Stirling Eyecare - Fall 2019
October/November 2019
Family Changes in the Midst of Fall Traditions Cherishing Memories
As the fall rolls around every year, there are plenty of holidays and activities to look forward to. When our boys were little, we took every opportunity to celebrate fall by going on traditional hayrides and visiting pumpkin patches. It feels like only yesterday that Justin and Nathan loved trick-or-treating. Although, that isn’t completely true for Justin. We remember one year when he was dead set against trick-or-treating. But when Nathan was ready to go out in his costume to collect candy and other trick-or-treaters began showing up at our front door, Justin decided he did want to go. Since he hadn’t expressed an interest in the weeks leading up to Halloween, he didn’t have a costume! After diving through various bins, we found a Santa hat for Justin to wear. It wasn’t much, but it worked out just fine! Every Thanksgiving Day, our family heads to Dr. Higgins’ parents’ home which is over three hours east of Butler. We enjoy a traditional family Thanksgiving lunch, complete with Dr. Higgins’ mom’s wonderful cooking. Her pies are always the crowd favorite. The dessert table is filled with pumpkin, coconut cream, and lemon meringue pies, and usually homemade cheesecake too. The weekend after Thanksgiving is celebrated with Dr. Gonzalez’s family for a second Thanksgiving feast. We have a late dinner with smoked turkey followed by several games around the table played by all, including grandparents to young nieces. Here’s an update for you on our boys: Our eldest son, Justin, will be more than halfway through his first semester at Bucknell University. At the time of this writing, we just
dropped him off at college four weeks ago, and the whole thing is still surreal. Back at home, we still have Nathan, who is a junior in high school. He keeps us busy with baseball and school activities. As we all know, life moves so fast! It’s crazy to think we have a kid in college. But we love every minute of it and look forward to continuing our family traditions and being together during the holidays.
–Dr. Claudia Gonzalez and Dr. Michael Higgins
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Just in Time for Halloween No-Carve Pumpkin Designs!
Nothing but Net You can create eerie pumpkins using fishnet stockings. Spray-paint your pumpkin if desired — just make sure the design of the stockings will stand out. Once the paint is dry, cut the legs off the stockings, slide the pumpkin inside, remove the extra fabric around the stem, and use hot glue to secure it. Colorful Paint Painting your Halloween pumpkins gives everyone a chance to participate. Be creative by using different designs, cutouts for silhouettes, drip paint to create a marble design, or nail polish and water to give white pumpkins a unique and vibrant look. A Spooky Monster By adding a witch hat, wrapping a pumpkin in cheesecloth, attaching spider legs, or tying on a vampire cape, you can create a pumpkin version of the most popular Halloween monsters. Along with these accessories, you can also use paint, construction paper, and other craft materials to add the details that will make your creation pop!
Jack-o’-lanterns go hand-in-hand with Halloween, but digging through the inside of a pumpkin is not something everyone enjoys. If you aren’t keen on cutting open a pumpkin, here are a few no-carve ideas you can try this Halloween!
Haunted House Take a few pumpkins, stack them on top of each other, and create a spooky pumpkin haunted house!
Then, use paint, balsa wood sheets, and hot
glue to create silhouettes, ghosts, windows, and doors for a haunting effect!
Creative With String Use cotton twine and hot glue to create a web-like design on the surface of your
pumpkin. Don’t forget to add a few plastic spiders! You can also use string art to create ghostly words or images. Lay out your design with small pegs or nails and wrap the string around them to reach your desired effect.
For more detailed directions for these pumpkin designs and more ideas, visit WomansDay.com.
DIGITAL DAMAGE How to Limit the Damage Done by Screens
Did you know that reading the printed version of this newsletter may be one of the best things you do for your eyes today? (You’re welcome.) There’s nothing fancy about the paper it’s printed on or the colors we chose. It’s simply because you are looking away from your screens and giving your eyes a break.
There is concern over the long-term effects of screen exposure, due to the amount of time your eyes are exposed to the blue light as well as how close the device is to your eyes. According to a study conducted by NEI, children’s eyes absorb more blue light from screens than adults’ eyes.
The rapid rate at which our digital world has grown over the past two decades has made the world smaller, but with the advent of technology, a slew of additional problems have followed. And your eyes are just two of the victims. Prevent Blindness, a vision-advocacy foundation, explains that blue light waves make up a lot of what appears to be white light. Because of this, we can be exposed to larger amounts of blue light. The largest source of blue light is from the sun, but there are other sources such as LED lights, LED TVs, computers, smartphones, and tablets.
