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Common Eye Tests Done During A Regular Eye Exam

Common Eye Tests Done During A Regular Eye Exam

A lot of vision loss cases are due to macular degeneration. This is an age related vision problem which is more commonly referred to as AMD or ARMD. What makes this a serious eye problem is the fact that our eyes rely big time on the health of the macula to be able to see clearly.

Macula is the small part in the middle of the retina. It plays a vital role in our vision because it is the one responsible in controlling visual acuity. If the macula degenerates, you will be limited in your everyday activity. You will not have the sharpness of vision to see small details even in everyday objects.

Dry And Wet Macular Degeneration

There are two types of macular degeneration. They are termed dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration, which is non-neovascular, is the atrophic type while the wet macular degeneration, which is neovascular, is the exudative type.

If you get checked by an optometrist or eye doctor and you are diagnosed with macular degeneration, chances are you get the dry type. This is because between these two types, the more common is the dry macular degeneration.

What Causes Macular Degeneration and Who Are At Risk?

While the causes are to be studied further, most macular degeneration cases are brought about by aging. There are also studies that point to heredity and environment as potential causes. As we age, the cells of the macula starts to degenerate thereby causing vision problem.

Because this eye problem is related to aging, older people are at greater risk. In most cases, this vision problem is experienced by people 55 years old and above.

Aside from age, other risk factors include genetics, race, and lifestyle. If someone in the family has AMD, other members of the family may be diagnosed with AMD as well. In terms of race, it seems that more Caucasians are diagnosed with AMD compared to other races. This may have something to do with the light colour of the eyes.

Lifestyle also affects the risk of getting AMD. It is observed that smokers are most likely to get macular degeneration than non-smokers. Furthermore, obesity is also said to affect AMD. In a study published in Archives of Ophthalmology (June 2003), it showed that obese people who are diagnosed with early AMD are more likely to develop a more advanced form of this eye problem.

Progression Of Macular Degeneration

This eye problem has different stages which can be divided into early, intermediate, and late. Some people discover they have this condition when it is already on the late stage. This is the reason why a regular eye exam is very important. A visit to your optometrist or eye doctor will help prevent this condition and if you are already diagnosed with early stage of AMD, the eye doctor will be able to help you slow the progression of the disease.

Little can be done to cure it as until now, there is no known cure for macular degeneration. However, there is something that the eye doctor can do to help you cope with it or slow its progression.

Before it’s too late, visit your Ottawa eye doctor today to get a comprehensive eye exam.

Should You Let Your Kids Wear Contact Lenses?

Should You Let Your Kids Wear Contact Lenses?

Having eye problems is not limited to adults only. Even kids can have vision difficulties. A lot of kids nowadays wear eyeglasses to help them see clearly.

Aside from eyeglasses, another option to improve and correct vision is contact lenses. Most adults wear contact lenses but is it safe for kids? What’s the right age to have kids wear contact lenses?

There comes a time when kids start asking about contact lenses especially if they have been wearing eyeglasses for some time already. Most parents are adamant in letting their kids wear contact lenses because they appear to be less safe compared to eyeglasses.

Why Wear Contact Lenses?

 There are a number of reasons why your kids may need to wear contact lenses. Here are a few:

  1. If your kids are into sports, wearing eyeglasses can be limiting. Contact lenses will help them move freely. Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses are clearer because they don’t fog up if your kids are already sweaty. When they run, as most outdoor sports include running, contact lenses can’t get knocked off.

kids wearing contact lenses playing outdoor

  1. Wearing ortho-K lenses can help correct nearsightedness in kids. Orthokeratology is the use of gas permeable contact lenses that aids in reshaping the cornea provisionally. This helps correct nearsighted vision. What happens is that your kids will wear the contact lenses at night and remove the next day. It makes vision clearer and sharper even without eyeglasses or contact lenses.
  1. Most kids don’t want to wear eyeglasses because they don’t want to appear different compared to their friends and classmates. Wearing eyeglasses sometimes lower their self-esteem as they feel their blurred vision is a weakness. Wearing contact lenses will make their so-called “weakness” invisible, thereby, increasing their self-esteem.

