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Is Screen Time Hurting Your Child’s Vision? What Every Parent in Allen, TX Needs to Know
Welcome to Eyes On You, the official podcast of Allen Eyecare Center, where we talk about all things vision, wellness, and the stories that shape how we see the world. In our latest episode, Dr. Corey Toufar joins Dylan, our lead Optometric Technician, to break down one of the biggest concerns among modern parents: myopia (a.k.a. nearsightedness) and how screen time plays a major role in its progression.
🎧 Prefer to listen instead?
You can catch the full conversation in Episode 3 of the Eyes On You Podcast—now on spotify
What Is Myopia and Why Is It Getting Worse in Kids?
Dr. Toufar explains that myopia is more than just blurry distance vision—it’s also about how the eye grows over time. And that growth can put strain on the retina, increasing long-term risks like retinal detachment, eye disease, or even vision loss later in life.
What’s causing the spike? Simple:
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More indoor time
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Increased screen usage
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👀 Meet Dr. Brandon Igo: Allen Eyecare Center’s Newest Optometrist with a Heart for People and a Nerdy Side for Star Wars
If you're searching for a kind, knowledgeable, and down-to-earth optometrist in Allen, Texas—you just found him.
We’re thrilled to officially introduce Dr. Brandon Igo, the newest face at Allen Eyecare Center! In our latest episode of the Eyes On You podcast, we sat down with Dr. Igo for a candid and fun conversation—from his journey into eye care (spoiler: he almost became a dentist) to his passion for helping patients with dry eye, contact lens comfort, and customized care that fits your lifestyle.
👨⚕️ From Midland to Allen: Dr. Igo’s Unexpected Journey Into Optometry
Dr. Igo didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an eye doctor. In fact, his first plan was dentistry. But after working as a technician for his childhood optometrist, he fell in love with vision care. Why? Because he realized how powerful it is to help someone improve their sight instantly. That joy, that connection, and the daily impact it makes—that’s what inspired his path to optometry school.
🧠 A Nerd at Heart, A Healer by Trade
Whether he’s quoting Star Wars, watching Modern Family, or baking cookies (yes, he’s a solid baker too), Dr. Igo brings a warm, relatable personality into the exam room. But don’t let his humor fool you—his clinical knowledge runs deep. One of his favorite treatments right now? Punctal plugs for dry eye.
more🏡 40 Years of Clear Vision: The Legacy of Allen Eyecare Center in Allen, TX
Welcome to the very first episode of our podcast, Eyes On You! We’re kicking off this blog with something extra special—an inside look at the story behind Allen Eyecare Center, the longest-standing eye care practice in Allen, Texas.
From humble beginnings to becoming a trusted name in Collin County, we’re pulling back the curtain to share how it all began, what’s made us different for nearly 40 years, and where we’re headed next.
👁️ Our Origin Story — Built on Grit and Heart
Allen Eyecare Center was founded in 1985 by Dr. Jeffrey Wood, Sr. Back then, Allen was a quiet suburb with just one other eye doctor. But after a twist of fate (involving a failed acquisition and a building fire elsewhere!), Dr. Wood chose Allen—and the rest is history.
He started alone—no staff, no loans, just commitment. His wife eventually joined to help, and over time, the whole family would become part of the practice. Fast forward to today, and the reins have passed to his son, Dr. Brooks Wood, who now leads the clinic with the same values of excellence, honesty, and heartfelt care.
👓 Why Allen Patients Say: “I’ve Never Had an Eye Exam Like This Before”
moreDetecting Eye Health Issues in Children: Signs Parents Should Look Out For
At Allen Eyecare Center, we understand the importance of proactive eye care for children. As a trusted pediatric eye clinic with a team of dedicated pediatric optometrists, we are passionate about ensuring that your child's vision develops optimally and that any potential eye conditions are detected and addressed early on. In this article, we will discuss the signs parents should look out for when it comes to their children's eye health.
moreOptometrist vs. Ophthalmologist vs. Optician
Optometrist VS Ophthalmologist
Think about your Optometrist as your primary care doctor for your eyes. Optometrists spend 4 years getting their undergrad degree and another four years in optometry school. They then have 3 rounds of board exams to pass to receive their Doctorate in Optometry. Optometrists are your friendly family eye doctor.
Scope of practice (Texas):
- Glasses prescription
- Contact lens prescription
- Specialty contact lens prescription
- Glaucoma diagnosis and treatment
- Oral medication
- Oral steroid prescriptions
- Dry eye treatment
- Ocular surface disease diagnosis and treatment
- Diagnostic imaging of the retina
- Diagnosis of retinal detachments and holes
- Infection
- Hordeolum/stye
- Diagnosis of eye muscle problems
- Foreign body removals
- Cataract co-management
- Macular degeneration
This list is a broad overview of the Optometrist's scope of practice. Optometrists frequently co-manage these diseases with ophthalmologists and frequently refer to a local ophthalmologist for more specialized and invasive treatments.
An ophthalmologist is a specialist and/or an ocular surgeon. Ophthalmologist work with optometrists to treat and manage eye diseases. Ophthalmologists typically specialize in certain parts of the eye, like a retinal specialist, cornea specialist, etc. They also perform surgeries like cataracts, LASIK, eye muscle surgeries, and so much more. Opthalmogoist goes to traditional medical school after their undergraduate degree and then complete a residency in ophthalmology.
moreWhat To Do When You Get A Stye
Styes eye infections are a common and uncomfortable form of eye infection. Find out what at stye is, what are the signs and symptoms and when to call your optometrist. There are serious complications for ignoring a stye.
Stye: infected oil gland affecting your top or bottom eye lid. oil glands are scientifically called meibomian glands, but oil glands with suffice!
Official name: hordeolum
Signs & Symptoms of a Stye
Signs: swollen bump on the outer rim of the eye lid where the lid meets the lashes; can look similar to a pimple; redness, and swelling of the eyelid; it can be localized or spread across the entire eyelid
- If it becomes severe and untreated swelling can extend down into the cheek
Symptoms: pain and/or tenderness, warm to the touch, can feel tight or pressure feeling in or around the eyelids; tenderness or soreness when you blink
When to see your optometrist
Early signs of stye - at the first signs of mild tenderness on the eyelid and scant amount of localized swelling; start using an optometrist recommended heat mask on your eyes multiple time a day. This opens up your oil glands that are clogged and infected and will allow the bacteria to be released and flow out from the glands.
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