Here you will find answers to some of the most common eye
care questions and concerns. While this information is insightful,
we ask that you consult your eye care professional about any
concerns you have with about your vision. This should not
be construed as medical advice.
Are contacts a good fit for you?
Most people with vision conditions have no problem wearing
contact lenses. And, with new materials, replacement schedules
and lens care technologies, wearing contact lenses has never
been easier.
However, you may have difficulty wearing lenses, if:
- your eyes are irritated by allergies.
- your work environment hosts large quantities of dust
or chemicals.
- you suffer from uncontrollable diabetes, severe arthritis
in your hands, or an overactive thyroid.
- Your eyes are overly dry due to medications or pregnancy.
See your eye care professional to find out if contact lenses
are right for you.
Children need regular eye exams
Of children between the ages of 5 and 12, one in four suffer
from an undiagnosed vision problem that effects their educational
performance. Because children often have no way of knowing
if their vision is poor, it is much harder to detect the problem.
It is recommended that all children have their eyes examined
at age 4. If there is a family history of eye conditions,
it is recommend that their eyes be examined by the age of
three. Early detection is the key to good vision and vision
problems often respond favorable during the growth and development
of a child’s visual system.
Signs that your child may have a vision problem
- Squinting, rubbing or blinking the eyes a lot
- Having trouble seeing the blackboard at school
- Using a finger as a place mark when reading
- Holding head at an awkward angle when reading
- Closing or covering one eye to focus
- Holding reading materials close to face
- Having red or crusty eyes
Adults need regular eye exams, too
Ideally, you should have your eyes examined every year. Routine
eye exams can detect early signs of vision conditions, allowing
for fast treatment of most problems. Eye exams can also reveal
serious and often times, hidden medical conditions like high
blood pressure, diabetes, inflammations and infections.
A typical eye exam
Quick and painless, routine eye exams ensure good, healthy vision.
Before your exam, your eye care professional will ask you about
your health history and your family history, whether you've
experienced any eye trouble, and ask you to describe your work
and lifestyle. Then, he/she will test your eyes: checking for
eye movement, peripheral vision and color blindness, administering
a glaucoma test and determining the health of your optic nerve
and retina.
Computer use and your eyes
Many in our workforce spend the majority of their work day
in front of a computer screen. And, nearly 90% of those working
at a video display terminal experienced some form of vision
problems as a result. Symptoms that are related to computer
use are:
- Difficulty focusing after working at a computer
- Eye strain or fatigue
- Headaches
- Dry, itchy and/or irritated eyes
There are also environmental factors that increase computer-related
eye strain:
- Bright lights in your peripheral vision can be distracting.
- Reflected light on your computer screen can cause a glare,
decreasing the contrast of the screen character.
To determine the cause of your symptoms, visit your eye care
professional.
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Eye Care