How do optometrists discover cataracts? There are three tests that are most commonly used. The first is the old-fashioned vision test. The second is a dilated eye exam. That allows the optometrist to closely examine the retina and optic nerve. The third is an eye pressure test, performed with an instrument called a tonometer.
Remember, some lines of work are more dangerous to your eye health than others. If you work with chemicals or around sparks from machinery or welding, be sure to wear protective eyewear.
Most eyes are very effective at distinguishing color. Care to guess how many shades of gray the human eye can detect? That would be around 500 or so. On a computer printer, gradations of gray are called "grayscale," and can be easily distinguished by the human eye.
If in the past your vision was described as 20/100, today it might be described as .70. Most optometrists now use the LogMAR vision assessment chart, which translates the old measure of feet into a decimal-based measure of visual acuity.
One of the best tools for determining whether you have astigmatism is a manual keratometer, which measures the curvature of your cornea.
Nutrition has a direct effect on health and vision. Research indicates zinc, vitamins C and E, and nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin can reduce the risk of certain eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Contact lenses that are not designed for overnight use will block the flow of oxygen to the cornea. When oxygen is blocked, new blood vessels will form in the eye to deliver oxygen to the cornea and will interfere with your vision.
To alleviate red, itchy eyes, the optometrist may prescribe several types of eye drops. For example, antihistamine drops will help reduce inflammation and minimize redness, while lubricating drops help rinse away irritants and allergens.
Myopia, short sightedness, is one of the most common eye conditions. Objects in the distance appear more blurred, while closer objects are clearer. This is because either the power of the eye is too strong, or that the eye itself is too long, either way the image is blurred. This is often easily corrected with glasses.
Check your insurance – many of our services are covered by most policies, especially those that center on children’s eye care. Because we work with most insurance plans, we can let you know what is covered by your carrier.
Does your vision seem unfocused or cloudy? Have you noticed problems with your night vision and are colors not as bright as they used to be? These are all symptoms of cataracts, which can be diagnosed by your optometrist during a thorough eye examination.
Astigmatism is a condition that causes blurred vision. This can be a result of an irregular shape of the cornea or the curvature of the lens inside the eye. These irregularities prevent light from properly focusing on the retina and cause your vision to be blurred.
If your child is suddenly having minor discipline problems in school, it could be his or her vision. When eyesight deteriorates, children think that because they cannot see the teacher, the teacher cannot see them. Bring your child in for a check-up.
Retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that affects the retina, is fairly uncommon. Experts say about 1 in 4,000 people in the U.S. have this condition, which often doesn’t first show symptoms until late childhood or into the 20s. There is no cure for RP, but research is continuing into ways to slow vision loss.
Are you at risk for glaucoma? If you’re African American, you might be. In general, African Americans are as many as five times more likely to develop this condition, and the initial stages may surface as early as age 35.
As your eyes age, it can be harder to see objects up close because the lens of the eye loses flexibility. This usually begins in the 40s and necessitates reading glasses.
Unfortunately, even relatively minor accidents around the home have the ability to impact your vision. Let’s talk about what type of accident you experienced and the lingering visual symptoms you’re still experiencing.
As we age, the muscles in our eyes aren’t able to focus on objects close to us as well as when we were younger. This condition is called presbyopia, which literally means “old eye.” The most common treatment for presbyopia is glasses.
A person who smokes 15 or more cigarettes a day is three times more likely to develop cataracts. Additionally, a person who smokes is about four times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration; similarly, those who live with smokers double their risk.
According to most professional optometrists, leaky blood vessels in the eye can be a sign of diabetes. With diabetes, blood sugars can congeal and even damage the blood vessels of the retina over time, making them weak or “leaky.”
Changes to your vision, such as clouded eyesight, seeing halos around lights, narrowing of the vision field, blind spots, or a sudden surge in floaters could signal serious conditions, and a visit to an optometrist is recommended.
The test for glaucoma is fast, painless, and effective. The popular TV personality and weather forecaster Willard Scott advises, “[G]et tested. No matter what the diagnosis, the forecast is for clear vision in the years ahead.”
Dry eye is a commonly treated condition that indicates that there are an insufficient amount of tears being produced to lubricate and nourish the eye. Treatment of this is necessary, as tears are an important part of maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and providing clear vision.
While people may have once gravitated only to neutral colors for their eyeglass frames, a variety of bolder choices are now available. Whether you’re interested in making a statement or keeping it low-key, we can help you find the right frames for your needs.