what you can do

Becoming aGeorgia Peach

By Dr. Janelle OD Your Eye Care Expert Founder/CEO of Brilliant Eyes Vision Center

Hailing from Michigan, I am a Northern girl who adores Southern charm. I told myself once I hit 20 years in “Hotlanta”, I would officially become a Georgia Peach, and I’ve got 6 years to go! I am a wife, mom of two adorable children, and your local optometrist, specializing in dry eye disease with a passion for “saving sight” and mentoring future doctors. I am the owner of Brilliant Eyes Vision Center and Premier Eye Spa: a staple in the Cobb Community, promoting “healthy eyes for a healthy life”, and providing over 5000 mentoring hours for students in the Cobb County CTAE work-based learning program. My life mantra, “service is in my DNA”, compelled me to extend my mentorship beyond Cobb County. In 2017, my baby sister, Dr. Joya, DDS, and I founded a 501c3 non-profit, S.C.O.R.E, Inc. wherein we aim to expose, empower, and encourage minority girls to pursue STEM careers. To date, we have awarded $12,500 in scholarships with active partnerships that service all of Metro-Atlanta and Charlotte, including TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE), Buy-Cobb, and Code313.

Our “new normal” of constant computer usage, mask wearing, and increased alcohol consumption (direct effect of homeschooling your children, lol) is exacerbating the symptoms of dry eye disease. If you are experiencing frequent burning, tearing, a gritty sensation, styes, and red eyes, you probably have dry eye disease.

Three tips to keep your eyes white and youthful:

Invest in a quality mask. Masking is especially important in reducing the spread of the Corona Virus. However, an ill-fitting mask can worsen dry eye symptoms. When you breathe out and your mask is loose-fitting, air can flow up and across the surface of your eyes, encouraging evaporation of your natural tears.

Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome, which is blurry vision, eye

strain and dry eye. When looking at a screen, it is recommended that you stop every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, then blink. This will reduce excessive strain on your eyes and increase hydration to the front surface of the eye. Blue light anti-fatigue glasses will eliminate many of the symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome. Schedule an appointment to find out which type of eyewear is right for you.

Replace the liquor. Wine Spritzers are a better choice. The wine typically has a lower alcohol content, paired with sparkling water and fresh fruit to keep the calories low. Overall, better for your eyes (and belly)! Schedule a dry eye evaluation & consultation to determine the root cause of your discomfort. My unique approach, called Infrared Imaging, will diagnose the direct cause, then enable our office to formalize a customized, dry eye treatment plan to reduce discomfort. In the new year, stop by to see our state-of-the-art dry eye treatments!

Dr. Janelle OD Your Eye Care Expert Founder/CEO of Brilliant Eyes Vision Center Founder/Clinical Director of Premier Dry Eye Spa & Cosmetic Eye Care Co-Founder of S.C.O.R.E, INC. STEM 501c3 Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

http://www.brillianteyesvisioncenter http://premierdryeyespa.com/ https://www.wescore.org