Do you suffer from seasonal allergies?

Thousands of Edmontonians suffer from seasonal allergies every year. With spring comes dust, mold, pollen and the inevitable sneezing, runny noses, and breathing problems that follow. For some Edmontonians seasonal allergies may affect their eyesight causing swollen, itchy, watery eyes. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis may even prevent some people from being able to wear their contact lenses all summer long.

Non-prescription allergy treatments have traditionally proven relatively ineffective at resolving seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Ocular decongestants like Visine can provide some cosmetic relief, but do not target the underlying cause. Older mast cell stabilizer medications like Cromolyn must be administered 4 times per day for 2-3 weeks before symptoms improve.

Approximately 10 years ago Alcon pharmaceuticals introduced a topical allergy eye medication called Patanol.  Patanol offered fast relief from ocular allergy symptoms, offered a simple twice per day dosing and was approved for contact lens wearers. Patients could instill Patanol before and after wearing their contact lenses.

Today, Alcon is proud to announce that Canadians will now have access to the all new Pataday. Pataday offers the same proven, safe, effective results of Patanol but provides patients with a convenient once a day dosing. Pataday is also approved in contact lens wearers.

So if you suffer from ocular allergies, talk to your optometrist about Pataday.

Closed for Victoria Day

Kingsway Mall is open for Victoria Day this May 23, 2011 from 11am to 5pm. However, Kingsway Optometry will be closed, so that our optometrists and staff can enjoy the long weekend with their families and friends. Our office will also be closed on Sunday May 22, 2011. Kingsway Optometry will re-open for business on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 @ 9:00am.

Pearle Vision located next door to us at Kingsway Mall will be open all weekend long, including Victoria Day and will be observing normal Kingsway Mall hours.  Pearle Vision would be happy to assist you in selecting new eyeglasses or sunglasses.

If you would like to book an eye exam with one of our eye doctors, please try our new online booking system. It’s fast, easy and secure. If online booking is not your thing, you can also stop by the Pearle Vision location at Kingsway Mall and they can also assist you with booking your appointment.

If you have an ocular emergency this long weekend, please proceed to the Royal Alexandria Hospital, or call Health Link for assistance.

Have a great Victoria Day Long Weekend

The Carnival is at Kingsway Mall

To kick off another fabulous Edmonton summer, the traveling Carnival Show has once again arrived at Kingsway Mall (May 18-22, 2011). This family friendly Carnival Show has gigantic slides, exhibition style games and amusement park style rides. So take a ride on the gravitron, stuff your face with mini donuts and enjoy some cotton candy this May long weekend.  

The Carnival is located in the parking lot next to The Bay at Kingsway Mall and can give you and your kids a nice break from shopping.

Carnival Show Hours

Wednesday May 18, 2011 - 3pm - 9pm

Thursday May 19, 2011 -  3pm - 9pm

Friday May 20, 2011 - 3pm - 9pm

Saturday May 21, 2011 - 11am - 9pm

Sunday May 22, 2011 - noon - 6pm

Evening Eye Exams Available

Kingsway Optometry now offers evening eye exam appointments. So if you need to see an optometrist, but you can’t manage traditional doctor hours, then Kingsway Optometry is right for you. Our optometry clinic is now open late until 8pm every Tuesday evening.

Kingsway Optometry also has Saturday and Sunday eye exam appointments available. So to schedule an eye exam at your convenience with one of our optometrist you can either book online, call us, or simply stop by.

Whether you require a routine eye health exam, new eyeglasses or contact lenses, or you have an ocular emergency, Kingsway Optometry has you covered.

Doctor Hours: Mon 9am-6pm / Tues 9am-8pm / Wed 9am-6pm / Thurs 9am-6pm / Fri 9am-5pm / Sat 9am-4pm / Sun 11am-3pm

1-Day Contact Lenses Offer a Clean, Clear, Comfortable Option

1-Day disposable contact lenses offer patients a great alternative to conventional 2-Week or 1-Month disposable lenses. For years now research has shown that the more often you can dispose of your contact lenses, the healthier your eyes will be, the better they will feel and the better your vision will be. Wearing contact lenses until they irritate your eyes, results in contact lens discomfort and patients looking for more expensive alternatives such as laser eye surgery.

