COVID-19: WHEN ARE WE REOPENING?
We are planning to reopen on Monday, June 8 on a reduced schedule. We will not be returning to our normal capacity until it is safe to do so, as we are going to have only one patient in the office at a time as much as possible. Please see the following link to an important page on our website that discusses our temporary closure due to COVID-19:
www.andrewgoreod.com/covid-19-information.html
In mid-March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Optometric Association and the California Optometric Association advised that optometrists temporarily stop providing routine eye care, and we complied with that request starting on March 19.
We are asking our patients: please do not walk in. For your protection, we are trying to schedule all visits, even visits to pick up contact lenses or glasses. Please call us to schedule all appointments.
EYE EXAMS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Starting as early as 9:00 a.m. and as late as 4:15 p.m. on
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Due to the large amount of uncertainty caused by COVID-19, we are not sure when our next Thursday appointment will be.
NORMAL OPTICAL DEPT HOURS:
Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri: 9:30 - 1:30, and 3:00 - 5:30
Closed for lunch: 1:30 - 3:00
UPCOMING SPECIAL HOURS:
(none right now)
We are planning to reopen on Monday, June 8 on a reduced schedule. We will not be returning to our normal capacity until it is safe to do so, as we are going to have only one patient in the office at a time as much as possible. Please see the following link to an important page on our website that discusses our temporary closure due to COVID-19:
www.andrewgoreod.com/covid-19-information.html
In mid-March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Optometric Association and the California Optometric Association advised that optometrists temporarily stop providing routine eye care, and we complied with that request starting on March 19.
We are asking our patients: please do not walk in. For your protection, we are trying to schedule all visits, even visits to pick up contact lenses or glasses. Please call us to schedule all appointments.
EYE EXAMS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Starting as early as 9:00 a.m. and as late as 4:15 p.m. on
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Due to the large amount of uncertainty caused by COVID-19, we are not sure when our next Thursday appointment will be.
NORMAL OPTICAL DEPT HOURS:
Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri: 9:30 - 1:30, and 3:00 - 5:30
Closed for lunch: 1:30 - 3:00
- Because of COVID-19, we now must schedule appointments to select glasses, have an adjustment, or to pick up glasses or contact lenses that you have ordered. The purpose of this is to minimize contact between different patients. We anticipate that people here for an exam should be able to look at glasses after the exam.
UPCOMING SPECIAL HOURS:
(none right now)
LATEST NEWS
FLEX SPENDING ACCOUNTS
Flexible spending accounts can be used for eye exams, glasses and contact lenses. If your flexible spending account will be expiring soon and if you need an eye exam, please make your appointment soon so that we can complete your exam before your account expires. (Every year there are a few people who wait till the last minute and it is hard to fit them into the schedule.) If you need to use your account to purchase glasses or contact lenses, no appointment is necessary.
RECYCLE YOUR CONTACT LENSES
We have received a contact lens recycle box from BAUSCH AND LOMB. We are allowed to recycle (1) used contact lenses, (2) the little cases that originally held the contact lenses, and (3) the foil tops that cover the cases. We are not allowed to recycle the cardboard boxes that held the contact lenses. We can accept any brand, even non Bausch and Lomb brands. A HUGE THANK YOU TO BAUSCH AND LOMB, which is the only contact lens manufacturer who is doing this. Some of our patients have not wanted to use daily disposable contact lenses because they have considered the packaging wasteful, so this service is a wonderful idea.
Flexible spending accounts can be used for eye exams, glasses and contact lenses. If your flexible spending account will be expiring soon and if you need an eye exam, please make your appointment soon so that we can complete your exam before your account expires. (Every year there are a few people who wait till the last minute and it is hard to fit them into the schedule.) If you need to use your account to purchase glasses or contact lenses, no appointment is necessary.
RECYCLE YOUR CONTACT LENSES
We have received a contact lens recycle box from BAUSCH AND LOMB. We are allowed to recycle (1) used contact lenses, (2) the little cases that originally held the contact lenses, and (3) the foil tops that cover the cases. We are not allowed to recycle the cardboard boxes that held the contact lenses. We can accept any brand, even non Bausch and Lomb brands. A HUGE THANK YOU TO BAUSCH AND LOMB, which is the only contact lens manufacturer who is doing this. Some of our patients have not wanted to use daily disposable contact lenses because they have considered the packaging wasteful, so this service is a wonderful idea.
