Online Appointment Scheduling
For your convenience, we provide online appointment scheduling. Please select the "Schedule Online" button below to schedule an appointment at our office. If you do not see a time available that meets your needs, please contact our office at (916) 330-1802. We look for ward to meeting your eye care needs.
Printable PDF Forms
At Vision+ Family Optometry, we value your time. In an effort to save you time in our office, you can download and complete our patient form(s) prior to your appointment.
New Patient Health History Form – Required
Please complete this form as it lets us know the history and current state of your health. Let us know what questions, concerns, and goals your have regarding your eye health or vision on the form.
- Download the required form(s). Print out the form(s) and complete the required information.
- Fax your printed and completed form(s) to our office or bring them with you to your appointment.
New Patient Health History Form – Required
Please complete this form as it lets us know the history and current state of your health. Let us know what questions, concerns, and goals your have regarding your eye health or vision on the form.
| New Patient Form |
|
| ||
Patient Center
At Vision+ Family Optometry, we value our patients and look forward to sharing our knowledge with you.
In the Patient Center below, you will find patient education on:
In the Patient Center below, you will find patient education on:
- Contact Lens Care
- Eye Health for Children
- Eyestrain and Your Eye Muscles
- Healthy Prevention
- Performance Eyewear
- Protecting your Eyes form Solar Radiation
- The Aging of the Eye
Contact Lens Care & Compliance
Contact lenses are among the safest forms of vision correction when patients follow the proper care and wearing instructions provided by their eye doctor. However, when patients do not use lenses as directed, the consequences may be dangerous. In fact, contact lens wearers could be damaging their eyes by not using proper hygiene in caring for their lenses.
Contact lenses and the solutions used with them are medical devices and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), therefore, it is extremely important that patients maintain regular appointments to ensure they are receiving clinical guidance from their eye doctor based on individual eye health needs.
Clean and safe handling of contact lenses is one of the most important measures contact lens wearers can take to protect their sight. Exercising optimal care and hygiene with contact lenses can keep the eyes healthy.
Eye care practitioners (ECPs) responding to a poll reported that their patients are non-compliant in the following areas:
In a recent study conducted in the United States,
Counseling and education for all contact lens patients is however the most important factor of all.
Contact lenses are among the safest forms of vision correction when patients follow the proper care and wearing instructions provided by their eye doctor. However, when patients do not use lenses as directed, the consequences may be dangerous. In fact, contact lens wearers could be damaging their eyes by not using proper hygiene in caring for their lenses.
Contact lenses and the solutions used with them are medical devices and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), therefore, it is extremely important that patients maintain regular appointments to ensure they are receiving clinical guidance from their eye doctor based on individual eye health needs.
Clean and safe handling of contact lenses is one of the most important measures contact lens wearers can take to protect their sight. Exercising optimal care and hygiene with contact lenses can keep the eyes healthy.
Eye care practitioners (ECPs) responding to a poll reported that their patients are non-compliant in the following areas:
- Failure to replace lenses when scheduled (55% of patients)
- Failure to wash hands prior to handling lenses (18% of patients)
- Switching care products (13% of patients)
- Inappropriate use of care products (9% of patients)
In a recent study conducted in the United States,
- Only 32% of patients were compliant in the lens wear and care associated behaviors evaluated, while
- 86% of patients perceived themselves to be compliant with their current lens wear and care practices.
Counseling and education for all contact lens patients is however the most important factor of all.
EYE HEALTH FOR CHILDREN
There are many things parents can do to help their baby's vision develop properly. The following are some examples of age-appropriate activities that can assist an infant's visual development.
Birth to 4 months:
5 to 8 months:
9 to 12 months:
12 to 24 months:
Even if no eye or vision problems are apparent, at about age 6 months, you should take your baby to your doctor of optometry for his or her first thorough eye examination. Then, follow-up with annual eye exams until the age of 18. DO NOT RELY ON YOUR PEDIATRICIAN’S vision screening as it is not thorough and it does not replace a comprehensive eye exam and ocular health check.