To combat contact lens discomfort, manufacturers set out to create a 1-Day disposable product so that patients no longer had to remember when to change their 2-Week or 1-Month contact lenses. As a side benefit, 1-Day contact lenses turned out to be a savings grace for allergy sufferers, patients with contact lens solution allergies, and a hygienic alternative for young kids.

Yes 1-Day contact lenses cost slightly more then 2-Week or 1-Month disposable lenses, but you will also never have to purchase contact lens solution again. An annual supply of 1-Day contact lenses is also only about 1/10 the price of some laser eye surgery procedures. 

To learn more about 1-Day disposable contact lenses, book a comprehensive eye health examination and a professional contact lens fitting with your optometrist at Kingsway Optometry. 

1-Day Disposable Trial Lenses Include:

• Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus by Ciba Vision

• Focus Dailies by Ciba Vision

• 1-Day Acuvue TruEye by Johnson & Johnson

• Softlens 1-Day by Bausch and Lomb

 

Warning Signs of Serious Eye Disease

If you should ever experience any of the following symptoms, please call or walk-in to our office as soon as possible.

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• Seeing flashes of light in one or both of your eyes
• Seeing large spots or “floaters” in your eyes, especially if the number has increased dramatically recently
• Double vision
• Pain in or around the eyes
• Headaches that progressively worsen over time.

If you should ever experience any of those symptoms outside of normal office hours please proceed directly to the Royal Alexandra Hospital or call Health Link Alberta @ 780.408.5465 or 1.866.408.5465 for further assistance.

What Does a Comprehensive Eye Exam Involve?

A comprehensive eye health examination performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist should involve an assessment of two main areas: a visual assessment and an ocular health assessment. A visual assessment evaluates how well you are presently seeing and checks for any need for spectacles, contact lenses or laser eye surgery. The visual assessment would involve the following types of tests:

• Visual Acuity Testing – Your eye doctor will ask you to read an eye chart. Usually this test is done one eye at a time, and can be performed with or without your eyeglasses. For small children or people with difficulty reading an eye chart, pictures or numbers may be substituted.

• Refraction – Your eye doctor will assess your need for visual correction using a machine called a phoropter, which is really just a large pair of eyeglasses filled with thousands of lens combinations.

• Binocular Testing – Your eye doctor will do various tests to see how well your eyes work together as a team.

The ocular health assessment part of your eye exam does just that – it tests to see how healthy your eyes are, inside and out. Here are some of the tests your eye doctor will perform:

• Slit Lamp Examination – Your eye doctor will examine the front part of your eyes using a special microscope known as a slit lamp. This instrument is used to evaluate the external health of your eyes while screening for eye conditions like cataracts. Most optometrists also use the slit lamp along with special high plus lenses to evaluate the internal health of the eye and the retina.

• Tonometry – Your eye doctor will use this test to measure the intraocular pressure or fluid pressure within your eye. An elevated intraocular pressure reading may be an indication of glaucoma. This eye test can be done using a number of different instruments. One of them is known as a non-contact tonometer or NCT test. Here you’ll focus on a light and then feel a gentle puff of air against your eye. While the sound and sensation may startle you, don’t be afraid – no harm is being done. Other tonometry tests may require the use of eye drops to numb the surface of the eye. These tests are done when more accurate readings are required.

• Ophthalmoscopy – Your eye doctor will use various lights to examine the internal structures of your eyes and your retina. These tests can either be done during the slit lamp examination (as noted above), with a separate hand held ophthalmoscope or with a head mounted binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. Your eye doctor may choose to use eye drops to dilate, or widen your pupils. This procedure allows for a much clearer view of the retina to make absolutely certain that everything is healthy. While the eye drops will tend to blur your vision and make your eyes slightly light sensitive for a few hours, it is the best way to detect any possible retinal eye disease. Kingsway Optometry highly recommends that patients have a dilated eye examination at least every 2 years. Learn more about a medical eye health examination.

• Visual Field Testing – Your eye doctor may wish to check the sensitivity of your peripheral, or side vision. This simple test can reveal any subtle loss of your peripheral vision that may be a sign of diseases more serious eye diseases like glaucoma, stroke, or neurological problems.

Schedule your comprehensive or medical eye exam with an eye doctor at Kingsway Optometry today.

 

Comprehensive Sight Testing with Kingsway Optometry

Comprehensive sight testing is only one component of our comprehensive eye health examinations at Kingsway Optometry. Our optometrists provide an extensive sight test for every patient with every complete eye exam. Sight testing helps to ensure that you can see your best both in the distance and up close. If your sight test determines that you require a prescription for eyeglasses then our eye doctors will provide you with a copy of your eyeglass prescription at no additional charge.

