Vision care education
The more you know, the better you can be prepared.
We’ve answered some of the most common questions people have about their eye health and optometry. If you have questions about our clinic or booking an appointment, take a look at our frequently asked questions or get in touch with us.
What percentage of Canadians suffer from some form of eye disease?
1 in 7 patients going for an eye exam have an asymptomatic eye disease. Additionally, 1 in 10 people between 20 and 64 were diagnosed with an acute condition or one requiring ongoing monitoring in order to prevent vision loss. Studies indicate that over 4,700 British Columbians lose their vision every year.
These statistics are incredibly serious. A large percentage of adults with vision loss are unemployed. Vision impaired adults experience double the incidence of falls, double the mortality rate, triple the incidence of depression, and quadruple the incidence of hip fractures. The best way to protect yourself is regular eye exams.
What is the impact of unsupervised contact lens use?
Too many children make visits to the emergency room due to improper use of contact lenses. Abrasions and ulcers of the cornea and conjunctivitis (pink eye) can be caused by altering replacement schedules or by not following recommended wear and care guidelines.
Because of the convenience of internet or mail order purchase of contact lenses, plenty of people wearing contact lenses don’t understand the risk of varying lens-wearing schedules and lens-care regimens.
The risk of eye infections with mail order contacts is nearly five times higher than when the lenses are obtained from an optometrist and about 40% of contact lens wearers have some sort of contact lens related complication. Visiting us regularly and coming in for contact lens fittings ensures your contact lenses will fit you properly and any complications are detected early.
What are the risks of computerized sight tests?
A study conducted by the University of Waterloo determined that 50% of the glasses or contact lenses issued from computerized sight tests are inaccurate. This is because they don’t take into consideration all of the subjective factors that we do when we develop your prescription in the office.
What is 20/20 vision?
20/20 vision is the “normal” level of visual acuity. If you have 20/20 vision, it means that you’re able to see the same level of detail at 20 feet as someone with standard vision. The most well-known test for visual acuity uses the famous Snellen chart, which has rows of increasingly small letters.
Some people have better than normal vision and some have weaker than normal vision, and the test accounts for this. If a person has 20/10 vision, they have better than average vision and can see all of the detail at 20 feet that someone with normal vision could see at 10 feet away. On the other hand, if a person has 20/40 vision, then at 20 feet away, they would only be able to see the same level of detail that a person with normal vision could see while standing a full 40 feet away.
What are eye drops for?
There are different types of eye drops used in an optometrist’s office, but these are a few of the most common.
Eye drops that dilate the pupils, called mydriatics, are used in some examinations to give us a better view of the inside of your eye. How often we use those eye drops will depend on your symptoms, age, health, and family history. The drops will leave your vision a little blurry and sensitive to light, so you may not be able to drive immediately after this procedure, but the effects will wear off in 2 to 4 hours.
Eye drops that relax the focus of the eyes, called cycloplegics are used to accurately measure far-sightedness. These are generally used for children and young adults. They can leave you with blurry vision and light sensitivity lasting up to 12 hours.
Eye drops to anesthetize (numb) the eye are used for procedures that require an instrument touching the eye. The anesthetic will not affect your vision and lasts about 15 minutes.
Some eye drops contain a dye that helps us diagnose abnormalities of the surface of the eye. We’ll warn you to bring glasses if we use these since the dye can temporarily stain contact lenses.
What are the causes of cataracts?
Cataracts are largely an age-related condition, but there are factors that can cause earlier onset. Smoking has a cumulative effect and so does ultraviolet light exposure, so please make sure you’re wearing sunglasses with complete UV protection when outside, even in the winter.
Glasses or Contacts: Which is Better?
There is no medical reason to prefer glasses over contact lenses or vice versa. Which ones you use or how you use them in combination is entirely up to you and what you’re most comfortable with.
How can I prevent my vision from getting worse?
The best way to take care of your vision is to protect your eyes. That means:
Why do my eyes get tired at the computer?
Being far or near-sighted, having astigmatism, or becoming presbyopic can all make computer use less comfortable. Your eyes may have to exert extra focusing effort or be forced to work harder to maintain a clear image on the screen. This results in eye strain and fatigue over time.
Here are a few things that can help:
Positioning:
Correct positioning of your screens is essential. They should be about an arm’s length from your eyes and about 15-20 degrees below eye level.
Lighting:
Try and reduce glare and reflections from your screen by using blinds or drapes on windows and/or an anti-glare filter for your monitor.
Glasses:
We can put anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses to help reduce discomfort and to improve vision from bright and/or flickering light sources.
Time-out:
Try to rest your eyes. We like to recommend the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break, and focus your eyes on an object at least 20 feet away.
Does laser eye surgery correct all vision problems?
Laser eye surgery can’t fix all vision problems, but it can help with some of the most common.
If you’re unsure whether laser eye surgery is an option for you, book an eye exam with us. We can walk you through your options. Or learn more about our laser eye surgery co-management services.