Our Services
Optical Boutique
At Chapel Hill Eyecare we take great care in assisting each patient in frame selection so that they have the best fit and vision possible. Selecting the proper frame and using the prescription as our guide, we strive to create a designer look with superior vision.
Our goal is to have an enjoyable and educational experience while helping you decide what products best fit your needs. There are a multitude of lens choices: starting with single vision, bifocal, progressive, and specialized computer lenses. The lens options range from thinner materials, photosensitive or transitions, to lenses that reduce glare.
It is our mission to help you make the right decision that fits all your visual and cosmetic needs, while working to meet your budget.
We are now using Freeform glasses lenses as our primary lens options for everything from single vision to progressives or no line bifocals. Freeform lenses offer individually customized lenses that are CNC (computer numerically controlled) produced specifically for each patient and their individual prescription.
Freeform lenses offer the highest quality of vision and minimizes blur and distortion created by traditionally manufactured lenses. Freeform lenses create:
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Wider field of vision due to back surface design.
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Maximized visual acuity at all distances.
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Wider intermediate and near zones.
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Minimal visual “swim and sway.”
Come in and see what you have been missing!
Single Vision Lenses
Single vision lenses help correct vision for distance, near, or computer distance
and can be manufactured in a variety of lens materials that may affect how well
the vision is corrected.
Progressive Lenses – Improved Technology
The technology in progressive lenses has improved greatly in the last few years.
The ability to create lenses using software and digital processing, known as
freeform, creates lenses more precisely, and each lens is tailored for the
individual patient. The newest technology has added a handheld area for
patients to be more comfortable for devices that are used at a variety of distances.
While creating this lens with the handheld area, it has effectively expanded the intermediate distance which is important to everyone.
Computer Lenses
Computer Vision Sydrome is currently a concern for patients that spend long hours each day on a computer. Many patients that are complaining of burning or red eyes are experienceing fatigue from viewing a computer screen. Computer glasses can help reduce eye fatigue by correcting for intermediate and near distances, which helps the eyes not work as hard.
There are computer lenses that are strictly for computer distance and there are those that are variable focus that can make most all areas within the workspace clear.
Anti-Reflective Treatment
All lenses reflect a certain amount of light, which causes some of our usable light to be lost. By applying a multi-layer treatment that eliminates reflections, more light goes through the lens, thereby reducing glare and improving vision. One of the most notable effects of Anti-reflective treatment on lenses is that night vision is dramatically enhanced.
Anti-reflective lenses are also helpful in reducing eye fatigue that is typical when reading or prolonged computer use.
Anti-reflective lenses also improve the look of wearing glasses by making your lenses less conspicuous and distracting.
Sunglasses
There is a great deal more to selecting sunglasses than simply what looks good. Lenses can differ in color and quality and even serve different purposes. Some lenses need to filter out more light for maximum protection when fishing, but other lenses improve contrast vision which helps in driving and other sports.
The technology in our office allows us to offer almost every option needed for most lifestyles. When selecting sunglasses it is necessary to select the safest material for the patient’s activites. There are impact resistant lenses that are recommended for certain activities and some that require a more durable lens.
Selecting the correct lens can allow the use of sunwear to be expanded from the typical experience of just picking a pair. We carry the following sunglass lines: Oakley, Maui Jim, and Ray Bans.
Learn more @ www.mauijim.com, www.rayban.com, www.oakley.com
Sports eyewear
Safety and comfort are the primary considerations when fitting sports glasses. Any sport has the potential for an eye injury, so let us review the options available to best protect your eyes.
Personalized Contact Lens Care
About our Lenses
Chapel Hill Eyecare stays current on all new technologies, and the doctors are able to fit a wide variety of contact lenses. The soft lenses range from monthly, bi-monthly, and daily disposable lenses that can correct almost all visual issues. We offer specialty contact lenses, including soft, gas-permeable, scleral, and lenses used for corneal reshaping therapy.
Multifocal contacts can correct both distance and near vision, allowing presbyopic patients a way to stay in contacts, even after 40.
Scleral contact lenses may give patients who have previously been unable to wear contact lenses due to dryness or discomfort the opportunity to use them. They are available in single vision and multifocal and can possibly correct irregular corneas, allowing patients to see better than previously possible.
CRT or corneal refractive therapy is available at Chapel Hill Eyecare for those patients that wish to wear contacts at night and go without contacts or glasses during the day.
The goal for all of our contact lens patients is convenience, and we routinely ship contacts directly to our patients with no additional charge. We strive to make your ordering and delivery as seamless as possible.