 Are Contact Lenses Safe For Kids?

Your kids’ eyes can actually handle contact lenses even at an early age. You might be surprised that they can actually apply or remove the contact lens even without their parent’s assistance.

Yes, they are safe as long as they are applied and removed correctly. Always follow the instructions for the application of contact lenses. It is best to consult your Ottawa optometrist to ensure you are doing the right thing. The optometrist will also decide whether your child is already capable of using contact lenses.

Another thing to consider is the maturity of your child. Make sure that when you decide to let your child wear contact lenses, he is already responsible enough. If your child is not that responsible yet, chances are he’ll forget that he’s wearing contact lenses and this can lead to serious eye problems. Contact lenses also need to be properly taken care of so make sure your child knows how to do this.

So should you let your kids wear contact lenses? Yes, if they need to.

Four Seasons Of Good Eye Health

Infographic illustrating seasonal eye care tips to maintain healthy vision year-round.

Four Seasons Of Good Eye Health

How you keep your eyes healthy and in perfect condition may differ depending on the season. There are things that you do during summer to protect your eyes that may not be that practical during winter or vice versa.

But no matter what the season is, it is vital that you protect your eyes to maintain or even improve your vision. Here are practical tips from Ottawa optometrist on how to keep your eyes healthy throughout the seasons:

Winter:

Young woman in winter clothing and ski goggles standing in snowy mountain landscape

During winter, most people turn on their heaters at home. The heat from a heater or fireplace can lead to eye dryness. This situation can bring discomfort or pain especially if you are already suffering from a chronic eye condition like dry eyes. This is when the eyes are not properly lubricated because they do not produce the right amount of tears needed to keep the eyes moist. During winter, this condition can get worse. What you can do is keep your eyes moist by staying away from the heater or using a humidifier. If you visit Ottawa eye clinic, the eye doctor can also prescribe medication to keep your eyes moist.

It is a good idea to wear sunglasses during winter. Why? Because your eyes can get damaged if the temperature is too low. Make sure that your sunglasses has UV protection because the snow can reflect UV rays which doubles the risk.

To avoid snow and ice debris from entering your eyes, especially if the weather condition is not favourable, you should consider wearing goggles. Googles provide maximum protection compared to regular eyeglasses.

Spring:

Father wearing sunglasses carrying his smiling child on his back at the beach.

Spring is the season for allergies. This can cause eye irritations including redness and itchiness. While you can take anti-allergy medications, it is best to consult an eye doctor and get an eye exam in case your eyes become irritated because of your allergy.

If you are engaging in spring cleaning, make sure to use goggles to avoid the dust from entering your eyes.

Even during spring time, the sun’s UV rays can still pose risks so it is still advisable to wear sunglasses with UV protection. This will help you avoid eye problems like cataract and macular degeneration.

Summer:

Smiling man wearing colorful mirrored sunglasses on a sunny beach with palm trees and surfboard in the background.

Same with other seasons, summer is the time when you put your sunglasses to good use. Don’t let the harmful rays of the sun damage your eyes. The brightness of the day can also be very painful for your naked eyes.

Summer is the perfect time to hit the beach. Don’t forget to wear your swim goggles whether you are going to the beach or pool. Saltwater can be damaging to your eyes especially if you accidentally open your eyes while underwater. The bleach on pool water can also cause eye irritations.

For outdoor activities, make sure to use eye protection. The dust and heat from outside can both cause eye damage. Also wear a hat outside as added protection from UV rays and heat of the sun.

Fall:

Tips To Improve Your Vision Health

Healthy foods and eyeglasses promoting better vision and eye health

Tips To Improve Your Vision Health

Don’t take your eyes for granted. No one wants to live with an impaired vision when it could have been prevented. Not to mention that poor eyesight could lead to expensive surgeries or even blindness. As they say, prevention is always better than cure. Here are ways to keep your eyes healthy from known Ottawa optometrist, Dr. Zahiri.

