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Don’t Do These 11 Things If You Wear Daily Disposable Contacts!

Countless people around the world wear daily disposable contact lenses or dailies. These popular single-use lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each...

Why You Should Avoid Online Eye Tests

An online eye exam is an automated and interactive vision test that claims to measure mainly visual acuity. It may seem like a convenient way...

What Will Optometry Practices Look Like Post-COVID?

The Changing Face of Eye Care COVID-19’s rapid sweep across the country has forced optical practices to make rapid clinical management decisions. Some optometrists temporarily...

Why You Shouldn’t Visit the ER for Eye Emergencies During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been going above and beyond to ensure that people are receiving emergency eye care. If you're having an eye...

What Services Can I Get Using Tele-Optometry?

Tele-optometry is a branch of telemedicine that can cover a wide range of problems and treatments related to vision and ocular health. Tele-medicine delivers medical...

COVID-19: Protect Your Eyes From Too Much Screen Time

You and your children are likely spending more time on mobile devices and computer screens than ever before. Too much time spent staring at screens...

How to Disinfect Glasses to Help Prevent COVID-19

Coronavirus and Your Eyeglasses Did you know that our glasses (this includes the lenses and the frame) can potentially transfer viruses, such as COVID-19, to...

Coronavirus and Your Eyes – What You Should Know

As coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads around the world, health professionals are demanding that people limit their personal risk of contracting the virus by thoroughly washing their...

Happy March 2020!

Spring is here (almost!) Happy March from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & staff! Well, it’s allergy season, and there’s some great news for those of you...

Visiting Your Optometrist During COVID-19

Is your eye doctor's appointment coming up? Are you worried about going to the eye clinic during the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Rest assured, keeping...

8 Ways to Protect Your Eyes at the Office

Everyone seems to be staring at a screen these days, whether their computer, their smartphone or another digital device. The stress it puts on your...

Happy February 2020!

Happy February And Happy Valentine’s Day from Dr. J & staff. We hope your heart is feeling especially full of love today! Even though it’s...

Does Obesity Impact Eye Health?

Nation-wide awareness about the vast dangers of obesity is at an all-time high, with TV shows like “The Biggest Loser” and health initiatives such as...

Sunburned Eyes? Beware of Snow Blindness!

Playing outside in a snowy winter wonderland can be magical. Under clear skies in the sunshine, the soft white landscape becomes just about irresistible, whether...

Frame Fun Time

Did you ever wonder what your friendly neighborhood Optometrists did for fun? We call it Frame Fun Time and we all had some fun decorating...

Our 2020 Quiz

2020 Quiz Whenever most people hear 2020, they think of eye exams and they know 20/20 means good or “perfect” eyesight (but it’s really not...

3 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Vision and Eyes

Did you know that people with diabetes are 20 times more likely to get eye diseases than those without it? There are three major eye...

Happy January 2020!

It’s 2020!! Happy New Year from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & staff! Trunk Show Thank You We want to thank everyone who came out for our...

Your Eyes Are the Windows to Your Health

Your eyes aren't just the windows to your soul — they can also reveal valuable information about your general health beyond whether you need glasses,...

How Smoking Impacts Vision

Smoking harms nearly every system in your body — including your eyes.  Though we are all aware of the health effects associated with smoking, such...

Here’s Why Hydrogen Peroxide is an Excellent Contact Lens Solution

Once you and your doctor have decided on the type of contact lenses you'll need, it's time to choose the most suitable contact lens solution...

November Trunk Show 2019!

It’s Trunk Show time!! The middle of Fall brings many things: colorful foliage, Hokie football, seasonal Holidays and, of course, the 12th Annual EyeWear Trunk...

Smart Hygiene Habits to Care for Your Contact Lenses

Swimming in a pool with your contacts on or topping off your solution may seem harmless, but they could compromise your contact lenses and your...

How to Keep Glasses from Getting Foggy

Whether you live in a cold climate or have visited one in the winter, you have probably seen someone who just walked in from the...

Happy October 2019

Happy October from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & staff! You know we’re fascinated with how the eyes, brain and body interact from a health standpoint. We’re...

12 Tips for Optimal Eye Health

Good Eye Care Habits & Hygiene By practicing good eye care habits and hygiene, you can prevent many vision problems from occurring. Eye problems and...

Wearing Colored Contact Lenses This Halloween? Beware and Take Care!

Countless adults, teens and even children will be wearing colored contact lenses this Halloween, but few are aware of the risks involved. Ever wondered what...

Sports-Related Eye Injuries

September Is Sports Eye Safety Month! Ocular sports trauma is among the leading causes of permanent vision loss in North America. Tens of thousands of...

Happy September 2019

Happy September from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & staff! It’s hard to miss all the new faces in Blacksburg this month–and we want to introduce you...

Summer Heat Wave and Your Eyes

This summer, heat waves with scorching temperatures have hit communities nationwide, making an already hot summer even hotter. With high temps and heat waves in...

Happy August 2019!

Happy August from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & Staff! This is looking to be quite an event filled month!!! Steppin’ Out is opening up as I...

UV Safety Awareness Month

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, and no wonder! With the summer sun out in full force, it’s now more important than ever to protect...

Happy July 2019!

Happy July from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & staff! We hope you had a fabulous holiday last weekend and that the summer is treating you well...