At Stirling Eyecare, we know that screens are ingrained into our society. We will always encourage families to implement screen limits, such as shutting down all screens after 8 p.m. or opting for family board-game nights. To combat the damage, we can provide special lenses that filter out the damaging blue light. These lenses are clear and come in prescription and nonprescription options. Ask about these lenses or request tips for preventing screen damage for your whole family at your next appointment. Schedule it today by calling (724) 285-2618 , and learn more eye health tips at StirlingEyeCenter.com .
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The Best Nutrients for Your Vision and Eye Health Eye-ppetizing Options
Carrots have always been known as the eye’s best friend, but can we really chalk up eye problems to a lack of carrots? Obviously not. Yet, there are some foods that can have a direct link to vision. Incorporate these nutrients into your meals for stronger, healthier eyes. Go Green Despite what generations of parents told their children, carrots aren’t the best foods for your eyes. That honor goes to spinach, kale, and other dark, leafy veggies. They are full of antioxidants and lutein. Lutein is a pigment found naturally in the macula. The macula is the part of the eye
that is most important for clear vision. Always choose vegetables and fruits that are colorful, as these are the most nutrient-dense foods.
Powerful Protein Dietitians everywhere sing protein’s praises, but besides keeping you full and building lean muscle, protein-packed foods also pack a punch for your eyes. Fish has loads of omega-3s for healthy eye development and proper tear production. Eggs have lutein which, again, boosts protection for the macula. Nuts are also filled with vitamins for good eye health. While almonds, eggs, and fish are some of the healthiest ways to go when looking for good proteins, don’t count dairy out. With loads of vitamin A and zinc, your eyes love cheese just as much as you do. Added Boost You can adhere to the strictest eye-friendly diet possible, but your eyes may still need nutritional support. At Stirling Eyecare, we offer FortifEye Omega-3 supplements to help with dry eyes. This treatment has pretty much cured Dr. Higgins of his dry eyes! If you have macular degeneration or a family history of it, we have MacuHealth, which studies show can improve the disease. A healthy diet can do so much more than build strong muscles. Give your eyes the healthiest tools and learn more about our supplements by calling (724) 285-2618. Leftover Candy Snack Mix This recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar chef and “Master Chef” judge Christina Tosi makes great use of those extra Halloween goodies. It’s a quick and easy way to both elevate and get rid of unwanted leftovers.
Have a Laugh
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
Ingredients:
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2 cups mini pretzels, coarsely broken 1/4 cup light brown sugar
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6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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12 oz mini candy bars, such as Snickers, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tbsp granulated sugar 1/3 cup dry milk powder
Directions: 1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, fold together pretzels, sugars, milk powder, and butter. 3. Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least 30 minutes and mix in candy bar pieces before serving.
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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
Fall Traditions Evoke Lifelong Memories
Avoid Getting Your Hands Dirty This Halloween Did You Know Your Lenses Can Protect Your Eyes From Screens?
2
Eating for Your Eyes
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Leftover Candy Snack Mix
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Fall Crafts for the Whole Family
DECORATE YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR OWN CREATIONS! Fall Family Fun
The leaves are turning, the weather is changing, and the holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time to bring out the fall decor! To make this season especially memorable for your family, create your own decorations with these fun ideas below. Pine Cone Painting Go on a family walk through the park to pick up a few fallen pine cones or take a quick trip to the store to buy a bag. Once everyone has their own hand-picked pine cone, grab a paintbrush and a few colors and have at it! For extra flair, add some fixings like glitter, beads, sequins, string, and more. Leaf Painting Take a trip outside with the kids to pick out some large, unbroken leaves, then head back inside and get creative! You can pull out the construction paper and paint trees, using handprints and “arm prints” as the trunks and branches. Paint the leaves you found to spruce up your trees or use them as decorations on their own. You can also use them for leaf printing or leaf pressing. Fun Finger Food When you’ve got multiple friends and family members coming over and you need snacks, edible decorations are the way to go. You can get a little creative and make elaborate treats, or you can opt for delicious and
easy-to-make finger foods with your kids. A good starting treat for your family is a batch of pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats. Add orange food coloring to the mix and get your kids to shape the treats like pumpkins before using a few pretzel sticks to make sturdy stems.
Thanksgiving Crafts Thanksgiving is only a month away, and your possibilities for holiday- themed crafts are endless with just a few
supplies like paper, scissors, markers, and string. You can make turkey placemats, tissue paper trees, pumpkin garlands, paper pumpkins, or leaf mobiles to hang from the ceiling. Compile a list of ideas and have your kids pick out which craft they want to do first, then get to work together to create as many decorations as you want to display for Turkey Day.
With these engaging craft ideas, the whole family will be eager to make their own decorations and show them off for months to come!
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