General FAQs

  1.   What is an optometrist?
  2.   What educational requirements are needed to become an optometrist?
  3.   What is ASTIGMATISM?
  4.   What is a CATARACT?
  5.   What is COLOUR BLINDNESS?
  6.   Can sitting in front of a COMPUTER damage my eyes?
  7.   What is CONJUNCTIVITIS (also known as ‘pink eye’)?
  8.   How can DIABETES affect the eye?
  9.   Why do I need to have my eyes DILATED during by eye exam?
  10.   What is DRY EYE?
  11.   What is FARSIGHTEDNESS?
  12.   What causes a FLOATER in the eye?
  13.   What is GLAUCOMA?
  14.   What is a “LAZY EYE” and can it be treated?
  15.   What is NEARSIGHTEDNESS?
  16.   What is PRESBYOPIA?
  17.   What is important when choosing a pair of SUNGLASSES?
  18.   What is the significance of the numbers 20/20?

Answers

  1.   What is an optometrist?
  A.   The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) defines an optometrist as "an independent primary health care provider who specializes in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of disease and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as the diagnosis of ocular manifestations of systemic conditions".
     As primary eye care providers, an optometrist's main responsibilities are:
    
  1. The examination of the human eye by any method (other than surgery), to diagnose, treat, and/or refer for treatment any abnormal condition of the eye, in cooperation with physicians and other health professionals.
  2. The employment of instruments, procedures or agents to measure, examine or diagnose visual defects or abnormal conditions of the eye.
  3. The prescribing, fitting and application of glasses, contact lenses or other devices to correct, relieve or treat the eye.
  4. The prescription, supervision and management of therapy for the improvement/monitoring of visual health.
  5. The referral of patients to other health practitioners as required.
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  2.   What educational requirements are needed to become an optometrist?
  A.   Most Optometrists complete a four-year bachelor's degree before beginning the four-year program leading to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree. Traditionally, but not exclusively, the 4-year undergraduate degree is a science degree. About 10% complete an additional resident or post-graduate program in a particular area of interest.
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  3.   What is ASTIGMATISM?
  A.   Astigmatism is a vision condition in which light entering the eye is unable to be brought to a single focus, resulting in blurred distance and near vision. Astigmatism is not a disease, but a common condition, which typically is seen in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness.
     Usually it is a result of the front surface of the eye (cornea) not being perfectly round like a basketball, but shaped more like a football. Astigmatism is correctable with spectacle lenses and contact lenses in most cases.
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  4.   What is a CATARACT?
  A.   A cataract is defined as a partial or complete loss of transparency within the lens in our eye, which sits behind the pupil. Many people may describe it as a film or cloudiness in their vision.
     Cataract surgery is not recommended for minor symptoms such as blur or halos at night, but is suggested when the cataract begins to interfere with the quality of vision. It is primarily seen as part of the aging process, but can also occur in infants and youth.
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  5.   What is COLOUR BLINDNESS?
  A.   Colour deficiency (commonly called colour blindness) occurs when your ability to distinguish certain colours and shades is less than normal. The term "colour blind" is often used, but typically incorrectly.
     Only a very small number of people are completely unable to identify any colours. The most common type is a ‘red-green’ deficiency and results in the inability to distinguish certain shades of red and green.
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  6.   Can sitting in front of a COMPUTER damage my eyes?
  A.   Many individuals who work at a computer experience visual fatigue and discomfort. However, based on current evidence, it is unlikely that the use of computers causes any permanent damage to the eyes or the vision system.
     Many potential vision problems can be reduced by appropriate adjustment and placement of the computer, proper workplace design and lighting control, taking regular breaks away from the monitor and routine professional eye care.
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  7.   What is CONJUNCTIVITIS (also known as ‘pink eye’)?
  A.   Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, transparent layer covering the white surface on the front of the eye. The ‘pink eye’ term came from the traditionally white part of the eye being more pink or reddish in colour. It may be contagious if it is bacterial or viral in origin, particularly if discharge is present. However, "pink eye" is just one of many types of conjunctivitis.
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  8.   How can DIABETES affect the eye?
  A.   Visual symptoms of diabetes include fluctuating vision, occasional double vision, and blurred vision. In the early stages of diabetes, you may not experience any symptoms, but the signs of diabetes can be detected in our optometric examination. The most serious eye problem associated with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.