Top 4 Eyecare Tips for Summer Vacation

This summer, whether you’re headed across state lines on a family road trip, flying off to Europe, grabbing a quick weekend getaway, or taking a...

Happy June 2019!

Happy June from Drs. Jacobs, Steckenrider & staff! Happy Father's Day! Congrats to all the grads! Summer is almost here... and we are SO excited to...

Cataract Awareness Month

June is Cataract Awareness Month. During this important time, people living with cataracts (and their loved ones) are encouraged to talk about their personal experiences...

Eye Emergency Questions and Answers

We asked Dr. Steve Jacobs, OD a few questions about Eye Emergencies- and here is what he had to say: Q: What is an eye...

Help! My Child Doesn’t Want to Wear Glasses!

Do your kids need glasses in order to see clearly? Maybe they have a strong case of nearsightedness, perhaps they have astigmatism, or another type...

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring from all of us, plus a newcomer to our family... But before we introduce her, the really important news: FRAN'S COOKIES ARE BACK!...

Mental Health and Your Vision

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the USA; in Canada, Mental Health week is May 6th to 12th. Since 1949, it has been observed...

Parkinson’s Awareness Month and Your Vision

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month in the USA and Canada, a time when those living with the disorder, their family members, friends, and community come...

Q&A on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dr. Steve Jacobs

This is the 2nd part of our Q&A on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the role your local eye doctor can play in helping you...

Top 5 Tips for Managing Eye Allergies This Spring

Spring is a season of new beginnings, when the cold harsh winter months are behind us, flowers bloom, and people begin spending more time outdoors....

Happy March 2019!

Happy March from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz & staff! March is Brain Injury Awareness Month--so in this month's newsletter, you'll find a lot of useful information...

Women’s Health and Your Vision

March 8th is International Women's Day, a day when women are honored and their accomplishments celebrated worldwide. From medicine to law, entrepreneurship to corporate leadership,...

Q&A’s on Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dr. Steve Jacobs

We had the opportunity to ask Dr. Steve Jacobs about one of his specialties- Traumatic Brain Injury (also know as TBI) and Concussions. Not many...

What’s in Your Household Cleaning Supplies?

Most of us have the basics: bleach, oven cleaner, air freshener, furniture polish, and window spray. Did you know that chemicals found in these kinds...

Happy February!

Happy February from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz and staff! We've got some treats for you this month--don't miss the hilarious videos at the bottom of the...

School and Vision: 2 Important Partners

It’s February and that means we’re smack in the middle of winter, which is also the middle of the school year. It’s the season when...

What You Need to Know About Glaucoma – The Sneak Thief of Sight

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma, a silent eye disease, is the most common form of irreversible blindness in the world....

Happy January!

Happy New Year from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, & staff! Let’s welcome 2019 with a little fun. From the marvelous world of Marvel comics, you may...

World Braille Day 2019

Each year during the month of January we recognize World Braille Day which gives us the opportunity to take a moment and appreciate the incredible...

Are Nerf Guns a Dangerous Holiday Present?

Nerf Guns: Popular, Projectile... Safe? With the newest Nerf guns and blasters reigning at the top of lists for the most popular toys this holiday season,...

Happy December

Happy December from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz & staff! It's that time of year again! We hope you're staying warm and have both festivities and relaxation...

8 Tips to Relieve Winter Dry Eyes

Whether you live in a climate with cold winter weather or you are planning a ski trip up north, winter can be a challenge if...

Happy November

In case you forgot... ...our 11th annual Trunk Show and Local Charity Fundraiser is coming up very soon! It's a great way to celebrate the...

Diabetes and Your Eyes

Diabetes is becoming much more prevalent around the globe. According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 425 million adults were living with diabetes in the...

Have an Eye Safe Halloween

Brush Up Before You Dress Up Halloween is one of the most fun times of the year for children and adults alike. When else do...

Happy September

Happy September from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz and staff! And, welcome back to all the Hokies! VT football is off to a roaring start! Go Hokies!...

Is Too Much Screen Time Dangerous For Your Kids?

Screen Time Pros and Cons Whether it is homework, email, gaming, chatting with friends, searching the web or watching Youtube, kids these days seem to...

Healthy Aging for the Eyes

Getting old doesn’t have to be synonymous with vision loss. There is a lot you can do to keep your eyes and vision healthy and...

Progressive Myopia: When Your Child’s Vision Keeps Getting Worse

What Is Progressive Myopia? Nearsightedness or myopia is one of the most prevalent eye disorders worldwide and its incidence is increasing. In fact by 2050,...

Happy August

Happy August from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz & staff! Summer’s the best time to put in place healthy habits – the weather’s warm, there’s plenty of...

The Dangers of An Online Eye Test

An online eye test may seem like a convenient way to check your vision or get an eyeglass prescription but beware, these tests aren’t all...

A Childhood Disease Worth Preventing

Our colleague, Dr. Nicholas Despotidis was recently invited to give a talk at TEDx and we were thrilled to see him discuss the Myopia Epidemic in...

Signs That Your Child Has a Vision Problem

Healthy eyes and good vision are essential for your child’s growth and development. In fact, learning is 80% visual, which means a child’s success in...

