Common Eye Tests Done During A Regular Eye Exam

Regular eye exam is advisable for all ages. It should not just be for adults. Do you know that there is an increasing number of young people who are already diagnosed to have eye problems? This is the reason why everyone, regardless of age, should consider getting eye exam on a regular basis.

A comprehensive eye exam will only take roughly an hour. This is done by an optometrist or eye doctor. During the eye exam, you will undergo several types of tests that are designed to measure your vision and eye health.

Ottawa optometrist performing regular eye exam

There are many different tests depending on your individual needs, but these are the most common:

Cover Test

When the eyes don’t work together, it causes eye problems such as lazy eye, crossed eye, or lack of depth perception. Lazy eyes is medically termed as amblyopia. It is when the eyes are not lined up. Sometimes one eye is farsighted and the other is not. Other times, one eye is blurry and the other is clear.

Crossed eye, on the other hand, is medically termed as strabismus. This is the condition wherein the eyes can’t look at the same direction at the same time. The cause for strabismus is poor eye muscle control. Another common cause of crossed eye is extreme farsightedness.

Both lazy eye and crossed eye can cause lack of depth perception. Since for both conditions, the eyes are not coordinated, getting depth perception becomes quite a challenge as this requires two functioning eyes.

Cover test is used to determine misalignment and miscoordination of the eyes. The procedure is done by covering one eye first for about 1-2 seconds. While the eye is covered, the other eye is observed if there is any change in the fixation. The same thing is done with the other eye. The optometrist will be able to see if the patient suffers from heterotropia or tropia based on the observation.

Visual Acuity Test

This test measures how sharp and clear your vision is. The optometrist will ask you to read different letters in shifting sizes and distance. Each eye will be tested. One eye will be covered first then you will be asked to read the letters. After which, the cover will be on the other and the test will be repeated.

For this test, the Snellen chart is used. Sometimes a visual card is used. The standard distance for the test is 20 feet or 6 meters away; however, if the optometrist finds it necessary to test your eyes at a distance that is shorter than the usual 6 meters, the optometrist will use a specialized chart.

Eye Movement Test

This is a very easy test that entails looking at and following with your eyes the movement of an object presented by the optometrist. What is tested are the muscles of the eyes. The optometrist wants to see if the muscles are functioning properly.

Color Perception Test

This test measures your ability to identify and distinguish different colors. You will be asked to cover one eye and you will be presented a card with colored dot patterns. Inside the pattern is either a number or a symbol which you will have to identify. The number or symbol is usually hidden and a bit difficult to see. The test will also be performed on the other eye.

There are different eye tests and the ones mentioned here are the most common. Through these exams, the optometrist or eye doctor will be able to diagnose whether you have a vision or eye problem. Get your eyes checked now by your Ottawa optometrist.

 

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.

kids wearing contact lenses

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

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:

woman wearing ski goggles to protect eyes

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:

wear goggles and dust mask during spring cleaning to protect eyes

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:

optometrist advises to wear swim goggles when swimming

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:

woman wearing sunglasses during autumn season

Throughout the year, you will need your sunglasses. Even if you feel you don’t need it during the fall season, you still do because there is still the risk of the UV rays. Make sure to wash your hands frequently to avoid causing any bacteria to enter your eyes when you happen to touch them.

Fall is also the season of allergies, just like the spring season. Always keep an anti-allergy medication and eye drop ready in case of allergy. It is best to consult your Ottawa optometrist for eye medications that can help relieve or prevent allergy symptoms.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall – no matter what’s the season, you should always protect your eyes. These tips will ensure that you will have good eye health throughout the year.

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.

Tips to improve vision health infographic

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.

definition of nearsightedness and farsightedness and their differences

 

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.

Tips on how to take care of the eyes when using technology devices like computers and smart phones

 

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:

 

How to protect your eyes as you grow older

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.

Five eye symptoms that can signal health problems

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.

the effects of blue light

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.

five types of technology for correcting your vision