Why are my eyes so DRY?!

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This is a very common question that is heard by optometrists all across Alberta, especially during the winter season when furnaces blow dry air and the cold sucks all the moisture from the air. 

 

We live in a desert environment which only makes our dry eyes even drier.

We live in a desert environment which only makes our dry eyes even drier.

However, some people are more at risk for dry eye than others.  If dry eyes are not addressed in the early stages it may lead to generalized discomfort, intolerance to contact lenses, delayed healing time from ocular surgeries, and can lead to reduced vision and cause corneal scarring.

Patients at increased risk for dry eyes include contact lens wearers, computer users, diabetic patients, patients with allergies or asthma, patients taking medications such as hormone replacements or anti-depressants, post-surgery patients (including cataract surgery and LASIK), patients with arthritis or auto-immune diseases and even those who wear CPAP devices for sleep apnea.

Our optometrists can help you diagnose and manage dry eyes by assessing your tear film and eyelid margins including your tear glands.  We can recommend which type of eye drop would be most effective for you and ways to improve tear flow using warm compresses and vitamin supplements.  We can even recommend a prescription drop, Restasis, which can aid greatly in improving your symptoms.

Don't suffer alone in silence, we can help you manage your burning, itchy, water and uncomfortable eyes!

Driving Fitness - how to decide?

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  How can you feel confident that the drivers around you on the road are fit and capable of good driving?  Image courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

How can you feel confident that the drivers around you on the road are fit and capable of good driving?  Image courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What should you do if you are worried about you own driving fitness or the ability of a close friend or relative to be a safe driver? We have all heard stories of people who were injured or killed by a driver who should "not have been on the road".  It seems easy to make the judgment about who should or should not be allowed to drive but it is very difficult.  The decision to allow yourself or a loved one to keep on driving can be emotional and can cause huge rifts or arguments within families.  Losing your driver's license means a loss of independence, autonomy, self-respect and may even require moving from a home to a location more accessible for public transportation.  It can cause depression and stress among everyone involved in making the decision.

Yet, despite the difficulties, assessing driving fitness is an extremely important part of keeping our communities safe and confident on the road.  According to Transport Canada, the latest statistics from 2013 indicate that over 9 million Canadians over the age of 55 were licensed drivers and in one year alone, over 12,000 fatalities or serious injuries occurred as a result of driving accidents. Visual and cognitive impairment can affect anyone at any age and needs to be addressed sensitively and with measurable results.

  Driving allows us freedom to explore with curiosity and appreciation.  Keep our roads safe by making responsible choices for you and your loved ones.  Ensure driver fitness before it's too late.

 

Driving allows us freedom to explore with curiosity and appreciation.  Keep our roads safe by making responsible choices for you and your loved ones.  Ensure driver fitness before it's too late.

Vision standards for drivers in Alberta are determined by your visual acuity (how well you see either with or without glasses) and your visual field (how much peripheral vision you have).  More information can be seen on our link here:

However, driving fitness goes well beyond vision requirements.  More importantly, the driver's cognitive fitness can greatly affect his or her ability to be a safe driver.  In Alberta, we now have the ability to have experts take the decision out of our hands and to provide an objective evaluation regarding the patient's ability to drive.  DriveABLE is a private, independent assessment agency and is not affiliated with the Government of Alberta. The assessments include evaluation by a cognitive assessment tool which is predictive of actual on-road driving ability.  The results are standardized and measured objectively which can remove the emotional aspect of the decision and give clear direction regarding the driver's ability.  The assessment results are reviewed by the physician with their patient and can be provided to Alberta Transportation.

Driving is a privilege that many of us enjoy.  Let's keep the roads and our communities safe by using sensitivity and responsibility when deciding when it is time to relinquish that privilege. 

 

 

  

 

 

Score Big on Safety

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As a parent you do your best to protect your children. They eat their veggies, get plenty of rest and wear a helmet when they ride their bicycle. But what about protecting their eyes?

Now that your kids are out of school for the summer, they will be taking part in a wide range of sports and outdoor activities. Eye injuries can be devastating. Basketball, for instance, is one of the leading causes of injuries because of blows from fingers and elbows.

As well as abrasions of the cornea, sports injuries can include internal bleeding and retinal detachments which can lead to serious vision loss. Patients who have sustained eye injuries are also at a greater risk for developing glaucoma at some point in their life.

Student athletes of all ages need to wear sport-specific protective eye wear that’s been properly fitted by an eye care professional.

Eyeglass lenses made from polycarbonate materials provide the greatest level of impact protection and can withstand shattering or cracking when hit by a ball or other projectile traveling at high speeds.  

