Happy 10th Anniversary at Edwards Eye Care

Happy 10th year anniversary to our Hickory Flat Eye Care Community!! It’s hard to believe 2022 is almost over and we will soon ring in a new year! Where has the time gone? As a matter of fact, where have the last several years gone? For many in our community I know that from the early days of the pandemic in 2020 until today can certainly feel like a blur to many with all that has gone on over the last few years. Today we are happy to be standing on the other side of the pandemic and thankfully have overcome many of the challenges of the last several years. For sometime now we have been blessed to be back to business as usual in our Hickory Flat community. Much of our world is back to normal without having to wear masks of course although we have maintained even more thorough cleaning measures from over the last few years so some things are here to stay it seems. One thing that is definitely here to stay is the growth that we have seen in our community over the last several years. In 2023 we will strive to accommodate this increased population by happily serving more eye care patients than ever in our 10 year history!! We are thankful to have started our eye care practice in this community just over 10 years ago and have been blessed with many great long term patient relationships / friendships over that time. We have always strived to stay ahead of the curve with the latest in eye care technology to help serve our patients in order to help them maintain healthy vision throughout their lives. Many of our patients continue to be impressed with our technology year after year as they return for their annual eye exams. This technology enables us to provide great patient eye care in a thorough, comfortable and efficient manner which leads to an overall great patient eye care experience. We look forward to continuing to serve our patients in this manner with excellent eye care services and quality eye care products in the Cherokee County area of Georgia and beyond in the coming years! We thank you all for your continued patronage and support of Edwards Eye Care. We look forward to seeing you again soon!!

DO YOU SLEEP WITH YOUR EYES OPEN? It may be surprising to learn that some people sleep with their eyes partially or fully open. It's a condition called nocturnal lagophthalmos, and according to the National Sleep Foundation as many as one out of five of us have it -- including babies.

Nocturnal lagophthalmos can have many causes, including faulty eyelid mechanics, facial nerve disorders, and structural changes in the face. There are things you can do to help. It may be as simple as wearing an eye mask while sleeping. Using artificial tears during the day and a humidifier at night can also help with moisture loss.

As you age, it is normal to notice changes in your vision. A few common changes for older adults include: * Losing the ability to see up close * Having trouble distinguishing colors, such as blue from black * Needing more time to adjust to changing levels of light These problems are often easily corrected. Glasses, contact lenses, and improved lighting may help and enable you to maintain your lifestyle and independence. Your risk for some eye diseases and conditions increases as you grow older, and some eye changes are more serious. Keep your eyes as healthy as possible by getting regular eye exams so any problems can be spotted early.

EYE SAFETY PREPAREDNESS Knowing what to do for an eye emergency can save valuable time and possibly prevent vision loss. Be Prepared! WEAR eye protection for all hazardous activities and sports at school, home and on the job that could lead to an eye injury. DO stock a first aid kit with a rigid eye shield and commercial eyewash (make sure it is not expired) before engaging in activities where an eye injury could occur. DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. When in doubt, see an eye doctor promptly.

CUT AND PUNCTURES * DO NOT wash out eye with water or any other liquid. * DO NOT try to remove an object that is stuck in the eye. * Cover the eye with a rigid shield or the bottom half of a paper cup without pressure. Secure the shield or cup to the brow above the eye and the cheekbone below the eye without putting pressure on the eye. *Seek emergency medical care immediately. SOMETHING IN THE EYE * DO NOT rub the eye. * Try to let tears wash the speck out or use a commercial eyewash. * Try lifting upper eyelid outward. Look down over the lower lid. * DO NOT use tweezers or other items to try and remove the speck. * If it doesn’t wash out, see an eye doctor immediately. BLOWS TO THE EYE * Apply cold compress without pressure. * Seek emergency medical care in cases of pain, blurry vision, one eye sticks out more than the other, blood inside the eye, or discoloration (black eye), which could mean internal eye damage.

FEBRUARY is National Macular Generation Awareness Month. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recognizes the month of February to promote awareness about Age-related Macular Degeneration, also called simply macular degeneration or AMD, the nation’s leading cause of vision loss. We want to give you information regarding AMD and offer insights into how to prevent or stop the progression of macular degeneration.

WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION? AMD is a deterioration of the eye’s macula, the central part of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye called the retina. The macula is much more light sensitive than the rest of the retina and helps us focus in fine detail, such as the ability to recognize faces, read fine print, read street signs, etc. FACTS ABOUT AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, AMD affects more than ten million Americans, more than cataracts and glaucoma combined. -AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among people over 50. The disease usually affects people who are 60+, but it can occur earlier. -Age is the major risk factor for AMD. Other risk factors include smoking and people with a family history of AMD. -People of Caucasian descent are more likely to develop AMD than those of African American or Hispanic/Latino descent. -AMD does not lead to complete blindness, only affecting your finest central vision. AMD usually does not impact your peripheral vision. People with advanced AMD may develop legal blindness due to loss of central vision. -There is no cure for AMD, only treatments that can help slow its progression. -AMD usually affects both eyes, but one eye may be affected before the second eye. -Many people do not know they have AMD until they have a noticeable vision problem, or until it is discovered during a routine eye examination. -There are two kinds of AMD, “wet” and “dry.” -Early detection is key to slowing the progression of AMD. .

EYE CONTACT

What is your eye color?

We are all facing extraordinarily challenging times, nearly unimaginable months ago. But we are here because we want to continue to provide this community quality care and to honor your faith in our business.

You have choices for providers, but you choose us. You refer your friends and family because you believe in us. Your continued support keeps our business going, enables us to care for the community and provide for our own families. From every member of our team we sincerely thank you for the lasting faith in our business and entrusting us to your care. We strive to serve you even better today and tomorrow. Stay healthy and we'll see you soon! Dr. Edwards and EEC Team

Why children's eye exams are important:

Eye exams for children are very important to insure your child's eyes are healthy and have no vision problems that could interfere with school performance and potentially affect your child's safety.
A child who is unable to see print or view a blackboard can become easily frustrated, leading to poor academic performance.

Schedule an appointment today!

FIREWORKS SAFETY
Every year, thousands of Americans are injured due to fireworks, specifically during the Fourth of July holiday period. Ocular burns are the most frequent type of eye injury from fireworks.
We urge everyone to avoid fireworks and spend the 4th of July with family and friends, instead of in the emergency room!

We are excited to offer TORY BURCH

 chic women’s eyewear that offers a big-city vibe in an eclectic assortment of richly hued solids and bold color combinations, along with sophisticated accents and playful patterns.

Stop by our optical and check it out!

How to read your eyeglasses prescription:

So, you've just had an eye exam and your eye doctor has given you an eyeglass prescription. Here's to how to read it:

Right eye (OD), Left eye (OS), Sphere (S) is the amount of lens power, Cylinder (CYL or C) the amount of lens power in cylinder, and Axis (A) the lens meridian that contains no cylinder to correct astigmatism. You may also have add power which is a magnifying power applied to the bottom part of multifocal lenses to correct presbyopia.

Celebrate DAD this year with a new pair of sunglasses! 40% off all plano sunglass frames (excluding Costa) through June 19th.

Celebrate MOM with a new pair of sunglasses. 40% off all sunglass frames through May 9, 2020 (excludes COSTA).

Call us at 770-479-0222. Available via curbside pick-up.

COVID-19 and Edwards Eye Care

Thursday, April 23, 2020


As you know, Gov. Kemp has authorized the reopening of some businesses.  We want you to know that we are taking all precautions, including social distancing, to keep our staff and you safe.  Listed below are some of the guidelines we will be using over the next several weeks:

1)           All patients need to wear a mask, will be temperature tested, and will wash hands prior to entry    to the building.  Please enter alone (1 adult may enter with a minor).

2)           All staff members are required to wear a mask as a precautionary measure.


3)           We continue to sanitize throughout office before and after patient/staff use.

4)           We are reaching out to patients in advance to ensure we have all your current information         (address, insurance).

5)           Eyewear pickup will still be available via curbside.  We will continue shipping contacts directly to   your home.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

We hope this message finds you and yours healthy.  We wanted to give you an update below on the status of the practice during the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.

Our office remains opened with a team to assist you with the following limited services:

• Eye emergencies such as sudden vision changes, injuries, red eyes, and other urgent issues     
• Schedule private consultations with our optician for the purchase of prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses
• Place contact lens orders with free shipping direct to your home
• Place eyewear orders  
• Schedule appointments
• Curbside pick-up of eyewear orders

Please call our office so we may address your eye emergency concerns and assist you with orders and scheduling.  In order to make every effort to help you avoid the emergency room our office will be using telemedicine and in-office treatment.   

We anticipate our office will be able to offer full services in the next few weeks.  Our office will have new procedures and protocols in place to ensure the continued health of our patients and team.

Thank you for being our patient during and after these tough times. We will not only get through this, but we will emerge stronger after it!

Dr. Kyle Edwards

Thursday, April 2, 2020


We are treating eye emergencies in-office and via telemedicine, receiving glasses and contacts orders by phone for curb-side pick-up, as well as providing private in-office eyewear consultations by appointment only. 

Please call us at 770-479-0222






Wednesday, March 25, 2020

During this extremely difficult situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19), nothing is more important to Edwards Eye Care than protecting the health and safety of our patients. If you are running low on contact lenses and/or your contact lens prescription is expiring, we will extend your prescription as needed until May 31, 2020. Please remember, it is still important that you replace your contact lenses on time and as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Over wearing your contact lenses, puts you at risk for infection and other eye health problems.

For your safety and convenience, we are offering curb-side pick-up so that you do not have to enter the office. We can also ship your contact lenses to you free of charge. If you have any questions or want to place an order, call our office at 770-479-0222

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Your safety and well-being are of the utmost importance to us. We see this temporary change to be the best way to maintain the safety and well-being of everyone with whom we come in contact. Our office will remain open at this time for eye emergencies in-office or via telemedicine , receiving prescription refills for glasses and contacts by phone for curb side pick ups, and providing private eyewear consultations by appointment only.  We will be scheduling comprehensive eye exams starting in mid to late April.

