Integrative Vision

07/24/2025

👁️ GLP-1s & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know
📄 From the American Optometric Association (AOA):
🔍 GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) and Ocular Health: Guidance for Optometric Practice (June 2025)

GLP-1 medications are transforming care for diabetes, obesity, and heart health — but did you know they may also affect your eye health? We have had many patients ask as well as get their eyes checked for this reason.

📉 Why it matters:
These meds can rapidly improve blood sugar and cause weight loss — great for overall health — but can lead to vision risks, especially if you already have diabetes or retinal conditions.

🧠 Key takeaways from the AOA report:
🔹 Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): Risk of temporary worsening when blood sugar drops quickly
🔹 NAION (optic nerve stroke): A rare but serious side effect reported with semaglutide
🔹 Wet Age related Macular Degeneration (neovascular): Slightly increased risk in GLP-1 users
🔹 Other symptoms include blurred vision, visual field changes, and color vision loss

👀 Watch for:
• Sudden or painless vision loss
• Blurry or distorted vision
• Shadowy or missing areas in your visual field
• Color vision changes

📋 What you should do:
✔️ Schedule a comprehensive, eye exam before or shortly after starting GLP-1s
✔️ Stay up to date with eye exams — especially in the first 12–18 months
✔️ Tell your eye doctor you’re using a GLP-1 medication; They need to know!
✔️ Report any vision changes immediately

Even if your systemic health is improving, your eyes may be more vulnerable during this transition — especially if you have a history of eye disease or diabetes.

💬 With the right care, you can stay on top of your health and your vision. Ask your optometrist if you're at risk.
***FULL report link in bio

07/10/2025

July is —Let’s Talk About the Gender Gap 👩‍🔬
We need to expose the unnoticed vulnerabilities that hormone fluctuations create in women during perimenopause, menopause and surgical menopause.
Hormonal fluctuations exist in both s*xes when aging but produce dissimilar effects.

Women experience greater testosterone decline during aging and their postmenopausal hormone levels become more critical than those of men.
These changes can:
Alter lipid secretion in the meibomian glands
Reduced tear volume from the lacrimal glands
Increase ocular inflammation at the conjunctiva and cornea

🧬 Hormone Receptors in the Eye: What the Science Says
Human eyes function as part of the hormonal system of the body. The human eye contains specific s*x hormone receptors that maintain tear production and stabilize tears and ensure ocular surface health.

The following receptors were found to exist in ocular tissues:
Androgen Receptors (AR)

Estrogen Receptors (ERα, ERβ)

Progesterone Receptors (PR)

💡Women need medical explanations that understand their complex biological makeup.
The time to put a spotlight is now.

*xhormone

06/06/2025

👁️ + 🦠 = 🔍
Let’s talk about something essential to whole-body (and eye!) health: digestion

As an OD, board certified in nutrition & functional medicine; I’ve seen firsthand how often the gut is the hidden culprit behind chronic inflammation, autoimmune activity, and—yes—even ocular conditions.

The gut–eye connection is real.
From dry eye and uveitis to neuro-ophthalmic disorders, we need to start asking better questions—and looking deeper.

That’s why functional stool testing has become one of my most powerful clinical tools. Thank you for helping bring targeted, actionable insights into my patient care.
Here’s to normalizing digestive health in eye care—and beyond. 💩✨
Because the gut talks... and the eyes listen.

06/01/2025

🧠💜 June is **Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month**, and it's personal for me—my grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's, and it shaped how I view brain health in clinical care.

At Integrative Vision, we recognize that the eyes can offer early clues to brain change. The retina is an extension of the brain, and ongoing research continues to highlight the eye-brain connection as a potential early window into neurodegenerative disease.

We urgently need more research—especially studies that look at functional, nutritional, and ocular biomarkers in early cognitive decline.

I’m continually inspired by the work of Dr. Dale Bredesen, whose research and protocols (“The End of Alzheimer’s,” “The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s”) have opened new doors in prevention and reversal strategies. His integrative approach reminds us that complex conditions require whole-body solutions.