TOMS Optical Collection
Our office is the exclusive Pasadena location to have TOMS eyewear. Sunwear and Optical frames are available now. With every pair of TOMS eyewear you purchase, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need via their One for One program: TOMS will donate a pair of prescription glasses, sight saving surgery, or medical treatment to help solve vision problems in the U.S. and 13 countries around the world. Learn more about their One-For-One program:
http://www.toms.com/our-movement/l
WHAT IS THE DILATION?
The following button brings you to a discussion about how to prepare for your appointment, what to expect, what to bring, and also has FAQ about pupillary dilation:
The following button brings you to a discussion about how to prepare for your appointment, what to expect, what to bring, and also has FAQ about pupillary dilation:
Summary about dilation:
- You are allowed to refuse to be dilated, of course.
- It is important that this be done periodically as it helps detect ocular disease.
- When dilation is appropriate, we try to get it done at your first visit, so we ask that you make your plans accordingly when you schedule your appointment.
- If we will be spending a lot of time on fitting or refitting contact lenses at your first visit, we will defer dilation to another day, if dilation is indicated. However, if you are having symptoms suggesting that it is more important to dilate at your first visit, then we will defer working on your contact lenses to another day.
- For the side effects of dilation, please refer to the page on our website mentioned above.
Half of Online Eyeglasses Fail Prescription or Safety Specifications - Buyer Beware!
According to a study published in Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association, "some 44.8 percent of spectacles [purchased from online stores] failed to meet either prescription specifications or impact-resistance requirements." This means that if one were to buy glasses online, there is approximately a one in two chance that the lens powers, the chosen lens treatments/coatings, safety aspects, or other specifications, are wrong. Such glasses could cause blur, discomfort, headaches, eyestrain, double vision or in worst scenario, eye injury. For more information, click this button:
According to a study published in Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association, "some 44.8 percent of spectacles [purchased from online stores] failed to meet either prescription specifications or impact-resistance requirements." This means that if one were to buy glasses online, there is approximately a one in two chance that the lens powers, the chosen lens treatments/coatings, safety aspects, or other specifications, are wrong. Such glasses could cause blur, discomfort, headaches, eyestrain, double vision or in worst scenario, eye injury. For more information, click this button:
New page on this website about MACULAR PIGMENTS
The following button will bring you to our webpage discussing the benefits of dietary pigments lutein and zeaxanthin for people at risk for age-related macular degeneration is located here:
The following button will bring you to our webpage discussing the benefits of dietary pigments lutein and zeaxanthin for people at risk for age-related macular degeneration is located here:
ANTI-REFLECTIVE TREATMENT WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT BLOCKS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL BLUE-VIOLET LIGHT
We are exposed to a tremendous amount of blue-violet light from digital devices (cell phones, tablets and computers), halogen and compact fluorescent light bulbs, and the Sun. On the spectrum of visible light and invisible radiation, these are visible wavelengths adjacent to invisible ultraviolet radiation. There is evidence that some of these visible wavelengths may be harmful to our health, and some of them are helpful. Problems that may be associated with excessive exposure to these wavelengths include sleep problems and increased glare. Also, there is currently much debate as to whether and to what extent this radiation can damage our maculas.
Our optical labs have lens treatments that selectively block some of the blue-violet light in question, while allowing good wavelengths to reach the eyes. People who might benefit from these lenses include: people with insomnia, people who notice much glare and headaches from their computers, and people at risk for macular degeneration. (Please note that headaches may be associated with many other problems with computer vision besides blue-violet light.)
Nowadays another way to block these wavelengths at digital devices is to use either the built-in software in many operating systems (such as Nightshift in Apple products and Night mode on Android products). For both Apple computers and PCs, f.lux software can serve this function: justgetflux.com/
We are exposed to a tremendous amount of blue-violet light from digital devices (cell phones, tablets and computers), halogen and compact fluorescent light bulbs, and the Sun. On the spectrum of visible light and invisible radiation, these are visible wavelengths adjacent to invisible ultraviolet radiation. There is evidence that some of these visible wavelengths may be harmful to our health, and some of them are helpful. Problems that may be associated with excessive exposure to these wavelengths include sleep problems and increased glare. Also, there is currently much debate as to whether and to what extent this radiation can damage our maculas.