Sight testing however without a comprehensive eye health evaluation is simply unethical eye care. Providing our patients with a prescription for new eyeglasses without determining the underlying cause of their vision changes is not what Kingsway Optometry is about. So rest assured that the eye doctors at Kingsway Optometry will conduct a thorough eye health exam prior to dispensing your eyeglass prescription.

An eye exam performed by a licensed optometrist is about more than just updating your eyeglasses or contact lenses, it’s about peace of mind.

Schedule your eye exam with an eye doctor at Kingsway Optometry today.

Do you drink enough water?

It’s a big issue that you should all be asking yourself every day. Water is the fundamental building block of your body, making up about 60% of it. Therefore you need to be careful to ensure that you are getting enough water in your daily diet. 

The simple act of drinking a glass of water can have profound effects on your life. Water can help you to control your weight, control your blood pressure, regulate your sugar levels, reduce water retention, alleviate headaches and help with the proper digestion of food. Dehydration can also reduce dry eye symptoms.  

So how much water should you drink?

The answer varies depending on the source. Most experts recommend 8 glasses of water per day. While the National Academies of Medicine gets a little more accurate and recommends that a man should get at least 3.7 litres and a woman should get at least 2.7 litres of water per day. These values, however, include water intake from everything, including food. The bottom line is that it's more than what most people get on a regular basis.  

You can monitor your water intake by looking at the colour of your urine and how frequently you need to go to the washroom. If your urine is just slightly yellow, you're right on track.  

Still not convinced that you need to drink more water? Here are five more reasons: 

1. Weight Control – Drinking water helps to curb your hunger. We often reach for food to satisfy our hunger cravings, so instead reach for a glass of water first.  
2. Cleanse – Water helps to pull toxins away from your body
3. Water retention – Water helps to reduce bloating
4. Headaches – Dehydration is one of the most common causes. In our busy lives, we often reach for caffeinating beverages such as coffee, tea and soda to help keep us awake. These beverages, however, also pull even more water away from our system, further dehydrating us.
5. Energy – Seriously! Try it! Try drinking 2-3 litres of water every day, and you will notice a sudden increase in your energy levels.

So challenge yourself to drink a small glass of water every hour for 7 days and see how you feel.

Good health doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes the simple things are the best medicine. As a result, I’ve made it my goal to adjust my owns habits with regards to water consumption. Good general health begins with the basics and that includes adequate balanced water intake throughout the day.

Book an Eye Exam at Stonewire Optometry Today
Eye Exams - Contact Lenses - Emergency Care

Coloured Contact Lenses

If you are looking to change your eye colour or enhance your eye colour then coloured contact lenses may be a great option for you. Coloured contact lenses are designed to bring added attention to your eyes. They can make blue eyes bluer, green eyes greener and brown eyes, well, not brown.

Enhancer coloured contact lenses such as focus soft colours help to bring a little extra pop to your own natural eye colour. They are designed for people with light coloured eyes such as blue and green and will not work for people with darker eyes. A light tint is added throughout the entire lens and enhancer contact lenses tend to provide the most natural appearance. The downside to enhance contact lenses is that they can change your colour vision and you may not be able to accurately judge subtle colour variations or you may fail a colour vision test when you wear them. 

Opaque coloured contact lenses such as the Freshlook Colorblends are used when people want to change their own eye colour. They are best designed for people with darker coloured eyes but can still be used in people with lighter eyes. A paint like finish is applied to the outer edge of the lens that closely resembles the natural human iris, but the centre of the lens in front of the pupil is left clear. Unlike enhancer lenses, opaque coloured contact lenses will not impair your colour vision. However, due to the peripheral colour they can impair a person’s peripheral vision and should never be worn for sports.

Circle lenses from companies such as Geo Medical are the newest craze in contact lens wear and have started to pop up in many of the Asian countries. Circle lenses are used to produce the illusion that a person’s eye is larger than it really is. This is achieved by making the contact lens slightly larger in overall diameter. The challenge with these contact lenses arises in the fact that they are made with older conventional style contact lenses materials, which do not allow the same amount of oxygen to the cornea. In fact, most of these contact lens materials have not been used in our optometry clinics in over 10 years. So as an optometry clinic we cannot endorse our patients wearing these lenses as these contact lenses as they may compromise the overall health of your eyes.

