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. 

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 Optometric Group, and was a vital part of this practice until his retirement in 2019. Since his retirement, he devoted himself fully to his many charitable endeavors, as well as maintaining his connections with his fellow doctors, our staff, and his beloved patients here at Brookside. We have been honored to support his work with Lions in Sight, the Flying Samaritans, his annual Summerfest fundraiser, and the many other causes that he was involved with.

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 approach middle age. The reason is presbyopia, and Dr. Rosemary Melrose explains how it affects your eyes, and some ways to deal with the condition that most people will face as they get older. Finally, get to know Tim Quinn, the new CEO of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, as he explains the role of the Chamber in the community, how they're emerging from the pandemic stronger than ever, and what the plans are for the future.

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. We've chosen to run our scholarship a little different than most programs. Rather than asking students to enter by writing an essay, composing a poem, or standing on one leg while patting their head and whistling their favorite song, we ask teachers, coaches, scoutmasters, and other youth leaders to nominate a deserving student. We've been amazed at the results. Each year, we receive nominations for high school seniors who are true role models. These are young adults who have dedicated themselves to their education, to their communities, and to their peers. Without exception, they are extremely hard workers who are driven to succeed, regardless of the obstacles. These students volunteer their time for their schools and communities. Many...

My name is Jayden Jones and I was the recipient of the 2021 Brookside Optometric Group Scholarship.

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 of patients during his career. In this episode of Eye Talk, Dr. Bob explains how the evaluation process, surgery, and recovery work, plus the essential factors that should be checked before undergoing the procedure.

Then, Dr. Bob checks in with Joni Bauer from the Stockton Community Center for the Blind. Joni shares the Center's mission and how they serve the visually impaired community of San Joaquin County.

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 shares the scoop on Facebook's new smart-glasses. Plus, we'll talk to Dr. John Fujii about his involvement in the Stockton community over the years, and what's he's done to help improve the city he calls home.

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. Plus, Dr. Melrose discusses Stockton's Walk to End Alzheimer's with Teresa Mandella, the chairperson of the Stockton event. The Walk is a major fundraiser for Alzheimer's research at educational institutions, and this is a personal fight for both Dr. Bob and Teresa. If you'd like to donate or participate in the walk on October 16, you can find information here.

---

Listen to Eye Talk on:

• 
• 
• 

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 episode of Eye Talk, Dr. Kurt Skinner explains different types of lens coatings and provides his recommendations.

Plus, Dr. Bob interviews Doug Wilhoit, CEO of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce as they review Doug's career, how the Chamber helps the community, and some of the things that make Stockton such a great place to live.

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 plans for the future. All of these elements were considered as we selected a scholarship recipient for this year, and Jayden was an excellent example in all of these areas.

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 Ports are collecting donations of new stuffed toys for Stockton Police officers to give to children. Stop by our office in the month of June during normal business hours to drop off a toy. You can also make a donation at upcoming Stockton Ports baseball games. Each toy donated will help make a stressful situation just a little bit easer for a local child.

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 that parents should be watching for as their kids grow.

Then, it's baseball season! In our community spotlight, Dr. Bob Melrose talks with Christine Bowling of the Stockton Ports about the upcoming season and the Ports' long history in Stockton.

Finally, Dr. Rosemary Melrose discusses her support for the Stockton Walk to End Alzheimer's, and how Alzheimer's disease has affected her personally.

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 winner.

---

My name is Elyse Glover, and I was the 2020 Brookside Optometric Scholarship winner. This scholarship really changed my life and has helped me better prepare for college. I aspire to become an OBYN and come back to my community and give back to our community to provide service. I was given this opportunity being a winner of this scholarship. Brookside Optometric Group believed in my abilities, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and how this scholarship has helped me with some of my college cost and expenses.

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 Biology. Elyse plans to become an OB/GYN and return to Stockton to practice after completing her education.

Learn more about Elyse, including her background, educational and career goals in this video interview!

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 winner.

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 the fire victims in Paradise. Despite his personal losses, as a heavy equipment operator he will be helping to clean up the devastation his friends and neighbors have experienced as well. Doug has had poor color vision his whole life, and Kendra wanted to do something spectacular to raise his spirits.