damage the sun does to our eyes is cumulative over the course of our lives, and we can minimize it by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses (and maybe adding a wide-brimmed hat too) whenever we’re outside or driving in daylight.

 
Eye Problems Don’t Follow Appointment Schedules
While the recommended eye exam schedule is great in times when you aren’t experiencing other problems with your vision or eye health, if an issue comes up with the next appointment still months or more than a year away, don’t wait! Come see us right away if you experience any of these symptoms:

 	

 	Sudden sensitivity to light. This could indicate an eye infection.




 	Difficulty driving at night or loss of night vision. This can be a sign of vision loss.
 	Blurry vision. A simple prescription update might be enough to correct this, but even if it’s that simple, why wait to fix it?
 	Frequent headaches. These are often connected to eye problems, such as digital eye strain.
 	Bright flashes, peripheral vision loss, or an increase in floaters. These are symptoms of retinal detachment, which can mean permanent blindness if it isn’t treated very quickly.

 
We Can’t Wait to See You!
Keeping track of an appointment that only comes along once every other year can be tricky, but we urge our patients to make their recommended eye exam schedule. If you simply don’t remember how long it’s been since your last appointment, you can start your schedule fresh! Contact us to find a good time for your next appointment. Your eyes will thank you!

 
We love having you in our practice family!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How Sleep and Vision Intersect
Sleep deprivation hits the body and mind a lot like alcohol, but how does it affect our eyes?
Getting enough sleep is great for our overall health and our eye health alike. At the other end of things, we can improve the quality of our sleep if we are more careful about what we put in front of our eyes before we go to bed.

 
The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Eye Health
Nearly everyone knows what it’s like to feel sleep deprived in the short term. We feel grumpy and drowsy and struggle to concentrate. Over time, however, the effects are more dramatic. Chronic sleep deprivation can weaken our immune systems, make it harder to lose weight, increase our blood pressure, make us moodier, and make us more prone to memory loss. Our eyes don’t escape unscathed either.

We need at least five hours of sleep each night for our eyes to replenish themselves for a new day. Beyond helping us keep our eyes open, our eyes need sleep to prevent eye strain, dry eye, and eye twitches. Thankfully, our eyes also play a role in getting more and better quality sleep that will help them function at their best!

 
Blue Light From Screens Can Mess Up Our Internal Clocks
As tech-savvy as we become with our modern devices, we still can’t change the biology of our eyes. Only the last few decades of the entirety of human history have included sources of blue light that come from anywhere but the sun. Our brains are wired to interpret blue light as daytime, when we should be awake. The later we look at our screens in the evening, the more we trick our brains into thinking it’s not bedtime.

 
Limit the Blue Light Around Bedtime
Anyone who’s had a harder time falling asleep in the smartphone era might have better luck if they avoid screens in the hour before bed. If that isn’t possible, blue light filters on the screen can help significantly as well. Try it out and see if it makes a difference for your quality of sleep. It will also help your eye health!

 
Take the Night Off From Contact Lenses
The cornea (the clear layer at the front of our eyes) is the only part of the human body that gets its oxygen directly from the air. Modern contact lenses tend to be far more oxygen-permeable than they used to be, which means they allow our eyes to breathe better. Still, it’s better to take contacts out overnight than to leave them in.

Giving your eyes that break from contact lenses during sleep helps to reduce the risk of eye infections and give them time to recover from working hard providing your sense of sight all day. Anyone who prefers to leave their contacts in should first make sure that they’re following the instructions on the packaging for how often to take them out.

 
Make Eye Exams a Priority
We’re happy to answer any questions our patients have about the connections between sleep and eye health, and we can easily do so the next time you see us for an eye exam. Until then, try to get plenty of sleep while practicing good care and safety of your contact lenses, and don’t forget to dim the blue lights before bed!

 
We’re excited to see you at our practice!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How Smoking Harms Eye Health
Smoking is harmful to every system in the body, including eyesight.
Lung cancer is the risk we most commonly associate with a smoking habit, followed by oral health problems, but it doesn’t stop with the parts of the body the smoke comes in contact with. As eye doctors, we want to focus on how smoking harms the eyes, which it does in a number of ways.

 
Smoking Is a Serious Risk Factor for Age-Related Eye Diseases
Numerous studies show that smoking significantly increases the risk of developing eye conditions from those as simple as dry eye to ones as serious as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy.

 
Smoking and Cataracts
The risk of developing cataracts doubles with a smoking habit. Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness. Symptoms of cataracts include light sensitivity, faded colors, blurred or double vision, and poor night vision. The good news is that cataract surgery is both common and safe, which means vision loss due to cataracts isn’t necessarily permanent.

 
Smoking and Diabetic Retinopathy
As is probably obvious due to its name, diabetic retinopathy is closely associated with diabetes, and smoking increases the likelihood of developing diabetes by as much as 40%. As a result, smoking also makes complications of diabetes more likely, including retinopathy. This is a sight-threatening condition that involves weakened blood vessels in the back of the eye, which can leak blotches into the field of vision and starve the retina of oxygen.

 
Smoking and AMD
The part of the retina responsible for our sharpest, most detailed vision is called the macula. Age-related macular degeneration is a condition where the macula deteriorates over time, causing irreversible blindness. Smokers are three times more likely to develop AMD than nonsmokers are, and they’re also more likely to develop it years earlier than they would have otherwise.

 
It Doesn’t Only Affect Smokers
The worst harms from smoking are experienced by the smokers themselves, but some of them come from secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke in nonsmokers. In children, it can lead to ear infections, asthma attacks, bronchitis, pneumonia, and even an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

 
Is Vaping a Safe Alternative?
It might be true that vaping is safer than traditional cigarettes, but it’s still a long way from safe. Many of the chemicals in e-cigarette liquid have specifically been linked with increased risks of the sight-threatening conditions described above. Basically, there is no safe way to consume tobacco.

 
Choose Healthy Vision by Breaking the Habit
With all that we’ve discussed, it shouldn’t be too surprising that smoking is the most preventable cause of vision loss. We can’t stop ourselves from aging, but we can avoid smoking. Even for lifelong heavy smokers, quitting will still reduce the risk of eye disease. If you or someone you love needs resources to help quit smoking, we’re happy to provide suggestions.

 

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How to Care for Your Lenses
Corrective lenses are such small things that make such enormous differences in our lives.
Most people who wear glasses or contacts can remember what it was like the first time they were able to see individual blades of grass and leaves on trees after putting them on. It’s important to take good care of our lenses so that we can get the maximum benefit from wearing them!
 
Tips for Glasses Care
Even with protective coatings, glasses tend to gather dust and oil as we wear them, and they require regular cleaning. As tempting as it is to reach for the corner of your shirt, it’s better to use a microfiber or cotton cloth and some glasses cleaner. You can even make your own glasses cleaner with a drop of soap in a small spray bottle filled with water.
If there’s no glasses cloth around, the edge of a cotton shirt is a passable substitute, but make sure never to use wood-based materials like napkins or tissues. Because they’re made of wood pulp, they can scratch the lenses very easily. Also avoid using chemical cleaners like ammonia or window cleaner, because they can dissolve the protective coatings on your lenses. And when you aren’t wearing your glasses, the best way to store them is in their case. Don’t fall asleep with them on, or you might damage them in your sleep!
 
Contact Lens Care and Safety
It’s a little more complicated to take care of contact lenses. Because they sit directly on the eye, keeping them clean is as much about hygiene as it is about maintenance, if not more so. Only handle contact lenses with freshly clean hands, and only use fresh solution to clean and store them, because it takes just one use for solution to become contaminated.
Never use water on contact lenses (and definitely don’t use spit), because all sources of freshwater contain microorganisms that will treat a contact lens like a Petri dish. Follow the instructions on the packaging for how frequently to replace your lenses and how long to keep them in at a time. It might be tempting to stretch things out, but saving a little on replacement lenses comes at the cost of risking an eye infection. It’s not worth it!
 
More on Preventing Eye Infections
A contacts-wearer should be diligent about minimizing the risk of eye infection. That means not rubbing your eyes (which could damage the lens or introduce germs into the eye), blinking often, staying hydrated, and using eyedrops when extra moisture is needed. And again, follow the instructions for how long they are safe to wear and when to replace them!
 
Bring Us Your Lens Problems and Questions
If you have questions about how best to care for your lenses, whether glasses or contacts, just let us know! We want our patients to get the most out of their glasses and contacts. Also be sure to get in touch if you’re experiencing any irritation or other symptoms from contact use. If everything is going well, still make sure to schedule regular eye exams! Not every eye problem or outdated prescription is obvious.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### How to Protect Your Eyes from a Solar Eclipse
The upcoming solar eclipse on April 8th is an exciting astronomical event, but it's crucial to remember that looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, is never safe.
As your trusted eye care team, we want to ensure you and your loved ones enjoy this celestial phenomenon safely. Here's what you need to know:
The Danger:
The sun emits harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, even during an eclipse. Looking directly at the sun, even for a brief moment, can cause permanent eye damage, including:

Solar retinopathy: This burns the light-sensitive retina, leading to blurred vision, blind spots, and even permanent vision loss.



Corneal sunburn: This painful condition damages the clear outer layer of the eye.


Safe Viewing Methods:

Never look directly at the sun, even through sunglasses or tinted windows. Regular sunglasses do not block enough UV radiation to protect your eyes.



Use certified solar eclipse glasses specifically designed for safe viewing. Look for glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Do not use homemade filters, sunglasses, or other improvised methods.



Project the eclipse onto a white surface using a telescope equipped with a proper solar filter. Never look directly through the telescope or binoculars, even with eclipse glasses on.



Seek out organized eclipse viewing events hosted by astronomy clubs or science centers. Often, these events have certified solar viewers available for public use.


Additional Tips:

Supervise children closely during the eclipse. Make sure they only use certified eclipse glasses and understand the importance of eye safety.



If you experience any eye pain, blurred vision, or other unusual symptoms after viewing the eclipse, contact our office immediately.


Remember, your eye health is our top priority. Enjoy the eclipse safely and protect your vision!

#### How Vitamin A And Beta-carotene Benefit Our Vision
With so many vitamins available to us, it’s hard to know which ones you really need to keep an eye out for!
Today we want to share with you two vitamins in particular that both benefit eye health and prevent vision loss—vitamin A and beta-carotene.
What Are Vitamin A And Beta-Carotene?
Put simply, vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin found in various foods that is both good for our eyes and benefits our immune system. Beta-carotene is a provitamin “carotenoid” that helps give vegetables their bright pigmentation, and is also good for our vision and overall growth and development. The main difference between the two is that unlike vitamin A, carotenoids like beta-carotene only come from vegetables.
Vitamins Benefit Our Eyes In Various Ways
Vitamin A has a host of benefits for our eyes. One of the most important is reducing the risk of developing macular degeneration and vision loss. Vitamin A also soothes eye inflammation and makes it less likely to for us to develop eye infections.

Beta-carotene converts into Vitamin A in the body, and has similar benefits. Specifically as a carotenoid, beta-carotene reduces the oxidative stress put on our eyes from blue light emitted by the sun and our various devices’ screens. It’s even been found to make our vision sharper!
Which Foods Contain The Right Vitamins?
We’ve all heard that carrots are good for our eyes, and it turns out it’s true! Carrots aren’t the only vegetables that contain Vitamin A, however. Kale, spinach, and collard greens are other vegetable alternatives to keep your vision sharp! If you’re looking for other solutions, cantaloupe, eggs, and liver are also great solutions to help keep your vitamin A and beta-carotene supplies up to par.

To learn more about why carrots and other veggies are good for our eyes, check out the video below! You’ll even learn what caused people to think eating carrots enhanced their night vision!
Getting The Right Amount Is Important
As long as you’re getting the majority of your vitamin A and beta-carotene from vegetables, you don’t have to worry about ingesting too much of either. Vitamin A found from animal food sources can become toxic if ingested in excess, however—so be careful!

However you get your Vitamin A and beta-carotene, be sure you’re getting enough! When we don’t consume enough of these vitamins, our risk of vision loss and developing eye disease increases.
When It Comes To Your Vision Health, We’re Here For You
If you have any questions about Vitamin A and beta-carotene and how they affect your vision health, please give us a call! We love answering your questions and want to help ensure your eyes are getting the vitamins they need.
Thank you for being our trusted patients and friends.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Important Eye Safety Rules for Fireworks
Fireworks are probably the most iconic part of every year’s Independence Day festivities.
The danger with fireworks is that a lot of people forget that they are explosives, and that’s how they caused 12 deaths and ten thousand injuries in 2019 alone (mostly between mid-June and mid-July), according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s report. 15% of those injuries were eye injuries.
 
What’s So Dangerous About Fireworks?
To anyone who has never been injured by fireworks, it might seem strange to think of them as dangerous, but even sparklers burn as hot as 3000°F. Pieces of shrapnel or live sparks from a firework can easily cause permanent damage and vision loss if we aren’t taking precautions. We should be treating these explosives as dangerous and doing everything necessary to protect our eyes.
 
Fireworks Safety Tips
Our best advice for fireworks safety is to stay well out of range and enjoy a professional fireworks display without ever actually handling them, but we know a lot of people love doing their own fireworks. (Still make sure they’re within the legal limits for the area, of course.) Here are a few rules to follow with those:

Read all of the instructions before using your fireworks, especially how far away to stand when they go off. Follow these instructions carefully!
NEVER aim a firework at people or animals (or yourself), no matter how small the firework is.
Don’t look into the tube to check if a lit firework seems to be a dud.
Wear safety goggles at all times when working closely with fireworks. Goggles can be the difference between walking away from an accident without injuries and being permanently blinded.
Carefully supervise any older children using fireworks and keep young children away from them. (This includes sparklers and firecrackers.)
Follow any state and local laws about fireworks.

 
If an Accident Does Happen With a Firework
Accidents sometimes happen even when we’re being careful, and in those cases, the next steps are critical. If the injured eye has a piece of firework in it, do not try to remove it. Tape a cup over the injured eye to prevent the person from rubbing or touching it and go straight to the emergency room. The sooner medical professionals can begin treatment, the better the chances are for recovery.
 
Have a Safe and Fun Independence Day!
We hope all of our patients are able to enjoy their 4th of July without any fireworks-related injuries getting in the way. If you’d like to know more about how to keep your celebration safe for the eyes of everyone involved, we’re happy to discuss it with you. Give us a call or send us an email.
 
We look forward to celebrating safely!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Is Blue Light Bad for Our Eyes?
How big of a role does a bright screen play in your nightly routine?
Since the advent of handheld devices that could access the internet, a lot of us have been browsing websites late into the night, our eyes glued to a bright little screen, making sure we haven’t missed any updates before we go to sleep. As optometrists, we can’t endorse this bedtime ritual. Screens emit a lot of blue light, which affects both our internal clocks and our eye health.
 
The Physics of Visible Light
The range of colors we can see is known as the visible light spectrum, a tiny sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. Red light is the lowest energy light we can see and violet light is the highest. Below red light is infrared and above violet light is ultraviolet radiation. (Fun fact: the reason the sky and ocean appear blue to us is that blue light scatters more easily than other colors.)
 
The Impact of Artificial Light
For most of human history, the only source of blue light on Earth was the sun. Our bodies react to it. We feel more attentive, react faster, remember things better, and feel better overall during the day. When the sun goes down, it signals our bodies that it’s time to sleep. Biologically, we aren’t used to the concept of artificial light, which can be a problem when there’s so much of it around us.
When we use our phones or computers right before bed, we’re beaming subconscious signals to our brains that it’s not time to sleep yet, no matter how late it is. Our brains respond by suppressing the release of melatonin, an important neurotransmitter that helps us sleep. The result is that it takes us longer to fall asleep than it would otherwise and lowers our overall quality of sleep, which feeds into all the negative health effects of sleep deprivation.
A great way to avoid all these sleep issues is to simply put our devices away in the hour before we go to sleep. In cases where that isn’t possible, use the night mode function to cut out the blue light.
 
Blue Light and Eye Health
Because blue light is so close to UV radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum, many optometrists are concerned that it could be similarly harmful to our eyes, potentially increasing the risk of conditions like age-related macular degeneration. Fortunately, the screens we use emit only a tiny fraction of the blue light the sun emits (and none of the UV light).
A more immediate concern from blue light exposure is digital eye strain. After hours and hours of looking at a bright screen, our eyes might ache or struggle to focus, and we can even get headaches. Computer glasses and screen filters help make screens easier to look at, but a great trick is the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break to focus on an object 20 feet away.
 
We Can Answer Your Questions About Blue Light
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of eye strain and want recommendations or you have other questions about how blue light can impact eye health, we’d love to discuss it with you at our practice! We want all of our patients to have the information they need to keep their eyes healthy.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Is It Time for New Glasses? Signs You Need an Eye Exam
Your vision changes gradually over time, often so slowly you don't notice until the problem becomes significant. Many people continue wearing outdated prescriptions for years, assuming their vision is "good enough" and unaware of how much clearer they could see. Recognizing the signs you need new glasses can help you maintain optimal vision and prevent unnecessary eye strain.

At Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford, we provide comprehensive eye exams to assess your vision and eye health. Whether you've worn glasses for years or recently noticed vision changes, a thorough evaluation can determine if your current prescription still meets your needs. Understanding when to schedule an exam helps you protect your vision and avoid the headaches, fatigue, and frustration that come with an outdated prescription.
Frequent Headaches and Eye Strain
Headaches concentrated around your forehead, temples, or behind your eyes often signal vision problems. When your prescription is no longer accurate, your eye muscles work harder to focus, leading to fatigue and tension headaches. These headaches typically worsen after activities requiring sustained focus, like reading, computer work, or driving.

Eye strain manifests in several ways beyond headaches. You might notice your eyes feel tired or heavy, especially by the end of the day. Some people experience a burning sensation or feel like their eyes are working too hard to see clearly. Digital device use intensifies these symptoms, as staring at screens for hours forces your eyes to maintain constant focus at a specific distance.
Squinting to See Clearly
Squinting temporarily improves focus by changing the shape of your eye and reducing the amount of scattered light entering it. If you catch yourself squinting to read signs, watch television, or see faces across a room, your prescription has likely changed. Squinting might help you see better in the moment, but it causes additional eye strain and can lead to wrinkles around your eyes.

People often squint without realizing they're doing it. Family members or coworkers might notice you squinting before you recognize the habit yourself. Children who need vision correction often squint at the classroom board or hold books very close to their faces. If you notice these behaviors in yourself or your child, schedule a children's eye exam to check for vision changes.
Blurry or Fuzzy Vision
Blurry vision is the most obvious sign you need new glasses. The blurriness might affect only distance vision, making road signs and faces across the room unclear. Or you might struggle with near vision, finding it difficult to read text messages, books, or restaurant menus.

Vision changes can be subtle at first. You might notice you need more light to read comfortably or that you're holding reading material at arm's length. Words might appear slightly fuzzy around the edges, or you might need to blink several times to bring text into focus.

Difficulty Seeing at Night

Night vision typically declines as we age, but significant difficulty seeing in low light or while driving at night may indicate a need for prescription changes. You might notice halos or glare around streetlights and oncoming headlights, or find it harder to judge distances in dim conditions. These symptoms can make night driving stressful and potentially dangerous.

Difficulty with night vision can stem from several causes. Your prescription might have changed, requiring a stronger correction. You might have developed early cataracts, which scatter light and create glare. Or you might benefit from anti-reflective coating on your lenses, which reduces glare and improves vision in low-light conditions.
Double Vision or Visual Distortions
Seeing double or experiencing visual distortions requires prompt attention. Double vision can result from prescription changes, but it can also indicate serious medical conditions affecting your eyes, brain, or nervous system. If you suddenly develop double vision, contact us immediately or seek emergency eye care.

Less dramatic visual distortions might include seeing wavy lines, noticing blind spots in your visual field, or perceiving colors differently. These symptoms can indicate retinal problems, glaucoma, or other conditions that need immediate evaluation.
Your Last Eye Exam Was More Than a Year Ago
Even if you haven't noticed vision changes, you should have an eye exam at least every year. Many eye conditions develop without obvious symptoms in their early stages. Regular exams allow us to detect problems like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration before they cause permanent vision loss.

Your prescription can change even if you feel your vision is fine. Small prescription adjustments can reduce eye strain you might not realize you're experiencing. Many patients are surprised by how much clearer and more comfortable their vision becomes with an updated prescription.
Difficulty Reading or Using Digital Devices
If you find yourself holding your phone or books at arm's length to read them, you may be developing presbyopia. This age-related condition affects everyone starting in their 40s. The lens inside your eye gradually loses flexibility, making it harder to focus on close objects. Reading glasses, bifocals, or progressive lenses can restore comfortable near vision.

Extended computer use creates unique visual demands. You might need different corrections for computer work than for reading or distance vision. Digital eye strain affects many people who spend hours on computers, tablets, or smartphones. Symptoms include tired eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and dry eyes.
Get Your Vision Checked at Focused Eye Care
Regular eye exams do more than update your prescription. They're essential for preventive care that protects your vision and overall health. Our practice has been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua and Merrimack Valley areas multiple times. Our experienced team of O.D.s provides comprehensive evaluations that assess your eye health, screen for diseases, and ensure your prescription gives you the clearest, most comfortable vision possible. All of our O.D.s are members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, ensuring patients at both our Nashua and Milford locations receive knowledgeable, personalized care from our skilled optometric team.

Beyond our skilled optometrists, our highly trained team of opticians, certified para-optometric and contact lens technicians, and office staff is committed to providing exceptional care at every touchpoint. We use advanced diagnostic technologies and maintain a state-of-the-art finishing lab in our Nashua office so we can fabricate, adjust, and repair your eyewear accurately and quickly. Don't wait until vision problems interfere with your daily life. Schedule your eye exam today and see the difference clear, comfortable vision makes.

#### Keeping Our Eyes Healthy as We Age
Among the many changes our bodies undergo as we get older are the changes to our eyesight.
Early diagnosis is critical for stopping many sight-threatening conditions in their tracks, which is why we should be on the watch for signs of age-related vision loss. There are also more benign ways our eyesight can change over the years, and it’s important to know about those too!
 
The Main Age-Related Vision Changes
A few of the most common changes that can happen to our vision with age include:

Changes to color perception: the older we get, the more colors may grow dull or yellowish.
Reduced tear production: our eyes produce fewer tears as we age, which can result in symptoms of dry eye. We need tears to maintain clear vision and maintain eye health, so this can be quite an inconvenience.
Requiring more light to see: we begin to need more light to see clearly as we get older.
Presbyopia: the vast majority of adults over age 45 begin to struggle with close vision as the lenses in their eyes become less flexible. This is why reading glasses, bifocals, and transition lenses are staples of the older decades.
Increased sensitivity to glare: this can be a serious problem while driving, but wearing polarized lenses will block the glare.

 
More Serious Sight-Threatening Eye Conditions
Any of the above issues can be frustrating and inconvenient, even if there are ways to effectively address them, but there are several sight-threatening conditions for which age is a major risk factor:

Diabetic retinopathy
Macular degeneration
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Retinal detachment

Advances in medicine and technology have made it easier to treat or slow the progress of these conditions, and future innovations will only improve prognoses in the coming years. Early diagnosis is currently the best way to ensure a favorable prognosis, so make sure to keep up with your regular eye exams as you get older.
 
How to Help Your Eyes Stay Healthy
In addition to the regular eye exams, there’s a lot an individual can do to look after their eye health. No matter what season it is, wear UV-blocking sunglasses outside. Maintain an active lifestyle, which means regular exercise, a diet full of healthy foods, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking. Doing this will greatly reduce eye disease risk factors, and you’ll also get all the other benefits that come with a healthy lifestyle!
One more easy tip to follow that will help in the short term if you happen to spend a large portion of your day looking at screens is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of screentime, take a little break to focus on something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will help combat the effects of eye strain.
 
Your Lifelong Vision Health Is Our Goal!
The importance of yearly eye exams — for patients over 40 in particular — cannot be overstated. If it’s been longer than that since we last saw you, now’s a great time to schedule your next appointment!
 
We can’t wait to see you!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Kids And Comprehensive Eye Exams
Most of us remember going to the school nurse as a child, covering one eye at a time, and reading off lines from the big E chart to find out if we needed glasses
Unfortunately, as efficient as they may seem, these simple vision screenings don’t catch everything that could be wrong with a child’s eyesight, and when vision problems go undiagnosed, they can seriously hinder a child’s learning and social development.
 
Vision Screenings Versus Comprehensive Eye Exams
The big E chart does the important job of testing visual acuity, but vision problems aren’t limited to nearsightedness or farsightedness. At a comprehensive eye exam, we will also test your child for astigmatism, color blindness, poor visual perception, poor hand-eye coordination, and how effectively their eyes work together for focusing, tracking, and teaming. Problems in any of these areas can impact a child’s education, but only if they aren’t treated.
 
The Effects Of Undiagnosed Vision Problems
Imagine trying to focus on the words on a page when your eyesight makes it physically uncomfortable to do so. If you’re a small child with no idea how your eyes are supposed to work, all you know is that you can’t do what the grown-ups are asking you to do, even while your peers are doing just fine. You become fidgety and can’t concentrate, and you might start to think that learning is no fun or that you’re simply not smart enough to do it.
Up to 80 percent of learning is visual, because children in school spend so much time reading the white board, studying textbooks, and writing. This means that an undiagnosed vision problem puts a major road block in the way of a child’s learning. In fact, many children with these problems end up misdiagnosed with a learning disability!
 
What Are The Symptoms Of An Eye Problem?
Symptoms to watch for in your child include a lazy eye, eyes crossed or turned outward, difficulty completing schoolwork, difficulty with reading comprehension, shortened attention span (particularly for close work), frequent headaches, fidgeting, a habit of covering one eye, and frequent blinking and eye rubbing. If you notice these symptoms and your child hasn’t had a comprehensive eye exam, schedule an appointment with us.
 
Help Your Child Reach Their Potential With Healthy Eyesight
With the new school year starting, now is the perfect time to bring your child in for a comprehensive eye exam. Every child with a problem that impedes their ability to learn should get the help they need. A comprehensive eye exam is a great way to rule out vision problems or to catch them early and begin treatment so that the child can get back to discovering the vast world of knowledge waiting for them. We look forward to seeing you and your child soon!
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Know the Signs of Child Eye Problems
Healthy eyesight is hugely important to a child’s development and education.
As much as 80% of all learning is visual, and it’s estimated that more than half of childhood learning difficulties come from undiagnosed vision problems. What can parents do to ensure their kids don’t have to struggle with the social and educational disadvantages of an undiagnosed vision problem?

 
Understand Why Vision Problems Can Go Undiagnosed
Kids are much less likely than adults to recognize that the problems they’re having are because their eyes aren’t working properly. This means they can’t describe what they’re experiencing to adults. Such children will continue to struggle with an undefined obstacle. They might become distracted and fidgety, and an adult might scold them for it, which only makes things worse. All they know is they’re being scolded for not doing as well as their peers, even if they’re trying their hardest.

 
Vision Problems a School Nurse Might Miss
Inability of children to self-report isn’t the only reason a vision problem might go undiagnosed. Another big one is that many of them don’t receive comprehensive eye exams before starting school. School nurses will test students’ visual acuity using the big E chart, but healthy eyesight is a lot more complicated than having 20/20 vision. Here are some vision problems the school nurse will miss:

 	Astigmatism. Refractive errors that cause blurry vision but which aren’t always caught in a vision screening. Can lead to amblyopia if not treated with corrective lenses.
 	Amblyopia. Also known as “lazy eye,” this means poor vision in one eye due to astigmatism, a difference in refractive errors between the two eyes, or crossed eyes. Can result in irreversible vision loss without treatment.
 	Convergence Insufficiency. The eyes drift outward when trying to focus on up-close things, making reading and other close tasks difficult.
 	Strabismus. A misalignment of the eyes where they turn out, in, down, or up. Can be corrected by patching, special glasses, or surgery.

 
Signs Parents Should Watch For
Certain symptoms of eye problems are very obvious to an observer, like an eye pointing in the wrong direction or frequent squinting. Others need more careful observation. Here are a few signs that would merit a comprehensive eye exam (though we recommend them no matter what):

 	Frequent blinking and eye rubbing
 	Short attention span, especially for close work
 	Difficulty with reading or avoidance of it
 	Frequent headaches
 	Habit of covering one eye
 	Habit of tilting the head to the side
 	Tendency to hold reading materials very close to their face
 	Difficulty remembering what they just read
 	Tendency to lose their place while reading

 
Why Wait to Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam?
Every parent wants to give their child the best chance in life, and making sure they don’t have an eye problem that could interfere with their education and development is a big part of that — and one many parents have no way of knowing about! To learn more about eye problems that often go undiagnosed in children, please give us a call!

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Learning All About Heterochromia
Statistically, the first thing we notice about a person when we meet them is their eye color.
An interesting pair of eyes can make a lasting impression, but the most unforgettable are probably the ones that don’t match. The scientific term for mismatched eye colors is heterochromia. It’s fairly common in cats and dogs, but it affects only three of every five hundred people. There are a few different causes and varieties of heterochromia.
 
Different Forms of Heterochromia
Famous examples of heterochromia are Josh Henderson and Alice Eve, who each have one green eye and one blue eye. They both have completely mismatched irises, formally called complete heterochromia or heterochromia iridium. It’s also possible to have a patch of a different color in one iris, which is called segmental heterochromia or heterochromia iridis. Henry Cavill is a good example, as his eyes are blue but he has a patch of brown in his left iris.
More common than either of these types is central heterochromia, in which the irises match each other but there’s a ring of a different color around the pupils. Olivia Wilde, for instance, has blue eyes with rings of brown around the center. It might not stand out the same way as the asymmetrical types of heterochromia but the results are still quite striking!
 
The Causes of Heterochromia
In most cases, heterochromia is just a harmless genetic mutation that affects the way pigment develops in a person’s irises, but it can also be a side-effect of an injury or a disease later in life. Mila Kunis was left with heterochromia after prolonged inflammation in one of her irises, but the most famous example was David Bowie.
When he was 15, Bowie got into a fight with a good friend over a girl they both liked, and a punch to his left eye ended up permanently paralyzing the iris, giving him anisocoria, or uneven pupils, for the rest of his life. His eyes weren’t really different colors, but they looked like it because the left one was fully dilated while the right was not.
 
Heterochromia in Folklore
Different cultures have had different traditions around mismatched eyes throughout history. Eastern European pagans thought they were witch eyes, while many Native American cultures believed they were ghost eyes that granted a person the ability to see into heaven and earth. These days, we mostly just think they look cool.
 
We Want to See Your Eyes, Whether or Not They Match!
It’s highly unlikely that you will develop heterochromia due to injury or disease if you weren’t born with it, but it is always worth bringing a change in your eyesight to our attention. Don’t wait to schedule your next eye exam, particularly if it’s been a while since the last time we saw you.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Maintaining Healthy Vision as We Age
A lot changes as we get older, including our eyesight.
As we age, we should be vigilant in watching for signs of age-related vision loss, because early diagnosis is critical in preventing many sight-threatening conditions from progressing. We want our patients to be as informed as possible so that they can minimize their risks. We also want them to be prepared for the more benign ways their eyesight can change!
 
The Top Age-Related Vision Changes
Some of the most common changes we can experience with our vision as we get older include:

Requiring more light to see. The older we get, we might begin to need more light to see clearly, so don’t be too surprised if you start needing additional work lamps and reading lights over time.
This number is expected to decrease, but 80% of people over age 45 develop presbyopia. The lenses in their eyes become less flexible, making it increasingly difficult to focus on near objects or words on a page. Presbyopia is the reason many people need bifocals or transition lenses.
Increasing sensitivity to glare. This is a problem especially while driving, and polarized lenses can help.
Changes to color perception. As we get older, colors we see can yellow or dull somewhat.
Reduced production of tears. We need tears to keep our eyes healthy and maintain clear vision, so dry eye can be a problem.

 
Sight-Threatening Conditions and Age
While all these changes can be frustrating to live with, even though we can correct presbyopia with reading glasses and we can use eye drops to treat dry eye, there are also a range of vision problems that become more common as we get older and are a much more serious threat to eyesight. These include diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.
Medicine and technology have already come a long way in treating or slowing the progress of these eye conditions, and they will only continue to improve prognoses in the future. However, the earlier we can catch the warning signs, the better it is for the patient’s eyesight. This is why regular eye exams become increasingly important over the years.
 
Helping Your Vision Stay Healthy
Between those regular eye exams, there’s a lot we can do in our daily lives to safeguard our eyesight. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses outside (no matter what season it is), stay active, eat healthy foods, and avoid harmful habits like smoking. Following these tips will greatly reduce a lot of the risk factors for eye diseases, let alone improving your overall health!
Another good tip to follow for short-term vision benefits if you spend a lot of time looking at screens throughout the day is the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, give your eyes a break from the screen by focusing on something at least 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This can help a lot with eye strain!
 
Our Goal Is Our Patients’ Lifelong Vision Health!
We can’t overstate the value of yearly eye exams, especially for patients over 40. How long has it been since your last eye exam? If you aren’t sure or if you know it’s been a while (and especially if you’ve noticed any changes in your vision), we’d love to see you.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Makeup Eye Safety Tips
Back in the old days, makeup was full of ingredients like lead, arsenic, and mercury.
Thankfully we don’t have to worry whether or not we’re putting actual poison on our faces when we apply modern makeup, but we should still take a few precautions to protect our eyes from unnecessary injury and infection. There’s no reason the saying “beauty is pain” has to be true, especially when it comes to eye makeup!
 
Put a Little Distance Between the Makeup and Your Eye
We’re not here to tell our makeup-enthusiast patients to give up their eye makeup, but we do have serious concerns about types of eye makeup that get too close to the actual eyeball for comfort, including false eyelashes, eyelash extensions, waterline eyeliner, and colored or costume contact lenses. These products can irritate the eyes on their own, and they can also provide a place for bacteria to build up and get into the eyes.
Mascara is another type of eye makeup that can be a vehicle for germs. All it takes is one use for the wand to become contaminated. Aside from the infection risk, sometimes even the steadiest hand can slip and we end up poking ourselves in the eye, potentially scratching the cornea.
 
How to Stay Safe While Looking Great
So how can we protect our eyes while continuing to use makeup to create the looks we want? Just follow the following basic safety tips:

Like food and medicine, makeup can expire. Check the expiration dates on your eye makeup and replace your expired makeup. You’re more likely to get an infection or irritation from older makeup. If you’ve already experienced some irritation, this could be the cause. Eyes can actually become reinfected from germs in makeup after recovering!
Apply makeup with clean brushes. It’ll be better for the end result, but it’s also more sanitary for working that close to your eyes.
Steer clear of the waterline. No matter how amazing it looks or how expertly you’ve mastered the art of not poking your eye while applying it, makeup on the waterline is a lot of foreign material to place right next to the tear film.
NEVER share eye makeup. Don’t share it with your friends, don’t share it with family members. You won’t just be sharing makeup, you’ll be sharing germs!
Never purchase color contacts from a vendor who doesn’t ask you for a prescription. Whether or not you need contacts to correct your vision, you definitely want your contacts to fit your eyes! That’s a crucial part of a contact lens prescription.

 
Come to Us With Your Eye Makeup Questions
If you want to learn more about which makeup products are safer or if you’re interested in recommendations for costume contact lenses or regular color contacts, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We want to educate our patients as much as possible so that they can continue looking their best while making their eye health a priority!
 
Our patients have beautiful eyes!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### New to Glasses? Here’s Why They Rock.
Starting to wear glasses can be a big change for kids.
They may often be tempted to leave their glasses at home instead of wearing them to school, even if that comes at the expense of hours of squinting and fuzzy scenery. We’re here to help parents appreciate the advantages of wearing their glasses.

 
Age-Appropriate, Well-Fitting Glasses Go Over Better
Most children think it’s fun to try on a parent or grandparent’s glasses for a minute, but when getting them their own glasses, they should properly fit the size of their face. Kids grow fast, so they will need new glasses more frequently than adults. They’ll be more likely to wear comfortable glasses that don’t look too young for them.

 
Make the Adjustment Easier With Small Goals
If your child doesn’t like wearing glasses, it can be a massive adjustment to go from no glasses to wearing them all day. Take it slow. Start out by asking them to wear them for just half an hour each day, then gradually add time until they’re wearing them from breakfast until bedtime. You could even incentivize them with little prizes for each step in the process.

 
Give Them Good Glasses-Wearing Role Models
Many kids might find it embarrassing or lame to wear glasses, so help change that for them by reminding them of some of the great glasses-wearing role models out there. Does a family member they look up to wear glasses? How about characters in their favorite shows, movies, or books, like Harry Potter? Superman and Supergirl wear glasses as part of their secret identities, and even Iron Man wears them sometimes.

 
Bring in Reinforcements and Stick to Your Plan
If you don’t stick to the rules and goals you make for your child’s glasses time, they won’t do much good. However, you won’t always be around to keep an eye on them and make sure they’re actually holding up their end. Let their teachers, babysitters, and other adults in their lives know about the plan so that they can help see it through!

 
Your Child Will Like the Glasses They Choose Best
A great way to help your child love their new glasses is to let them pick the ones they like (from a selection of frames that fit them properly). Glasses are like a customizable facial feature, and they’ll love having a new way to express their own sense of style. If they choose bright or clashing colors, don’t worry about it. The goal is for them to actually ear their glasses, even if they aren’t quite what you’d choose yourself.

 
Make Use of Another Great Resource: The Optometrist
We’re happy to offer more tips to encourage your child to wear their glasses. Just give us a call or bring your child in to get advice in person. Nobody knows how cool glasses are like we do, and we’re eager to share!

 
Whether our patients are young or old, we love helping them love their glasses!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Nutrition Tips to Help Your Sight
We often tie good nutrition to a well-balanced and healthy diet that promotes strong bones, good muscle tone and nice skin. However, nutrition is about all parts of your body. This includes your eyes, which need specific nutrients and vitamins to perform at their best. 

 
Eat Right to Help Your Sight
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology here are some key nutrients your eyes need, and some readily available foods that contain them: 




Nutrient


Daily Intake
(Women/ Men)


Sources



Lutein 
10 mg 
leafy green vegetables, kale, spinach, collards, corn 


Omega-3s 
4 grams 
cold-water fish (salmon, trout, tuna, halibut) 


Vitamin A 
700iu/ 900iu 
beef liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apricots 


Vitamin C 
60 mg 
oranges & citrus fruits, peppers, strawberries, brussel sprouts 


Vitamin E 
15 mg 
nuts, seeds, avocados, wheat germ, vegetable oils 


Zeaxanthin 
10 mg 
green peas, green beans, broccoli, eggs 



 
Seek Out High-Quality Supplements
In addition to a healthy and eye-friendly diet, those who have eye conditions such as moderate macular degeneration or dry eye, may want to consider supplements. 

If your Focused Eye Care doctor thinks a supplement would be beneficial, they may recommend one, based on careful consideration of all relevant factors and reflective of each patient's history and age conditions. 

We often recommend EyePromise and MacuHealth vision supplements to address these needs 

Interested in learning more? Book an appointment today! 

#### Open House
URL: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/open-house/

#### Our "People First" Values Set Us Apart
At Focused Eye Care, we’ve spent the past several years looking inward and refreshing our branding and logo. Not to redefine who we are, but to reaffirm what’s always made us unique. While we’re proud to offer cutting-edge technology and the highest quality vision care products, we know that true excellence begins with the people who walk through our doors — and the ones who stand behind them.

Our patients tell us that what keeps them coming back isn’t just advanced diagnostics or stylish frames. It’s the way we make them feel seen, heard and cared for. That’s not by accident. It’s because our team lives out a set of shared values that guide everything we do, best captured by the finishing touch of our rebranding efforts — our new tagline, People First:

 

 	Pursue excellence — we are always providing our patients with best-in-class, personalized care
 	Embrace change, evolve together — our superior care is rooted in each of us adopting and understanding the latest technology and treatments
 	Operate with integrity — we deliver comprehensive care that is rooted in transparency, honesty and mutual respect
 	Positive environment — we believe that a happy, harmonious team creates the best experience for our patients and each other
 	Listen with compassion — our time spent with patients is undivided, enabling us to form genuine connections that foster better outcomes for our patients and staff alike
 	Educate and engage — we take the time to empower our staff and our patients with the knowledge to ensure a synchronized approach to care

 

Our tagline and the way we talk about PEOPLE may be new, but they merely represent what we've always felt and believed. As we look toward the future, we’re doubling down on our values because they are the heart of what sets Focused Eye Care apart.

Whether you and your family have been with us for years or are stepping into our practice for the first time, you can count on a team that leads with care, grows with intention and shows up every day with a focus on putting People First.

#### Our Top Tips For Winter Eye Safety
Because it’s so much colder outside in winter, our instinct might be to assume that we’re safe from damage from the sun.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. We are just as vulnerable to harmful UV rays in winter as we are in summer. Our skin might be mostly bundled up from the cold, keeping it safe from UV rays, but what about our eyes? And what about other ways our eyes are vulnerable in the winter months?
Snow Blindness: A Winter Sunburn On Your Eyes
One way the sun can impact our eyes in winter is snow blindness. Too much sunlight can actually sunburn our eyes and cause temporary blindness, and this condition is much more common in winter due to sunlight reflecting off the snow. Because it can take hours for symptoms to appear, we often don’t know we have it until it’s too late and we’ve been exposing our eyes to all that sunlight for even longer. Luckily, there are things we can do to protect our eyes from winter conditions.
Sunglasses: Not Just A Summer Look
If you think sunglasses are only for summer, think again! A pair of polarized, 100 percent UV-blocking sunglasses are your best defense against harmful UV rays when you’re going about your day in snowy conditions.
Don’t Hit The Slopes Without Your Goggles!
Those of us who enjoy skiing or snowboarding will actually be exposed to more UV rays than people who prefer summer activities, because the atmosphere is thinner at high altitudes, making the sunlight harsher. This is just one reason ski goggles are a crucial piece of equipment for winter athletes.
When you’re looking for the right pair of ski goggles, there are a few things to consider. In addition to finding goggles with 100 percent UV protection, you can buy a pair that has vents or an anti-fog coating, preventing them from fogging up when you get going. Polarized lenses will eliminate that harsh glare off the snow, making it much easier for you to see the slope. If you wear prescription glasses, you can also find ski goggles that fit comfortably over them.


https://www.youtube.com/embed/3g7z_UDMV5Q?feature=oembed

Combating Dry Eye In The Winter Air
The air can often be drier in winter than at other times of the year, and the heating we use indoors can dry it out even more. This can leave our eyes dry and irritated. To fight back against dry eye in winter, make sure you’re staying hydrated, use the seat warmers in the car a little more and the heater a little less, and consider getting a humidifier for your home.
Ask Us For More Winter Eye Protection Tips
If you’d like to know more about what you can do to protect your eyes from snow blindness, winter dry eye, and other problems we’re more susceptible to in the colder months, just let us know! We want to make sure all of our patients have the information and tools they need to keep their eyes healthy year round!
We hope everyone stays warm this winter!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Presbyopia, Bifocals, and Progressives
Presbyopia is farsightedness caused by the increasing rigidity of the lens in the eye as we age.
It affects nearly everyone older than 65, and for the 42 percent of Americans who are already nearsighted, this creates a complication. People who previously had 20/20 vision can just grab a pair of reading glasses to combat presbyopia, but nearsighted people will need to either pair reading glasses with contact lenses for their nearsightedness or else upgrade their single-prescription glasses to bifocals, trifocals, or progressives.

 
The Pros and Cons of Bifocals
Bifocals are fairly self-explanatory. One area corrects for nearsightedness and the other area corrects for presbyopia or farsightedness. As presbyopia worsens, it may become necessary to have a middle range for things like reading a computer screen, which is where trifocals come in. They are a simple, effective solution, but not without their flaws.

The hard line between the prescription sections can be very jarring and create an image jump effect in the wearer’s field of vision. And just as having braces carries a connotation of immaturity because most orthodontic patients are teens, bifocals and trifocals have a connotation of advancing age that many would rather avoid.

 
Progressive Lenses: The Modern Solution for Presbyopia
Anyone who feels that the drawbacks of bifocals outweigh the benefits might do better with progressive lenses. Where bifocals and trifocals are multiple lenses put together like puzzle pieces, a progressive lens is a single lens in which the prescription gradually changes from distance vision at the top to near vision at the bottom, with a middle section if needed in between. Depending on how they tilt their heads, the wearers are able to see clearly at all distances.

 
The Adjustment Period with Progressive Lenses
With every new lens prescription comes an adjustment period, particularly for your first pair of progressive lenses. Here are a few quick tips to adjust quickly:

 	Practice looking at objects at different distances by reading a book and watching TV at the same time.
 	Practice moving your head instead of your eyes to see things at different distances.
 	Make sure the glasses fit properly so that the corridor of power in the middle of the lens stays where it needs to be.
 	Keep wearing your new progressive lenses instead of switching back and forth to your old glasses. Doing that resets the clock on getting used to your new glasses and makes it take longer to get used to them!

 
Have Questions or Need an Adjustment?
If you’d like to learn more about progressive lenses or if you’re having trouble with yours, give us a call! We want to make sure all our patients are happy with their glasses and able to see comfortably and clearly.