Properly fitted protective eye wear won’t hurt athletic performance and may save your child’s sight. Even if the school or sports league doesn’t require eye protection, parents need to ensure their children wear eye protection at all times.

Parents – don’t slow your children down. Instead, help them understand the importance of eye safety while they dribble, pitch, swing, kick or spike. They can have fun and stay safe!

Summer time, any time

Summer break is the perfect time to bring your children in for a thorough eye examination. It’s never too early. Even if your child doesn’t display any signs of vision trouble, the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends infants have their first eye exam by the end of their first year, and toddlers by age three. Early diagnosis of a vision development disorder will allow for early intervention.

 

Book your annual eye exam with a Doctor of Optometry at
eye-bar optical in Sherwood Park Today. 

This article is courtesy of Eye Recommend: eye-bar optometrists, opticians & eyewear specialists is a member of Eye Recommend, Canada's Vision Care Professionals, helping doctors help their patients since 1997. We are proud to be able to help Canadians attain optimal eye health.

Booking an Eye Exam Online

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Booking an eye exam at eye-bar optometry is easy with our online booking software. Unlike other optometry offices, our online booking software gives you total control. You’re not simply requesting an eye exam time, but actually booking one.

<<--- Go Ahead, Try Me

The Steps:

1.       Choose the type of exam your booking: Adult, Senior, Child

2.       Pick your favorite eye-bar optometrist.

3.       Pick the date.

4.       Pick the time.

5.       Read the common eye exam questions at the bottom of the page, so you arrive prepared.

  • When should I arrive?
  • What should I bring?
  • How long does it all take?
  • How much does it cost?

6.       Show up for your appointment.

So go ahead and book your next eye exam at eye-bar optometry using our online booking software. See you soon!

Eye Care Referrals: Royal Alex Hospital

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Why do I have to go to the Royal Alex Hospital after seeing my eye doctor?

Your optometrist is qualified to handle the majority of eye care conditions that may arise during a routine eye health exam or emergency eye exam situation. In some eye conditions however, more advance eye care or medical care may be warranted. Some eye findings are simply warming sings of more serious underlying health issues that need to be addressed in order to resolve the visual symptoms you may be experiencing.

Like your family physician, your optometrists can help to coordinate the appropriate eye care required by the most appropriate health care provider. Occasionally, this may be an ophthalmologist that specializes in certain surgical procedures or specific eye diseases.

Why the Royal Alex Hospital? The Royal Alex Hospital is considered the home of ophthalmology in Edmonton and most local ophthalmologist work regular clinic shifts within the eye clinic. Typically, patients must be referred into the Royal Alex Hospital eye care unit by an optometrist, family physician or emergency room physician. These referrals are reserved for urgent eye care needs only and not routine eye health examinations.

If your eye condition is less urgent, and you are still wondering why you were referred to the Royal Alex Hospital. It’s probably because many specialized ophthalmologists have their full time clinics stationed at Royal Alex Hospital and your appointment may simply be with one of them.

FYI: If you ever have any questions or concerns about where one of our optometrist refers you to, please do not hesitate to contact the office. Your optometrist will be happy to explain the reason behind the decision and can make any necessary changes to the appointment when possible.  

 

 Book your next eye exam in Sherwood Park with an optometrist at eye-bar optometrists, opticians & eyewear specialists 

What is a stye? How do I treat it?

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sherwood_park_eye_exam_optometrist_stye_treatment_glasses_eyewear_contact_lenses.jpg

A stye (also known as a hordeolum) is an inflamed/infected tear gland on the upper or lower eyelid which causes pain, redness and swelling.  It typically doesn't affect vision unless the eyelid is swollen to the point where it obscures vision.  

Styes are caused by bacteria very common in the body and isn't considered contagious except through direct contact.  Treatment is usually a mild antibiotic ointment a 2-3 times per day and warm compresses twice per day for a few days.  After this time it will come to a head and drain on its own.  Never attempt to drain or "pop" a stye as it can cause serious damage to the eyelids and surrounding tissue and can occasionally cause the infection to go deeper into the tissues.  Recurrent styes can indicate chronically clogged tear glands and lid scrubs can greatly aid in reducing the frequency of styes.

*Image found here

Book your next eye exam in Sherwood Park with an optometrist at eye-bar optometrists, opticians & eyewear specialists

Visual Changes During Pregnancy

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Expectant mothers have often been told that their vision may change during pregnancy and that they should put off seeing their optometrist until after delivery. But nine months is a long time to go without seeing properly (and dangerous)!

