Brookside Optometric Group
November 17, 2023
While California may be known for its year-round sunshine and beautiful coastlines, the winter season brings with it a unique set of challenges for our eyes. From the low winter sun casting longer sha...
Brookside Optometric Group
October 23, 2023
Diabetes is more than just a condition related to blood sugar levels; it has wide-reaching implications on various parts of the body, including the eyes. For those diagnosed with diabetes, understandi...
Brookside Optometric Group
September 27, 2023
Breast cancer treatment can be a challenging and emotional journey. While chemotherapy and radiation therapy are effective ways to fight cancer, they can also cause side effects, including ocular comp...
Brookside Optometric Group
August 17, 2023
Eyes are considered one of the most important body parts due to their crucial role in providing the sense of vision, which is fundamental to how we perceive and interact with the world. And much like ...
Brookside Optometric Group
July 31, 2023
In an increasingly technology driven world, watching and learning from screens is an inevitable daily occurrence for all children. They are surrounded by screens both in school and personal settings; ...
Brookside Optometric Group
June 22, 2023
Vision is much more than just the ability to see clearly. It's a complex process that involves several abilities such as the capacity to focus, track movement, and perceive depth and color. Vision...
Brookside Optometric Group
May 26, 2023
Cataracts, a common vision problem especially prevalent among older adults, are characterized by a clouding of the eye's natural lens. This can lead to a variety of vision complications, such as b...
Brookside Optometric Group
May 02, 2023
A balanced diet not only contributes to overall health but also plays a crucial role in maintaining good vision. The right nutrients can help prevent or delay the onset of various eye diseases, and in...
Brookside Optometric Group
December 23, 2022
On behalf of the entire team here at Brookside Optometric Group, and all our patients, it’s been a pleasure working with Dr. Rosemary (Rosie) Melrose and Dr. Bob Melrose as they grew their practice. ...
Brookside Optometric Group
December 02, 2022
We’re proud to announce that Brookside Optometric Group has been voted the best optometry office in Stockton! It is with great pleasure that we thank our patients for voting Brookside Optometric Group...
Brookside Optometric Group
October 03, 2022
August 29, 1948 – September 22, 2022 We are saddened to announce that our friend and colleague, Dr. John Demshar, passed away on September 22. John was one of the original partners here at Brookside O...
Brookside Optometric Group
July 22, 2022
Can you imagine a smartphone app that can use your eyes to check brain function? Researchers at UC San Diego are working on it! Also, most adults find themselves needing reading glasses as they approa...
Brookside Optometric Group
May 10, 2022
A new study indicates that having cataract surgery may reduce the risk of dementia. Dr. Bob Melrose reviews this interesting research. Then, Dr. Bob and Dr. Yolanda Scheer dive into the world of glass...
Brookside Optometric Group
April 22, 2022
Brookside Optometric Group has presented a scholarship award to a deserving local senior every year since 2016. Every year, we continue to be amazed by the caliber of the students who are nominated. W...
Dr. Bob Melrose
March 24, 2022
It is with great pride that the doctors at Brookside Optometric announce that the University of California Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science is honoring our founding part...
Dr. Bob Melrose
March 21, 2022
Drs Bob and Rosie Melrose represented Brookside Optometric at the 2022 UC Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science practice emersion program this year. The program is designed t...
Brookside Optometric Group
February 22, 2022
My name is Jayden Jones and I was the recipient of the 2021 Brookside Optometric Group Scholarship.
Brookside Optometric Group
February 22, 2022
LASIK surgery has provided permanent vision correction for millions of Americans since it was first approved in 1999, and Dr. Bob Melrose has provided pre- and post-surgery consultation for thousands ...
Dr. Bob Melrose
January 18, 2022
Every January we write a year in review for the Brookside Optometric Group. The year 2021 was an interesting year for us as it was for everyone else. The Covid pandemic impacted our professional lives...
Brookside Optometric Group
November 22, 2021
Cataracts are, or will be, a fact of life for most of us as age and exposure to the sun take their toll. Fortunately, modern cataract surgery is quick, safe, and extremely effective, as Dr. Linda Hsu ...
