South Gate Optometry

**Case of the Week** This week we discuss a case that demonstrates how a condition like kidney failure can affect the eyes. Kidney failure occurs when one or both kidneys can no longer work on their own. As a result, the kidneys lose their ability to remove waste and maintain the body's fluid balance. Without the necessary fluid balance, the body's blood vessels weaken, leaving them prone to damage. This includes the vessels in the eye's retina. The retina is the lining of t...he eye whose function is to help us process light to see. When the retina's vessels weaken they can bleed and release fluid. The fluid build up can become visually significant, impairing our ability to see. Photo 1 is of our patient's right retina. The circled areas demonstrate hemorrhages due to compromised vessel health. Photo 2 is of our patient's left retina. The circled area depicts fluid build up. The fluid is non central thus not visually significant. Photo 3 highlights where the fluid is in the left eye. Note the glow in the photo. That's where the fluid is located. The treatment plan for this patient is observation. We have to wait for the body to heal itself and reabsorb the released fluid. This process can take up to 6 months to occur. The hemorrhages resolve quicker in about 6-8 weeks. #kidneyfailure #eyes #retina #eyeexam #caseoftheweek #southgateoptometry #themoreyouknow #getyoureyeschecked

**Case of the Week** This week we discuss congenital cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens which can cause blurred vision. Most cataracts are age related and affect us as we get into our 60's and up but congenital cataracts as the name implies occur at birth or shortly after. Some cataracts are small and affect only a small portion of the lens of the eye while others are much larger and significantly affect vision. The large visually significant cataracts are surgi...cally removed to prevent greater vision changes as the infant gets older. Not all congenital cataracts need to be operated. If you notice a white spot in the center of your baby's eye make sure to schedule an appointment so we can examine their eyes and check for a cataract. The attached photos depict congenital cataracts from two of our patients. Note the clouding of the lens. #congenitalcataracts #cataracts #eyes #babies #cataractsurgery #southgateoptometry #themoreyouknow

In honor of International Women’s Day we want to highlight our very own Dr.Hernandez for her recent work on the HealthCare Untold podcast series. The two part series delves into how diabetic eye disease and glaucoma affects the Latino community in the US. Check out the episodes on Simple cast or Spotify by searching for HealthCare Untold. #internationalwomensday #womenineyecare #latinadoctor #southgateoptometry #diabeticeyedisease #glaucoma #eyehealth

In celebration of Black History Month we present you with three pioneer black women in the eyecare world who deserve to be celebrated 1) Dr. Patricia Bath, MD Dr. Bath served as the first female faculty member at the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology and went on to become the first female ophthalmology program director when she was appointed chair of UCLA's ophthalmology residency program. She was the first African American female to receive a medical patent for the... Laserphaco Probe for laser cataract surgery in 1988. She was inducted into the Museum of Ophthalmology in 2011 2) Dr. Eve Higginbotham, MD Dr. Higginbotham was the first woman to head an ophthalmology department at an academic medical center in the US. She served as chair of the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Department at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Currently, she serves as Vice Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the School of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania. 3) Dr. Mildred Olivier, MD -Dr. Olivier is a glaucoma specialist who currently serves as a professor of surgery and is Assistant Dean for Diversity and Learning Environment at Midwest University's School of Medicine. She is CEO and founder of Midwest Glaucoma Center in Illinois. Dr. Olivier believes in the importance and power of mentorship programs to increase diversity within the eye health field and has spent many years studying underrepresentation in medicine. Her passion has led her to create a task force designed to increase diversity in the ophthalmology field. #blackhistorymonth #blackwomen #blackeyedoctors #pioneers #representationmatters #eyehealth #themoreyouknow

Help us wish a very happy birthday to both Dr.Corona and Vanessa! #tomanymore #happybirthday #januarybirthday #southgateoptometry #eyes #eyeexams