There are many things parents can do to help their baby's vision develop properly. The following are some examples of age-appropriate activities that can assist an infant's visual development.
Birth to 4 months:
- Use a nightlight or other dim lamp in your baby's room.
- Change the crib's position frequently and change your child's position in it.
- Keep reach-and-touch toys within your baby's focus, about eight to twelve inches.
- Talk to your baby as you walk around the room.
- Alternate right and left sides with each feeding.
- Toys like building blocks can help boost fine motor skills and small muscle development.
5 to 8 months:
- Hang a mobile, crib gym or various objects across the crib for the baby to grab, pull and kick.
- Give the baby plenty of time to play and explore on the floor.
- Provide plastic or wooden blocks that can be held in the hands.
- Play patty cake and other games, moving the baby's hands through the motions while saying the words aloud.
9 to 12 months:
- Play hide and seek games with toys or your face to help the baby develop visual memory.
- Name objects when talking to encourage the baby's word association and vocabulary development skills.
- Encourage crawling and creeping.
12 to 24 months:
- Roll a ball back and forth to help the child track objects with the eyes visually.
- Give the child building blocks and balls of all shapes and sizes to play with to boost fine motor skills and small muscle development.
- Read or tell stories to stimulate the child's ability to visualize and pave the way for learning and reading skills.
- Baby’s First Eye Exam
- An infant should receive his or her first eye exam between the ages of 6 and 12 months.
- Remember: children often won’t complain of visual issues
Even if no eye or vision problems are apparent, at about age 6 months, you should take your baby to your doctor of optometry for his or her first thorough eye examination. Then, follow-up with annual eye exams until the age of 18. DO NOT RELY ON YOUR PEDIATRICIAN’S vision screening as it is not thorough and it does not replace a comprehensive eye exam and ocular health check.
Eye Strain and Your Eye Muscles:
With the boom in the technology market, we now have more people using computers/tablets/smartphones than ever before… and with a broad range of age groups using them! We see 2 year olds and 90 year olds with the same tablet nowadays!
Some of the most common ocular conditions that come from this increased use of technology are:
With the boom in the technology market, we now have more people using computers/tablets/smartphones than ever before… and with a broad range of age groups using them! We see 2 year olds and 90 year olds with the same tablet nowadays!
Some of the most common ocular conditions that come from this increased use of technology are:
- Eyestrain
- Tired Eyes/Fatigue
- Near Blur
Healthy Prevention
Your Eyes Are an Important Part of Your Health
You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure.
During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye—the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room. This process enables your eye care professional to get a good look at the back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect diseases in their early stages. Your eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are healthy and if you’re seeing your best.
Your Eyes Are an Important Part of Your Health
- What can we do to keep our eyes healthy and our vision crisp and clear?
You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure.
During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye—the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room. This process enables your eye care professional to get a good look at the back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect diseases in their early stages. Your eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are healthy and if you’re seeing your best.
Performance Eyewear
Whether you are a weekend sports enthusiast or a serious athlete, you need performance enhancing eyewear. Long hours in varying light conditions and weather takes its toll on the most experienced athletes; add the need for prescription and it becomes a necessity. Contact lenses may dry as patients ride or golf in windy, dusty conditions. Fitting sport specific, prescription eyewear will improve the quality of life for patients.
The perfect solution includes:
Optical Performance includes sport-dependent eyewear (Sport = Danger)
Whether you are a weekend sports enthusiast or a serious athlete, you need performance enhancing eyewear. Long hours in varying light conditions and weather takes its toll on the most experienced athletes; add the need for prescription and it becomes a necessity. Contact lenses may dry as patients ride or golf in windy, dusty conditions. Fitting sport specific, prescription eyewear will improve the quality of life for patients.