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image by Flickr user Bill Daly used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Progressive Lenses Versus Bifocals
Nearly everyone over the age of 65 will experience a reduced elasticity of the lenses of their eyes — a condition called presbyopia.
Those of us lucky enough to have perfect vision until that age will only require reading glasses to help with up-close vision. However, for the 42 percent of Americans who are nearsighted to begin with, a more complex solution will be necessary, such as bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses.
Bifocals: Pros And Cons
Bifocals are just what they sound like: glasses with one area that corrects nearsightedness and another area that corrects farsightedness. The worse presbyopia gets, it can start to affect middle distances too, and trifocals help by adding a middle strip for things like reading a computer screen.
If you’ve ever worn bifocals or trifocals, you know all about the line between the sections of the lenses. These lines can be distracting and create an odd “image jump” effect, and they can also serve as evidence of advancing age to anyone who sees them. Anyone who feels these drawbacks are too great to overlook might be more interested in progressive lenses.
The Science Of Progressive Lenses
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, progressive lenses do what bifocals and trifocals do but without the distracting lines. The way this works is that the prescription gradually changes along a corridor of power, going from supporting distance vision at the top to close vision at the bottom.
The tradeoff to make such a complex lens work is that the bottom corners of progressive lenses make things appear blurry. Fortunately, newer technology is helping to minimize this flaw. When we examine patients wishing to buy progressive lenses, we measure pupillary distance so that we can place the corridor of power in the best place.
Getting Used To Progressive Lenses
Any time we change the prescription or frame shape of our glasses, it will take some time to get used to the way things look. This is certainly the case for progressive lenses, especially if it’s your first time wearing them. A few things you can do to adjust more quickly include:



moving your head instead of your eyes to see different things
making sure the glasses fit properly so that the corridor of power stays in the right place
practicing looking at objects at different differences by watching TV and reading a book at the same time
not giving up! If you switch back and forth between your progressive lenses and your old bifocals, you’ll reset the clock on your eyes getting used to them!



Talk To Us About Your Next Pair Of Glasses
If you have any questions about progressive lenses, don’t hesitate to bring them to us. We want all of our patients to have the perfect lenses to help them see clearly. And while we’re at it, we’ll help you find the perfect frames!
Thank you for being part of our practice family!







Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.







The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Recognizing Childhood Vision Problems
Healthy, functioning eyesight is incredibly important to a child’s education and development.
That’s because as much as 80% of all learning is visual, and experts estimate that more than half of childhood learning difficulties are the result of undiagnosed vision problems. So what can parents do to make sure their child doesn’t experience the setbacks that come with an undiagnosed vision problem?
 
Why Are Vision Problems So Commonly Undiagnosed?
The simple reality is that a child doesn’t know the difference between normal vision and a vision problem; they only know their own experience. This makes them much less capable of describing what’s wrong to an adult. Instead, they might become fidgety and distracted and fail to accomplish assigned tasks, and an adult might scold them instead of recognizing that there’s an underlying problem.
All the child knows in that situation is that the best they can do isn’t good enough. They might believe they aren’t good at learning or that school isn’t fun, when in reality they simply can’t see well and this is something that could be fixed.
 
What Vision Problems Might a School Nurse Miss?
The inability of children to self-report a vision problem isn’t the only reason it could go undiagnosed; many of them also don’t receive comprehensive eye exams before they begin school. Parents may rely on the school nurse and the big E chart to determine whether their kids have healthy eyesight, but the big E chart can only diagnose nearsightedness. It will miss a wide array of problems, including:

Amblyopia or “lazy eye”: poor vision in one eye due to astigmatism, crossed eyes, or difference in refractive errors between the two eyes. It can lead to irreversible vision loss without treatment.
Astigmatism: a refractive error that causes blurry vision but not always in ways that are caught in a vision screening. Can usually be treated with corrective lenses.
Convergence insufficiency: the tendency of the eyes to drift outward when trying to focus on near objects, making reading and other close work difficult.
Strabismus: a misalignment of the eyes where they turn up, down, in, or out. Can be corrected with patching, special glasses, or surgery.

 
Signs Parents Can Watch For
Some symptoms of eye problems are very easy to spot, such as an eye pointing in the wrong direction or constant squinting, but others require more training to spot. If your child exhibits some of the following symptoms, it would be worth it to schedule a comprehensive eye exam (and it would still be worth it if they don’t!):

Frequent eye rubbing and blinking
A short attention span, particularly for close work
Avoiding reading or difficulty reading
Frequent headaches
A habit of covering one eye
A habit of tilting the head to the side
A tendency to hold reading materials very close
Trouble remembering words they just read
A tendency to lose their place while reading


 

 
Don’t Put Off Your Child’s Comprehensive Eye Exam
All parents want to give their children the best chance to succeed, and an important part of that which not enough people know about is making sure they don’t have a treatable eye problem that could interfere with their education and development. That’s why we want to get the word out! A lot of these eye problems don’t just go undiagnosed, sometimes they are misdiagnosed as learning or attention disorders!
Get in touch with us to learn more about eye problems!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Sleep and Vision
When we don’t manage to get a full night’s sleep, we feel it long into the next day.
Studies show that sleep deprivation has similar effects on the body and mind as alcohol. But what does sleep have to do with eyesight? You might be surprised. Getting enough sleep does wonders for our overall health, including our eye health, and we can also achieve better quality sleep by changing what our eyes see before bedtime.
 
How Lack of Sleep Impacts Eye Health
Most of us are familiar with a few of the symptoms of sleep deprivation over a night or two: drowsiness, grumpiness, and difficulty concentrating. In the long term, sleep deprivation can actually weaken our immune systems, make it harder to lose weight, increase our blood pressure, and contribute to memory loss and mood changes. We want to focus on how it affects our eyes.
It takes at least five hours of sleep per night for our eyes to replenish themselves so they can function well throughout the day. It goes beyond simply being able to keep them open. The less sleep we get over time, the more likely we are to experience symptoms like dry eye, eye strain, and even twitchy eyes. Fortunately, our eyes are actually part of the solution to getting more and better sleep.
 
Blue Light and Our Internal Clocks
Even the most tech-savvy among us can’t change the biology of our eyes. Throughout human history, light from the blue end of the visible spectrum has only come from the sun…until we invented devices with screens. Before that, the absence of blue light from the sun was the signal to our brains that it was time to finish things up for the day and get some sleep.
Now, with blue light coming from screens even after sundown, our brains might not get nature’s bedtime signal when they should. If you’ve noticed that it takes longer to feel tired while using your smart phone late at night, or that you struggle more to fall asleep, that screen could be the culprit because it’s tricking your brain into thinking it needs to stay awake!
 
Shut Off the Blue Light for Some Shut-Eye
The solution to the blue light problem is simple: put the devices away at least half an hour before going to sleep. Okay, we know that’s not going to be the easiest thing for everyone to do, but that’s why many devices now have built-in Night Shift settings that enable you to turn down the blue light close to bedtime on those evenings when you still need to be online that late. This should help you get more out of your night’s sleep, which will in turn help your eyes do their job better!
 
Take the Night Off from Wearing Contacts
Wearing contacts overnight might not change the quality of your sleep on the whole, but it will make it less restful for your eyes. The cornea (the clear outer layer of the eye) gets its oxygen directly from the air. At night, when our eyes are closed for hours, contact lenses block much more of the air flow to the corneas than they do during the day.
Even with contacts that are designed for extended wear, it’s still healthier to take them out overnight. In addition to helping your eyes breathe easier, it also reduces the risk of eye infection. No matter what, make sure never to wear contacts for longer stretches of time than the packaging recommends.
 
Make Eye Exams a Priority
Be sure to bring any questions you still have about how eye health and sleep are related when you come in for your next eye exam! We hope all our patients will get plenty of sleep, practice good care and safety habits with contact lenses, and remember to turn down the blue light before bed.
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Smart Contact Lenses?
It wasn’t so long ago that the idea of a smart contact lens seemed like the stuff of science fiction, but it’s pretty close to becoming science fact.
What exactly are smart contact lenses, and what would they be for? Let’s take a look at a few of the different possibilities we could be seeing in the not-so-distant future.
Contacts For Monitoring Blood Sugar
One application smart contacts will likely have is monitoring blood sugar levels of diabetics by measuring the amount of glucose in the tear film. When these become available, diabetics will be able to say goodbye to the daily finger prick test, because their contacts will be able to get the same information simply by wearing them!
Contacts For Eye Medication

In 2018, a team from Harvard Medical School developed contact lenses that can deliver medication directly to the eye over a period of days or weeks. These lenses could be used to treat eye diseases like glaucoma or help with the recovery from an eye surgery. How would you like to simply put in a contact lens instead of having to remember to use eye drops?
Smart Vision Correction For Presbyopia Patients

If you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, can you imagine wearing contact lenses that automatically adjust to help you see up-close or far away? That would mean no more lines across your vision, and you wouldn’t need to turn your head to see things at different distances. We look forward to hearing more about this kind of smart contact lens technology.
One day, we might even be able to wear computer screens on our eyes:


https://www.youtube.com/embed/C7YycpxoKSw?feature=oembed


Obstacles To Smart Lenses

As exciting as this futuristic technology is, there are a number of roadblocks that make it incredibly complicated. It isn’t just about making smaller circuitry and computer chips — this stuff also needs to be wearable, breathable, see-through, and safe. It will be very exciting to see the kinds of smart contact lenses that come out, as well as the other ways that kind of technology could be used.
Find The Right Contact Lenses For You

While we wait for contact lenses that incorporate all kinds of amazing technology, we’ll still be wearing our regular contact lenses to help us see clearly. If you’re interested in switching to contact lenses or you have questions about contact lens care and safety, just give us a call!

Thank you for being part of our practice family!



Top image by Flickr user Lee Haywood used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.



The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Smoking Puts Eye Health at Risk
Smoking damages the entire body, and the eyes are no exception.
The main health risk that tends to come to mind with a smoking habit is lung cancer, perhaps followed by oral health problems, but it doesn’t merely harm the parts of the body that come into direct contact with the smoke. Studies show that there is a significant increase in the risk of eye diseases from cataracts to diabetic retinopathy to glaucoma to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

 
Cataracts and Smoking
The risk of cataracts (the world’s leading cause of blindness) doubles for smokers. Early symptoms of cataracts include blurred or double vision, faded colors, poor night vision, and light sensitivity. The good news is that cataract surgery is both safe and incredibly common, which means that any vision loss from cataracts doesn’t have to last.

 
The Link Between Smoking and Diabetic Eye Disease
Any eye problem with “diabetic” in the name obviously has a connection to diabetes, and they’re also connected to smoking because smoking increases the likelihood of developing diabetes by as much as 40%. This makes any health complications associated with diabetes more likely by extension.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when weakened blood vessels at the back of the eye begin leaking blood into the field of vision, starving the retina of the oxygen it needs. The problem tends to worsen over time, particularly if the diabetes isn’t controlled well.

 
How Smoking Impacts AMD
The part of the retina that gives us our sharpest, most detailed vision is the macula. AMD is a condition in which the macula gradually deteriorates, causing irreversible blindness. Smoking triples the risk of developing AMD and also makes it more likely to happen at an earlier age.

 
Smoking Harms Non-Smokers Too
While the smokers themselves will feel the worst effects of smoking, it can also hurt those closest to them through secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. In children, it can cause asthma attacks, bronchitis, ear infections, pneumonia, and even increase the risk of SIDS.

 
Vaping: Not Really a Safe Alternative
Vaping has been presented as a healthy alternative to smoking, but that’s simply not true. Many chemicals in e-cigarette fluid are linked with higher risks of the above sight-threatening conditions too. The bottom line is that there is no healthy way to consume tobacco.

 
Choose Better Eye Health by Breaking the Habit
We can’t always control our eye disease risk factors, such as age or family history, but we can control whether or not we smoke. No matter how long someone has had a smoking habit, they can reduce their risk of eye disease and a wide range of other health problems by quitting. Other things we can do for our eye health include staying active, eating healthy, and keeping up with regular eye exams!

 
Overall health and eye health aren’t always separate!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Specialty Lens Fitting: Our Custom Solutions for Unique Vision Needs
Complex vision challenges require more than standard prescriptions. Specialty lens fitting represents a precise approach to vision correction, addressing unique eye shapes, medical conditions, and lifestyle demands through custom-designed contact lenses. These advanced solutions provide clear, comfortable vision for patients who have struggled with traditional contacts or glasses.

At Focused Eye Care, our skilled optometrists understand the intricacies of specialty lens fitting. With locations in Nashua and Milford, NH, we combine advanced diagnostic technology with personalized care to help patients achieve optimal vision through contact lenses tailored to their specific needs.
Understanding Specialty Contact Lens Options
Specialty contact lenses encompass a wide range of custom designs created for specific vision conditions. Rigid gas-permeable lenses offer excellent vision correction for irregular corneas and high prescriptions. These lenses maintain their shape on the eye, providing crisp optics even when standard soft lenses fail to deliver adequate results.

Scleral lenses are another advanced option, featuring large diameters that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye. These lenses create a smooth optical surface and maintain constant hydration, making them ideal for patients with corneal irregularities or severe dry eyes.

Hybrid lenses combine the visual clarity of rigid materials with the comfort of soft lens edges. This design provides sharp vision while reducing the adaptation time typically associated with hard lenses.
Conditions Requiring Specialty Lens Solutions
Several eye conditions benefit significantly from specialty lens fitting. Keratoconus, a progressive condition causing corneal thinning and bulging, often requires custom lenses to achieve functional vision. Standard contacts cannot accommodate the irregular shape, but specialty lenses provide stable correction.

Corneal scarring from injury or previous surgery may create visual distortions that glasses cannot fully address. Specialty lenses mask these irregularities by creating a new refractive surface.

Post-surgical patients, particularly those who have undergone corneal transplants or refractive procedures, often experience better outcomes with custom lens designs. These solutions address residual refractive errors and surface irregularities.

Patients with severe dry eyes find relief through scleral lenses, which maintain a protective fluid reservoir between the lens and cornea. This design promotes comfort while delivering clear vision throughout the day.
The Specialty Lens Fitting Process
Our comprehensive fitting process begins with detailed corneal mapping using advanced technology. These measurements reveal the precise curvature and shape characteristics needed for optimal lens design. We evaluate tear film quality, eye health, and lifestyle factors to determine the most suitable lens type.

Initial lens selection involves careful parameter calculation and trial lens evaluation. We assess lens positioning, movement, and comfort to ensure proper fit. The process may require several appointments as we fine-tune the prescription and design.

Patient education plays a crucial role in specialty lens success. We provide thorough training on proper insertion, removal, and care techniques. Our team ensures you feel confident managing your lenses before completing the fitting process.

Follow-up appointments allow us to monitor lens performance and eye health. We make adjustments as needed to maintain optimal comfort and vision quality over time.
Advanced Technology for Precise Results
Modern specialty lens fitting relies on sophisticated diagnostic equipment to achieve superior outcomes. Corneal topography creates detailed maps showing elevation changes and curvature patterns across the entire corneal surface. This information guides custom lens design with remarkable precision.

Optical coherence tomography provides cross-sectional images of corneal structure, revealing thickness variations and internal characteristics. These measurements help determine appropriate lens materials and designs for each patient's unique anatomy.

Our state-of-the-art equipment enables us to design lenses for even the most challenging cases, ensuring optimal vision correction and comfort.
Focused Eye Care's Commitment to Specialty Vision Solutions
Our experienced optometrists at Focused Eye Care bring extensive training in specialty lens fitting to every patient consultation. Dr. Anjelica Donnelly, Dr. Kendra Phillis, and Dr. Ronald Coutu have obtained advanced certifications in contact lens fitting and utilize the latest techniques in custom lens design.

We maintain relationships with leading specialty lens manufacturers, ensuring access to the most advanced materials and designs available. Whether you require solutions for complex prescriptions, irregular corneas, or challenging eye conditions, our team has the knowledge and technology to help you achieve clear, comfortable vision. Schedule your specialty lens consultation to discover how custom contact lenses can transform your visual experience.

#### Sports and Visual Skills
When we think of athletes, we probably think of speed and strength first, but what about vision?
Strong visual skills are just as important to an athlete’s success as strong muscles. Athletes have to be able to process visual information very quickly so that they can respond to it. The cool thing is that, like muscles, some visual skills can be improved with practice.
 
What Visual Skills do Athletes Use?
Here are some of the most essential visual skills that help athletes perform at the top of their game:

Color vision. It’s a lot easier to recognize the difference between teammate and opponent when you can see the different jersey colors!
Depth perception. Athletes need to be able to judge the distances of objects and other players.
Dynamic visual acuity. Beyond just having clear vision, athletes need to be able to see fast-moving objects clearly too.
Eye tracking. Athletes also need to be able to track fast-moving objects with their eyes instead of jeopardizing their balance by turning their heads or torsos.
Eye-hand-body coordination. Being able to adjust the position of your body, hands, and feet based on what you see is essential for succeeding in sports.
Peripheral vision. Athletes need to be able to react to what’s happening at the edges of their vision, not just the things happening straight ahead.
Visual concentration. An athlete needs to be able to focus on what matters even when there are a lot of distractions trying to draw their eyes.
Visual reaction time. The faster an athlete can process and respond to visual information, the faster they can get into position.
Visualization. Athletes need to be able to picture different scenarios to prepare themselves for potential obstacles and opportunities — all while focusing on the events of the moment.
Visual memory. An athlete must keep a great deal of visual information in their heads while playing, including the positions of other players based on where they saw them last.

 
You Can Train Your Visual Skills on the Go
You won’t need a gym to train several of these visual skills. A simple exercise for depth perception, for example, is to hold a pen at arm’s length and repeatedly put the cap on it. You could also hold a small pebble at arm’s length and try dropping it into a drinking straw.
A great way to train peripheral awareness is by turning our heads to the side while we use a computer or watch TV. We can improve the flexibility of our eyes by switching rapidly between focusing on something close and something far away. To practice dynamic visual acuity, try cutting out different sized letters from a magazine and taping them to a turntable. Then see how well you can identify the letters when it spins at different speeds.
 
Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Athletes!
Keeping our eyes sharp (and healthy) is something we might overlook (no pun intended) when thinking about staying in shape for sports. If you want to learn more about how you can improve your visual skills or if you’re experiencing any changes in your eyesight, get in touch with us!
 
Thank you for trusting us with your vision health!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Strange and Fascinating Animal Eyes
Just because we work with human eyesight, it doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate some of the unique eyes in nature.
Depending on how they hunt (or avoid being hunted), where they live, and even how big they are, animals have a wide array of vision adaptations that human eyes don’t have. Let’s take a look at just a few of them.
 
The Super-Speed Vision of Dragonflies
Our eyes perceive images at a rate of about 60 frames per second. It’s why when we watch a movie, we see a continuous stream of motion instead of a series of still images flickering quickly past. Dragonflies, on the other hand, see at a rate of 200 frames per second. They also have compound eyes, meaning that they process several thousand separate images at once, instead of just one from each eye like we do. There’s not much they aren’t going to notice!
 
Built-In, Organic Mirrors
Have you ever shone a flashlight into your backyard at night, only to see two bright lights blinking back at you? Maybe it was your dog or your cat, or maybe a nosy raccoon. What makes certain animals’ eyes light up like that in the darkness? It’s a piece of anatomy called the tapetum lucidum. It sits right behind the retina and works kind of like a mirror. Light hits the retina on the way in, then bounces off and hits the retina a second time on the way out.
Animals with a tapetum lucidum in their eyes have far better night vision than humans do, but it comes at a cost. The light doesn’t hit exactly the same spot on the retina when it bounces back out, so the image these animals see is always slightly blurry at any distance, and it still would be with glasses! As cool as night vision is, we think we prefer being able to see in sharp detail.
 
A Bird’s Eye View
Many animals see in a very different spectrum of color than we do. Dogs lack cones that sense red light, so they see in a range of yellows, browns, and blues. Cats are the same, and the funny thing is that so are cows, so it’s not the red color of the flag that riles up bulls! Bees and butterflies actually see more colors than we do, including ultraviolet colors. And birds can see in ultraviolet too, which helps them track down their food, among other things.
 
Big Cats, House Cats, and Pupil Shape
Have you ever noticed that big cats like lions and tigers have round pupils while house cats have vertical pupils? There’s a fascinating reason for that. Vertical pupils help predators that hunt low to the ground see their prey better, but it isn’t as useful for larger predators. That’s why other predators like foxes and even alligators have vertical pupil eyes, while predators with a higher vantage point like big cats, wolves, and birds of prey have round pupils.
 
Which Animal Eyes Are Your Favorites?
Do you know of any other cool animal eyes? We’d love to hear which ones you like best and what’s so interesting about them. And if it’s been a while since your last eye exam, we’d also love to see you again so we can make sure your eyes are working as well as they should be!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Swimming Pool Eye Safety Tips
School’s out and it’s time for summer!
For many of us, summer time means a lot of trips to the pool, but before we dive in, we should take a look at what we should be doing to protect our eyes while we’re cooling off underwater.

Invest In A Good Pair Of Goggles
Have you ever felt a burning, stinging sensation when you opened your eyes underwater in a swimming pool? That sting isn’t from the chlorine itself, but a compound called chloramine. Chloramine forms when the chlorine in the pool reacts with dirt, urine, and oils that wash off into the water when people swim in it.

That might sound pretty gross, but the chlorine is what kills harmful bacteria and makes it safe to swim. Chloramine only causes a mild, temporary irritation for most people’s eyes, but you can avoid the sting (and protect yourself from eye injuries) by wearing goggles.

Make sure to choose goggles that fit well so that they can form a good seal over your eyes. If you wear glasses or contacts, you can even get prescription goggles so you can really enjoy those underwater sights!

Skip The Contact Lenses When You’re Swimming
Why get prescription goggles when you could just wear non-prescription goggles over your contact lenses? That may seem like a logical solution, but it comes with risks. There are a lot of harmful microorganisms that enjoy swimming as much as we do. Chlorine kills most of them, but not all, and we don’t want those little critters anywhere near our eyes.

There isn’t much to worry about if we’re swimming without contact lenses, but when we do wear them, they can act as petri dishes, trapping microorganisms like acanthamoeba against our corneas and giving them the perfect warm, wet space to multiply. These germs can cause dangerous infections and even permanent blindness, and they live in even the cleanest bodies of freshwater.

Another danger with contact lenses is that they simply aren’t designed for underwater wear. They might fall out and get lost, and soft contact lenses can shrink when exposed to water, which makes them tighten around the cornea, causing irritation. You’re better off leaving your contact lenses at home and trading off between glasses and goggles when you go to the pool.

Need Help Finding The Perfect Goggles?
If you’re not sure what to look for when shopping for goggles, just give us a call or stop by our practice. We’d be happy to offer you some recommendations. Not everyone’s swim gear needs are the same, but we all need good eye protection! Keep those eyes safe and enjoy your summer swimming!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Basics of AMD
For people age fifty and older, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of permanent vision loss.
AMD is the gradual loss of central vision as the part of the retina with the highest concentration of photoreceptor cells (the macula, which is responsible for our detailed central vision) deteriorates. After it has progressed to a certain point, AMD can make close-up tasks like writing and reading difficult or impossible. Driving would also become a thing of the past.
 
AMD Symptoms Don’t Always Appear Early On
Pain is not a symptom of AMD, and the early stages of it don’t always have any symptoms noticeable to the patient. That makes it very easy for the condition to go undetected until it reaches a more advanced stage, especially for patients who never go to the eye doctor unless they need an updated prescription for their glasses. Eventually, as AMD starts to cause vision loss, things begin to look duller or warped, and dark or blurry patches develop in the central vision.
 
Risk Factors for AMD
The biggest risk factor for age-related macular degeneration is right in the name: age. Like race and genetics, this isn’t a factor we can control or change. White people are most likely to develop AMD compared to other races, and it’s important to know if your family has a history of AMD. The largest risk factor we can control is smoking, which makes several sight-threatening conditions (AMD included) much more likely.
 
Wet and Dry AMD
Dry AMD accounts for up to 9 out of 10 of all cases. It happens when the tissues of the macula become thinner over time while a fatty substance called drusen builds up within it. Dry AMD is less serious than wet AMD, but it can develop into it over time.
In a case of wet AMD, the body tries to repair the retina’s weakening blood supply by growing new blood vessels in the area. The problem is that these new blood vessels aren’t very stable. They’re prone to leaking, leaving the macula scarred and contributing further to vision loss. Wet AMD also progresses faster than dry AMD.
 
Fighting AMD With a Healthy Lifestyle
There is currently no cure for AMD, but there’s still a lot we can do to protect our eyesight. There are treatments that can slow the progress of AMD, and building healthy habits in our lives will give our eyes vital tools to protect against sight-threatening conditions. This includes incorporating plenty of carrots, leafy greens, eggs, and fish into our diets, avoiding harmful habits like smoking, and staying active.
 
The Eye Doctor Is an Essential Ally
The best weapon anyone has against AMD is early detection, and that requires regular eye exams even when we aren’t experiencing negative symptoms. This is particularly important for anyone over fifty (and more so if they have additional risk factors), who should see the eye doctor once a year.
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Benefits Of Vitamin A And Beta-Carotene
Have you been keeping an eye out for the best vitamins for maintaining healthy vision?
The two most important ones for promoting eye health and preventing vision loss are vitamin A and beta-carotene. What are these vitamins and what makes them so special?

 
What Is Vitamin A?
The term “vitamin A” doesn’t refer to just one thing, but to an entire group of fat-soluble compounds. Two forms of it are available in the foods we eat: performed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. Animal products like liver, fish, meat, and dairy products are great sources of performed vitamin A, while the provitamin form comes from leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, tomato products, fruits, and some vegetable oils.

 
Why Is Vitamin A Important For Eyesight?
One of the most important benefits vitamin A has for our eyes is reducing the risk of macular degeneration and vision loss. It also boosts the immune system, helping soothe eye inflammation and decreasing our chance of developing eye infections.

 
The Basics Of Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is another provitamin carotenoid. It’s actually what gives many vegetables their coloring, such as carrots and peppers. Unlike with vitamin A, you can only get beta-carotene from fruits and vegetables, not animal products. Aside from carrots and peppers, some great sources of beta-carotene include sweet potatoes, spinach, dark leafy greens, romaine lettuce, squash, cantaloupe, and apricots.

 
How Does Beta-Carotene Help Our Eyes?
You’re probably familiar with the old line about carrots giving you super night vision. That’s actually leftover propaganda from World War II when the British were trying to keep the Germans from finding out about their newfangled radar systems. But it doesn’t mean that beta-carotene has no benefits for vision.

In a world of bright screens and sunlight, our eyes get exposed to a lot of blue light. Beta-carotene helps reduce the oxidative stress all this light puts on our eyes. Our bodies also convert it into vitamin A, so it has similar benefits to eye and immune health. And while it won’t give you super night vision, it actually can sharpen your ability to see in darkness a little.

 
What Is The Right Daily Amount?
Taking multivitamins and supplements can be an effective way to get important vitamins that are missing from your diet, but they also make it very easy to dangerously overdo it. Getting your vitamin A and beta-carotene from the foods you eat (especially vegetables) is a much safer way to get the right amount without getting too much.

 
Bring Us Your Eye Health Questions
If you want to know more about how vitamin A and beta-carotene affect our vision health, just give us a call! We want all of our patients to be as educated as possible on how to keep their eyes healthy for life. Thank you for trusting us with your vision health!

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Best Foods For Eye Health
Have you heard that eating carrots will give you great night vision?
That’s actually a leftover idea from World War II propaganda. The British didn’t want enemy soldiers to learn about their new radar technology, so they claimed their airmen got their night vision by eating carrots! Whether or not the Germans fell for it, the idea stuck around.
So is there any truth to it? Maybe not to the part about superior night vision, but carrots and other foods do contain nutrients that help our eyes stay healthy!
Sweet Potatoes And Oranges
Two important antioxidants that help us stay healthy are vitamins C and E. Vitamin C can lower our risk of developing cataracts and may even slow down the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The easiest way to get vitamin C is by eating plenty of citrus fruit, such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. Vitamin E protects our eyes from “free radicals,” molecules that disrupt healthy tissue, and you can get it by eating sweet potatoes and nuts!
Fish
Fish are the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for brain function and a healthy immune system. Research has shown that they also play a critical role in our visual development and retinal function.
Eggs And Leafy Greens
Studies have shown that the nutrients lutein and xeazanthin are linked to a lowered risk of chronic eye diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, and the foods that have the most of these are eggs and leafy greens!
Carrots
Carrots, along with other yellow, orange, or leafy green fruits and veggies, is an excellent source of vitamin A. These types of produce get their color from beta-carotene. Our intestines use beta-carotene to make vitamin A, which helps our eyes convert light into brainwaves and is an important component of our corneas (the clear part of the front of our eyes). Vitamin A deficiency leaves up to half a million children blind each year!


https://www.youtube.com/embed/1-mZC79E1V0?feature=oembed


Oysters
Oysters are a great source of zinc. Why do we need zinc? It’s essential to many processes in our bodies, including helping vitamin A get from our livers to our retinas. It doesn’t matter how much vitamin A we eat if it can’t get to where it needs to go! If you’re not a fan of oysters, you can get your zinc in smaller doses from meats, beans, and nuts.
Another Component Of Eye Health Is Eye Exams!
Your eyes are sure to benefit when you add more of these nutritious foods to your diet, but even the healthiest food isn’t a substitute for regular eye exams! Poor nutrition isn’t the only thing that can cause eye problems, which is why it’s crucial to schedule appointments with us, especially if you’ve noticed any changes in your vision.
We’re here to help your eyes stay healthy for life!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### The Best Foods for Healthy Eyes
Eating carrots is supposed to improve our eyesight, right?
That’s actually a leftover idea from a British propaganda campaign during World War II. The British wanted to keep their newly developed radar technology a secret from the Germans, so they claimed as far and wide as possible that their airmen developed superhuman night vision by eating plenty of carrots.

The idea still persists today, eight decades since the war. It does contain one grain of truth: carrots and other nutritious foods help our eyes stay healthy, even though they don’t really give us superpowered eyes.

 
How Good Are Carrots for Our Eyes, Really?
Carrots actually are good for us. Along with other yellow and orange leafy greens and vegetables, they are a great source of vitamin A. They get their color from beta-carotene, a compound our intestines use to produce vitamin A. Our eyes use vitamin A to help convert light into brainwaves and strengthen our corneas (the clear layer over the front of the eye). A deficiency in vitamin A contributes to as many as half a million children going blind every year.

 
Sweet Potatoes and Oranges
Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are important for overall health, and for eye health, vitamin C lowers the risk of cataracts and may also slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Citrus fruits, like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, are major sources of vitamin C. Vitamin E helps protect our eyes from “free radicals” (molecules that disrupt healthy tissue). Sweet potatoes are great sources of vitamin E.

 
Eggs and Leafy Greens
Studies have shown that when we get plenty of lutein and zeaxanthin in our diets, we have a lower risk of chronic eye diseases like AMD and cataracts. Eggs and leafy greens are the best ways to get these nutrients.

 
Oysters and Fish
Good brain function and a healthy immune system rely on getting plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, and research also shows that they help with visual development and retinal function. There’s no better source of these nutrients than fish.

Meanwhile, oysters are an excellent source of zinc, which acts as a vehicle to transport vitamin A from our livers to our retinas. A diet rich in vitamin A isn’t very useful without zinc to move it where it needs to go. There is also zinc in nuts, beans, and meat if you aren’t a fan of oysters.

 
Nutrition Isn’t the Only Part of Being Proactive About Eye Health
Even if we eat all the right nutrients in the perfect amounts for the sake of our eye health, that’s no substitute for getting regular eye exams. Eye problems can happen for a wide range of reasons that have nothing to do with nutrition, and that’s why the optometrist is so important. The eye doctor can detect problems in the early stages and get started on treatment or intervention.

 
Helping our patients maintain healthy eyesight for life is what we love most!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Eyes-Headaches Connection
Uncorrected vision problems can lead to symptoms you might not expect, like frequent headaches.
If you deal with a lot of headaches, scheduling an eye exam would be well worth your time, even if only to rule a vision problem out as a cause. Headaches aren’t always tied to vision and every vision problem doesn’t result in headaches, but there is a significant link between the two.
 
Digital Eye Strain
Modern technology is wonderful in many ways, but one less wonderful thing about it is that the hours we spend staring at bright screens every day, whether for work or for fun, often cause digital eye strain. Symptoms include tired and aching eyes, blurred vision, trouble focusing, and even…drumroll…frequent headaches.
Digital eye strain doesn’t come exclusively from screens, either. An untreated vision problem like farsightedness (hyperopia), age-related farsightedness (presbyopia), or astigmatism can put a lot of strain on the eye, which must attempt to compensate. With astigmatism, the cornea has an abnormal shape that bends light in ways it shouldn’t, forcing a lot of squinting. Excessive squinting on its own can contribute to headaches.
In the cases of hyperopia and presbyopia, the eye’s lens focuses images slightly behind the retina instead of directly against it, making nearby objects look blurred. Attempting to read small print with these eye problems can literally turn into a headache. The older we get, the less flexible our eyes’ lenses can become, so this can even be an issue for people who never needed glasses in their first few decades of life.
 
Kids Can Get Headaches From Eye Problems Too
Children with undiagnosed vision problems are just as susceptible to frequent headaches as adults, which is one more reason why every child should have a comprehensive eye exam from an actual eye doctor before they start school, not just a vision screening with the school nurse. Refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness aren’t the only eye problems that can cause headaches, but kids are even less likely to make the connection than adults are.
 
A Correct Prescription Can Do Wonders
When our vision changes, it tends to happen so gradually that we don’t notice for months or even years that our old glasses aren’t helping like they used to. In most cases, vision-related headaches are because of something as simple as an outdated prescription for their contacts or glasses!
 
Headaches Tied to Sight-Threatening Conditions
In other cases, the connection between eyes and headaches can be more serious than an old prescription. Headaches can be a symptom of glaucoma, an eye disease in which the buildup of pressure against the optic nerve causes permanent vision loss. Cataracts (which develop as the transparent proteins in the lens of the eye clump together until they become opaque, clouding the vision) can cause headaches too. The best way to catch sight-threatening conditions early on is with regular eye exams.
 
Save Yourself a Headache With an Eye Exam!
No matter how busy our schedules are, finding time for a regular eye exam is still worth it, particularly if you’ve been suffering from frequent headaches and haven’t discovered the cause. At the very least, you’ll be able to cross eye problems off the list of potential causes if we rule them out at your next appointment! Schedule an eye exam
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The History of Cataract Treatment
Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness, and the history of treating them is long and fascinating.
Over 20 million adults 40 and up in the US will develop cataracts, and by the time they reach 80, half of them will. Normally, the lenses in our eyes are filled with transparent protein, but the protein can become clumped together over time and turn opaque, resulting in symptoms such as light sensitivity, glare, dim or clouded vision, halo effects around lights, impaired night vision, double vision in a single eye, faded colors, and more frequent changes to glasses prescriptions.
 
Ancient Cataract Surgery
Cataracts may actually be one of the first ailments people attempted to treat surgically. Our earliest records of it date back to 600 BC. In those days, they used something called the “couching” technique, which involved smacking the eye with a blunt object until the lens dislodged entirely. While it could improve total blindness, this technique left the patient completely unable to focus their vision. We don’t recommend it.
Couching improved a little when they started doing it with sharp instruments instead of blunt ones, but it still didn’t get much better until the year 1747. Jacques Daviel, a French surgeon, is credited with performing the first extracapsular cataract extraction — actually removing the cataract rather than merely dislodging the lens. Combine that with topical anesthesia and it was a major upgrade to the procedure. Still, there was no way to replace the opaque lens with a clear one.
 
French Impressionism and Cataract Surgery in the 1920s
No one wants their vision blocked by cataracts, but it’s a particularly intolerable condition for someone who paints for a living. Such was the fate of Claude Monet, perhaps the most famous Impressionist painter. His vision began deteriorating from cataracts in his mid fifties, which is clear from the increasingly muddy color palette in his paintings from that time.
Monet hesitated to get cataract surgery because it hadn’t gone well for some of his fellow artists. He tried eye drops for a while, but eventually gave in and got the surgery on one eye in 1923. He proved to be a very uncooperative patient, but the combination of surgery and thick glasses did grant him greatly improved vision for the next few years. His paintings during that period look much more like his pre-cataract work.
 
Cataract Surgery Today
If he lived today, Monet never would have hesitated to get cataract surgery. Thanks to advancements with silicone and plastics, there’s no need for bulky glasses because the clouded lenses can simply be replaced with artificial ones! Every year, three million Americans undergo cataract surgery, after which they enjoy up to 20/20 vision, even if they haven’t had it in decades. Cataract surgery has an incredibly high success rate, at around 98-99%.
 
Have You Noticed Any Cataract Symptoms?
If you’ve been experiencing any changes to your vision that sound like the ones we listed, we recommend scheduling an eye exam. In this day and age, there’s no reason to suffer vision loss from something so easily reversible.
 
Our top priority is your lifelong clear vision!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The History of Corrective Lenses
People have been using tools to help them see clearly since at least 60 A.D.
Roman philosopher Seneca is recorded to have used a glass globe of water to magnify text, while Emperor Nero would use a magnifying emerald to see gladiator fights better. We no longer need to resort to using water bowls or gemstones, and it’s pretty cool to see how far we’ve come in vision correction since then.

 
Corrective Lenses Evolving Over the Centuries
In the 10th century in Europe, monks made the next leap forward in corrective lens technology. They needed to be able to see tiny details to do their beautiful illuminated calligraphy, and they discovered that polished domes of transparent quartz worked very well. They called these “reading stones.”

Another couple of centuries would pass before anyone would try attaching reading stones to wearable frames for easier use. We don’t know the identity of the first person to do this, though we often credit Florentinian man Salvino D’armati.

 
Glasses for the Lower Classes
The earliest spectacles could only be made out of expensive materials like crystal, making them a status symbol for the wealthy but far too pricey for anyone else to afford. As literacy rates skyrocketed across Europe following the invention of the printing press in 1440, demand increased for affordable reading glasses. Production became cheaper when they began using glass for the lenses instead of expensive crystal.

 
Prescription Lenses and Foldable Frames
Glasses in the next couple of centuries were still pretty limited. The frames had to perch on the nose or be held with a handle, and there was only so much fine-tuning glass blowers could do with the lenses. Correcting for specific refractive errors wasn’t really possible (imagine wearing someone else’s glasses). Then, in the 1700s, temples (the portion extending past the ear) were added and glasses became hands-free.

We give Benjamin Franklin credit for inventing bifocals, which was also when hinges were introduced, making glasses foldable for compact storage. Eye doctors were making headway in tailoring lenses to patients’ specific needs, including the invention of cylindrical lenses for astigmatism in the early 1800s. Finally, Herman Snellen, a Dutch eye doctor, invented the “big E” chart, standardizing vision correction across the field of optometry.

 
Modern Glasses
We’re incredibly fortunate to have glasses (not to mention contact lenses) that precisely address our vision problems — tailored not just to each patient, but to each eye! And modern glasses don’t just work well, we can choose frames in any shape, color, or material we want to fit our style. We as modern optometrists are proud to stand on the shoulders of giants. We’re happy to help if you need a prescription update so you can pick out your next pair of glasses!

 
Isn’t it incredible how far glasses have come?
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Impacts of Smoking on Eyesight
A smoking habit damages every organ and system in the body, including the eyes.
We typically think of lung cancer as the main health risk associated with smoking, and then maybe oral health problems next, but the parts of the body that have direct contact with the smoke aren’t the only ones hurt by it. As eye health professionals, we want to focus on what smoking does to our eyes and vision.

Smoking: A Major Risk Factor for Age-Related Eye Diseases
When it comes to smoking and eye problems, studies show a significant increase in the risk of developing everything from dry eye to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Smoking and the Risk of Cataracts
A smoking habit doubles the risk of cataracts, which are the world’s leading cause of blindness. Cataract symptoms include faded colors, blurred or double vision, light sensitivity, and poor night vision. Thankfully, cataract surgery is both common and safe, so the vision loss that results from cataracts doesn’t have to be permanent.

From Smoking to Diabetic Eye Disease
Eye problems like diabetic retinopathy obviously have a connection to diabetes. Because smoking increases the likelihood of developing diabetes by up to 40%, it makes the common health complications more likely too, and that includes retinopathy.

This sight-threatening condition involves weakened blood vessels in the retina (the lining at the back of the eye that contains the light-sensitive cells we need to see). These blood vessels can leak dark blotches into the field of vision and starve the retina of essential oxygen.

The Link Between Smoking and AMD
The macula is the part of the retina that gives us our sharpest, most detailed vision, and age-related macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula deteriorates over time, resulting in irreversible blindness. Smokers are three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop AMD, and beyond that, they’re more likely to get it earlier than nonsmokers too.

Smoking Doesn’t Only Harm Smokers
Smokers themselves may feel the worst of the effects of smoking, but it can hurt nonsmokers too through secondhand smoke, which raises the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. For children, it can lead to asthma attaches, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and even an increased risk of SIDS.

Vaping: The Not-So-Safe Alternative
Many believe that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking, but that’s not really true. Many of the chemicals in e-cigarette fluid have been linked with higher risks of the sight-threatening conditions we’ve discussed. The main point is that there is no healthy way to consume tobacco.

Break the Habit; Choose Healthy Vision
Many eye disease risk factors are ones we can’t do anything about, but that’s not true with smoking! Someone with a smoking habit can quit to reduce their risk, and someone who doesn’t smoke can continue avoiding tobacco products to keep their risk low. Other great steps we can take to promote healthy eyesight are eating healthy, getting regular exercise, and scheduling regular eye exams!

Eye health goes hand-in-hand with overall health!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Relationship Between Eyes and Sleep
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation hits the body and mind a lot like alcohol.
That isn’t great, but where do our eyes fit into the equation? When we get enough sleep, it’s great for both our overall health and our eye health, and we can also improve our quality of sleep by changing what we put in front of our eyes before we go to bed.
 
What Lack of Sleep Does to Eye Health
You’re probably familiar with the short-term symptoms of sleep deprivation, such as grumpiness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Over time, lack of sleep can make our immune systems weaker, make it more difficult to lose weight, increase our blood pressure, and contribute to mood changes and memory loss. It also affects our eyes.
Our eyes need at least five hours of sleep to replenish themselves so that they can function effectively throughout the day. This goes beyond being able to keep our eyes open. Over time, the less sleep we get, the more likely we are to experience eye strain, dry eye, and even eye twitches. The good news is that our eyes play a role in getting more and better sleep that will help them!
 
Our Internal Clocks and Blue Light From Screens
No matter how tech-savvy we are, we can’t change the biology of our eyes. Across all of human history, it’s only been in recent decades that blue light came from anywhere besides the sun. Blue light signals our brains that it’s daytime and we should be awake. When we look at our screens late into the evening, we effectively trick our brains into thinking it’s not bedtime yet.
 
Turn Off the Blue Lights Before Bed
If you’ve noticed that you don’t feel tired until very late at night or that you struggle to fall asleep once you’re in bed, late-night screen usage probably isn’t helping. We recommend either putting the screens away at least an hour before bed or checking out different screen settings that can reduce the blue light after sundown. You might be surprised what a difference this will make for your quality of sleep as well as your eye health!
 
Give Your Eyes the Night Off From Your Contact Lenses
Many types of modern contact lenses are much more oxygen-permeable than they used to be (meaning they allow your eyes to breathe better), but it’s still better for your eyes to take them out overnight than leave them in.
Giving your eyes a break from contact lenses while you sleep will reduce your risk of eye infection and help them recover from all the hard work they did during the day. If you do prefer to leave the contacts in, make sure you’re following the instructions on the packaging and still taking them out as often as you should.
 
Prioritize Eye Exams
If you have any questions about how eye health and sleep are related, we’re happy to answer them for you the next time you come in for an eye exam! In the meantime, make sure to get plenty of sleep, practice good care and safety habits with your contact lenses, and dim the blue lights before bedtime.
 
We’re looking forward to seeing you at our practice!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### The Wide Spectrum Of Visual Impairment
Most of the time, when we hear the word “blind,” we think that means total blindness, but it’s not always that simple.
There is a wide range of visual impairment beyond what glasses can correct, and it’s important for sighted people to understand what that range is so that we will be better equipped to provide the right kind of assistance. It’s also important to realize that being visually impaired doesn’t mean losing the ability to lead a full, exciting life!
The Many Forms Of Visual Impairment
A variety of eye diseases, genetic disorders, and birth defects, as well as old age and injuries, can interfere with healthy vision. Sometimes the vision loss is too severe to be corrected with lenses and not eligible to be repaired with modern procedures.
These visual impairments don’t all work the same. Some, like macular degeneration, erode the central vision without affecting peripheral vision. It is also possible to have a narrowed field of vision, in which central vision is fine but the peripheral vision is limited. Other visual impairments include photophobia (inability to tolerate light), diplopia (double vision), visual distortion, and difficulty with visual perception.
Low Vision And Blindness
If someone has 20/70 visual acuity (meaning that they can only see something 20 feet away as well as something a person with normal vision can see from 70 feet away) or worse in their best eye even with corrective lenses, they have “low vision.” If they have 20/200 visual acuity in their best eye or worse, they are considered legally blind.
Even total blindness isn’t the same for everyone. Some people are blind from birth. Others lose their vision over time, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Some blind people can tell the difference between light and darkness, while others can’t perceive any visual information at all.
What Can We Do To Help?
Every visually impaired person’s situation is unique, but what they all have in common is that they are still people who deserve to be treated with respect. Talk to them like you would anyone else, and don’t just jump in and try to be a knight in shining armor. Politely greet them, introduce yourself, and ask if they need help. If they want help with mobility, ask them where they want you, match their walking speed, and describe upcoming obstacles like curbs, stairs, and sudden changes in the angle of the ground.
Be very specific when describing objects or places/placements. If you place something in front of the person you are helping, let them know where you placed it so they don’t lose track of it. If you’re in their home, you might offer to help tidy up, but make sure you place everything exactly where they want it or they may not be able to find it again.
Finally, if you see a visually impaired person with a guide dog, do not distract the dog while it’s working! As much as we all love petting friendly dogs, these highly trained canines have an important job to do.


https://www.youtube.com/embed/eLLS6qb0xD8?feature=oembed


Take Good Care Of Your Own Vision
Technology and medicine are advancing at an astounding rate, and the day when all forms of blindness and vision loss become curable might not be too many years in the future. Until then, we should all strive to help our vision-impaired family members, friends, and neighbors, and we should do everything we can to keep our own vision healthy.
Keep looking for ways you can help!
Top image by Flickr user Oregon State University used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Tips for a Lifetime of Healthy Eyesight
Healthy eyesight is an important part of having a good quality of life.
Up to one in every six adults struggles with a sight-threatening eye condition and many more than that experience a degree of vision loss as they age. Many of the major causes of blindness and low vision are connected to age, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts, but there’s a lot we can do to minimize our risk of developing these conditions and keep our eyes healthy.
 
