Know All About Eyewear and Vision Care

If your family is anything like mine, you are on your phone or tablet or binging any number of streaming services. I am on the computer most of the day, my kids are on Chromebooks all day long at school, and sometimes weekends consist of Minecraft. Don't get me wrong, I have a variety of other much healthier past times as well, but it is virtually inescapable these days. It's just too handy to plunk down and decompress into a screen. Being in the eyecare industry we hear all the things the lens companies want us to know about the damaging effects of blue light. The Doctors I work for on the other hand were not quite as convinced.

First, what is lens crazing? Lens crazing is a spider web or crackle that appears usually in your antireflective coating. It is annoying as all get out, and there is no great way to fix it. The lenses usually need replacement once it has occurred. It makes the looking through the lens hazy, like everything is just a bit blurry, even if the prescription is correct.

The truth about being an athlete who needs prescription glasses is that your everyday glasses probably aren’t going to cut the mustard, and that is okay! There are so many different options to pick from now, no one should be without a few solid possibilities, depending on their needs.

Have you ever wondered about the history of your favorite brands or designers? Then satiate your curiosity as we provide fun facts and information for Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci as we talk about their roots and journey over the years.

Anyone who is familiar with dry eyes may find the above statement quite a surprise, or maybe even an error, especially since most types of contact lenses have a tendency to make dry eye symptoms worse. However, as odd as it sounds, there is actually a type of specialty contact lens that successfully manages and treats dry eyes. This type of contact lens is called a "scleral contact lens."

A joint statement from the Canadian Association of Optometrists and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society:

Vision loss caused by glaucoma is progressive, painless and permanent. Those are three very scary words when it comes to vision loss. However, if caught in its early stages, vision loss can be prevented.

What are those tiny black spots that I see floating inside my eye? Is it normal? Does it get worse with time? Seeing ‘floaters’ is a very normal thing that does indeed become more common with age. Here’s why they happen:

If you've ever experienced dry eyes, you'll know that it can be more than just a nuisance. Having dry eyes can cause things like: a burning sensation, overall redness to the white part of the eyes, fluctuations in the quality of vision and all these symptoms are usually worse at the end of the day. Not only this but if you happen to be a contact lens wearer, dry eyes can make your contact lens wearing experience an uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience.

Diabetes is a disease that not only affects lifestyle but also affects vision. It is estimated that right now, over 3 million Canadians have diabetes. It is also important to note that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working population in North America.

40 years ago, the word cataract instilled a lot more fear than it does now. This all changed because of advancements in surgical procedures; in 40 years, we have gone from traumatic eye surgeries with uncertain results to simple 20-minute inpatient surgeries with few complications. Today, cataract surgery is the most common inpatient surgery worldwide.

Blepharoconjunctivitis is an inflammation of three eye tissues: the edge or margins of the eyelid, the transparent membrane that covers the outer white part of the eye, the conjunctiva, and the inner underside tissue of the eyelids. This inflammation of these tissues may be caused by bacteria, viruses or allergies.

Above picture from health.clevelandclinic.org

This condition is named after the Scottish surgeon Charles Bell who first described the disease in the early 1800s. It is a paralysis of the facial nerve on one side of the face, resulting in a facial droop similar to that found in stroke patients. The paralysis often affects the upper eyelid and the side of the mouth on the affected side. This means the person may not close the eye, control salivation, taste the food, cry, smile, frown, or close their lips on the affected side.

Bacterial blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid due to bacteria. Small oil and sweat glands along the edge of the eyelids and eyelashes are vulnerable to bacteria and often become infected.

Symptoms include red eyelid margins, burning, or dry irritation to the eye or eyelids. You may see crusty deposits at the base of the eyelashes. Sometimes even a loss of some eyelashes.

Dispelling Fears about Astigmatism

Astigmatism (ah-stig-mah-tiz-uhm) is probably one of the most misunderstood eye conditions. Even the name itself is challenging and is often incorrectly called “stigmatism”.