Here are ways to give back in honor of MLK Day . Let’s do our part to spread kindness especially during this difficult time of the pandemic. Donate your old eyeglasses. Bring them to us and we can donate them for repurpose! Make hygiene kits for the homeless and deliver them.... Send care packages to deployed troops, veterans, and wounded soldiers. Write a letter of gratitude for their service, and include snack and personal care items. Check out Operation Gratitude and Give 2 The Troops organizations to learn where to send your care packages. Adopt a Park Decide on a park to adopt. Grab some trash bags and pick up trash to beautify the park. Volunteer at an animal shelter to help clean up, play with the animals, groom animals, and walk the dogs. Also consider donating linens and towels to the shelter for use. Collect non-perishable food items from neighbors, family and friends and donate to your local food bank. #spreadkindness #spreadlove #giveback #mlkdayofservice #mlkday

From all of us at South Gate Optometry to you and your family

Don’t miss out on our Black Friday deals this weekend! By appointment only! Restrictions apply, please call or office for more details!! 323-566-6183

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from all of us at South Gate Optometry!

Great offer extended until end of year! Don’t miss out! Take advantage of our buy one get a free clear pair with the technology you know and love! See attached flyer for details and call us to schedule your appointment today #southgateoptometry #nextgen #buyonegetone #glasses #sunglasses #promotion #endofyear

From all of us South Gate Optometry a big THANK YOU to all the men and women who serve and have served. We appreciate you . #veteransday #veterans #nationalveteransday #thankaveteran

From all of us at South Gate Optometry a big THANK YOU to all those men and women who serve and have served our country #veteransday #veterans #nationalveteransday #thankaveteran

*Interesting Case of the Week* This week we discuss treatment for when diabetes affects the eyes; specifically the retina. Diabetic eye disease presents in various ways. With chronicity of diabetes and fluctuating blood sugar levels, the integrity of the retina’s blood vessels becomes compromised. The walls of the vessels weaken and start to leak the vessels contents. This presents as spots of blood and fluid in the eye which swells the retina and can affect vision. There ar...e two main treatments for diabetic eye disease: injections of the eye and lasers. Injections work by absorbing the expelled blood and fluid that has released from the vessels. Lasers prevent further bleeding from occurring. Sometimes both treatments are needed to control the retinal changes. Photo 1: demonstrates a large retinal hemorrhage in the bottom of the photo along with smaller areas of bleeding and fluid build up (yellow spots). Photos 2 and 3: demonstrate what the retinas look like after getting laser treatment. The retina scars after the treatment forming the yellow and black spots seen in the photo. Yearly eye exams for diabetic patients are important to detect early changes that may advance to affect the vision. Call us to schedule your yearly eye exam today! #diabetes #diabeticeyedisease #diabeticretinopathy #retina #retinallaser #prp #antivegf #southgateoptometry #themoreyouknow #getyoureyeschecked

Protect Your Eyes ! A friendly reminder to be careful with the contact lenses you choose to wear for your Halloween festivities and how to care for them. Not all contact lenses are created equal! Visit us for your contact lens needs or call us with any questions. Stay safe out there! #southgateoptometry #contactlenses #contactlenscare #halloweencontacts #contacts #themoreyouknow #cdc #washyourhands

*Interesting Case of the Week* This week we dive into the case of myopic maculopathy. What is myopic maculopathy?... More than likely you’ve all heard of myopia (or nearsightedness) which is a common eye disorder where the eye is longer in length than average resulting in a need for distance glasses. There are different levels of nearsightedness ranging from mild to severe. Those who are severely nearsighted, have prescriptions of more than -10 diopters and are at risk of developing myopic maculopathy. In people with severe myopia, the retina (wall paper lining of the eye) becomes extremely stretched and thin. When the thinning takes place in the center of the retina; the macula, a slow decline in the person’s central vision occurs. This is what is known as myopic maculopathy. Is there treatment for myopic maculopathy? There is no current laser treatment or medication to treat this. This is why prevention is key. I have myopia. Am I at risk for developing myopic maculopathy? Persons with prescriptions of over -10 diopters are at highest risk of developing the condition. Yearly eye exams from an early age are important because if a child is found to have myopia their prescription can continue to progress as they keep growing putting them at risk for developing this condition as adults. The good news for children with myopia is that there are treatments that have been clinically proven to slow the progression of myopia. The two most common treatments available are: multifocal contact lenses and atropine eye drops. Photo 1: This is a photo of the patient’s right retina without any pathology. Photo 2: depicts the patient’s left retina with myopic maculopathy. Notice the lighter colored areas in the center of the photo and the prominent underlying vessels (red lines) which are visible because the retina has thinned in this area. Photo 3: highlights the area of cell death (dark/black area) from thinning Photo 4: depicts MiSight multifocal contact lenses. This is one treatment we offer to help slow the progression of myopia. Call us to learn more! #myopicmaculopathy #myopiacontrol #retina #southgateoptometry #misight

