Stirling Eyecare June/July 2019
June/July 2019
As Our Baby Graduates, Our Employees Begin Their Families A Joyful Epidemic
Parenthood is one of the simultaneously strangest and greatest experiences of your life. You are completely enveloped in making sure this little person is safe, well cared for, and loved, while also preparing them for their inevitable exit from your nest. After nearly 20 years of cultivating, fostering, and loving them unconditionally, they head out to forge their own future. While you’re sad to see them go, this is exactly what you were raising them for.
journey from meeting her husband to getting married and becoming a first- time mother. In fact, Dr. Gonzalez jokes, “I kind of feel like her mother!”
On May 31, our first baby, Justin, will graduate from high school. Justin will be attending Bucknell University to study engineering, and we’re proud of who he has become. In what has felt like a blink, our very cuddly and somewhat fussy firstborn is now headed to the rest of his life, and while we will miss having him in our home, we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next. Besides, if we are in need of a baby fix, our employees at Stirling Eyecare have us covered! In the last year, three of our employees have welcomed babies into their families, and for each one that was born, we have loved watching them grow. This baby epidemic began in July of 2018, when Brycen Thoma was born to our clinic assistant Kylie, about one year after she and her husband were married. For the past three years, Kylie has been on the front lines of our clinic, helping patients order their contacts and select their glasses. When she isn’t working at Stirling, Kylie is helping her young family on their farm and in their butcher shop, a lifestyle that even 1-year-old Brycen has fully embraced. He is all boy and completely engrossed in tractors and farm life. Next, Melissa, a six-year employee of Stirling Eyecare, and her husband had Rhett Campbell in October of 2018 — ironically just a day away from our eldest son’s birthday. Brycen was actually born on our youngest son’s birthday, too! Rhett is the happiest and sweetest little boy, and it’s been a joy to watch his mom and him grow. We have known Melissa since she was 21 years old, and we have watched her
Lastly, the newest addition to Stirling Eyecare was born in March of 2019 to Dr. Amanda Frye and her husband. Taylor Moore was born just one day
before her due date, and her independent personality is already showing. In fact, when she was just 2 weeks old, Taylor was already sleeping for six hours at night! Her determined nature actually mirrors our youngest son’s personality when he was a baby. Unlike his brother, Nathan didn’t have a warm and fuzzy disposition, and instead, he was content doing his own thing. As we watch our employees begin their families, we can’t help but think about the beginning of our parenthood. Looking back, we definitely felt the stress of being first-time parents, but we also enjoyed it immensely. Now, as we prepare for a major change in our family, we’re happily watching some of our employees grow as parents. It’s been wonderful to see them transform from young women into confident, happy mothers with beautiful children. And if there’s one thing we can teach them, it’s to enjoy every minute of this crazy, hectic, and amazing time.
–Dr. Claudia Gonzalez and Dr. Michael Higgins
www.StirlingEyeCenter.com • 1
A Total Focus on YOU!
Whether you are hitting the beach or working in your garden, there’s one essential safety precaution all medical experts support: wearing sunscreen. There’s a good reason for their persistence, too. According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, about 90 percent of this common skin cancer is caused by overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays — and your eyes may be just as susceptible. Since rubbing sunscreen into your eyes is a dangerous and unrealistic option, wearing sunglasses is one of the wisest choices you can make to prevent the sun’s rays from leading to harmful and blinding diagnoses. Those same UV rays that can be so dangerous to your skin are soaked up by your eyes and can impact their functionality. Directly exposing your eyes to the sun increases your chance of developing cataracts — which appear as clouding in your eye — and macular degeneration. The later condition doesn’t just create cloudy vision; macular degeneration is a condition that causes you to go blind. Why Sunglasses Are the Best Accessories for Your Health More Than Fashion
of cataract diagnoses are caused by sun exposure and macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness. The best way to prevent these conditions is by wearing your sunglasses year-round — not just in the middle of summer. At Stirling Eyecare, we recommend patients use polarized sunglasses, which are more effective at blocking out those harmful rays from your eyes. The specialized composites of these sunglasses create little openings that only allow certain lightwaves in, which ultimately increase the user’s quality of vision and limits ray exposure. Because of this glare-cutting and high-definition technology, polarized sunglasses have become popular among those who fish and hunt, as their vision becomes crystal clear. But you don’t have to be an outdoorsman or fashion icon to wear sunglasses. Our wide selection of prescription and nonprescription sunglasses are designed to be affordable, durable, and useful.
Don’t spend another summer squinting. Learn how our experts can get you fitted for the perfect pair of sunglasses by calling (724) 285-2618.
These are the diagnoses you can’t just squint away, according to the National Eye Institute. The organization reports that 20 percent
Heroic Dads Who Didn’t Back Down Being a Parent Isn’t Always a Walk in the Park
Kids often look up to their father as one of their greatest heroes. There are the long drives to sports tournaments, the late-night movies, and the sweets when Mom isn’t looking. We probably all have some reason to look up to our dad as one of our biggest influences. It’s Father’s Day this month, a special time of year when we take a moment to think about the sacrifices the father figures in our lives have made for us. Most dads are pretty great, but some go above and beyond the fatherly call of duty. Let’s take a look at some heroic dads who risked everything to keep their families safe.
Just as he’d intended, Brad absorbed most of the blow. While Oscar sustained serious wounds, his father’s injuries were more severe. Brad was left fighting for his life in the ICU, with severe fractures to his skull and vertebrae. Thankfully, Brad is expected to make a full recovery and has made serious strides since the accident. He and his son will live to play another day.