Happy July

Happy July Everybody! SO much to report on here... A Fond Farewell... So long to a long-time part-timer, Daniel Clarke. Daniel’s been with us since...

Eye Dangers in the Dorm – Eye Health for College Students

It’s almost back to school time for college students and whether this is your first time away from home or you are already a pro,...

Why You Shouldn’t Rub Your Eyes

While it may seem like a harmless action, rubbing your eyes can actually cause a lot of damage. There are a number of different reasons...

Happy June!

Happy June, from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff! Summertime is in effect so get out there and play! Stock up on sunshine, fresh air, and Vitamin...

Ocular Migraines

Migraine Awareness Month: An ocular migraine is any migraine headache that involves a visual disturbance such as flashes of light, seeing stars or zigzags or...

How-to Guide for Buying Sunglasses

Sure, sunglasses might add the final touches to your chic ensemble, but the real reason to purchase your shades is to protect your eyes from...

Happy May!

With the weather (finally!) getting nice and farmers' market stalls filling up, it's also a great time of year to start creating healthier habits for...

Sports Vision Deconstructed

Vision is a critical component to succeed as an athlete and this doesn’t just mean having 20/20 vision. There are a number of visual processes...

7 Eye Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

While we all know that regular eye exams can help detect warning signs of disease and prevent vision loss, many people fail to seek medical...

Women’s Eye Health – 7 Tips for Optimal Vision for Life

April is Women’s Eye Health Month in the USA and May is Healthy Vision month in Canada too, so let’s take the opportunity to look...

Happy April!

Happy April from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff! You can’t talk lifestyle issues and ocular wellness in April without talking allergies.  Come another week or...

Happy March!

Happy March from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, & staff! March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. The most common brain injuries are concussions, also called mild traumatic...

Ultraviolet Light and your Eyes

If you want strong, healthy eyes and clear vision for life, a major step you can take is to protect your eyes from UV radiation. ...

Should I Be Concerned When My Eyelid Twitches?

We all experience the occasional eyelid twitch, which is when the muscle of the eyelid spasms involuntarily. Usually, it comes and goes without intervention and...

Signs of Eye and Vision Problems in Infants

Infant Eyesight Despite nine months of growth in utero, babies are not born with fully developed eyes and vision - just like they can't walk...

The 6th Annual New River Valley Senior Health Fair

On Thursday February the 22nd, we were at  the Christiansburg Recreation Center for the 6th Annual New River Valley Senior Health Fair- hosted by Radford...

AMD Awareness Could Save Your Vision

It’s that time of the year again. Each February, the optometric community bands together to create awareness about age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a...

Happy February

Happy February from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff! Wishing everyone a happy Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, Ground Hog Day, and every other day. Did you...

Trouble Seeing at Night? All About Night Blindness

At this time of year when the sun sets early, many people are affected by night blindness. Night blindness or nyctalopia refers to difficulty seeing at...

Happy January!

Happy New Year from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff! The New Year is a great time to look back, and to look ahead. Here at...

Happy December!

Happy Holidays from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and all the staff! Spreading Joy Looking for ways to spread the joy and love? Here's a great resource we...

The Sneak Thief of Sight

It’s that time of year again. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time set aside each year to create awareness about this potentially devastating...

Don’t Let Snow Blindness Ruin Your Winter Vacation

While most people have sunglasses high on their packing list for a tropical vacation, many people don’t consider it as much of a priority for...

6 Crazy Holiday Eye Injuries to Avoid

As the season to deck the halls arrives, make sure that you aren’t one of the many people who find themselves celebrating in the urgent...

10 Eye Healthy Foods to Eat This Year

The New Year is coming and many people include healthier eating and exercise in their resolutions for the year ahead. Well other than weight loss...

Women and Diabetes – World Diabetes Day

November 14th is World Diabetes Day. This year, the theme of World Diabetes Day is women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future....

Happy November

Happy November from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and all the staff! The Annual Trunk Show is coming! Mark it in your calendars: Friday November 17th we'll...

What You Need to Know to Help World Blindness

October is World Blindness Awareness Month, an initiative started to help the public to understand the realities of visual impairment and how it affects the...

Happy October

Happy October from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff! With Halloween approaching the whole team has been busy as heck! Our 10th Annual Trunk show is...

Halloween Eye Safety

October has arrived and that means many people are already starting to plan for upcoming costume parties and trick-or-treating for the Halloween season. This is...

Trouble Seeing the Fine Print? Here are Your Options…

Every good pair of eyes eventually gets old and with age comes a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia, which usually begins to set in some time...

Happy September

Happy September from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff! We’ve been busy as usual with everything that has been going on in our community this summer!...

Aging Eyes and Driving Safety 

Even if you don’t have any eye or vision problems, the natural process of aging affects your ability to see and react to visual stimuli....

Is Your Teen Ready for Contacts?

Many teens who wear glasses are eager to try out contact lenses for convenience, fashion or to just provide another option for vision correction.

Inside a Life With Color Vision Deficiency

What’s it like to be color blind? Contrary to what the name implies, color blindness usually does not actually mean that you don’t see any...

How to Safely View the Great American Eclipse of 2017

On August 21st, for the first time since 1979, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America. What's even more historic is that it...

