Expertise - Shades Optical

OVERVIEW

With the guiding principle that a patient’s health and happiness is directly connected to the precision and comfort of their vision, Dr. Bill has created a system to dedicate more time to each patient.

At Shades we understand that the eyes are the window to whole body wellness. This eye-body connection is at the core of Dr. Bill Koppin’s overall philosophy about integrative care.

Shades Optical refers to this as the Line of Sight. This philosophy recognizes the connections that exist between different systems in the body.

Dr. Bill and the Shades Optical practitioners understand that regular annual eye exams are a critical part of this unique holistic approach to wellness, like an annual visit to the dentist.

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WELLNESS

You can enhance the well-being of your eyes and vision through UV light protection and proper nutrition. The pigments that we absorb from the vegetables we eat, specifically Lutein and Zeaxanthin, form an internal filter in the macula. This filter protects against sunlight, harmful blue light, and absorbs free radicals.

At high levels this filter improves night vision, glare reduction, and contrast sensitivity. Lutein comes from leafy green vegetables. Spinach and kale have the most amount of Lutein per weight. Zeaxanthin is found in red, orange and yellow vegetables.

Vitamin supplementation with Lutein and Zeaxanthin works well. We measure the density levels of all of our patients as part of the Shades Optical wellness and prevention eye exam.

A Mediterranean type diet with 5-7 servings of vegetables a day is recommended. Avoid processed foods and refined sugars. We recommend organic, non-gmo whole foods.

PREVENTION

Dr. Bill is able to identify the earliest signs of potentially threatening conditions, such as macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, and CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome – otherwise known as mold disease).

We are able to detect the impact of environmental exposures and diseases such as hypertension and improper nutrition. Early detection of such conditions is critical for treatment and prevention.

Analytical tools map the contours of the eye Itself, distinguishing fine detail at a microscopic Level. An eye-by-eye analysis ensures that prescriptive solutions are delivered with precise tolerances.

We work to ensure that our patients receive the most detailed and accurate information possible.

TECHNOLOGY

Shades has always been committed to the most advanced technology and tools. Shades Optical is the first optometric practice in the state of Michigan with a state-of-the-art suite of equipment.

Dr. Bill uses these precision tools to measure and map virtually every aspect of a patient’s eyesight, from the physical structure and health of the eye itself, to a detailed analysis of each patient’s vision.

The Shades Optical wellness and prevention eye exam is our signature eye exam. We recommend a Shades exam once a year (like a visit to the dentist) to optimize vision and long-term optical wellness. Most of the technology we have at Shades Optical is traditionally only used for specialty patients, extreme optical conditions, and when problems arise. We are utilizing these advanced tools to prevent the problems and ensure our patients are optimizing their lives.

ADVANCED RETINAL SCANNING

This is like an MRI imaging the layers of the back of the eye which allows us to detect inflammation or thinning of the retinal layers and prevent retinal disease. The retina is analogous to the film of the camera. By imaging, we can be sure the film of the camera – our eye – is healthy.

CONTRAST SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

This measures the ability to see grey tone and is a tool to diagnose CIRS – Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. When we improve contrast sensitivity we improve shadow vision.

MACULAR PIGMENT OPTICAL DENSITY - MPOD

This test measures the density of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula. These two pigments act as a filter that blocks blue light and ultraviolet light and absorb free radicles. Lutein and Zeaxanthin help with visual performance. At higher levels, these pigments improve vision – especially night vision, glare recovery, and contrast sensitivity.

OPD3 SCAN

This is a tool to assess the visual system that quantifies and qualifies the refractive power of the eye. This scan measures your prescription and the quality of the potential in which your prescription can be.

All surfaces that light passes through has a power and quality to it. When light enters the eye, it is refracting and focusing. So, when we understand the quality and quantity of how light can interact with the eye, we can better customize and perfect an individual prescription and better understand your potential quality of vision.

This scan is also used to measure the quality of light passing through the lens of the eye. The lens is the tissue that can break down over time (especially with overexposure to sunlight) and that can become cataracts. By measuring the quality of the lens we can give advice on cataract prevention through eye care and nutraceuticals.

SLIT LAMP

This allows us to image the front of the eye, gives us a detailed and quantifiable look at the glands. This is a key tool in preventing dry eye disease and supports our cataract evaluation.

We understand most dry eye problems have to do with Meibomian Gland dysfunction. This means the tear film is out of balance because the Meibomian Gland is not functioning properly.

LENSES

LENSES AND FRAMES DESERVE TENDER LOVING CARE

We specialize in lenses and prescriptions that maximize comfort and vision. The smallest adjustments will help you prevent eye strain and see better.

We slow it down. We take our time.

We work with our hands. And we add extra attention.

That’s how we do what we do.

That’s what sets us apart.

The best vision requires precision and accuracy. Which is why we keep it in our own hands.

We own and operate our own finishing lab. We cut, shape, and align to your face.

That’s the most important step in fabricating your eyewear.

Which ensures the highest quality lenses for maximum comfort and sight.

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DRY EYES

Over 30 million people in the United States are affected by dry eyes. Dry eyes are tired, itchy, sore, burning, watering eyes that make us suffer. It’s hard to read, hard to drive, hard to sport and hard to see. Dry eyes limit our lifestyles. Most importantly, they are preventable and treatable!

When this is disrupted and out of balance, it becomes very uncomfortable and we often have fluctuating vision. The increased use of digital devices creates an increase of dry eye disease. When looking at digital devices our blink rate drops by as much as two thirds. When we are not blinking, it becomes easy for our oil glands to get congested and create a buildup of bacteria in the tear layer. An overpopulation of increased bacteria builds a biofilm on the lid margin that blocks glands.

WE HAVE CREATED A SHADES DRY EYE PROCESS FOR EVALUATION + TREATMENT. THIS EVALUATION IS NOW INCLUDED IN EVERY SHADES OPTICAL EYE EXAM IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN WELLNESS AND PREVENT ANY LONG TERM ISSUES.

MEIBOGRAPHY

This is a specific test that analyzes the oil glands of the eyelid. A healthy eye has Meibomian glands (aka oil ducts) firing properly and able to maintain the tear layer. This makes up 10% of the quality of our vision.

When the lid blinks together, oil is secreted from the glands, and the oil is what keeps a smooth tear layer. If this is not functioning properly, the tear layer evaporates. This is the cause of 87% of dry eye problems.

EVALUATE LID MARGIN

If Biofilm overgrowth is found after we evaluate the lid margin, we can easily remove overgrowth with an in-office procedure called ZEST.

ZEST

Zest is a simple and pleasant treatment for dry eye disease. The treatment uses an Okra vegetable based product that gets applied to the lid margin and binds the biofilm. The biofilm builds up around the bases of the eyelashes, much like plaque build up on gums and teeth. This is a simple 15 minute in-office procedure that clears the oil glands and the base of lashes to relieve dry, blinking, itchy eyes.

INTENSE PULSE LIGHT TREATMENT

Intense Pulse Light Treatment uses pulses of light to treat the root cause of Dry Eye Disease. This treatment treats the root cause of the inflammation. This is our drug free, drop free, light based treatment that we do in-house.

ILUX

ILUX is a treatment that uses LED light to gently heat the Meibomian glands to clear blockages. This treatment is a quick and comfortable process that liquefies and clears the blocked Meibomian glands to alleviate the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease.