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At EyeCare Associates, we
never stop trying to excel in ways that benefit our patients.
We believe in investing in the latest technology, the continuing
education of our staff and patient care that constantly seeks
new and better ways to improve what we do for you. These three
bedrock commitments were our vision when we formed EyeCare
Associates seven years ago, and they remain the guiding principles
of our group. If you ever have any suggestions of how we can
better take care of you, please let us know. We’re always
open and flexible to any suggestion that results in improvement
at EyeCare Associates. |
 This
month, our physician focus is on C. Jeffrey Pennell, MD and his
growing legacy of compassion and expertise in providing ophthalmic
care to the people of East Texas.
Dr. Pennell was born in Waco, Texas but spent the
majority of his childhood in Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended
Baylor University, graduating in 1987. After graduating with honors
from Louisiana State University Medical School in 1991, he completed
an internal medicine internship at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.
His ophthalmology residency was completed at the prestigious Scott
and White Hospital in Temple, Texas in 1995.
Dr. Pennell began his career in Tyler in 1995 when
he joined the practice of Dr. Jerry Parrish. In 1998, the two became
founding members of ECA.
In an effort to provide patients with the most up
to date treatments, Dr. Pennell has continued to train and study
state-of-the-art refractive and cataract techniques. Recently, he
was invited by VISX (the worlds leading refractive laser company)
to serve on an expert panel at the American Academy of ophthalmology
international meeting in New Orleans.
Giving something back to our community, Dr. Pennell
currently serves on the boards of the Bethesda Clinic and Prevent
Blindness Texas. He is also the Treasurer of the Smith County Medical
Society. He remains active in his church, serving as a deacon and
playing guitar for worship services.
According to Dr. Pennell, the greatest honor he ever
received was when his lovely wife Elizabeth accepted his proposal
for marriage 18 years ago. They have three wonderful children ages
14, 11 and 9. They find their greatest joy in spending time together.
East Texas provides a perfect setting for Dr. Pennell’s
favorite activities. These include fishing, hunting and spending
time at the lake. He is also an accomplished guitarist having played
professionally at times throughout his life.
Eyecare Associates is proud of its association with
Dr. C. Jeffrey Pennell.
In today’s world of high tech innovation, optical
lens technology is constantly changing and improving. There are
all types of lens materials available for many types of prescriptions
and needs. So, how do you know if what you are buying is the best
lens product for your vision? The first step is to become educated
on the characteristics of lens materials and their primary functions.
Let’s look at five of these materials.
Glass lenses are rarely used these days because of
the weight of the lens is up to 50% heavier than plastic. Glass
is not as safe as the other lens materials.
CR-39 Plastic lenses are lighter than glass,
impact resistant and available in almost all single vision, lined
bifocal, progressive and occupational lenses.
Polycarbonate lenses are lighter and thinner
than CR-39 plastic and much more impact resistant. Polycarbonate
lenses are used in most safety glasses for children, sport glasses,
shooting glasses, and glasses for any activity that requires a safer
lens material.
Hi-Index lenses are up to 40% thinner than
plastic. They are scratch resistant and include ultra violet protection.
Because of their thinness, they weigh less. This lens is often used
for those who have strong prescription powers in order to reduce
weight and thickness.
Trivex materials have qualities similar to
polycarbonate lenses such as impact resistant, ultra violet protection
and scratch resistance. The one thing that distinguishes the Trivex
from the Polycarbonate lens is the increased sharpness of vision.
As you can see, there are several lens types available.
Before choosing the right lenses for your glasses, consider your
needs. What do you do at work? What are your hobbies? Do you need
impact resistant lenses? After you establish your needs, the Optical
Shop at EyeCare Associates can help you match your prescription
and needs to the best lens available. Glasses are like a tool, and
you want the right tool for your vision and the job it must accomplish.
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Once again, it is the beginning of a new year. New deductibles,
new insurance plans, and new vision plans take effect. Sometimes,
our only knowledge of these changes is derived by working through
the insurance maze with each of you. We have discovered that many
Medicare patients do not know that their Medicare deductible went
up to $110 this year. In addition,with the HIPAA privacy issues,
many new insurance cards have been issued with a new identification
number, which is not your social security number. It is imperative
for EyeCare to have these new identification numbers as we are filing
your insurance claim for you. While speaking of insurance, I would
like to welcome Becky Bryant to EyeCare Associates as our new Business
Office / Front Desk Manager. Becky comes to ECA with 22 years of
ophthalmology experience. She has worked in every ophthalmic area,
including with the doctors as a technician. She truly knows ophthalmology
from acuity to the zygomatic nerve...in other words, from A to Z.
We are thrilled she is here!
—June Cheatham
 EyeCare
Associate’s slow and steady expansion is not about being bigger.
It is about finding excellent people and finding a way to bring
them into our organization. Dr. Jaime Hall is just such a person
and we are pleased to announce her joining our practice in Athens.
She will be at that location full time except on Tuesdays when Dr.
Schreiber will be there, as he has been since 1988.
Dr. Hall, a therapeutic optometrist and native East Texan, was
born in Garland and graduated from Edgewood High School. Her undergraduate
studies were at the University of Texas in Arlington. She received
her optometry training at the Inter-American University of Puerto
Rico, College of Optometry. She is trained in rigid, gas permeable,
and soft contact lenses fitting, as well as low vision aids.
In addition, she has excellent experience in family eye care, diabetic
evaluation, glaucoma diagnosis, pediatric, and cataract evaluation.
Personally, Dr. Hall has been president of VOSH, a volunteer organization
in which she leads mission trips overseas to provide eye care to
the most needy. Her command of Spanish has helped that effort greatly.
Her athletic abilities and interests range from tennis to snow skiing
to scuba diving.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr. Jaime Hall to EyeCare
Associates of East Texas.
FISH OR "GO BLIND" BASS TOURNAMENT
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