Eye Health Resources

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Some foods that are particularly good for your eyes and offer nutrients and vitamins your eyes need to stay healthy. If your diet includes orange peppers, kale, spinach, berries, and kiwis, you’re on the right track. Five Eye-healthy Foods to Include in Your Diet: Orange peppers are rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C, to help keep eyes sharp. Kiwi is the highest fruit source of vitamin C, which helps to

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Video: How can I tell if my child needs glasses? | Dr. Sharmin Habib The development of the visual system continues into early childhood. Glasses prescription does not stabilize until late adolescent to early adulthood. Until that time, children may struggle with symptoms of blurry vision, trouble focusing or poor binocular vision, which is the ability for the two eyes to work together. Since children are still

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Know the risks Similar to how UV radiation from the sun can be very damaging to the skin, it can be harmful to the eyes. UV damage to the eyes can result cumulatively over time or from a short period of exposure, oftentimes leading to long-term eye health conditions. These conditions include sunburn to the front of the eye (photokeratitis), 2 sunburn to the back of the eye (solar retinopathy), 3 cataracts, 4,5

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Many people want full, long, dramatic eyelashes. It is not surprising that a recent trend in the beauty industry is the application of eyelash extensions. Eyelash extensions are usually done by aestheticians or technicians in a spa or a salon. The extensions are made from either synthetic fiber such as nylon, or natural fibers such as silk or mink, and the eyelash extension strands are secured to the base of a p

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) What are the risks to the eyes when playing a sport? The risks of eye injuries vary from low to high depending on the type of sport you are participating in; however, no sport is exempt. High-risk sports for eye injuries include baseball, basketball, lacrosse, hockey, paintball, and full contact martial arts. 1 Some of the most common types of eye injuries that happen while playing sports include: Blunt Trauma i

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Most VR headsets contain two small LCD monitors, each projected at one eye, creating a stereoscopic effect which gives users the illusion of depth. These monitors are positioned very close to the eyes and have caused experts to wonder about possible negative effects, especially when used for long periods of time. These concerns are real, because eye strain is likely whenever one focuses on an object for an exten

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Glaucoma Lasers have been used to help treat nerve damage caused by glaucoma for years.  In narrow angle glaucoma, a laser is used to make a small hole in the peripheral part of the iris, causing it to fall away from the natural drainage meshwork and allowing better aqueous outflow. For open angle glaucoma, the laser can be used directly on the meshwork to create a chemical and biological change to the tissue, r

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) What is myopia?1 Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a visual condition in which near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects are blurry and do not come into proper focus. Why does myopia occur? 1-4 When the eyeball is too long or if the front of the eye (cornea) is too curved, light entering the eye is not focused properly onto the back of the eye (retina). The retina is the sensory layer of the eye

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Here are some tips to consider leading up to the day of the surgery: It is important to maintain good eye health before undergoing cataract surgery. Your optometrist may recommend eyelid hygiene and dry eye treatments. These precautions have shown to improve comfort and vision after surgery. 1 Generally, a consultation appointment is set up prior to the surgery. Discuss risks, different lens implant options and

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Your best choice is to see your doctor of optometry for a routine  eye exam  to ensure good vision and eye health. Early diagnosis and treatment are keys to preventing vision loss. Don’t assume that red eyes, pain or unusual visual symptoms will go away on their own. You can never be sure: some eye diseases only show symptoms when the condition is advanced and difficult, or even impossible, to treat. It’s about

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) Video: Why does my eyelid twitch? | Dr. Lloyd Mah Eyelid twitches are quite common and mostly benign; however, they are often irritating or somewhat embarrassing. There are more fast twitch muscle fibers in the eyelids than anywhere else in your body and when your general health is not quite right, the fast twitch muscle fibers will contract erratically showing up noticeably in the lids. Most eyelid twitches com

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) “I have 20/20 vision” are words you may have uttered while bragging about having tip-top eyesight, however, it’s not that simple. In fact, it’s highly probable that many people don’t even know what those numbers means. 20/20 vision only represents the clarity of your vision when viewing objects 20 feet in the distance, CNIB explains. Normal vision is known as “20/20”. This simply means that the eye being tested

Structure of the eye. Source:  OpenStax College via Wikimedia Commons Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) The front surface of the eye is called the cornea , a transparent layer that offers protection and allows for light to enter the eye. Surrounding the cornea is the white parts of the eye called the sclera , which wraps around and provides the round structure of the eyeball. Behind the cornea is a fluid-filled space called the anterior chamber

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) What is hyperopia? Farsightedness, or hyperopia, as it is medically termed, is a visual condition in which distant objects are easier to see than near objects.   Why does hyperopia occur? If the length of your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, near objects cannot be brought into a sharp and clearly focused image on the retina. Hyperopia may be hereditary or it may result from environme

Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) What causes allergies? 1-3 Allergies are common and can develop at any age. Seasonal allergies occur during specific times of the year, generally in spring when allergens such as pollen from trees, grass and weed is released into the environment. Perennial allergies are present year round and are triggered by allergens such as dust. If you have an allergy, these allergens are perceived as foreign particles by yo

Video: What is dry eye? by CAO and Dr. Shawn Poitras Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) What is dry eye? The surface of the eye is coated with a layer of tears. Dry eye occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or produce tears without the proper chemical composition. 1   What causes dry eye? Many factors can contribute to dry eye, including aging, hormonal changes, UV exposure, environmental conditions (e.g., exposure to air pollution, win