Specialty Lenses
We fit a variety of specialty contact lenses, which include:
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Scleral contacts (a custom contact lens)
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The best contact lens for patients with high astigmatism or dry eye
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Provides excellent distance and near vision and available as a multi-focal
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More comfortable than a soft contact lens
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Often able to be fit on patients who aren’t able to tolerate any other contact lenses
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Multifocal Contacts which provide clear vision at near without glasses
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Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
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Keratoconus Contact Lenses
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Synergeyes Hybrid Contact Lenses
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All soft disposable lenses:
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1 day, 2 week, 1 month
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Spherical
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Toric (astigmatism correcting)
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Multifocal Soft Lenses
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Specialty Soft Contacts
At Chapel Hill Eyecare we understand that not all patients can wear soft lenses created for the average eye. Disposeable lenses are wonderfully healthy, but do not fit every type of eye. So for those patients, there are toric lenses for patients that need astigmatic correction, and for those over 40, there are lenses that correct distance and near.
Toric Soft Lenses
Toric lenses are fitted to correct both the spherical and cylindrical areas of the prescription. Because they have to be able to correct a cornea having different curvatures in the horizontal and vertical planes, it can be more complicated than putting on a basic lens.
Multifocal Soft Lenses
Some patients reach the age of needing up close vision and have been told contact lenses just won’t work as well. We believe that if a patient wants to wear contacts, it is a matter of finding one that works. Multifocal contacts have gotten more effective, and some patients can be comfortable wearing a mono vision fit, using one eye for distance and one for near. At Chapel Hill Eyecare we are committed to finding the best option for each patient.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses vault over the cornea to create an even surface that can be used to correct irregular corneas and other corneal issues such as those found in keratoconus patients. These lenses may have many uses to help dry eye patients and patients that could not be corrected visually with other types of technologies. This may include patients that have had corneal surgeries in the past.
CRT
Orthokeratology, which can be referred as CRT, is a method to help decrease or slow down the progression of myopia in children. It can be used to correct adult patients as well that have low to moderate perscriptions and do not wish to wear eyeglasses during the day. The rigid gas permeable lenses are worn at night, molding the cornea so that during their waking hours most patients have clear vision without the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses. If the patient is over 40, they may still have the need for reading glasses, depending on their correction. This process can be a safe alternative to laser surgery and can be easily reversed simply by discontinuing the use of the contact lenses.
Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome
Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
We take dry eye disease seriously. Patients may feel brushed aside in some eye care practices because diagnosis and treatment can be complex and time consuming. At Chapel Hill Eyecare, we take the time to discover the root causes of your dry eye condition and design a treatment plan to address your needs.
If you have been unable to obtain relief from either over-the-counter or prescription remedies you have tried, it may be because they have not targeted the primary cause of your condition. To determine the cause, you should consider having an initial dry eye evaluation at our office.
Dry Eye Symptoms
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Burning and redness
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Ocular fatigue
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Foreign body sensation
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Sensitivity to light
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Excessive tearing
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Symptoms worsening later in the day
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Transient blurring
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Contact lens intolerance
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
The meibomian glands are tube-shaped structures that open at the edge of the eyelid just behind the lashes. These glands produce an oil layer that coats our tears to prevent them from evaporating quickly.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a form of dry eye disease and blepharitis where the oil glands produce a thicker, wax like secretion. As a result, the glands become clogged and inflamed. With an insufficient oil layer, the watery part of the tear layer evaporates more rapidly, and the eyes become dry and irritated.
Thermal 1-Touch Treatment
We are excited to be able to offer a new in office treatment option for patients that are suffering with Dry Eye Syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. The OCuSOFT Thermal 1-Touch is an in office procedure that provides instant targeted heat with a temperature that remains constant.
The in office treatment includes a 10 to 15 minute lid heat treatment, expression of the meibomian glands by the doctor, and a goody bag of products to take home for continued dry eye therapy treatment at home. The length of heat treatment will be determined by the degree of meibomian gland dysfunction present and ultimately by your doctor.
Why does the Thermal 1 – Touch work?
Often, there is no specific cure for these conditions. However, they can be controlled through a regimen of careful lid cleansing to remove the bacteria and a heat mask to help melt the waxy secretions and return a normal flow to the oil glands.
The Thermal 1 – Touch is an excellent option for patients that have specific flare ups of dryness or irritation, as well as patients that find the at home regimens too cumbersome or time consuming.
Pediatric Eye Exams
At Chapel Hill Eyecare, we provide thorough eye exams for children of all ages. It is estimated that nearly 10% of preschoolers and 25% of school age children have undiagnosed vision problems. Some of these problems may mimic other learning related disorders such as ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia.
Not only is visual acuity (“20/20”) important, but efficient eye teaming (binocular skills) and focusing (accommodation) skills are also a vital part of learning, working and normal childhood development.
An NIH study indicated that screening examinations performed in schools fail to detect up to 1/3 of vision problems. For this reason, a comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye doctor is critical to fully evaluate the visual system.
Even at 6 months of age, we can determine if there is a significant prescription, measure acuity, and evaluate ocular health.
The American Optometric Association recommends a child’s first eye exam at age 6-12 months, 3 years and again before starting school.
Dr. Sikes and Dr. Gropper are also members of InfantSEE™, a public health program designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care. This program provides a comprehensive infant eye assessment within the first year of life as a no cost public health service.