Strange but True! – Uk Surgeon Finds 27 Missing Contact Lenses In Woman’S Eye

Original article appeared in Optometry Today. A “blueish mass” of 17 contact lenses has been discovered in the eye of a patient who was scheduled...

Are Your Eyes Sensitive to Light?

Light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, is a condition in which bright light - either natural sunlight or artificial light -  can cause significant discomfort,...

Got a Shiner!

What Exactly Is a Black Eye? A black eye, also known as a periorbital hematoma, is usually not an injury of the actual eye (which...

Cataract Awareness and Prevention

It's National Cataract Awareness Month According to the World Health Organization, cataracts are responsible for 51% of cases of blindness worldwide - although this blindness...

Happy June from Drs. Jacobs, Diaz, and staff!

It's been a while! We've been busy with lots of exciting events both in and out of the office, and we've got some good stuff...

Are You Ignoring Your Dry Eyes?

You Don’t Have to Live With Dry Eyes Have you noticed that your eyes feel chronically dry, itchy, scratchy or even sometimes watery? Many people...

Does Smoking Affect Vision?

Eye Doctors Weigh In: How Smoking Can Harm Your Vision & Eye Health We all know that smoking is bad for you, especially the risks that...

Sjogren’s Awareness Month – Understanding The Invisible Disease 

In honor of Sjogren’s Awareness month, eye care providers are helping to spread the word to increase awareness about this hard-to-diagnose disease. Sjogren’s is a...

Online Services and Eyecare

Is there anything more convenient than the internet? If you're the average human-being with internet access, you know the answer to that. Because of this,...

April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Hey women! Did you know that women are more likely to suffer from vision problems and are at higher risk of permanent vision loss than...

The Right (and the Wrong) Way to Clean Your Glasses

There is nothing worse than a dirty spot on your glasses - well except perhaps many dirty spots or smudges. When that happens, most of...

Home Sweet… Doctor’s office?

I often wonder why Dr. Jacobs hired me. I had no optical experience, and thought a PD was short for physical deficiency. (I have since...

It’s Time to Talk About Blue Light

Workplace Eye Safety Month Blue light. Do you know what it is? Do you know where it comes from, or how it can be harmful...

Patients Can Be A Pleasure!

Most of the time, when patients (or even not yet-patients) come in to the office with a missing screw (in their glasses J) or bent...

Understanding Eye Color

Eye color is a hereditary trait that depends on the genes of both parents, as well as a little bit of mystery. The color of...

6 Ways to Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration is a serious condition that can threaten your vision and general well-being. Characterized by the deterioration of the central area of the...

When should my child have his first eye exam?

Recently a neighbor asked me, "What are some signs that a toddler needs glasses?"  In conjunction with this is the equally common inquiry, "When do children...

Are You Missing Your Child’s Hidden Vision Problem?

Your toddler may show every sign of good eyesight including the ability to see objects in the distance, however that doesn't necessarily mean that he...

“Touch your own eyes”

One of the favorite parts of my job is when I get to tell our patients to touch their own eyes. Ok, I should probably...

“The Sneak Thief of Sight” Is On Our Minds This January

Make your resolution for healthy vision this year with increased awareness of the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Holiday Season Shopping: Are Nerf Guns Safe for the Eyes?

This is the one way you can be sure that you or your child’s eyes are truly safe during Nerf shooting:

Dry Eye Syndrome Causes and Cures

Despite the fact that it is one of the most common eye problems, a surprisingly large percentage of patients are not aware of it.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Chances are it affects you or someone you know. November has been dedicated as a time to spread awareness about the disease, its risk factors...

Don’t Let Fall Eye Allergies Get You Down

Red, itchy, watery eyes and swollen eyelids (along with sneezing, congestion or a runny nose)...

How Contact Lenses Can be a Danger to your Eyes

Most people wouldn’t consider contact lenses dangerous. In fact, they are a great alternative to glasses, offering convenience and great vision for those who wear...

An Active and Eye Safe Lifestyle

90%! That’s the number of sports eye injuries that studies show can be prevented using proper eye protection.  Yet most sports leagues don’t require protective...

10 Tips to Teach Children About Eye Safety

It is important to teach your children about eye health and safety from a young age.  This includes awareness about how your overall health habits...

When 20/20 Vision isn’t Enough For Your Child

Since studies show that learning is 80% visual, children with untreated vision problems can really suffer when it comes to school. Most people think that...

Cutting Edge Eye-dentification

We have all seen the futuristic thrillers that use high-tech eye scanning identification systems but nowadays the technology does exist to use them in real...

Innovations in Color Blindness

There have been a lot of videos going viral lately of color blind people “seeing color” for the first time using specialized glasses. The emotional...

Poolside Eye Safety

Whether it is the sea, the sand, the sun or the softball field, summer brings people outside and this creates exposure to a multitude of...

Cataract Awareness Month: What to Expect from Cataract Surgery

After the age of 50 most people will eventually be diagnosed with cataracts. Cataracts are when the natural crystalline lens of the eyes become clouded,...

Sunwear for a Bright Future

According to the Vision Council’s 2016 UV (Ultraviolet Radiation) Protection report, parents are more likely to wear sunglasses (56%) than their children (only 29%!). Yet...

How UV Damages Your Eyes

UV Awareness Month: This article might scare you, and we hope it does - just enough to motivate you to wear proper eye protection against...