     Diabetic retinopathy is a result of poor circulation in the retina of the eye. In the earlier stages, the blood vessels leak blood and other fluid into the eye. Then, there can be a growth of new blood vessels that break, bleed and may cause a retinal detachment. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the major causes of blindness in Canada. Not all diabetic patients develop diabetic retinopathy.
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  9.   Why do I need to have my eyes DILATED during by eye exam?
  A.   When the pupil is functioning normally, shining a bright light into a person's eyes causes the pupil to constrict or to get smaller. Using dilating drops allows the optometrist to use their instruments to evaluate the deeper structures of the eye through a larger pupil.
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  10.   What is DRY EYE?
  A.   Dry eye primarily occurs when the tear glands do not produce enough tears or there is an improper chemical composition of the tear film. Dry eye symptoms can also result from poor environmental conditions, improper blinking or closure of the eyelids, as a side effect from medications (antihistamines, oral contraceptives, antidepressants) and as a result of autoimmune disease (arthritis, lupus).
     Dry eye is more common in woman than men and also more common as we age. Often, it can be simply managed by adding artificial tears to the eye.
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  11.   What is FARSIGHTEDNESS?
  A.   Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a vision condition in which the eyes need to focus more than normal for clear vision. Blur and eyestrain depend on the amount of farsightedness and the amount of focusing ability, which decreases with age. In children, extreme cases of farsightedness may cause the eyes to cross.
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  12.   What causes a FLOATER in the eye?
  A.   Floaters may be associated with several problems, including vitreal debris and a retinal detachment. Most commonly they are caused by shrinkage of the jelly (vitreous) that fills the back two-thirds of the eye. As the vitreous shrinks or shifts, a shadow is formed on the back of the eye and is perceived as a floater. A more serious complication would be that as the vitreous shifts, it pulls or tugs on the retina causing a retinal tear or detachment. An immediate dilated examination is recommended to rule out any serious conditions.
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  13.   What is GLAUCOMA?
  A.   Glaucoma is a progressive disease of the optic nerve. In a significant number of cases, the intraocular pressure (pressure inside of the eye) increases and damages the nerve tissue. This could be due an inadequate drainage system or an overproduction of fluid. It is a painless form of blindness which cannot be cured, but it can be controlled by medications. There are many different types of glaucoma and it is one of the leading causes of blindness in North America.
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  14.   What is a “LAZY EYE” and can it be treated?
  A.   A lazy eye is an eye that does not see clearly despite lens correction, but does not have a disease. Corrective glasses and/or contact lenses are often used to treat a lazy or an amblyopic eye. In addition, we may recommend patching the better eye to stimulate vision in the weaker eye. Surgery may also be necessary if there is a significant turning of the eye(s). Unfortunately, not every amblyopic eye can achieve good vision. But, early identification and treatment is critical if giving your child the best chance for attaining good vision.
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  15.   What is NEARSIGHTEDNESS?
  A.   Nearsightedness (myopia) is a vision condition in which you can usually see near objects clearly, but cannot see distant ones as clearly.
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  16.   What is PRESBYOPIA?
  A.   Presbyopia is a normal aging vision condition in which the natural lens loses its flexibility. This results in a progressive difficulty in focusing on close objects, but has little to no affect on your distance vision. The typical correction is either reading glasses or a bifocal.
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  17.   What is important when choosing a pair of SUNGLASSES?
  A.   No matter which sunglass style or tint colour you choose, the most important factor is blocking out 99% to 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation. Different shades of tint are comfortable to different individuals, but the grey colour is a good ‘all round’ tint for most people. Lens quality is also an important consideration.
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  18.   What is the significance of the numbers 20/20?
  A.   The 20/20 visual measurement means that at 20 feet away you see a size 20 letter. The first or upper number is the distance away that the vision is checked and the second number is the size of the letter that you can read. Thus, the larger the second number - the poorer the vision. Therefore, 20/20 vision is better than 20/30 vision.
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