Reflections Eyecare

06/01/2026

Stop by and come check out our new frames from ! Designed in Minnesota and made with quality Japanese titanium and Italian Mazzuchelli acetate, they have fun (not your ordinary) names!

05/28/2026

Part 2–
Smoking 🚬 can cause oxidative stress to tissues in eyes and can increase the risk of macular degeneration by 2-4 times over non-smokers and can worsen glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye symptoms. THC may temporarily decrease eye pressure in glaucoma but long term use could damage the optic nerve due to low blood flow to the eye. “The largest association of eye physicians and surgeons in the world (American Academy of Ophthalmology) does not endorse cannabis or its derivatives as a glaucoma treatment.”

Insufficient sleep😴 (less than 7 hours) can cause a decrease in tear production and increased risk for illness and conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Sleep apnea can also raise the risk of glaucoma. Lack of sleep can hinder the brain’s ability to restore and repair itself, to remove waste products such as the Alzheimer’s protein amyloid beta. Amyloid beta is 25-30% higher in those who are sleep-deprived.

Mindfulness meditation 🧘🏻‍♀️can help with stress reduction, lowering the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol regulates how the body uses glucose, affects inflammation, blood pressure, and helps regulate your circadian rhythms (sleep-wake cycle 🛌). Meditation has also been proven to help with mental health as well. 😊

TAKE HOME POINT—everything in your body is connected. Taking care of your body helps your eyes 👁️and your brain 🧠 as well!

References available upon request.

05/28/2026

Most people think of melanoma as skin cancer, but melanoma can also develop inside the eye.👁️

Ocular melanoma is a rare but serious form of cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells inside the eye. Because of its rarity, many patients have never even heard of it before diagnosis.

At Tennessee Retina, our Ocular Oncology team cares for patients facing this complex condition through advanced imaging, treatment planning, long-term monitoring, and collaboration with researchers dedicated to improving outcomes.

What makes ocular melanoma especially challenging is that research and treatment options for metastatic disease remain limited. That’s why organizations like Eye on Grace Foundation and A Cure In Sight Ocular Melanoma are so important — helping fund research, support patients, and raise awareness for a cancer many people don’t realize exists.

This Melanoma Awareness Month, we’re recognizing the patients, families, physicians, researchers, and advocates working to bring more hope, visibility, and progress to the ocular melanoma community. 💙

👉 Learn more about our Oncology Team https://www.tnretina.com/retinal-care/ocular-oncology
🔗 Eye on Grace Foundation: https://www.eyeongracefoundation.org/
🔗 A Cure In Sight: https://acureinsight.org/

05/22/2026

Happy Memorial Day weekend to all! We will be closed on Monday. Be safe and remember why we celebrate. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

Just posted on this yesterday…😊

Learn how optometrists can educate patients on and leverage nutrition to improve short- and long-term ocular health and patient care.

05/21/2026

Presented in our Spring Hill Connect networking group on nutrition and other health tips this morning. This is Part 1.

Did you know that in your eyes 👀 are part of your brain 🧠? Your retinas and optic nerve form from the same embryonic tissue as your brain. The brain and eyes are two of the most energy-demanding organs in your body. Therefore, nutrients that are good for your eyes are also good for the brain and for your body in general!

Carotenoids are the bright pigments found in plants, fruits, and vegetables. 🥕 🍉 Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso Zeaxanthin are carotenoids that are present in the macula of your eyes that help filter out blue light and act as antioxidants to prevent damage. Eating 5 servings of fruit and vegetables can help replenish the carotenoids in your eyes and also can help protect your body from diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, cancer, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Omega 3s 🍣🐟have anti-inflammatory properties and are important for heart ♥️, brain, and eye health as well for the immune system. Most Americans have diets that are heavier in Omega 6s, as high as a 15:1 ratio. We should aim for at least a 4:1 ratio of Omega 6s to 3s.

Exercise, especially weight bearing exercises 🏋🏻or resistance training, can be beneficial to the eyes and body in general by helping to increase circulation. Bone strength starts to decline by 1% each year after 40 and a decline in muscle mass begins after age 30. 1/2 of all women and 1/4 of all men over 50 break bones because of osteoporosis and women are especially vulnerable because of lower estrogen levels after menopause. Most men will lose about 30% of their muscle mass in their lifetimes due to a decline in testosterone or ability to process protein. We need much more protein as we age! Weight bearing exercises, especially for your legs, may help delay cognitive decline.

Thank you to .ranibanik for a very informative Eye Summit last week! You gave a wealth of information I will use to enhance my practice and improve my own health as well! 😊

Resources available upon request

05/16/2026

From kindergarten to 8th Grade, high school to college seniors and beyond, CONGRATULATIONS to all the graduates out there! You did it! 👏🎉🎓🧑🏼‍🎓👩🏽‍🎓👨🏼‍🎓👩🏻‍🎓

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Hope your day is special! 🥰👵🏼👵🏽👵🏾👵🏿👩🏻👩🏼👩🏽👩🏾👩🏿

04/29/2026

The Gift of Sight & Scripture 📖🦁

Today was a special day for the Fayetteville TN Lions Club! Lions Myrna Reed and Chris Ross had the honor of delivering a low vision machine to a local Lincoln County resident, and the impact was immediate.

Her first reaction? Pure joy at being able to read her Bible and devotionals again. But the excitement doesn't stop there—she’s already planning a trip to the library this week to stock up on books! 📚

This project is made possible by your support to Middle Tennessee Lions Sight Service!

04/27/2026

So grateful for these two ladies, as they have helped us become who we are! Happy 5-Year Anniversary to Kristy and 2-Year Anniversary to Estela! Here’s to many more! 🥂🥳🎉👏🤓