Greg Alexander: Couldn’t Bear to See His Son Hurt
While camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in June 2015, Greg Alexander awoke to the sound of a nightmare. The screams of his son intermingled with the roars of an unknown assailant, beckoning Greg to his son’s tent. There, he found his son Gabriel being attacked by a bear. The bear had his son by the head and was dragging him away. Greg jumped on the bear’s back, desperately trying to take attention away from Gabriel. Amazingly, it worked, and in the end, the bear ran away. Gabriel was left with serious cuts to his head, but thanks to his dad’s heroism, the two were able to walk away from that campsite and back to their lives together. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to take a leap of faith or fight a bear to be a hero in your family’s eyes. Just be yourself, show some support, and do the best you can. Happy Father’s Day, everybody.
Brad Lewis: Over the Ledge Life can change in a split second, and how you choose to react in a moment of peril can define your legacy forever. Few people know this as well as Brad Lewis. When Brad and his young son, Oscar, were deeply entrenched in an intense Nerf battle, he surely didn’t think the situation would turn as dangerous as it did. When a few darts missed his father and landed on the balcony, Oscar ran after them but soon found himself teetering on the balcony’s ledge, 12 feet above the ground. Thinking fast, Brad grabbed his son just before he fell over, both taking the plunge while Brad protected his son with his own body.
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Optometrists Can Treat Your Eye Crises In Case of Emergency …
When there is something wrong with your eye, it can affect every aspect of your life. Your vision is compromised, the pain can be overwhelming, and the fear of the unknown is often paralyzing. Much like in any other emergency situation, most people rush to the emergency room when they are struggling with an eye condition. But this can often lead to long waits, expensive visits, and the stress of having to explain your medical and eye history to strangers. Emergency medical care workers are some of the bravest professionals in the business; they are exactly who you want caring for you in an emergency. But when it comes to your eyes, nothing can beat the care and expertise of your eye doctor. In fact, optometrists are trained on and regularly focus on those very same conditions that lead you to rush to the ER.
Avoid the wait, stress, and out-of-pocket costs of emergency room visits, and request an emergency visit with Stirling Eyecare. In addition to regular eye exams, our optometrists are skilled in treating the following emergency conditions:
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Scratches on your eye (corneal abrasions)
Foreign bodies in the eye Severe eye pain or redness
• Eye infections, such as pink eye or something similar • Distorted or blurred vision • Flashes or floaters in the eye • Itchy, painful eyes caused by allergies
In addition to saving you time, stress, and money by avoiding the emergency room, we also have the medical expertise to catch chronic conditions through the symptoms those diseases produce in your eyes. We have detected diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol issues in addition to diagnosing ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and severe dry eyes. In an eye emergency, the worst decision you can make is to wait. Even if it’s something as simple and common as pink eye, as the condition progresses without treatment or care, it can cause more severe problems. Do not hesitate to call Stirling Eyecare at (724) 285-2618 if you have an eye emergency. For more information on our specialties, services, and regular eye exams and maintenance, visit StirlingEyeCenter.com. WITH TOASTED HAZELNUTS Zucchini Salad With raw zucchini, toasted hazelnuts, and a robust Parmigiano-Reggiano, this early summer salad is a delight of different textures and flavors that will make a great side at your next cookout.
Have a Laugh
Ingredients:
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3 small zucchini (3/4 lb.) 1/2 tsp lemon zest, grated 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste
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1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped Mint leaves, for garnish Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano, for garnish
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Directions: 1. Using a mandolin or very sharp knife, slice zucchini lengthwise into extremely thin, wide ribbons. 2. Arrange zucchini ribbons on a plate, sprinkle with lemon zest, and drizzle with juice. 3. Drizzle oil over zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and toss. 4. Scatter hazelnuts over the top, garnish with mint and cheese, and serve.
www.StirlingEyeCenter.com • 1
A Total Focus on YOU!
166 Point Plaza Butler, PA 16001 (724) 285-2618 www.StirlingEyeCenter.com
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Inside This Issue 1 Celebrating Our Babies
Why You Need to Wear Sunglasses
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A Few Dads Who Went Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
We Treat Eye Emergencies
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Zucchini Salad With Toasted Hazelnuts
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Make the Ultimate Summer Treat
There’s nothing like an icy treat to cool down with on a hot summer day. But ice cream and store-bought popsicles tend to be full of processed sugar and artificial flavors. Beat the heat with a homemade treat instead! Here are some tips for creating the perfect homemade popsicles. • Invest in a popsicle mold. You can make popsicles with ice cube trays or paper cups, but an inexpensive popsicle mold can completely change the aesthetic of your popsicles, making them even more fun and delicious. 7 TIPS FOR THE PERFECT POPSICLE Cool for the Summer • When filling the molds, leave a 1/4 inch of space at the top. The mixture will expand when it freezes. • If your popsicle mold comes with a snap-on lid, leave the lid unsealed. Opening the lid when the molds are frozen can crack the brittle plastic. • Turn your freezer to the coldest setting and put your molds at the back of the freezer. The quicker your popsicles freeze, the creamier they will be because fewer ice crystals will form. • When you’re ready to eat your popsicles, carefully run the molds under warm water until they loosen. Gently wiggle the popsicle back and forth until it easily slides free. • Use a pastry bag or freezer bag with a corner cut off to easily fill popsicle molds without making a mess.
• Store uneaten popsicles in airtight freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Ready to get started? Use the above tips to mix up the delicious guilt-free popsicle recipe below. Healthy Summertime Popsicles INGREDIENTS • 2 cups berries • 2 tbsp honey • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt DIRECTIONS
1. Blend berries in a food processor or blender until nearly liquified. Feel free to use your favorite kind of berry for this recipe. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries all work great! 2. Pour berry mixture into large bowl. Stir in honey, and then gently mix in yogurt. 3. Pour mixture into molds and freeze for 4–6 hours. 4. Enjoy with your family on a hot summer day!
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