While everyone has occasional floaters in their visual field, an increase in floaters or what looks like a shower of sparks in front of your eyes is a different story. If you experience these visual issues, you may want to schedule an eye appointment right away.
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.
To diagnose conjunctivitis, the optometrist conducts a comprehensive eye exam. The doctor performs tests that measure vision acuity and examines the external tissues and internal structures of the eyes under bright light and magnification.
What causes astigmatism? Doctors don’t know, and one problem related to this common eye condition is that the blurry vision associated with astigmatism is frequently confused with eye fatigue or aging eyes. There are a number of tests your optometrist can conduct to determine if you have astigmatism, and if so, whether you need vision correction.
Did you know that one in four children has a visual problem that can affect how they learn? To determine whether your child suffers from eyesight problems, it is important to bring him or her in for annual exams.
Because diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. and worldwide, it is important that those with the disease, or are pre-diabetic, or otherwise at risk should have regular eye examinations to detect problems before they become serious.
If you have presbyopia, you’re not alone. The term describes the eye’s inability to bring nearby objects or images into focus. According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s the most common eye-related change associated with age.
There are seven facial shapes that optometrists use to determine complementary frames, and one of them is called "heart-shaped." In fact, the heart-shaped face does very well with wide soft frames as they best contour cheeks and chin.
Glasses work to improve our vision through lenses. Even if the lens in your own eyes doesn’t work properly, glasses with their lenses can help. Our office can help you see more clearly and help set the future in your sight.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is considered to be the leading cause of severe vision loss in older adults. About 1.8 million people have AMD, and millions more are at-risk.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is one of the most common eye problems and makes it difficult to see nearby objects. In some severe cases, hyperopia can make it difficult to see distant objects as well.
Why are reading glasses an inevitability for virtually everyone? As we age, the eye lens becomes stiffer. That means the ability to easily focus on objects up close in our youth slowly becomes more and more difficult. For most people, reading glasses or bifocals solve the problem.
If you suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes, it is imperative that you get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist. These conditions can exacerbate certain eye diseases if not managed properly.
If you have a school age child and you have noticed a drop in grades, it is a good idea to have his or her eyes checked. In many cases, poor eyesight is the source of the problem and early intervention can put your child back on track.
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.
John McAllister, Sr. of Scotland is recognized for bringing eyeglasses to America during the late-19th century. McAllister set up a business in Philadelphia, and with his son, created a successful business that would last for nearly 200 years.
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.”
You can do the children, and the parents, in your school district a tremendous service by scheduling eye examinations at least once a year on each campus. Catching vision problems early helps prevent students from falling behind academically.
If you wear contacts, consider getting a back-up pair of glasses in case you get an eye infection, scratch, or irritation. Not having a back-up pair could make driving dangerous if you are in a position where you cannot wear your contacts.
Eye problems are no joke. They impact quality of life and can present safety changes for sufferers and others. Care to guess how many people in the U.S. are legally blind, with tested vision of 20/200 or less? That would be around 3.4 million.
Most optometrists agree that for contact wearers, simplicity is best. For example, always inserting the first contact lens in the same eye is a good idea, as it allows you to avoid the possibility of mixing up your lenses for your right and left eyes.
Pinkeye is a condition that is most often benign and goes away on its own. However, some patients do end up with light sensitivity or even vision loss. It’s important to get your eyes checked if you suspect you may have it.
What’s the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? An ophthalmologist has eight years of training beyond college and is a medical doctor able to fit glasses and contact lenses, treat eye diseases and perform surgery. An optometrist performs vision tests, prescribes corrective lenses and can detect some eye conditions.
Regular eye exams for your children during the school years are important. Often, children with undiagnosed eye issues can mistakenly be labeled as a slow learner or as having developmental disabilities instead.
In addition to wiping your lenses to get rid of dust and other miscellaneous items, it is also a good idea to wash them to eliminate grease, oil, and other pollutants. Bring your glasses buy for a quick cleaning by our courteous staff.
The condition known as "astigmatism" is caused by minor irregularities in the surface of the eye. As light passes through the cornea, it’s distorted, so it focuses unevenly on the retina, which makes objects or images appear blurry or slightly stretched.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is often caused by staph or strep bacteria and it can be quite contagious if left untreated. Typically the optometrist prescribes antibiotic ointments or drops, which can alleviate symptoms in a matter of days.