Our optical labs have lens treatments that selectively block some of the blue-violet light in question, while allowing good wavelengths to reach the eyes. People who might benefit from these lenses include: people with insomnia, people who notice much glare and headaches from their computers, and people at risk for macular degeneration. (Please note that headaches may be associated with many other problems with computer vision besides blue-violet light.)
Nowadays another way to block these wavelengths at digital devices is to use either the built-in software in many operating systems (such as Nightshift in Apple products and Night mode on Android products). For both Apple computers and PCs, f.lux software can serve this function: justgetflux.com/
BLUTECH LENSES - We now carry Blutech lenses.
As mentioned above, there is some research indicating that certain wavelengths in the blue-violet part of the visible spectrum are harmful to our eyes. These visible wavelengths are just adjacent to invisible ultraviolet radiation, which we have known for a long time to be dangerous. Blutech lenses block out even more of the harmful wavelengths than the lenses discussed above. There are two Blutech varieties, one for indoor use (which has a slightly yellow tint) and one for outdoor use (which looks like sunglasses). We are also able to get Blutech lenses put into a clip-on either for indoor use (for example for use at the computer or tablet ) or outdoor use in sunglass form.
Why wear Blutech lenses? There are at least three problems with these blue-violet visible wavelengths: (1) they may affect melatonin biochemistry in such a way that some people (especially folks who are on the computer late in the day) may have insomnia; (2) they can cause glare symptoms, and (3) they are high energy wavelengths that may go right through our inner lens and focus on the macula, and cause damage there. (The jury is still out as to various elements of this last claim.) One group of people that should especially consider wearing Blutech lenses or clip-ons are people who have macular degeneration or who are at risk for macular degeneration. People who have very lightly pigmented skin and hair and light eyes are at risk, as are those people who have close family members who were diagnosed with macular degeneration.
For more information: http://blutechlenses.com/
As mentioned above, there is some research indicating that certain wavelengths in the blue-violet part of the visible spectrum are harmful to our eyes. These visible wavelengths are just adjacent to invisible ultraviolet radiation, which we have known for a long time to be dangerous. Blutech lenses block out even more of the harmful wavelengths than the lenses discussed above. There are two Blutech varieties, one for indoor use (which has a slightly yellow tint) and one for outdoor use (which looks like sunglasses). We are also able to get Blutech lenses put into a clip-on either for indoor use (for example for use at the computer or tablet ) or outdoor use in sunglass form.
Why wear Blutech lenses? There are at least three problems with these blue-violet visible wavelengths: (1) they may affect melatonin biochemistry in such a way that some people (especially folks who are on the computer late in the day) may have insomnia; (2) they can cause glare symptoms, and (3) they are high energy wavelengths that may go right through our inner lens and focus on the macula, and cause damage there. (The jury is still out as to various elements of this last claim.) One group of people that should especially consider wearing Blutech lenses or clip-ons are people who have macular degeneration or who are at risk for macular degeneration. People who have very lightly pigmented skin and hair and light eyes are at risk, as are those people who have close family members who were diagnosed with macular degeneration.
For more information: http://blutechlenses.com/
ANNOUNCING: VISUAL FATIGUE LENSES THAT HELP REDUCE VISUAL FATIGUE FROM DIGITAL DEVICES
Most optical labs now have this type of lens for younger people. Traditionally, people did not need help with fine print until reaching their 40s, when presbyopia usually begins. In the age of computers and excessive near and intermediate work, however, many younger people find themselves fatigued even with the best ergonomics and optical correction.
While it might be nice to put our devices away and go outside and have some fun, that is probably not going to happen any time soon. These lenses help with near focusing, thus relieving our eye muscles from having to work so hard all day. They come in two varieties. There is a lower powered one (designed for children and young adults) and one with a bit more reading power at the bottom (designed mostly for people in their late 30s and early 40s). There is no line on the lens -- it looks just like a single vision lens.
Most optical labs now have this type of lens for younger people. Traditionally, people did not need help with fine print until reaching their 40s, when presbyopia usually begins. In the age of computers and excessive near and intermediate work, however, many younger people find themselves fatigued even with the best ergonomics and optical correction.
While it might be nice to put our devices away and go outside and have some fun, that is probably not going to happen any time soon. These lenses help with near focusing, thus relieving our eye muscles from having to work so hard all day. They come in two varieties. There is a lower powered one (designed for children and young adults) and one with a bit more reading power at the bottom (designed mostly for people in their late 30s and early 40s). There is no line on the lens -- it looks just like a single vision lens.