Healthy Habits for Life
Being trim and fit aren’t the only benefits of eating healthy and staying active; it’s also good for your eyes! Dark leafy greens and fruits are particularly important to include in your diet for eye health, as is regular exercise. It’s also important to avoid bad habits like smoking, which is a huge risk for many of the sight-threatening conditions listed above.
 
Regular Physical Exams Matter
When chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes go untreated, they can lead to serious problems for eye health, among other things. Diabetes is linked to macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and untreated high blood pressure is linked to an increased risk of eye strokes. Any of these conditions can cause permanent vision loss, and that’s why regular checkups with your doctor are so critical for eye health. Early diagnosis means less of a chance for the condition to cause damage before you start fighting back.
 
Pay Attention to Changes in Your Vision
Changes to eyesight tend to be gradual, which can make it harder to notice them initially. Any time you do notice a change, schedule an appointment with the eye doctor. The result could be as simple as an updated prescription or it could be the early diagnosis of a serious eye condition. However, symptoms like flashes of light, eye swelling or pain, red eyes, or a sudden increase in floaters merit an urgent trip to the eye doctor because they could indicate retinal detachment.
 
What Are Your Eye Disease Risk Factors?
Someone with a family history of eye diseases, diabetes, or high blood pressure is likely at higher risk of developing them too, and age is another massive risk factor. We can’t control our genes or our age, but that’s why regular eye exams and healthy life habits matter so much.
UV Protection Is Key for Eye Health
 
Damage from UV exposure from sunlight is permanent and cumulative over the course of our lives, so it’s essential to protect our eyes from it, not just our skin. Choose sunglasses that are designed to block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays (if they do, it will say so on the label). Polarized lenses are particularly good because they block glare coming in from other directions, such as reflecting off of other cars in traffic.
 
Make Eye Exams a Priority
Eye exams are essential for maintaining healthy eyesight for life. Many sight-threatening conditions cannot be reversed with the medicine and technology we have today, but we can do a lot to slow or halt their progress if we catch them early. For this reason, regular eye exams can be the difference between permanent vision loss and extra years or decades of healthy eyesight. The ideal frequency of your eye exams depends on risk factors and age, but once every other year is a good starting point.
 
Come to the Optometrist With Your Questions
We would be happy to offer more tips on maintaining healthy eyes and strong vision when you come in for an eye exam. We can also recommend a good pair of sunglasses, and we’d love to hear from you if we haven’t seen you in a while.
 
Thank you for being part of our practice family!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Tips for Choosing New Frames
When we pick out new glasses, we want frames that will help us look our best.
Glasses are a huge part of a person’s look — why do you think nobody recognizes Superman behind the Clark Kent glasses? Because of the difference glasses make to our appearance, there’s a lot to consider when choosing the right frames.
 
Complementary Face and Frame Shape
Depending on the shape of your face, you might be more suited to some frame shapes than others. Here’s a quick guide on face shapes if you don’t already know yours:

Square. Strong jawline and forehead, about as wide as they are long.
Round. Full cheeks, rounded hair and jawline, and similar width and length.
Oval. Similar to round faces, but a little thinner and longer.
Heart-shaped. Wide cheeks and forehead, narrow chin. Sometimes emphasized with a widow’s peak hairline.

A great way to figure out your face shape is to look in the mirror, close one eye, and use a washable marker to draw the outline of your face. Whatever shape you draw should be similar to one of the four main face shapes. You can also ask us about your face shape at our practice!
The reason it’s a good idea to take the shape of your face into account when choosing frames is that it can determine which frame shapes are flattering on you. Rectangular glasses on a square face will only emphasize the squareness, while round glasses help soften out the angles.
 
Other Frame Factors to Consider
Shape is important, but it isn’t the only thing to think about in a new pair of frames. Size matters too. You want glasses that are neither too small nor too large for your face. This is particularly important for kids. Glasses for younger kids don’t look good on teenagers and vice versa.
Color is also important. If your skin has a warmer tone, you’ll probably look best in frame colors like camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, fire-engine red, warm blue, or blond tortoise. People with cooler skin tones would do better in frame colors like black, silver, rose-brown, blue-gray, plum, magenta, pink, jade, blue, or darker tortoise.
 
Find the Frames that Suit Your Style
Picking new glasses isn’t just about matching them to your face shape, size, and color; it’s also about your sense of style! That’s especially true if you’re looking for a bold new look. That’s why we offer a wide selection of styles and materials for our patients to choose from. We’re also happy to make recommendations if you’re not sure where to start!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Understanding Myopia Progression in School-Age Children
Watching your child's vision worsen year after year can feel like a losing battle. As parents notice their children squinting at the whiteboard or moving closer to the television, many wonder if there is anything they can do to slow down myopia's relentless progression.

At Focused Eye Care, our team of doctors provides comprehensive children's eye exams and advanced myopia management solutions. With more than 60 years of combined experience serving families throughout New Hampshire, our optometrists use cutting-edge technology to address progressive nearsightedness in children and help protect their long-term vision health.
What Causes Myopia to Progress in Children?
Myopia develops when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This growth typically begins during childhood and accelerates during the school years when visual demands increase significantly.

Several factors contribute to myopia progression in children. Genetics plays a substantial role, as children with one or both nearsighted parents face a higher risk of developing and progressing myopia. Extended near-work activities, including reading, homework, and screen time, can strain developing eyes and encourage further elongation of the eyeball. Additionally, reduced time spent outdoors has been linked to faster myopia progression, as natural light exposure may help regulate healthy eye growth.
Age-Related Progression Patterns
Myopia progression follows predictable patterns based on age. Children who develop nearsightedness at a younger age, typically between 6 and 8 years old, tend to experience more rapid progression compared to those who develop nearsightedness later in life. The rate of progression generally peaks during elementary school years and slows as children approach their late teens, though significant changes can continue until the early twenties.
Environmental and Lifestyle Factors
The modern learning environment contributes to an increased risk of myopia. Children spend considerable time focusing on close objects, whether textbooks, tablets, or smartphones. This sustained near-vision work may signal the eye to grow longer to reduce the effort required for focusing. Schools with limited outdoor time and bright indoor lighting exacerbate these environmental factors, creating conditions that favor the development and progression of myopia.
Health Risks Associated with Progressive Myopia
Progressive myopia represents more than an inconvenience requiring stronger prescriptions. Children with high myopia face elevated risks for serious eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and early cataract development.

The stretched retinal tissue in highly myopic eyes becomes thinner and more vulnerable to tears and detachments. The risk of glaucoma increases as the elongated eye shape affects the fluid drainage structures within the eye. Cataracts may develop decades earlier in individuals with high myopia compared to those with normal vision or mild refractive errors.

Beyond medical risks, progressive myopia affects daily life and activities. Children with rapidly worsening vision may struggle academically, feel self-conscious about thick glasses, and face limitations in sports participation.
Modern Solutions for Slowing Myopia Progression
Early intervention through myopia control can help reduce these long-term complications and improve quality of life.
Stellest Spectacle Lenses
Recent advances in optical technology have produced innovative solutions for managing childhood myopia. Stellest lenses represent the first and only FDA market-authorized spectacle lens designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Clinical studies show Stellest lenses slowed myopia progression by 71% on average in children who wore them at least 12 hours daily. This remarkable effectiveness makes them a powerful tool for parents seeking to protect their children from the risks associated with high myopia.

These specialized lenses feature a unique design with concentric rings that create a signal in the peripheral retina, discouraging excessive eye elongation while providing clear central vision. Unlike traditional single-vision lenses, Stellest lenses actively work to manage myopia progression rather than simply correcting existing refractive error.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology, often referred to as Ortho-K, provides an effective alternative approach to managing myopia. This non-surgical method uses specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. Children wake with clear vision throughout the day without needing glasses or daytime contact lenses.

Beyond the convenience of daytime freedom from corrective eyewear, Ortho-K has been shown to significantly slow myopia progression. The reshaping effect creates peripheral defocus, similar to Stellest lenses, which appears to slow axial eye elongation. Many parents appreciate this dual benefit of vision correction and progression control in a single treatment approach.
Creating an Effective Myopia Management Plan
Regular comprehensive eye exams form the foundation of effective myopia management.
Annual Eye Exams and Monitoring
Children should receive routine eye exams at least annually to track vision changes and adjust treatment plans accordingly. More frequent visits may be necessary during periods of rapid progression or when implementing new myopia control strategies.

During these examinations, optometrists measure not only refractive error but also axial length, the most accurate indicator of myopia progression. This measurement helps determine whether interventions are effectively slowing eye growth. Monitoring these metrics over time allows for proactive adjustments to treatment approaches.
Lifestyle Modifications
Supporting professional treatments with lifestyle changes enhances the effectiveness of myopia control. Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors can help slow progression. Research suggests that at least 90 minutes of outdoor activity daily may provide protective benefits against myopia development and progression.

Managing near-work activities also plays an important role. Implementing the 20-20-20 rule provides regular breaks from close vision tasks: every 20 minutes, children should look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Ensuring proper lighting and maintaining appropriate working distances from screens and books further reduces strain on developing eyes.
Protect Your Child's Vision at Focused Eye Care
Understanding myopia progression empowers parents to take proactive steps in protecting their children's vision. Early intervention with proven treatments, such as Stellest lenses or Ortho-K, can significantly slow progression and reduce the risk of serious eye health complications in adulthood. 

At Focused Eye Care, our experienced team includes pediatric eye care specialists and doctors trained in advanced myopia management techniques.Our 10 doctors, all members of the American Optometric Association and New Hampshire Optometric Association, serve families at both our Nashua and Milford locations, providing personalized care backed by state-of-the-art diagnostic technology. Schedule an appointment today to discuss myopia management options for your child.

#### UV Rays And Our Vision
With summer just around the corner, a lot of us are probably looking forward to getting a lot of sun.
However, it’s important to be careful not to expose our eyes (or our skin) to too much ultraviolet radiation, as it can cause a number of problems both in the short-term and the long-term.

What Are UV Rays?
The sun gives off three types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC is the most dangerous type, but only astronauts really need to worry about them because most of them are absorbed by the ozone layer before they can reach us.
UVB rays aren’t as strong as UVC, but they can get past the ozone layer and down to us, where they can damage our corneas (the clear layer at the front of our eyes) with too much exposure. While weaker, UVA rays penetrate farther than UVB, which makes them more capable of reaching the retina at the back of the eye.

Short-Term UV Vision Problems
Hopefully we all know better than to look directly at the sun, but simply being outdoors for several hours on a sunny day can mean enough UV exposure to cause a condition called photokeratitis. Essentially, this is a sunburn of the surface of the eye, with symptoms like redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and tearing.

In the winter, you might hear of photokeratitis as “snow blindness,” but you could just as easily experience it after a day on the beach without sunglasses. Photokeratitis is usually temporary, and you can use artificial tears and cold compresses to ease the discomfort.

UV Vision Damage Over Time
UV exposure also has a cumulative effect over the course of our lives, such as increasing the risk of developing sight-threatening conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Two other conditions we are more susceptible to due to UV exposure are pinguecula and pterygium, more commonly known as “surfer’s eye.” Pinguecula occurs when a white or yellow bump forms in the conjunctiva that covers the whites of our eyes. Pterygium is an overgrowth of clear tissue from the white of the eye towards the iris.

Protecting Your Eyesight
Fortunately, we can do a lot to protect our eyes if we just follow a few simple tips:

Always wear sunglasses outside during the day, and make sure they block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays
Wear wide-brimmed hats to provide additional shade.
Avoid exposure to sunlight during the brightest hours of the day (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)


How Long Has It Been Since We Saw You?
If you have any questions about UV rays and how to protect your eyes from them, if it’s been a while since your last eye exam, or especially if you’ve noticed any changes in your vision, don’t hesitate to schedule your next appointment with us!

Thank you for being part of our practice family!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Vision and the Challenges of Night Driving
In winter, when the days are shorter, we tend to end up driving more at night.
For those of us without perfect eyesight, this can be an increasingly stressful adjustment to make every year, and we should all take the dangers of night driving into careful consideration. It won’t just make a difference to our own lives, but to the lives of those we encounter on the road.
 
The Common Struggles of Night Driving
A road at night can look very different from the same road in broad daylight. Between the glare of oncoming headlights and the deep shadows, upcoming curves and obstacles are harder to notice. While some people might be confident in their ability to adjust to night driving conditions, not everyone they share the road with is, and that requires everyone to be more careful in order to minimize the risk of accidents.
 
Aging Only Makes Night Driving Harder
The older we get, the worse our night vision becomes. That’s because we gradually lose some of the rods in our eyes (specialized cells that distinguish between light and dark). Among other age-related problems, the lenses in our eyes also tend to grow cloudier and stiffer over the years, which makes it harder to focus and increases sensitivity to glare. All of this combines to make night driving more difficult over time.
 
Pay Attention to Changes in Your Eyesight
Early symptoms of eye problems that make it harder to safely drive at night include halo effects, blurry, dim, or clouded vision, and increased glare, as well as eye fatigue. If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, it’s a good time to schedule an eye appointment. It could be a simple matter of strengthening a glasses prescription, or another solution may be needed.
 
Making Night Driving Easier
A number of solutions and aids are available for helping drivers with mild to moderate night driving difficulties. These include prescription night driving glasses, getting plenty of sleep, and eating eye-healthy foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Another simple factor is to make sure the windows and windshield are clean and the headlights aren’t fogged over.
After a certain point, however, it may be wiser to adjust one’s schedule to avoid driving at night. As inconvenient as it might be, it’s worth the effort to stay safe and not have to worry about the stress of driving in conditions when it’s difficult to see.
 
The Optometrist Can Help
If night driving has become more of a problem lately, come see us! We can help determine the cause and if it’s something that can be addressed with a different glasses prescription or other aid. Bring any questions or concerns you have with you, and we look forward to seeing you! Drive safe this winter, whether you’re driving in the day or the night!
 
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### We’re Now In Milford
As of September 1, 2021, Focused Eye Care has expanded its vision of providing better eye care, with a new office in Milford, New Hampshire.
We took on the long-standing and highly-respected practice of Dr. Philip S. Aubrey, who becomes part of the Focused Eye Care team. 
Dr. Aubrey moved his practice to its current location, at 81 Mont Vernon Street, more than 40 years ago, and since then has taken care of the vision needs of thousands of patients in the Souhegan Valley. Twice voted the Best Optometrist in the area, he is thrilled to join Focused Eye Care and expand the services offered in the Milford office.
 
Joining Dr. Aubrey for appointments every week will be Dr. Sarah Jagatic and Dr. Kristen Bryant, who will also continue to see patients in our Nashua office. It is a bit of a homecoming for Dr. Jagatic, as one of her first positions upon becoming a certified optometrist was at another Milford office. 
 
But no looking back! At Focused Eye Care, we continue to look forward, and are thrilled to expand our expertise further into the Souhegan Valley. In the Milford office: 

We will be adding state-of-the-art equipment that we use for comprehensive eye exams, assessments, and treatments
We’ll be expanding the office hours
Our Contact Lens Manager, Ann Reed, and our Optical Manager, Tina Fowler, will be spending time in Milford, to make sure current and future patients get the “Best of…” eyeglasses and contact lenses we are known for.

 
In most cases, the transitions between the two offices will be seamless and patients now seeing us in Nashua who find it more convenient to see us in Milford may not even notice. We made a very minor change to the name Dr. Aubrey’s patients have gotten used to over the course of 40 years, but we also made the new office instantly recognizable as a Focused Eye Care practice. If you’re in Milford, on Mont Vernon Street, look for this logo…
 


 
By the way, most contact for appointments and emergencies will be handled by the Nashua office, even when you call the Milford location. And the Milford appointment form on the office’s original website at VisionCareNH.com will link to the Nashua site. No worries! We’re still going to be the friendly folks from both offices who have always answered phones live and treated patients like people, not numbers. 
We’re looking forward to this exciting new challenge. And we’re looking forward to seeing you. In Nashua, and now in Milford, if you want to see better, come see us!
Your Focused Eye Care Team

#### Welcome to the Glasses Club!
Wearing glasses can be a big adjustment for kids when they’re just starting out.
The temptation can sometimes be to leave the glasses at home instead of wearing them, even though that means going through a day of fuzzy vistas and squinting. That’s why today’s post is all about helping parents help their kids see the best advantages of wearing their glasses.

 
You’ll Get Better Results With Age-Appropriate, Fitted Glasses
It’s one thing for a child to put on their parent or grandparent’s glasses for a few minutes out of curiosity, but their own glasses ought to be the right size for their face. As fast as kids grow, they’re probably going to need new glasses much more frequently than adults because they keep outgrowing them. Kids will be much more likely to wear glasses that don’t look too young or small for them, so make sure to keep up with their growth when replacing glasses.

 
Make Small Goals for Glasses-Wearing
Going from not wearing glasses to wearing them all day can be quite the adjustment for a child. If they’re struggling, it’s okay to ease them into it step by step. Maybe start out by asking them to wear their glasses for just a half-hour each day. Gradually add time until they’re wearing them from morning until bedtime, and consider incentivizing progress with small prizes.

 
Provide Good Role Models of Glasses-Wearing
A lot of kids think it’s embarrassing or uncool to wear glasses, so make sure to remind them of some of the great glasses-wearing role models out there. Maybe they’ll be inspired by older family members in glasses, or maybe they’ll love it that some of their favorite fictional characters wear glasses, from Harry Potter to Superman and Supergirl while they’re in their secret identities. Even Tony Stark wears glasses sometimes outside of the Iron Man suit.

 
Be Firm and Bring in Reinforcements
Rules and goals for glasses-wearing aren’t worth much if they aren’t enforced, but you can’t always be around to make sure your child is wearing their glasses for the agreed-upon length of time. Let your child’s teachers, babysitters, and other adults in their lives know about this so that they can help too!

 
Let Your Child Choose Their Glasses
The best way to help your child love their new glasses is to let them pick them out (provided they choose frames that fit them). They’ll love having this new way to express their personal sense of style. Don’t worry about them choosing bright or clashing colors. Even if they don’t choose a pair that you like much, the goal is for them to actually wear the glasses.

 
The Optometrist Is a Great Resource
If you need more tips for encouraging your child to wear their glasses, we’re always here. Call us up or bring your child in to get our advice in person We know better than anyone how cool glasses are.

 
We love helping patients young or old love their glasses!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### What Do Eyes Have to Do With Headaches?
Frequent headaches could be a symptom of an uncorrected vision problem.
That’s right, if you experience a lot of headaches, it would be worth your time to schedule an eye exam. Not every headache is tied to a vision problem, and not all untreated vision problems result in headaches, but the connection between the two is significant.
 
Eye Strain and Headaches
Thanks to modern technology, we tend to spend hours a day looking at bright screens, and a common price we pay for these fabulous conveniences is digital eye strain. Typical symptoms include blurred vision, tired and aching eyes, difficulty focusing, and — you guessed it — frequent headaches.
Eye strain doesn’t have to come from screens, either. A vision problem like hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), or astigmatism tends to put a lot of strain on the eye as it attempts to compensate. In the case of astigmatism, the cornea is shaped abnormally, so it bends light in ways it shouldn’t, leading to a lot of squinting. That alone can sometimes contribute to headaches.
With hyperopia and presbyopia, the lens of the eye focuses images a little bit behind the retina instead of right against it, which makes nearby objects look blurry. Trying to read small print quickly turns into a headache, sometimes literally. The older we get, the less flexible the lenses in our eyes tend to become, so this can even happen to people who never needed glasses earlier in life.
 
Eye Problems Can Be a Headache for Kids Too
Kids with undiagnosed vision problems are as susceptible to frequent headaches as adults are. That’s just one of many reasons why every child should have a comprehensive eye exam with a real eye doctor, not just a school nurse with a big E chart. There could be a vision problem besides basic refractive errors (like nearsightedness or farsightedness) causing them headaches, but kids wouldn’t be able to make that connection for themselves.
 
The Wonders of a Correct Prescription
The changes in our vision tend to be gradual enough that they’re hard to notice. It might take months or years to really register how much harder it is to see distant details or read up close. Most people who experience headaches related to vision problems simply need an updated prescription for their glasses or contacts!
 
When Headaches Are Tied to Sight-Threatening Conditions
The connection between eyes and headaches isn’t always as simple as an outdated prescription. One symptom of glaucoma (an eye disease that involves the buildup of pressure against the optic nerve, resulting in permanent vision loss) is headaches, and cataracts can also cause them. Cataracts develop as the proteins in the lens clump together, clouding the vision. Regular eye exams are essential for catching sight-threatening conditions early on.
 
An Eye Exam Is No Headache!
We all have busy schedules and it can be hard to find space for something like an eye appointment, but it’s worth it, especially for anyone suffering frequent headaches with no idea what’s causing them. Why not cross eye problems off the list of possible causes by scheduling your next eye exam?
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### What Does Being Colorblind Mean?
Just because someone is colorblind, it doesn’t mean they see the world like a black-and-white movie.
That type of color blindness does exist and is called monochromacy, but it is by far the rarest form of color blindness. There are different ways it can happen, just like there are different ways the more common types of color blindness happen.
 
How Our Genes Affect the Colors We See
The main cause of color blindness is a recessive gene on the X chromosome. This is why men are far more likely to be colorblind than women. As long as a woman has one copy of the gene for normal color vision, she’ll have normal color vision even if she carries the color blindness gene, but her kids could end up colorblind or as carriers themselves.
Men, on the other hand, either have the gene on their one X chromosome and are colorblind or they don’t have it and have normal color vision. The daughters of colorblind men will always be at least carriers of the gene, unless they get the colorblind gene from their mothers, in which case they will also be colorblind.
 
How Color Vision Works
Our vision comes from specialized cells in our retinas called rods and cones, and the cones are the ones responsible for seeing in sharp detail and color. In someone with normal color vision, the cones absorb light at three different wavelengths: short (blue), medium (green), and long (red), and they work together so that we can see all the colors in between. It’s a bit like the way old TVs worked, with pixels divided into red, green, and blue stripes.
 
Color Blindness Comes in Many Forms
There are a lot of different ways color vision can go wrong. The most common is red-green color blindness, which could be because the red cones aren’t working (protanomaly) or the green cones aren’t working (deuteranomaly). Either way, the outcome is a landscape of dull, brownish-yellow colors. 8% of all men and .5% of all women have red-green color blindness.
A rarer form of color blindness is blue-yellow color blindness (tritanopia), which happens when the blue cones aren’t working. The result is a palate of teals, pinks, and browns. Only 5% of colorblind people are blue-yellow colorblind.
Even rarer, as we mentioned above, is monochromacy. It could be because none of the cones work, only one type of cones work, or there’s a problem with the way the visual cortex processes images. Beyond seeing in black and white, monochromacy often comes with symptoms like severe light sensitivity, involuntary eye movements, and weak central vision.
 
Some Cases of Color Blindness are Treatable
Even when it has the same result, color blindness doesn’t always work the same way. Being dichromatic means you are completely missing one of the three cone types, which can’t be treated. However, being an analogous trichromat means that you have all the cones, but some of them respond to a wider range of wavelengths than they should. If the overlap isn’t too great, this kind is actually treatable.
If you’ve ever seen videos of colorblind people trying on special glasses and becoming very emotional as they take in colors they’ve never been able to see before for the first time, you’ve seen the treatment for analogous trichromacy. These glasses work by blocking wavelengths between what two different types of cones are supposed to see, which increases contrast and allows them to see these new colors.
 
When Was Your Last Eye Appointment?
Being colorblind can make some everyday tasks much harder, but there are many resources available to help. An important early step is to diagnose the type and severity of the color blindness. If you think you might be color blind, schedule an appointment with us!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### What Is the Latest in Contact Lens Technology Available in Milford?
Contact lens technology has advanced dramatically in recent years, offering solutions for vision problems that were once difficult or impossible to correct with contacts. New materials, designs, and manufacturing techniques mean more people can enjoy the freedom and convenience of contact lenses, even if they have astigmatism, dry eyes, or presbyopia.

At Focused Eye Care in Milford, we stay current with the latest developments in contact lens technology. Our doctors fit a wide range of specialty contact lenses and can help you find options that match your lifestyle, vision needs, and eye health. Whether you're new to contacts or frustrated with your current lenses, today's advanced options may offer the comfort and clarity you've been seeking.
Daily Disposable Lenses for Maximum Convenience
Daily disposable contact lenses represent one of the biggest advances in contact lens technology. You wear a fresh pair each day and throw them away at night. No cleaning solutions, no storage cases, and no risk of protein buildup or contamination. This convenience appeals to busy professionals, parents, and anyone who wants the simplest possible lens care routine.

The health benefits of daily disposables go beyond convenience. Fresh lenses every day mean reduced risk of eye infections and complications. People with allergies often find daily disposables more comfortable because they don't accumulate allergens throughout the day. Athletes and travelers appreciate not having to pack cleaning supplies.

Modern daily disposables use advanced materials that allow more oxygen to reach your eyes. This breathability keeps your eyes healthier and more comfortable throughout the day. Many daily disposable lenses also include UV protection, though you should still wear sunglasses for complete eye protection.
Silicone Hydrogel Materials
Silicone hydrogel represents a major breakthrough in contact lens materials. These lenses allow significantly more oxygen to pass through to your cornea compared to traditional soft lenses. Higher oxygen transmission means healthier eyes, less redness, and greater comfort during extended wear.

The improved oxygen permeability of silicone hydrogel lenses makes them suitable for people who previously struggled with contact lens discomfort. Some silicone hydrogel lenses are approved for extended wear. However, we recommend daily wear and removal to minimize any risk of complications.

These advanced materials also resist protein and lipid deposits better than older lens materials. Less buildup means clearer vision and more comfortable wear throughout the lens's lifespan.
Multifocal Contact Lenses for Presbyopia
Presbyopia affects everyone over 40, making it difficult to focus on close objects. For years, people with presbyopia had to choose between reading glasses, bifocals, or giving up contacts entirely. Today's multifocal contact lenses provide clear vision at all distances without the need for reading glasses.

Multifocal contact lenses use sophisticated optical designs to provide multiple focal points. Some designs use concentric rings of different powers, while others create a gradual transition similar to progressive eyeglass lenses. The best design for you depends on your prescription, lifestyle, and visual demands.

Fitting multifocal contacts requires precision and patience. Your brain needs time to adapt to the new way of seeing, and we may need to try different lens designs to find the perfect match. Most patients adjust within a week or two and enjoy the freedom of clear vision at all distances without reaching for reading glasses.
Toric Lenses for Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when your cornea has an irregular shape, causing blurred or distorted vision at all distances. Toric contact lenses correct astigmatism by incorporating different powers in different meridians of the lens. These specialized lenses must stay properly oriented on your eye to provide clear vision.

Modern toric lenses use advanced stabilization methods to prevent rotation. Some designs use prism ballast, which adds weight to the bottom of the lens. Others use thin zones that interact with your eyelids to keep the lens aligned. These stabilization techniques are so effective that most people can't even tell they're wearing toric lenses.

Toric lenses are now available in daily disposable and montly replacement options. This variety means you don't have to compromise on convenience or style just because you have astigmatism.
Scleral Lenses for Complex Conditions
Scleral lenses represent the cutting edge of specialty contact lens technology. These large-diameter lenses vault over the entire cornea and rest on the white part of your eye. They create a fluid reservoir between the lens and your cornea, making them exceptionally comfortable for people with severe dry eye, keratoconus, or irregular corneas.

The fluid reservoir provides constant moisture to your eye surface, which can be life-changing for people with chronic dry eye symptoms. Scleral lenses also provide crisp, stable vision for people with corneal irregularities who couldn't achieve clear vision with other correction methods.

Fitting scleral lenses requires specialized training and equipment. The process involves detailed mapping of your eye surface and often requires multiple fitting appointments. Once properly fitted, most patients find scleral lenses remarkably comfortable and report dramatic improvements in vision quality and eye comfort.
Smart Contact Lens Development
The future of contact lens technology includes smart lenses with embedded sensors and electronics. While not yet widely available, researchers are developing contact lenses that can monitor blood glucose levels for diabetics, measure intraocular pressure for glaucoma patients, and even provide augmented reality displays.

These innovations are still in development and testing phases, but they represent the exciting future of contact lens technology. As these products move through clinical trials and regulatory approval, they may offer new ways to monitor and manage eye health conditions.
Get Expert Contact Lens Fitting at Focused Eye Care
Finding the right contact lenses requires more than just knowing your prescription. Our doctors in Milford provide comprehensive contact lens evaluations to assess your eye health, measure your eyes precisely, and discuss your lifestyle needs. We're committed to finding lenses that provide clear vision, all-day comfort, and fit seamlessly into your daily routine.

Our team has been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley. We use advanced diagnostic technologies to ensure accurate contact lens fitting. We're available 24/7 for emergency eye care if you experience any problems with your lenses. Schedule your contact lens evaluation today and discover what modern contact lens technology can do for your vision.

#### What Sunglasses Do for Your Eyes
Summer is almost here, and that means longer days with more sunlight!
We tend to spend more time outdoors in the warm summer months, which exposes our eyes to more sunlight and the harmful UV rays that come with it. Sunglasses that block UV rays are great for protecting our eyes in all seasons, but especially in the summer.

 
What Do UV Rays Do to Our Eyes?
Sunlight can affect our eyes even when we aren’t staring directly into it. It’s actually possible to get sunburns on the surface of our eyes, just like we can get sunburned on our skin. It’s called photokeratitis, and the symptoms include redness, tearing, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and a gritty sensation when blinking. It’s also a problem for skiers and snowboarders due to the light reflecting off the slopes (which is why it’s called “snow blindness”). Bright, sandy beaches create a similar effect.

 
UV Damage Builds Over a Lifetime
UV exposure has a cumulative effect on us. If our eyes get a lot of exposure over the years, it increases the risk of sight-threatening conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts. It also makes us more susceptible to developing conditions like pterygium (also called surfer’s eye), an overgrowth of the clear tissue of the whites of the eyes towards the iris, and pinguecula, which are yellow or white bumps that form in the whites of the eyes.

 
The Protection of Sunglasses
The main goal when selecting sunglasses has to be UV protection. Set fashion goals aside at first. Check the label to make sure it says something like “blocks at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays.” Bigger lenses are also better because they provide more coverage.

A pricier but very effective option is polarized lenses. They’re a little like microscopic window blinds because they block out light coming in from certain directions, such as reflecting off cars or the surface of the water. You can test if lenses are polarized by looking at your phone through them and rotating them to see if the colors change.

 
Minimizing UV Exposure in Other Ways
Sunglasses are an important defense against UV exposure but they aren’t the only one. Here are a few other ways we can protect our eyes and our skin from the sun:

 	Stay out of the sun during the brightest hours of the day (around 10 AM to 4 PM).
 	Regularly apply (preferably dermatologist-approved) sunscreen.
 	Shield your eyes and head with wide-brimmed hats.

 
Find Your Perfect Sun Protection Gear!
We’re here to help any patient looking for sunglasses recommendations. Different shades are better for different types of activities, and you might even want prescription sunglasses. Make sure to get in touch for an appointment if you ever experience photokeratitis symptoms or any other changes to your vision.

 
We love having you in our practice family!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### What to Expect During Your First Visit to Focused Eye Care
Walking into a new eye care practice can feel uncertain when you don't know what happens next or how long your appointment will take. Your first visit to an optometrist sets the foundation for your ongoing eye health, and understanding the process helps you arrive prepared and relaxed.

At Focused Eye Care, we've designed our first-visit experience to be thorough yet efficient at both our Nashua and Milford locations. With 10 providers on staff, you won't wait weeks for an appointment, and our team handles everything from insurance verification to frame selection in one visit. Here's exactly what your first appointment with us looks like.
Before You Arrive
Preparing for your first visit starts before you walk through our doors. We make the process simple by texting or emailing your paperwork for you to complete at home. This digital intake process asks about your medical history, current medications, vision complaints, and insurance information.

If you prefer paper forms, arrive 15 minutes early to complete your paperwork in our waiting area. Bring your current glasses and contact lenses if you wear them, along with your insurance cards and a list of any medications you take. If you're coming for a medical eye exam related to eye pain, redness, or sudden vision changes, note when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse.

Many patients wonder whether someone needs to drive them home. For routine eye exams, most of our patients feel comfortable driving themselves. However, if you feel uncomfortable, feel free to bring a driver to take you home.
Check-In and Insurance Verification
When you arrive, our front desk team greets you and verifies your information. We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans, and we'll confirm your benefits before your exam.

If you don't have vision insurance, our team can explain our Focused VIP membership plan. This program provides tiered options for patients who want comprehensive eye care without insurance, making quality vision care accessible to everyone in our community. We also accept CareCredit and other financing options for procedures not covered by insurance.

Our team schedules appointments to minimize wait times. With 10 providers across both locations, we can usually accommodate same-day appointments for urgent concerns. Most patients move from check-in to their first testing within 10 minutes of arriving.
Pre-Testing and Measurements
Your appointment begins with preliminary testing conducted by one of our experienced technicians. These measurements provide your doctor with baseline information about your vision and eye health:

 	Visual acuity testing: You'll read letters on a chart at various distances to determine how clearly you see with your current level of correction.
 	Autorefraction: An automated instrument measures your eye's refractive error, giving your doctor a starting point for determining your prescription.
 	Tonometry: This test measures the pressure inside your eyes, screening for glaucoma and other conditions.
 	Digital imaging: Advanced diagnostic technology like Optomap® captures detailed images of your retina, allowing your doctor to detect problems early.

These preliminary tests take about 15 to 20 minutes and don't cause discomfort. The information gathered helps your doctor customize the remainder of your exam based on what they find in these initial measurements.
Comprehensive Examination With Your Doctor
After preliminary testing, you'll meet with one of our doctors for your comprehensive examination. Focused Eye Care has providers who offer different areas of focus:

 	Dr. Kelly M. MacDonald, O.D.: Multi-generational family care and glaucoma diagnosis
 	Dr. Scott D. Huffer, O.D./F.A.A.O.: Primary care optometry with emphasis on dry eye treatment
 	Dr. Sarah E. Jagatic, O.D.: Emergency eye care and glaucoma management with 20 years of experience
 	Dr. Anjelica M. Donnelly, O.D.: Comprehensive primary eye care, myopia management, and specialty contact lenses
 	Dr. Kendra M. Phillis, O.D.: Comprehensive primary eye care, myopia management, and specialty contact lenses
 	Dr. Kristen O. Bryant, O.D.: Senior eye care with emphasis on ocular disease and low vision
 	Dr. Stephen P. Waible, O.D.: Comprehensive primary eye care and vision therapy
 	Dr. Catherine A. Johnson, O.D./F.A.A.O.: Pediatric eye care and care for patients with special needs
 	Dr. Ronald B. Coutu, O.D.: Contact lens fittings (specialty and standard) and ocular disease management with 30+ years of experience
 	Dr. Lyudmila Sutherland, O.D.: Comprehensive primary eye care and dry eye management

Your doctor begins by reviewing your medical history and discussing any vision concerns you've noticed. They'll ask specific questions about eye strain, headaches, difficulty reading, or changes in your vision. This conversation helps them understand your daily visual demands and whether current correction methods meet your needs.

The examination includes several components. Your doctor tests how your eyes work together, evaluates your peripheral vision, and checks the health of structures inside your eye. They'll determine your prescription for glasses or contact lenses if you need vision correction. The exam also screens for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic eye disease.

If your doctor identifies issues requiring specialized testing, they may recommend additional diagnostics like TearLab Osmolarity Testing for dry eye evaluation, visual field testing for glaucoma screening, or Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for detailed retinal imaging.
Discussion of Findings and Recommendations
Once your doctor completes the examination, they'll explain their findings in straightforward terms. They'll discuss whether you need glasses, contacts, or vision correction, and explain any eye health concerns discovered during your exam. This conversation covers treatment options, follow-up schedules, and preventive measures to maintain healthy vision.

If you need treatment for conditions like dry eye, your doctor will explain procedures available at our practice, including IPL therapy at both locations and LipiFlow® at our Nashua office. For children showing signs of progressive myopia, we'll discuss myopia control options that can slow nearsightedness progression.

Patients with irregular corneas or those unable to achieve clear vision with standard correction learn about our specialty contact lens services. Our experienced contact lens team fits custom lenses that provide comfortable, clear vision even for challenging prescriptions.

Your doctor will also address questions about pre- and post-operative LASIK care, which we provide at both locations. While we don't perform the surgery itself, we coordinate with surgical centers and manage your care before and after the procedure.
Experience the Focused Eye Care Difference
Our practice continues to grow and improve to serve patients better. We invest in advanced diagnostic technology, stay current with the latest treatment options, and focus on procedures that provide genuine value to patients rather than just filling schedules.

Ready to experience personalized eye care from a team that puts you first? Schedule your first appointment at our Nashua or Milford location. Our doctors, who are all members of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and New Hampshire Optometric Association (NHOA), look forward to helping you achieve and maintain clear, comfortable vision for years to come.

#### What to Look for in Your New Frames
Do you know how to find glasses frames that suit your features?
The glasses you choose will be a huge part of the first impression you make on people. They’re a great way to show off your personal sense of style, but fashion isn’t the only factor to take into consideration.

 
What Shape Is Your Face?
A face can’t literally be heart-shaped or square, but our features can give an impression of a particular shape. Here’s a quick overview of the four main face shapes:

 	Square faces have strong jawlines and foreheads, roughly equal in length and width.
 	Round faces have full cheeks, more rounded hairlines and chins, and are similar in length and width.
 	Oval faces are like round faces except thinner and longer.
 	Heart-shaped faces have narrow chins, wide cheeks and foreheads, and are sometimes topped off with a widow’s peak hairline.

A good way to figure out your face shape if you don’t know it is to look in the mirror, close one eye, and draw the outline of your face with a washable marker. The result should be close to one of the shapes described above.

 
Use Your Frames to Complement Your Face Shape
What’s so important about knowing the shape of your face when searching for the perfect frames? Some frames will be much more flattering than others. A pair of rectangular glasses on a square face will further emphasize the squareness, but rounder glasses can help to soften a lot of those angles. Likewise, a round or oval face will look better in rectangular glasses.

 
Frames Aren’t Just Shape
Aside from the shape of the frames, also consider the size and color. They shouldn’t be too small or too large for your face. This is true for kids as well as adults — maybe even more so. Kids will outgrow their glasses like they outgrow their clothes, and they’ll want glasses that fit properly and reflect their level of maturity.

If you have a cool skin tone, good colors to consider for your frames are dark tortoise, blue, jade, pink, magenta, plum, blue-gray, rose-brown, silver, or black. People with warmer skin tones tend to look better in frame colors like blond tortoise, warm blue, fire-engine red, off-white, coral, orange, peach, copper, gold, khaki, or camel.

 
We Can Help You Choose the Best Frames!
Hopefully we’ve given you some helpful tips to narrow down your search for great new frames! There are other variables like frame thickness and material to think about, and we’re happy to give recommendations if you’re still not sure which frames will look best on you.

 
Let’s find your perfect frames!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### What’s Inside the Human Eye?
The human eye is amazingly complex.
All inside something the size of a large marble, light waves are converted into continuous streams of detailed, accurate, moving images that we can understand and respond to. Our vision connects us to our surroundings more than any of our other senses and makes so many of our daily activities (from reading to driving to looking at the faces of the people we love) possible. How do our eyes manage all this?
 
An Eye Anatomy Overview
This won’t be a comprehensive glossary of eye anatomy, but we’ll go over the parts most closely involved in creating the images we see, starting with the front of the eye and working our way back.

The cornea is the clear layer covering the front of the eye that lets the light get through.
The iris is the colorful, circular muscle that expands and contracts to control the amount of light that gets in.
The lens is the clear disc that changes shape to focus on objects at different distances. (Kind of the opposite of a camera lens, which cannot change shape and has to physically move to change focus.)
The retina is the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye where the photoreceptors (light-sensitive cells called rods and cones) are.
The optic nerve is what collects visual information from the retina and transmits it to the brain for processing — at an estimated rate of a million bits per second! Wow!

 
Binocular Vision: How the Eyes Work Together
Try this: focus on an object and close one eye, then the other. The distance between your eyes means that you see a slightly different image out of your right eye than your left, and we call this binocular vision. The slight difference between the images produced by each eye creates a live 3D image, giving us depth perception (the ability to judge how near or far different objects are from us).
 
The Brain’s Visual Cortex
The optic nerve sends its visual information all the way to the occipital lobe in the back of the brain, which is where the visual cortex is located. 20% of the human brain is dedicated to visual processing, with another 40% helping out in smaller ways, such as vision+meaning, vision+motor, vision+touch, and vision+attention. Many times per second, we have to absorb and process new visual data. It’s how we perceive motion, make sense of it, and react to it.
 
The Built-In Defense and Maintenance of the Eye
The parts of the eye that actually turn light waves into images we can process in our brains would have a hard time doing their jobs without the parts that are there to keep everything running smoothly. Eyebrows, eyelids, and eyelashes all help protect our eyes. Blinking refreshes the tear film and clears out contaminants and debris. The tear film itself is replenished and maintained by numerous ducts and glands.
 
Keep Your Eyes in Great Shape
The way all the different parts and systems of the eye work together to create our sense of vision will never stop being amazing to us. The downside to all this incredible complexity is that there are a lot of ways something can go wrong, which is where the eye doctor comes in! Keep up with your regular eye exam schedule and let us know if anything has changed about your vision.
 
We’re always happy to see our patients!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### When To Schedule An Eye Exam
How long has it been since your last eye exam? A year? Two? Longer?

How often should we be scheduling our eye exams, and what are some good reasons to come in between regular appointments? If you aren’t sure, then you’ve come to the right place, because we’re here to discuss the reasons to schedule an eye appointment and how often everyone should have them!
What Does A “Regular” Eye Exam Mean?

Depending on your age and risk factors, how often you should have an eye exam will vary widely. Children should have their first eye exam around six months old, come back around their third birthday, and again before they start first grade. For patients age six to sixty whose vision health isn’t considered “at-risk,” an eye exam every other year is generally enough. After age sixty, frequency should increase to yearly eye exams. Optometrists will determine the best schedule for at-risk patients.
What Is “At-Risk” Vision?

A few things can increase a person’s chances of developing an eye disease, including diabetes and hypertension (both diseases that can negatively impact vision), as well as a family history of eye diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration. There are also prescription medications with vision-related side effects such as dry eye, and it’s important to monitor that so it doesn’t lead to other complications like an eye infection. Wearing contact lenses also increases the risk of infections.
5 Signs It’s Time For An Eye Exam

Now you know how often to schedule regular appointments and some of the risk factors that could increase your appointment frequency, but what if something happens between appointments? Here are a few reasons not to wait until the next one to come see us:

Blurred vision. If your vision is starting to blur, you probably need a new glasses prescription, so come on in!



Frequent headaches. Many things can cause headaches, including digital eye strain.



Floaters or bright flashes. A few floaters are normal, but if you’ve noticed a bunch of new ones, schedule an appointment right away, particularly if you’re also seeing bright flashes or losing peripheral vision. These are symptoms of retinal detachment, which must be treated as quickly as possible to preserve vision.



Light sensitivity. A little light sensitivity usually isn’t a problem, but if it suddenly gets bad, it could indicate an eye infection.



Difficulty driving at night. If the road lines and street signs become difficult to see at night, it could be a sign of vision loss or nearsightedness. It could be as simple as needing a stronger prescription, but it could also be a symptom of an eye disease.





https://www.youtube.com/embed/6bp-g_8vkUg?feature=oembed


Don’t Put Off Your Next Visit!

It’s easy to let something that only happens once every other year slip through the cracks, but don’t let that happen with your eye exams! If you can’t remember how long it’s been since your last exam, schedule your next one now. We can’t wait to see you!

We value each and every one of our patients!



Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.



The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Why Choose a Local Eye Doctor in Nashua and Milford, NH: 6 Things That Make Focused Eye Care Different
Have you ever wondered whether it matters where you get your eye care — a national chain or a local practice? We think it does. Here's why patients in Southern New Hampshire keep choosing Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford, NH.

1. We're a Locally Owned Small Business

When you get your eyes checked at a locally owned business, you’re not just a number in a system. By choosing a local, independent business, you’re investing in your own community. Focused Eye Care is proudly locally owned, with two convenient locations in Nashua and Milford, NH.

We’ve been providing eye care services to the greater Nashua community since 1962, and while a lot has changed since then and we’ve grown significantly, we remain committed to our original mission to provide the best, most personalized service to everyone we serve.