In general, most women experience minimal to no visual symptoms throughout their pregnancy. Common minor vision changes include: dry eye symptoms, contact lens intolerance, difficulty focusing or reading for extended periods, or a change in one's eyeglass prescription. These prescription changes are usually the result of cornea edema (thickening) caused by normal fluid retention during pregnancy, and may reverse post pregnancy or can become permanent. Depending on the severity of your symptoms or vision changes, you may want to talk with your optometrist about treatment options or about updating your eyeglasses.  

More serious visual problems that should never be ignored include: blurred vision, halos around lights, headaches, neck pain, changes in colour perception, or distorted vision. Should you ever experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your optometrist as soon as possible and call your doctor. If you feel it is an emergency, then proceed directly to the hospital. These symptoms may be secondary to preeclampsia, which is a potentially serious condition caused by an elevation in blood pressure. These symptoms may also be related to a less serious medical condition called central serious chorioretinopathy, which is an inflammation of the central retina.

Special consideration should also be given to mothers with diabetes, as they require vision care throughout the duration of their pregnancy. It’s recommended that any mothers with diabetes receive a thorough dilated eye exam prior to conceiving as well as monthly to bi-monthly eye exams throughout the course of their pregnancy, depending on how well controlled her blood sugars are. These eye examinations are used to monitor visual fluctuations along with diabetic retinopathy.

Dry or Watery Winter Eyes

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In the cold and wind your tears can often evaporate and cause symptoms of dry eyes.  The lacrimal gland then produces reflex tearing - an increase in tear production intended to wash out dust or irritants (ie: cold and wind).  
 
A pre-existing dry eye problem is often made worse in the cold or wind - this will cause the eyes to water excessively because instead of staying on the eye the extra tears spill out onto the cheeks.  Treatment is often the use of an artificial tear drop such as Systane Balance which can help to stabilize the tear film. You can find artificial tear drops at a drug store (no prescription needed).

Is vision impacting your athletic performance?

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"Watch your man!""Keep your eye on the ball!"

Sound familiar?  That’s because so much of your success at sports can be attributed to your ability to see and react quickly to objects or people coming your way. A large percentage of athletes have an undetected refractive error (i.e. nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism). By correcting even small amounts of blur, you can maximize your performance on the sports field. Even slight visual blur decreases performance by up to 25 percent.

Could your eyewear sustain a hard hit?
 Eyeglasses made for street or office wear are not made to the same protective standards as safety eyewear and will probably not hold up under impact. Eyeglass lenses that are not safety-rated could shatter, causing serious eye injuries.

Get the vision you need to perform. Optometrists at eye-bar will help you correct blur, reduce glare, enhance depth perception, and protect your eyes from injury. Our opticians will set you up with all the protective lenses or safety eyewear you need, too.

*Images found here and here.

Prevent Snow Blindness!

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Snow Blindness (Solar Keratitis/Photokeratitis) is a painful eye condition that results from excessive intense exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  Snow Blindness results when the sunlight is reflected off of the snow's surface and directly into the eye. In fact, fresh snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun's ultraviolet energy.  The sun's UV energy also increases with altitude, further increasing the chance of Snow Blindness when hitting the mountains for a ski weekend. 

Snow Blindness or Photokeratitis happens when ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye - kind of like a sunburn.  Excessive ultraviolet radiation can lead to a solar toxicity of the cornea and can cause the epithelial layer of the cornea to breakdown. The symptoms of Snow Blindness are identical to that of welder's flash and includes pain, watery eyes, light sensitivity, and twitchy or droopy eyelids. 

If you think you or someone has developed Snow Blindness, please see your optometrist for treatment. Treatment may initially involve simple pain relief, but in some more serious conditions, topical and oral pain medications may be warranted. 

Prevention is the real key. Wearing dark ultraviolet resistant sunglasses, goggles or specialized glasses while outdoors can help to reduce the likelihood of developing snow blindness, and the uncomfortable symptoms that follow.

*Images spotted here and here

What exactly is pink eye?

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To start, there are a few different types of pink eye:

Pink eye related to bacterial eye infections can cause a lot of swelling and produce sticky green discharge, resulting in eyes that are often ‘glued’ shut in the morning. Bacterial eye infections are more commonly seen in contact lens wearers and can result from our skins own bacteria.

Pink eye related to viral infections is by far the most common cause, and is caused by the same virus that results in the common cold. Viral pink eye will usually result in a watery eye with little to no discharge, but may still be crusted shut in the morning. Viral pink eye is the most contagious of all pink eyes, which is why it hangs out in preschools, daycares and work environments.