Brookside Optometric Group
October 12, 2021
The material your lenses are made from can make a big difference! In this episode, we explain what you need to know about plastic lenses before you purchase your next set of eyeglasses. Then, Dr. Bob ...
Brookside Optometric Group
September 10, 2021
Eyeglasses are an investment, and it's important to take care of them properly. Dr. Vikram Girn explains how to handle, store, and clean your eyeglasses to minimize damage and maximize their life. Plu...
Brookside Optometric Group
July 14, 2021
As our bodies age, new health conditions often arise in our eyes. Dr. Linda Hsu talks about eye care for senior adults, and how some common conditions can be managed or even avoided. Then, have you ev...
Brookside Optometric Group
June 24, 2021
Choosing a new pair of glasses involves a lot more than finding frames that you like. Lens coatings and special features provide a dizzying array of options that can quickly become confusing. In this ...
Brookside Optometric Group
June 02, 2021
Dr. Bob Melrose recently interviewed our 2021 Scholarship winner, Jayden Jones. Dr. Bob and Jayden discussed Jayden's community involvement, high school sports career, academic achievements, and p...
Brookside Optometric Group
May 28, 2021
Emergency situations that lead to interaction with the police can be frightening, confusing, and traumatic for young children. Brookside Optometric Group, Stockton Sunrise Rotary, and the Stockton Por...
Brookside Optometric Group
March 31, 2021
Does your child have poor vision, or do they just like sitting close to the TV? Poor eyesight can be difficult for parents to detect. In this episode of Eye Talk, Dr. Leila Chow outlines some things t...
Brookside Optometric Group
March 08, 2021
Brookside Optometric Group is proud to support the outstanding San Joaquin County High School seniors in our community with our annual scholarship contest! Here's an update from Elyse Glover, our 2020...
Brookside Optometric Group
March 02, 2021
It's Episode 3 of Eye Talk with Brookside Optometric Group! In this episode, Dr. Rick Vanover explains how to set up your computer workspace to reduce eye strain, and discusses the impact of blue ligh...
Brookside Optometric Group
January 30, 2021
In this episode of Eye Talk, Dr. Rosemary Melrose explains which eye symptoms warrant an emergency visit to your optometrist, and which aren't quite as urgent. Plus, Dr. Rick Vanover explores how the ...
Brookside Optometric Group
January 14, 2021
In this inaugural episode of Eye Talk, Dr. Bob Melrose and Dr. Yolanda Scheer discusss the unique aspects of children's vision. When should children have their first eye exam, what is your optometrist...
Dr. Bob Melrose
January 11, 2021
I was asked to write up our annual “2020 Year in Review” summary for our office. As I stared at my computer gathering my thoughts, I kept going back to the reality that while this year was simply one ...
Dr. Vikram Girn
December 02, 2020
Pink eye and red eye are common eye conditions and have various causes ranging from infections, allergies, irritantants, and styes. Mild cases of pink or red eyes get better on their own, but moderate...
Dr. Bob Melrose
November 04, 2020
Progressive lenses have become the standard lens prescribed for people in their 40’s and beyond who need help with their reading vision. Progressive lenses are lenses designed to give excellent distan...
Dr. Kurt Skinner
September 21, 2020
So it’s been determined that a spectacle prescription will help you with your visual system. The type of prescription and amount of power combined with the size and shape of the eyeglass frames you ch...
Dr. Bob Melrose
July 30, 2020
There has been lots of speculation about the eyes being a source of COVID-19 infection. Some of this has come from a report by a virologist news reporter who claimed to have contracted the disease fro...
Dr. Yolanda Scheer
July 01, 2020
Experiencing Eye Fatigue with Computer Use? We all can relate to hours spent each day on our smart phone, tablet and computer. The average adult American spends close to 4 hours a day on an electronic...
Dr. Richard Vanover
May 06, 2020
Let’s face it. Computers are an ever present, integral part of our daily lives. Even in my profession as an optometrist where twenty years ago the only computers in the office were at the front desk o...
Brookside Optometric Group
April 27, 2020
The next time you visit Brookside Optometric for your eye care needs, some things will be different. As we reopen to deliver a full range of essential eye health and vision care, the health and safety...