The perfect solution includes:
- Colors and Frame Choices
- Technology
- Interchangeable Lenses
Optical Performance includes sport-dependent eyewear (Sport = Danger)
- Cyclists
- Baseball
- Hunters
Solar Radiation and the Eye
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comprises invisible high energy rays from the sun that lie just beyond the violet/blue end of the visible spectrum. More than 99% of UV radiation is absorbed by the anterior structures of the eye, although some of it does reach the light-sensitive retina. The UV radiation present in sunlight is not useful for vision. There are good scientific reasons to be concerned that UV absorption by the eye may contribute to age-related changes in the eye and a number of serious eye diseases. Protection can be achieved by simple, safe, and inexpensive methods such as wearing a brimmed hat and using eyewear that absorbs UV radiation.
Protecting Your Eyes from Solar Radiation:
The sun supports all life on our planet, but its life-giving rays also pose dangers. The sun’s primary danger is in the form of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation is a component of solar radiation, but it can also be given off by artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers. Most are aware of the harm UV radiation can do to the skin, but many may not realize that exposure to UV radiation can harm the eyes or that other components of solar radiation can also affect vision.
There are three types of UV radiation:
UV-A and UV-B radiation can have adverse long- and short-term effects on the eyes and vision.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comprises invisible high energy rays from the sun that lie just beyond the violet/blue end of the visible spectrum. More than 99% of UV radiation is absorbed by the anterior structures of the eye, although some of it does reach the light-sensitive retina. The UV radiation present in sunlight is not useful for vision. There are good scientific reasons to be concerned that UV absorption by the eye may contribute to age-related changes in the eye and a number of serious eye diseases. Protection can be achieved by simple, safe, and inexpensive methods such as wearing a brimmed hat and using eyewear that absorbs UV radiation.
Protecting Your Eyes from Solar Radiation:
The sun supports all life on our planet, but its life-giving rays also pose dangers. The sun’s primary danger is in the form of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation is a component of solar radiation, but it can also be given off by artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers. Most are aware of the harm UV radiation can do to the skin, but many may not realize that exposure to UV radiation can harm the eyes or that other components of solar radiation can also affect vision.
There are three types of UV radiation:
- UV-C (most dangerous) - UV-C is mostly absorbed by the o-zone layer
- UV-B
- UV-A (least dangerous, yet still harmful)
UV-A and UV-B radiation can have adverse long- and short-term effects on the eyes and vision.
The Aging Of The Eye and Potential Eye Problems
Fetal Development:
The eye starts developing in the 4th week of pregnancy. The eyes become visible by the 8th week. By the 14th week of the fetal development the eyes face forward.
The First Months of Life:
Babies learn how to see. During the first few weeks of life the eyes don’t work together, or what we commonly refer to as “binocular vision.” Proper stimulation can increase curiosity, attention span, memory, and nervous system development.
The Baby Ages:
At 6 months, you should have your child scheduled for their first eye exam. This is the earliest point many ocular abnormalities can be detected. Vision screenings at your pediatrician will not suffice. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is needed and only your optometrist or ophthalmologist can provide that for your child.
From 8 to 12 months, the connection between eyes, movement, and memory is strong as your baby approaches his or her first birthday. In the past year you’ve probably noticed tremendous improvements in your baby’s attempts to roll a ball, pick up small toys and objects, and feed themselves foods like cereal or sliced fruit.
Activities that encourage hand-eye coordination, like playing with stacking boxes and rings, blocks or snap-together toys, will help strengthen your baby’s ability to see an object, touch it, and remember things about it.
Adolescent Eye Problems:
During the childhood period of development (2-11) there are two eye problems that can develop, Ambylopia and Hyperopia. Ambylopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” usually develops before the age of 6, and it does not affect side vision.
Strabismus is one of the most common eye conditions in children, affecting between 2 and 4 percent of the population. Strabismus occurs when the eyes are not aligned properly. One or both of your child’s eyes may turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia) or downward (hypotropia).