If you need to come in for a medical eye emergency, please call to make an appointment as our online schedule is temporarily taken down. We are also happy to meet you curb side to deliver contacts or eyeglasses if needed – just give us a call when you arrive at (770) 479-0222.

We will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops.

We appreciate your business and thank you for your patience as we navigate this situation together. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.

For more information on the CDC recommendations for COVID-19, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html .

Edwards Eye Care is committed to the health and safety of each one of our patients and staff. In light of the recent coronavirus outbreak, we wanted to provide an update regarding what our practice is doing to prioritize the health of our patients and staff during this time.

We have always prioritized the cleanliness of our office, equipment and tools, but have added some additional layers of precaution during this time. 

We are trying to remain calm and to learn as much as we can about this virus, even as the information is changing daily.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) have been closely monitoring and responding to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus. Based on guidelines set by the CDC and the DPH, the following protocols will be implemented in our office effective immediately.

-       Patients who believe they are showing signs of infection, or who live with someone with symptoms, will be asked to reschedule their appointments and stay at home.  This is especially true if you have fever, cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing.  Call your physician’s office before going in for an appointment to minimize exposure risk to those in your community. 

-       Inform us if you have traveled out of the country recently and reschedule your appointment to ensure you are symptom free if you have traveled to a high-risk location within the last 14 days.

-       We ask that you help us prevent the spread of viruses through good hand hygiene.  Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm/hot water and soap.  Avoid touching your face and placing fingers in your mouths.  Please understand our team will refrain from handshakes. 

-       Hand sanitizer is being used copiously throughout our office by our team, and will be available to patients as well.

-       We are continually disinfecting hard surfaces in our office such as sink faucets, doorknobs, countertops, etc. 

-       When trying on eyeglasses, we ask you to put all frames in the designated bin for disinfecting. We will be cleaning each frame before placing them back on the board.

-       All pens, clipboards and other items used by patients and staff will be disinfected after each use.

-       We will continue our current cleaning protocols in our office in regards to patient rooms, equipment, disposable goods and personal protection. We do this for your safety.  Your health and well-being, as well as that of our team, is our primary concern.

We thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding during this difficult time.  We are here to serve our community, and will do everything in our power to provide treatment in a safe manner to our patient population. 

WHAT IS KERATOCONUS?

We see through the cornea, which is the clear outer lens or "windshield" of the eye. Normally, the cornea has a dome shape, like a ball. Sometimes, however, the structure of the cornea is just not strong enough to hold this round shape and the cornea bulges outward and downward like a cone. This condition is called keratoconus.

Keratoconus is caused by a decrease in protective antioxidants in the cornea. The cornea cells produce damaging by-products, like exhaust from a car. Normally, antioxidants get rid of them and protect the collagen fibers. If antioxidant levels are low, the collagen weakens and the cornea bulges out. The changes in the shape of the cornea can happen quickly or may occur over several years. The changes can result in blurred vision, glare and halos at night, and the streaking of lights.

Treatment usually starts with new eyeglasses. If eyeglasses don't provide adequate vision, then contact lenses, usually rigid gas permeable or scleral contact lenses, may be recommended. With mild cases, new eyeglasses can usually make vision clear again. Eventually, though, it will probably be necessary to use contact lenses or seek other treatments to strengthen the cornea and improve vision.

AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (ARMD) AWARENESS MONTH

Millions of people are living with ARMD and many are living full lives by managing their condition. Did you know?

-Late AMD can happen in one eye or both eyes.

-If you have late AMD in only one eye, you may not notice any changes in your vision — but it’s still important to get your eyes checked.

-Having late AMD in one eye puts you at higher risk of developing late AMD in your other eye.

Spread the word - the best way to detect ARMD is through an annual eye exam. If you or someone you know suffers from this condition, schedule an appointment by calling us at 770-479-0222, click on the book now button on top of our Facebook page, or utilize our website on-line scheduler.

2020: Year of THE EYE EXAM

How often should you get your eyes checked? The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends annual eye exams.   If you don’t get an eye exam every year, your eyes will usually tell you when they need help.  If you find yourself rubbing your eyes a lot or holding things as far from (or as close to) your face as possible to see them clearly, it’s probably time to see your eye doctor. 

Comprehensive eye exams are one of the most important, preventive ways to preserve vision and overall health - make 2020 your year of the eye exam!

HETEROCHROMIA

HETEROCHROMIA: What is it?

Heterochromia is when a person’s irises are different colors. There are a few kinds of heterochromia. Complete heterochromia is when one iris is a different color than the other. When part of one iris is a different color than the rest of it, this is called partial heterochromia. Central heterochromia is when there is an inner ring that is a different color than the outer area of the iris. It doesn't typically affect the person's vision and is benign.

Holiday Hours

Holiday Hours

Closed Tuesday December 24
Closed Wednesday December 25

Closing at 4PM Tuesday December 31
Closed Wednesday January 1