Our growth continued in September 2021 with the opening of our Milford office at 81 Mont Vernon Street, allowing even more neighbors to access the quality eye care they deserve close to home.

VIEW OUR LOCATIONS: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/about-us/locations/

2. Our Owners Are Also Your Doctors (and sometimes even each other’s doctors!)

At many of the large national eye care chains, the people in charge of making decisions about the business have never even looked at a patient’s eyes. At Focused Eye Care, the people who own the practice are the same people examining your eyes.

Our partners, Dr. Sarah Jagatic, Dr. Kelly MacDonald and Dr. Scott Huffer might even be one of the doctors you'll see at your appointment. They’re members of your local community and that means every decision about how our practice runs has you, the patient, in mind.

Each of their careers in eye care was inspired by personal or family members' experiences with vision. Dr. Jagatic was originally fascinated with optometry when she got her first pair of contact lenses at age 14; she was amazed that a little piece of plastic could help her see so much better. Dr. MacDonald had a similar experience when she was fit for her first pair of glasses at age 11. As a child, Dr. Huffer witnessed firsthand how he and members of his family struggled with vision and was drawn to the field to make a difference in people’s lives.

Another one of our doctors, Dr. Kendra Phillis, pursued a career in the field after experiencing nearsightedness as a child and enjoying her yearly visits with her then eye doctor and now colleague, Dr. MacDonald.

All their early experiences with eye care and their motivation to help others are apparent in the way they care for and show up for their patients. Appointments are never rushed, questions are welcome, and if something doesn’t look right, you’ll hear about it directly from the doctor who saw you.

MEET OUR OWNERS & DOCTORS: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/about-us/our-doctors/

3. We Use Only the Highest Quality Lenses

When it comes to our lenses and frames, there is no low-end option; we pride ourselves on offering only the highest quality lenses available. Not all lenses are created equal; the materials and coatings can vary significantly and really do impact how well you see.

Whether you need single vision, progressive or specialty lenses, we'll help you understand your options and choose what genuinely fits your life and your vision needs. Our Optical Experts are trained and passionate about helping you find the perfect fit that will help you see well and look great. Every time you shop with us, our Opticians perform a 32-point inspection before dispensing your lenses to ensure their quality and accuracy.

We offer 50+ designer frame styles to choose from, including Dolce & Gabbana, Coach, Chesterfield, Elle and many more. To help make quality eye care more affordable and accessible, buy one get one half off frames are always available and you can try on our different styles from the comfort of your own home with our online try-on tool.

EXPLORE GLASSES & TRY ON NOW: https://focusedeyecarenh.optifysite.com

4. We're Guided by Our People First Values

A lot of businesses say they put people first, but at Focused Eye Care, we've built our entire practice around it. Our People First values guide our everyday operations and interactions. Our patients tell us that what keeps them coming back isn’t just advanced diagnostics or stylish frames. It’s the way we make them feel seen, heard and cared for.

Our patients experience the People First difference at every touchpoint: a welcoming front desk, Optical Experts genuinely dedicated to finding you the perfect frames and doctors who ensure you leave every appointment with a clearer understanding of your eye health. Countless patients have left our office telling us that after years, they finally understand their diagnosis thanks to our doctors’ emphasis on education.

If you'd like to learn more about what guides us, you can read more about our People First Values here: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/our-people-first-values-set-us-apart/.

5. Our Contact Lens Prices Are Lower Than National Retailers

This one surprises a lot of people: independent eye care practices can actually beat the huge nationwide brand names on price.

We've done the comparison, and our contact lens prices are consistently lower than national retailers like 1-800 Contacts. We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between quality care and affordability — and we make sure you don’t have to when you visit us.

When you consider the value of seeing a doctor who knows your history, getting a precise fit and having a local team to call if something isn't right, the choice gets even easier. Ordering from us is easy with our online contact lens portal, and you can save 10% off your order when you purchase an annual supply.

LEARN MORE & ORDER CONTACTS: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/eyewear-contacts/contacts/

6. We Employ 57 Local People and Invest in Our Community

When you’re a patient at Focused Eye Care, you're supporting 57 local jobs and a practice that actively gives back to the Nashua and Milford communities.

We believe in investing in the places we call home and in the communities our patients, staff and owners live, work and enjoy. You might see our name or logo at local events, sponsoring your child’s sports team, the local soup kitchen or other nonprofit organizations. Our doctors genuinely enjoy getting out in the community and educating people on the importance of eye health.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on news, events and everything happening at Focused Eye Care:

https://www.facebook.com/FocusedEyeCareNH/

https://www.instagram.com/focusedeyecare_nh/

Ready to See the Difference?

Whether you're due for an annual exam, looking for new glasses or in need of specialty eye care services, we'd love to meet you.

[Book your appointment at our Nashua or Milford location: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/book-an-appointment/]

Have questions before you schedule? Give us a call or send us a message: Nashua Office: 603-882-0311 | Milford Office: 603-673-1330

#### Why Do We Have Different Eye Colors?
Melanin, the same compound that determines skin and hair color, is also responsible for different eye colors.
Melanin helps to protect the eye by absorbing light (including some UV light) that hits the iris, which is the part of the eye that controls the amount of light that reaches the retina.

How Rare Are Different Eye Colors?
Anyone living in an English-speaking country might have the impression that eye colors like blue, hazel, and brown are about equally distributed across the population, but if you look at the whole planet, the ratios are very different. Brown eyes in varying shades are by far the most common, while blue eyes likely all trace back to a single common ancestor with a specific mutation. These are the percentages of different eye colors in the population:

Brown: 70-79%
Blue: 8-10%
Hazel: 5%
Gray: 3%
Green 2%
Red or violet: less than 1%
Heterochromia (partly or completely different-colored eyes): 1%

Types of Melanin and Pigment
Melanin in the iris comes in two different types: eumelanin (which produces a deep chocolate brown color) and pheomelanin (which produces colors ranging between amber, green, and hazel). But what about blue eyes? Blue eyes are basically the absence of melanin. There isn’t any actual blue pigment present, but like the sky and the ocean, blue irises get their color from the way the light scatters around the iris, called Tyndall scattering.

Eyes can be green if there is some melanin present but not enough to completely obscure all of the Tyndall scattering, so there’s a bit of blue appearance mixing with yellowish pigment. Eyes are hazel when they have just enough melanin to obscure any Tyndall scattering. Very rare red and “violet” eyes (typical in albinism, as pictured above) come from a total lack of melanin in all layers of the iris, so the color is a combination of Tyndall scattering and the blood vessels being more visible.

The Genetics of Eye Color Is Complex
In recent years, scientists have found that eye color isn’t only controlled by a single gene but by as many as 16 genes working in tandem. Tiny changes to any of those genes can lead to a different color. This means that you can’t always predict a child’s eye color based on how their parents’ eyes look. Blue-eyed parents won’t necessarily produce blue-eyed children every single time.

Why Do Babies Often Start With Blue Eyes?
Sometimes babies (most commonly caucasian babies) are born with blue or gray eyes that change to a different color over time. Just like the way some kids have platinum blonde hair that darkens nearly to brown in adulthood, it can take time for the cells in their eyes to produce melanin. Exposure to light can trigger melanin production, and that can’t happen until they’ve been exposed to light for a while.

Other Causes of Eye Color Change
You probably had a friend in school who claimed their eyes would change colors every day. More likely it was a trick of the light based on how their eyes reflected the different outfits they wore. Eye color can also appear different with changes in pupil size or the type of light the person is in. Aging can cause a very gradual change in eye color with more melanin production, and an eye injury can also cause permanent eye color change. David Bowie was a famous example of this.

Interested in Artificially Changing Your Eye Color With Contacts?
For the last few decades, anyone who has wanted a change in their eye color could turn to color contacts. If you’re interested in changing your eye color with contacts, we can help! Just keep in mind that a colored layer curving over the round surface of your eye won’t look quite the same as natural eye color in a flat layer beneath the surface of the eye.

We love seeing our patients’ beautiful eyes!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Why Kids Need Eye Exams
What comes to mind when you think of a school nurse’s office?
We’re guessing your list probably includes vinyl recovery beds, jars full of wooden tongue depressors, and the big E eye chart. For over a century and a half, that big E chart (officially called the Snellen chart) has been an excellent diagnostic tool for identifying nearsightedness…but not much else. There are many other ways a child’s vision might not be working properly, which is why it’s so important for kids to get comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist!

 
The Link Between Vision and Learning
Being able to see clearly and perform visual tasks well is hugely important to a child’s education, social development, and even athletic performance. Up to 80% of learning is visual, with all those whiteboards and textbooks and writing assignments to look at, among many other things.

 
The Less Obvious Vision Problems
What does the Snellen eye chart miss? Basically any vision problem that isn’t nearsightedness. A comprehensive eye exam, on the other hand, will also test for farsightedness, astigmatism, color blindness, visual perception, hand-eye coordination, and important binocular vision skills like focusing, tracking, and teaming. Any of these problems can negatively impact learning if they go untreated.

 
When a Vision Problem Remains Undiagnosed
Unlike adults, children don’t have the vocabulary or understanding to recognize what “good eyesight” is supposed to be like. They only have their own experience to go off of, so if it hurts to focus on close-up work for long, they probably won’t know why. They might believe they’re not smart enough for school. They might, in fact, display a lot of the symptoms common in learning disorders, and without a comprehensive eye exam, there’s a good chance they’ll be misdiagnosed with one.

 
Recognize the Symptoms of Eye Problems
Some eye problems are easy to spot, such as an eye that points the wrong direction. Other symptoms are more subtle, including reading comprehension problems, difficulty completing schoolwork, a short attention span (particularly for close-up tasks), frequent headaches, a habit of covering one eye, frequent blinking and eye rubbing, and fidgeting.

 
Give Your Child a Good Start with an Eye Exam
Every child should have a comprehensive eye exam early in their schooling so that any eye problems can be caught and treated quickly. With the new school year starting, this is a great time to schedule an eye exam for your child. We can either rule out or identify any vision problems, even the less obvious ones, and determine the best steps to take next!

 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Why We Need Tears
We tend to only think of tears when something makes us cry, whether we’re watching a touching or tragic movie or we’re laughing so hard that our eyes water.
However, tears are really the unsung heroes of eye health. They come in different types and there’s more to them than just water, so let’s take a closer look!

Tears Protect Our Eyes
All day, every day, our tears are protecting our eyes. The tear film is the barrier between the vulnerable surface of the eye and all kinds of germs, allergens, and irritants in the air. It is composed of three layers: a mucous layer that lies directly on the cornea, an aqueous layer that’s mostly made of saltwater, and an outer oily layer that keeps the other layers from evaporating.

These three layers work together to keep our eyes lubricated, clean, and free of harmful germs. With every blink, tears wash debris out of our eyes and help our vision stay clear and comfortable. That means that while we sleep, the gunk isn’t getting cleared out, which is why we have that grit in the corners of our eyes when we wake up.

Tear Production And Drainage
The tear film is constantly being refreshed so that it can do its job properly. Glands in our eyelids continuously produce new tears, and ducts in the inner corners of our eyes drain away excess tears down into our noses. So if you’ve ever wondered why crying makes your nose runny, now you know the answer!

Tears Help Us Feel Better
The tears in the aqueous layer of the tear film are basal tears, but when we cry, the tears come in two types: reflex tears and emotional tears. Like the tear film, these tears are good for us. Reflex tears are basically just an overflow of basal tears whenever our eyes need to flush something out, like when we get something in our eyes or when someone’s chopping onions in the same room.

Have you ever noticed that when you cry, even though the act of crying itself doesn’t change your situation, you still feel a little better afterwards? The reason for this is that emotional tears clear out some of the chemicals that build up due to stress. When we cry for emotional reasons, we’re purging harmful chemicals and triggering hormones to regulate pain, so make sure you’re indulging in a good cry every now and then!

Tears Versus Dry Eye
Dry eye happens when something goes wrong with normal tear production, and it leads to numerous problems and leaves the eyes very uncomfortable. It becomes more common with age and is often a side-effect of medication. If you’re experiencing dry eye, come see us so we can help you get those tears flowing like they should be!

We get a little teary just thinking about how much we love our patients!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#### Why You Should Use Your Vision Benefits Before Year-End
December arrives with more than holiday celebrations. It also brings a deadline most people overlook: the expiration of annual vision benefits. Most vision insurance plans reset on January 1st, which means unused benefits don't carry over to the next year. If you haven't had your annual eye exam or updated your glasses this year, those benefits you've already paid for through your premiums simply disappear.

At Focused Eye Care, we work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans throughout New Hampshire. Our team in Nashua and Milford can help you maximize your insurance coverage before the calendar year ends. We make it easy to verify your benefits and schedule your appointment so you can use what you've already earned.
How Vision Insurance Actually Works
Vision insurance benefits vary significantly depending on your specific plan type and coverage period. Many plans follow a "use it or lose it" structure where benefits reset annually, though the reset date depends on your plan's benefit period—some follow the calendar year while others may renew at different times throughout the year.

Your plan may include coverage for eye exams, an allowance for eyewear, or discount-only benefits on services and products. The specific benefits available depend entirely on your individual plan structure. You've already paid for these services through your insurance premiums or enrollment. Using your benefits means claiming what you've purchased. When you skip your scheduled exam or delay getting new eyewear, you may be leaving money on the table.

Focused Eye Care works with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans. We accept most VSP and EyeMed plans, along with various medical insurance providers. Visit our insurance page to learn more about accepted plans, or call our office to confirm we work with your specific carrier.
What Most Plans Cover
An annual comprehensive eye exam is typically covered with little to no copay. This exam does more than check your vision. We screen for serious conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, and dry eye symptoms. Early detection of these conditions can preserve your vision and prevent more serious complications down the road.

Most plans provide an allowance for frames and lenses. If you've worn the same glasses for several years, now is the time to update them at minimal cost. Your prescription may have changed gradually, and older frames might no longer provide optimal clarity and comfort. Even small prescription changes can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue.
Additional Coverage Options
Many insurance plans offer coverage or discounts for contact lenses. Some plans let you choose between contacts and glasses each year. Beyond basic vision correction, your insurance may provide discounts on advanced services like dry eye treatment, specialty lens coatings, or prescription sunglasses. These extras can significantly improve your visual comfort and protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
Common Vision Insurance Providers We Accept
We work with major vision insurance carriers to make your care accessible and affordable. Whether you have coverage through your employer or purchased an individual plan, our team can verify your benefits and explain exactly what's covered. Common plans we accept include UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and many others. We handle the paperwork so you can focus on your eye health.

Each insurance plan structures its benefits differently. Some provide full coverage for exams with a separate allowance for materials. Others offer package deals or tiered coverage based on provider networks. Our staff takes time to explain your specific benefits so you know what to expect before your appointment.
Why Scheduling Before December Makes Financial Sense
Booking your eye exam before December allows you to use your current year's benefits while setting yourself up for next year. If you need new glasses or additional treatment, you may be able to split costs between two benefit years. This approach helps you afford higher-quality frames, progressive lenses, or multiple pairs of eyewear.

December appointments fill quickly as patients rush to use their benefits, so we recommend scheduling now. Calling as soon as possible gives you better flexibility with scheduling. We're available 24/7 for emergency eye care, but routine appointments should be scheduled ahead to secure your preferred time.
Special Considerations for Families
If you have family coverage through your vision plan, before December is the time to schedule exams for everyone. Children's eye exams are particularly important as vision problems can affect learning and development. Many parents don't realize their child's vision has changed until they see the difference new glasses make in school performance and daily activities.

Family scheduling also makes logistical sense. Booking multiple appointments before the end of the year means everyone starts the new year with clear vision and up-to-date prescriptions. You can often schedule back-to-back appointments to minimize trips to our office.
Schedule Your Appointment at Focused Eye Care
Using your vision benefits before they expire is a smart health decision this year. Our doctors have been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area multiple times by readers of the Nashua Telegraph. All of our experienced doctors are members of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association. Our highly trained team of opticians, certified para-optometric and contact lens technicians, and office staff is committed to providing you with exceptional care.

We use advanced diagnostic technologies and maintain a state-of-the-art finishing lab in our Nashua office so we can fabricate, adjust, and repair your eyewear accurately and quickly. Don't let your vision benefits go to waste. Book your appointment today and see clearly as you enter the new year.

#### Winter Eye Protection
It may seem strange, but sunglasses are just as important in winter as they are in summer.
The same UV rays that give us sunburns on the beach are just as dangerous on a snowy mountain. Even if most of our skin is covered by thick layers of snow gear, our eyes can still be vulnerable without the proper eye protection.

 
Dry Winter Air Leads to Winter Dry Eye
The air tends to be dryer in winter than in other seasons, and when we turn on the heaters inside to stay cozy in our homes and cars, we dry it out even more. That means anyone prone to dry eye is more likely to feel that gritty eye irritation in winter. Some good strategies for avoiding winter dry eye are staying hydrated and using a humidifier, and maybe let the seat warmers do more of the work in the car than the heater.

 
A Bright Snowy Day Can Result in Snow Blindness
There are a few ways the winter sun can harm our eyes. Too much sun on a snowy day, if we aren’t wearing eye protection, can lead to a temporary condition called snow blindness. This also happens to welders and tanning bed enthusiasts who aren’t careful. Skiers and snowboarders should be especially cautious because the snow reflects sunlight, greatly increasing the UV exposure to the unprotected eyes.

Symptoms of snow blindness include pain and burning in the eyes, feeling like something is stuck in them, light sensitivity, swollen eyelids, watery eyes, headache, blurred vision, and exaggerated glare around lights indoors. However, snow blindness doesn’t always set in immediately, which can leave a window of several hours to keep getting more damaging sun exposure before you notice it!

 
Goggles for the Winter Athlete
Before hitting those bright, sunny slopes, we recommend finding a good pair of goggles. They provide better coverage than sunglasses, they can fit over glasses, and some even come with anti-fog coatings to keep them from steaming up! Explore your options with colored lenses, because different colors can be helpful in different conditions. There are also universal lenses that work pretty well in all conditions!

 
Don’t Put Those Sunglasses Away in Winter
Everywhere but a mountainside, the right pair of sunglasses is a great defense against the sun in winter. Polarized lenses aren’t ideal for skiing and snowboarding because they can make it harder to see the contours of the slopes, but they’re fantastic everywhere else. They block the light coming in from certain angles, which eliminates glare. Make sure to look for sunglasses that are UV-blocking and polarized. We’re happy to help you find the perfect pair if you’re not sure where to begin!

 
Bring Us Your Winter Eye Protection Questions!
We want our patients to have a fantastic winter, and part of that is knowing you’ve got great eye protection for all your favorite winter activities. We can help you discover which features are most important in a pair of goggles or sunglasses, and of course we’re always here for eye exams and prescription updates when you need those!

 

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Women’s Eye Health
Men and women might not come from different planets, but there are certainly a lot of differences between the two — even with eye health.
Women, unfortunately, tend to be more vulnerable to a number of eye diseases, even if they are less likely than men to sustain a sight-threatening eye injury over the course of their lives. So what can they do to protect their eyesight?
 
Eye Diseases that Disproportionately Affect Women
Women are more likely to develop glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than men. Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, causing permanent vision loss. AMD is the gradual loss of central vision. The main reason women are more vulnerable to these conditions is that they have longer life expectancies than men. The best way to fight them is with early detection, which means keeping up with your regular eye exams.
It’s not just sight-threatening conditions that affect women more than men; women are also more prone to chronic dry eye and are more likely to need glasses than men. Symptoms of dry eye include blurred vision, redness, irritation, and discomfort. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of dry eye, because if it goes untreated, it can increase the risk of eye infection.
 
Eye Disease Risk Factors
Aside from advanced age, some of the risk factors associated with women developing eye diseases include birth control, pregnancy, and menopause, because they all involve major changes in hormone levels. Dry eye is also more likely to occur in these situations, and birth control may increase a woman’s chance of developing cataracts.
Age and gender are not controllable risk factors, but we can definitely do something about one of the big ones: neglect. Many women may forget to get the care they need for their vision health because they’re so busy keeping track of the rest of the family’s appointments! Don’t let your own healthcare needs get lost in the shuffle!
 
What Women See
Let’s lighten things up a little after all that talk of eye-threatening conditions. There are actually physical differences between what women see and what men see! Women have been shown to be better at distinguishing subtle color differences than men, especially in the greens and yellows. Have you ever seen (or been) a couple arguing over paint swatches? Now you know why!
 
Your Best Eye Health Resource Is Your Optometrist
We hope all our patients will be proactive in taking care of their eye health. A few things we can all do is avoid smoking, eat nutritious foods, and schedule regular eye exams. If you ever notice any changes in your vision, though, there’s no need to wait until the next scheduled appointment, especially if it’s months away!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

#### Workplace Eye Safety
March is Workplace Eye Wellness month, so let’s celebrate by taking stock of a few ways to protect our eyes at work!
This is going to mean very different things depending on what kind of job you have, whether you work from home or in an office, or you work at a worksite. That’s why we’re dividing our tips into categories for physical labor type jobs and office type jobs.
 
Eye Protection at the Worksite
Many construction, maintenance, and repair type jobs can pose a significant risk to eye safety — from welding to carpentry to plumbing to mining, not to mention working in a lab! At least 2,000 workers in jobs like these are treated for eye injuries every single day.
That’s too many eye injuries, but 90% of them are preventable with the proper eye protection equipment. Before you start working, make sure you have your safety glasses, goggles, face shield welding helmet, or full-face respirator, depending on which is most appropriate for your job. They could save your sight!
 
Good Eye Health in the Office
The main concern in an office type job is less about dangerous projectiles flying in and striking your eyes or some kind of chemical splashing into them, and more about the very high chance of developing digital eye strain (also called computer vision syndrome) after staring at your work computer for many hours a day.
Digital eye strain isn’t known to be associated with permanent eye damage, but even short term, it can be very unpleasant, leaving your eyes irritated and tired. The most common symptoms are dry eye, neck pain, more frequent headaches, back strain, and reduced attentiveness. Unsurprisingly, dealing with this combination of symptoms can leave our productivity pretty low.
 
Fighting Off Digital Eye Strain
We don’t need protective goggles or face shields to ward off eye strain, although some people do benefit from wearing computer glasses that block out the blue light or using an anti-glare screen.
The easiest things we can do to give our eyes a break are to position our screens properly (aim to have it arm’s length from your face with the middle of the screen slightly below eye level) and follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to focus on something 20 feet away). And make sure you’re blinking frequently and staying hydrated!
 
Bring Us Your Workplace Eye Safety Questions
If you’re experiencing symptoms of eye strain or are concerned about the risk of eye injury at your workplace, we’re happy to answer any of your questions. We want our patients to have all the knowledge they need to keep their eyes protected. And if it’s been a while since the last time we saw you, why not schedule your next eye exam?
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

### Pages

#### About Us
Focused Eye Care provides comprehensive eye health and optometry services to patients throughout Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Led by a team of industry-leading professionals, we are proud to be consistently named as the best vision care practice in the region.		
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
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					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
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					Locations				
		Our convenient locations in Nashua and Milford put us within an easy drive of most Southern NH and Northern MA areas.		
					
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					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
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					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
									Learn More

#### Blog
About us				
					Vision and Eye Care Blogs/News

#### Book an Appointment
Book an eye appointment at one of our locations				
		It only takes a moment online to make and confirm your next appointment at Focused Eye Care. If you have an urgent issue, call us immediately:Nashua: 603-882-0311 | Milford: 603-673-1330		
					Nashua				
		Phone: 603-882-0311Fax: 603-882-3020		
					
									Book an Appointment
					
					Milford				
		Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007		
					
									Book an Appointment

#### Caring for Your Eyes
URL: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/specialty-eye-care/caring-for-your-eyes/

#### Caring for Your Eyewear
URL: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/eyewear-contacts/caring-for-your-eyewear/

#### Children's Eye Exams
Children's Eye Exams				
		Diagnosing and treating vision issues early is key! At Focused Eye Care, we are accustomed to working with children as young as six months to make children's vision exams in Nashua, NH as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.		
					
									book an Eye Exam
					
					About the Process				
					What to Expect				
		Good vision is essential to your child's general well-being and learning experiences. Vision problems can be the direct cause of learning disorders, and they can interfere with a child’s ability to perform to their potential. We recommend a complete vision examination before your child turns one, or earlier depending upon your family history and your child's needs.A children’s eye exam from your Focused Eye Care doctor covers a wide range of pediatric eye health concerns, including screening for:hyperopia (farsightedness)astigmatism (blurred vision caused by an imperfection of the curvature of the eye)myopia (nearsightedness)strabismus (crossed eyes)amblyopia (lazy eye)eye movement, focusing and coordination issuesWe also educate parents and children about eye safety, including the importance of eye protection when playing sports.		
					Meet Our Pediatric Specialist				
					Catherine Johnson, O.D./F.A.A.0.				
		Dr. Johnson has a passion for vision care for children and has lectured and written extensively on pediatric issues such as amblyopia and eye misalignment. Before joining our team in 2024, she provided pediatric optometry services at Specialized Pediatric Eye Care, a community-based child’s vision specialty office based in Massachusetts.A native of Canada, Dr. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from McMaster University in Ontario. She received her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from New England College of Optometry (NECO) and went on to complete her pediatric optometry residency at the same institution. Dr. Johnson has served as an associate professor at NECO, where she has received awards for teaching excellence. She donates her time to international eye care missions and a broad range of regional causes.		
																														
					Myopia Control				
		Myopia is the clinical term for nearsightedness. Nearsighted eyes see close objects clearly, while objects far away are blurry without correction. Treatment to stop the progression of myopia is most effective when a person is young.		
					
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					What to Bring?				
					If you have questions about any of the items below, please contact us.				
		Insurance cardsAll glasses and contacts currently usedMedication listCompleted forms, if applicable		
					
									book an Eye Exam
					
					Types of Tests Performed at a Routine Exam
				
		During a comprehensive exam, your Focused Eye Care doctor will diagnose vision and eye health problems using a variety of tests. These tests may include:		
						
															
								
												Visual Acuity Tests
					Visual acuity tests measure the sharpness of your vision. This is the classic eye chart test. You are asked to identify characters on a projected eye chart to evaluate how well you see far away, and then repeat the exercise using a much closer chart to evaluate your near vision.
															
								
												Color Blindness Tests
					Your doctor will give you a screening test that checks your color vision to rule out color blindness. In addition to detecting hereditary color vision deficiencies, color blind tests also can alert your Focused Eye Care doctor to possible eye health problems affecting your color vision.
															
								
												Cover Test
					The cover test is a simple and commonly used method to determine if your eyes are working together to focus properly. During the test, you will look at a small object across the room while each of your eyes is covered alternately. The test is then repeated with you looking at a nearby object. Your Focused Eye Care doctor will observe whether the uncovered eye needs to move to pick up the target. Such movement could indicate strabismus (“crossed eyes”) or a more subtle binocular vision issue, which might cause eye strain or amblyopia (“lazy eye”).
															
								
												Ocular Motility (Eye Movements)
					Problems with eye movements can lead to eye strain and impact reading ability, sports vision and other skills. To assess movement issues, tests are conducted to evaluate how well your eyes can follow a moving object and quickly shift between and accurately fixate on two separate targets. In a common test for smooth eye movements (“pursuits”), you keep your head still and follow the slow movement of a handheld light or other target with just your eyes. If quick eye movements (“saccades”) are also tested, you will move your eyes back and forth between two targets positioned some distance apart.
															
								
												Depth Perception (Stereopsis) Test
					Stereopsis is the visual perception of three dimensions (3D), also known as depth perception. There are various types of depth perception tests, but a common one involves wearing a pair of 3D glasses to view a booklet of test patterns. Your task is to identify which circle in each pattern appears closer to you than the others. If you can correctly identify the “closer” circle in each pattern, your depth perception is effective.
															
								
												Retinoscopy
					During this test, the room lights will be dimmed and you will focus on a large target (usually the big “E” on the eye chart). As you stare at the “E,” your doctor will shine a light at your eye and flip lenses in a machine – called a phoropter – in front of your eyes. This test estimates which lens powers will best correct your distance vision with impressive accuracy. It is especially useful for children and patients who are unable to accurately answer the doctor’s questions.
															
								
												Refraction
					This is the test that your Focused Eye Care doctor uses to determine your exact eyeglass prescription. It determines your level of hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism and presbyopia (aging eyes). During a refraction, your doctor asks you to view letters or symbols through different lenses on equipment called a phoropter and indicate which of the two lenses in each choice looks clearer. Based on your answers, your eye doctor will continue to fine-tune the lens power until reaching a final eyeglass prescription.
															
								
												Autorefractors
					Your Focused Eye Care doctor may use an autorefractor to automatically estimate your eyeglass prescription. With this device, you rest your chin to stabilize your head while you look into the instrument at a pinpoint of light or a detailed image. Autorefractors are very accurate, and are especially helpful to determine eyeglass prescriptions for young children and other patients who may have trouble sitting still, paying attention, or providing the feedback that your Focused Eye Care doctor needs to perform an accurate manual refraction.
															
								
												Slit Lamp Exam
					The slit lamp is a binocular microscope used to examine the structures of your eye under high magnification. During the slit lamp exam, you place your forehead and chin securely against the rests on the front of the instrument, and your doctor examines the structures of the front of your eyes — including your eyelids, cornea, conjunctiva, iris and lens. With the help of a hand-held lens, your doctor may also examine structures located farther back in your eye, such as your retina and optic nerve. A wide range of eye conditions and diseases can be detected during a slit lamp exam, including cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal ulcers and diabetic retinopathy.
															
								
												Glaucoma Tests
					You typically have no warning signs of glaucoma until significant vision loss occurs. Routine diagnostic tests known as “tonometry” often give the first indication that there is a problem. One common glaucoma test is non-contact tonometry (NCT), also known as the “puff-of-air” test, which measures eye pressure by directing a small burst of air at your open eye. High eye pressure can indicate a risk for glaucoma.At Focused Eye Care, we often use an ICare tonometer, gently placed on your eye, or the puff-of-air tonometer, both of which are painless. Another method is applanation tonometry, commonly performed with a slit lamp-mounted instrument. This test involves numbing your eyes with yellow drops, which glow under blue light, and gently touching your eye’s surface with the tonometer to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). The process is quick and painless, usually causing only a slight tickling of your eyelashes.
															
								
												Pupil Dilation
					To get a better view of the internal structures of your eyes, your Focused Eye Care doctor uses dilating drops to enlarge your pupils. It generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the drops to take full effect. Your eye doctor will then use various instruments to thoroughly evaluate the inside of your eyes.When your pupils are dilated, your eyes will be sensitive to light (the larger the pupil is, the more light it allows in) and you may have difficulty focusing on objects up close. These effects can last for up to several hours, depending on the strength of the drops used. You should bring sunglasses with you to your eye exam to minimize glare and light sensitivity on the way home. If you forget to bring sunglasses, we will give you a disposable pair.
															
								
												Visual Field Test
					Your Focused Eye Care doctor may use a visual field test to check for blind spots in your peripheral vision, which can originate from eye diseases such as glaucoma or help identify specific areas of brain damage caused by a stroke or tumor. In a simple visual field test, your doctor or a trained assistant holds up different numbers of fingers within your peripheral field of view and asks how many you see while you continue to fixate on the doctor’s or assistant’s eyes. If an eye disease is suspected, you may need to undergo more comprehensive, formal types of visual field testing.
															
								
												Contact Lens Evaluations
					A contact lens fitting is an additional part of a comprehensive eye exam for every contact lens wearer. Your Focused Eye Care doctor will verify that your eyes are still healthy enough to wear contacts, that the contacts are fitting you correctly, measure your vision with your contact lenses on and adjust your prescription as needed. For more information, ask for our free “Your Annual Contact Lens Evaluation” brochure when you visit our offices.

#### Children's Eye Exams in Milford, NH
Children's Eye Exams in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care provides thorough and gentle children's eye exams in Milford, NH—offering comprehensive evaluations, personalized care, and expert guidance to support clear vision, early detection, and lifelong eye health for growing kids.

Children's vision development is a complex process that requires professional monitoring throughout their growing years. Many parents don't realize that vision problems can significantly impact their child's learning abilities, social development, and overall quality of life, making regular comprehensive eye exams essential for detecting issues early when they're most treatable.

At our Milford eye care office, Focused Eye Care provides specialized children's eye exams designed to assess every aspect of your child's visual development. Our experienced optometrists use child-friendly techniques and state-of-the-art technology to ensure accurate diagnoses while creating a comfortable, positive experience for young patients throughout the Souhegan Valley.
What Makes Children's Eye Exams Different
Children's eye exams require specialized approaches that differ significantly from adult eye care. Young patients may not realize they have vision problems or may struggle to communicate what they're experiencing. Our Milford optometrists are trained in pediatric examination techniques that work effectively with children of all ages and developmental stages.

During a comprehensive children's eye exam, we evaluate visual acuity, eye alignment, focusing ability, and overall eye health. We also assess how well your child's eyes work together as a team, which is crucial for reading, learning, and participating in sports activities. These assessments help identify conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), and refractive errors that can impact academic performance.
Early Detection Benefits
The earlier vision problems are detected, the more successful treatment outcomes tend to be. Children's visual systems are still developing, making early intervention particularly effective. Many eye conditions that might be difficult to treat in adults can be successfully managed in children when caught early through regular eye exams.

Our comprehensive eye exams can identify issues before they become more serious problems. This proactive approach helps ensure your child has the visual skills essential for academic success and healthy development throughout their school years.
Common Childhood Vision Conditions We Treat
At our Milford location, we frequently diagnose and treat various childhood vision conditions. Myopia (nearsightedness) has become increasingly common among children, often developing during school years and progressing throughout adolescence. We offer myopia control treatments to slow this progression and protect your child's long-term vision health.

Amblyopia affects approximately 2-4% of children and occurs when one eye doesn't develop normal vision.
What to Expect During Your Child's Visit
We know  that visiting the eye doctor is intimidating for children, so we've designed our Milford office to be welcoming and child-friendly. Our team takes time to explain each step of the examination process in age-appropriate language, helping children feel comfortable and cooperative throughout their visit.

The examination typically begins with visual acuity testing using methods appropriate for your child's age and development level. Younger children might use picture charts or matching games, while older children can use traditional letter charts. We also perform tests to evaluate eye movement, focusing ability, and how well the eyes work together.

Our advanced diagnostic equipment helps us to detect eye health issues that may not be noticeable during a basic vision screening. We can identify problems with the retina, optic nerve, and other internal eye structures that are crucial for healthy vision development.
When Should Children Have Eye Exams
Comprehensive eye exams should begin early in childhood. We recommend that children have their first comprehensive eye exam by age 3, or earlier if you notice any signs of vision problems.

School-age children should have annual eye exams, as vision can change rapidly during periods of growth and development. Many vision problems develop gradually, making them difficult to detect without professional evaluation. Routine exams ensure that any changes in your child's vision are addressed promptly.

If your child is experiencing headaches, squinting, covering one eye, or showing signs of difficulty in school, these may indicate vision problems that require immediate attention. Our Milford team can perform urgent evaluations when vision concerns arise between regular check-ups.
Insurance and Payment Options
We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make children's eye care accessible to Milford families. Our team verifies your insurance benefits and explains your coverage options during scheduling. We also offer Care Credit financing to help manage any out-of-pocket expenses for treatments or eyewear.

Many insurance plans provide excellent coverage for children's eye exams and glasses, recognizing the importance of vision care for healthy development. Our knowledgeable staff can help you understand your benefits and maximize your insurance coverage for your child's eye care needs.
Focused Eye Care: Your Milford Children's Vision Specialists
Our Milford practice combines decades of experience with the latest diagnostic technology to provide exceptional pediatric eye care. Our team's expertise and commitment to child-friendly care, ensures your child receives expert treatment in a comfortable environment. We've been serving the greater Nashua community since 1962 and added our Milford location in 2021 to better serve families throughout the Souhegan Valley.

Don't wait for vision problems to affect your child's learning and development. Schedule an eye exam today by calling our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or booking an appointment online.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Contact Lenses in Milford, NH
Contact Lenses in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care offers expert contact lens services in Milford, NH—providing personalized fittings, advanced lens options, and professional guidance to ensure clear, comfortable vision tailored to your lifestyle.

Finding the perfect contact lenses can change your daily life, offering the freedom and convenience that glasses simply cannot match. Whether you're an active professional, a student athlete, or someone seeking a more natural field of vision, contact lenses provide unparalleled flexibility for your busy lifestyle. At our Milford eye care practice, we understand that each patient has unique vision needs, lifestyle demands, and comfort preferences that require personalized attention and care.

Our experienced optometrists at Focused Eye Care combine advanced diagnostic technology with decades of expertise to ensure you receive the most appropriate contact lens solution for your individual needs. We work with patients throughout the Souhegan Valley and surrounding communities to provide comprehensive contact lens services, from initial fittings to ongoing care and maintenance. Our Milford location offers the convenience of local access to premium eye care services, making it easier than ever to maintain optimal vision health.
Types of Contact Lenses Available in Milford
Modern contact lens technology offers numerous options designed to address various vision correction needs and lifestyle preferences. Daily disposable contact lenses offer significant advantages in terms of convenience and hygiene. They eliminate the need for cleaning solutions and substantially reduce the risk of infections. These single-use lenses are perfect for occasional wear, travel, or individuals with busy schedules who prefer the simplicity of fresh lenses each day.

Weekly and monthly replacement lenses offer cost-effective solutions for regular contact lens wearers. These options require proper cleaning and storage but provide excellent value for patients who wear contacts consistently.

Specialty contact lenses address unique vision challenges that standard options cannot correct. Toric lenses correct astigmatism by incorporating different powers in different meridians of the lens. Multifocal contact lenses provide clear vision at multiple distances, offering an excellent alternative to reading glasses for presbyopia. For patients with irregular corneas or complex prescription needs, we provide custom contact lens fittings that ensure optimal comfort and visual clarity.
Advanced Contact Lens Materials
Today's contact lenses utilize sophisticated materials designed for superior comfort and eye health. Silicone hydrogel lenses allow significantly more oxygen to reach your cornea compared to traditional hydrogel materials, promoting healthier eyes during extended wear periods. These advanced materials also resist protein deposits and maintain moisture throughout the day.

Daily disposable lenses often incorporate unique moisture-retention technologies that keep your eyes comfortable from morning until night. Some materials include built-in UV protection, providing another layer of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation while maintaining excellent optical clarity.
Professional Contact Lens Fitting Process
Successful contact lens wear begins with a comprehensive fitting performed by our skilled optometrists. This detailed process goes far beyond simply determining your prescription strength. We carefully measure your corneal curvature, evaluate your tear film quality, and assess your eyelid structure to ensure optimal lens selection and fit.

During your fitting appointment, we discuss your lifestyle needs, work environment, and personal preferences to recommend the most suitable contact lens options. Factors such as screen time, outdoor activities, work schedules, and cosmetic preferences all influence our recommendations. We take precise measurements of your cornea using advanced topography equipment to ensure your lenses provide maximum comfort and optimal vision correction.

Our fitting process includes teaching proper insertion, removal, and care techniques. We provide detailed instructions for cleaning routines, replacement schedules, and signs that warrant immediate attention. Follow-up appointments allow us to monitor your adaptation process and make any necessary adjustments to ensure long-term success with your contact lenses.
Ongoing Contact Lens Care and Maintenance
Good contact lens care is essential for maintaining eye health and maximizing the lifespan of your lenses. We provide comprehensive education on cleaning solutions, storage cases, and replacement schedules appropriate for your specific lens type. Our team demonstrates proper techniques for handling lenses to prevent damage and contamination.

Regular follow-up examinations allow us to monitor the health of your eyes and the condition of your contact lenses. These appointments help determine potential issues before they become serious problems, ensuring comfortable and safe contact lens wear. We also stay current with the latest developments in contact lens technology, offering upgrades and improvements as they become available.
Insurance and Financing Options
We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible. Our staff handles insurance verification and helps you understand your coverage benefits before your appointment.

For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment options and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. Your vision health shouldn't be delayed due to cost concerns, so we work with each patient to find solutions that fit their budget.
Visit Our Convenient Nashua Location
Our Nashua office provides easy access for patients throughout the greater Nashua area. The convenient location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus on your eye care needs.

We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention.

The comfortable atmosphere at our Nashua location reflects our People First philosophy. From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll experience the warm, professional service that sets us apart from other eye care providers.
Contact Focused Eye Care Milford
Our dedicated team at Focused Eye Care has provided exceptional eye care services to the Milford community and surrounding areas since expanding to our convenient Souhegan Valley location. Our optometrists bring decades of combined experience in contact lens fitting and management, utilizing the most advanced diagnostic equipment available. We maintain strong relationships with leading contact lens manufacturers, ensuring access to the latest innovations in vision correction technology.

Take the first step toward a clearer, more convenient vision by scheduling your contact lens consultation today. Our experienced team will work with you to find the perfect contact lens solution for your unique needs and lifestyle. Call us at 603-673-1330 or visit our online appointment booking system to schedule your comprehensive contact lens evaluation.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Contact Us
Fill out the form below and we will get back to you ASAP!

                
                        
                            
                        
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#### Contacts
Eyewear & Contacts
Contact Lenses
Choose from many contact lens and eyewear options at Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford. Your eye care provider will do a complete eye examination and ask questions about your lifestyle to recommend the contact lenses that are best for you.


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A Closer Look
What to Consider
There are many reasons why you might prefer contact lenses to standard eyewear – a glasses-free look, hassle-free vision correction, wearing non-prescription sunglasses and goggles, or the convenience of not having to worry about misplacing your glasses, to name a few. If you have a high prescription or astigmatism, contact lenses may also provide more enhanced vision correction than glasses. You can even replace your bifocal glasses with multifocal contact lenses.

New to contact lenses? Keep these brochures handy.


Daily Contacts 101


Planned Replacement Lenses

Types of Contact Lenses
Most people can wear more than one type of contact lens. Which is best for you? Here is a quick look at the different types:



Soft Lenses

These lenses are comfortable to wear and are often recommended for sports because they fit closer to the eye and are more difficult to dislodge. Depending on the type you choose, soft lenses must be replaced monthly, weekly or daily. They can provide correction for most prescriptions, including astigmatism. With the introduction of newer materials such as silicone hydrogels, which allow more oxygen to the eye, patients find it easier than ever to wear soft lenses comfortably.


Daily Disposable Lenses

If you wear soft contacts, daily disposable lenses are a great choice. They are lighter than weekly or monthly lenses, and you do not have to clean them. You simply open a fresh pack of lenses every day and put them in. Because they are fresh every day, there is no need to worry about the potentially harmful build-up of proteins and grime that can result from less-than-perfect (or lack of) cleaning. When you factor in the time saved from cleaning and the cost of lens solutions and cleaning supplies, daily lenses offer great convenience at a cost that is comparable to other lenses.


Gas-Permeable (GP) Lenses

Made of moderately flexible plastics, GP lenses are more durable than soft contact lenses and can be easier to care for and handle. They offer sharp vision and correct most vision problems, but may be harder to adapt to than soft lenses. You must wear GP lenses consistently to maintain adaptation.


Multifocal Lenses

Available in both soft and GP designs, multifocal lenses offer both distance and near vision correction, just like a pair of bifocal glasses.


Silicone Hydrogels

Silicone hydrogels are soft contact lenses that have high oxygen permeability and are comparable to GP lenses. They may often be worn for extended periods without eye discomfort.

#### Dry Eye Treatment
Specialty Eye Care				
					Dry Eye Treatment				
		Dry eye is a common condition when you don't create enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated. Your eyes may feel dry, scratchy and tired, and your vision may be affected. Contact our Nashua office today to learn more. 		
					What is Dry Eye?				
		If you suspect that you have dry eye, see your eye doctor.Dry eye syndrome is when the quantity or quality of tears is insufficient to moisten, cleanse, and protect the eyes. When you blink, tears protect the surface of the eye, washing away dust and microorganisms. When the protective coating formed by tears dries up, the eyes may feel gritty or burn and can be more sensitive to light. In extreme cases, vision can be blurred. Proper care is essential to both increase your comfort and protect your eyes. Your eye care provider can perform a series of tests to determine if you have dry eye.		
					
									Tips for relief of Dry Eye
					
					First Steps for Relief of Dry Eye				
		The most common form of dry eye disease is known as "evaporative dry eye," which is typically the result of having increased tear evaporation. There are several simple ways to find relief:		
						
															
								
												Use a hot compress
					Use a compress that has been designed to hold heat and is made of material that is gentle on the eyes. Warm it in a microwave for 20-30 seconds and apply it to your closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes before you go to bed and when you wake up. We recommend Bruder® compresses for their quality and ease of use and they are available at the front desk of our offices.
															
								
												Try lubricating eye drops
					Lubricating eye drops add elements similar to your natural tears, improving the tear film’s effectiveness in protecting your eyes. There are many brands of over-the-counter lubricating drops. For more severe dry eyes, lubricating ointments or gels may be necessary. Thicker than drops, lubricating ointments or gels stay in your eyes longer but can temporarily blur your vision, so they’re best used before bedtime.
															
								
												Drink water
					Our eyes need water to create tears and remain lubricated. When your body is dehydrated, your eyes can also become dry and uncomfortable. If you have dry eyes, be sure to drink at least the recommended 8-10 glasses of water daily.
															
								
												Avoid excess alcohol and caffeine
					Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, which means they promote water loss by making you urinate more frequently. If you have dry eye, you want to retain as much water in your body as possible.
															
