Two more join AFVC!!

We are pleased to announce the addition of two more team members at Ankeny Family Vision Center!  

Bethany came to us in June and finds herself busy in the business office as our business administrator in charge of all things financial.  She grew up in the Urbandale area and attended the University of Iowa where she received her BBA in Finance from the Tippie College of Business.  Bethany and her husband are expecting their first child and one of their favorite things to do is giving new life to old items and repurposing them!!

Victoria, aka Tori, also hails from Urbandale and joined our staff in July as a tech for the doctors.  She is studying for her para-optometric exam and we are looking forward to her passing that exam!!  She attended Iowa State University and graduated in 2012 with an Animal Science degree.  She and her husband enjoy thoroughbred racing, hiking, gardening, and spending time with family and their two dogs and cat!

We are finding them both a great addition to our team!!  Say hello to Bethany and Tori the next time you stop in!!

What is lutein? What is zeaxanthin?

Have you ever wondered if there was anything you could do to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration?  Lutein and Zeaxanthin are two answers!  These two carotenoids are antioxidants located in your eye!  There are over 600 carotenoids in nature but only these two are found in high quantities in the retina (macula) of the eye!

Lutein and Zeaxanthin filter harmful high energy blue wavelengths of light and help protect and maintain healthy cells in the eyes.  Due to the way antioxidants neutralize free radicals, lutein and zeaxanthin play a role in preventing cataracts or significantly decreasing the risk of their formation.  The human body does not naturally make these carotenoids so getting these in your diet through green vegetables or nutritional supplements can help maintain good eye health.

There is also evidence that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.  Ankeny Family Vision Center has instrumentation called MPOD that measures the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in your eye.  This MPOD has become useful for predicting disease and visual function.

Are you getting enough lutein and zeaxanthin in your diet?  They can be found in kale, spinach, collards, turnip greens, peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, beans and eggs.  If adding these "greens" do not interest you, Drs. Hansen, Pietig, and Young recommend supplements of which we have in the office for your convenience.

Schedule and appointment for your comprehensive, individualized eye health exam and be sure to mention you want an MPOD to see how your levels of lutein and zeaxanthin are in your eyes!! 

Protect your eyes!!  You will be glad later in life that you did!!