Pink eye related to allergies is more common after coming in contact with allergens and is often associated with other physical symptoms like stuffy nose, itchy skin or swollen eyes. People often complain of itching and may want to rub their eyes.

Pink eye can also be related to some more serious eye conditions like scleritis, uveitis, or iritis. These conditions require more urgent care, and will generally not resolve on their own if left untreated.

Regardless of the cause of your pink eye, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis by your optometrist to ensure that the treatment matches the condition. Please don’t touch anyone until you see us, and we’ll let you know if you are contagious.

Please Note: Alberta Health Care now covers the cost of emergency eye care visits to your optometrists office – there is no charge to you as a patient. 

Is it okay to sleep in my contact lenses?

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Unless you have specific contact lenses that are approved for overnight wear, it is NOT OKAY to sleep in your contact lenses!  When you sleep in them a few things happen: bacteria adhere to the lens surface and increase your risk of eye infection, your eyes dehydrate and the contact lens can cause small abrasions, and most commonly, your eye doesn't get enough oxygen (your closed eyelids when you are sleeping means that your cornea doesn't get as much oxygen as when your eyes are open).  When this happens, you can develop serious infections that can cause discomfort, light sensitivity, scarring and even blindness.

Related: What is the harm in extending the life of my contact lenses?

What do I do if I get metal in my eye?

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If you’ve sustained an eye injury, it is important not to panic but to try and see an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) as soon as possible. If you feel that your eye injury is severe, please have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room. If you don’t feel that your injury is severe, please read on.

Most metal foreign body injuries occur accidently with metal fragments falling off an eyebrow or somehow getting around safety wear and landing gently on the surface of the eye. The metal or other foreign object can easily adhere to the wet surface of the eye and result in a scratchy, irritating sensation. As your eye is a moist environment, metal can start to rust and result in further irritation. Left untreated, metal foreign objects can eventually result in a large eye infection and may result in partial or permanent vision loss.

Most metal objects can be safely and quickly removed by your optometrist saving you a trip to the emergency room. Your optometrist will evaluate your eye by instilling numbing eye drops to ease any discomfort. Once located, the metal can often be easily removed with specialized magnetic instruments with little to no discomfort.

If the metal has been left in the eye to long, a small amount of rust may be left over after the removal. This rust can lead to similar eye problems and a continued foreign body like sensation in the eye. Your optometrist will quickly remove this rust with an Algerbrush, a fast moving instrument that gently polishes the surface of the eye.

Your eye doctor will provide you with a prescription for topical antibiotic eye drops or ointments along with lubricating eye drops, which must be used for a few days.

Please Note: Alberta Health Care now covers the cost of emergency eye care visits to your optometrist office – there is no charge to you as a patient. If you should ever experience a serious eye injury after normal eye-bar clinic hours, please proceed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, where there is an on-call ophthalmology resident on site.

What is the harm in extending the life of my contact lenses?

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Extending the life of your contact lenses is kind of like driving a car at 250 km per hour.  For a while, if everything goes smoothly, there is no indication of trouble.  However, if something starts to go wrong, it can go wrong in a major way very quickly. 

Some complications that can occur are:

  • Allergic Reaction – protein build-up on the lens can cause discomfort, itchiness, dry eyes and intolerance to contact lens wear.
  • Conjunctivitis – accumulated protein attracts bacteria which can easily lead to conjunctivitis.  Symptoms include redness, burning, itching, tearing, light sensitivity, blurred vision and mucous discharge.
  • Corneal Edema (swelling) – Extended contact lens wear decreases the oxygen supply to the cornea and can cause increased fluid in the cornea. It can cause blurred vision and halos around lights.
  • Neovascularization – The cornea normally doesn’t have any blood vessels. When it is deprived of oxygen (by over wearing contact lenses), the body responds by growing new blood vessels, hoping to increase oxygen to the cornea. This abnormal blood vessel growth can interfere with vision. The new vessels are also weak and can hemorrhage and cause blindness.
  • Corneal Abrasion/Corneal Ulcer – Again, due to the lack of oxygen, the surface cells on the cornea become weak and easily damaged.  Corneal abrasions or corneal ulcers can form causing very serious infection and complications that can lead to blindness.

These complications can be caused both by wearing a contact lens too long in a day (or overnight) or by not replacing your lenses according to your optometrist's recommendations.  Either way, the eye is subject to less oxygen and more irritation and bacterial growth.  The blurred vision, pain, light sensitivity and potential scarring can be greatly reduced or eliminated by responsible contact lens wear.  If any of these symptoms occur, remove your contact lenses immediately and get checked by your optometrist.