								
												Take a high-quality fish oil
					Fish oil is known for having many positive effects on the human body, and this includes your eyes. We recommend taking at least 1,000 mg daily with food in a triglyceride form, with at least 60% of the fish oil being EPA/DHA (the two Omega-3 fats that contribute to healthy eye function). EyePromise® EZ Tears® meets these criteria.
															
								
												Reduce your screen time
					Your blink rate is dramatically reduced when you stare at a digital device’s screen. Why does this matter? Blinking is an important way to keep your eyes hydrated. With every blink, your eye’s tear film is replenished and spread. The less you blink, the fewer tears protect your eyes. A good rule of thumb is to take 20-second breaks from your digital device every 20 minutes to consciously blink and rewet your eyes.
					OptiLIGHT® IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)				
		OptiLIGHT IPL is trusted by leading eye professionals around the world, and is FDA-cleared for treating the skin and eyelid inflammation that may be the root cause of your dry eye discomfort. IPL is a technology used for treating more than 20 different skin indications, including rosacea, which can cause dry eye.
Your Focused Eye Care doctor may recommend treatment using OptiLIGHT IPL if skin and eyelid inflammation is the likely cause of your dry eye. Our doctors and technicians are thoroughly trained to perform safe, effective IPL treatments.		
																														
																														
					LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation				
		LipiFlow is a gentle, safe and very effective way to relieve the most common cause of dry eye: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Your meibomian glands are the tiny glands at the edges of your eyelids, responsible for secreting the fluid that lubricates your eyes. When they clog, the fluid flow is reduced, or stops completely, and your eyes dry out.LipiFlow applies moist, pulsating heat to your eyelids, and gently massages them to break up and flush away the material clogging your meibomian glands. Your Focused Eye Care doctors have received in-depth training on the FDA-approved LipiFlow and use it regularly to combat dry eye. In fact, other eye doctors refer patients to us for LipiFlow treatments.

#### Emergency Eye Care
Specialty Eye Care
Emergency
Eye Care
As the primary care providers for your eyes, we're standing by to help with eye injuries or other urgent vision issues. Call us 24/7 for emergency care!
If you have an eye injury or another urgent eye issue, call us immediately
Here are a few of the most common injuries or symptoms that could indicate you have a potentially vision-threatening eye emergency.
Reach us at 603-882-0311 in Nashua or 603-673-1330 in Milford.

Scratches

Common symptoms of a scratched eye include pain, tearing and a sensation of something stuck in the eye. If the white part of the eye is scratched, you might see a blood spot, scratch line or redness. A scratched cornea, or corneal abrasion, can cause blurry vision, light sensitivity and headaches, potentially affecting vision permanently. A scratched cornea is an eye emergency and immediate consultation is essential.

Sports Eye Injuries

Sports-related eye injuries are a leading cause of vision loss, with over 40,000 cases reported annually. These injuries can affect the eyeball or eye socket, and while many may heal without lasting damage, some result in irreversible vision loss. Protective eyewear prevents most of these injuries, but accidents happen. Focused Eye Care is experienced treating sports-related eye injuries or collaborating with your medical team as necessary.

Particles and Chemicals in your Eyes

Call us right away if you get chemicals in your eye or get something in your eye that you can’t get out, particularly if you have been involved with activities such as drilling, cutting or grinding. With the right care, injuries from a foreign body in the eye heal without complications. Long-term consequences of chemicals in the eye depend upon the chemical and how quickly you flush your eyes with water before calling Focused Eye Care.

Conjunctivitis ("Pink Eye")

Conjunctivitis is quite common and mild cases typically resolve in a few days. It is important to remove contact lenses at the first sign of symptoms and not wear them until the case of conjunctivitis is full resolved. Call us for emergency care if you experience changes in vision, a sensation of something stuck in your eye, blurred vision, light sensitivity, if your symptoms don’t improve within 12 to 24 hours or if they worsen over time.

Flashes & Floaters

Eye floaters and flashes can sometimes indicate serious issues like a torn or detached retina, which requires prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. Contact Focused Eye Care immediately if you experience a significant or sudden increase in floaters or black spots, increased flashes, a shadow in your vision, vision loss on one side, floaters after eye trauma or surgery, or a gray curtain covering part of your vision.

Swollen/Red Eyelids

Swollen and red eyelids can be a symptom of many conditions, including allergies, conjunctivitis, a stye or clogged oil glands. In these cases, the swelling may go away on its own within a day or so. When swelling and redness are a symptom of a more serious condition, you may experience fever, loss of vision, double vision or bulging of one or both eyes. If you experience any of these symptoms, call Focused Eye Care right away for a complete evaluation.

#### Emergency Eye Care in Milford, NH
Emergency Eye Care in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care provides urgent, expert emergency eye care in Milford, NH—delivering prompt evaluation, advanced treatment, and dependable support to protect your vision when unexpected eye issues arise.

Eye emergencies can strike without warning, causing sudden pain, vision loss, or injury that demands immediate professional attention. Whether you've experienced trauma to the eye, sudden vision changes, or severe discomfort, these situations require prompt evaluation and treatment to prevent permanent damage and preserve your sight.

Focused Eye Care provides comprehensive emergency eye care services to patients throughout Milford and the surrounding Souhegan Valley. Our experienced team of optometrists, led by specialists like Dr. Sarah Jagatic, who focuses on emergency eye care and glaucoma management, offers 24/7 emergency services to ensure you receive the urgent care you need when vision-threatening situations arise.
When to Seek Emergency Eye Care
Recognizing the signs of an eye emergency can make the difference between preserving your vision and facing permanent damage. Immediate medical attention is necessary when you experience sudden, severe eye pain that doesn't respond to over-the-counter medications or when you notice rapid changes in your vision quality. Chemical burns to the eye represent one of the most serious emergencies, requiring immediate irrigation and professional treatment regardless of the substance involved.

Foreign objects lodged in the eye, particularly metal fragments or sharp materials, should never be removed by untrained individuals. Attempting to extract these objects can cause additional trauma and potentially lead to permanent vision loss. Similarly, any eye injury involving a blow to the head or direct trauma to the eye socket requires immediate evaluation to assess for internal damage that may not be immediately visible.

Sudden onset of flashing lights, floating spots, or curtain-like shadows across your visual field can indicate serious retinal problems requiring urgent intervention. These symptoms may signal retinal detachment, a condition where prompt treatment can mean the difference between restored vision and permanent sight loss.
Common Eye Emergencies We Treat
Our emergency eye care services address a wide range of urgent conditions affecting patients throughout the Milford area. Chemical exposure accidents, whether from household cleaners, industrial substances, or garden chemicals, require specialized flushing techniques and ongoing monitoring to prevent corneal damage. We maintain the proper equipment and solutions needed for effective emergency irrigation and can assess the extent of chemical burns to determine appropriate follow-up care.

Sports-related eye injuries occur frequently in active communities like ours, ranging from direct impacts during contact sports to injuries from flying objects like balls or equipment. Our team provides a comprehensive evaluation of sports eye injuries, including assessment for fractures around the eye socket, damage to the retina, and injuries to the cornea or other delicate eye structures.

Sudden vision loss, whether partial or complete, represents a critical emergency requiring immediate diagnostic evaluation. This can result from various causes, including stroke, retinal artery occlusion, or severe glaucoma attacks. Our advanced diagnostic equipment allows us to quickly identify the underlying cause and initiate appropriate treatment or referral to specialized care when necessary.
Our Emergency Eye Care Process
When you contact Focused Eye Care for an emergency, our trained staff will quickly assess your situation and provide immediate guidance while arranging for urgent evaluation. For serious emergencies involving chemical exposure, we will guide you through proper first aid measures while you travel to our office, including appropriate eye irrigation techniques that can help minimize damage.

Our emergency evaluation process includes a comprehensive examination of both eyes, even when symptoms appear to affect only one eye. Many serious conditions can impact both eyes or may have underlying causes that affect your overall health. We utilize advanced diagnostic technology to assess the internal structures of your eye, measure eye pressure, and evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve.

Following emergency treatment, we provide detailed instructions for ongoing care and schedule appropriate follow-up appointments to monitor your recovery. Many eye emergencies require ongoing observation to ensure proper healing and to watch for potential complications that may develop in the days or weeks following the initial injury.
Why Choose Focused Eye Care for Emergency Treatment
Our commitment to emergency eye care extends beyond standard business hours, with 24/7 availability ensuring you can reach professional help when emergencies occur. Dr. Sarah Jagatic brings specialized training in emergency eye care and glaucoma management, providing the advanced expertise necessary for complex emergency situations that require immediate intervention.

Located conveniently in Milford, our practice serves patients throughout the Souhegan Valley and surrounding communities. Our state-of-the-art equipment and experienced team allow us to handle most eye emergencies in-house, reducing delays that can occur when patients must travel to distant emergency facilities that may lack specialized eye care equipment.

We maintain strong relationships with regional specialists and surgical centers, ensuring seamless referrals when emergency situations require care beyond the scope of our practice. This network allows us to coordinate your care effectively, maintaining continuity of treatment while ensuring you receive the most appropriate level of care for your specific emergency.
Expert Emergency Eye Care at Focused Eye Care
Focused Eye Care has served the greater Nashua and Milford communities since 1962, building a reputation for excellence in comprehensive eye health services and emergency care. Dr. Sarah Jagatic's specialized focus on emergency eye care and glaucoma management, combined with our team of experienced optometrists, ensures you receive expert evaluation and treatment when urgent situations arise. Our doctors maintain therapeutic certifications and utilize the most advanced diagnostic technologies to provide accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for eye emergencies.

Don't wait to receive care for eye emergencies. Immediate professional care can preserve your vision and prevent complications. Contact Focused Eye Care at 603-673-1330 for urgent eye care needs.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Eye Care Network
Specialty Eye Care
Common Vision Problems
We're on call 24/7 in a crisis, but we are also here for you when routine vision problems get in the way of living your best life. 

Do you feel that you are not seeing clearly? Is your vision changing as you age? Most patients come to us with very common vision problems. As experienced optometrists, we have a long track record correcting vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and more.
At Focused Eye Care, we're optometrists first. Much of our practice is dedicated to helping you overcome common vision problems to see better.
Most people come to see us for one of these very common vision problems:



Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a condition where the eye, particularly the cornea, isn’t perfectly round and is shaped more like a football. The shape causes light to bend unevenly, resulting in blurry or wavy vision. Astigmatism often occurs with nearsightedness or farsightedness and is easily corrected with glasses or contacts.


Eye Coordination

Eye coordination is the ability of both eyes to work together as a team, blending slightly different images from each eye into one three-dimensional picture. Inadequate vision development or improperly developed eye muscle control can interfere with eye coordination and create problems such as double vision, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty reading. Your Focused Eye Care optometrist can diagnose and treat poor eye coordination with eyeglasses and/or vision therapy.


Farsightedness

When your eyeball is shortened or your cornea or lens are slightly misshapen, light focuses behind the retina instead of on it. The result is that nearby objects look blurry – a condition known as farsightedness. Common symptoms include difficulty seeing up close, eye strain, and headaches, particularly when reading. An eye exam will reveal farsightedness, and it is readily corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.


Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness happens when your eyeball grows too long from front to back, or your cornea or lens are slightly misshapen so light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it. The result is that far-away objects look blurry. If you have trouble seeing things that are far away, need to squint to see clearly, or experience eye strain, come to Focused Eye Care for an exam. Glasses or contact lenses will correct nearsightedness.


Presbyopia

As you age, the lens in your eye gets harder and less flexible, and it stops focusing light correctly on the retina. This makes nearby objects look blurry. Common symptoms include trouble seeing things up close, needing to hold reading materials farther away to focus on them, eye strain and headache. Presbyopia is a normal part of aging and is typically treated with corrective reading glasses, contact lenses, bifocals, and no-line progressive addition lenses.

#### Eye Diseases & Conditions
Specialty Eye Care
Eye Diseases &
Conditions
Many eye conditions and diseases can affect your eyesight and/or have long-term consequences if not treated properly and promptly. If you think you or someone in your family has one of these conditions or diseases, please contact Focused Eye Care to schedule an exam and get more in-depth information.
Common eye conditions and diseases we manage
Our experienced team and state-of-the-art equipment allow us to diagnose and monitor and often treat a wide range of eye conditions at our Nashua and Milford offices. To learn more or to schedule an exam, please request an appointment with your eye care provider.



Anterior Uveitis

Anterior uveitis is inflammation affecting the iris at the front of the eye. It’s often triggered by an infection or your immune system’s response to an infection. Symptoms include blurry vision, floaters, eye pain, red eyes and sensitivity to light.


Blepharitis

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids, often caused when the tiny oil glands at the base of the eyelid become clogged. The eyelids can become irritated and itchy, and appear greasy and crusted with scales that cling to the lashes.


Cataracts

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye that makes your vision blurry or hazy and colors more muted. You may have trouble reading or doing other daily activities. Over time, cataracts can lead to vision loss. Cataracts are very common as people age and can be quickly treated with cataract surgery.


Color Blindess/Deficiency

Color blindness –also known as color vision deficiency – means that you perceive colors differently than most people. You may have trouble telling the difference between certain colors or, in rare cases, not see color at all. Color blindness often runs in families and men are at higher risk than women. While there is no cure, special glasses and contact lenses can offset the color vision deficiency.


Conjunctivitis ("Pink Eye")

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue covering the white part of the eye. It is often the result of a bacterial or viral infection but can also be caused by allergies. Your eyes are typically red and itchy with excessive tearing and discharge. Pink eye is easily treated and rarely serious.


Diabetic Eye Disease

High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in your eyes. This can lead to serious eye problems such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma. Often there are no early symptoms of diabetic eye disease, even as damage is being done to your eyes. If you are diabetic, it is particularly important to schedule regular exams with a Focused Eye Care doctor to detect and treat issues before they lead to vision problems or even blindness.


Digital Eye Strain

Digital eye strain has become a concern as both children and adults spend more time looking at computer, smartphone and ereader screens. Screen glare, poor lighting, improper posture, incorrect viewing distance and angle, reduced blinking and uncorrected vision problems contribute to digital eye strain. Signs of eye strain include itchy, tearing, dry and red eyes, as well as eye fatigue and difficulty focusing.


Dry Eye

Dry eye is when you don’t naturally generate sufficient tears to moisten, cleanse and protect the eyes. When the protective coating formed by tears dries up, your eyes may feel gritty or burn, and can be more sensitive to light. In extreme cases, vision can be blurred. Treatment options vary depending upon the cause and severity of the condition.


Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition caused by fluid that doesn’t drain from the eye as it should, increasing pressure in the eye and damaging the optic nerve. Often there are no symptoms in early stages and the disease is only detected in a regular eye exam. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over age 60, but early treatment can help manage it and halt its progression.


Amblyopia ("Lazy Eye")

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a vision problem where the brain favors one eye over the other, leading to impaired vision in the weaker one. This condition starts in childhood and is the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Symptoms can be subtle, so regular vision screenings between ages 1 and 5 are crucial for early detection and effective treatment.


Macular Degeneration

The macula is the round area at the center of your retina and at the back of your eyeball that processes what you see directly in front of you. When the macula degenerates, symptoms can include distorted or blurred vision, difficulty seeing objects directly in front of you, and a growing blind spot in the center of vision. Common in people 65 and older, macular degeneration is the leading cause of permanent reading vision impairment. Treatment depends on whether the disease is in the early stage (dry macular degeneration) or advanced stage (wet macular degeneration).


Ocular Hypertension

Ocular hypertension is when fluid pressure inside the eye is elevated, but there is no optic nerve damage or visual field loss. Ocular hypertension places you at a higher risk for glaucoma. Treatments are available to lower high eye pressure before it damages the optic nerve or compromises vision. Treatment will reduce the risk of glaucoma but does not eliminate it.


Spots/Floaters

Eye floaters are small specks, strands or clouds that move across your field of vision. They are caused by changes to the jelly-like substance attached to the retina and become more common with age. Floaters typically don’t require treatment, however vitamin supplements are available for purchase at our office that may decrease the appearance of floaters. Rarely, floaters can indicate a tear, hemorrhage or detached retina, which are medical emergencies.


Strabismus ("Crossed Eyes")

Strabismus, known as “crossed eyes,” is a misalignment of the eyes, causing them to point in different directions. When each eye sends a different image to the brain, the brain often ignores the image from the weaker eye, leading to amblyopia (lazy eye). Strabismus is most often seen in children, although adult-onset stabismus may occur as the result of a neurological issue. Left untreated, strabismus can lead to multiple visual impairments.

#### Eye Diseases and Conditions Treatment in Milford, NH
Eye Diseases and Conditions Treatment in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care provides expert treatment for eye diseases and conditions in Milford, NH—offering advanced diagnostics, personalized care, and trusted solutions to protect your vision, manage symptoms, and support long-term eye health.

When eye diseases and conditions threaten your vision, prompt diagnosis and expert treatment become critical for maintaining your sight and maintaining your quality of life. Eye diseases can develop silently, often showing no symptoms until significant damage has occurred, making frequent comprehensive examinations and specialized care essential for early detection and intervention. From glaucoma and macular degeneration to diabetic retinopathy and dry eye syndrome, these conditions require the expertise of experienced optometrists who understand both the complexity of ocular health and the latest treatment approaches.

Focused Eye Care provides comprehensive eye disease treatment and management for patients throughout Milford and the surrounding Souhegan Valley communities. Our experienced team of optometrists combines advanced diagnostic technology with tailored treatment plans to address various eye diseases and conditions, ensuring each patient receives the specialized care needed to protect their vision and maintain eye health.
Common Eye Diseases We Treat in Milford
Our Milford location specializes in diagnosing and treating numerous eye diseases that can affect patients of all ages. Glaucoma represents one of the most serious conditions we manage, as this "silent thief of sight" can cause irreversible vision loss without early detection and treatment.

Dr. Sarah Jagatic brings extensive diagnostic and treatment experience with glaucoma management. Dr. Kristen Bryant holds therapeutic glaucoma privileges and is TPA/G-licensed to treat glaucoma, representing the highest scope of practice available in New Hampshire.

Our optometrists use advanced diagnostic equipment to measure intraocular pressure, assess optic nerve health, and monitor visual field changes to catch glaucoma in its earliest stages.

Macular degeneration, particularly age-related macular degeneration, affects central vision and requires ongoing monitoring and management to slow progression. Dr. Jagatic's extensive experience with macular degeneration ensures patients receive comprehensive care for both dry and wet forms of macular degeneration.

We work with patients to develop treatment strategies that may include nutritional supplements, lifestyle modifications, and coordination with retinal specialists when advanced treatments are needed.

Diabetic retinopathy poses significant risks for patients with diabetes, making regular comprehensive eye examinations crucial for early detection of blood vessel damage in the retina. Dr. Jagatic has specialized expertise in assessing and treating diabetic retinopathy, working collaboratively with primary care physicians and endocrinologists to ensure diabetic patients receive the comprehensive eye care necessary to prevent vision-threatening complications.
Advanced Diagnostic Technology for Accurate Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis forms the foundation of effective eye disease treatment, which is why our Milford office utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to detect and monitor ocular conditions. Our team employs advanced imaging systems to capture detailed images of the retina, optic nerve, and other internal eye structures, enabling us to identify subtle changes that might suggest the presence of disease.

Digital retinal photography provides permanent records of your eye health that can be compared over time to track any changes or progression of conditions. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) creates cross-sectional images of retinal layers, allowing us to detect fluid accumulation, tissue swelling, or structural changes that may signal developing problems.

Visual field testing helps us assess your peripheral vision and detect any blind spots that might indicate glaucoma or other conditions affecting your visual field. These comprehensive diagnostic tools enable our optometrists to design treatment plans for each patient's specific condition and needs.
Specialized Treatment Approaches for Eye Conditions
Treatment approaches for eye diseases vary significantly depending on the specific condition, its severity, and the patient's overall health status. For glaucoma management, our specialists may prescribe medicated eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure, monitor treatment effectiveness through regular follow-up appointments, and coordinate with ophthalmologists when surgical intervention becomes necessary. Dr. Ronald Coutu brings extensive experience in medical optometry with therapeutic glaucoma privileges to complement our comprehensive glaucoma care team.

Dry eye syndrome, which affects millions of Americans, requires a multifaceted treatment approach that may include artificial tears, prescription medications, lifestyle modifications, and advanced treatments like punctal plugs or intense pulsed light therapy. Dr. Stephen Waible provides specialized assessment and treatment of ocular diseases, including dry eye treatment, while Dr. Lyudmila Sutherland specializes in the management and care of patients with ocular diseases, particularly dry eye conditions.

Patients with conditions like conjunctivitis, styes, or other inflammatory conditions receive prompt treatment to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. We also provide pre- and post-operative care for patients undergoing cataract surgery or other surgical procedures, ensuring smooth recovery and optimal outcomes.
Insurance and Financing Options
We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible. Our staff handles insurance verification and helps you understand your coverage benefits before your appointment.

For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment options and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. Your vision health shouldn't be delayed due to cost concerns, so we work with each patient to find solutions that fit their budget.
Visit Our Convenient Nashua Location
Our Nashua office provides easy access for patients throughout the greater Nashua area. The convenient location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus on your eye care needs.

We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention.

The comfortable atmosphere at our Nashua location reflects our People First philosophy. From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll experience the warm, professional service that sets us apart from other eye care providers.
Focused Eye Care's Comprehensive Approach in Milford
Focused Eye Care has served the greater Nashua community since 1962, and our Milford location continues this tradition of excellence in eye disease treatment and comprehensive vision care. Our team of experienced optometrists brings together specialized expertise in every aspect of eye disease management. From Dr. Jagatic's extensive experience with glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy to Dr. Bryant's specialization in low vision and advanced glaucoma treatment privileges, our doctors combine decades of clinical expertise with the latest diagnostic technology and treatment approaches to provide superior care for patients with eye diseases and conditions.

When eye diseases threaten your vision, don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Contact our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or schedule your comprehensive eye examination online to receive the expert care you need to protect your sight and maintain optimal eye health for years to come.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Eye Exams
Your eyes are known as the window to your soul – but they are also the window to your health. Eye exams are important to maintain your vision and reveal clues about your general health. Regular exams should be part of your healthy lifestyle.
Routine Eye Exams

During a comprehensive eye exam, your Focused Eye Care doctor tests your vision, examines your overall eye health, and screens for common eye diseases. Many tests performed during a comprehensive eye exam are considered routine and are usually covered by your vision insurance.


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Children's Eye Exams
Our team includes leading specialists in pediatric eye care. We are accustomed to working with children and are dedicated to making your child's vision and eye health a top priority. We recommend a complete vision examination for all children before one year of age.


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Medical Eye Exams
When a vision-related disease or condition is discovered by our doctors, a medical eye exam will be the next step. Our doctors evaluate the results of the exam and work with you to develop the best possible treatment plan.


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#### Eyewear & Contacts
Focused Eye Care offers an extensive line of glasses, contacts and other vision care products at our Nashua and Milford offices. Our team will help you choose exactly what you need.		
					Glasses				
		Selecting the lenses and frames that are right for you combines both art and science. We will help you evaluate options that not only enhance your vision, but also highlight your features, play with color and are right for your lifestyle. We are proud to offer an extensive selection of frames from famous eyewear designers.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Contacts				
		Contacts are a wonderful option to glasses, but what type is best for you? We will help you evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each type of lens to make a selection.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Sunglasses				
		Sunglasses perform an important job of shielding your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays, but they can also be a fun fashion accessory. Lots of customization options are available to provide the performance, protection and aesthetics that meet your needs.		
					
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					Other Eye Products				
		If you need a product for your eyes, chances are good that Focused Eye Care offers it! In addition to glasses and contacts, we offer vitamins, heat compress eye masks, clip-on sunglasses, drops to relieve redness and dry eyes and more.		
					
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#### FAQs
Resources				
		Learn more about caring for your eyes and get answers to some of the questions our professionals hear most frequently.We are always happy to answer your questions but we wanted to share our responses to a few of the most common ones – plus provide a little information about eye health and vision care.		
					The eye care professionals at Focused Eye Care want you to know 
as much as possible about caring for your eyesight.
				
						
					Pupil dilation				
															
								
												What is the purpose of dilation?
					When they are functioning normally, pupils constrict in response to bright light, such as the one used in an eye exam. Dilating drops keep the pupils open and allow your Focused Eye Care doctor to see more of the back of your eye, including the retina and optic nerve.
															
								
												Is a dilated eye exam part of a routine eye exam?
					Yes. In addition to a dilated eye exam, a routine eye exam includes tests for visual acuity, eye muscle movements and balance testing, pupil tests, visual fields and prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
															
								
												Does a dilated pupil return to normal size by the end of the exam?
					A pupil can take hours to return to normal size after dilation. You should bring sunglasses to any eye exam that involves pupil dilation.
					Eye exams				
															
								
												Should I bring sunglasses to a routine eye exam?
					Yes. Patients often feel more comfortable wearing sunglasses after a routine eye exam, until the pupil returns to its normal size. If you forget to bring sunglasses, we will provide you with a disposable pair to wear.
															
								
												Are there side effects to a routine eye exam?
					There can be minor ones, especially if we dilate your pupils, which will make them more sensitive to light for some period of time after the exam. Otherwise, comprehensive eye exams are relatively painless and pose minimal risk to eye or vision health. Optometrists should be alerted to allergies and medications being used by a patient prior to a routine eye exam.
															
								
												How often should I get an eye exam?
					Annual eye exams are recommended for everyone. 
															
								
												Are routine eye exams ever covered by Medicare?
					Medicare allows medically-prescribed eye exams for patients with diabetes, glaucoma and other conditions, as long as the annual deductible has been met. Medicare, however, does not cover the expenses of a refractive or routine eye exam.
															
								
												Are many of the diseases an optometrist detects during a routine eye exam controllable or treatable?
					Yes. Resources to treat glaucoma, diabetes and many eye conditions are available. Often, your Focused Eye Care doctor can treat these conditions, or he or she can refer you to the appropriate specialist.
					Glasses, contacts and bifocals				
															
								
												What are the advantages of contact lenses?
					They offer good peripheral (side) visionThey reduce visual distortion that may occur with some eyeglassesThey fit an active lifestyleThey are a good option for those who don’t like the way they look in eyeglasses.
															
								
												How do I know if I need bifocals?
					The most common use of bifocals is for the treatment of presbyopia in individuals aged 40 and over. Presbyopia is a gradual, age-related loss of the eyes’ ability to focus. Whether or not a person has needed vision correction when younger, by the early to mid-forties, the ability to accommodate or focus the eyes has diminished. Bifocals allow the wearer to see clearly both at distance and close up, despite the reduced focusing ability. Bifocals may also be used to help align the eyes if a person tends to over-cross his or her eyes at close distances. Presbyopia can be treated with simple vision reading glasses, contact lenses, lined bifocals and no-line progressive addition lenses.
					Children				
															
								
												How soon should I take my child for their first eye exam?
					An infant should have their first eye exam at six months of age. Another exam should be scheduled at age three, and then again prior to your child entering first grade. If there is a history of early eye problems such as lazy eye or eye turn, more frequent exams are recommended.
															
								
												How can I tell if my child needs glasses?
					Children who need vision correction may have noticeable signs or symptoms, such as headache, squinting or struggling in school. However, often issues are harder to detect. The only way these cases will be uncovered is by a routine eye and vision examination. We recommend that all children have a complete vision examination before entering school or when experiencing difficulties in school.
					Eye diseases, conditions and dry eye				
															
								
												What is astigmatism?
					Astigmatism is a vision condition in which light entering the eye is unable to be brought to a single focus, resulting in distorted vision at all distances. Astigmatism is not a disease, but rather, a vision condition that is quite common. It often occurs in conjunction with other refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, and can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
															
								
												What causes strabismus ("crossed eyes")?
					Coordination of your eyes and their ability to work together as a team develops in early childhood. Failure of your eyes (or more precisely, your eye muscles) to coordinate together properly can lead to crossed eyes. Excessive eye focusing effort in children who are farsighted can also result in crossed eyes. Crossed eyes also have a tendency to be hereditary.
															
								
												What is glaucoma?
					Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal fluid pressure of your eye rises so much that it damages the optic nerve. The pressure that builds up is usually due to inadequate drainage of fluid normally produced in your eyes. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S.
															
								
												What are the symptoms of a cataract?
					Cataracts usually develop slowly and without pain. Some indications that a cataract may be forming include blurred or hazy vision, decreased color perception, or the feeling of having a film over the eyes. A temporary improvement in distance or near vision may occur, and increased sensitivity to glare, especially at night, may be experienced. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, but often at different rates.
															
								
												What is conjunctivitis ("pink eye")?
					Conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as “pink eye,” is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, transparent layer covering the surface of the inner eyelid and a portion of the front of the eye. This condition appears in many forms, including bacterial, viral and allergic.
															
								
												Is conjunctivitis ("pink eye") contagious?
					“Pink eye” is just one of many types of conjunctivitis. True “pink eye” is caused by infectious organisms, such as virus, bacteria or fungus, and is contagious. If you have any type of conjunctivitis, it is best to use good hygiene by washing hands regularly, not sharing towels and trying not to touch or rub the eyes. If the condition persists for more than a few days it is time to seek medical help.
															
								
												Do most people with sight-related like diabetes and glaucoma know they have the disease?
					Over a third of all those with diabetes do not know that they have the disease. Many other serious eye diseases, like glaucoma, do not have many perceptible symptoms and cause irreversible damage to vision and overall health. A comprehensive, dilated eye exam allows your Focused Eye Care doctor to look deep into your eyes, and screen for these serious diseases. Proper diagnosis and treatment can often preserve vision.
															
								
												What causes dry eye?
					Dry eye occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or produce tears which do not have the proper chemical composition. Dry eye symptoms can result from the normal aging process, exposure to environmental conditions, problems with normal blinking or from medications such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives or antidepressants. Dry eye can also be symptomatic of general health problems such as rheumatoid arthritis and other collagen vascular diseases.
					General vision questions				
															
								
												What is nearsightedness?
					Nearsightedness (myopia) is a vision condition in which you can usually see close or near objects clearly, but cannot see distant ones as clearly.
															
								
												What is farsightedness?
					Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a vision condition in which distant objects are usually seen clearly, but close ones appear blurred.
															
								
												When someone says that you have 20/200 vision, is that very bad or very good? In other words, is it what you see at 20 feet, they see at 200 feet or vice versa?
					The 20/200 visual measurement means that at 20 feet away you see a size 200 letter. The first number is the distance away that the vision is checked and the second number is the size of the letter that you can read. The larger the number, the larger the letter size. If you are 20/200, it means that what you see at 20 feet is what a person 20/20 can see at 200 feet.
															
								
												What causes spots and “fireworks” in an eye?
					The spots and floaters, as we generally refer to them, may be associated with migraines or may occasionally be a sign of retinal detachment. But they are usually caused by a shrinkage of the jelly that fills the back two-thirds of the eye. When this jelly (vitreous) shrinks and light passes through, a shadow is formed on the back of the eye. This is what is commonly perceived as a floater. As the jelly shrinks, it can also pull or tug on the retina, causing flashing lights. A thorough evaluation including a dilated examination is suggested to rule out any other serious conditions that also can cause spots and floaters or flashes.
															
								
												I sit in front of a computer screen all day. Can this affect my eyesight in any way? What can I do to prevent possible problems?
					Many individuals who work at a computer experience Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS. However, based on current evidence it is unlikely that the use of computers causes permanent changes or damage to the eyes or visual system. Many of the potential eye and/or vision problems relating to computer use can be reduced or eliminated by appropriate adjustment and placement of the computer, proper workplace design and lighting control, and the use of special lens designs and coatings that eliminate computer eye strain.
															
								
												Does a good score on a driver’s vision test indicate healthy eyes?
					No. A driver’s vision test looks for aspects of visual acuity and visual fields. However, it does not look for ocular health, eye muscle movements and eye balance. A driver’s vision test cannot be considered an adequate substitute for a comprehensive eye exam.
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#### Glasses
Eyewear & Contacts				
					Glasses				
		With all the eyewear choices available, choosing glasses can be overwhelming without the right guidance. The optical experts at Focused Eye Care in Nashua are here to help.		
					
									Shop Glasses Online 
					
											
											
											
					Shop in store 
or online				
					Discover our selection of glasses, 
lenses and frame styles				
		Whether you love vivid colors, a playful style or more conservative look, we can help you both see well and look great.• 50+ frame styles to choose from• Buy one, get one 1/2 off• Shop our Nashua and Milford locations• Try on frames online now!		
					
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									VIEW OUR EYEWEAR POLICY

#### Glasses in Milford, NH
Glasses in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care offers high-quality glasses in Milford, NH—providing expert fittings, personalized lens options, and trusted guidance to help you achieve clear vision, all-day comfort, and a style you love.

Finding the perfect pair of glasses requires more than just browsing through frames online or settling for whatever happens to be in stock at a big-box retailer. Your vision deserves personalized attention from qualified professionals who understand how proper eyewear can transform both your sight and your daily life. When you're searching for glasses in Milford, the choice you make about where to get your eyewear can significantly impact your comfort, visual clarity, and overall satisfaction with your investment.

At Focused Eye Care, our Milford location provides comprehensive eyewear services that combine advanced technology with personalized care. Since expanding to serve the Souhegan Valley community in 2021, we've helped countless patients discover eyewear solutions that perfectly match their lifestyle, vision needs, and personal style preferences. Our experienced team understands that selecting glasses involves much more than simply correcting your vision. It's about finding frames that enhance your appearance while providing the comfort and functionality you need every day.
Comprehensive Eye Exams: The Foundation of Perfect Glasses
Before selecting any eyewear, a thorough eye examination forms the essential foundation for determining your exact vision correction needs. Our Milford optometrists conduct comprehensive evaluations that go far beyond simply reading letters on a chart. We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to assess your overall eye health, measure your precise prescription requirements, and identify any underlying conditions that might affect your vision or eyewear choices.

During your examination, we evaluate how your eyes work together, assess your depth perception, and check for signs of common eye diseases. This comprehensive approach ensures that your new glasses will provide optimal vision correction while supporting your long-term eye health. We also discuss your daily activities, work requirements, and lifestyle preferences to recommend lens options that will serve you best in all situations.

Our advanced diagnostic technology allows us to detect subtle changes in your vision that you might not have noticed, ensuring your prescription is as accurate as possible. We take the time to explain your results and answer any questions you might have about your vision or eye health.
Extensive Frame Selection for Every Style and Budget
Our Milford location features an impressive selection of frames designed to complement every face shape, personal style, and budget consideration. From classic designs that never go out of fashion to the latest contemporary styles, we carry frames from trusted manufacturers known for their quality construction and comfortable fit. Whether you prefer bold statement pieces or understated elegance, our diverse inventory ensures you'll find options that reflect your personality.

We understand that choosing frames involves balancing several factors, including comfort, durability, style preferences, and cost considerations. Our knowledgeable staff helps you navigate these choices by considering your facial structure, lifestyle needs, and personal preferences. We'll help you try on various options and provide honest feedback about how different frames complement your features.

For patients with active lifestyles, we offer sports-specific frames and safety eyewear designed to withstand demanding conditions while providing reliable vision correction. Professional requirements receive equal attention, with business-appropriate options that project confidence and competence in workplace settings.
Advanced Lens Technologies and Options
Modern lens technology offers remarkable options for enhancing your visual experience beyond basic vision correction. Our Milford practice provides access to the latest lens innovations, including progressive lenses for seamless near-to-distance vision, anti-reflective coatings that reduce glare and improve clarity, and blue light filtering options for digital device users.

We offer specialized lens treatments designed to address specific vision challenges.

Photochromic lenses automatically adjust to changing light conditions, providing convenience and protection throughout your day. High-index materials create thinner, lighter lenses for stronger prescriptions, while impact-resistant options provide extra safety for active individuals.

For patients with complex vision needs, we provide custom lens solutions, including prism corrections, specialized occupational lenses, and computer-specific designs.
Pediatric Eyewear Services
Children require special consideration when selecting glasses, both for proper vision development and long-term wearing comfort. Our Milford team has extensive experience fitting glasses for young patients, understanding the unique challenges of pediatric eyewear selection. We carry durable, child-friendly frames designed to withstand active play while providing reliable vision correction.

We work closely with parents and children to ensure proper fit, comfort, and acceptance of new eyewear. Our patient approach helps children understand the importance of wearing their glasses consistently while addressing any concerns or adjustment difficulties they might experience.
Insurance and Financing Options
Focused Eye Care works with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eyewear accessible and affordable. Our Milford office staff assists patients in understanding their benefits and maximizing their coverage for both eye exams and eyewear purchases. We'll help you navigate your insurance benefits and explain any out-of-pocket costs before you make decisions about your eyewear.

For patients without vision insurance or those seeking options beyond their coverage limits, we offer flexible payment solutions, including CARE CREDIT financing. This allows you to invest in the best possible eyewear for your needs while managing costs comfortably within your budget.
Expert Glasses Care at Focused Eye Care Milford
When you choose Focused Eye Care for your glasses needs in Milford, you're selecting a practice committed to providing exceptional vision care with personalized attention. Our experienced optometrists and support staff bring decades of combined experience to helping patients achieve their best possible vision through quality eyewear solutions. We maintain the latest diagnostic equipment and lens technologies while never losing sight of the importance of building lasting relationships with our patients.

Schedule your comprehensive eye examination today by calling our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or booking your appointment online. Let our team help you discover how the right glasses can enhance not just your vision, but your entire quality of life.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


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Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


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Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


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Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


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#### Home
Welcome to
Focused Eye Care
Our experienced doctors provide eye health support, optometry services and vision care products for adults and children in Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. From routine eye care to complex vision challenges, our teams in Nashua and Milford are here for all your eye care needs.


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Eyewear & Contacts

Welcome to
Focused Eye Care
Our experienced doctors provide eye health support, optometry services and vision care products for adults and children in Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. From routine eye care to complex vision challenges, our teams in Nashua and Milford are here for all your eye care needs.


Book an Appointment


Eyewear & Contacts


Contacts & Glasses
Stop in and shop or order contacts online

Focused Eye Care offers solutions for a wide array of vision care needs, including an extensive selection of contacts and glasses. We offer many choices but our team will work closely with you to find the perfect fit!


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Eye Exams
Request an appointment today!

Regular eye exams are important to preserve your vision and detect potential problems early. Whether you need a routine exam or specialized care, the Focused Eye Care team of optometrists have the training and expertise to provide the best eye care services in Southern New Hampshire.


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#### Insurance
About Us				
		Focused Eye Care works with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans. Please call our office to confirm that we work with your vision care plan or medical insurance carrier.		
					Medical Insurances Accepted at FEC				
											
											
											
					Medicare				
		All Secondary insurance accepted		
					Vision Care Plans				
																														
																														
		*This list is not inclusive of all the plans that we accept. Please call our office for further information.		
					Care Credit				
					
									Make a payment using Care Credit

#### Locations
About Us				
		We serve Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts from our convenient locations in Nashua and Milford.		
			
					Nashua Office				
					505 West Hollis Street, Suite 109Nashua, NH 03062				
		Phone: 603-882-0311Fax: 603-882-3020Email: reception@abettervision.comMonday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pmFriday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: 7:00 am – 12:00 pmSunday: Closed		
					Milford Office				
					81 Mont Vernon StreetMilford, NH 03055				
		Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed

#### Make an Appointment
URL: https://focusedeyecarenh.com/make-an-appointment/

#### Medical Eye Exams
Medical Eye Exams				
		Focused Eye Care offers medical eye exams to diagnose and guide treatment for eye diseases and injuries. Our specialized exams can uncover a range of general health issues that are reflected in eye symptoms.		
					
									book an Eye Exam
					
					About the Process				
					What to Expect				
		Medical and routine eye exams may include similar tests such as refraction and dilation, but medical exams are focused on treatment and monitoring certain eye conditions, such as dry eye, glaucoma or conjunctivitis. Your vision insurance may not cover medical exams, but your health insurance often does. Our brochure below can answer questions you may have about what insurance covers.		
					
									Is My Exam Routine or Medical?
					
					When are Medical Exams Needed?
				
		Vision issues such as nearsightedness or farsightedness reflect how your eye is constructed and are not considered a disease or disorder. On the other hand, disorders such as dry eye and glaucoma – to name just two – are conditions that require treatment to maintain and monitor the health of your eyes. Medical exams are important to diagnose and guide the treatment for many eye diseases and disorders.		
					
									Eye diseases & conditions
					
					Technology and specialized treatments that we offer at Focused Eye Care				
		Focused Eye Care offers state-of-the-art medical exams and dry eye treatments including:		
						
															
								
												Optomap® Retinal Imaging
					Our Optos technology provides a comprehensive view of the retina to detect potential diseases as early as possible. It also allows our doctors to monitor any previously found conditions in the back of the eye. The scan is quick, painless and easy.
															
								
												LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation
					This break-through technology quickly treats dry eye caused by Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which occurs when the the tiny Meibomian glands in eyelids become clogged and unable to to produce the thin layer of fluid that covers the outer surface of the eye. The LipiFlow® system heats up and massages away the blockage in just a few minutes in our office.
															
								
												Optima® IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
					This light-based technology is another tool in our arsenal to combat dry eye disease. Carefully calibrated light pulses are directed to the skin under eye to liquefy and release hardened oils that have clogged the Meibomian glands, which generate the tears essential to provide a protective layer of fluid on our eyes.
															
								
												Tear Lab
					A Tear Lab is a diagnostic tool used to measure and evaluate the osmolarity (salt concentration) of a patient’s tears, helping to assess the health of the tear film and diagnose conditions like dry eye disease. By analyzing tear composition, it provides insights into tear production, stability, and ocular surface health.
															
								
												InflammaDry
					The InflammaDry test is a rapid, in-office diagnostic test that detects elevated levels of the inflammatory marker MMP-9 in tears, which is associated with dry eye disease. It helps clinicians identify inflammation on the ocular surface, aiding in the diagnosis and management of dry eye and related inflammatory conditions.
															
								
												RETeval ERG  
					The RETeval ERG test is a non-invasive electroretinography test that measures the electrical response of retinal cells to light stimuli, providing information about retinal function. It is useful for diagnosing and monitoring conditions that affect retinal health, such as diabetic retinopathy and other retinal disorders.
															
								
												Visual Field  
					A Visual Field test assesses a patient’s peripheral (side) and central vision to detect any vision loss or blind spots. It is commonly used to diagnose and monitor conditions like glaucoma, neurological disorders, and retinal diseases by measuring the full scope and sensitivity of a person’s visual field.
															
								
												OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography)
					Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique that captures detailed cross-sectional images of the retina and optic nerve, helping to assess their structure and thickness. It is commonly used to diagnose and monitor eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy by evaluating the layers of the retina and the health of the optic nerve.

