Is Independent Optometry in San Diego Dying?
Is Independent Optometry in San Diego Dying? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS June 15, 2020 The San Diego landscape for optometry has dramatically changed since 2017, but largely invisibly to the public. Roughly 25% of the private optometric practices in San Diego are now owned by a large corporation, each with hundreds of millions…
Is Blue Light Bad for My Eyes?
Is Blue Light Bad for My Eyes? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS June 1, 2020 Confused whether blue light is bad for your eyes? You are not alone. There is an ample misinformation about blue light, perpetrated by companies selling products that supposedly protect your eyes from it. Blue light has existed since the dawn…
How to See Ocean Bioluminescence in San Diego
How to See Ocean Bioluminescence in San Diego by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS May 15, 2020 Every few years in San Diego, crashing ocean waves dazzle blue at nighttime. This has occurred in October 2011, September 2013, May of 2018, and May of 2020. The single-celled algae called dinoflagellates, bloom in the ocean water causing…
X-Chrom Contact Lens for Color “Blindness”
X-Chrom Contact Lens for Color Vision Problems by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS May 1, 2020 (Updated May 5, 2023) Good color discrimination is required for pilots, electricians, law enforcement, and other occupations. Imagine if a police officer shot at the brown car instead of the green one. This would pose a safety and liability hazard. …
Should I Have Genetic Testing for Keratoconus?
Should I Have Genetic Testing for Keratoconus? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS April 14, 2020 (Updated April 17, 2022) Keratoconus has a well-established genetic link. A 2012 review article found that between 6 to 23.5% with keratoconus have someone else in the family with it. Furthermore, relatives of keratoconus patients are 15-67 times at…
Should I Wear Contact Lenses During Coronavirus?
Is it Safe to Wear Contact Lenses During the Coronavirus Pandemic? Settling the confusion on coronavirus concerns for contact lens wearers April 6, 2020 Is it safe to wear contact lenses during the COVID-19 pandemic? For patients with keratoconus and those using medically necessary contact lenses, wearing eyeglasses is usually not a viable option to…
What’s the Deal About Steph Curry Having Keratoconus?
An Eye Doctor Weighs In April 17th, 2019 Regarded by many sports commentators and basketball players as the greatest shooter in NBA history, Steph Curry recently disclosed that he has the eye disease, keratoconus. This disease, which affects about 1 in 375 individuals, can dramatically impair vision. It is characterized by abnormal distortion of the…
The Downsides to Buying Eyeglasses Online
Have you purchased a cheap pair of glasses online and felt they just weren’t quite right? While spending less than $100 for a complete pair of glasses is enticing, it can come with shortcomings, especially for patients with complex and high prescriptions. Improper Sizing When you shop online for glasses, you are not able…
Turned Down for LASIK?
So, you had a free screening at the laser vision center screening, but to your surprise, you are not a candidate for LASIK. Bummer. What should you do next? Refractive surgeons love performing LASIK and they make a living performing surgery. If a surgeon says no, take it to heart. You shouldn’t try finding a…
10 Facts About Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT)
Millions of people wear contact lenses daily to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Some, however, prefer not to wear contacts during the day and are reluctant to opt for corrective eye surgery. For those that have low myopia (nearsightedness), one option that doesn’t require wearing glasses or undergoing a more invasive procedure is Corneal Refractive…