*Image found here

Prevent vision loss with Vitamin E

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Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant for the body. In particular, it plays an important role in eye health by preventing age related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people over 55 years old). Studies show that it can reduce the progression for those who have AMD, and also prevents the formation of cataracts. 

Delicious sources of Vitamin E include nuts, vegetable oils, sweet potatoes, and salads.

*Image credits: salad, sweet potatoes, nuts.

Help us cheer on the Golden Bears!

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“Keep your eyes on the ball! Watch your man!”

eye-bar is proud to sponsor the University of Alberta Golden Bears football game against UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday! We’re spreading awareness of the specific eye care needs that fast-paced, high-impact athletes may not realize they have. eye-bar is giving away a pair of Oakley sunglasses to the player of the game, helping them bask in the glory in style!

We’re doing what we can to keep their eyes healthy because, just like them, we like to win. Come cheer on our team with us on Saturday, September 29th at 1:00pm at Foote Field!

For ticket information, follow this link. See you there!

*Photo credit

Vitamin C for Healthy Eyes

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Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is a major player in eye health. It maintains lens transparency, prevents cataracts, and fights against age-related macular degeneration. The retina needs to be surrounded by vitamin C to protect itself from free radicals and promote healing if damaged. Our bodies do not naturally create vitamin C when needed, so including this in your diet is a critical part of keeping your eyes (and virtually all cells in your body) functioning properly.

Excellent sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and broccoli. There are many tasty vitamin C supplements available from the drug store, too.

*Image credits: broccoli, tomatoes, citrus fruits.

health: Is It Time to Quit?

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Smoking is a leading contributor to many serious eye health conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, vascular eye disease and optic neuropathy. Smoking contributes to early atherosclerosis which results in pre-mature hardening of the arteries throughout the body and reduced blood flow to the eye.

To help reduce your risk of sever vision loss in the future, it may be time to consider quitting or at least reducing how much you smoke on a daily basis. With your permission, your eye-bar optometrist can sign you up for the free AlbertaQuits Helpline by Alberta Health Care. The AlbertaQuits Helpline will pair you up with a smoking Cessation Counsellor who will guide you through the process and act as a resource. They will help you with quitting methods and aids, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, stress management, cravings, preventing weight gain, and getting through temporary relapses.

To learn more about this program please visit AlbertaQuits.ca.

Eat your way to healthier eyes

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You know the age-old idea of eating carrots to maintain healthy eyes? Well, there is a reason for it. Beta-carotene is an important anti-oxidant that keeps eyes working correctly, and happens to be responsible for the orange color of carrots and other produce. Beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A in your body which is used in the process of converting light into the actual images you see, and keeping your cornea moist. 

This antioxidant is easy to find: carrots, apricots, cantaloupes, peaches, blueberries, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, and most of the dark green leafy vegetables.

*photo credits: carrots, peaches, winter squashes.

A Common Vision Problem – Nearsightedness

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Nearsightedness (myopia) is a common vision condition by which people have problems focusing on objects in the distance. Close up vision tends not to be altered however, except in cases of very high nearsighted.

Nearsighted is one of the primary reasons why people schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor. Symptoms may include difficulty driving, taking notes in the classroom or boardroom, or recognizing a friends face from afar. Nearsighted people may find themselves trying to squint their eyes in order to better focus on distant objects, which can lead to frontal and temporal headaches.

Perceptually, nearsighted people often experience greater distance blur at night or in low lighting versus during daylight or bright lighting. This sends conflicting messages and can delay booking an appointment with an eye doctor. Regardless of the lighting though, images tend to seem slightly fuzzy and lack definition.

Nearsightedness can be a progressive condition, where by the amount of correction required may slowly increase over time. Nearsighted is the result of light focusing in front of the retina. This can be the result of an increase in the overall lenght of the eye. As such, routine eye exams by an eye doctor are recommended.

Common urban myths surround nearsighted include:

Wearing eyeglasses makes your vision worse - False

Not wearing your eyeglasses helps to strengthen or improve your vision - False

People who are diagnosed as being nearsighted by an eye doctor have treatment options. Treatment options for nearsightedness include: eyeglasses, contact lenses and refractive eye surgery procedures. Your eye doctor can help you to determine which treatment option is best suited for you.

Are you nearsighted?

Book your next eye exam in Sherwood Park with an eye-bar optometrist.

eye-bar optometry in Sherwood Park - Eye Exams, Contact Lenses, Emergency Visits & Ophthalmology Referrals