Brookside Optometric Group
April 27, 2020
Congratulations to the winner of our 2020 Scholarship Contest, Elyse Glover! Elyse is graduating from Lincoln High School, and will be attending Sacramento State University in the fall, majoring in Bi...
Dr. Vikram Girn
March 30, 2020
Clear and comfortable vision is essential to a child’s ability to learn, develop, and play. Any number of issues with the eye health or vision can limit their ability to learn in school, participate i...
Dr. Linda Hsu
February 06, 2020
Today’s seniors are more active than ever and life expectancy is longer than ever. That is why annual eye exams are very important as you get older. Seniors are more susceptible to developing diabetes...
Brookside Optometric Group
February 01, 2020
My wife and Partner at Brookside Optometric Group, Dr. Linda Hsu, are celebrating our 34th year in Practice Living here in Stockton. We now realize that we have called Stockton “Home” far longer longe...
Dr. Rosemary Melrose
January 15, 2020
When babies are born, they already have the “hardware” necessary for vision, but the hardware still needs to be programmed. Babies are in the dark before birth, so the visual stimulation t...
Brookside Optometric Group
January 08, 2020
My area of specialty is pediatrics. I love working with children! During my rotations in Optometry School, I discovered that it takes different skills and techniques to work effectively with children....
Brookside Optometric Group
November 12, 2019
I have been in practice at Brookside for more than 30 years, along with my husband and partner Dr. Kurt Skinner. The most meaningful part of my work are the relationships I have developed with my pati...
Dr. Leila Chow
November 04, 2019
A long-time patient made a comment that it seemed to her that “everyone” has either prediabetes or diabetes. She was not too far off. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30....
Dr. Jonathan Loo
October 09, 2019
Dry Eyes is a chronic and progressive condition that affects millions of people. In the United States, dry eyes rarely leads to blindness, but in parts of the world near the equator and where medical ...
Brookside Optometric Group
October 01, 2019
I am most excited by the variety of general practice, never knowing who will walk through the door to my exam room next. It's so interesting to work with people of different ages, occupations, ethnici...
Dr. Bob Melrose
September 04, 2019
First and foremost, let me unequivocally state that I hate the term “Lazy eye”. That term always sounded to me that if a patient just stopped being ‘lazy” they would see better. This is far from the t...
Brookside Optometric Group
August 28, 2019
I really enjoy working with children and their parents, and the opportunity to help them understand what their child’s vision is like and what the future can hold for them. It’s important for me to ge...
Dr. Sylvester Nguyen
August 06, 2019
What are cataracts? A cataract is formed when the natural lens of our eye becomes cloudy or opaque. The human eye contains a natural lens which provides much of the “power” that allows us to see clear...
Brookside Optometric Group
July 18, 2019
Dr. Josephine Laurel is an optometrist and partner at Brookside Optometric Group. Patient care is her highest priority, and getting to know her patients well helps her find the pair of glasses or cont...
Dr. Kurt Skinner
July 09, 2019
Glaucoma is generally thought of as a disease whereby the pressure of the fluid inside your eye rises to the point of causing damage to your Optic Nerve. Inside your eye, there is always a fluid being...
Brookside Optometric Group
June 25, 2019
On June 12, 2019 our beloved Dr. Craig Hisaka peacefully passed away. Dr. Hisaka was a Stockton native, graduated as one of the top students from Edison High. He was a 3-sport athlete playing quarterb...
Dr. Linda Hsu
June 04, 2019
Transition technology has reached contact lenses! Bright light and transitions from dark to light can be stressful on your eyes. Acuvue Oasys Transition Contact Lenses quickly adapt to changing light,...
Dr. John Fujii
June 01, 2019
Astigmatism is a seemingly exotic word and often humorously mispronounced. It is a common vision condition in which light entering the eye can’t be focused clearly – in fact over 90% of all patients w...
Dr. Bob Melrose
May 10, 2019
The terms nearsighted and farsighted are often confused but the easiest way to remember which condition you have is that “you are what you can do best without glasses.” If you see better a...
Dr. Rosemary Melrose
April 09, 2019
Patients always want to know, “Am I nearsighted or farsighted?” but the more they think about it, the more confused they get. It’s really very simple: your prescription is named after what is easier f...