We stand in support of the families, caregivers, and researchers pushing this field forward.

🧠✨ Early detection, personalized care, and prevention start with awareness.

💜

05/26/2025

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Thank you to all who serve—and have served—for your courage and commitment.

🇺🇸 **Wishing you a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.**

05/22/2025

No fancy marketing tools—just patients who value good care and stayed with me through the wait.
**Thank you all for your support—I’m back and so grateful!** 💛🙏

05/11/2025

This Mother's Day, gift yourself (or a mom you love) a moment of care. From dry eyes to digital fatigue, we take a integrative approach blending functional nutrition, lifestyle insight, and root-cause care to address what your eyes are telling you. Schedule an appointment todat at https://loom.ly/4cLgErY

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05/10/2025

We're proud to be a small, local practice with a big-picture approach to health. On National Small Business Day, we’re celebrating YOU — our patients and community — for choosing local, holistic care. Thank you for trusting Integrative Vision with your eyes and overall well-being! 💚

Leave a review or tag us in your healthy vision wins today!

05/08/2025

May is Healthy Vision Month!! And, a great reminder that your eyes deserve holistic care, too! Did you know nutrition, sleep, and stress all impact your vision health? At Integrative Vision, we look (pun intended!) at the WHOLE picture to support your eyes and your overall well-being.

Book your eye exam alone or with some added extra nutritional support (EyeExamPlus) this month and start your personalized eye health journey. Schedule online at https://loom.ly/4cLgErY.

05/07/2025

📣 Our internship slot is now open!
Are you a student or do you know one passionate about healthcare, integrative medicine, or optometry? This is your chance to gain **real-world experience** in a cutting-edge, whole-body eye care practice!

🧠 **Mentorship + Hands-on Learning**
We’re proud to have helped past interns **successfully match with optometry schools nationwide**—and now we’re looking for our next intern to join us!

📍 **Integrative Vision – Shrewsbury, NJ**
🗓️ 1 day/week (~5 hours)
💼 Support patient care + office coordination
💸 **Paid internship**
🔞 Must be **18+ years old**

📩 **Apply now**: https://forms.gle/RAvk87HbrM5pbsk7A
LINK IN BIO or email: info@integrativevision.com

Integrative Vision is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to join our team one day per week roughy 5 hours per week to support office coordination and patient care. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in healthcare, integrative medicine, or optometry to gain real-worl...

04/25/2025

Happy National DNA Day! Many common eye conditions, like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, and even dry eye, have genetic components. But here’s the empowering part: Your genes are not your destiny!!

Just because something "runs in the family" doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. At Integrative Vision, we combine traditional diagnostics with holistic strategies to help you take charge of your health story—because your lifestyle can influence how your genes behave.

For example:
• Certain nutrients (like lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc) can support retinal health and may reduce risk in those with a genetic predisposition to AMD .
• Managing systemic inflammation through gut health and diet can help mitigate conditions like uveitis or dry eye—even when there’s a family history.

Visit Integrativevision.com to learn more about our traditional eye care options and our functional nutrition program, SEEHealth.

04/22/2025

Today is Earth Day—a moment to celebrate the beauty of our planet and reflect on the small changes we can make to care for it 🌿🌎 Did you know your eye health and your environmental impact can go hand-in-hand?

At Integrative Vision, we believe that sustainability and wellness are deeply connected. The choices we make in our daily lives—what we eat, what we wear, and even what eye care products we use—can support both our health and the planet.

Here are a few ways to make eco-conscious choices for your eyes:

Go preservative-free: Many artificial tears contain preservatives that can irritate your eyes over time and are packaged in non-recyclable plastics. Opt for preservative-free drops in recyclable vials or glass bottles when possible.

Eat for your eyes: A plant-forward diet rich in leafy greens, colorful veggies, and omega-3s not only supports retinal and macular health but reduces your environmental footprint.

Reduce digital eye strain naturally: Spend more time in natural light, unplug when possible, and take outdoor breaks.