#### Medical Eye Exams in Milford, NH
Medical Eye Exams in Milford, NH				
		Focused Eye Care provides comprehensive medical eye exams in Milford, NH—offering thorough evaluations, personalized diagnostics, and expert care to protect your vision, address eye health concerns, and support long-term ocular wellness."When serious eye conditions threaten your vision, you need more than a routine eye exam. Medical eye exams in Milford, NH, provide comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and treatment for complex ocular diseases, injuries, and conditions that require specialized attention from experienced optometrists.At Focused Eye Care, we provide advanced medical eye care services to patients throughout the Souhegan Valley and surrounding communities. Our Milford location features state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and a team of highly trained optometrists who hold therapeutic certifications to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye diseases and conditions.		
					What Are Medical Eye Exams?				
		Medical eye exams go beyond standard vision screenings to evaluate, diagnose, and treat eye diseases and conditions that affect your ocular health. Unlike routine eye exams that primarily check for vision changes and prescription updates, medical eye exams focus on identifying and managing conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, and other serious eye health issues.During a medical eye exam at our Milford office, we use advanced diagnostic equipment to examine the internal structures of your eyes, measure eye pressure, assess visual field function, and evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve. This comprehensive approach allows us to detect eye diseases in their earliest stages when treatment is most effective.Conditions Diagnosed Through Medical Eye ExamsOur Milford optometrists are skilled in diagnosing and treating numerous eye conditions. Dr. Jagatic brings extensive experience in managing glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.We commonly diagnose and treat conditions including dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis (pink eye), cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration, and digital eye strain. Our therapeutic certifications enable us to provide comprehensive treatment options right here in Milford, often eliminating the need for referrals to distant specialists.		
					Advanced Technology for Accurate Diagnosis				
		Our Milford location features cutting-edge diagnostic technology that enables precise evaluation of your eye health. We utilize advanced imaging systems to capture detailed pictures of your retina and optic nerve, allowing us to track changes over time and monitor treatment effectiveness.Automated visual field testing helps us detect peripheral vision loss, often associated with glaucoma and other neurological conditions. High-resolution imaging technology provides detailed cross-sectional views of retinal layers, enabling early detection of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.Digital Eye Strain and Computer Vision SyndromeWith increased screen time becoming a daily reality for most people, we frequently diagnose and treat digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome. Our medical eye exams can identify the underlying causes of your eye discomfort and provide targeted treatment recommendations to reduce symptoms and protect your long-term eye health.		
					Insurance Coverage and Medical Necessity				
		Many insurance plans, including medical insurance carriers, cover medical eye exams when they are deemed medically necessary. Our Milford office works with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to help make your eye care accessible and affordable.We recommend calling our Milford office at 603-673-1330 to confirm coverage with your specific insurance plan before scheduling your appointment. Our knowledgeable staff helps determine whether your condition qualifies for medical coverage and assists with prior authorization requirements when necessary.		
					Emergency Eye Care Services				
		Eye emergencies need immediate attention to prevent permanent vision loss. Our Milford location provides emergency eye care services for conditions such as sudden vision changes, eye injuries, severe eye pain, flashing lights, new onset of floaters, and chemical exposures.Dr. Jagatic brings particular experience in emergency eye care, and our team is trained to handle urgent situations that require prompt medical intervention. We understand that eye emergencies can occur outside normal business hours, which is why we maintain availability for urgent care needs.		
					Preparing for Your Medical Eye Exam				
		Before your medical eye exam at our Milford location, gather information about your medical history, current medications, and family history of eye diseases. Bring a list of your symptoms, including when they started and any factors that make them better or worse.If you wear contact lenses, we may ask you to remove them before certain tests or switch to glasses for a period before your appointment. Some diagnostic tests may cause temporary light sensitivity, so consider arranging transportation if you are concerned about driving afterward.Your pupils may be dilated during the examination, which can cause temporary blurred vision and increased light sensitivity for several hours. We recommend bringing sunglasses to help with light sensitivity after your appointment.		
					Why Choose Focused Eye Care in Milford				
		Our Milford optometrists combine extensive clinical experience with the latest diagnostic technology to provide comprehensive medical eye care. As members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, our doctors maintain the highest standards of professional education and clinical excellence.We have been serving the greater Nashua area since 1962 and expanded to Milford in September 2021 to better serve patients in the Souhegan Valley. Our commitment to personalized care means we take time to understand your individual needs and develop treatment plans made to your specific condition and lifestyle.		
					Schedule Your Medical Eye Exam in Milford Today				
		Don't let eye health concerns go undiagnosed. Early detection and treatment of eye diseases may prevent vision loss and maintain your quality of life for years to come. Our experienced team at Focused Eye Care provides comprehensive medical eye exams using the most advanced diagnostic technologies available.We are committed to providing the highest level of personalized eye care to every patient we serve. Our doctors hold therapeutic certifications and special training in diagnosing and treating complex eye conditions, ensuring you receive expert care close to home. Schedule your appointment online to take the first step toward protecting your vision and eye health.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
									Learn More

#### Membership Plans
Resources				
		Explore our membership plans! Stay updated on exclusive benefits and special offers available at Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford.Quality eye care shouldn't come with insurance headaches or surprise bills. Our Focused VIP membership plans eliminate the complexity of traditional vision coverage by offering straightforward, subscription-style care that saves you money from day one.At Focused Eye Care, we've served families throughout southern New Hampshire since 1962. We created our vision membership plans to give you more control over your eye health while making comprehensive care and quality eyewear truly affordable. With three membership tiers available at both our Nashua and Milford offices, you can choose the level of coverage your family needs without worrying about deductibles, waiting periods, or claim denials.		
					How Vision Membership Plans Work				
		Vision care membership plans function like a subscription service for your eye health. You pay a simple monthly or annual fee and immediately receive access to comprehensive eye exams and substantial discounts on eyewear and contact lenses.Unlike traditional vision insurance, these plans have no waiting periods before coverage begins. There are no annual limits on how much you can save. You won't need to file claims or wait for reimbursement checks. Pricing remains transparent, with no hidden fees, and you maintain complete freedom to choose the services and products you need without network restrictions.		
					Who Benefits from Membership Plans?				
		Membership plans work particularly well for families seeking predictable eye care costs. If you're currently paying out-of-pocket for vision services or struggling with limited insurance benefits, a membership plan may save you hundreds of dollars annually on routine exams and eyewear purchases.These plans also benefit individuals without employer-sponsored vision coverage, retirees on fixed incomes, and multi-generational families who want everyone under one affordable plan. Whether you wear glasses daily, need contact lenses, or simply want regular preventive care, there's a tier designed for your situation.		
					Focused VIP Membership Tiers				
		We offer three membership options with increasing levels of coverage. Each tier provides immediate savings on eyewear, while higher tiers add comprehensive exams and contact lens services to match your specific vision care needs.Focused VIP SilverThis entry-level plan focuses exclusively on eyewear savings, making it ideal if you already receive eye exams through another source but want better pricing on glasses and sunglasses. The Silver tier delivers the following benefits:Monthly: $15 | Annual: $11335% discount: prescription eyewear50% discount: additional pairs purchased within 30 days25% discount: non-prescription sunglasses20% discount: prescription eyewear lenses onlySome premium brands and specialized products may have exclusions, which our team will explain during your visit.Focused VIP GoldOur most popular option combines comprehensive annual eye exams with all the eyewear discounts from the Silver tier. The Gold plan works well for individuals and families who want complete routine vision care in one straightforward package. This tier includes everything below:Monthly: $27 | Annual: $235Comprehensive annual eye exam: includes retinal imaging35% discount: prescription eyewear50% discount: additional pairs purchased within 30 days25% discount: non-prescription sunglasses20% discount: prescription eyewear lenses onlyMedical visits for conditions like eye infections, injuries, or disease management are not included but may be billed to your medical insurance if you have coverage.Focused VIP PlatinumThe Platinum tier adds contact lens services to everything included in Gold, making it the right choice if you wear contacts regularly or want flexibility to switch between glasses and contacts throughout the year. This comprehensive plan includes:Monthly: $33 | Annual: $301Comprehensive annual eye exam: includes retinal imagingAnnual contact lens examination: includes a 20% discount on fitting or refitting fees15% discount: contact lenses annual supply35% discount: prescription eyewear50% discount: additional pairs purchased within 30 days25% discount: non-prescription sunglasses20% discount: prescription eyewear lenses onlyThe contact lens exam portion covers both standard and specialty contact lens fittings, giving you access to advanced lens options at reduced rates.		
					Family Membership Discounts				
		Add multiple family members to your account and receive automatic discounts on your total membership costs. The discount structure rewards larger families with increasing savings as shown below.Two family members: 5% discount on total membership costsThree family members: 7% discount on total membership costsFour or more family members: 10% discount on total membership costsThese family discounts stack with the individual membership benefits, creating substantial annual savings for households of any size. You can add family members during initial enrollment or at any time afterward through your membership account.		
					What Makes Membership Plans Different?				
		Traditional vision insurance often creates frustration with waiting periods before coverage begins, annual benefit caps that limit your savings, network restrictions forcing you to specific providers, and lengthy claim submissions that delay reimbursement. Our membership plans eliminate every one of these barriers.Your membership activates immediately after enrollment with no waiting period. There are no annual maximums, so you can save on multiple eyewear purchases throughout the year without hitting a benefit ceiling. You won't file claims or wait for insurance company approvals. All pricing remains transparent with no surprise bills or hidden fees after your appointments.Most importantly, you maintain complete control over your vision care decisions. No insurance company will restrict which services you can receive or which eyewear brands you can purchase. If you need dry eye treatment, myopia control for your children, or specialty services beyond routine exams, you're free to pursue those options at our regular service rates.		
					Enrollment and Payment Process				
		Signing up takes just minutes through our secure online portal. You'll provide your full name, phone number, email address, and date of birth to complete enrollment. The portal accepts all major credit and debit cards, making it easy to pay with pre-tax healthcare dollars if you have access to those accounts.You'll receive digital receipts for all payments, and you can access your membership account anytime to view your benefits, add family members, or update payment information. Your membership becomes effective immediately after signing up, with no waiting period before you can begin using your benefits.Simply call our Nashua office at 603-882-0311 or our Milford office at 603-673-1330 to schedule your first appointment. Our team will verify your membership tier and ensure you receive all applicable discounts during your visit.		
					Why Choose Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford?				
		We've provided comprehensive eye care to southern New Hampshire families since 1962, building a reputation for clinical excellence and personalized service over the past six decades. Our ten optometrists bring diverse experience in areas like glaucoma management, pediatric vision care, specialty contact lens fitting, and vision therapy.Readers of the Nashua Telegraph have voted us "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area multiple times in recent years. Our Milford location has earned the same recognition every year since we opened there in 2021, demonstrating consistent quality across both offices.These awards highlight our dedication to putting People First: pursuing excellence, embracing change as we evolve together, operating with integrity, fostering a thriving environment, listening with compassion, and educating and engaging others. These principles guide us in providing attentive, personalized care from doctors and staff who genuinely put people first.Advanced Technology and Convenient ServiceOur Nashua location includes a state-of-the-art finishing lab where we fabricate, adjust, and repair eyewear quickly and accurately. While our Milford office doesn't have an on-site lab, we coordinate closely between locations to ensure you receive timely service regardless of which office you visit.Both offices maintain extended hours, including evenings and weekends, for your convenience. We're also available 24/7 for emergency eye care when urgent situations arise, because we know eye injuries and sudden vision changes don't respect business hours.		
					Start Saving with Focused Eye Care				
		Take control of your family's vision care with transparent pricing and no insurance frustrations. Choose the Focused VIP membership tier that best matches your needs and start saving immediately on comprehensive eye exams and quality eyewear in Nashua or Milford. Our ten experienced optometrists and dedicated support staff look forward to serving you with the same People First approach that's earned us recognition as the area's top eye care practice.Contact our team today to enroll in your Focused VIP membership plan or to ask questions about which tier best suits your family's vision care needs.

#### Milford Office
Our Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care in Milford, NH				
		Focused Eye Care offers complete eye health and optometry services in Milford, NH. Our skilled team is committed to delivering reliable vision care to the community.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
					Our Milford Services				
		Routine Eye ExamsVision CorrectionVision TherapySports Eye Injury Prevention and TreatmentMedical Eye ExamsPre‑and Post‑Operative LASIK CareDry Eye TreatmentEye Diseases and Conditions TreatmentSunglassesMyopia ControlChildren's Eye ExamsSports Eye InjuriesGlassesSpecialty Contact LensesContact LensesEmergency Eye CareEye Diseases and Conditions Treatment		
					Comprehensive Eye Care in Milford, New Hampshire				
		When searching for exceptional eye care in Milford, New Hampshire, you deserve an optometry practice that combines advanced technology with personalized attention to meet your unique vision needs. At Focused Eye Care, our Milford location provides comprehensive eye examinations, specialized treatments, and compassionate care for patients throughout the greater Milford area. Our team of experienced optometrists utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and proven treatment methods to deliver superior vision care in a comfortable, welcoming environment.Our eye care services address everything from routine vision screenings to complex eye disease management, ensuring you receive the comprehensive care your vision health requires. We believe that exceptional eye care starts with understanding each patient's individual needs, which is why we take time to listen to your concerns and develop personalized treatment plans that fit your lifestyle and goals.		
					Why Milford Residents Choose Focused Eye Care				
		Our Milford location embodies the core values that define our practice, perfectly captured in our tagline: People First. This commitment to putting patients at the center of everything we do sets us apart from other eye care providers in the Milford area and ensures you receive care that exceeds your expectations.Dr. Kelly MacDonald brings comprehensive eye care experience to our Milford patients, with particular focus on diagnosing and treating eye diseases like glaucoma. Her dedication to patient care has earned recognition throughout New Hampshire, including multiple awards as "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area by Nashua Telegraph readers. This level of expertise and patient satisfaction extends to every patient we serve at our Milford location.Dr. Scott Huffer enhances our Milford team with specialized training in ocular diseases from his residencies at Manchester VA Medical Center, Medical Eye Center in Manchester, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and past president of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, Dr. Huffer brings the advanced clinical skills necessary for managing complex eye conditions.Dr. Sarah Jagatic contributes extensive diagnostic and treatment experience with various ocular conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Her background in emergency eye care ensures Milford patients receive expert treatment even in urgent situations.Our investment in cutting-edge technology means Milford patients access the same advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options available at major medical centers, all within the convenience of their local community.		
					Complete Vision Care Services in Milford				
		The comprehensive services available at our Milford office address every aspect of your eye health needs. Our comprehensive eye exams provide thorough evaluations that go well beyond basic vision testing to assess your overall eye health and detect potential problems in their earliest stages.Children receive specialized attention during their eye exams at our Milford location. Early detection of vision problems can significantly impact academic performance and social development, which is why we create a comfortable environment where young patients feel at ease while receiving complete visual assessments.For patients experiencing dry eye symptoms, our Milford location offers advanced treatment options designed to provide long-lasting relief. Rather than simply managing symptoms temporarily, our dry eye treatments address underlying causes to restore comfortable vision for daily activities.Contact lens fittings at our Milford practice utilize the latest lens technology to ensure optimal comfort and vision correction. Whether you need daily disposables, specialty lenses for astigmatism, or multifocal options, our comprehensive fitting process ensures you get the best possible results from your contact lenses.Our extensive glasses and frames selection includes styles from leading manufacturers, providing Milford patients with numerous options to find eyewear that complements their personal style while delivering the vision correction they need.		
																														
					Advanced Technology Serving Milford Patients				
		Technology plays a vital role in delivering superior eye care outcomes at our Milford location. Our advanced diagnostic equipment enables us to detect eye diseases in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective and vision preservation is most likely.Glaucoma detection and management receive particular attention at our Milford practice. Using sophisticated diagnostic instruments, we can identify subtle pressure changes and optic nerve damage that may indicate glaucoma development. Early intervention often prevents vision loss and helps preserve your sight for decades to come.Our experience with diabetic eye care helps Milford patients manage vision complications that can accompany diabetes. Regular monitoring and prompt treatment of diabetic retinopathy can prevent serious vision problems and maintain your quality of life.For patients considering vision correction surgery, we provide comprehensive pre-operative evaluations and post-operative care for LASIK procedures. While we collaborate with qualified surgeons for the actual procedures, our Milford team ensures you receive proper evaluation and follow-up care throughout your vision correction journey.		
					24/7 Emergency Eye Care for Milford Residents				
		Eye emergencies require immediate attention, which is why our Milford location provides 24/7 emergency eye care services. Whether you're dealing with sudden vision loss, eye injuries, foreign objects in the eye, or severe eye pain, our emergency care protocols ensure you receive prompt treatment when every minute matters.Dr. Jagatic's extensive background in emergency eye care means Milford patients receive expert treatment even in urgent situations. Her diagnostic and treatment experience with various ocular conditions ensures appropriate care for a wide range of emergency scenarios.Common eye emergencies we treat include chemical exposures, sports-related injuries, sudden vision changes, and severe eye infections. Our emergency protocols prioritize immediate assessment and treatment to protect your vision and prevent complications.		
					Insurance and Payment Options for Milford Families				
		We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible for Milford families. Our knowledgeable staff handles insurance verification and explains your coverage benefits before your appointment, eliminating confusion about costs.For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment methods and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. We believe that financial concerns shouldn't delay necessary eye care, so we work with each Milford patient to find payment solutions that fit their budget.Care Credit financing options are available for larger treatments, allowing you to spread costs over time while receiving the eye care you need immediately.		
					Convenient Milford Location and Scheduling				
		Our Milford office provides convenient access for patients throughout the greater Milford area, including residents of Hudson, Hollis, and surrounding communities. The easily accessible location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus entirely on your eye care needs.We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles common in the Milford area. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention to ensure timely care.The welcoming atmosphere at our Milford location reflects our People First philosophy. From your initial phone call through every follow-up visit, you'll experience the warm, professional service that distinguishes us from other eye care providers.		
					Experience the Focused Eye Care Difference in Milford				
		Quality vision care combines advanced technology, clinical experience, and genuine concern for each patient's wellbeing. At Focused Eye Care's Milford location, we deliver all three elements to ensure you receive the comprehensive eye care your vision health deserves.Our award-winning team brings decades of combined experience in comprehensive eye care, emergency treatments, and specialized services to every Milford patient. Dr. MacDonald's recognition as "Best Optometrist" by Nashua Telegraph readers, Dr. Huffer's Fellowship credentials and leadership in the New Hampshire Optometric Association, and Dr. Jagatic's emergency care background ensure you receive expert treatment at every visit. Whether you need routine eye exams, specialized treatment for eye diseases, or emergency care, our Milford location provides the comprehensive services and compassionate approach your family deserves. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and discover why Milford residents trust us with their vision care needs.		
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
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#### Milford, NH Dry Eye Treatment
Milford, NH Dry Eye Treatment
Focused Eye Care provides specialized dry eye treatment in Milford, NH—offering comprehensive care and expert solutions to relieve discomfort and protect your long-term eye health.

Dry, irritated eyes can make simple daily activities into uncomfortable challenges, affecting your work productivity, driving safety, and overall quality of life. In Milford, NH, countless residents experience the persistent discomfort of dry eye syndrome, often struggling with symptoms that seem to worsen despite trying over-the-counter solutions.

At Focused Eye Care, our skilled optometrists know how frustrating dry eye symptoms are and offer comprehensive treatment solutions at our convenient Milford location. Our team combines advanced diagnostic technology with personalized treatment to help you find lasting relief from dry eye discomfort.
Understanding Dry Eye Syndrome in Milford
Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes don't make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, leaving your eyes poorly lubricated. This affects millions of Americans and can result from various factors, including age, hormones, medications, environmental conditions, and prolonged screen time.

Common symptoms include burning or stinging sensations, excessive tearing (as your eyes try to compensate), blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and the feeling that something is stuck in your eye. Many Milford residents notice their symptoms worsen during New Hampshire's dry winter months when indoor heating systems reduce humidity levels.
Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Options
At our Milford location, we offer several proven treatment approaches tailored to your needs and the severity of your condition. Treatment options range from lifestyle modifications and artificial tears to advanced therapeutic procedures.
Conservative Treatment Approaches
For mild to moderate dry eye symptoms, we often begin with conservative treatments, including prescription eye drops that help increase tear production or reduce inflammation. We may also recommend warm compresses, eyelid hygiene routines, and environmental modifications to improve your comfort.

Nutritional supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids can support healthy tear production, while protective eyewear helps shield your eyes from wind and environmental irritants during outdoor activities around the Milford area.
Advanced Therapeutic Solutions
When conservative treatments aren't sufficient, our practice offers advanced therapeutic options. These may include punctal plugs to reduce tear drainage, prescription medications to address underlying inflammation, or specialized treatments targeting the root causes of your dry eye condition.

We stay up-to-date with the latest developments in dry eye management, ensuring you have access to the most effective treatment options available. We'll work closely with you to monitor your progress and modify your treatment plan as needed.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment
One of our most effective advanced treatments is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy, a cutting-edge procedure especially designed to address the underlying causes of dry eye syndrome. This innovative treatment uses controlled light energy to target inflammation in the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oil layer of your tears.

IPL treatment works by reducing inflammation and improving the function of these essential glands, helping restore your natural tear film balance. The procedure is comfortable, typically taking just 10-15 minutes, and many patients begin experiencing relief within a few weeks of their initial treatment.

Our experienced team has invested in state-of-the-art IPL technology, allowing us to provide this highly effective treatment option right here in our Milford office. Generally, patients need multiple treatments spaced several weeks apart for optimal results, and we'll create a tailored treatment schedule based on your needs and response to therapy.
Why Choose Focused Eye Care for Dry Eye Treatment
Our Milford practice has served the greater Nashua community since 1962, building a reputation for exceptional eye care and personalized service. Dr. Lyudmila Sutherland brings extensive experience in dry eye management, while our entire team is committed to helping you achieve optimal eye health and comfort.

We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to thoroughly evaluate your tear production, eye surface health, and overall ocular condition. This comprehensive approach allows us to identify the specific factors contributing to your dry eye symptoms and develop the most effective treatment strategy.

Our convenient Milford location provides easy access for residents throughout the Souhegan Valley, and we accept many insurance plans to make your care affordable and accessible.
Technology and Comprehensive Care
At Focused Eye Care, we combine cutting-edge diagnostic equipment with a thorough understanding of dry eye conditions to provide superior care. Our advanced imaging systems help us evaluate the health of your tear film and identify areas of concern that might not be visible during a standard examination.

We believe in educating our patients about their condition and involving them in treatment decisions. During your appointment, we'll explain your diagnosis, discuss all available treatment options, and help you understand what to expect as your treatment progresses.

Our practice also offers comprehensive eye exams that can identify other conditions that might be contributing to your dry eye symptoms, ensuring we address all aspects of your eye health.
Insurance and Financing Options
We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible. Our staff handles insurance verification and helps you understand your coverage benefits before your appointment.

For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment options and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. Your vision health shouldn't be delayed due to cost concerns, so we work with each patient to find solutions that fit their budget.
Visit Our Convenient Nashua Location
Our Nashua office provides easy access for patients throughout the greater Nashua area. The convenient location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus on your eye care needs.

We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention.

The comfortable atmosphere at our Nashua location reflects our People First philosophy. From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll experience the warm, professional service that sets us apart from other eye care providers.
Schedule Your Dry Eye Treatment Consultation at Focused Eye Care
Don't let dry eye symptoms continue to impact your daily life and visual comfort. Our experienced team at Focused Eye Care understands the complex nature of dry eye syndrome and is committed to helping you find effective, lasting relief. We combine decades of experience with the latest treatment technologies to provide the highest level of care for our Milford patients.

Our skilled optometrists will conduct a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and eye health, then work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and needs. With convenient scheduling options and comprehensive follow-up care, we make it easy to get the treatment you need. Contact our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or schedule your appointment online.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Milford, NH Eye Doctor
Milford, NH Eye Doctor 				
		Focused Eye Care delivers trusted eye care from an experienced eye doctor in Milford, NH—providing comprehensive exams, personalized treatment, and expert guidance to support clear vision and long-term eye health.Finding quality eye care in Milford shouldn't mean compromising on expertise or convenience. Whether you're experiencing vision changes, need a routine eye exam, or require specialized treatment for eye diseases, having access to comprehensive optometry services in your community makes all the difference in maintaining optimal eye health throughout your life.Focused Eye Care has been serving the Milford community since opening our second location in September 2021, bringing over 60 years of eye care excellence to the Souhegan Valley. Our team of skilled optometrists provides comprehensive eye health services, advanced diagnostic technology, and personalized care to patients of all ages right here in Milford.		
					Comprehensive Eye Care Services in Milford				
		Our Milford optometrists offer a full range of eye care services designed to address every aspect of your vision and eye health needs. From routine eye exams to specialized treatments, we provide complete care under one roof. Our comprehensive eye exams utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to detect vision problems and eye diseases in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective.We specialize in medical eye exams for patients with diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases requiring ongoing monitoring and treatment. Our doctors are therapeutically licensed to treat various eye conditions, including conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, and other ocular surface diseases. For families with children, our children's eye care services ensure young patients receive age-appropriate vision screenings and treatments in a comfortable environment.Contact lens fittings represent another area of expertise, with our optometrists skilled in fitting both standard and specialty lenses, including those for astigmatism, presbyopia, and other complex vision correction needs. We also provide pre- and post-operative care for patients undergoing LASIK and cataract surgery, ensuring smooth transitions and optimal healing. Our emergency eye care services are available 24/7 for urgent vision concerns that require immediate attention.		
					Expert Optometrists Serving Milford				
		Our Milford location is staffed by highly qualified optometrists who bring decades of combined experience and specialized training to serve your eye care needs. Dr. Sarah E. Jagatic specializes in emergency eye care and has extensive diagnostic and treatment experience with glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Her comprehensive training and ongoing commitment to advanced eye disease management make her an invaluable resource for patients with complex ocular conditions. Dr. Jagatic earned her Doctor of Optometry with high honors from Indiana University School of Optometry and maintains active memberships in both the American Optometric Association and New Hampshire Optometric Association.Our practice extends beyond routine eye care to encompass specialized services that address unique vision needs. Dr. Kristen O. Bryant specializes in low vision care. Her work with Future In Sight demonstrates our practice's commitment to serving all members of our community, regardless of their vision challenges.Dr. Stephen P. Waible brings personal experience to his treatment of amblyopia, having been successfully treated for lazy eye during his childhood in Nashua. This personal understanding, combined with his academic achievements, including high honors at the University of Maine and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, provides unique insight into vision therapy and rehabilitation services.		
					Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Treatment Options				
		Our Milford location features cutting-edge diagnostic equipment that enables precise detection and monitoring of eye diseases and vision changes. This advanced technology, combined with our doctors' extensive training and experience, ensures accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans made to each patient's unique needs. We utilize the latest in optical coherence tomography, visual field testing, and retinal imaging to provide comprehensive assessments of your eye health.For patients requiring specialized care, we offer advanced treatments for dry eye syndrome, including the latest therapeutic options and management strategies. Our expertise extends to myopia control programs for children, helping slow the progression of nearsightedness through proven treatment methods. We also provide comprehensive glaucoma care, from early detection through ongoing management and treatment.		
					Convenient Milford Location and Comprehensive Care				
		Located conveniently in Milford, our office provides easy access for residents throughout the Souhegan Valley region. We understand that convenient access to quality eye care is essential for maintaining regular eye health appointments and managing ongoing conditions. Our Milford location eliminates the need to travel to larger cities for comprehensive optometry services.We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans, making quality eye care accessible to more families in our community. Our team helps verify your insurance coverage and explain your benefits before your appointment. For anything not covered by insurance, we offer Care Credit financing options to ensure financial considerations don't prevent you from receiving necessary eye care.		
					Choose Focused Eye Care for Your Milford Eye Doctor				
		When you need an eye doctor in Milford, choose the practice that combines decades of experience with modern technology and genuine care for our community. Our team includes fellows of the American Academy of Optometry and past presidents of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, reflecting our commitment to excellence in eye care. We've been recognized as "Best Optometrist" in the greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley.At Focused Eye Care, we believe every patient deserves personalized attention and comprehensive care. From routine vision screenings to complex eye disease management, our Milford office provides the full spectrum of optometry services your family needs. Contact us today at (603) 673-1330 or schedule your appointment online to experience the difference that expert, compassionate eye care makes for your vision health.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
									Learn More

#### Milford, NH Myopia Control
Milford, NH Myopia Control
Focused Eye Care offers specialized myopia control in Milford, NH—providing advanced treatments, personalized monitoring, and expert guidance to slow nearsightedness progression and protect your child’s long-term vision and eye health.

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, affects millions of children worldwide and has reached epidemic proportions in recent decades. When your child struggles to see distant objects clearly, whether it's the whiteboard at school or street signs while driving, myopia control becomes essential for protecting their long-term vision health. At Focused Eye Care, we understand that addressing myopia early can significantly slow its progression and reduce the risk of serious eye complications later in life.

Our Milford location provides comprehensive children's eye care services with specialized expertise in myopia control treatments. Our experienced optometrists use the latest evidence-based approaches to help manage your child's nearsightedness, ensuring they maintain clear vision throughout their developmental years while minimizing future risks associated with high myopia.
Understanding How Myopia Develops in Children
Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea becomes too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This refractive error typically develops during childhood and can progress rapidly during the school-age years. In Milford and surrounding New Hampshire communities, we've observed increasing rates of myopia among children, often linked to increased screen time, reduced outdoor activities, and genetic factors.

Early detection is essential in successful myopia management. Children with myopia may squint frequently, sit closer to televisions or whiteboards, complain of headaches, or experience eye strain during homework or reading. Our comprehensive eye exams can identify myopia development even before symptoms become noticeable to parents or teachers.

The progression of myopia during childhood years can lead to high myopia in adulthood, significantly increasing the risk of serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. By implementing myopia control strategies early, we can help slow this progression and protect your child's vision for life.
Advanced Myopia Control Treatment Options
We offer the following treatment options:
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology represents one of our most effective myopia control treatments available at our Milford office. These specially designed rigid contact lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. Upon waking, the lenses are removed, and your child enjoys clear vision throughout the day without needing glasses or contact lenses.

Ortho-K lenses not only provide clear daytime vision but also significantly slow myopia progression. Studies demonstrate that children using orthokeratology experience 32-63% less myopia progression compared to those wearing traditional glasses. Our optometrists carefully fit these lenses and provide comprehensive follow-up care to ensure optimal results and eye health.
Specialty Contact Lenses
We offer various specialty contact lens options designed specifically for myopia control. Multifocal soft contact lenses create different focus zones that help reduce the eye's tendency to elongate. These lenses are particularly effective for active children who participate in sports or prefer the convenience of daytime contact lens wear.

Peripheral defocus contact lenses represent another innovative approach to myopia control. These lenses focus light clearly on the central retina while creating controlled peripheral defocus, which research suggests helps slow eye growth and myopia progression.
Our Myopia Control Specialist
Meet Focused Eye Care’s optometrist who have focused experience in Myopia control:
Dr. Ronald B. Coutu, O.D.
With more than 30 years of experience in medical optometry and specialty contact lens fitting, Dr. Coutu provides the foundation of expertise for our advanced myopia control programs. His extensive background in fitting both specialty and standard contact lenses ensures that even the most challenging cases receive appropriate care and attention.
Comprehensive Care for Milford Families
We offer the following comprehensive treatment for families:

Customized Treatment Plans
Every child's vision needs are unique, which is why our Milford optometrists develop personalized myopia control plans based on individual factors such as current prescription strength, rate of progression, lifestyle, and age. We conduct thorough evaluations, including corneal mapping, axial length measurements, and detailed refraction assessments to determine the most appropriate treatment approach.
Our team works with parents to ensure proper lens care, maintenance schedules, and follow-up appointments. Regular monitoring allows us to track treatment effectiveness and make adjustments as needed to optimize myopia control outcomes.

Family Education and Support
Understanding myopia and its treatment options empowers families to make informed decisions about their child's vision care. We provide comprehensive education about myopia progression, treatment expectations, and the importance of compliance with prescribed therapies. Our staff takes time to demonstrate proper lens insertion, removal, and cleaning techniques for children and parents.
We also discuss environmental factors that can influence myopia development and progression. Encouraging outdoor activities, managing screen time, and ensuring proper lighting during near work activities can complement our clinical treatments and support overall eye health.

Why Choose Focused Eye Care Milford for Myopia Control
Our Milford office combines advanced technology with compassionate care to deliver exceptional myopia control services. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to accurately measure corneal curvature, eye length, and refractive changes over time. This precise monitoring allows us to track treatment progress and ensure optimal outcomes for each child.

Our optometrists stay current with the latest research in myopia control, regularly attending continuing education programs and incorporating evidence-based treatments into our practice. We maintain strong relationships with leading manufacturers of specialty lenses and work directly with them to ensure access to the most advanced myopia control technologies.

The convenience of our Milford location serves families throughout the Souhegan Valley, making regular follow-up appointments manageable for busy schedules. We understand the importance of consistent care in successful myopia management and work with families to establish sustainable treatment routines.
Contact Focused Eye Care Milford for Myopia Control
Don't wait to address your child's myopia. Early intervention provides the best opportunity to slow progression and protect their vision for life. Our experienced team at Focused Eye Care specializes in advanced myopia control treatments tailored to each child's unique needs. We're committed to providing comprehensive care that helps children achieve clear vision while minimizing their risk of future eye complications.

Schedule your child's myopia evaluation today by calling our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or booking an appointment online. Our team is ready to help your child maintain healthy vision throughout their developmental years and beyond.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Milford, NH Sunglasses
Milford, NH Sunglasses
Focused Eye Care offers high-quality sunglasses in Milford, NH—providing advanced UV protection, personalized fit, and stylish options to keep your eyes safe, comfortable, and healthy year-round.

The sun's harmful rays don't take a break, even during New Hampshire's cloudiest days. UV radiation can cause serious damage to your eyes year-round, leading to cataracts, macular degeneration, and other vision-threatening conditions. Quality sunglasses serve as your first line of defense against these invisible threats while enhancing your daily comfort and visual clarity.

At Focused Eye Care, our Milford location provides a comprehensive sunglasses selection and fitting services tailored to your unique vision needs and lifestyle. Our experienced optometrists understand that proper eye protection goes beyond fashion, requiring precise attention to UV filtration, lens technology, and frame fit to ensure optimal protection for your precious eyesight.
UV Protection Essentials for New Hampshire Living
New Hampshire's varied terrain and seasonal changes create unique challenges for eye protection. Snow reflection can intensify UV exposure by up to 80%, while summer activities around lakes and mountains increase your risk of UV-related eye damage. Quality sunglasses should block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays to provide adequate protection.

Our Milford optometrists recommend polarized lenses for residents who spend time on the water or drive frequently. These specialized lenses reduce glare from reflective surfaces, improving visual comfort and safety during outdoor activities. We also offer photochromic lenses that automatically adjust to changing light conditions, perfect for New Hampshire's unpredictable weather patterns.
Professional Sunglasses Fitting and Selection
Proper sunglasses fitting requires more than trying on frames in front of a mirror. Our certified opticians measure your facial dimensions, assess your prescription needs, and evaluate your daily activities to recommend the most suitable options. We consider factors like bridge width, temple length, and lens curve to ensure a comfortable, secure fit that won't slide or create pressure points.

For patients requiring vision correction, we offer prescription sunglasses in virtually any frame style. Our advanced lens technology includes progressive options for presbyopic patients, allowing clear vision at all distances while maintaining full UV protection. We also provide specialized tints for specific activities, such as enhanced contrast for golf or computer use.
Frame Selection and Durability
Our Milford location stocks premium frame collections designed to withstand New Hampshire's active lifestyle demands. We carry lightweight materials like titanium and high-grade plastics that resist impact and temperature fluctuations. Sports-specific frames feature wraparound designs and secure retention systems for activities like hiking, cycling, and water sports.

Fashion-forward patients can choose from designer collections while maintaining medical-grade UV protection. Our opticians help balance style preferences with functional requirements, ensuring your sunglasses complement your appearance while delivering superior eye protection.
Advanced Lens Technologies and Coatings
Modern lens technology extends far beyond basic UV filtration. Anti-reflective coatings eliminate backside glare that can occur when light reflects off the inner surface of your lenses. This coating is particularly beneficial for driving and computer work, reducing eye strain and improving visual clarity.

Blue light filtering options protect against high-energy visible light from digital devices and artificial lighting. While outdoors, this technology helps maintain natural color perception while reducing potential retinal stress from prolonged blue light exposure.

Scratch-resistant treatments extend lens life and maintain optical clarity over time. Our premium coatings resist everyday wear while making cleaning easier and more effective. We also offer hydrophobic treatments that repel water and oil, keeping your lenses clearer in humid conditions or during physical activities.
Specialized Options for Active Lifestyles
New Hampshire residents lead active lives that demand specialized eyewear solutions. Our sports sunglasses collection includes impact-resistant options meeting ANSI safety standards for high-risk activities. These frames feature secure fits and shatterproof lenses designed to protect against flying debris or accidental contact.

Fishing enthusiasts benefit from copper or amber tints that enhance contrast in water environments. These specialized tints improve depth perception and reduce eye fatigue during extended periods on the water. We also carry glacier glasses with side shields for mountaineering and skiing activities where UV reflection creates extreme exposure conditions.
Children's Sunglasses and Family Protection
Protecting children's developing eyes is crucial since they receive more UV exposure than adults due to larger pupils and clearer lenses. Our pediatric sunglasses selection includes durable, comfortable options designed specifically for young faces and active play. Flexible frames resist breaking while maintaining proper positioning during sports and outdoor activities.

We educate families about establishing good sun protection habits early. Children who wear sunglasses regularly are more likely to continue this protective behavior throughout their lives, significantly reducing their lifetime risk of UV-related eye conditions.
Contact Focused Eye Care Milford for Expert Sunglasses Selection
Choosing the right sunglasses requires professional guidance to ensure optimal protection and comfort for your specific needs. Our Milford team combines decades of optometric expertise with the latest lens technologies to provide comprehensive eye protection solutions. We offer thorough consultations to assess your lifestyle, prescription requirements, and aesthetic preferences before recommending the most suitable options.

Experience the difference that professionally fitted sunglasses can make in your daily comfort and long-term eye health. Call our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or schedule your consultation online to explore our complete sunglasses collection and receive personalized fitting services from our experienced optical team.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Myopia Management
Specialty Eye Care				
					Myopia Management				
		Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects are seen clearly. Many cases of myopia can be easily treated with corrective lenses, but severe cases may require additional treatment.		
					What is Myopia?				
					Myopia is the clinical term for nearsightedness.
		Nearsighted eyes see close objects clearly, while objects far away are blurry without glasses correction. Myopic vision occurs when the eye's shape causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, distorting vision and causing more distant objects to appear blurred. Myopia occurs in children and adults. Researchers have predicted that by 2050, half of the world's population will likely be myopic (about 5 billion people). In the United States, the incidence of myopia has doubled over the past 50 years.		
					Myopia Treatment
				
		High myopia – generally defined as nearsightedness requiring a glasses correction of -6.00 diopters or more – is associated with a higher risk of eye diseases such as retinal detachments, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and early cataracts. Reducing the severity of nearsightedness not only improves quality of life, but could also decrease the chance of developing one of these vision-threatening diseases. There are ways to slow down the progression of myopia, and the younger the person is, the better our treatment process will work.There are currently four treatment options for slowing down myopic progression in kids: orthokeratology, soft multifocal contact lenses, atropine eye drops and Essilor® Stellest® Lenses.		
																														
					Myopia Treatment Types
				
		To schedule a myopia management consultation for your child, call 603-945-4151.		
						
						
				
					 Orthokeratology 
			
			
						
									Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, involves using specially designed contact lenses that reshape the cornea over time and correct vision, similar to how dental braces straighten teeth. Typically worn at night, these lenses reshape the eye’s front surface while you sleep. Although vision improvements are reversible, they can be maintained with consistent use of the lenses.								
					
						
				
					 Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses 
			
			
						
									Myopia progression in children and teenagers occurs when the eye grows faster than intended. Myopia management soft contact lenses are designed to slow this growth by directing some light rays to focus in front of the retina, signaling the eye to stop growing. These special contact lens designs have proven effective in managing myopia in children and teenagers.								
					
						
				
					 Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops 
			
			
						
									Higher dose Atropine eye drops are used to enlarge the pupil and stop the eye’s focusing mechanism. In low doses, they have shown to be effective in myopia management with minimal side effects. Low-dose drops are typically used once a day, at night time.								
					
						
				
					 Essilor® Stellest® Lenses 
			
			
						
									Essilor® Stellest® lenses are the first and only FDA market-authorized spectacle lens to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. These lenses slowed myopia progression by 71% on average over 2 years and are an easy to use and proven way to help manage your child’s nearsightedness.								
									Compared to single vision lenses. Results from a prospective, randomized, double-masked, multicenter U.S. clinical trial in myopic children aged 6–12 years at initiation of treatment. Essilor International, data on file (2025).								
					
		Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, involves using specially designed contact lenses that reshape the cornea over time and correct vision, similar to how dental braces straighten teeth. Typically worn at night, these lenses reshape the eye's front surface while you sleep. Although vision improvements are reversible, they can be maintained with consistent use of the lenses.Myopia progression in children and teenagers occurs when the eye grows faster than intended. Myopia management soft contact lenses are designed to slow this growth by directing some light rays to focus in front of the retina, signaling the eye to stop growing. These special contact lens designs have proven effective in managing myopia in children and teenagers.Higher dose Atropine eye drops are used to enlarge the pupil and stop the eye's focusing mechanism. In low doses, they have shown to be effective in myopia management with minimal side effects. Low-dose drops are typically used once a day, at night time.Essilor® Stellest® lenses are the first and only FDA market-authorized spectacle lens to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. These lenses slowed myopia progression by 71% on average over 2 years and are an easy to use and proven way to help manage your child's nearsightedness.Compared to single vision lenses. Results from a prospective, randomized, double-masked, multicenter U.S. clinical trial in myopic children aged 6–12 years at initiation of treatment. Essilor International, data on file (2025).

#### Nashua Office
Our Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care in Nashua, NH				
		Focused Eye Care delivers comprehensive eye health and optometry services to patients in Nashua, NH. Our expert team is dedicated to providing trusted eye care for the community.Focused Eye Care - Nashua OfficeAddress: 505 W Hollis St STE 109, Nashua, NH 03062Phone: 603-882-0311Fax: 603-882-3020Email: reception@abettervision.comHours:Monday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pmFriday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: 7:00 am – 12:00 pmSunday: Closed		
									
					Comprehensive Eye Care in Nashua, New Hampshire				
		When you need trusted eye care in Nashua, New Hampshire, finding the right optometry practice makes all the difference in your vision health journey. At Focused Eye Care, we provide comprehensive eye examinations, advanced treatments, and personalized care for patients of all ages at our Nashua location. Our experienced team of optometrists combines cutting-edge technology with compassionate service to ensure every patient receives the highest quality care in a welcoming environment.Whether you need routine eye exams, emergency eye care, or treatment for complex vision conditions, our deliver the results you deserve. We understand that eye health affects every aspect of your daily life, which is why we take time to listen to your concerns and develop treatment plans tailored to your specific needs.		
					Why Choose Focused Eye Care in Nashua				
		Our Nashua location represents more than just another eye care clinic. We’ve built our reputation on the foundation of our core values, captured perfectly in our tagline: People First. This philosophy guides every interaction and ensures you receive care that goes beyond standard expectations.Dr. Kelly MacDonald leads our Nashua team with extensive experience in comprehensive eye care for the entire family. Her focus on diagnosing and treating eye diseases, particularly glaucoma, has earned recognition throughout the community. The Nashua Telegraph readers have voted Dr. MacDonald “Best Optometrist” in the greater Nashua area multiple times in recent years, a testament to her dedication and clinical excellence.Dr. Scott Huffer brings specialized training in ocular diseases from his residencies at Manchester VA Medical Center and Medical Eye Center, plus additional experience from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and past president of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, Dr. Huffer provides the advanced care you need for complex eye conditions.Our commitment to staying current with the latest developments in eye care technology ensures you receive the most effective treatments available. We regularly invest in new diagnostic equipment and treatment options to provide better outcomes for our patients.		
					Complete Eye Care Services at Our Nashua Location				
		The range of services available at our Nashua office addresses virtually every vision need. Our go beyond basic vision testing to evaluate your overall eye health and detect potential problems before they become serious concerns.Children receive special attention during their visits, as early detection of vision problems can significantly impact their academic performance and development. Our pediatric eye exams create a comfortable environment where young patients feel at ease while receiving thorough evaluations of their visual development.For patients dealing with dry eye symptoms, we offer advanced treatment options that provide lasting relief. Our dry eye treatments address the underlying causes of discomfort rather than just managing symptoms temporarily.Contact lens fittings receive particular attention at our practice. We work with the latest contact lens technology to find options that provide clear vision and all-day comfort. Whether you need daily disposables, specialty lenses, or solutions for astigmatism, our fitting process ensures optimal results.Our includes styles from leading manufacturers, giving you plenty of options to find eyewear that matches your lifestyle and preferences. We take pride in helping you find frames that look great and provide the vision correction you need.		
					Advanced Technology and Treatment Options				
		Technology plays a crucial role in delivering superior eye care outcomes. Our Nashua location features advanced diagnostic equipment that allows us to detect eye diseases in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective.Glaucoma detection and management receive special focus at our practice. Using the latest diagnostic tools, we can identify pressure changes and optic nerve damage that might indicate glaucoma development. Early intervention often prevents vision loss and helps preserve your sight for years to come.Our experience with diabetic eye care helps patients manage the vision complications that can accompany diabetes. Regular monitoring and prompt treatment of diabetic retinopathy can prevent serious vision problems and maintain your quality of life.For patients interested in vision correction surgery, we provide comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative care for LASIK procedures. While we don't perform the surgery ourselves, we work closely with qualified surgeons to ensure you receive proper evaluation and follow-up care.		
					Emergency Eye Care When You Need It Most
				
		Eye emergencies don’t wait for convenient times, which is why we offer 24/7 emergency eye care services at our Nashua location. Whether you’re dealing with sudden vision loss, eye injuries, or severe eye pain, our emergency care ensures you receive prompt attention when every minute counts.Dr. Sarah Jagatic brings particular experience in emergency eye care situations. Her extensive diagnostic and treatment background with various ocular conditions means you get expert care even in urgent situations.Common eye emergencies we treat include foreign objects in the eye, chemical exposures, sudden vision changes, and sports-related eye injuries. Our emergency protocols prioritize immediate care to protect your vision and prevent further complications.		
					Insurance and Financing Options				
		We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible. Our staff handles insurance verification and helps you understand your coverage benefits before your appointment.For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment options and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. Your vision health shouldn't be delayed due to cost concerns, so we work with each patient to find solutions that fit their budget.		
					Visit Our Convenient Nashua Location				
		 Our Nashua office provides easy access for patients throughout the greater Nashua area. The convenient location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus on your eye care needs.We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention.The comfortable atmosphere at our Nashua location reflects our People First philosophy. From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll experience the warm, professional service that sets us apart from other eye care providers.		
					Schedule Your Nashua Eye Care Appointment Today				
		Quality eye care starts with choosing the right optometry practice for your needs. At Focused Eye Care's Nashua location, we combine advanced technology, experienced doctors, and genuine caring to deliver the vision care you deserve.Our team of award-winning optometrists brings decades of combined experience in comprehensive eye care, emergency treatments, and specialized services. Dr. MacDonald's recognition as "Best Optometrist" by Nashua Telegraph readers, combined with Dr. Huffer's Fellowship credentials and Dr. Jagatic's emergency care background, ensures you receive expert care at every visit. Whether you need routine eye exams, treatment for eye diseases, or emergency care, our Nashua location provides the comprehensive services and compassionate care your family deserves. To schedule your appointment and experience the difference that People First eye care makes.		
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
									Learn More

#### Offers
Resources				
		Don't miss our special offers! Check back often to be the first to know about the latest promotions offered at Focused Eye Care in Nashua and Milford.		
					Special Offers and Rebates				
					Varilux Perfect Pair Promotion
		February 2-April 30, 2026Upgrade your vision with a FREE second pair of Varilux® Occupational Lenses when you purchase select Premium Varilux Progressive Lenses. Terms & Conditions Apply. See an Optician for details.		
					Twelve84 brand glasses starting at $179				
		Right now, with the purchase of Twelve84 brand glasses (starting at $179 for single vision and $299 for progressive lenses) receive a free two-year scratch warranty. Additionally, receive $50 off with the purchase of an annual supply of contact lenses! Restrictions apply. See an Optician for details.		
					Children’s glasses starting at $149 (single vision)				
		Right now, with the purchases of a pair of children’s glasses (starting at $149) receive a free two-year scratch warranty. Additionally, receive $50 off with the purchase of an annual supply of contact lenses! Restrictions apply. Offer is valid on selected frames. See an Optician for details.		
					Buy one complete pair of glasses and get 50% off the complete second pair				
		Buy one pair of lenses and frames and get 50% off the complete second pair (restrictions apply, see our opticians for details). Both pairs of glasses must be for the same patient and include Crizal Anti Glare lenses. Discount applied to the less expensive frame with lenses.