Vote! Vote! Vote! For those of you voting by mail please vote early! For your convenience official ballot drop boxes are available around your area . Scroll for a photo of listings around the South Gate area. Check out www.lavote.net for information on how to access official ballot boxes and useful information about voting by mail! Let your voice be heard! Be counted! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~... Vote! Vote! Vote! Para ustedes que votan por correo por favor voten temprano! Para su conveniencia hay buzones de votación oficiales disponibles en su área . Vea la foto de adjunto incluida en este post. En adición, visite www.lavote.net para información de acceso a buzones de votación oficiales e información útil sobre la votación por correo! Deja que se escuche tu voz! Se contado! #vote #civicduty #generalelection2020 #themoreyouknow #voteforthefuture #becounted #beheard #secontado #escucha #ejercitatuvoz #southgateoptometry

As we near the end of Hispanic Heritage Month just wanted to remind you all to come see one of our bilingual doctors to take care of your eye care needs! Dr. Corona (left) and Dr. Hernandez (right) are here to help your eyes see and feel their best Call us to schedule your eye exam today! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A medida que nos acercamos al final del mes de la Herencia Hispana les queremos recordar que nos llamen para hacer su cita con uno de nuestros doctores bilingües. El Dr.Corona (izquierda) y la Dra. Hernandez (derecha) están disponibles para cuidar de la vista y salud de sus ojos! Llámenos para hacer su cita hoy! #HispanicHeritageMonth #bilingualdoctors #eyelove #ojos #salud #HerenciaHispana #southgateoptometry

Fall is here! Let’s transition our eyewear styles to reflect that Here are four hand picked style suggestions from our expert opticians that will have you looking your best and ready for this season Check them out! ... Photo 1: Tiffany and Co., TF 2193, Opal Grey, $325; model Claudia Photo 2: Prada, PR 24X5, UAN0A7, $332; model Jenn Photo 3: Prada, PR 63XS, 1AB731, $418; model Bree Photo 4: Tom Ford, FT 5661B, 052, $420; models Claudia and Jenn Call us to schedule your annual eye exam and let us help your eyes see and feel their best!

*Interesting Case of the Week* For this week’s case, we will discuss optic nerve head drusen. This is a condition that usually affects both eyes and it’s commonly inherited. What is drusen of the nerve? ... A collection of calcific material that forms around the nerve. The body produces extra calcium that accumulates around the optic nerve. It is unknown why the extra calcium chooses to deposit around the optic nerve. Can drusen of the nerve affect vision? Normally, drusen of the nerve is an incidental finding during the yearly exam. Most patients don’t know they have it as it’s not visually imparing in most cases. Depending on how much drusen and where it accumulates around the nerve, the patient can experience some mild peripheral vision issues but this is rare. Most of the time it is benign. Can optic nerve head drusen be treated? Since in most cases the drusen is benign, no treatment other than observation and monitoring of the peripheral vision is indicated. Yearly photos of the optic nerve and peripheral vision check will be conducted during your comprehensive eye exam. There is no surgery recommended to eliminate the drusen. Take a look at the photos of our patient with optic nerve head drusen. Photos 1 and 2 demonstrate the bumpy lumpy appearance of the drusen and photos 3 and 4 point out the reflectivity of the drusen with the special filter used to image the optic nerves. We hope you enjoyed the case. Remember to call us to schedule your yearly eye exam! #southgateoptometry #opticnerveheaddrusen #opticnerve #retinaphotos #themoreyouknow #eyelove #eyeexam #retina #fafretinaphoto