Some people think astigmatism is more serious than it actually is. Astigmatism is not a disease. Just like farsightedness and nearsightedness, astigmatism is a problem with how the light bends into the eye.

Some patients have in the back fluid of the eye the presence of asteroid bodies.  Two-thirds of the volume of the inside of the eye is filled with a clear jelly-like mass called the vitreous body.  Think of the vitreous as you would the air in a balloon.  In the eye, the vitreous pushes up against the retina to keep it in place.  Asteroid bodies are tiny, usually numerous, floaters /spots commonly found in the vitreous fluid.  They generally occur in one eye and patients over the age of 60.  Although it has never been confirmed that this ocular condition has a general health relationship, it should be noted that approximately 33% of patients with this finding also have diabetes and 60% have hypertension.

ANISOCORIA (An - eye - so - cor - ee - ah)

 Anisocoria, literally Greek for unequal pupils, describes a condition where the pupils of each eye are different in sizes. Approximately 25% of the population may have a noticeable degree of pupil inequality known as physiologic anisocoria. This pupil-size disparity may fluctuate in degree, be found to alternate between sides, and may disappear at times.

AMBLYOPIA (am - blee - O - pee - ah)

Amblyopia is the loss or lack of development of vision in one eye that is unrelated to any eye health problem.  It is not correctable with lenses alone. The brain, for some reason, does not acknowledge the images seen by the amblyopic eye.

Learn more about what macular degeneration is and how it can affect your vision.

Age-related macular degeneration is an ageing change and deterioration of the central vision area called the macula.  The macula is the most sensitive part of the eye or retina's inner lining and is responsible for our fine and detailed vision.

This is a very common inflammation of the eyelids.  It is characterized by a greasy, oily appearance of the eyelids.  There is also a recurrent dandruff-like inflammation on the edge of the eyelid.  More symptoms may include dry irritated eyes, a burning sensation, itching of the eyelid margins and occasionally loss of eyelashes.

We call temporary vision loss AMAUROSIS FUGAX.

Amaurosis fugax is a Latin term for "fleeting blindness”. Patients with amaurosis fugax characteristically have a loss of vision in one eye that may last from seconds to minutes.  Occasionally, it may last several hours and often returns to normal.

As great as the sun is, we need to be careful with the ultraviolet light it emits. Obviously, UV light can cause sunburns on your skin, but it can also damage your eyes and the skin around your eyes. The incidence of skin cancer in the eyes is growing. UV can also promote cataract growth.

Many of us spend so much time on computers now for work and certainly for play or hobbies. The lenses I am wearing are called Digitime from Essilor.  They are great as the entire top part of the lens is good for the computer, so you get a large area to see through.  To get your best vision and widest viewing area, we need to take a few extra measurements.  Since everyone's computer is at different distances, these measurements are critical.  The bottom portion is for the up-close or reading distance. They work great. 

For optimum performance, wash your lenses with mild liquid soap and warm water.  Hold your eyewear by the temples and rinse them thoroughly with hot tap water.  Pat each lens dry with a soft (non-coated) tissue or a soft cotton cloth.  Never dry your lenses with paper towels or harsh clothes.  Never use cleaners that contain ammonia, bleach or acetone.  Avoid harsh soaps, especially soaps with conditioning agents.

ANISOMETROPIA (an-ee-so-meh-TRO-pee-ah)

Some patients require a significantly different refractive correction between their right and left eyes.  Minor differences in prescription are normal but extreme differences may cause discomfort, poor vision (amblyopia) and /or the inability to use your eyes as a team.  The cause of anisometropia is typically natural, such as a childhood illness or a high fever.

ANTI-REFLECTION (REFLECTION-FREE) LENS COATING

When a beam of light strikes the surface of a clear lens, light transmission (the amount of light that actually passes through the lens) is about 92%. The remaining 8% is lost through reflections from the front and back surfaces of the lens. Loss of light results in a slight decrease in visual ability and an increase in awareness of annoying reflections. Modern anti-reflection lenses eliminate virtually all reflected light from indoor lighting, street lights, headlights, TV and computer screens. Anti-reflection lenses also provide a reflection-free appearance to your lenses, thus enhancing eye contact.

TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT to your new visual prescription is EXPECTED. Vision is very complex.  Each eye has been corrected individually to achieve optimal visual function, and your eyes have been balanced to maintain precise two-eye coordination. Your final visual prescription will provide you with EFFORTLESS visual ability and comfort.

At 20/20 Vision Care, we provide important information about contact lens maintenance and usage for our customers. We hope you find the following answers informative and suitable to your queries.

The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that a child's first eye exam happen at 6 months of age. Then again every year. You may be thinking, “What can you tell at 6 months of age or even at age 1 or 2?”. Surprisingly, quite a bit can be determined.

Alberta Health Services covers:

Annual eye exams for children are covered by Alberta Health Service.

YES! Alberta Health Services covers an annual full eye exam for children under the age of 19!

Even if you have no concerns with your children's eyes, an annual eye exam is still recommended.

If you happen to be in your 40s or older, having trouble seeing clearly is very normal. This is not a disease but can be very bothersome to many people. Each time we look at something up close, the lens inside our eye needs to change shape to make objects appear clear. Over time, the lens becomes more rigid, making it harder for the lens to change for near tasks. The early to mid-40s is normally when people start noticing these changes. 

Why Is the Sky Blue? Why Are Sunsets Red? Why Is the Ocean Blue?

In order to understand the answer to these questions, we must first understand some principles of light.  Firstly, white light is composed of all colours. It can be broken down into individual colours with the use of things like a prism.

The vast majority of people who are 'colour blind' are not actually blind, nor do they see only black and white. People who are referred to as being colour blind can actually tell the difference between most colours. The only difficulty they have is distinguishing the difference between certain colours, usually red, green and yellow. The proper terminology for this condition is a colour deficiency

Many things need to be working properly in order to see 20/20.  Let's explore just how much needs to be functioning and in good health in order for us to see well.

I just got new glasses a few days ago. My eyes are sore and I’ve had headaches as well.  Is this normal or should I have my glasses looked at? This didn’t happen with my old glasses.

There are three types of eye care professionals and they all start with the letter “O”. Aside from causing confusion at times, it also frequently prompts the question: “What's the difference?”  Here are some of the differences between the three professionals.

Yes, if you are a candidate for the surgery, it can correct your vision to 20/20. It is important to know that there are many different types of corrective laser eye surgeries, but the most commonly known one is LASIK surgery.

The length of time that your eyeglass and/or contact lens prescription is valid is decided by the doctor who prescribed them to you. Typically a prescription is good for one year but can vary depending on the doctor’s decision.

What does it mean to be legally blind?

The answer to this question may surprise you. As the name implies, legal blindness has a legal definition. In Canada (and most other countries), one of two criteria must be met in order to be recognized as legally blind. Different countries have different criteria, but they are all quite similar. Canada and the US have the same criteria.

Myth: Seeing 20/20 vision means you have healthy eyes.

Needing glasses to see well has very little to do with the health of the eye's tissues. Instead, it has to do with the optics of the eye. Eye health and needing glasses are very different things. It's important to remember that 20/20 vision does not always mean healthy eyes. This is why regular eye exams with an optometrist are very important.

Most people understand that having 20/20 vision is a good thing and that it means someone can see really well, but what do those numbers actually mean?

Glasses Being Left In The Car

We are all guilty of this! It's so convenient to make the switch from eyeglasses to sunnies, or from wearing no glasses to driving glasses as soon as you plop into the driver's seat. So, it stands to reason that this is the obvious place for them to reside so you don't have to worry about forgetting them.

Untruth Number One!

Wearing my glasses will make my eyes weaker.

Untrue. You likely feel this way because you felt you were getting along fine without your glasses. And although you can see great with your new specs, you just simply can’t see as good as you used to when you take them off.