Brookside Optometric Group
March 28, 2019
Brookside Optometric Group is proud to partner with Discovery Challenge Academy to provide free eye exams and new glasses to local high school students. Based in Lathrop, Discovery Challenge Academy (...
Brookside Optometric Group
February 12, 2019
Brookside Optometric Group is proud to support the outstanding San Joaquin County High School seniors in our community with our annual scholarship contest! Here's an update from Arica Aninag, our 2018...
Brookside Optometric Group
December 26, 2018
Kendra emailed us last week with a question: would we be willing to help a young man who had lost everything in the Paradise fire? Doug, the boyfriend of Kendra’s daughter, was downhearted, like all t...
Dr. Bob Melrose
December 20, 2018
Last month I posted a blog explaining how important the number 7 is to a diabetic when it comes to their A1C measurement. The A1C measurement reflects the average blood sugar levels in a diabetic for ...
Brookside Optometric Group
December 04, 2018
Brookside Optometric Group doctors and partners share their most meaningful and memorable patient stories from the year!
Dr. Bob Melrose
November 16, 2018
I had the opportunity to travel to the country of Pakistan in October. My Rotary District had set up a trip for us to go on to help immunize children for polio in this country. In 1985, Rotary Interna...
Dr. Kurt Skinner
November 12, 2018
Keratoconus is an eye condition whereby the corneas (the central clear part of the front surface of the eye) become curved in an irregular manner. The first signs of this syndrome usually can be detec...
Dr. Bob Melrose
November 05, 2018
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and a perfect time to discuss why a diabetic’s lucky number is always #7.
Brookside Optometric Group
September 19, 2018
As an optician in Brookside Optometric Group’s optical department, Lizbeth works with patients to help them select frames or lenses ideal for their prescription and lifestyle. Once the frames are sele...
Dr. Camille Weissenberg
September 11, 2018
According to the CDC, 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure in the United States.1 With this systemic disease, there are huge consequences for our bodies, including the eyes. Blood pressure is the fo...
Dr. Leila Chow
August 23, 2018
Lions Eye Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving sight by providing no cost eye surgery, eye medication, and other medical eye care to low income people without medical insuran...
Dr. Demshar
August 22, 2018
Our 7th annual Summerfest Fundraiser will be held on Saturday September 15th from 4-8 PM. The event will be held on Lake Lincoln at 3814 Merrimac Court in Stockton.
Brookside Optometric Group
August 13, 2018
As part of the Brookside Optometric Group family for 33 years, Julie plays an important role as the frame inventory control specialist and manages our extensive frame inventory. During a typical day, ...
Dr. Kurt Skinner
August 01, 2018
The Third Week of August marks the 5th Annual observance of Contact Lens Health Week. Since Soft Contact Lenses were first invented in 1961, and introduced to the USA by Bausch and Lomb in 1971, the “...
Brookside Optometric Group
July 23, 2018
As an optician at Brookside Optometric Group, Cherise fits glasses and contact lenses to ensure that each patient has optimal vision. During a typical day, she works closely with our doctors and patie...
Dr. Bob Melrose
July 16, 2018
It is hard to believe that getting our kids ready to go back to school is something we have to think about in mid-July. However, as school calendars have changed, parents have to plan earlier and earl...
Brookside Optometric Group
July 06, 2018
Thanks for once again voting us “Best of San Joaquin” in 2018, for the 8th year in a row! We appreciate your ongoing support as Best Optometrist, and we are honored to have you all as our patients!...
Dr. Rosemary Melrose
June 29, 2018
Part I of this blog introduced vocabulary for the various types and severities of hereditary color deficiencies. Part II explains how, for the first time ever, we can help color deficient patients dis...
Dr. John Fujii
June 04, 2018
I am excited to try a newly released photochromatic lens. The SunSync Drive XT is a photochromatic lens that responds to ultraviolet light and also to visible light. The big advantage to responding to...
Dr. Rosemary Melrose
May 14, 2018
Almost everyone has heard or used the term “color-blind,” but what causes color-blindness and what does a color-blind person actually see?