*Interesting Case of the Week* We have a good one for you guys this week! This patient presented for their yearly eye exam to update glasses and contacts. There were no other complaints reported. Upon dilation a large retinal hole was found in their right eye. Our patient was asymptomatic; this is why yearly eye exams are important! Take a look and don’t forget to call us to schedule your yearly eye exam! Photo one: the yellow arrow highlights the retinal hole (large red r...ound circle) and next to it the green arrow points to the piece of the retina missing from where the hole is. This kind of hole is called an operculated retinal hole and the part of the retina that’s floating above it is called an operculum. Photo two: highlights the same areas as above and it shows the fluid around the hole more vividly. When fluid is around a hole like this, it increases the chance of a retinal detachment occurring. Our patient was referred to a retinal specialist for a laser treatment that will form a barrier around the hole to prevent a retinal detachment. Photo three: highlights the fluid around the hole. You can see the white ring surrounding the hole. We hope you enjoyed this case. As always please like or comment on our post to let us know you want to keep seeing more cases! #southgateoptometry #retinalhole #operculatedretinalhole #operculum #retinallasers #eyes #themoreyouknow #caseoftheweek #retina

It’s National Voter Registration Day! Check out your voting status here: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ #civicduty #vote #haveyourvoiceheard #electionisapproaching #dontbeleftout #voteforabettertomorrow #nationalvoterregistrationday #southgateoptometry

*Interesting Case of the Week* This week we are sharing a case of lattice degeneration (retinal thinning) with an accompanying hole in the left eye. Patients with higher nearsighted prescriptions are at greater risk to develop lattice degeneration which is why yearly eye exams when prescriptions are high is of greater importance. When the retina begins to thin, it becomes more prone to develop holes which can lead to a retinal detachment. Symptoms to look out for that put you... at risk for a retinal detachment are: flashes of light, new floaters, and a dark curtain obstructing your vision partially or completely. If you experience any of these symptoms please call us immediately for an evaluation. Picture one demonstrates what lattice degeneration looks like. The arrows point to the whitish area of the retina which represents thinning. Picture two points to the hole (red circular area) which is surrounded by fluid (white area around the hole). Because the fluid is present, this patient is at higher risk for a retinal detachment. An urgent referral to retina was made for an evaluation and possible treatment with laser to seal this part of the retina and prevent the retinal detachment. The third picture highlights the hole more vividly. #caseoftheweek #southgateoptometry #eyes #retina #latticedegeneration #retinalhole #retinallaser #themoreyouknow #flashesandfloaters #retinalsurgery

*Interesting Case of the Week* Hello all! Wanted to share another case of the week with you all. Let us know if you like these posts by commenting below or liking this post and we’ll keep posting! ... The first picture demonstrates a freckle in the retina; the structure in the back of the eye which collects light and sends images to the brain to help us see. Freckles as these can be from birth or developed later on in life and they must be followed closely for any changes that might start impacting your vision and health. These lesions can become cancerous which is why close monitoring is important. The second picture highlights the freckle and shows the exact area of the retina where it is located. We recommend yearly eye exams and close monitoring for these patients. This is just one of the many things we can incidentally find in your comprehensive eye exam. Call us to schedule your yearly eye exam today so we can keep you seeing clearly and to evaluate the health of your eyes . #southgateoptometry #eyes #themoreyouknow #eyepictures #eyehealth #choroidalnevus #eyeexam #eyephotos #retina #retinaphotos #optomap

Here’s an interesting case we had last week that we wanted to share with you all to review the importance of NOT sleeping in your contact lenses! The first picture highlights the corneal ulcer that our patient developed. Note the redness of the whites of the eye; an inflammation secondary to the infection. The white area in the second picture with the blue light highlights the ulcer surrounded by the corneal swelling. ... The patient was started on antibiotic drops and the eye healed leaving a scar which can be seen in the third photo. Scars are a common occurrence after infections like these and sometimes they can result in reduced vision after the infection heals. Always remember to wash your hands prior to handling contact lenses and NEVER sleep in your contacts. #cornealulcer #eyeinfection #southgateoptometry #themoreyouknow #eyehealth #contactlenses

We’re open for your eye care needs! We’ve spent the last few weeks preparing our staff to resume patient care in a safe manner. Call us to set up your appointment and hear about what we are doing to make your visit a better one! 323-566-6183 www.southgateoptometry.com #southgate #optometry #southgateoptometry #glasses #contacts #eyecare

Today, we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country and preserve our freedoms. #MemorialDay