What is a stye anyway?

A stye (known by eye doctors as a hordeolum) is an infection of an oil gland which forms a pimple-like bump on the base of...

Eye Allergies

Along with congestion, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, headaches and difficulty breathing, individuals with allergies often suffer from eye allergies or allergic conjunctivitis resulting in red,...

Bifocal and Multifocal Contact Lenses 

If you are over 40 and have difficulty seeing close up, you probably have a common age-related condition called presbyopia which is when the eye’s natural...

Workplace Eye Wellness: The Dangers of Blue Light

When people think of workplace dangers to the eyes, it is usually machinery, chemicals or construction materials that come to mind.  However, a growing danger...

How to Find the Right Pair of Glasses for your Child

Whether you are looking for regular prescription glasses, sunwear or protective sports eyewear, it can be tough choosing the best eyewear for children and teens....

Preventing Age-related Macular Degeneration

February is AMD and Low Vision Awareness Month in the United States, and it’s White Cane Week in Canada. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a...

Resolve to Prevent Glaucoma in 2016

This year, make healthy eyes and vision your resolution. Find out if you or a loved one is at risk for glaucoma, and take steps...

Why Do We Need Glasses?

Refractive errors including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Eye Safe Toys and Gifts for This Holiday Season

‘Tis the season for giving, and parents, grandparents, family and friends need to know how to choose toys and games that protect children’s health and...

How Do We See?

Have you ever thought about how vision works? It's an incredible system and process!

How to Prevent Diabetic Vision Loss

Prevention and treatment for eye complications associated with Diabetes

Decorative Lenses Could Cost You Your Vision

Beware this Halloween and think before you blink (in decorative contact lenses that is)! Sure, decorative contact lenses can enhance any Halloween costume, but if...

It’s Time to Be Serious About Home Eye Safety

Home Eye Injury Awareness and Prevention

6 Common Eye Myths Debunked

Over the centuries there have been a lot of old-wives tales circulating about eyes and vision. You know, like the one that if someone hits...

Protective Sports Eyewear is a Serious Matter

There are thousands of eye injuries a year related to sports. According to the National Eye Institute eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness...

How Pregnancy Affects Vision

The hormonal fluctuations experienced during pregnancy can cause many unexpected changes in your body, including your eyes and vision. Most of these changes are temporary...

Is Your Baby’s EyeSight Developing Normally?

A baby’s visual system develops gradually over the first few months of life. They have to learn to focus and move their eyes, and use...

Summertime, and the Seeing is Easy

Summertime, and the Seeing is Easy By Dr. Steve Jacobs Summer is the time for contact lenses for sports, beach time, gardening… you name it....

Guidelines For Picking the Right Pair of Shades

There is a lot more that goes into finding the right pair of sunglasses than just fit and fashion.  While it’s important to look and...

We now carry Scleral contact lenses!

Dr. Jacobs talks about his specialty in fitting Scleral contact lenses. Conditions such as keratoconus (very irregular shape to the front of the eye), eye...

6 Things You Need To Know About Cataracts

Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss in the United States and Canada. Here are 6 things you need to know. 1. Chances are...

What You Need to Know About Firework Eye Safety

Independence Day may have passed but fireworks season is still in full swing and fireworks-related injury and death is a real and serious danger.  According...

5 Ways to Ensure Healthy Vision

Your eyes are constantly at work for you, playing a vital role as you navigate through each day. As May is healthy vision month, here...

What Women Need to Know About Eye Health

According to Women’sEyeHealth.org, ⅔ of blindness and visual impairment occurs in women. Additionally, an estimated 75% of visual impairment is preventable or correctable with proper...

Enjoying Life During Eye Allergy Season

Spring is in the air. But along with the beauty of the blooming flowers and budding trees, comes allergy season. The high pollen count and...

Can you Really Go Blind from Looking at a Solar Eclipse?

Last week, people in South America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and the Middle East saw a solar eclipse. As you may have...

10 Steps to Prevent Vision Loss

March is Save Your Vision Month, a time to raise public awareness about how to protect your eyes and your vision. Most people aren’t aware...

Refocus on the Digital Age with Computer Glasses

Digital devices have impacted our world in so many positive ways, allowing us to connect, work, play and get information at the speed of light....

Living With Low Vision

February is Low Vision and Age-Related Macular Degeneration awareness month.   Low vision describes a set of conditions in which there is significant visual impairment...

Under Pressure: Are you at Risk for Glaucoma?

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month.  Glaucoma is a serious, vision threatening disease. You can save your eyesight, by knowing the facts. Are you at risk...

Know How and When to Treat an Eye Infection

It’s that time of year again…coughs, sneezing, running noses and itchy, red eyes.  How do you know when an eye irritation is something that needs...

8 Tips to Beat Winter Dry Eyes

One of the most common patient complaints during the winter months is dry eyes. In the cooler climates, cold winds and dry air, coupled with...

“Eye” Am Home for the Holidays – 7 Eye Tips for College Students

Winter break is in a few weeks and, with college students finding their way home for the holidays, it is a good time for parents to...

Do You Know the Facts About Diabetic Eye Disease?

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. Do you know the facts?...

7 Things You Should Know About Eyelid Twitches

You may have experienced this before. Out of nowhere, your eyelid starts twitching uncontrollably. While this can be a cause of aggravation, eyelid twitches, spasms...

