Dry eye syndrome is very common in Canada and can present as redness, irritation, burning or gritty sensation, itching, tearing or blurry vision. Treatment will depend on the type and cause of dry eye.
Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. They are caused by the progressive opacification of the crystalline lens,
usually due to a natural aging process. Diabetes, trauma, excessive UV light exposure or certain genetic factors can result in early onset of cataracts.
We recommend protecting your eyes with sunglasses all year round since UV light can penetrate your eyes even on cloudy days.
Computer vision syndrome or eyestrain from prolonged digital screen use can cause eye pain, fatigue, discomfort, redness and dryness. These symptoms can be eliminated with a proper prescription and blue light filtering lenses.
Night Blindness & Driving
Night blindness or nyctalopia refers to difficulty seeing at night, especially while driving. Causes include uncorrected refractive error (e.g. myopia or astigmatism), cataracts or genetic retinal conditions (e.g. retinitis pigmentosa).
Treatment depends on the cause, but generally involves the use of proper prescription glasses with special anti-reflective coatings and tints to reduce glare from light sources such as oncoming car headlights.
Diabetic retinopathy is a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes is rising worldwide at an alarming rate. All diabetics should get their eyes examined at least once a year due to increased risk of vision loss.
Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerves, usually due to
high pressure in the eyes, which can lead to irreversible vision loss. The scary part of this disease is that it is
“silent” in the early stages, meaning there are no symptoms until it becomes
advanced. Early treatment is key in
preventing permanent damage.
Refractive Error
Uncorrected refractive error is the leading cause of visual impairment and
can result in significant learning difficulties in children. Vision disorders
can often be easily corrected with prescription eyewear, including glasses and
contact lenses.
· Myopia (near-sightedness) or
difficulty seeing in the distance is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the
increased use of digital screens. We offer myopia control for kids and
teenagers to slow the progression of this condition.
· Hyperopia (far-sightedness) or difficulty seeing
at near can cause eyestrain and headaches, making it difficult to read and
maintain focus. This is especially problematic for school-aged children since
80% of learning in visual.
· Astigmatism is due to irregular
curvature of the eye's cornea and/or lens resulting in distorted vision and
increased glare and light sensitivity, especially at night.
· Presbyopia or age-related difficulty with
focusing at near in individuals aged 40 and up, can create eyestrain and
headaches, especially in those spending a lot of time on the computer.
Age-related macular degeneration is a condition that affects the part of the retina responsible for central vision. With both genetic and environmental risk factors, it is the leading cause of blindness in Caucasians above 65 years of age.
Bacterial and viral eye
infections can be highly contagious and sight-threatening if not treated
properly. Symptoms include pain, redness, discharge, itching and tearing.
Self-treatment is often unsuccessful and not recommended.
Regular eye exams are important for diagnosing asymptomatic or silent eye diseases (e.g. glaucoma) in the early stages for timely treatment and a good prognosis.
It is recommended for kids 0-18 years and seniors 65+ years to get their eyes checked annually, and for healthy adults to be checked every 2 years. Certain conditions require more frequent monitoring.
Eating a healthy balanced diet including leafy green vegetables (not just carrots) and a variety of fruits and nuts, is important to ensure your eyes get all the nutrients and vitamins they need. This is an easy way of reducing your risk of eye disease, such as macular degeneration.
Did you know up to 80% of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can penetrate through clouds? UV light can result in serious and sometimes permanent damage to your eyes, including cancer, early onset cataracts, pinguecula, pterygia, corneal and retinal sunburns.
For kids and teens, UV damage often presents itself later on in life. So it's especially important to start wearing sunglasses at a young age.
Have you ever heard of the 20/20/20 rule? This simply means to take a break from the screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds and look at something roughly 20 feet away in the distance. This rule helps give your eyes breaks and reduce eyestrain from prolonged screen time even if you are already wearing prescription glasses.
Safety glasses and goggles are the best way to protect your eyes during construction, welding, grinding, sanding or even gardening. Shields and regular glasses do not replace protective eye wear as tiny projectiles can enter your eyes from many different angles and cause permanent vision loss or scarring.
As you know, smoking is harmful
to your overall health which includes your eyes. Smoking increases your risk of
cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinopathy and dry eyes. Preventing
vision loss is one of the many important reasons to quit smoking.