Optical History Factoids

From Cody Mejia, our Optometric Assistant: 

Eskimos are famous for their crafty engineering, and are even recognized for creating the world’s first sunglasses! Blinded by glare from the sun shining on the snow, Eskimos were determined to find a solution. They carved a small slit in pieces of bone and placed it over their eyes for protection, allowing them to see better and more comfortably. Come by and check out some fun history facts with us, we have a great mini optical museum, and a great eyewear history book!

 

We love retro frames at Uptown EyeCare & Optical! By the 1950's “cat eyes” had become omnipresent. This timeless shape was photographed on most stars in Hollywood with the popular explosion of feature films. One of our favorite frames “Gilda” by La Font is a part of their “Réédition Collection” and does an incredible spin on this retro look. It’s a great cat eye shape with new style. Come by our clinic and see our fabulous ABO-Certified Optician, Tina, who wears this model!

Do you ever wonder how clear vision was accomplished centuries ago? Documents show that Emperor Nero watched the gladiator events with aid from an emerald stone. In the first century AD, Seneca the Younger, tutor of Emperor Nero, notates, "Letters, however small and indistinct, are seen enlarged and more clearly through a globe or glass filled with water". The first eyeglasses however, are said to be made in Italy at about 1286. Come by Uptown EyeCare and see our collection of devises from past eras!

February is Low Vision Awareness Month!

Losing vision can be a traumatic experience for most who suffer from any condition causing vision loss. Many patients can be assisted by computer programs that magnify the computer screen, including CCTV’s and handheld magnifiers and equipment with speech technology capabilities. 

The Optometry school Dr. Friberg attended, SCCO, annually presents a juried art exhibit that features artwork from blind and visually impaired artists from around the world. 

Below is a painting from Susan Gustafson, who has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 35. 

Here is a beautiful catalog featuring visually impaired, blind and legally blind artists. Click here to see all of their amazing artwork: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/cd23c6ee#/cd23c6ee/

Low Vision Community Resources - Portland, OR 

Transportation

• TriMet Lift Paratransit Program (503) 962-8200
• Ride Connection (503) 226-0700
• C-VAN Paratransit-Vancouver (360) 695-8918
• Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Safety Unit: (503) 945-5083
• Washington Department of Licensing: www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense
• On the Road Driver Evaluation:
  • Jeff Lango OTR/L, Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (503)249-3220 
  • Great Northwest Drivers (503)628-6306

Meals/Grocery Shopping

• Meals-On-Wheels
  • Multnomah and Washington County 503-736-6325
  • Clark County 1-866-788-6325 
  • Apply on line at: https://feedseniors.org/programs/meals-on-wheels/ 

• Store to Door Grocery Delivery (503) 200-3333 
  • Phone in order and receive delivery once a week for prescriptions/groceries
• Online Grocery shopping
  • Safeway   www.safeway.com 
  • New Season’s   www.newseasonsmarket.com 
  • Albertson’s   www.albertsons.com

Telephone Services

• Direct Dial Assistance (888) 586-3100 to request application
  • Provides free operator assistance eliminating need to dial/access phone book.
• Free internet-like phone searches for weather/businesses
  • Tell Me (800) 555-8355
  • Google Voice Search (800) 466-4411

Low Vision Support Groups
              http://www.macular.org/sgroups/orsg.html

Low Vision Equipment Resources

• MaxiAids  www.maxiaids.com (631) 752-0689
• LS&S  www.lssproducts.com  (800) 468-4789
• ShopLowVision  www.shoplowvision.com (866) 999-9188

Contemporary Native American Artists Highlighted in February Tour for the Blind

The Portland Art Museum’s February 21 tour for the blind explores works by three Native American artists from the Columbia River region – Lillian Pitt, Joe Feddersen, and Taila Ferrel Smith.    

Lillian Pitt, Wasco Totem. 
Wasco Totem is one of a series of ceramic and wood figures that portray animal, plant and human spirits which Pitt hopes will help her people “realign themselves with the wise and knowing ways of their ancestors.”  Raised at Warm Springs Reservation, Pitt’s Wasco name, Wa’ka mu (which means “a stubborn root that won’t let go of the earth”) expresses her commitment to “the earth, the spirits of nature, legends, petroglyphs, animals and birds” of her native tradition. 


Joe Feddersen, Twined Basket and (if available) the glass sculpture, Roll CallFeddersen, a member of The Confederated Tribes of The Colville Reservation in central Washington State, uses Columbia plateau Native American imagery to comment on contemporary America.   These works feature human figures, some with the heads of totemic animals and birds, others topped with wide-screen TVs, cell-phone tower antennae and other 21^st century artifacts.   As we change our physical landscape, says the artist, so we change our culture and our artistic inspiration. 

Taila Ferrel Smith, Self Portrait.  Taila Ferrel-Smith, a painter of Klamath/Modoc descent, sees in her own face the trauma which her father experienced as a boarding school “survivor” and then passed on to her as the child of a survivor.  The artist, a student in PSU’s Masters of Fine Art program, uses the traditional vehicle of the painted portrait to explore identity issues specific to young Native Americans today. 

The tour begins at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, February 21.  Participants assemble at the museum’s main entrance, 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland.  (Those requiring a ramp should come in at the Members Entrance on the north side of the building.)

The tour is free with museum membership.  Non-museum members who are blind pay $3 for museum admission and may bring in one helper at no charge.  Children 17 and under are free.  Seating is provided, and guide dogs are welcome.

Please let us know if you will attend the tour by calling and leaving a message at 503-276-4290. 

Hello from everyone at Uptown EyeCare!

We are excited to start our new blog! Tina Arroyo, our ABO-Certified Optician, is kicking off February by talking about 141 through social media, so let the fun begin:

We love 141 & we don’t care who knows it! This local Portland frame company not only captures the style of the Pacific NW with its designs, but also shares our belief in giving back. For every frame of theirs that is purchased, they donate a pair of glasses to a child in need.

”No portions of proceeds. No percentages. You buy, we give, 141.” Now that’s what we call taking care of our community!
Check out this video of the 141 team giving glasses to local kids at Portland’s own Penninsula School!  http://vimeo.com/42461387


Did you know that 141 frames are named after streets in Portland?  Come in and try on a Flanders.  See how you look in an Everett.  Maybe you’re a Pearl kind of person?  You never know until you try!  Come in and find your perfect pair today.

   
Do you have kids? Our little Portlanders need great eyewear too!  141 has a kid’s collection with small sized versions of their most popular frames.  Your child could be wearing a Morrison, a Quimby or even a Lovejoy!  Plus for every 141 frame that is purchased, they donate a pair of glasses to a kid in need.  What a great way to teach your children about giving back by giving another child the gift of clear sight!