SPECIALS FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS (CONTACT LENS VIP PROGRAM)
When you purchase a full year's supply of contact lenses from our office, you will get:
When you purchase a full year's supply of contact lenses from our office, you will get:
- Free shipping to your home or office
- 50% off a pair of non-prescription sunglasses within 30 days of the contact lens purchase.
- 20% off a pair of backup glasses
- Any rebates currently available from the contact lens manufacturer (note that VSP members receive DOUBLE the national rebate on some Acuvue and Bausch and Lomb contact lenses. Ask one of the opticians for more details.
SOME POPULAR CONTACT LENS FITTING SETS IN THE OFFICE
(1) Coopervision My Day - This is a wonderful daily disposable silicone sphere lens. Our patients have loved this lens so far. It is one of the three "super premium" daily disposable lenses that incorporate the latest technology to provide excellent comfort and vision. (The other two are Acuvue Oasys One Day and Alcon Dailies Total One. Our patients sometimes say that they barely even know they are wearing these brands.) My Day is available both as sphere and toric varieties.
(2) Acuvue Oasys One Day - Probably our most popular lens so far has been the Acuvue Oasys two-week lens. Acuvue has now introduced the one-day disposable version of this lens with a slightly modified material and solution. I anticipate that many of our traditional Oasys wearers will want to be refit into this lens, as will wearers of Acuvue's older one-day lenses (One Day Moist and One Day TruEye). We have had great success with this lens thus far.
(3) Coopervision Clariti One Day Multifocal, One-Day Toric, and One-Day Sphere - These are affordable one day disposables that are made of a comfortable silicone material, and they have been working well for us.
(4) Acuvue Vita - Until now, all of Acuvue's lenses have been two-week disposables and one-day disposables. This is Acuvue's first one-month replacement lens. The material is an updated form of the material used in the Oasys lenses and is said to be less prone to accumulating deposits than the Oasys two-week material. This lens is avaialble in sphere and toric varieties.
(5) Coopervision Avaira Vitality - This is a two-week replacement lens. The manufacturer has increased the water content and improved the UV blocking ability of the the original Avaira brand, which was discontinued. This lens is available in sphere and toric varities.
(1) Coopervision My Day - This is a wonderful daily disposable silicone sphere lens. Our patients have loved this lens so far. It is one of the three "super premium" daily disposable lenses that incorporate the latest technology to provide excellent comfort and vision. (The other two are Acuvue Oasys One Day and Alcon Dailies Total One. Our patients sometimes say that they barely even know they are wearing these brands.) My Day is available both as sphere and toric varieties.
(2) Acuvue Oasys One Day - Probably our most popular lens so far has been the Acuvue Oasys two-week lens. Acuvue has now introduced the one-day disposable version of this lens with a slightly modified material and solution. I anticipate that many of our traditional Oasys wearers will want to be refit into this lens, as will wearers of Acuvue's older one-day lenses (One Day Moist and One Day TruEye). We have had great success with this lens thus far.
(3) Coopervision Clariti One Day Multifocal, One-Day Toric, and One-Day Sphere - These are affordable one day disposables that are made of a comfortable silicone material, and they have been working well for us.
(4) Acuvue Vita - Until now, all of Acuvue's lenses have been two-week disposables and one-day disposables. This is Acuvue's first one-month replacement lens. The material is an updated form of the material used in the Oasys lenses and is said to be less prone to accumulating deposits than the Oasys two-week material. This lens is avaialble in sphere and toric varieties.
(5) Coopervision Avaira Vitality - This is a two-week replacement lens. The manufacturer has increased the water content and improved the UV blocking ability of the the original Avaira brand, which was discontinued. This lens is available in sphere and toric varities.
|
OLD NEWS!!!
Pasadena Weekly 2016 - We were humbled to have been voted "Reader Recommended" for Best Eye Care in the Pasadena Weekly! A big thank you for your votes! READERS' CHOICE AWARD - We were also so happy to learn that we were voted to be the BEST OPTOMETRY OFFICE by the readers of the Pasadena Independent and the sister newspapers that are part of Beacon Media. Dr. Gore and the staff extend our deep thanks for this award. We will do our best to continue to provide high-quality eye care to our community. To view the Pasadena Independent 2012-2013 Readers' Choice issue, please click here: http://issuu.com/beaconmedianews/docs/2012_11_29_rc2012_pasadena_independ?e=1221199/2968089. Our office is mentioned on pages 2, 13 and 27. |
Have you ever wondered how glasses are made?
