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Ocular Wellness

Why we focus on ocular wellness

The eye, the brain and the body are one and the same.

A sick eye, especially in chronic conditions, does not occur in isolation, but is a result of a sick body.

Most of the eye diseases we see every day are lifestyle diseases and can be modulated. Preventing these diseases is more effective than treating them once they occur. It is also simple, but it is not easy.

It is easy to take a pill, get an injection or have surgery. It is so much harder (at first) but so much better to eat healthily, exercise regularly, reduce stress and/or improve response to it, control device use, etc…

The eye and the rest of the body are very closely related. You can’t really hope taking a cholesterol pill and a blood pressure pill will really keep you healthy if you’re eating fast food three times a week. Similarly, getting laser treatments for bleeding in the eye won’t really help if you don’t control your diabetes.

We want to help you and your loved ones protect and empower your eyes from birth through life. Many common thieves of sight can be caught in or before the act with thorough eye exams and other detection methods. These include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye and even myopia (which increases the likelihood of most of these others).

Let us show you how. Call today and arrange for a consultation.

BIG NEWS!

We’ll soon be “Eyes on Main”! And that’s not the only news... please offer a warm welcome to Dr. Mike Gowen.

From Dr. J:

I opened my office in 1990 – That’s 30 years coming up on August 1st!!   In some ways it feels like yesterday, and in others, like forever.  Along with so much else that has changed this year, one more occasion is on the horizon.  I am excited to announce that I am selling my practice to Dr. Mike Gowen.  Dr. G and his wife, SallyAnn, met at Virginia Tech close to 40 years ago. They have been proud and loud Hokies ever since and dreamed of returning to live in Blacksburg.  Both are strong supporters of the arts, athletics and the civic engagement that make this a very special place to live, work and play!

I am thrilled to be handing the baton to a doctor who believes as I do in community service. Plus, he is laser focused also on individualized patient care, personal and professional intellectual advancement and enjoying the good things and kind people who come along every day.

Better yet, I’m not going anywhere!  I will continue seeing patients, focusing on visual rehab for those suffering from concussions/TBI, working to control the progression and consequences of nearsightedness through orthokeratology and other treatments, and counseling all regarding the inter-relation of the eyes, brain and body, along with the importance of nutrition, exercise and mental well-being.  There’s so much I yet want to learn and do, and now I won’t have to worry about arguing with insurance companies.  I’m excited!

From Dr. G:

It’s impossible to express how pleased I am to be moving to Blacksburg. It has long been the dream of my wife and I to become a part of this unique town, where we met as Virginia Tech students and continued to frequent as alumni.    I look forward to the privilege of serving the people of Blacksburg and bringing my lifetime of experience in the field of eye care to serve one and all. I'm delighted that Dr. Steve Jacobs will remain with the practice, which will now be “EYES on Main.” I consider it a great privilege to continue the exemplary patient care and community service that Dr. Jacobs has and will continue to provide to the New River Valley. Together we will serve the Blacksburg community with the same culture of care and community involvement that has always been a part of this practice.

 More updates to follow.  Send us a message or give us a call with questions, comments, or to set up an appointment.

We can always be reached at 540-953-0136!

Sincerely,Dr. J, Dr. S, Dr. G & staff