World Sight Day Challenge – No More Avoidable Blindness

The World Sight Day Challenge, slated to take place on October 9, 2014 is an annual awareness day that aims to focus global attention on...

Protect Children’s Eyes During Sports

The new school year has kicked off and you can tick off purchasing all that back to school equipment. Now, it's time to think about...

Be on the Lookout for Vision Problems this Summer Break

Summer vacation is well under way, but did you know that even when your child is out of the classroom, vision problems can have an...

Should You Be Worried About Eye Floaters?

Eye floaters are actually more common that you may think. Many people notice specks or cobweb-like images moving around in their line of vision, at...

NRV Leading Lights Community Service Award for Dr. Jacobs

At a gala event, Dr. Jacobs was awarded for his years of service to the NRV community. Read more Here...

Keeping an Eye on Cataracts

Cataracts affect millions of people nationwide and as the population continues to age, the numbers keep increasing. The good news is, cataracts are often manageable...

Air Optix Colors

Air Optix Colors are available in 9 stunning colors : Pure Hazel, Green, Blue, Gray, Brown, Honey, Gemstone Green, Brillant Blue, and Sterling Gray!  These...

A Look Behind Sleeping Eyes

Have you ever wondered what your eyes do when you finally close them after a long day of visual processing and stimulation? Let's take a...

6 Things You Should Know about UV Radiation and Your Eyes

The heat of long summer days is nearly upon us. As the sun's rays intensify and people spend more time outdoors in the sunshine it...

Dealing with Your Tween’s and Teen’s Eyesight

It can be devastating for a tween or teen to be told he or she needs to wear glasses, especially if it is sudden. Many...

9 Tips for Coping With Eye Allergy Season

Spring is on the way. Soon the sun will be shining, the flowers blooming and allergy season will be upon us. If you have allergies,...

How Your Eyes Convey Emotion

Your eyes communicate much more than you may realize, in fact they play a huge role in your non-verbal communication. Consciously or not, the way...

Protecting Your Eyes From The Desk Job

There are so many people who spend hours a day, if not most of the day working on a computer or mobile device. They usually...

New Study Shows How Your Eyes Shed Light on Your Health

It's been said that your eyes are the window to your soul. Well, research is showing that your eyes are a window to a lot...

Hope in Sight for Low Vision

February is low vision awareness month. Low vision is a condition in which an individual suffers significant vision loss that can't be fully corrected with...

Don’t let this happen to you – Take care of your eyes!!!

Eye infections don't care if you're a pre-schooler, a college student, a Mom,....... or even Bob Costas covering the Olympics for millions of viewers!

How to Encourage Young Kids to Wear their First Pair of Glasses

Your child's first pair of glasses will make an important difference in his or her ability to see and interact with the surrounding world. However,...

7 Facts You Should Know About Glaucoma

7 Facts You Should Know About Glaucoma Glaucoma, which refers to a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, is often called 'the...

New Year’s Resolutions for An Eye Healthy 2014

The New Year is a time to start fresh and renew our commitment to health, happiness and success. It’s important to include eye and vision...

Fun Holiday Gifts That Are GOOD for Children’s Vision

The holiday season is on our doorstep. With technology so much a part of our lives, the easy go-to gifts for kids often include an...

What You Should Know about Diabetes and Your Vision

Diabetes affects people of all ages, races and genders.  An estimated 25.8 million Americans or 8.3 percent of the population suffer from the disease, according...

Keeping Your Contact Lenses Clean

If you wear contact lenses, you probably know the hygiene routine you should follow when removing your lenses: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and...

10 Tips to Protect Your Vision

Did you forget to put on your sunglasses today? Are you constantly sitting in front of a computer screen without taking breaks to look away?...

This Halloween Be Wary of Costume Contact Lenses

As Halloween approaches and costume planning gets more serious, many consider the use of novelty or costume contact lenses as a way to add that...

Some Whats and Whys of the Eyes

Dr. Steve Jacobs' most recent article in series on children's vision, in NRV Macaroni Kid newsletter.  ...

How to Prevent Dry Eyes During Air Travel

Many travelers experience dry eyes after extended travel by air. The dry environment of a temperature- and pressure-controlled air plane cabin can take its toll...

Does Chlorine Hurt your Eyes?

Just because the summer is coming to an end, doesn’t mean that we have to say goodbye to the swimming pool. Whether it means a...

Technology in the Classroom and the Eyes

The use of technology has become commonplace in the classroom. So much so that today’s generation of students, from kindergarten to university, navigates computers, smartphones...

Treating Vision Problems Lowers Risk of Falling in Seniors

For adults over the age of 65, the right pair of vision correcting glasses can literally be a life saver. Seniors aged 65 and up...

First Aid for Eye Injuries

To ensure that your eyes remain healthy, it is essential to protect them from injury and to take proper care measures if an injury has...

Understanding the Eye Chart

Eye charts of different variations have become a standard in vision screenings and eye exams. One of the most familiar charts associated with vision is...

June is Cataract Awareness Month

Cataracts, one of the most common causes of blindness, develop when the lens of the eye, located behind the iris and pupil, becomes opaque or...

Age Related Macular Degeneration and Your Central Vision

Did you know that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness among adults aged 50 and above?...