This interesting clip from 1940 tells you how!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORp2DX0N0Bg
This interesting clip from 1940 tells you how!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORp2DX0N0Bg
GREETINGS FROM DR GORE!
If you are looking for a new eye doctor, I invite you to choose our office to provide your eye care. You are welcome whether you are concerned about a specific ocular problem or if you just need a routine eye exam.
I aim to be the most thorough optometrist and to provide the highest quality eye exam in Pasadena. I do my best to answer your questions about eye health, glasses and contact lenses. Since graduation, I have opposed the factory mentality that is so common in optometry and in health care in general. You are not a number in this office. I like to treat each patient as if he or she were a family member. Also we do our very best to keep to the appointment schedule and minimize your time in the waiting room. (However, even trying our best, we still can get behind occasionally, especially if a patient has a complicated problem needing more time than usual.)
Regarding eyeglass purchases at our office: Before I owned this office, I worked in several other offices and chains. My experience was that in many of those offices, glasses were dispensed to patients without being checked for accuracy. In many cases, various parameters were not correct, causing blur, discomfort, eyestrain or headaches. I want to assure my patients that I personally analyze every pair of glasses upon receipt from the lab and if I find something out of tolerance, those lenses are returned to the lab for redo.
I advise an eye exam every year or so even if your vision is good, because certain eye diseases (such as glaucoma) sometimes do not have symptoms in the early stages, and it is better to discover the problem before it is too late to treat. Also, I may be able to improve your vision so that various activities in your life (such as computer work or sports) may be easier and more comfortable.
For mild-to-moderate medical conditions, I offer treatment including prescriptions for various eyedrops. If I find or suspect a serious eye disease, damage or degeneration beyond my licensure, I will refer you to an excellent local specialist ophthalmologist.
I hope to see you soon!
Andrew Gore, O.D.
If you are looking for a new eye doctor, I invite you to choose our office to provide your eye care. You are welcome whether you are concerned about a specific ocular problem or if you just need a routine eye exam.
I aim to be the most thorough optometrist and to provide the highest quality eye exam in Pasadena. I do my best to answer your questions about eye health, glasses and contact lenses. Since graduation, I have opposed the factory mentality that is so common in optometry and in health care in general. You are not a number in this office. I like to treat each patient as if he or she were a family member. Also we do our very best to keep to the appointment schedule and minimize your time in the waiting room. (However, even trying our best, we still can get behind occasionally, especially if a patient has a complicated problem needing more time than usual.)
Regarding eyeglass purchases at our office: Before I owned this office, I worked in several other offices and chains. My experience was that in many of those offices, glasses were dispensed to patients without being checked for accuracy. In many cases, various parameters were not correct, causing blur, discomfort, eyestrain or headaches. I want to assure my patients that I personally analyze every pair of glasses upon receipt from the lab and if I find something out of tolerance, those lenses are returned to the lab for redo.
I advise an eye exam every year or so even if your vision is good, because certain eye diseases (such as glaucoma) sometimes do not have symptoms in the early stages, and it is better to discover the problem before it is too late to treat. Also, I may be able to improve your vision so that various activities in your life (such as computer work or sports) may be easier and more comfortable.
For mild-to-moderate medical conditions, I offer treatment including prescriptions for various eyedrops. If I find or suspect a serious eye disease, damage or degeneration beyond my licensure, I will refer you to an excellent local specialist ophthalmologist.
I hope to see you soon!
Andrew Gore, O.D.
P.S. UPDATE REGARDING NO-SHOWS, LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATIONS, SHOWING UP LATE TO THE EXAM, AND OVERBOOKING: We understand that in our busy and sometimes unpredictable lifestyles, there are sometimes unforeseen emergencies that make it hard to keep appointments. However, we wanted to let you know that when you make an appointment at our office, we set aside a very large chunk of time with the optometrist, time that is dedicated just to you. We do not double book patients. There are sometimes many no-shows and last-minute cancellations. This brings our work to a grinding halt, and we are also unable to help someone else that would have liked to have that appointment. If you find that you are unable to keep your appointment, we would be so grateful if you could let us know at least 24 hours in advance. ALSO, please do arrive on time. Thank you so much!
Check Your VSP Benefits:
https://www.vsp.com/signon.html
https://www.vsp.com/signon.html
