Barnett Eyecare and Eyewear

12/08/2025

🌟 Autoimmune Diseases & Your Eye Health 🌟
Did you know that autoimmune conditions can affect more than just your body—they can impact your eyes too? Understanding these connections is an important step in protecting your vision.

👁️ Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
One of the first signs of MS can be optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause sudden or gradual vision loss.

👁️ Psoriasis
Often thought of as a skin condition, psoriasis can also inflame the conjunctiva, leading to redness and irritation.

👁️ Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disorders can increase the risk of glaucoma by affecting eye pressure through tissue buildup or disrupted fluid circulation.

👁️ Lupus
Lupus can affect multiple parts of the body—including the eyes. Symptoms may include blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches, light sensitivity, and eye soreness.

👁️ Type 1 Diabetes
This autoimmune disease is a major cause of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, where high blood sugar damages the eye’s blood vessels.

✨ Other Autoimmune Conditions

Sjögren’s Syndrome: severe dry eye

Ulcerative Colitis: up to 10% experience eye inflammation

Crohn’s Disease: can cause recurrent eye inflammation

Behçet’s Disease: many experience blurry vision, eye pain, or redness

Uveitis: inflammation that can significantly affect vision

💬 Your Eye Doctor Is Your Partner
Managing autoimmune disease requires a team approach—and that includes caring for your vision. If you’re living with an autoimmune condition and noticing changes in your eyes, we’re here to help. 👓💙

12/04/2025

12/01/2025

🎁👀 Did you know that toys cause about 1 in 10 eye injuries seen in ERs?
As we celebrate the season, December is also Safe Toys and Celebrations Month—a perfect reminder to keep safety in mind when choosing gifts.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages parents to:
✔️ Avoid toys that launch projectiles (like crossbows or BB guns)
✔️ Read all warnings and instructions before purchasing
✔️ Look for the ASTM label, which indicates the toy meets safety standards

Let’s help keep the holidays joyful and safe for everyone! ✨🎄

11/27/2025

We're grateful for the privilege of taking care of your eyes! This Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for the trust you place in us to care for your vision and your family’s eye health. 🧡👁

We are closed today, but will be open tomorrow from 8:30-5:30 for your vision care needs.

11/24/2025

The gift that keeps on giving... the whole year! That annual contact lens supply!

11/20/2025

Smoking is very harmful to your eyes — it can cause or worsen several serious eye diseases and speed up vision loss. Here’s how:

1. Increases Risk of Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in older adults.

Smoking doubles to triples your risk of developing AMD.

The toxins in cigarette smoke damage the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) and reduce blood flow, which starves the macula of oxygen.

2. Raises Risk of Cataracts

Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy, blurring vision.

Smokers are 2–3 times more likely to develop cataracts.

Chemicals in smoke change the structure of the eye’s lens and increase oxidative stress.

3. Damages the Optic Nerve

Smoking can lead to optic neuropathy, which destroys the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain.

This damage can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.

4. Worsens Dry Eyes

Smoke irritates the surface of the eyes and reduces tear production.

This leads to dry, itchy, red, and uncomfortable eyes, especially for contact lens wearers.

5. Increases Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy

Smokers with diabetes have a higher risk of retinal damage due to poor blood circulation and oxygen supply.

11/17/2025

We always focus on the effects of diabetes on the eyes, but knowing the signs of diabetes is so important.

💙 Know the Symptoms of Diabetes 💙

Diabetes often develops slowly — and sometimes, the first signs show up in your eyes.

Be aware of these common symptoms:
⚡ Increased thirst and frequent urination
🍽️ Extreme hunger or unexplained weight loss
😴 Fatigue and irritability
🌫️ Blurry vision or vision changes
🩹 Slow-healing cuts or frequent infections
🦶 Tingling or numbness in hands or feet

If you notice blurry vision, fluctuating sight, or any changes in how you see, it could be a sign your blood sugar levels are affecting your eyes.

At Barnett Eyecare and Eyewear, we provide comprehensive diabetic eye exams to detect early changes and protect your vision.

11/14/2025

Diabetes and Your Eye Health

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among people under 75, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so it’s important to identify and treat eye health problems early. The good news is that you can take steps to help keep your eyes healthy.

1. Schedule an annual eye exam with your eye doctor. Your doctor will look for signs of health problems inside your eyes, either by dilating them with eye drops.

2. Know the common eye diseases among people with diabetes.

- Diabetic Retinopathy can cause blindness if not treated, so it’s important to have your eyes checked regularly.
- Cataracts are more common in people with diabetes.
- Glaucoma can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated.

3. Visit your eye doctor right away if you:

- See little black lines or spots that don’t go away.
- Experience any red spots or fog.
- Have a sudden change in how clearly you see.

Eye exams play a critical role in the prevention and early detection of many chronic diseases, including diabetes. Your eye doctor is an important member of your overall healthcare team.

11/11/2025

Today we honor and celebrate all of our brave veterans on this Veterans Day. On this special holiday, let’s take a moment to give thanks for their selfless service and sacrifice. Let’s all take part in this holiday tradition, show our appreciation, and wish them a heartfelt thank you.
❤️🤍💙 Barnett EyeCare and Eyewear proudly thanks you!

11/05/2025

Sweater weather meets fresh style. This month, warm up your look with new frames from Barnett Eyecare and Eyewear. It's perfet timing before the holiday season kicks into gear! 🍁🍂🦃