So if you would like to try enhancer or opaque coloured contact lenses then book an appointment for a professional contact lens fitting at Kingsway Optometry.

Book an Eye Exam with an Eye Doctor at Kingsway Optometry Today

Optometrists - Eye Exams - Contact Lenses - Medical Treatment

Photos via CibaVision.ca

Eye Disease Warning Signs

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you really should have your eyes examined as soon as possible.

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes (complete or partial)
• Seeing flashes of light in your eyes
• Seeing large numbers of spots or “floaters” in your eyes, especially if the number has increased dramatically recently
• Double vision
• Pain in or around the eyes that worsens
• Temporal/Forehead Pain

If you should ever experience any of these problems outside of normal clinic hours, please proceed directly to the Royal Alexandra Hospital - (MAP). The Royal Alexandra Hospital is considered the hub for ophthalmology in Edmonton and there is always an eye surgeon or ophthalmology resident on call. If you feel that your vision problem can wait, please call our office or walk-in first thing the following morning. We never turn away an ocular emergency.

Book Your Next Eye Exam with Stonewire Optometry
Kingsway Mall | Edmonton | Alberta

How Often Should I Go for an Eye Exam?

Everyone age of 3 and up should have a yearly eye health exam by an optometrist.

We are happy to see kids below the age of 3 if you have any concerns or there is a strong family history of eye problems. Things to watch out for include: an eye turn (“crossed eyes” or “wall eye”), squinting, excessive tearing or rubbing of the eyes, or any signs of poor visual development. If there is a family history of any eye conditions or an older brother or sister with vision problems, then eye exams should be started at 6 months of age.

FACT: Kids eye exams are covered by Alberta Health Care. 

Some optometrist may recommend an eye exam every two years for young and middle aged adults, but we believe it is better to check yearly. Certain eye conditions such as glaucoma can develop in people as young as 20 to 40. Since glaucoma is a disease without any symptoms, why take a chance of having it for as long as two years without knowing it?

Anyone who wears contact lenses should have an annual eye exam to ensure that the contact lenses are providing you with clean crisp vision and are not causing any problems. It also provides an opportunity for you and your eye doctor to ensure that you are wearing the newest and healthiest contact lenses on the market.

Book Your Next Eye Exam with Stonewire Optometry
Kingsway Mall | Edmonton | Alberta

Do You Need Eyeglasses to Drive?

The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators or CCMTA sets out the medical standards for driving.  The list of medical conditions that may preclude a person from safe operation of a motor vehicle is quit extensive and includes things such as: vision, hearing, heart disease, drugs, alcohol and general aging issues.

Eye doctors typically only involve themselves in the vision component of these tests, and leave the remainder of any evaluations up to a family physician, specialists or occupational therapist. The re-evaluation of a driver license can often be a very emotional process for a person to go through. Having the ability to drive may provide a person with independence or employment.

The CCMTA has a fairly strong stance on vision and driving. In their manual the opening paragraph begins “Good visual function is essential for safe driving. Any significant loss of a visual function, such as visual acuity or visual field will diminish a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safety on today’s congested, high-speed roadways. A driver with a marked visual defect may fail to perceive a potentially dangerous situation altogether or see it too late to react appropriately.”

Even though the CCMTA guidelines are fairly standard and easy to interpret, doctors are still given some leniency in applying the rules. Occasionally your eye doctor may restrict you from driving at night, for long distance, on highways, during rush hour or within limited distances from home.

Visual requirements are broken down based on the type of license a person holds, and must be periodically re-examined throughout ones life. Certain licenses such as class 1-4 have fairly high visual requirements. Failing to meet these standards does not prevent you from holding a lesser license such as a class 5 or 6.

In recent years, special situations have arisen because of patients undergoing refractive eye procedures such as LASIK, PRK, or cataract surgery. Patients who otherwise would normally have worn glasses to drive may no longer require them. Patients who have undergone these types of surgical procedures should consult their laser surgeon, cataract surgeon, or co-managing optometrist before resuming normal motor vehicle operation. In general patients who have undergone uncomplicated LASIK surgery can usually resume driving within 3-4 days after the procedure. While patients who have undergone uncomplicated PRK surgery can usually resume driving with 2-3 weeks after the procedure.  Patients who have undergone uncomplicated cataract surgery can usually resume driving with 3-4 days as well.

