When should my child have ther first eye exam?

A good age to have their eyes examined is before they start kindergarten; however, if you notice a problem like an lazy eye or blurred vision then they should be seen right away. Blurred vision can be noticed in a young child when they can not see a plane in the sky or ants on the ground, which you can see. We can examine children of all age's even babies. Through a series of objective test we can determine the child's prescriptrion whithout asking them a single queston. So if you are ever unsure bring them in.

How often should I have my eyes checked?

It is recommended that you have your eyes checked every year. An exam is much more than just determining your prescription. We also check your binocular function which is how well your eyes work together. We also assess your eye health and check for glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, but we also can pick up on other systemic conditions like high blood pressure, braintumors, high cholesterol and diabetes just to name a few. The eye is the window to many systemic condition because it is the only non-evasive way to view blood vessels in action.

Why can't I see up close now that I am over 40

It is called prebyopia and it is when you gradually lose the ability to focus on near objects, which is when people say they can't read because there arms aren't long enough. What we now believe is happening is the lens in your eye gets bigger with age and there is just not enough room for the lens to focus. Just when you thought bifocals were bad news, you will eventually lose all your focusing ablility and need trifocals. At this time, laser sugery can not correct it, but there is hope.

What is Monovision?

Monovision is when either with contact lenses or lasik surgery the dominate eye is set for distance and the other is set for near; therefore, allowing the patient to see both near and far without glasses. Monovision is used for patients, who are presbyopic, an age-related process of losing your reading vision over time. Most people adapt quite well and some patients find it useful to have a pair glasses to go over the contacts for driving at night.

Does it damage your eyes to read in the dark?

This is an age old wise tail that is simply no true. Reading in the dark does not damage your eyes in any way. It is easier to read with the light on, of course; however, reading in the dark or in dim light is just harder to do. The most that could happen is some eye strain or at the worst a headache, but ther will be no permanent damage.

Is sitting too close to the TV bad for your eyes?

No, but you want to make sure you are at least 18 inches away from the screen. Not because it is bad for your eyes but because of the electromagnetic field which is around all devices that uses electrical current to operate. The electromagnetic waves or EM waves have been linked to some health risks. As to why children like to sit up close to the TV. I believe that it is like a big screen TV to them, as long as they stay at least 18 inches away. They should be fine.

What are those spots I see floating in my vision?

The spots are called floaters, which range from small black spots to cob webs, and they are condensations of the vitreous gel inside your eye. When light comes into the eye it casts a shadow on the retinal and is perceived as a spot. They are generally harmless especially if you have had them a long time. There is no treatment other than trying to ignore them. However, if you discover new ones this could be a sign of a more serious condition called a retinal detachment and you should have a dilated eye exam immediately.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which increased fluid pressure in the eye causes damage to the optic nerve. Unless it is recognized and treated, loss of vision can occur. Most patients with glaucoma have a chronic form the slowly causes damage to the optic nerve, so slowly that the patient may not even realize it. Most of these patients are treated with eye drops to help lower the pressure. However, laser or surgical treatment may be necessary if the pressure is not controlled.

My eye twitches sometimes should I be concerned?

No, whether your eyelid or your eyeball twitches there is no concern. All we know is that it is related to stress and there really is no treatment. The best thing you can do is just tolerate it. Some reports have indicated that drinking tonic water may help; however, there are no guidelines as how much to drink. One should probably not exceed more than 4 glassed daily. In extreme cases where the twitching is non-stop Botox injections can provide temporary relief.

Is my child old enough to wear contact lenses?

In reality, there's no one answer. Physically the eyes can tolerate contact lenses at a very young age. Some babies are fitted with contact lenses due to eye conditions present at birth. What parents are really asking is, "Is my child mature enough to wear contact lenses? eye care practitioners can offer guidelines and recommendations, but only parents can answer that question. So if you, as a parent, feel your child is good at taking on new responsbilities then the answer is yes.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that effects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging; however, other causes include trauma, prolonged sun exposure and the side effect of certain drugs. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract sugery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. Wearing sunglasses and taking antioxidants may reduce your risk fo developing cataracts at a young age.

My eyes water frequently what does that mean?

This is a very common problem and it simply means your eyes are dry. This, at first, may not make sense, "My eyes water how can they be dry." The treatment is usually lubrication drops which are even more confusing. Well, when the eyes become dry your brain sends the signal to produces more tears, but for whatever reasons it over produces the amount needed and your eye waters. Using lubricating drops regulary prevents the brain from sending the signals to produce more tears and therefore your eyes don't water.

Why do you need to dilate my eyes?

When the pupil is un-dilated it is harder to see the back of your eye or retina and when the pupil is dilated it is easier to look in. For example, looking into your eye un-dilated is like looking into a room through a key hole and when we dilate it is like opening the door to look in. Therefore, it makes it easier to look in and we are also able to see more strutures of the retina with a stereoscopic or 3D view.

What does 20/20 mean?

20/20 is just a ratio of distance over size. The first 20 is the test distance (20 feet) and the second 20 is the size of the letters in visual arc minutes. The first number is almost always 20 and when the second number is higher than twenty i.e. 20/40 or 20/60 etc. the worse the visual acuity. When the second number is smaller than twenty i.e. 20/15 the better the visual acuity. The best vision the human eye can have is 20/10 anything smaller than that the human eye can not discern.

Is it bad for my eyes if I do not wear my glasses?

It depends on what your prescription is but generally it is not a problem. In most cases the worse thing that could happen is blurred vision, eye strain and or a headache. If you have glasses and need them to see clearly in the distance you should wear them for dirving. There are some cases where you should always wear your glasses. Always check with your doctor if you are ever unsure.

My child holds their book really close to their face should I be concerned?

Assuming that your child does not need glasses there is no concern. Children have a tenancy to hold things close to make the letters or picture look bigger. As much is you would think that it would cause eye strain it does not, children have a very powerful focusing system and are rarely bothered by reading close to their work.