#### Other Eye Products
Eyewear & Contacts				
					Other Eye Products				
		In addition to a huge selection of designer frames from your favorite makers, and all types and many brands of contact lenses, Focused Eye Care offers a range of products to support eye health.		
					
									Locations
					
											
											
											
					Want More? 				
					Focused Eye Care carries many products to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear.
		We offer a broad range of eye health and vision care products, including vitamins, heat compress masks, clip-on sunglasses, drops to relieve redness and dry eyes, and more. Visit our offices to find out more or purchase products!We also offer information about nutrition and various supplements that contribute to healthier eyes in Eat Right to Help Your Sight, a free brochure available in our offices. Be sure to ask for a copy the next time you visit us at Focused Eye Care.		
					
									Download Nutrition brochure

#### Our Doctors
About us				
		Meet our experienced, friendly doctors! We are proud to offer an incredible team of caring professionals with extensive experience in everything from routine eye care to complex ocular conditions.		
																														
					Kelly M. MacDonald, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Scott D. Huffer, O.D./F.A.A.O.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Sarah E. Jagatic, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Anjelica M. Donnelly, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Kristen O. Bryant, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Kendra M. Phillis, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Stephen P. Waible, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Catherine A. Johnson, O.D./F.A.A.O.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Ronald B. Coutu, O.D.				
					Read Bio >				
																														
					Lyudmila Sutherland, O.D.				
					Read Bio >

#### Our Practice
About us				
					Our Practice				
		Our caring, experienced doctors are backed by the latest technology and top-of-the-line vision care products to deliver the very best optometry and eye health services for you and your family. We take the time to provide personalized care and have the expertise to offer everything from routine eye exams to the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.		
					
									Locations
					
					Our Mission				
		Our mission is to be a dedicated team that provides exceptional, personalized care to you and your family. We strive to establish and grow relationships by always being attentive, available and accessible, delivering comprehensive care with understanding and compassion, and integrating advanced technology to deliver the highest quality care and products. We serve our community by providing education about vision, eye health and overall wellbeing.		
					About Us				
					Comprehensive Eye Health and Optometry Services - with Offices in Nashua and Milford
		Focused Eye Care first began providing eye health, optometry services and vision care products to the greater Nashua community in 1962. We have grown significantly since then, but we remain committed to our original mission to provide the best, most personalized service to everyone we serve. In September 2021, we added a second location in Milford, NH for the convenience of current and future patients in the Souhegan Valley and beyond.We continually expand our staff as our practice grows, and are proud that our doctors are among the best-known and most-respected eye care specialists in the region. Focused Eye Care optometrists have obtained many special therapeutic certifications and are skilled at diagnosing and treating many eye diseases and conditions, including glaucoma, conjunctivitis (pink eye), cataracts, dry eye and digital eye strain (computer vision syndrome).Focused Eye Care doctors are supported by a highly trained team of opticians, certified para-optometric and contact lens technicians, and office staff – all committed to providing you with the highest level of care. We use the most advanced diagnostic technologies and eye care products available, and our state-of-the-art finishing lab allows us to fabricate, adjust and repair your eyewear accurately and quickly right in our offices.Want to learn more about the Focused Eye Care difference? Make an appointment with a Focused Eye Care provider today!		
																														
					Core Values				
		Our patients tell us that what keeps them coming back to Focused Eye Care isn’t just advanced diagnostics or stylish frames. It’s the way we make them feel seen, heard and cared for. That’s not by accident; our team is guided by a set of shared values best captured by our tagline, People First.Click on a letter to read the corresponding value.		
					
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					Pursue excellence				
									We are always providing our patients with best-in-class, personalized care 								
					Embrace change, evolve together				
									Our superior care is rooted in each of us adopting and understanding the latest technology and treatments 								
					Operate with integrity				
									We deliver comprehensive care that is rooted in transparency, honesty and mutual respect 								
					Positive environment				
									We believe that a happy, harmonious team creates the best experience for our patients and each other								
					Listen with compassion				
									Our time spent with patients is undivided, enabling us to form genuine connections that foster better outcomes for our patients and staff alike								
					Educate and engage				
									We take the time to empower our staff and our patients with the knowledge to ensure a synchronized approach to care								
					Pursue excellence				
		We are always providing our patients with best-in-class, personalized care 		
					Embrace change, evolve together				
		Our superior care is rooted in each of us adopting and understanding the latest technology and treatments 		
					Operate with integrity				
		We deliver comprehensive care that is rooted in transparency, honesty and mutual respect 		
					Positive environment				
		We believe that a happy, harmonious team creates the best experience for our patients and each other		
					Listen with compassion				
		Our time spent with patients is undivided, enabling us to form genuine connections that foster better outcomes for our patients and staff alike		
					Educate and engage				
		We take the time to empower our staff and our patients with the knowledge to ensure a synchronized approach to careWhether you and your family have been with us for years or are stepping into our practice for the first time, you can count on a team that leads with care, grows with intention and is ready for every day. 		
					Meet Our Doctors				
					
									Eye Doctors

#### Patient Portal
Patient Portal		
		The links below will take you to the RevolutionPHR Patient Portal for either Nashua or Milford. RevolutionPHR is a secure, online personal health record provided to you by Focused Eye Care.		
			Nashua		
		Phone: 603-882-0311Fax: 603-882-3020		
					
									Patient Portal
					
			Milford		
		Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007		
					
									Patient Portal

#### Patient Resources
Get answers to questions, pay your bill, access forms and more.		
					Online Pay				
		Pay your bill online today.		
					
									Nashua
					
					
									Milford
					
					Order Contacts				
		Order your contacts online in just a few clicks.		
					
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					Insurance				
		See our latest list of accepted insurance plans.		
					
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					FAQs				
		The eye care professionals at Focused Eye Care want you to know as much as possible about caring for your eyesight.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Patient Portals				
		Access your personal health record for your eyes from anywhere.		
					
									Nashua
					
					
									Milford
					
					Eye Care Blog				
		Stay up to date with the latest Focused Eye Care and general eye care happenings.		
					
									Learn More

#### Pre and Post-Operative LASIK Care in Nashua, New Hampshire
Pre and Post-Operative LASIK Care in Nashua, New Hampshire				
		Focused Eye Care provides specialized pre- and post-operative LASIK care in Nashua, New Hampshire offering advanced diagnostic evaluations, personalized treatment plans, and expert guidance to support clear vision, smooth healing, and long-term eye health.		
																														
		Clear vision without glasses or contact lenses transforms daily life in ways you might not expect until you experience it. LASIK surgery offers this freedom to millions of people each year, but the procedure's success depends heavily on the care you receive before and after your surgery. Proper preparation and follow-up make the difference between good results and optimal outcomes that last for years.At Focused Eye Care, we guide patients through every step of their LASIK journey at our Nashua and Milford locations. From determining if you're a good candidate through your final post-operative checkup, our optometrists work closely with surgical centers to ensure you receive comprehensive care. We've built our reputation on personalized attention and clinical excellence, helping patients achieve their vision goals safely.		
					Understanding Your LASIK Candidacy				
		Not everyone qualifies as a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Your eye health, prescription stability, and overall health all factor into this decision. We conduct thorough evaluations at our Nashua and Milford offices to determine if LASIK suits your specific situation.Your prescription needs to have remained stable for at least two years before surgery. Fluctuating vision suggests your eyes are still changing, and operating too soon could mean needing glasses again later. We review your prescription history and perform detailed measurements to assess this stability.Certain eye conditions disqualify some patients from LASIK. Thin corneas, severe dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, or corneal diseases may make the procedure unsafe or ineffective. Our comprehensive evaluations include specialized testing to identify these issues before you commit to surgery.Pre-Operative RequirementsContact lens wearers must stop wearing their lenses before pre-operative testing. Soft lenses need to come out at least two weeks before your evaluation, while rigid gas-permeable lenses require a longer break of three to four weeks. Contact lenses change your corneal shape temporarily, and accurate measurements require your corneas to return to their natural form.		
					Preparing for Your LASIK Procedure				
		Once you qualify for LASIK, proper preparation helps ensure the best possible outcome. We provide detailed instructions specific to your situation, but several guidelines apply to most patients.Stop wearing eye makeup, lotions, and perfumes for at least 24 hours before surgery. These products can introduce bacteria or interfere with the surgical equipment. Clean your eyelids and lashes thoroughly the night before and morning of your procedure.Arrange transportation to and from the surgical center. Your vision will be blurry immediately after LASIK, and you cannot drive yourself home. Plan to have someone stay with you for the first few hours after surgery in case you need assistance.Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing on surgery day. Avoid anything that needs to be pulled over your head, as you won't want fabric touching your face after the procedure. Skip the hair products and keep your hair away from your face.		
					What Happens During Recovery				
		The recovery timeline following LASIK varies depending on individual factors and the specific surgical approach used. The surgery center provides detailed post-operative instructions tailored to each patient's situation and the techniques used during the procedure.Most patients notice initial vision changes within the first 24 hours, though complete healing occurs gradually over several weeks. Common early sensations include grittiness, watering, and light sensitivity. The surgery center schedules follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and address any concerns.Recovery protocols differ among surgery centers based on their specific techniques, equipment, and surgical approach. Each center develops post-operative care guidelines designed for optimal outcomes with their particular methods.		
					Post-Operative Care Considerations				
		Surgery centers provide comprehensive guidance about daily activities during the healing period. These instructions consider factors like infection prevention, healing optimization, and individual patient circumstances.Topics typically addressed in post-operative instructions include water exposure, cosmetic products around the eyes, physical activities, and screen time. The timing and specifics of these guidelines vary based on the surgery center's protocols and individual healing progress.Follow-up appointments allow the surgical team to assess healing and adjust recommendations as needed. Patients receive personalized guidance based on their specific recovery progression rather than generalized timelines.		
					Follow-Up Care and Monitoring				
		Post-operative appointments allow us to monitor your healing and address any concerns quickly. Your first follow-up typically occurs within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Your doctor will check your vision, examine your corneas, and ensure no complications have developed.Additional follow-ups happen at one week, one month, three months, and six months after surgery. These visits track your visual recovery and allow us to make any necessary adjustments to your care plan. Most patients achieve their final vision results within three to six months, though you'll notice dramatic improvement much sooner.Some people experience dry eye symptoms after LASIK that can last several months. We monitor this closely and recommend appropriate treatments, from artificial tears to prescription medications. Our experience with dry eye treatment helps us manage these symptoms effectively while your eyes adjust.Maintaining regular eye exams after LASIK remains important for your long-term eye health. While LASIK corrects your refractive error, it doesn't prevent other eye conditions from developing. We continue monitoring your overall eye health through annual comprehensive examinations.		
					Comprehensive Vision Care at Focused Eye Care in Nashua				
		We've served the Nashua and Milford communities with quality eye care since 1962, building relationships with patients that span decades. Our optometrists have earned recognition as "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua and Milford areas multiple times in recent years. Dr. MacDonald, Dr. Huffer, Dr. Jagatic, Dr. Phillis, Dr. Donnelly, Dr. Bryant, Dr. Waible, and Dr. Sutherland bring extensive experience in co-managing LASIK cases with leading surgical centers throughout New Hampshire.Whether you're considering LASIK or recovering from recent surgery, we provide the thorough care you need for the best possible outcome. Our advanced diagnostic technology and commitment to personalized service ensure you receive attention tailored to your unique situation. Contact us today to schedule your consultation or post-operative appointment at one of our offices.Focused Eye Care - Nashua OfficeAddress: 505 W Hollis St STE 109, Nashua, NH 03062Phone: 603-882-0311Fax: 603-882-3020Email: reception@abettervision.comHours:Monday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pmFriday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: 7:00 am – 12:00 pmSunday: Closed		
									
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
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					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
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#### Pre‑and Post‑Operative LASIK Care in Milford, NH
Pre‑and Post‑Operative LASIK Care in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care provides expert pre- and post-operative LASIK care in Milford, NH—ensuring safe, personalized treatment to optimize outcomes, support healing, and maintain long-term eye health.

LASIK surgery can transform your vision and free you from reliance on glasses or contact lenses, but the journey doesn't begin and end in the surgical suite. Comprehensive pre‑and post‑operative care plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal outcomes and protecting your long-term eye health. At Focused Eye Care, we understand that LASIK candidates in Milford, NH, deserve thorough evaluation, careful preparation, and dedicated follow-up care to achieve the best possible results.

We provide comprehensive pre‑and post‑operative LASIK care at our Milford location, working closely with experienced LASIK surgeons to guide you through every step of your vision correction journey. Our experienced optometrists combine advanced diagnostic technology with personalized attention to ensure you get the highest standard of care before and after your procedure.
Pre-Operative LASIK Evaluation and Preparation
Your LASIK journey begins with a comprehensive pre-operative evaluation designed to determine your candidacy for the procedure. We conduct thorough eye examinations that go far beyond basic vision testing, evaluating the overall health of your eyes, measuring corneal thickness and curvature, and assessing tear film quality. This detailed assessment helps identify any conditions that might affect your surgical outcome or require treatment before proceeding with LASIK.

During your pre-operative consultation, we review your medical history, medications, and lifestyle factors that may affect your LASIK experience. We discuss your vision goals and expectations, ensuring you have a realistic understanding of what LASIK can achieve for your specific situation. Our team also provides detailed instructions for the weeks leading up to your surgery, including guidelines for contact lens wear, eye makeup use, and other preparation steps.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Testing
We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to create a complete picture of your eye health and structure. Corneal topography mapping reveals the precise shape and characteristics of your cornea, while pachymetry measurements ensure adequate corneal thickness for safe laser correction. We also perform wavefront analysis when appropriate, identifying higher-order aberrations that may affect your post-surgical vision quality.

Additional testing may include dry eye evaluation, pupil size measurement under various lighting conditions, and detailed retinal examination. These comprehensive assessments allow us to identify any factors that might influence your LASIK candidacy or require special consideration during your surgical planning.
Post-Operative LASIK Care and Monitoring
Following your LASIK procedure, consistent post-operative care becomes essential for proper healing and optimal outcomes. We schedule a series of follow-up appointments designed to monitor your recovery progress, ensure proper healing, and address any concerns that may arise during the healing process. Most patients experience rapid visual improvement, but the healing process continues for several months after surgery.
Your post-operative care includes detailed instructions for eye drop usage, activity restrictions, and signs to watch for that might indicate complications. We provide 24-hour emergency contact information and encourage patients to reach out with any questions or concerns during their recovery period. Frequent monitoring allows us to detect and address any issues early, maximizing your chances of achieving excellent long-term results.
The typical post-operative schedule includes visits at:


 	One day after surgery for initial healing assessment
 	One week post-surgery to evaluate early recovery progress
 	One month following the procedure, to monitor continued improvement
 	Three months after surgery for comprehensive outcome evaluation • Additional visits as needed based on individual healing patterns

Long-term follow-up care may extend beyond the initial healing period, as we continue to monitor your eye health and vision stability. Some patients may experience minor vision fluctuations or dry eye symptoms that require ongoing management to maintain optimal comfort and visual clarity.

Why Choose Focused Eye Care for Your LASIK Journey
Our commitment to excellence in pre‑and post‑operative LASIK care sets us apart in the Milford area. We maintain close relationships with leading LASIK surgeons, ensuring seamless communication and coordinated care throughout your vision correction experience. Our doctors bring decades of combined experience in refractive surgery care and understand the nuances of managing LASIK patients effectively.

We recognize that each patient's needs are unique, and we tailor our care approach accordingly. Whether you're dealing with specific concerns about the procedure, have questions about recovery expectations, or need ongoing management of post-surgical symptoms, our team provides personalized attention and expert guidance. Our comprehensive eye care services extend well beyond LASIK support, ensuring you have access to complete eye health management for years to come.
Insurance and Financing Options
We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible. Our staff handles insurance verification and helps you understand your coverage benefits before your appointment.

For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment options and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. Your vision health shouldn't be delayed due to cost concerns, so we work with each patient to find solutions that fit their budget.
Visit Our Convenient Nashua Location
Our Nashua office provides easy access for patients throughout the greater Nashua area. The convenient location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus on your eye care needs.

We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention.

The comfortable atmosphere at our Nashua location reflects our People First philosophy. From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll experience the warm, professional service that sets us apart from other eye care providers.
Comprehensive LASIK Care at Focused Eye Care
Ready to explore whether LASIK is right for you, or need expert post-operative care following your vision correction procedure? Our experienced team at Focused Eye Care provides thorough pre‑and post‑operative LASIK services designed to optimize your surgical outcomes and protect your long-term eye health. We combine advanced diagnostic technology with personalized care to ensure you receive the highest standard of treatment throughout your LASIK journey.

Contact our Milford office today at 603-673-1330 or schedule your consultation online to learn more about our comprehensive pre‑and post‑operative LASIK care services and take the first step toward clearer vision.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Privacy Policy
Last Updated On 18-June-2025Effective Date 18-June-2025This Privacy Policy describes the policies of Focused Eye Care, 505 West Hollis Street, Suite 109, Nashua, New Hampshire 03062, United States of America (the), email: marketing@abettervision.com, phone: 603-882-0311 on the collection, use and disclosure of your information that we collect when you use our website ( https://focusedeyecarenh.com/ ). (the “Service”). By accessing or using the Service, you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to the same, please do not access or use the Service.We may modify this Privacy Policy at any time without any prior notice to you and will post the revised Privacy Policy on the Service. The revised Policy will be effective 180 days from when the revised Policy is posted in the Service and your continued access or use of the Service after such time will constitute your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy. We therefore recommend that you periodically review this page.Your RightsDepending on the law that applies, you may have a right to access and rectify or erase your personal data or receive a copy of your personal data, restrict or object to the active processing of your data, ask us to share (port) your personal information to another entity, withdraw any consent you provided to us to process your data, a right to lodge a complaint with a statutory authority and such other rights as may be relevant under applicable laws. To exercise these rights, you can write to us at marketing@abettervision.com. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.Do note that if you do not allow us to collect or process the required personal information or withdraw the consent to process the same for the required purposes, you may not be able to access or use the services for which your information was sought.Cookies Etc.To learn more about how we use these and your choices in relation to these tracking technologies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.SecurityThe security of your information is important to us and we will use reasonable security measures to prevent the loss, misuse or unauthorized alteration of your information under our control. However, given the inherent risks, we cannot guarantee absolute security and consequently, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us and you do so at your own risk.Third Party Links & Use Of Your InformationOur website may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not address the privacy policy and other practices of any third parties, including any third party operating any website or service that may be accessible via a link on the Service. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.Grievance / Data Protection OfficerIf you have any queries or concerns about the processing of your information that is available with us, you may email our Grievance Officer at Focused Eye Care, 505 West Hollis Street, Suite 109, Nashua, email: marketing@abettervision.com. We will address your concerns in accordance with applicable law.Email MarketingIf you provide us with your email address, we may use it to send you marketing communications, newsletters or promotional materials. You may opt out of receiving such communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in the emails or by contacting us at marketing@abettervision.com. Please note that even if you opt out of marketing emails, you may still receive transactional or service-related emails related to your ongoing relationship with Focused Eye Care.

#### Routine Eye Exams
Routine Eye Exams				
		Regular eye exams in Nashua, NH are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. During a routine eye exam, our doctors assess your eyesight and evaluate any issues present in your vision. Routine eye exams test how well your eyes can see at varying distances and allow us to monitor changes over time so we can develop the best treatment plan for you.		
					
									book an Eye Exam
					
					About the Process				
					What to Expect				
		Annual eye exams are recommended for everyone. If you are at greater risk of developing eye issues or are already experiencing problems, you may require more medical exams. Many tests performed during a comprehensive eye exam are considered routine, and are usually covered by your vision insurance. Other diagnostic tests may be considered medical or we may discover conditions during your routine exam that are classified as medical. Vision insurance may not cover services and treatment for medical conditions, although your health insurance may provide coverage. If you have questions about routine care vs. medical services, view our brochure below.		
					
									Is My Exam Routine or Medical?
					
					What to Bring? 				
					If you have questions about any of the items below, please contact us.
				
		Insurance cardsAll glasses and contacts currently usedMedication listCompleted forms if needed		
					
									book an Eye Exam
					
					Types of Tests Performed at a Routine Exam
				
		During a comprehensive exam, your Focused Eye Care doctor will diagnose vision and eye health problems using a variety of tests. These tests may include:		
						
															
								
												Visual Acuity Tests
					Visual acuity tests measure the sharpness of your vision. This is the classic eye chart test. You are asked to identify characters on a projected eye chart to evaluate how well you see far away, and then repeat the exercise using a much closer chart to evaluate your near vision.
															
								
												Color Blindness Tests
					Your doctor will give you a screening test that checks your color vision to rule out color blindness. In addition to detecting hereditary color vision deficiencies, color blind tests also can alert your Focused Eye Care doctor to possible eye health problems affecting your color vision.
															
								
												Cover Test
					The cover test is a simple and commonly used method to determine if your eyes are working together to focus properly. During the test, you will look at a small object across the room while each of your eyes is covered alternately. The test is then repeated with you looking at a nearby object. Your Focused Eye Care doctor will observe whether the uncovered eye needs to move to pick up the target. Such movement could indicate strabismus (“crossed eyes”) or a more subtle binocular vision issue, which might cause eye strain or amblyopia (“lazy eye”).
															
								
												Ocular Motility (Eye Movements)
					Problems with eye movements can lead to eye strain and impact reading ability, sports vision and other skills. To assess movement issues, tests are conducted to evaluate how well your eyes can follow a moving object and quickly shift between and accurately fixate on two separate targets. In a common test for smooth eye movements (“pursuits”), you keep your head still and follow the slow movement of a handheld light or other target with just your eyes. If quick eye movements (“saccades”) are also tested, you will move your eyes back and forth between two targets positioned some distance apart.
															
								
												Depth Perception (Stereopsis) Test
					Stereopsis is the visual perception of three dimensions (3D), also known as depth perception. There are various types of depth perception tests, but a common one involves wearing a pair of 3D glasses to view a booklet of test patterns. Your task is to identify which circle in each pattern appears closer to you than the others. If you can correctly identify the “closer” circle in each pattern, your depth perception is effective.
															
								
												Retinoscopy
					During this test, the room lights will be dimmed and you will focus on a large target (usually the big “E” on the eye chart). As you stare at the “E,” your doctor will shine a light at your eye and flip lenses in a machine – called a phoropter – in front of your eyes. This test estimates which lens powers will best correct your distance vision with impressive accuracy. It is especially useful for children and patients who are unable to accurately answer the doctor’s questions.
															
								
												Refraction
					This is the test that your Focused Eye Care doctor uses to determine your exact eyeglass prescription. It determines your level of hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism and presbyopia (aging eyes). During a refraction, your doctor asks you to view letters or symbols through different lenses on equipment called a phoropter and indicate which of the two lenses in each choice looks clearer. Based on your answers, your eye doctor will continue to fine-tune the lens power until reaching a final eyeglass prescription.
															
								
												Slit Lamp Exam
					The slit lamp is a binocular microscope used to examine the structures of your eye under high magnification. During the slit lamp exam, you place your forehead and chin securely against the rests on the front of the instrument, and your doctor examines the structures of the front of your eyes — including your eyelids, cornea, conjunctiva, iris and lens. With the help of a hand-held lens, your doctor may also examine structures located farther back in your eye, such as your retina and optic nerve. A wide range of eye conditions and diseases can be detected during a slit lamp exam, including cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal ulcers and diabetic retinopathy.
															
								
												Glaucoma Tests
					You typically have no warning signs of glaucoma until significant vision loss occurs. Routine diagnostic tests known as “tonometry” often give the first indication that there is a problem. At Focused Eye Care, we often use an icare tonometer, gently placed on your eye,  which is painless. Another method is applanation tonometry, which is an instrument that reads your intraocular pressure quickly and easily, unlike the puff of air. This test involves numbing your eyes with yellow drops, which glow under blue light, and gently touching your eye’s surface with the tonometer to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). The process is quick and painless, usually causing only a slight tickling of your eyelashes.
															
								
												Pupil Dilation
					To get a better view of the internal structures of your eyes, your Focused Eye Care doctor uses dilating drops to enlarge your pupils. It generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the drops to take full effect. Your eye doctor will then be able to evaluate the inside of your eyes.When your pupils are dilated, your eyes will be sensitive to light (the larger the pupil is, the more light it allows in) and you may have difficulty focusing on objects up close. These effects can last up to several hours and wears off on its own. You should bring sunglasses with you to your eye exam to minimize glare and light sensitivity on the way home. If you forget to bring sunglasses, we will give you a disposable pair.
															
								
												Visual Field Test
					Your Focused Eye Care doctor may use a visual field test to check for blind spots in your peripheral vision, which can originate from eye diseases such as glaucoma or help identify specific areas of brain damage caused by a stroke or tumor. In a simple visual field test, your doctor or a trained assistant holds up different numbers of fingers within your peripheral field of view and asks how many you see while you continue to fixate on the doctor’s or assistant’s eyes. If an eye disease is suspected, you may need to undergo more comprehensive, formal types of visual field testing.
															
								
												Contact Lens Evaluations
					A contact lens fitting is an additional part of a comprehensive eye exam for every contact lens wearer. Your Focused Eye Care doctor will verify that your eyes are still healthy enough to wear contacts, that the contacts are fitting you correctly, measure your vision with your contact lenses on and adjust your prescription as needed. 
					Meet Our Doctors				
					
									Eye Doctors

#### Routine Eye Exams in Milford, NH
Routine Eye Exams in Milford, NH 				
		Focused Eye Care delivers thorough, reliable routine eye exams in Milford, NH—providing comprehensive evaluations, personalized care, and proactive monitoring to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy year-round.Your vision is one of your most precious senses, yet many people take their eye health for granted until problems arise. Regular eye examinations serve as your first line of defense against vision loss and diseases, helping catch issues in their earliest stages when treatment is most effective. Whether you're experiencing changes in your vision or simply maintaining your overall health, routine eye care plays a crucial role in preserving your quality of life.At Focused Eye Care, we provide comprehensive routine eye exams at our convenient Milford location, serving patients throughout the Souhegan Valley and surrounding communities. Our experienced team of optometrists combines advanced diagnostic technology with personalized care to make sure your eyes get the attention they deserve. We know that every patient has unique vision needs, and we're here to help you achieve and preserve optimal eye health throughout your lifetime.		
					What Routine Eye Exams Include				
		A comprehensive routine eye exam goes far beyond simply checking if you need glasses or contacts. During your visit, we evaluate multiple aspects of your eye health and visual function. The examination begins with a detailed review of your medical history, current medications, and any vision concerns you may be experiencing. This helps us understand your risk factors and tailor the examination to your specific needs.Our eye exam services include visual acuity testing to measure how clearly you see at various distances. We also perform refraction testing to determine your exact prescription needs, whether for glasses, contacts, or vision correction. Additionally, we examine the external structures of your eyes, including your eyelids, lashes, and the surrounding tissues.Advanced Diagnostic TestingModern eye care relies on sophisticated diagnostic equipment to detect problems that may not be visible during a basic examination. We use digital imaging technology to capture detailed pictures of your retina, allowing us to monitor changes over time. Tonometry testing measures the pressure inside your eyes, which is crucial for detecting glaucoma in its early stages.Our glaucoma screening services are particularly important since this condition often develops without noticeable symptoms. We also evaluate your peripheral vision and assess the health of your optic nerve. These comprehensive tests provide a complete picture of your eye health and help us identify potential issues before they affect your vision.		
					Benefits of Regular Eye Examinations				
		Scheduling routine eye exams provides numerous benefits beyond maintaining clear vision. Many serious eye conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, develop gradually without obvious symptoms in their early stages. Regular examinations allow us to detect these conditions when treatment options are most effective and vision preservation is most likely.Eye exams also reveal signs of systemic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders. The blood vessels in your retina provide a special window into your overall cardiovascular health. During your examination, we may identify warning signs that prompt you to seek additional medical care, potentially preventing serious health complications.For children, routine eye exams are vital for proper visual development and academic success. Children's eye exams can identify vision problems that interfere with learning, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or focusing difficulties. Early detection and treatment of these issues significantly improve a child's educational experience and overall quality of life.		
					When to Schedule Your Eye Exam				
		The frequency of routine eye exams depends on your age, risk factors, and overall eye health. Adults between 18 and 64 with no known vision problems should have comprehensive eye exams at every age. However, if you are prescribed glasses or contacts, have a family history of eye disease, or have conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, annual examinations are recommended.Adults over 65 should schedule annual eye exams regardless of their current vision status. Age-related eye conditions become more common after 60, making frequent monitoring essential for early detection and treatment. If you encounter sudden changes in vision, pain, flashing lights, or other concerning symptoms, don't wait for your scheduled appointment.Contact us immediately if you notice any shifts in your vision or experience eye discomfort. We offer emergency eye care services and can accommodate urgent appointments when needed. Our goal is to address your concerns and prevent small issues from developing into serious problems.		
					Insurance and Financing Options				
		We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make quality eye care accessible. Our staff handles insurance verification and helps you understand your coverage benefits before your appointment.For services not fully covered by insurance, we accept various payment options and can discuss financing arrangements when appropriate. Your vision health shouldn't be delayed due to cost concerns, so we work with each patient to find solutions that fit their budget.		
					Visit Our Convenient Nashua Location				
		 Our Nashua office provides easy access for patients throughout the greater Nashua area. The convenient location and ample parking make your visits stress-free, allowing you to focus on your eye care needs.We maintain flexible scheduling options to accommodate working families and busy lifestyles. Many routine services can be scheduled with minimal wait times, while urgent concerns receive priority attention.The comfortable atmosphere at our Nashua location reflects our People First philosophy. From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll experience the warm, professional service that sets us apart from other eye care providers.		
					Choose Focused Eye Care for Your Routine Eye Exams in Milford				
		At Focused Eye Care, our team of experienced optometrists brings decades of combined expertise to your eye care needs. We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and stay current with the latest advances in optometric care to provide you with the highest quality service.Our Milford office offers convenient scheduling and comprehensive services under one roof. We work with a broad range of medical insurance carriers and vision care plans to make your eye care affordable and accessible. From routine examinations to specialized treatments, we're committed to helping you keep healthy vision throughout your lifetime. Schedule your routine eye exam today by calling our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or booking your appointment online.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
									Learn More

#### Specialty Contact Lenses in Milford, NH
Specialty Contact Lenses in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care delivers trusted eye care from an experienced eye doctor in Milford, NH—providing comprehensive exams, personalized treatment, and expert guidance to support clear vision and long-term eye health.

Finding the right contact lenses becomes challenging when standard options fall short of your unique vision needs. Complex prescriptions, irregular cornea shapes, and specific eye conditions require specialized solutions that go beyond traditional soft lenses.

At Focused Eye Care, our Milford optometrists provide comprehensive specialty contact lens services tailored to your individual requirements. We work with advanced lens technologies and fitting techniques to help patients achieve clear, comfortable vision when conventional contacts aren't suitable.
Advanced Specialty Contact Lens Options
The following are the specialty contact lens options available:
Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
Gas-permeable (GP) lenses offer superior vision correction for many complex prescriptions. These rigid lenses maintain their shape on the eye, providing crisp vision for patients with high amounts of astigmatism or irregular corneas. GP lenses allow excellent oxygen flow to the cornea, promoting healthier long-term wear compared to some soft lens materials.

Our Milford team fits GP lenses for patients who need sharper vision than soft contacts can provide. The initial adjustment period requires patience, but many patients find the visual clarity worth the adaptation time. We guide you through the fitting process and provide ongoing support to ensure comfortable wear.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses represent a breakthrough for patients with corneal irregularities, severe dry eyes, or conditions like keratoconus. These large-diameter lenses vault over the cornea entirely, resting on the sclera (white part of the eye). This design creates a fluid reservoir between the lens and cornea, providing constant hydration.

Patients with keratoconus, corneal scarring, or post-surgical complications often find scleral lenses life-changing. The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that scleral lenses can significantly improve both vision and comfort for patients who struggle with conventional options.

Our specialists take precise measurements and work closely with laboratories to ensure optimal fit and performance.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
Presbyopia affects nearly everyone over 40, making near vision tasks increasingly difficult. Multifocal contact lenses provide seamless vision correction at all distances without the need for reading glasses. These lenses incorporate different prescription zones within a single lens, allowing natural vision transitions.

Our Milford optometrists evaluate your specific visual demands and lifestyle to determine the best multifocal design. Options include simultaneous vision designs, where both distance and near zones are active simultaneously, and alternating designs that shift focus based on eye position. Success with multifocal lenses often depends on proper fitting and realistic expectations.
Specialty Fitting Process
The following is our step-by-step specialty contact fitting process:

Comprehensive Eye Examination
Every specialty contact lens fitting begins with a thorough eye examination. We assess your overall eye health, measure corneal curvature, and evaluate tear film quality. Advanced diagnostic equipment helps us map your corneal topography and identify any irregularities requiring specialized correction.
Your visual needs and lifestyle play crucial roles in lens selection. We discuss your daily activities, work requirements, and personal preferences to choose the most appropriate specialty lens type. This comprehensive approach ensures better long-term success with your contact lenses.

Precise Measurements and Fitting
Specialty contact lens fitting requires precise measurements beyond standard parameters. We use corneal topography to map your eye's unique surface characteristics. These detailed measurements guide lens design and ensure optimal fit and comfort.
The fitting process may involve multiple appointments and trial lenses. Unlike standard contacts available off-the-shelf, specialty lenses are often custom-manufactured based on your specific measurements. This personalized approach takes time but results in better visual outcomes and comfort.

Follow-Up Care and Adjustments
Successful specialty contact lens wear requires ongoing professional support. We schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor lens fit, eye health, and visual performance. These visits allow us to make adjustments or modifications as needed to maintain optimal results.
Your eyes and vision needs may change over time, requiring lens parameter adjustments. We work with contact lens manufacturers to modify designs or try alternative options when necessary. This commitment to ongoing care helps ensure long-term success with specialty lenses.

Conditions Requiring Specialty Contacts
The following are conditions requiring specialty contact lenses:

Keratoconus Management
Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape, creating irregular astigmatism that glasses cannot fully correct. Specialty contact lenses, particularly scleral lenses, provide excellent vision correction for keratoconus patients. The rigid lens surface creates a new refractive surface, compensating for corneal irregularities.
Early-stage keratoconus may be managed with soft gas-permeable contacts. As the condition progresses, scleral lenses often become the preferred option. We monitor keratoconus progression and adjust contact lens options accordingly to maintain optimal vision.

Post-Surgical Correction
Patients who have undergone corneal transplants, LASIK complications, or other eye surgeries may benefit from specialty contact lenses. These lenses can address residual refractive errors, irregular astigmatism, or corneal surface irregularities resulting from surgical procedures.
Pre- and post-operative LASIK care includes evaluating contact lens options for patients experiencing less-than-ideal surgical outcomes. Specialty lenses can often restore functional vision and improve the quality of life for these patients.

Insurance and Financing Options
Many insurance plans provide coverage for medically necessary specialty contact lenses. We work with various vision and medical insurance carriers to maximize your benefits. Our team helps verify coverage and explains your financial responsibilities before beginning the fitting process.

For services not covered by insurance, we offer Care Credit financing options. This healthcare credit card allows you to spread treatment costs over manageable monthly payments, making specialty contact lens care more accessible.
Experience Advanced Contact Lens Care in Milford
At Focused Eye Care, our Milford optometrists combine extensive training with advanced technology to provide exceptional specialty contact lens services. Dr. Coutu has more than 30 years of experience fitting both specialty and standard contact lenses. Our team stays current with the latest lens technologies and fitting techniques to offer you the best possible outcomes.

Don't let complex vision needs limit your contact lens options. Call our Milford office at 603-673-1330 to schedule your specialty contact lens consultation, or book an appointment online to begin your journey toward clearer, more comfortable vision.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Specialty Contacts
Specialty Eye Care
Specialty Contacts
Regular hard or soft contact lenses are not right for everybody. If your eyes or your vision problems have prevented you from wearing contacts, be sure to ask your Focused Eye Care doctor about specialty options. Our doctors have extensive experience fitting specialty contact lens designs to correct your vision issues.
Why Specialty Contacts?
Some eye conditions cause blurry vision that is not correctable by glasses or regular contact lenses. These conditions require the use of custom designs that can compensate for the eye irregularities and improve vision.

Some of these eye conditions include:

 	Keratoconus
 	Pellucid marginal degeneration
 	Post-LASIK ectasia
 	Post-corneal transplant irregularities
 	Post-traumatic irregularities
 	Severe dry eye

Designs
The best specialty contact lens design will depend on your condition and prescription

Specialty contact lens designs include: Scleral lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, hybrid lenses and custom soft contact lenses. Your Focused Eye Care doctor will recommend the best options for you during your consultation visit.
Schedule a specialty lens consult
Make an appointment at our Nashua or Milford locations.


Book an Appointment

#### Specialty Eye Care
If a routine eye exam uncovers an issue that isn't routine, you are dealing with an eye health issue, or need a custom correction, Focused Eye Care is here to help. We offer a wide range of specialized eye exams and treatments.
Dry Eye Treatment
Dry eye is a condition caused by a breakdown in the quantity or quality of tears and their ability to moisten, cleanse and protect the eyes.


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Myopia Control
Myopia is the clinical term for nearsightedness. We have options to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children and young adults.


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Emergency Eye Care
As primary care providers of eye care, we’re on call 24/7 in case you have an eye injury or other eye emergency.


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Eye Diseases & Conditions
Many eye conditions and diseases can affect your eyesight and/or have long-term consequences if not treated properly and promptly.


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Vision Correction
At Focused Eye Care, we’re optometrists first, and dedicate much of our practice to correcting common vision problems for adults and children.


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Eye Care Network
Focused Eye Care has an extensive network of referral relationships within Southern NH and Massachusetts. If your vision care needs require further consultation outside the FEC office, we are able to connect you with local ophthalmologists and sub specialists to ensure that your vision needs are cared for.


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Specialty Contacts
Custom contacts may be needed to compensate for eye irregularities when glasses or regular contact lenses are not sufficient to correct vision problems.


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#### Sports Eye Injuries in Milford, NH
Sports Eye Injuries in Milford, NH
Focused Eye Care provides expert care for sports eye injuries in Milford, NH—offering prompt evaluations, personalized treatment, and trusted guidance to protect your vision, support healing, and prevent long-term complications.

Sports-related eye injuries send thousands of athletes to emergency rooms each year, with many of these incidents being entirely preventable through proper protection and awareness. Whether you're a weekend warrior hitting the tennis courts or a student athlete competing for Milford High School, understanding the risks and knowing where to find immediate, professional care can make the difference between a minor setback and permanent vision loss.

At Focused Eye Care, our Milford location provides comprehensive sports vision services and emergency eye care for athletes of all ages throughout the Souhegan Valley. Our experienced optometrists understand the unique visual demands of athletic performance and are equipped to handle everything from routine sports vision screenings to urgent trauma cases requiring immediate intervention.
Common Types of Sports Eye Injuries
Athletic activities expose eyes to various hazards, from fast-moving balls to direct contact with other players. Blunt trauma injuries occur most frequently in sports like baseball, basketball, and racquet sports, where balls or equipment can strike the eye area with significant force. These impacts can cause corneal abrasions, orbital fractures, or retinal detachments that require immediate medical attention.

Penetrating injuries, while less common, pose serious threats in sports involving sharp objects or broken equipment. Flying debris from artificial turf, splintered hockey sticks, or damaged protective gear can cause cuts to the eyelid or, in severe cases, penetrate the eye itself.

Chemical injuries can occur in swimming environments where chlorine levels are improperly balanced, or in outdoor sports where athletes encounter lawn chemicals or other environmental irritants. Even seemingly minor chemical exposure can cause significant corneal damage if not treated promptly.
High-Risk Sports for Eye Injuries
Certain athletic activities carry elevated risks for eye trauma. Basketball leads in overall eye injury rates, largely due to the combination of close player contact and fast-moving balls at eye level. The American Dental Association reports that players in contact sports face particularly high injury risks during competitive play.

Baseball and softball present unique dangers, as balls can reach speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour. Line drives and wild pitches create situations where reaction time is insufficient to avoid impact, making protective eyewear essential for players at all skill levels.

Racquet sports, including tennis, squash, and racquetball, generate eye injuries through both ball impact and accidental contact with racquets. The confined spaces of indoor courts increase collision risks, while outdoor tennis facilities in Milford's variable weather conditions can create additional visibility challenges.

Swimming and water sports carry risks from chemical exposure, diving accidents, and contact with pool edges or other swimmers. Our eye disease treatment services address complications from chlorine exposure and other aquatic-related eye problems.
Prevention Strategies for Athletes
Proper protective eyewear represents the most effective prevention method for sports-related eye injuries. Sport-specific safety glasses and goggles provide impact protection while maintaining visual clarity essential for athletic performance. These devices should meet American Society for Testing and Materials standards and be properly fitted by qualified professionals.

Regular comprehensive eye exams help identify vision problems that could increase injury risk. Athletes with uncorrected refractive errors may have slower reaction times or poor depth perception, making them more susceptible to collisions and impacts. Our comprehensive eye exams evaluate both visual acuity and overall eye health to ensure optimal athletic performance.

Environmental awareness plays a crucial role in injury prevention. Athletes should assess playing conditions, including lighting, weather, and field conditions, before participating. Poor visibility conditions significantly increase accident risks, particularly in outdoor sports common throughout Milford's recreational areas.

Coaches and parents should emphasize proper technique and sportsmanship to reduce intentional and accidental contact that leads to eye injuries. Education about recognizing symptoms of eye trauma ensures prompt medical attention when injuries occur.
Emergency Response and Treatment
Recognizing eye injury symptoms allows for an appropriate emergency response. Vision changes, including blurriness, double vision, or complete vision loss, indicate serious trauma requiring immediate medical attention. Eye pain, especially when accompanied by nausea or headache, may signal increased intraocular pressure or other complications.

Visible injuries such as cuts to the eyelid, blood in the eye, or obvious deformation of the eye area require urgent professional evaluation. Even seemingly minor symptoms can indicate significant underlying damage, making professional assessment essential.

First aid measures should focus on protecting the injured eye from further damage while seeking professional care. Never attempt to remove objects embedded in the eye, and avoid applying pressure to obviously injured eyes. Covering both eyes can help prevent involuntary eye movement that might worsen injuries.

Our Milford location provides emergency eye care services and maintains the capabilities to handle urgent sports-related injuries. When standard office hours don't align with athletic schedules and emergencies, our 24/7 availability ensures athletes receive necessary care when they need it most.
Specialized Emergency Eye Care with Dr. Sarah Jagatic
Dr. Sarah E. Jagatic brings specialized emergency eye care experience to our Milford location, making her uniquely qualified to handle sports-related eye injuries. With extensive diagnostic and treatment experience across a wide range of acute ocular conditions, Dr. Jagatic understands the time-sensitive nature of eye trauma and the importance of rapid, accurate assessment.

Her comprehensive training enables her to quickly differentiate between injuries requiring immediate intervention and those that can be managed with conservative treatment. This expertise proves invaluable when treating sports injuries, where prompt diagnosis can prevent complications that might otherwise affect long-term vision or athletic performance.

Dr. Jagatic's emergency care approach combines advanced diagnostic technology with personalized treatment protocols tailored to each athlete's specific injury and visual demands. She works closely with local sports medicine professionals and coaches to ensure comprehensive care that addresses both immediate trauma and long-term athletic goals.
Contact Focused Eye Care for Sports Vision Services
Our team understands the visual demands placed on athletes and the importance of maintaining peak visual performance while minimizing injury risks. From preventive care and protective eyewear fitting to emergency trauma treatment, we provide comprehensive services tailored to the athletic community throughout Milford and the surrounding Souhegan Valley.

Don't let preventable eye injuries sideline your athletic goals or compromise your long-term vision health. Our experienced optometrists combine advanced diagnostic technology with personalized care to keep you safely in the game you love. Contact our Milford office at 603-673-1330 to schedule your sports vision consultation, or book your appointment online today.

