Optical Illusions of San Mateo: An Optometric Practice

Fogged Glasses Got You Down? "Has COVID-19 caused you to wear masks with your glasses? If so, you may be entitled to condensation." All of us have felt the effects of the fogged lenses these past few months while wearing a mask. Now is the perfect time to be fit in contact lenses that can correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and even multifocal contacts you can read with.... Take it a step further and find out if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery like LASIK or PRK.

Taking a moment to thank you From the irresistible smells wafting from the kitchen, to the unforgettable moments with family and friends over a magnificent meal, Thanksgiving always manages to warm each and every one of us deep inside. This year we’re thankful to our wonderful patients and for the opportunity to be your partners in eyecare. Thank you for your continued trust and support of our local-owned small business that has been in the community for over 30 years. We w...ish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving Day filled with joy and happiness. #happythanksgiving #Thanksgiving2020 #opticalillusionsSM

To Our Dear Optical Illusions Patients, It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of Dr. Michael Leo Gatschet, or Dr. G as so many of us fondly called him. Dr. G cared for his patients at Optical Illusions from 1982 to 2019 between our Santana Row and Hillsdale practices and was beloved by so many. He is remembered as a thoughtful, kind, and gentle soul who cared deeply about helping others, not only in our practices but also around the world. For over a deca...de, he volunteered with Eyecare International, traveling annually to third world countries to detect eye disease and provide eyewear to thousands who were in need. Dr. G received his Doctorate of Optometry in 1982 from UC Berkeley and was a devoted fan of Bay Area sports including the Cal Bears, the Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers. His patients will remember him as an avid outdoor enthusiast, a voracious reader, and a distinguished eye care provider. Dr. G is survived by his wife Jun, who requests in lieu of flowers, that you instead make a donation to the charity of your choice in his name. If you have a few kind words to share or memories and stories of your time with him, his family welcomes you to go to https://rememberingdrg.life/. A formal funeral service date has not been set but will be provided through the website above. Our Optical Illusions family is heartbroken that he is gone and will continue to honor his memory by providing our patients with the best eyecare in the Bay Area. He will be truly missed. We appreciate all of your support and condolences, Optical Illusions of San Mateo An Optometric Practice 650-341-8080 [email protected]

In the last six months, the average American has been using their computer and phone between 50-100% more PER DAY than we did before COVID-19 started. The abrupt change in how we use our eyes have caused increased symptoms of dryness, eye strain, and fatigue to develop in people of all ages. Remember to take frequent breaks and blink often when using the computer for an extended period of time. Anti-fatigue or Computer glasses with a blue light filter may also be useful for m...any. Read more about Digital Eye Strain here: https://opti-illusions.com/specialty-se/digital-eye-strain/

Thank for you supporting local businesses in the community like ours which has been a part of the San Mateo community for almost 40 years. We will get through this pandemic together. #supportlocalbusinesses #bettertogether

Make sure nothing affects your child’s ability to learn this school year. No matter what the specific distance learning protocols are in your area, our doctors and staff will cater an eyecare and eyewear plan to protect their eyes from digital eye strain and potential harmful blue light as we continue to adjust to our new reality. Stay safe everyone.... #digitaleyestrain #digitaleyefatigue #antifatigueglasses #computerglasses #backtoschool #pediatricoptometry #pediatriceyecare #bluelightglasses #opticalillusionsSM

New sunglasses arrival! Frames by Chrome Hearts Chrome Hearts is a very exclusive brand and is only available in certain shops, come look at our wide selection of these gothic rock inspired frames!#chromeheartseyewear #chromehearts #sunglasses #highfashion #exclusive #eyewear #optometry #summer #protectyoureyesinstyle #protectyoureyesfromthesun #protectyoureyes @ Optical Illusions of San Mateo: An Optometric Practice

Bold but elegantframes from Cartier #cartier #cartierglasses #sunglassesfashion #optometry #gold #summer

The health and safety of you and your family is our number one priority. #safetyfirst #covidreopening #opticalillusionsSM

This study was just published this month and is "to the best of our knowledge, the first report of retinal findings possibly associated with COVID-19 infection in humans." It was previous thought that the coronavirus only affected the surface of the eye, causing a form of conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye). Since Optical Illusions of San Mateo is one of only two Optometry offices in the entire Bay Area that has an Optos Monaco, the latest and only imaging device which performs... both widefield retinal and OCT imaging, we will be utilizing it for all patient eye exams during this time to look for signs of COVID-19 in the retina. Thank you for your understanding during this time. Your Partners in Health, Optical Illusions of San Mateo An Optometric Practice https://www.thelancet.com//l/PIIS0140-6736(20)31014-X.pdf