Brookside Optometric Group
April 17, 2018
The two areas of practice that I especially enjoy are pediatric eye exams and specialty contact lens fittings for patients who have limited vision even with glasses. As an eye doctor, you realize that...
Brookside Optometric Group
April 16, 2018
Want to track your daily activity and give back to those in need simply by wearing your glasses? Now you can do both with Level smart glasses. Designed in the U.S. and handcrafted in Italy, the smart ...
Dr. Richard Vanover
April 03, 2018
People are very protective of their eyes. I notice this all the time in doing an eye exam in that people are tentative when you bring objects close to them. So it boggles my mind that people are so no...
Dr. Yolanda Scheer
March 21, 2018
Brookside Optometric Group recently acquired a new scanning device to increase the effectiveness of our care for our patients. The Oculus Pentacam is an amazing device that can measure the parameters ...
Dr. Bob Melrose
February 16, 2018
February is designated as National Low Vision Awareness Month. Low vision is the term used to describe the visual performance of eyes impacted by any condition that renders a person’s visual acuity to...
Brookside Optometric Group
January 11, 2018
In the summer between 6th and 7th grade, my parents enrolled me in a summer school class where I was bored to tears. My mother suggested that I help the teacher, who was my 6th grade teacher, with som...
Dr. Rosemary Melrose
January 09, 2018
After 20 years, it’s fun to reminisce about how and why the partners came together as Brookside Optometric Group. Professionals practicing in the same city get to know their colleagues, but several of...
Brookside Optometric Group
December 18, 2017
As a tester at Brookside Optometric Group, Bryce conducts a few simple tests on patients to produce a picture of their eye health before they meet with their optometrist as part of a complete vision a...
Dr. Bob Melrose
December 11, 2017
Refractive surgery to help rid people of the need for glasses is one of eye care’s most rapidly changing specialties. It has evolved from the early days of incision RK surgery to the advent of laser p...
Brookside Optometric Group
November 14, 2017
Pat manages the in-house finishing lab at Brookside Optometric Group. As bench optician, he produces prescription eyewear for patients, solves problems with difficult prescriptions, and assists the re...
Dr. Bob Melrose
November 01, 2017
My wife and I came to Stockton in 1982 when Dr Hisaka and Dr Prima asked us to become partners in their practice. We moved here with all of our belongings in the back of an open-air truck along with o...
Dr. Linda Hsu
October 30, 2017
One out of 10 adults over the age of 20 has been diagnosed with diabetes. Many adults can suffer from the effects of sugar fluctuations on their eye health. Diabetic eye disease is the leading cause o...
Dr. Leila Chow
September 25, 2017
October is no longer just an orange and black month in the spirit of Halloween. October is also a pink month—October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October is the month when major campaigns to prom...
Brookside Optometric Group
September 12, 2017
As a pre-tester at Brookside Optometric Group, Marie conducts pretest procedures on patients before they meet with their optometrist as part of a comprehensive eye exam. She also helps opticians dispe...
Dr. Bob Melrose
September 07, 2017
People say that the eyes are the windows to the soul yet they are actually a window to your health. Many people are unaware how many health issues can be detected or diagnosed in an eye exam. The eye ...
Brookside Optometric Group
August 14, 2017
A solar eclipse is a phenomenal spectacle that everyone should make the effort to see, and the eclipse of August 21, 2017 promises to be one of the most amazing of our lifetieme. Your mother's (and yo...
Brookside Optometric Group
August 12, 2017
Heather is a pre-tester at Brookside Optometric Group, and greets and conducts pretest procedures on each patient before they meet with their optometrist as part of a complete vision analysis. She als...
Dr. Richard Vanover
August 08, 2017
Many people take their contact lenses for granted. Taking unnecessary risks with your contact lenses is like texting and driving: It is an accident waiting to happen. Even people who have been fit pro...
Dr. Kurt Skinner
July 06, 2017
It’s hard to believe that here, in the peak of summer, some school districts will be resuming classes in July, and the rest will go back to school in August. For many students, there may be almost as ...
Brookside Optometric Group
June 22, 2017
Honey is an optician at Brookside Optometric Group, and works with patients to help them select frames and educates them about their options for lenses and premium lens coatings. She enjoys meeting ne...