Focused Eye Care - Milford Office

Address: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055

Phone: 603-673-1330
Fax: 603-673-7007
Email: milfordreception@abettervision.com

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


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Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


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#### Sports Eye Injury Prevention and Treatment in Milford, NH
Sports Eye Injury Prevention and Treatment in Milford, NH				
		Focused Eye Care provides expert sports eye injury prevention and treatment in Milford, NH—offering advanced protective solutions, accurate diagnostics, and personalized care to help safeguard your vision, treat injuries promptly, and support long-term eye health.A deflected ball during your weekend soccer game or an accidental elbow at the gym can cause serious damage in an instant. Eye injuries from sports happen without warning, and the actions you take in those first moments often determine whether you keep your vision or face lasting consequences. Athletes of all ages face these risks, from youth league players to adults enjoying recreational activities.At Focused Eye Care, we provide comprehensive sports eye injury treatment and prevention services to families throughout the Souhegan Valley. We offer emergency care when you need it most, with optometrists who hold special therapeutic certifications to diagnose and treat everything from corneal abrasions to retinal damage.		
					Understanding Sports-Related Eye Injuries				
		Different sports create different risks for your eyes. Basketball leads the pack for eye injuries we treat in our Milford office, followed closely by baseball and racquet sports like tennis or racquetball. The type of injury often depends on the sport you play and the protection you wear.Blunt trauma occurs when balls, elbows, or equipment strike your eye directly. These impacts can cause bleeding inside the eye, damage to the retina, or fractures of the bones surrounding your eye socket. Some injuries show immediate symptoms like vision loss or severe pain, while others develop complications hours or even days later. This delayed onset makes immediate evaluation important even when symptoms seem minor.Penetrating injuries happen when objects enter the eye itself. While less common than blunt trauma, these injuries pose the most serious threat to your vision. Flying debris from broken equipment, fingernails during contact sports, or even the tip of a fishing rod can cause these injuries. Any penetrating injury requires immediate attention to prevent permanent vision loss.Corneal abrasions are scratches on your eye's clear surface. A finger in the eye during a basketball game, sand kicked up on a baseball field, or contact with sports equipment can scrape this delicate tissue. These injuries hurt significantly and can feel like something is stuck in your eye. Without proper treatment, abrasions may lead to infections or permanent scarring.Recognizing Serious Eye InjuriesYou need emergency care if you experience sudden vision loss, blood in or around your eye, severe pain not improving within minutes, inability to open your eye, or anything stuck in your eye. 		
					Preventing Eye Injuries During Sports				
		The right protective eyewear stops most sports eye injuries before they happen. Polycarbonate lenses resist impacts far better than regular plastic or glass, and they weigh less, too. We fit these lenses into sport-specific frames designed to stay put during movement and provide protection from all angles.Basketball and volleyball players benefit from wraparound goggles with fog-resistant coatings. Racquet sport athletes need eyewear with side shields to protect against balls coming from peripheral angles. Baseball and softball players who spend time in the outfield should wear sports sunglasses with glare-reducing lenses to track fly balls against bright skies. Swimmers need properly sealed goggles to protect against pool chemicals and bacteria.If you normally wear glasses or contact lenses, you can still protect your eyes during sports. We create custom prescription sports eyewear combining vision correction with impact resistance. These aren't your everyday glasses adapted for sports; we design them specifically for athletic use with secure fits and durable materials.Proper fit makes all the difference. Eyewear that slips during play leaves your eyes vulnerable at the worst possible moment. Uncomfortable protection often gets removed mid-game, defeating its entire purpose. Our opticians ensure your sports eyewear fits correctly and stays secure through the most intense activity.		
					Vision Assessments for Better Performance				
		Good vision means more than just reading the eye chart clearly. Athletic performance depends on visual skills, including eye tracking speed, depth perception accuracy, peripheral awareness, and visual reaction time. Many athletes see 20/20 on the chart but may benefit from vision correction or protective eyewear that enhances their performance on the field, court, or course.Comprehensive eye exams evaluate these important visual abilities and identify opportunities to optimize your vision for sports. Whether you need updated prescriptions, protective eyewear, or contact lenses better suited for athletic activities, we help you see clearly and perform confidently. Better vision translates directly to better performance, whether you're lining up a putt or tracking a tennis serve.		
					Emergency Eye Care Available When You Need it Most				
		Some situations can't wait for regular office hours. Blood in your eye, sudden vision changes, severe pain, or anything stuck in your eye needs immediate attention. We maintain availability at our Milford location for these emergencies. Don't try to remove objects from your eye yourself or wait to see if symptoms improve. Call us right away at 603-673-1330.Our emergency protocols prioritize speed without sacrificing thoroughness. We use advanced diagnostic equipment to detect damage that might not be visible during a basic examination. This technology helps us identify internal bleeding, retinal tears, or foreign bodies that could cause lasting harm if left untreated.		
					Expert Eye Care at Focused Eye Care in Milford				
		We opened our Milford location in September 2021 to serve the Souhegan Valley community with the same quality care our Nashua patients have trusted for decades. Readers of local publications have voted us "Best Optometrist" in the greater Merrimack and Souhegan Valley multiple times. Dr. Jagatic, Dr. Bryant, Dr. Waible, Dr. Coutu, and Dr. Sutherland bring decades of combined experience treating eye injuries and conditions affecting athletes. Our doctors hold special therapeutic certifications allowing them to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye diseases and conditions.Don't let an eye injury sideline you from the sports and activities you enjoy. Schedule an appointment at our Milford office to discuss protective eyewear options or receive treatment for a current injury.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
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#### Sports Eye Injury Prevention and Treatment in Nashua, NH
Sports Eye Injury Prevention and Treatment in Nashua, NH
Focused Eye Care delivers expert sports eye injury prevention and treatment in Nashua, NH—providing advanced protection strategies, precise diagnostics, and personalized care to safeguard your vision, manage injuries effectively, and support long-term eye health.



Sports-related eye injuries send thousands of people to emergency rooms every year, yet most of these injuries are preventable with proper eye protection. Whether you play recreational basketball, coach youth soccer, or compete in high-level athletics, your eyes face risks from flying objects, collisions, and environmental hazards. Understanding these risks and taking appropriate precautions can save your vision.

At Focused Eye Care in Nashua, we provide comprehensive care for sports eye injuries and fit protective eyewear for athletes of all ages and skill levels. Our team understands the unique vision demands of different sports and can recommend protection and correction options that keep you safe without compromising performance. We're available for emergency eye care when injuries occur, ensuring you receive immediate treatment to protect your vision and speed recovery.
High-Risk Sports and Activities
Some sports carry higher eye injury risks than others. Basketball leads all sports in eye injuries because of the combination of close contact, fast-moving balls, and frequent hand contact near the face. Baseball and softball cause severe injuries when balls or bats strike the eye area. Racquet sports propel small balls at high speeds in confined spaces, creating significant risk. Hockey combines hard pucks, sticks, and physical contact.

Soccer involves headers, collisions, and occasional contact with the ball or other players' limbs. Swimming exposes eyes to chemicals and infectious organisms. Running and track athletes face UV exposure and airborne debris. Winter sports expose your eyes to intense UV radiation, which can cause photokeratitis. Wearing proper sunglasses with UV protection prevents this injury.
Protective Eyewear for Athletes
Modern sports eyewear provides excellent protection without compromising vision or comfort. The key is choosing protection designed for your specific sport and ensuring proper fit.
Polycarbonate Lenses
Polycarbonate material is essential for sports eyewear. This impact-resistant material is 10 times stronger than regular plastic lenses and provides built-in UV protection. Polycarbonate lenses can withstand impacts that would shatter regular lenses, protecting your eyes from both the initial strike and lens fragments.
Sport-Specific Designs
Different sports require different protective eyewear designs. Basketball and racquetball goggles wrap around your face and include padding for comfort and impact absorption. Baseball fielders benefit from sports goggles or protective shields attached to helmets. Swimmers need well-sealed goggles that keep water out while providing clear underwater vision. Winter sports athletes need goggles that protect against UV radiation, wind, and flying snow or ice.
Prescription Sports Eyewear
Athletes who need vision correction shouldn't have to choose between clear vision and protection. We fit prescription sports eyewear that provides both safety and optimal visual performance. Options include prescription goggles, prescription inserts that fit behind protective eyewear, and sport-designed prescription glasses with impact-resistant lenses and frames.

Many athletes prefer contact lenses for sports because they provide wider peripheral vision, don't fog up, and won't fall off during play. However, contacts don't provide impact protection, so you still need protective eyewear over your contacts for high-risk sports. Daily disposable contacts work well for athletes because you can discard them if they get dirty or damaged during play.
Preventing Sports Eye Injuries
Prevention strategies extend beyond wearing protective eyewear, though that's the foundation of eye safety in sports. Select eyewear certified for your sport by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Generic safety glasses don't provide adequate protection for sports impacts. Ensure proper fit by having your protective eyewear professionally fitted.

Inspect your protective eyewear regularly for scratches, cracks, or warping. Damaged eyewear doesn't provide adequate protection and should be replaced immediately. Stay aware of your surroundings during play. Know where other players, equipment, and hazards are positioned. Learn and follow proper techniques for your sport. Many eye injuries result from improper form or unsafe play.
What to Do When Eye Injuries Occur
A quick, appropriate response to eye injuries can prevent complications and protect vision. Stop play immediately if you or another player sustains an eye injury. Don't rub the injured eye, as this can worsen damage. For chemical exposure, flush the eye with clean water for at least 15 minutes. For impacts or penetrating injuries, cover the eye gently with a clean cloth without applying pressure.

When to Seek Emergency Care
Seek immediate medical attention for sudden vision loss or significant blurred vision, severe pain, visible damage to the eye, bleeding from the eye, objects stuck in the eye, chemical burns, or inability to move the eye normally. Even if symptoms seem minor, any significant impact on the eye should be evaluated promptly.
After initial treatment, follow all care instructions carefully. Complete any prescribed medication courses, even if symptoms improve quickly. Attend all follow-up appointments so we can monitor healing and detect any delayed complications. Don't return to sports until we clear you to do so.

Vision Optimization for Athletic Performance
Beyond injury prevention, optimal vision enhances athletic performance. Comprehensive eye exams evaluate visual skills important for athletics, including depth perception for judging distances, tracking ability for following moving objects, peripheral vision for awareness of your surroundings, and hand-eye coordination. Clear, comfortable vision helps athletes perform at their best across all sports and activities.

If you need vision correction, several options work well for sports. Standard prescription eyewear with impact-resistant lenses works for lower-risk activities. Sport-specific prescription goggles provide protection and correction for high-risk sports. Contact lenses offer freedom of movement and wider visual fields.
Protect Your Vision at Focused Eye Care
Whether you need protective eyewear fitted, treatment for a sports injury, or a comprehensive vision assessment to optimize your athletic performance, our team provides the care you need. We've been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area multiple times by readers of the Nashua Telegraph. All of our O.D.s are members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, bringing extensive experience to sports vision care and emergency eye treatment for patients at our Nashua location.

Our highly trained team of opticians, certified para-optometric and contact lens technicians, and office staff is committed to providing exceptional care. We use advanced diagnostic technologies and maintain a state-of-the-art finishing lab, allowing us to fabricate, adjust, and repair your eyewear accurately and quickly right in our offices. We're available for emergency care when injuries occur. Schedule your consultation today and play with confidence knowing your eyes are protected.

Focused Eye Care - Nashua Office

Address: 505 W Hollis St STE 109, Nashua, NH 03062

Phone: 603-882-0311
Fax: 603-882-3020
Email: reception@abettervision.com

Hours:

Monday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 7:30 am – 7:30 pm
Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday: Closed


Patient Reviews
Our Practice
Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.


Learn More

Our Doctors
Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.


Learn More

Insurance
We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.


Learn More

Blog
Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.


Learn More

#### Sunglasses
Eyewear & Contacts
Sunglasses
Even on cloudy days, sunglasses are essential to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can cause cataracts, retinal damage, and more. Protecting your eyes from UV damage is important year-round—discover our full range of eyewear options to find the perfect fit for your lifestyle. Come in and customize a pair (or two) that fit your needs and personality!


shop sunglasses online














































 
Come in and shop
When you purchase sunglasses at Focused Eye Care, we help you select frames and lenses that support your vision health, but are also fun to wear!

We carry an extensive line of quality sunglasses frames from brand-name designers and offer polarized lenses to combat glare, reducing eye fatigue, tension and eyestrain. Colors are deeper, richer and bolder, and details are clearer and more distinct when viewed through sunglasses with polarized lenses.

What we offer:

Progressive Lenses
Transitions® Gen S™ Lenses
Crizal Anti-Reflective Coatings

Designer Frames
Polarized Lenses
Varilux®


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#### Vision Correction
Specialty Eye Care
Vision Correction
Eyeglasses and contacts are key ways to correct your vision, but they are not the only options. At Focused Eye Care, we provide consultation, referrals and follow-up care for these common vision correction surgeries and procedures.
Vision correction
Vision correction is a general term used to describe a variety of techniques for correcting less-than-perfect vision. The optometrists at Focused Eye Care help you see better through corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses. When you want to or need to go beyond corrective lenses, here are some of the common vision correction procedures recommended by Focused Eye Care doctors. We have the expertise and equipment necessary to provide assessment, consultation and any necessary referrals for these procedures.



Vision Therapy

Vision therapy, or visual training, is a personalized program of eye exercises and activities designed to improve visual skills, such as eye coordination, focus, and movement. It is often used to treat conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), and convergence insufficiency, helping patients develop more efficient and comfortable vision.


Corneal Reshaping (Orthokeratology)

Orthokeratology is a procedure for correcting myopia (nearsightedness) and mild astigmatism by gently reshaping the cornea with special contact lenses, which the patient places in their eyes overnight.

When successful, patients will experience clear vision during the day without contact lenses or eyeglasses. However, the results are temporary, so the patient must continue to wear the lenses regularly at night to maintain optimum results.


LASIK

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that uses a laser beam to reshape the cornea. Patients who are nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatic may benefit from this type of procedure.

While millions of patients have experienced successful results from LASIK, the procedure is not right for everyone. Your optometrist will need to thoroughly examine your eyes to determine which type of vision correction best fits your needs.


Low Vision Therapy

Low vision is a general term that refers to a partial loss of vision that cannot be adequately corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications or surgery. Common causes of low vision include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal degenerative diseases, glaucoma and optic nerve atrophy.

Low vision therapy typically includes an evaluation of the patient’s visual abilities, prescription of low vision devices and training in their use. The goal is to maximize the use of the patient’s available vision for reading, writing, hobbies and work-related tasks such as working at a computer.

#### Vision Correction Services in Milford, NH
Vision Correction Services in Milford, NH 				
		Focused Eye Care provides trusted vision correction services in Milford, NH—offering personalized evaluations, advanced solutions, and expert guidance to help you achieve clearer, more comfortable vision every day.Clear, comfortable vision shouldn't be a luxury—it should be accessible to everyone in the Souhegan Valley. Whether you're experiencing your first vision changes or seeking advanced correction options, the right approach can dramatically improve your quality of life and daily comfort.At Focused Eye Care, we provide comprehensive vision correction services to Milford residents and the surrounding communities. Our experienced optometrists use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose vision problems accurately and create personalized treatment plans that fit your lifestyle, budget, and visual needs.		
					Comprehensive Vision Correction Options in Milford				
		Vision correction has evolved far beyond basic eyeglasses. Today's options include advanced contact lens designs, specialized treatments for progressive vision loss, and co-management for surgical procedures. Our Milford location offers the full spectrum of correction methods to address nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and age-related vision changes.We begin every vision correction consultation with a thorough examination to determine the precise nature of your vision challenges. This comprehensive approach allows us to recommend the most effective correction method, whether you're a first-time glasses wearer or someone seeking alternatives to your current vision solution. Our diagnostic equipment helps us detect even subtle vision changes early, ensuring you receive the most appropriate care.Many patients discover their vision needs extend beyond simple prescription changes. We address complex vision problems, including presbyopia, dry eye syndrome, and digital eye strain—conditions that can significantly impact your comfort and visual performance throughout the day. Modern lifestyles, with increased screen time and digital device usage, have created new challenges for maintaining optimal vision health.		
					Understanding Common Vision Problems				
		Refractive errors affect millions of Americans, yet many people don't fully understand their specific condition or available treatment options. Myopia, or nearsightedness, typically develops during childhood and can progress throughout the teenage years. Without proper management, high myopia increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment and glaucoma.Hyperopia, commonly called farsightedness, often goes undiagnosed because patients may see clearly at a distance while experiencing eye strain during close work. This condition can cause headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, particularly during reading or computer work. Early detection and proper correction can eliminate these symptoms and improve overall quality of life.Astigmatism results from an irregularly shaped cornea or lens, causing blurred or distorted vision at all distances. Many patients with astigmatism believe they cannot wear contact lenses, but modern toric lens designs provide excellent vision correction for even complex prescriptions. Our fitting expertise ensures a comfortable, stable vision for astigmatic patients who prefer contacts over glasses.Presbyopia affects nearly everyone over age 40, causing difficulty focusing on close objects. This natural aging process can be addressed through various correction methods, from progressive eyeglass lenses to multifocal contacts, allowing patients to maintain clear vision at all distances without constantly switching between different pairs of glasses.		
					Advanced Contact Lens Solutions				
		Contact lens technology has revolutionized vision correction, offering options for virtually every prescription and lifestyle need. Our Milford office specializes in fitting both standard and specialty contact lenses, ensuring optimal comfort and visual clarity for each patient.For patients with astigmatism, toric contact lenses provide crisp, stable vision without the distortion sometimes experienced with glasses. These lenses feature weighted designs that maintain proper orientation on the eye, delivering consistent visual performance throughout the day. Modern toric lenses offer exceptional comfort and are available in daily, weekly, and monthly replacement schedules.Multifocal contact lenses address presbyopia by incorporating multiple prescription zones, allowing clear vision at all distances without the need for reading glasses. These lenses require precise fitting and may involve an adaptation period, but most patients experience significant improvement in their visual freedom and lifestyle satisfaction.Specialty Contact Lens ServicesWe offer advanced fitting services for challenging prescriptions and unique eye conditions. These include:Rigid gas permeable lenses for superior optics and eye healthHybrid lenses combining rigid center optics with soft lens comfortScleral lenses for irregular corneas and severe dry eye conditionsCustom soft lenses for unusual prescriptions or eye shapesPatients with keratoconus, post-surgical corneas, or severe dry eyes often benefit from these specialized designs. Our fitting process includes detailed corneal mapping and multiple follow-up appointments to ensure optimal lens performance and eye health. We work closely with leading lens manufacturers to provide the most advanced materials and designs available.		
					Myopia Control and Pediatric Vision Correction				
		Childhood myopia rates continue rising, making early intervention increasingly important. Our myopia control programs help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, potentially reducing their risk of high myopia and associated eye health complications later in life.Orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses reshape the cornea overnight, providing clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts. This FDA-approved treatment offers an excellent option for active children and teens who prefer not to wear correction during sports or other activities. Clinical studies demonstrate ortho-k can significantly slow myopia progression compared to traditional correction methods.We also offer specialized soft contact lenses designed for myopia control. These lenses incorporate unique optical designs that help reduce the eye's tendency toward continued elongation, addressing one of the primary causes of myopia progression. Parents appreciate these treatment options because they provide clear vision while potentially reducing their child's dependence on stronger prescriptions throughout their lifetime.		
					Pre and Post-Operative LASIK Care				
		While we don't perform LASIK surgery, we provide comprehensive co-management services for patients considering or recovering from refractive procedures. Our pre-operative evaluations help determine candidacy for various surgical options, ensuring you have realistic expectations about outcomes.Post-operative care includes monitoring healing progress, managing any temporary side effects, and ensuring optimal visual results. We work closely with experienced surgeons throughout New Hampshire to provide seamless care before, during, and after your procedure.Our co-management approach means you receive personalized attention from familiar doctors who understand your vision history and goals. This continuity of care often results in better outcomes and greater patient satisfaction compared to standalone surgical centers.		
					Focused Eye Care Vision Correction in Milford				
		Our Milford team brings decades of combined experience in vision correction to the Souhegan Valley community. Dr. Sarah Jagatic specializes in comprehensive eye care with particular focus on eye disease management, while our full team of optometrists offers expertise in contact lens fitting, myopia control, and pre- and post-operative surgical care.We understand vision correction represents a significant investment in your quality of life. That's why we work with numerous insurance plans and offer financing options through CareCredit to make quality eye care accessible. For immediate assistance or to schedule your vision correction consultation, call our Milford office at 603-673-1330 or request an appointment online.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
					Patient Reviews				
					Our Practice				
		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Our Doctors				
		Meet the experienced doctors who make Focused Eye Care the place individuals and families think of first for better eye health and vision care.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Insurance				
		We accept a broad range of insurance and vision care plans. We are happy to work with you to determine your coverage.		
					
									Learn More
					
					Blog				
		Get the latest news about our practice and helpful tips about eye care, vision care products, healthy habits and more.		
					
									Learn More

#### Vision Therapy in Milford, NH
Vision Therapy in Milford, NH				
		Focused Eye Care offers specialized vision therapy in Milford, NH—providing personalized treatments to improve visual skills, enhance eye coordination, and support long-term eye health.Vision problems extend far beyond the need for glasses or contact lenses, affecting how your eyes work together, track moving objects, and process visual information. For residents of Milford and the surrounding Souhegan Valley, comprehensive vision therapy can address these complex visual processing issues that impact learning, work performance, and daily activities.At Focused Eye Care, our Milford location provides specialized vision therapy services designed to strengthen visual skills and improve eye coordination. Our experienced optometrists understand that vision therapy requires personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique needs, whether addressing childhood learning difficulties or adult visual processing challenges.		
					Understanding Vision Therapy and Its Benefits				
		Vision therapy represents a structured program of visual activities designed to improve visual skills and processing. Unlike simply correcting refractive errors with glasses, vision therapy addresses how your visual system functions as a whole. This treatment approach focuses on enhancing eye movement control, focusing abilities, visual processing speed, and the coordination between both eyes.Vision therapy is an effective treatment for various visual processing disorders. Through carefully designed exercises and activities, patients can develop better visual efficiency, which often translates to improved performance in school, work, and sports activities.		
					 Common Conditions Treated with Vision Therapy				
		The following are conditions that may benefit from vision therapy: Amblyopia and Eye Turn DisordersDr. Stephen P. Waible brings personal experience to treating amblyopia, having been successfully treated for this condition during his childhood in Nashua. His dedication to helping others with lazy eyes stems from understanding firsthand how proper treatment can transform visual development.Learning-Related Vision ProblemsMany children struggle academically, not due to lack of intelligence, but because of underlying visual processing difficulties. Vision therapy can address issues like poor tracking skills, focusing problems, and visual-motor integration challenges that affect reading comprehension and academic performance.Binocular Vision DysfunctionWhen eyes fail to work together efficiently, patients may experience double vision, headaches, eye strain, and difficulty with depth perception. Our vision therapy programs help retrain the visual system to achieve proper binocular coordination.		
					Expert Vision Therapy Care in Milford				
		Our Milford practice benefits from the expertise of Dr. Catherine A. Johnson, who has extensive experience in pediatric optometry and vision therapy. Dr. Johnson completed her pediatric optometry residency at New England College of Optometry and has lectured extensively on pediatric issues such as amblyopia and eye misalignment. Her specialized training makes her uniquely qualified to address complex visual processing disorders in both children and adults.The combination of Dr. Waible's personal understanding of visual development challenges and Dr. Johnson's advanced pediatric training creates a comprehensive approach to vision therapy treatment. Both doctors understand that successful vision therapy requires patience, consistency, and individualized treatment protocols.		
					Advanced Diagnostic Technology for Vision Therapy				
		Our comprehensive eye exams utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to identify visual processing issues that may not be detected during routine vision screenings. This thorough evaluation process allows our optometrists to develop targeted therapy plans addressing specific visual deficiencies.The diagnostic process includes assessments of eye tracking abilities, focusing flexibility, visual processing speed, and binocular coordination. These detailed evaluations help determine whether vision therapy would benefit the patient and which specific visual skills require improvement.		
					Why Milford Families Choose Focused Eye Care for Vision Therapy				
		The following are reasons why you should choose Focused Eye Care for vision therapy: Personalized Treatment ApproachEach vision therapy program begins with comprehensive testing to identify specific visual weaknesses. Our optometrists then design individualized therapy protocols targeting those areas needing improvement, ensuring efficient and effective treatment outcomes.Experienced Pediatric CareDr. Johnson's background in pediatric optometry and her passion for helping children with visual processing disorders make our Milford location an ideal choice for families seeking vision therapy services. Her understanding of childhood visual development ensures age-appropriate treatment approaches.Convenient Milford LocationLocated in the heart of Milford, our practice serves families throughout the Souhegan Valley region. The convenient location allows for regular therapy sessions without the burden of traveling to distant metropolitan areas for specialized care.		
					The Vision Therapy Process				
		Vision therapy typically involves in-office sessions combined with at-home exercises designed to reinforce newly developed visual skills. Treatment duration varies depending on the specific visual processing issues being addressed, with most programs lasting several months to achieve optimal results.Regular progress evaluations ensure therapy protocols remain effective and allow for adjustments as visual skills improve. Our team works closely with patients and families to maintain motivation and track improvements throughout the treatment process.		
					Schedule Your Vision Therapy Consultation at Focused Eye Care Milford				
		Focused Eye Care has provided exceptional eye health and optometry services to New Hampshire communities since 1962, building a reputation for personalized care and clinical excellence. Our Milford location, opened in September 2021, brings this same commitment to comprehensive vision care to the Souhegan Valley region. With optometrists holding advanced therapeutic certifications and specialized training in pediatric vision therapy, our team possesses the expertise necessary to address complex visual processing disorders affecting patients of all ages.Don't let visual processing challenges limit your potential or your child's academic success. Our vision therapy specialists are ready to evaluate your visual skills and develop a personalized treatment plan addressing your specific needs. Contact our Milford office today at 603-673-1330 or schedule your comprehensive vision evaluation online to begin your journey toward improved visual function and enhanced quality of life.Focused Eye Care - Milford OfficeAddress: 81 Mont Vernon St, Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comMonday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pmWednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmThursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed		
									
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		Focused Eye Care has provided eye health, optometry services and vision care products in Southern New Hampshire since 1962.		
					
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		The eye care professionals at Focused Eye Care diagnose vision and eye health problems, and may even uncover other health conditions you were not aware of. For more information, request an appointment with a Focused Eye Care doctor.		
						
					
															
								
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#### Back to school 2026
Family eye care done right, locally.				
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#### Best of greater nashua
Awards				
					The Telegraph Best of Greater Nashua				
		Best Eye Care 2024Best Eye Wear 2024

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		Best Eye Care 2025Best Eye Wear 2025

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		Best Optometrist / Ophthalmologist 2023

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					Best of Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley Region 2024				
		Best Optometrist / Ophthalmologist 2024

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About the Process		
			What to Expect		
		The need for and frequency of vision examinations vary with age, race, medical history, family history, occupation and other factors. Individuals with problem indicators or symptoms require regular examination. In addition, the presence of certain risk factors may necessitate more frequent evaluations based on professional judgement.Please be aware that many tests performed during comprehensive eye exam are considered routine, and usually covered by your vision insurance.Other tests may be considered medical in nature, or we may discover conditions during your routine exam that are medical in nature. We are obligated to discuss those conditions with you, and treatment options, but those services may not be covered by your vision insurance. (They may be covered by your health insurance.)Questions you may have about routine vs. medical services are answered in a free brochure available in our offices: Is Your Eye Exam Routine, or Medical? Ask for a copy.

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Find Your Perfect Glasses!
		
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		Your glasses are an extension of you! You want to select a pair that not only meets your vision needs, but also expresses your fashion preferences and highlights your features. Whether you love vivid colors in a playful style or prefer something a little more conservative, we can help you both see well and look great. We have a wide selection of lenses and frames for different functions such as reading, driving and playing sports.

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#### Bryant Popup
Kristen O. Bryant, O.D.				
		A New Hampshire native, Dr. Bryant received her Bachelor of Science from the University of New Hampshire and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, where she was elected to the Golden Key and Beta Sigma Kappa optometric honor societies. She completed her residency at the VA Medical Center in Memphis. Dr. Bryant specializes in low vision, is TPA/G-licensed to treat glaucoma, and provides comprehensive primary eye care, including post-operative cataract surgery care.She is a member of the American Optometric Association, a past president of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, serves on the board of directors for Future In Sight (formerly the NH Association for the Blind), and is the clinical director of the New Hampshire Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes vision screening program.

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Eye Exams		
			Request an appointment today!		
		Regular eye exams are key to the overall health and wellbeing of you and your family. The Focused Eye Care team of optometrists is proud to provide their patients with years of experience, customized care and a wide variety of eye exams to meet all your vision care needs. Whether you are looking for a routine exam or specialized care, our team is prepared to provide the best eye care services in Southern New Hampshire.		
			
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Ronald B. Coutu, O.D.				
		Dr. Coutu has been a leading optometrist in southern New Hampshire for more than 30 years. He has extensive experience in medical optometry and fitting for both specialty and standard contact lenses. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry and a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association. Dr. Coutu’s New Hampshire Optometric License includes therapeutic glaucoma privileges, the highest scope of practice available in the state.Dr. Coutu received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from St. Michael’s College in Vermont and his M.B.A. in marketing from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. He received his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from The New England College of Optometry in Boston, where he was named to the National Dean’s List and Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society.

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Anjelica M. Donnelly, O.D.				
		Dr. Donnelly is experienced in all aspects of comprehensive eye exams, as well as in the assessment and treatment of eye diseases and conditions. Childhood myopia, pre- and post-operative cataract and refractive surgery care, and advanced and specialty contact lenses are a few areas of particular focus. Dr. Donnelly is a member of the American Optometric Association and is currently on the board of directors for the New Hampshire Optometric Association.Dr. Donnelly joined Focused Eye Care following clinical experience at the South End Community Health Center in Boston, and at the Veterans Administration clinic in Lowell, MA. She received her Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Creighton University in Omaha, NE and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from the New England College of Optometry.

#### Eyewear policy
Our Commitment to You				
		At Focused Eye Care, we’re dedicated to helping you find the perfect pair of frames—and ensuring you love your experience with us every step of the way.		
						
				
					 Frame Exchanges 
			
			
						
									Unworn frames in their original condition may be exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Exchanges must be for frames of equal or lesser value. If you select a frame at a higher price, you’ll simply pay the difference.								
					
						
				
					 Lens Changes 
			
			
						
									Prescription lenses can be changed within 90 days of purchase at the same retail value. If you’d like to upgrade to a different lens design or add features, you’ll just be responsible for the price difference.								
					
						
				
					 Prescription Lens Replacement 
			
			
						
									We’ll replace your prescription lenses at no cost within 90 days if the change is needed due to a prescription update, material defect, design change, measurement issue, or manufacturer-related concern.								
					
						
				
					 Please Note 
			
			
						
									Eyeglasses are a custom-made medical device, created specifically to your prescription and preferences. As such, we do not offer refunds or credits for price adjustments, and a 30% restocking fee may apply in certain cases.								
					
						
				
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									We understand that things don’t always go as planned. If you’re outside the warranty period or have a unique situation, please reach out. We’re here to help in any way we can.								
					
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		Unworn frames in their original condition may be exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Exchanges must be for frames of equal or lesser value. If you select a frame at a higher price, you’ll simply pay the difference.Prescription lenses can be changed within 90 days of purchase at the same retail value. If you’d like to upgrade to a different lens design or add features, you’ll just be responsible for the price difference.We’ll replace your prescription lenses at no cost within 90 days if the change is needed due to a prescription update, material defect, design change, measurement issue, or manufacturer-related concern.Eyeglasses are a custom-made medical device, created specifically to your prescription and preferences. As such, we do not offer refunds or credits for price adjustments, and a 30% restocking fee may apply in certain cases.We understand that things don’t always go as planned. If you’re outside the warranty period or have a unique situation, please reach out. We’re here to help in any way we can.		
					
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					Nashua Office				
		505 West Hollis Street, Suite 109Nashua, NH 03062Phone: 603-882-0311Fax: 603-882-3020Email: reception@abettervision.com		
					Milford Office				
		81 Mont Vernon Street,Milford, NH 03055Phone: 603-673-1330Fax: 603-673-7007Email: milfordreception@abettervision.comPrivacy Policy		
					
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Comprehensive Eye Exams
		
		During a comprehensive eye exam, your Focused Eye Care doctor tests your vision, examines your overall eye health and screens for common eye diseases. While both children and adults need comprehensive eye exams, the recommended frequency of the exams vary according to age, race, medical history, family history, occupation and other factors. Many tests performed during a comprehensive eye exam are considered routine, and are usually covered by your vision insurance		
			
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			Children's Eye Exams		
		Our team at Focused Eye Care includes leading specialists in pediatric eye care. We are accustomed to working with children and are dedicated to making your child's vision and eye health a top priority. We recommend a complete vision examination for all children before they enter school. A pediatric vision exam covers a wide range of eye health concerns in children, including hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision caused by in imperfection in the curvature of the eye), myopia (nearsightedness), strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), eye movements, focusing and coordination between both eyes.		
			
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			Medical Eye Exams		
		When a comprehensive eye exam reveals a vision-related disease or condition, a medical eye exam will be the next step. A medical eye exam is used to diagnose a specific medical issue. Our doctors evaluate the results of the exam and work with you to develop the best possible treatment plan.		
			
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Vision Correction		
		At Focused Eye Care, we’re optometrists first, and dedicate much of our practice to treating people, and people you know, for common vision problems.		
			
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			Vision Problems		
		At Focused Eye Care, we provide consultation, referrals and follow-up care for these common vision correction surgeries and procedures.		
			
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			Specialty Contacts		
		Some eye conditions cause blurry vision that is not correctable by glasses or regular contact lenses. These conditions require the use of custom designs that can mask these irregularities and improve vision.		
			
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			Specialty Contacts		
		Some eye conditions cause blurry vision that is not correctable by glasses or regular contact lenses. These conditions require the use of custom designs that can mask these irregularities and improve vision.		
			
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What to Expect		
		The need for and frequency of vision examinations vary with age, race, medical history, family history, occupation and other factors. Individuals with problem indicators or symptoms require regular examination. In addition, the presence of certain risk factors may necessitate more frequent evaluations based on professional judgement.Please be aware that many tests performed during comprehensive eye exam are considered routine, and usually covered by your vision insurance.Other tests may be considered medical in nature, or we may discover conditions during your routine exam that are medical in nature. We are obligated to discuss those conditions with you, and treatment options, but those services may not be covered by your vision insurance. (They may be covered by your health insurance.)Questions you may have about routine vs. medical services are answered in a free brochure available in our offices: Is Your Eye Exam Routine, or Medical? Ask for a copy.		
			
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Save the Date for Our Open House! | October 22 | 6:30-8:00 pm | Nashua Location		
					
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		Order Contacts   |   Insurance   |   Patient Portal, Nashua   | Patient Portal, Milford   |  Offers   |   Call or Text: Nashua Office: 603-882-0311   |   Milford Office: 603-673-1330Call or Text: Nashua Office: 603-882-0311Milford Office: 603-673-1330		
																														
					
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#### Huffer Popup
Scott D. Huffer, O.D./F.A.A.O.				
		Dr. Huffer is a primary care optometrist with a focus on ocular diseases. He completed residencies and training at Manchester VA Medical Center and Medical Eye Center in Manchester, NH, and at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He is a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, NY and the New England College of Optometry in Boston.Dr. Huffer is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the American Optometric Association, and a past president (2021) and current board member of the New Hampshire Optometric Association. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Nashua West.

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#### Jagatic Popup
Sarah E. Jagatic, O.D.				
		Dr. Jagatic has extensive diagnostic and treatment experience with a wide range of ocular conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. She is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association and is a member of the Hollis Brookline Rotary Club.Dr. Jagatic earned her Bachelor of Science in biology with highest honors from the University of Illinois, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key. She received numerous academic awards and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with high honors from the Indiana University School of Optometry.

#### Johnson Popup
Catherine A. Johnson, O.D./F.A.A.O.				
		Dr. Johnson has a passion for vision care for children and disabled adults and has lectured and written extensively on pediatric issues such as amblyopia and eye misalignment. Before joining our team in 2024, she provided pediatric optometry services at Specialized Pediatric Eye Care, a community-based child’s vision specialty office based in Massachusetts.A native of Canada, Dr. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from McMaster University in Ontario. She received her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from New England College of Optometry (NECO) and went on to complete her pediatric optometry residency at the same institution. Dr. Johnson has served as an associate professor at NECO, where she has received awards for teaching excellence. She donates her time to international eye care missions and a broad range of regional causes.

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Eyewear & Contacts		
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#### MacDonald Popup
Kelly M. MacDonald, O.D.				
		Dr. MacDonald provides comprehensive eye care for the entire family. She is also focused on the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, such as glaucoma.Dr. MacDonald earned her degrees at the New England College of Optometry, where she received numerous academic awards and volunteered extensively. She is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Nashua, and has been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area multiple times in recent years by readers of the Nashua Telegraph.

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Join Us for Our Open House!				
					Wednesday, Oct. 22 | 6:30-8:00 pm				
					505 West Hollis Street, Suite 109
Nashua, NH 03062				
		Get to know the FEC family with a fun night of community, giveaways and, of course, eye care!Meet our doctorsFree glasses cleaningsFree face shape analysisRaffles and giveawaysActivities for all agesGet eye care tipsFree appetizers and drinksAll are welcome!Bring a friend or the whole family and see how we put People First.		
					
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#### Phillis popup
Kendra M. Phillis, O.D.				
		A Nashua native, Dr. Phillis brings extensive clinical experience to her hometown area. She provides comprehensive primary eye care, as well as expertise with severe ocular surface diseases, general and specialty contact lens fittings, childhood myopia, and assessment and treatment of common eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.Dr. Phillis received her Bachelor of Science in biology from New York University and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) at New England College of Optometry (NECO), where she received several academic scholarships and is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa optometric honor society. Before joining Focused Eye Care in August 2020, she completed a NECO-directed residency that included extensive clinical rotations at several well-regarded vision-focused facilities, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. Dr. Phillis is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

#### Pop Up Template
Kelly M. MacDonald, O.D.		
		Dr. MacDonald provides comprehensive eye care for the entire family, starting with infants as young as six months old. She is also focused on the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, such as glaucoma.Dr. MacDonald earned her degrees at the New England College of Optometry, where she received numerous academic awards and volunteered extensively. She is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Nashua, and has been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area multiple times in recent years by readers of the Nashua Telegraph.

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#### Sutherland Popup
Lyudmila Sutherland, O.D.				
		Dr. Sutherland is a primary care optometrist providing comprehensive eye care and specializing in the management and care of patients with ocular diseases, including dry eye. While in optometry school, she served with Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity to provide eye care to the underprivileged communities of Batee San Gonzalo, Dominican Republic.Dr. Sutherland earned her Bachelor of Science in health sciences from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from New England College of Optometry. She completed her residency in the VA Boston Healthcare System, specializing in primary care and low vision optometry. Dr. Sutherland is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

#### Waible popup
Stephen P. Waible, O.D.				
		Dr. Waible's interest in optometry began during his childhood in Nashua. He was diagnosed and then successfully treated for amblyopia – or lazy eye – a condition that causes vision in one eye to develop more slowly than in the other. He is dedicated to helping others experiencing amblyopia, as well as providing comprehensive vision care, including eye exams, assessment and treatment of ocular diseases, and dry eye treatment.Dr. Waible earned his Bachelor of Science in biology with high honors at the University of Maine Orono and his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with high honors at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where he was elected to Beta Sigma Kappa, the international optometric honor society. He completed clinical experience at Amoskeag Health and the VA Medical Center in Manchester, and the Eye and Vision Center in Worcester, MA. Dr. Waible is a member of both the American and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

#### White Background - Content centered
What to Expect		
		The need for and frequency of vision examinations vary with age, race, medical history, family history, occupation and other factors. Individuals with problem indicators or symptoms require regular examination. In addition, the presence of certain risk factors may necessitate more frequent evaluations based on professional judgement.Please be aware that many tests performed during comprehensive eye exam are considered routine, and usually covered by your vision insurance.Other tests may be considered medical in nature, or we may discover conditions during your routine exam that are medical in nature. We are obligated to discuss those conditions with you, and treatment options, but those services may not be covered by your vision insurance. (They may be covered by your health insurance.)Questions you may have about routine vs. medical services are answered in a free brochure available in our offices: Is Your Eye Exam Routine, or Medical? Ask for a copy.		
			
									Click here

### Our Doctors

#### Anjelica M. Donnelly, O.D.
Dr. Donnelly is experienced in all aspects of comprehensive eye exams, as well as in the assessment and treatment of eye diseases and conditions. Childhood myopia, pre- and post-operative cataract and refractive surgery care, and advanced and specialty contact lenses are a few areas of particular focus. Dr. Donnelly is a member of the American Optometric Association and is currently on the board of directors for the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

Dr. Donnelly joined Focused Eye Care following clinical experience at the South End Community Health Center in Boston, and at the Veterans Administration clinic in Lowell, MA. She received her Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Creighton University in Omaha, NE and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from the New England College of Optometry.

#### Catherine Johnson, O.D./F.A.A.O.
Dr. Johnson has a passion for vision care for children and disabled adults and has lectured and written extensively on pediatric issues such as amblyopia and eye misalignment. Before joining our team in 2024, she provided pediatric optometry services at Specialized Pediatric Eye Care, a community-based child’s vision specialty office based in Massachusetts.

A native of Canada, Dr. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from McMaster University in Ontario. She received her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from New England College of Optometry (NECO) and went on to complete her pediatric optometry residency at the same institution. Dr. Johnson has served as an associate professor at NECO, where she has received awards for teaching excellence. She donates her time to international eye care missions and a broad range of regional causes.

#### Kelly M. MacDonald, O.D.
Dr. MacDonald provides comprehensive eye care for the entire family, starting with infants as young as six months old. She is also focused on the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, such as glaucoma.

Dr. MacDonald earned her degrees at the New England College of Optometry, where she received numerous academic awards and volunteered extensively. She is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Nashua, and has been voted "Best Optometrist" in the greater Nashua area multiple times in recent years by readers of the Nashua Telegraph.

#### Kendra M. Phillis, O.D.
A Nashua native, Dr. Phillis brings extensive clinical experience to her hometown area. She provides comprehensive primary eye care, as well as expertise with severe ocular surface diseases, general and specialty contact lens fittings, childhood myopia, and assessment and treatment of common eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Dr. Phillis received her Bachelor of Science in biology from New York University and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) at New England College of Optometry (NECO), where she received several academic scholarships and is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa optometric honor society. Before joining Focused Eye Care in August 2020, she completed a NECO-directed residency that included extensive clinical rotations at several well-regarded vision-focused facilities, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. Dr. Phillis is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

#### Kristen O. Bryant, O.D.
A New Hampshire native, Dr. Bryant received her Bachelor of Science from the University of New Hampshire and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, where she was elected to the Golden Key and Beta Sigma Kappa optometric honor societies. She completed her residency at the VA Medical Center in Memphis. Dr. Bryant specializes in low vision, is TPA/G-licensed to treat glaucoma, and provides comprehensive primary eye care, including post-operative cataract surgery care.

She is a member of the American Optometric Association, a past president of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, serves on the board of directors for Future In Sight (formerly the NH Association for the Blind), and is the clinical director of the New Hampshire Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes vision screening program.

#### Lyudmila Sutherland, O.D.
Dr. Sutherland is a primary care optometrist providing comprehensive eye care and specializing in the management and care of patients with ocular diseases, including dry eye. While in optometry school, she served with Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity to provide eye care to the underprivileged communities of Batee San Gonzalo, Dominican Republic.

Dr. Sutherland earned her Bachelor of Science in health sciences from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from New England College of Optometry. She completed her residency in the VA Boston Healthcare System, specializing in primary care and low vision optometry. Dr. Sutherland is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.

#### Ronald Coutu, O.D.
Dr. Coutu has been a leading optometrist in southern New Hampshire for more than 30 years. He has extensive experience in medical optometry and fitting for both specialty and standard contact lenses. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry and a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association. Dr. Coutu’s New Hampshire Optometric License includes therapeutic glaucoma privileges, the highest scope of practice available in the state.

Dr. Coutu received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from St. Michael’s College in Vermont and his M.B.A. in marketing from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. He received his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) from The New England College of Optometry in Boston, where he was named to the National Dean’s List and Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society.

#### Sarah E. Jagatic, O.D.
Dr. Jagatic has extensive diagnostic and treatment experience with a wide range of ocular conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. She is a member of both the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association and is a member of the Hollis Brookline Rotary Club.

Dr. Jagatic earned her Bachelor of Science in biology with highest honors from the University of Illinois, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key. She received numerous academic awards and her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with high honors from the Indiana University School of Optometry.

#### Scott D. Huffer, O.D./F.A.A.O.
Dr. Huffer is a primary care optometrist with a focus on ocular diseases. He completed residencies and training at Manchester VA Medical Center and Medical Eye Center in Manchester, NH, and at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He is a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, NY and the New England College of Optometry in Boston.

Dr. Huffer is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the American Optometric Association, and a past president (2021) and current board member of the New Hampshire Optometric Association. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Nashua West.

#### Stephen P. Waible, O.D.
Dr. Waible's interest in optometry began during his childhood in Nashua. He was diagnosed and then successfully treated for amblyopia – or lazy eye – a condition that causes vision in one eye to develop more slowly than in the other. He is dedicated to helping others experiencing amblyopia, as well as providing comprehensive vision care, including eye exams, assessment and treatment of ocular diseases, and dry eye treatment.

Dr. Waible earned his Bachelor of Science in biology with high honors at the University of Maine Orono and his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with high honors at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where he was elected to Beta Sigma Kappa, the international optometric honor society. He completed clinical experience at Amoskeag Health and the VA Medical Center in Manchester, and the Eye and Vision Center in Worcester, MA. Dr. Waible is a member of both the American and the New Hampshire Optometric Association.