Early diagnosis is essential in preventing vision loss that occurs as a result of amblyopia. Amblyopia from strabismus occurs when vision does not develop normally during childhood because the eyes are not aligned. Treatment of strabismus may include eyeglasses, patching or eye muscle surgery. It is important to note: Ambylopia can essentially only be fully treated during the developmental ages of childhood.
The Teen Years:
Adolescence is period of great change. During puberty, many teens can develop eye problems they did not have in their childhood. It is also normal for teens with vision problems to have prescription changes throughout their adolescence.
80% of the damage caused by UV radiation to the eye occurs by age 18. Children outside playing are more susceptible to damage from the sun with unprotected eyes as their ocular structures aren’t fully formed and mature. Sunglasses that eliminate UV radiation can greatly increase the health of the eye, and reduce the damage of the harmful rays.
The Eye Ages
As the eye ages, and generally around 40 years, we start losing the ability to focus on near objects. This condition is known as presbyopia, or commonly called “my arms are too short”. The muscles in the eye that allows for the focus on near objects becomes weaker and the lens inside our eye loses it’s elasticity and we find ourselves holding objects out farther to read.
The Mature Eye:
A cataract is a clouding of the lens on the inside of the eye that can cause a decrease in vision. Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision. Thankfully, it usually, but not always, a slow progressing condition.
Fetal Development:
The eye starts developing in the 4th week of pregnancy. The eyes become visible by the 8th week. By the 14th week of the fetal development the eyes face forward.
The First Months of Life:
Babies learn how to see. During the first few weeks of life the eyes don’t work together, or what we commonly refer to as “binocular vision.” Proper stimulation can increase curiosity, attention span, memory, and nervous system development.
The Baby Ages:
At 6 months, you should have your child scheduled for their first eye exam. This is the earliest point many ocular abnormalities can be detected. Vision screenings at your pediatrician will not suffice. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is needed and only your optometrist or ophthalmologist can provide that for your child.
From 8 to 12 months, the connection between eyes, movement, and memory is strong as your baby approaches his or her first birthday. In the past year you’ve probably noticed tremendous improvements in your baby’s attempts to roll a ball, pick up small toys and objects, and feed themselves foods like cereal or sliced fruit.
Activities that encourage hand-eye coordination, like playing with stacking boxes and rings, blocks or snap-together toys, will help strengthen your baby’s ability to see an object, touch it, and remember things about it.
Adolescent Eye Problems:
During the childhood period of development (2-11) there are two eye problems that can develop, Ambylopia and Hyperopia. Ambylopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” usually develops before the age of 6, and it does not affect side vision.
Strabismus is one of the most common eye conditions in children, affecting between 2 and 4 percent of the population. Strabismus occurs when the eyes are not aligned properly. One or both of your child’s eyes may turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia) or downward (hypotropia).
Early diagnosis is essential in preventing vision loss that occurs as a result of amblyopia. Amblyopia from strabismus occurs when vision does not develop normally during childhood because the eyes are not aligned. Treatment of strabismus may include eyeglasses, patching or eye muscle surgery. It is important to note: Ambylopia can essentially only be fully treated during the developmental ages of childhood.
The Teen Years:
Adolescence is period of great change. During puberty, many teens can develop eye problems they did not have in their childhood. It is also normal for teens with vision problems to have prescription changes throughout their adolescence.
80% of the damage caused by UV radiation to the eye occurs by age 18. Children outside playing are more susceptible to damage from the sun with unprotected eyes as their ocular structures aren’t fully formed and mature. Sunglasses that eliminate UV radiation can greatly increase the health of the eye, and reduce the damage of the harmful rays.
The Eye Ages
As the eye ages, and generally around 40 years, we start losing the ability to focus on near objects. This condition is known as presbyopia, or commonly called “my arms are too short”. The muscles in the eye that allows for the focus on near objects becomes weaker and the lens inside our eye loses it’s elasticity and we find ourselves holding objects out farther to read.
The Mature Eye:
A cataract is a clouding of the lens on the inside of the eye that can cause a decrease in vision. Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision. Thankfully, it usually, but not always, a slow progressing condition.