How to Choose the Right Sunglasses

Do your sunglasses have what it takes to protect your eyes? As the summer heats up and people spend more time outdoors, it is very...

Women’s Eye Health Month: An Eye on Cosmetics

Women's eyes are regularly exposed to potential irritants through the use of cosmetics. As eye shadow, mascara and eye liner can breed unseen dirt and...

A Recipe for Eye Health

Did you know that your dietary choices have an impact on your eye health and vision? Opting for appetizing food that at the same time...

Spring Eye Allergies

Spring is right around the corner, as the winter begins to wind down and the fresh, warmer air begins to rear its head. Unfortunately for...

The Right Way to Clean Your Eyeglasses

We all know how frustrating it can be trying to see clearly through a smudged pair of glasses; clean lenses can really make a world...

Dry Eye Syndrome: When Dry Eyes are Chronic

Dry eyes are a common problem for many individuals particularly during the winter months when exposure to dry air and whipping wind is increased. However,...

Ski Goggles: How to Choose the Best Winter Sports Eyewear

Ski Goggles are an essential part of proper eye protection when participating in winter sports. In order to choose the best winter sports eyewear for...

Diabetes and Vision

Even many individuals with the disease are unaware of the fact that diabetes can lead to blindness. The NIH reports that in individuals between 20...

Astigmatism Doesn’t Rule Out Contact Lenses

Lots of people with astigmatism are under the impression that they can't wear contact lenses. It may come as a surprise to know that there's...

What is Retinoscopy?

There may be some assessments that you may have noticed at an eye exam and questioned what they measure. Having beams of light shined into...

Focusing on Smartphones

Lately, it seems that we're addicted to our mobile devices. In truth, these devices are wonderful, because they allow us to stay connected whenever we...

Multifocal Lenses and You

Presbyopia, or far-sightedness, is a common condition that usually starts to develop in people who are 40 or older. It's comforting to know that developing...

Patches: How Lazy Eyes Get Active

Lazy eyes are pretty common, and are also quite easy to treat. It forms when the brain shuts off or suppresses vision in one eye....

Turn Out the Lights: How Does Night Vision Work?

Imagine your house loses power and you need to find a flashlight or the fuse box. It takes a couple of minutes for your eyes...

What is Presbyopia?

Experiencing some trouble when reading is a commonly occurring problem if you're hitting middle age. This is why: Because as you age, your eye's lens...

Toys and Eye Safety

It's important to know how to select toys that are the safest and the most beneficial for kids. Children are born with an only partially...

A Strong School Year Starts With Good Vision

Well, the summer's end is near. Children everywhere are preparing for the rapidly approaching academic year, with school bags, new books and a whole lot...

Convergence Insufficiency

Is your son or daughter smart when it comes to lots of things, but cannot cope well with school? It's important to be aware that...

Understanding Visual Acuity

We've all heard the expressions twenty-twenty vision and visual acuity. As common as these terms may be, do people actually grasp what they mean? The...

Get The Fresh Look

This summer, how about trying a new look for your eyes? Introducing FreshLook®. They offer a vast assortment of colored contact lenses, which allow you...

Clean Lids for Healthy Eyes

Inflamed eyelids, also known as blepharitis, is something that many people experience at some point during their lives. It's a commonly occurring eyelid inflammation, often...

A Lens a Day Keeps the Redness Away

Have there been times when you've left your soft contact lenses in for a little too long? It's common knowledge that most things are in...

Cataracts: Common but Treatable

It's June, which means it's Cataract Awareness Month. Did you know that cataracts are the most common culprit of deteriorating vision among those 55 and...

Protecting Yourself from UV Rays

It's a fact: almost everybody is regularly exposed to UV rays. Even though this is the case, the potential dangers related to years of exposure...

How Do I Know When I Need a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Each May, eye care professionals throughout country participate in Healthy Vision Month. When was your last comprehensive eye exam? Checking your eyes periodically is one...

Warning Signs of Poor Vision

Poor vision in adults or children can be the result of several possible factors including anatomical changes or irregularities in the eye or visual system,...

A Look At Women’s Eye Health and Safety

It's April, which is Women's Eye Health and Safety Month. Women go through many changes during their lifetime. Each change could affect her vision differently....

This month we acknowledge national Sports Eye Safety Month

As the springtime arrives, as well as a greater chance to participate in a new set of sports, comes an increase in the number of...

How Vision Affects Road Safety

When on the road, the value of good vision can not be underestimated. In fact, safety on the road requires several different visual abilities -...

Caring for Your Vision in the Workplace

In order to teach corporations and their workers about the relevance of eye health, and to provide advice on how to prevent vision-impairing eye mishaps,...

Astigmatism: Everything You Need to Know About This Common Condition

The part of the eye that surrounds your pupil and iris is your cornea, which is, under normal conditions, round. When light hits your eye,...

Red, Itchy Eyes? It Could Be Conjunctivitis

Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is a frequently encountered eye infection, particularly with kids. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria or even allergies...

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness

We are currently in the midst of age related macular degeneration (AMD) and low vision awareness month. How many individuals are aware that age related...

The Do’s and Don’ts of Contact Lens Care

Research performed by Bausch & Lomb this past summer revealed that many people were using strange chemicals instead of contact lens solution to keep their...