To download the most current medical list at time of publications for this article

PDF Format or visit Service Alberta – Drivers License for complete information.

Book an Eye Exam with an Eye Doctor at Kingsway Optometry

Optometrists - Eye Exams - Contact Lenses - Medical Treatment

Image taken of Dr. Ross McKenzie at the Aston Martin Driving School in Gaydon England, where he learned to drive the new 2010 Aston Martin DBS. Experience of a lifetime.

Sunglasses

Believe it or not, sunglasses can be considered a form of protective eyewear. They protect your eyes from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

UV rays are an invisible part of the sun’s radiation spectrum. There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is no problem as it is absorbed by the atmosphere. UVA rays are absorbed by the lens of the eye, but there is no documented evidence of any resulting disease because of this. UVB radiation, though, is of greater concern to the eyes.

UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn and can damage the eyes. When combined with cold wind and snow, UVB rays cause snow blindness, a temporary but painful condition of corneal inflammation. Some experts also believe that UVB radiation may play a part in cataract formation.

To protect your eyes from these UV rays, I recommend you wear a pair of quality sunglasses. Good sunglasses usually have a label that states how much UV light they’ll block. To provide the best protection for your eyes, look for sunglasses that block at least 98% of the UVA and UVB rays.

 

Optometrists - Eye Exams - Contact Lenses - Medical Treatment

Safety Glasses

If you work with power tools of any kind, from saws to sanders, you need protective eyewear. Even when using a hammer, it’s a good idea to wear safety glasses for the odd time when a glancing blow sends a nail flying. Ideally, your safety eyewear should include side shields to prevent debris from hitting your eyes from the side.

Protective eyewear can be as simple and inexpensive as a pair of goggles or shields that fit over your own glasses. These can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store. However, if you work with power tools a lot, you may wish to invest in a pair of specially fitted safety glasses made with polycarbonate lenses. These can be made by your eye care professional. They can even incorporate your own prescription to give you clear, comfortable vision as well as safety.

To qualify as true safety glasses, the frame and lenses must pass a strict set of criteria set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) known as ANSI standards or the Canadian CSA Z94.3 safety standard. The frames must be sturdier than standard “dress” eyeglass frames and the lenses must pass a “drop ball” test. In this test, a small metal ball is dropped onto the lens from a specified height. The lens must survive impact without any chipping or cracking.

If your work requires using power tools or machinery, or if you work in an area with any kind airborne particles or noxious chemicals, your employer needs to provide safety eyewear for you. They may even provide prescription safety glasses for you, so be sure to check with your employer. But no matter what type of protective eyewear you choose, the most important thing is that you wear it!

Optometrists - Eye Exams - Contact Lenses - Medical Treatment

What Diseases Can Be Detected During An Eye Exam?

Detecting Eye and Systemic Diseases Through Routine Eye Exams

Routine eye exams are not just about assessing vision and prescribing eyewear; they also serve as vital diagnostic tools for identifying various eye and systemic diseases. Stonewire Optometry in Kingsway Mall is dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care services, including early detection of these conditions. In this article, we will focus on the eye diseases that can be uncovered during a standard eye examination, as well as the systemic diseases that may manifest in the eyes.

Common Eye Diseases Identified in Routine Eye Exams

1. Cataracts: Routine eye exams can reveal the presence of cataracts, a condition characterized by the clouding of the eye's natural lens, potentially leading to vision impairment.

2. Glaucoma: Elevated intraocular pressure, a hallmark of glaucoma, can be detected during an eye exam. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent irreversible optic nerve damage and vision loss.

3. Macular Degeneration: Changes in the macula, a crucial part of the retina, can lead to central vision loss. Regular eye exams are essential for monitoring its progression.

4. Retinal Detachment: This sight-threatening condition may present visible symptoms during an eye examination, prompting immediate intervention.

5. Dry Eye: Chronic dry eye, often dismissed as a minor issue, can be diagnosed and managed through an eye exam to provide relief and prevent complications.

6. Corneal Degeneration: Alterations in the cornea's structure can lead to vision problems. Early diagnosis during an eye exam allows for timely treatment.

Systemic Diseases Detected Through Eye Exams

Beyond eye-specific conditions, routine eye exams can unveil systemic diseases and disorders, including:

1. Diabetes: Diabetes affects the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy. Early detection during an eye exam is essential for effective management.

2. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): High blood pressure can cause damage to the delicate blood vessels in the eyes, which may become evident during an eye exam.

3. Hypercholesterolemia (High Cholesterol): Elevated cholesterol levels can manifest as deposits on the eyelids or within the eye's blood vessels, detectable during an eye exam.

4. HIV/AIDS: Certain ocular manifestations, such as cytomegalovirus retinitis or Kaposi's sarcoma, can indicate the presence of HIV/AIDS and are identifiable through an eye exam.

5. Multiple Sclerosis: This autoimmune disorder can exhibit symptoms in the eyes, such as optic neuritis, which can be diagnosed during an eye examination.

6. Graves Disease: An autoimmune thyroid disorder, Graves' disease can cause bulging eyes (exophthalmos) and other eye-related symptoms, making them apparent during an eye exam.

7. Herpes Simplex/Herpes Zoster Infections: These viral infections can affect the eyes, leading to conditions like herpes keratitis or herpes zoster ophthalmicus, which can be diagnosed through an eye exam.

8. Carotid Stenosis: A narrowing of the carotid artery can increase the risk of strokes. Eye exams can sometimes reveal cholesterol plaques in the eye's blood vessels, offering a warning sign for this condition.

In conclusion,

Routine eye exams at Stonewire Optometry in Kingsway Mall extend beyond vision correction. They serve as essential tools for early detection of various eye and systemic diseases. By choosing comprehensive eye care, you not only prioritize your vision but also invest in your overall well-being, ensuring that any potential health issues are identified and addressed promptly. Remember, your eyes are not just the windows to your soul; they are also windows to your health.

If you would like to be seen by one of our optometrists, you can call us at 780-628-6886 or you can book your eye exam appointment online.

 

Have Your Eyes Examined Regularly

Of course! It seems obvious on the surface that one of the best things you can do to prevent vision loss from eye disease is to have your eyes checked regularly. Many eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can be easily controlled if detected early enough, thereby preventing or limiting any loss of vision. It just makes sense that regular eye examinations would be the number 1 thing you could do to prevent vision loss. And yet still, it’s astounding just how few people regularly have their eyes checked.

In a study by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, it was found that up to 25 percent of school-age children have some form of vision problem that may affect learning, but only a small percentage of children ever receive a comprehensive eye exam. With the new Eye See Eye Learn program by the Alberta Association of Optometrist, our clinic is working to change this by improving patient education and public awareness.

Even people with known eye problems aren’t getting eye exams. A study conducted at Duke University showed that only 70 to 90 percent of patients with glaucoma had a yearly check-up. Glaucoma is an eye disease that can slowly and silently cause blindness over a period of time. These patients often need to be followed at least two to three times a year. And yet a full 10 to 30 percent of them aren’t even going to the eye doctor yearly.

Similar numbers were found in patients with macular degeneration and diabetes. Only 65 to 80 percent of patients with macular degeneration have yearly eye exams and only 50 to 60 percent of patients with diabetes have them. Many of these people will very likely become legally blind from their untreated conditions. With the new medically necessary vision testing under Alberta Health Care your optometrist is able to follow these conditions (glaucoma, diabetes, and macular degeneration) at no charge to yourself.
The evidence speaks for itself – the number one recommendation is to make sure you have your eyes examined regularly!

Who Should I Go to For My Eye Exam?

There is often much confusion regarding whom to see for an eye exam – after all there are three different “O’s” that care for eyes in various ways. Who should you choose? To answer this question, let’s first define who the three “O’s” are:

• Optometrists (O.D.’s) – A doctor of optometry receives his degree after four years of post graduate training in a college of optometry. Optometrists are licensed to perform comprehensive eye exams, prescribe glasses and contact lenses and to treat many types of eye disease including conjunctivitis (pink eye or red eye) and glaucoma. Optometrists typically do not perform surgery. Instead they receive additional training on understanding and treating the functional aspects of vision – how to help people see the best they can in their day to day lives.

• Ophthalmologists – Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (M.D.’s) or osteopaths (D.O.’s) who take a three to five year residency in eye care after they receive their medical degree. In addition to providing comprehensive eye examinations, ophthalmologists are able to prescribe eye medications and perform surgery. Some ophthalmologists go on for additional training and become specialists in certain areas such as retinal, corneal, cataract and glaucoma treatment.

• Opticians – Opticians are professionals specially trained to fit, fabricate and dispense eyeglasses. Many states also allow opticians to dispense contact lenses. Opticians do not perform comprehensive eye health examinations.