Follow these 6 tips to improve vision health. You will be surprised how easy it actually is to take of your eyes – all that you have to do is start a healthy lifestyle. Value your eyes and never ignore your eye problems.

What Does It Mean To Be Nearsighted Or Farsighted?

Illustration comparing nearsighted and farsighted vision with human eye anatomy

What Does It Mean To Be Nearsighted Or Farsighted?

How often have you heard someone saying they are either nearsighted or farsighted? What does it mean? These two conditions are opposites. Nearsightedness means that you can focus on items close to you while farsightedness means that your focus is only on far objects. These conditions can affect your lifestyle. Your activities will be limited only to what your eyes can focus on.

These condition can easily be corrected. The key is early detection. This can be done by a simple visit to an optometrist. Learn more about these eye conditions from this infographic prepared by Ottawa Optometrist, Dr. Zahiri.

Taking Care Of Your Eyes In The Digital Age

Woman using a laptop with eye strain digital eye care awareness

Taking Care Of Your Eyes In The Digital Age

While technology has many advantages, there are also some disadvantages to it. It makes life easier but it can cause some serious health problems like vision issues. Research studies show that about 60 million school age children are already exposed to computers and other devices and the alarming truth is they are in front of these devices for hours a day. This can lead to Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS.

CVS is a serious eye problem that can potentially cause long term vision problems and other vision disorders. The good thing is that CVS can be prevented. Here are simple tips from Ottawa Eye Clinic on how to protect your eyes in the digital age.

Protect Your Sight As You Age

Infographic illustrating tips to protect vision as you age, including regular eye exams, UV protection, healthy diet, and managing chronic conditions.

Protect Your Sight As You Age

As we age, we become prone to many different health issues including eye problems. This is the reason why as early as possible, we should already think about our eye health. There is no better way for our vision to stay perfect as we age than prevent any eye disorder from happening in the first place.

Our eyes are not exempted from aging. It needs better care along with the other parts of our body. How do you keep your eyes healthy as you age? This infographic from Ottawa Eye Clinic presents useful information:

5 Eye Symptoms That Can Signal A Health Problem

Infographic highlighting five eye symptoms—blurred vision, eye redness, floaters, flashes of light, and sudden vision loss—that may indicate underlying health issues.

5 Eye Symptoms That Can Signal A Health Problem

The eyes can reveal a lot about your health. In fact, there are natural healing techniques that detect illnesses by examining the eyes. Changes in your vision does not only mean that you need graded eye glasses already; sometimes it means that you are at risk with other illnesses.

By being observant with the symptoms, eye diseases and other illnesses can be prevented. This is the reason why a regular eye exam is advisable. Your Ottawa eye doctor will be able to give you a thorough examination to ensure that your vision is perfect and your health is not at risk. Ottawa eye doctor, Dr. Zahiri, listed 5 symptoms that you need to look out for during your eye exam.

Symptoms, causes, and treatment of Refractive Error

The Effects of Blue Light

The Effects of Blue Light

Staring at a screen for a long period of time can cause serious eye issues. Screens release blue light that is harmful to the eyes. This blue light can cause long term damage to the eyes if not controlled immediately. Sadly, this is one of the negative effects of technology.

In today’s world, it is almost impossible not to use gadget but it doesn’t mean that you can’t protect your eyes anymore. What you can do is take regular breaks. Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes. You can shift your sight to somewhere at least 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This is the so-called 20-20-20 eye rule.

5 Types of Technology for Correcting Your Vision

5 Types of Technology for Correcting Your Vision

Our eyes are vital for everyday activities. Without healthy vision, it is impossible to go about our daily activities with ease. The sad news is that many people today are suffering from vision problems ranging from simple blurred vision to total blindness.

With today’s technological advancements, there is always something that can be done to improve vision. Here are 5 types of technology that can help correct your vision. They will help ease the pain of eye problems and restore your perfect vision.

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