Safeguard Your Eyes From Dry Eyes This Winter

Winter time often leads to an increase in cases of dry eye syndrome because of cold and dry air conditions....

Winter Is Here! Don’t Leave Home Without Your Sunglasses

It's official! Winter is here, which means in some parts of the country biting winds and freezing rain, snow and sleet aren't far behind. The...

Heighten Your Awareness of Glaucoma this January

As this month is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, in this article we are here to emphasize the importance of recognizing the threat of this vision...

New Study of Internet Eye Wear

Buyer Beware - You Get What You Pay For

Aging and Your Vision – Presbyopia

Visit your Blacksburg, VA Optometrist to Find Out About Treatment Options Many adults at some point begin to experience presbyopia or a reduced ability to...

This Holiday Season Select Children’s Gifts that are Eye Safe

The holidays are right around the corner which means dolls, radio controlled airplanes, and Leapster Explorers. Well intentioned mothers and fathers love surprising the young...

Spend Your Flex Spending Account Dollars Before Time Runs Out!

Need a new pair of specs? Thinking your prescription has changed? Contemplating Lasik? The time has arrived to save big on your eye care needs....

Color Blindness: An Overview

Contact our Blacksburg, VA Optometrist for a vision test...

Learn About Diabetic Retinopathy and Vision Loss During National Diabetes Month

Did you know that diabetes is the primary causal factor of impaired sight for men and women of all ages? Since 2008, over 4 million...

What is Lazy Eye? Treatment in Blacksburg, VA

Amblyopia or lazy eye is the failure for central vision to develop properly due to the inability of the eyes to function in unison. In...

Healthier eyes – Another reason to exercise

It makes sense, but now for the first time, exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of glaucoma.

This Halloween Beware of Decorative Contact Lenses

  With the fall comes Halloween and with that, costumes. It's important to be aware of certain threats to your eyes that sometimes put a...

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) Management in Blacksburg, VA

  According to the American Optometric Association above 70 percent of employed persons that work every day at a computer screen (which is over 140...

Eye Safety at Home

  In recognition of Home & Sports Eye Safety Month, we've chosen to highlight ways to keep your home safe for your eyes specifically for...

Sunblock in the Eyes- OUCH!

Individuals who have unfortunately gotten sunblock in their eyes know firsthand just how painful it can be. In fact, someone who has experienced a severe...

Contacts Make Teens Happy!

Requiring glasses is often difficult for a teenager. Just the thought of ''four eyes'' can send a teenager panicking. Compared to glasses, children and teenagers...

Help! How to Handle Some Common Eye Injuries

There are a number of kinds of eye injuries that can take place, with varying degrees of severity. Some might necessitate emergency treatment and immediate...

Why You Must Book a Routine Eye Exam

When we have eyes that are in good condition, we might forget about the importance of a routine eye test. However, timely detection of eye...

Summer Eye Care Tips

Now that the summertime is officially here it’s time to make sure you keep your eyes protected from the sun and other warm weather dangers....

All You Should Know About Children’s Protective Eyewear

Did you know that annual statistics show that sports-related eye injuries account for 40,000 visits to the hospital? This is one accident every 780 seconds!...

The Reason Carrots are a Recipe for Healthy Vision

You may have heard that carrots help you see better, but is this really true? Optometrists say that carrots can't actually improve your eyesight. However,...

May is Ultraviolet Awareness Month

  Thanks to education to create awareness of the hazards of Ultraviolet (UV) rays to your skin, (which include sunburn and skin cancer), most are...

The In’s and Out’s of Caring for Your Contacts

  Contact lenses necessitate proper handling to be considered a safe and sensible choice for those requiring corrective eye wear. Improper care can lead to...

Rigid Lenses: Are You a Candidate?

  Although you may be most accustomed to soft contact lenses, a second, lesser-known kind of contact lens materials exists: gas permeable (GP) lenses, sometimes...

Spring is Eye Allergy Season

Are you experiencing red eyes, itchy eyes or watery eyes? If yes, you may be suffering from spring eye allergies. For some, spring time is...

Is it Wise to Buy Eyeglasses Online?

While most people have become used to buying anything and everything through the Internet, glasses are one item that should be carefully considered before you...

Winter Dry Eye Syndrome… A Few Simple Tips

Although you may refer to winter as the rainy time of year due to the precipitation, the air is really more dry in the winter,...

Silhouette Spring Fling

We're featuring Silhouette Eyewear as our Product of the Quarter - Great sales and special Trunk Show Be a Fan on FB www.facebook.com/stevejacobsod for the latest...

Are You Informed About Age-related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision? Become Informed This Month

This month is dedicated to spreading awareness of macular degeneration (AMD) and low vision. AMD is the foremost cause of blindness for seniors. AMD can...

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

In order to create awareness about the ''sneak thief of sight,'' this month has been declared National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is the leading source...

Winter Eye Care Advice… It’s Time for Sunglasses

You read it correctly. Sunglasses aren't just an essential accessory in the summer. Although many of us are informed of the damage the sun presents...

Pink, Stinging Eyes?

It Could Be Pink Eye.

Welcome to our New Website

Visit our new optometry website for information about our Practice.

Online Registration Forms

Fill in your patient history online, before your next appointment. Find out how......

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