Which one should you choose for your routine comprehensive eye exams – an ophthalmologist or an optometrist? Obviously I may be biased, but I know today’s optometrists are well trained and skilled at detecting eye disease. If specialized medical or surgical treatment is ever needed, we will quickly arrange for you to see the right ophthalmologist who specializes in your particular eye care problem.

What Does 20/20 Vision Mean?

This is a common question that people seem to always ask eye doctors at social events. Typically optometrists and ophthalmologists refer to visual acuity in terms of the Snellen acuity eye charts. The Snellen acuity eye charts displays letters which become progressively smaller from the top to the bottom. In terms of Snellen acuity, 20/20 is considered normal vision for most people. From a statistic point of view what does this mean? In basically means that approximately 68.2% of the normal healthy population is able to have their vision corrected to this level. It also however means that approximately 15.9% of the normal healthy population has correctable vision that is better than this and that 15.9% of the normal healthy population has correctable vision that is worse than this.

In general 20/20 means that a person sees the same line of letters at 20 feet that a normal person sees from 20 feet. If a person has 20/40 vision, than this means that they can see the same line of letters at 20 feet that a normal person sees from 40 feet away. Therefore their vision is worse than normal. If a person has 20/15 vision, than this means that they can see the same line of letters at 20 feet that a normal persons sees from 15 feet away. Therefore their vision is better than normal.

Recap:

20/20 – Top number is where you are standing and the bottom number is where a normal person stands to see the same sized object or line of letters.

Now you know!

What contact lens solution are you using?

Patients and eye doctors often took contact lens solution for granted, or at least we all did in the past. Contact lens solutions have been shown to be a vital component of your overall contact lens comfort and ocular health. They can lead to or contribute to ocular irritation, blurred vision, allergic reactions and dry eye symptoms. Patients often present to our clinic looking for newer or different contact lens brands that provide more moisture, when the problem may be in the contact lens solution they use to store them in at home.

In 2007, Bausch and Lomb’s initiated a voluntary recall of their Renu Multi-purpose solution, after concerns that it may have been related to an increase in fungal eye infections. Other companies soon followed, with voluntary recalls of their own. The positive side of this story though is that new more stringent guidelines have been developed, and solutions most finally underwent rigorous eye care testing to ensure their efficacy and safety.

There are three categories of contact lens solutions: Multi-Purpose, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Saline Solution.

Multi-Purpose Solutions

Brand Name - Multi-Purpose solutions

Brand name multi-purpose products are used for cleaning, disinfecting and storing your contact lenses overnight. All of these branded solutions use the latest in medical technology and disinfecting techniques to ensure optimal contact lens performance. They are all FDA approved and have undergone rigorous trial processes and lab testing. 

• Optifree-Replenish by Alcon
• Optifree-Express by Alcon
• Renu by Bausch and Lomb
• Solo Care Aqua by Ciba Vision
• Complete by Advanced Medical Optics
• Sensitive Eyes by Bausch and Lomb

Private Label - Multi-Purpose solutions

Private label multi-purpose products are used for cleaning, disinfecting and storing your contact lenses. In most cases private label or no-name products tend to be older versions of contact lens solutions, which offer fewer added benefits to consumers. Products within these bottles can change, as manufacturers bid for contracts. So, really patients and doctors have no idea what they are using, which can lead to solution sensitivities and reactions over time.  These products are FDA approved, and have gone through rigorous FDA approvals in the past. 

• Equate by Wal-Mart
• Lens Care Multi-Purpose Solution by Life Brand
• Eye Assist by Rexall

 

Brand Name -Hydrogen Peroxide Solutions

Brand name hydrogen peroxide solutions are used to clean, disinfect and store your contact lenses over night. Hydrogen peroxide cleaning systems are great for patients with preservative allergies or dry eye. However, these products have very specific instructions that need to be followed. Talk to your eye care professional prior to using them. 

• Clear Care by Ciba Vision
• AoSept Plus by Ciba Vision
• OxySept by Advanced Medical Optics

 

Saline Solutions

These products are only designed for rinsing contact lenses. These products are not designed to clean or disinfect your contact lenses. 

• Sensitive Eyes Saline Plus by Bausch and Lomb
• Softwear by Ciba Vision
• Saline Solution by Life Brand

Still confused? Talk to your optometrist at your next annual contact lens examination.