San Mateo County has confirmed today that routine and preventative eye care is now allowed and essential. As such we will be slowly opening for comprehensive eye exams during limited hours and days while implementing the recommended CDC and CDPH safety guidelines. Feel free to schedule an appointment with us on our website: www.opti-Illusions.com #covid19 #eyeexams #optometry

Many people are wondering, is it okay to wear contact lenses during the COVID-19 pandemic? According to the CDC, it is currently safe to use your contact lenses as long as you practice proper techniques and hygiene. Here are some contact lens care tips to keep in mind:... 1. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel before handling your contacts 2. Do not rinse or store your contacts in water 3. Follow your eye care professional's schedule for wearing and replacing your contacts 4. Use the "rub and rinse" method to clean your contacts. Rub your contact lenses with your fingers, then rinse them with solution before soaking. Use this method even if the solution you are using is a "no-rub" variety 5. Rinse the contact lens case with water, then leave the empty case open to air dry 6. Do not re-use old solution or "top off" the solution in your lens case 7. Do not allow the tip of the solution bottle to touch any surface. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use So if you’ve run out of contact lenses, give us a call or visit our website to order more and we can have them shipped straight to your home to ensure that they get to you quickly and safely #covid19 #contactlenses #cdcguidelines #eyecare #eyehealth #opticaillusionsSM

Taking care our patients is our number one priority! We understand it can be difficult to know if an eye condition is urgent enough to be seen in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we are now proud to offer Virtual Telehealth Services to our patients who have eye-related concerns. These can include, but are not limited to: Red eyes Swelling or bumps on eyelids Dry eyes... Itchy eyes Light sensitivity Eye pain If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please call our office at (650) 341-8080 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a virtual appointment with one of our doctors. By offering this service, we hope to alleviate already-overwhelmed hospital urgent care or emergency rooms from eye-related issues which we can treat and manage, while reducing your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Schedule a virtual telehealth exam today! #telehealth #covid19 #virtualeyeexam #opticalillusionsSM

Give us a call or email us first if you’re unsure of whether your eye or vision symptoms warrant a trip to urgent care or the ER. In many cases, they don’t have the proper equipment to handle conditions that we can easily take care of in-office or With a virtual telehealth exam with one of our doctors. We are all doing our part to ensure frontline doctors are spending as much of their time and resources combating the COVID-19 pandemic. #opticalillusionsSM #covid19 #oculardisease #primaryeyecare

As a valued member of the Optical Illusions of San Mateo family, we appreciate the trust you place in our doctors and staff since 1983 for your eye care and eyewear needs. As the situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak progresses, we want to share how we are preparing for and responding to this virus in order to ensure both your health and safety. Below is an overview of what we are doing to help ensure our patients have the right information and know how to access the... right care. - Keeping our patients informed: We will be diligent in keeping our patients updated and posting communications through our website (www.opti-illusions.com) and digital media platforms. These materials include practices for prevention, as well as facts about the virus itself. - Ensuring access to care: Our office currently has no plans to shut down at this time and will remain open and accessible for comprehensive eye care and potential patients who are concerned they might be ill. - Understanding the risk: This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we are monitoring reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies to guide our understanding of the spread of coronavirus. We are tracking regional transmission in affected parts of the country, and are actively taking steps to support our patients and our surrounding communities. - Relying on our training and expertise: Our doctors have been treating infectious ocular diseases for years, and we are confident we can safely treat all of our patients, with limited risk to everyone. Our staff is fully trained on CDC protocols to be used with the infectious diseases. We have been closely monitoring the situation with federal, state, and local officials and have implemented a comprehensive process to provide care for patients who are being screened for, or are confirmed to have, the virus. While the common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, it can also manifest in the eye as a form of viral conjunctivitis infection (more commonly known as pink eye). If you experience any eye related symptoms of coronavirus, please let our staff know so that we can prepare for your visit. Thank you for continuing to trust our office with your eye care needs. We will keep you advised of updates as the situation progresses. If you have any questions, please email ([email protected]) or call us at 650-341-8080. We also recommend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov) for the most up-to-date health advisories and global coronavirus information. Your partners in health, Optical Illusions of San Mateo: An Optometric Practice

25% of ALL children have a vision problem significant enough to affect their performance in school. Make sure there’s nothing getting in the way of your child’s education. Schedule an exam today! www.opti-Illusions.com... #2020eyeexams #opticalillusionsSM

Everyone haveing a great start to the new year so far? We've been working hard to make some changes to make things better for all of our patients. This week we're excited to announce the launch of our brand new website! Check it out! https://opti-illusions.com/