Here’s why The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a child’s first eye exam to be between age 6-9 months. A comprehensive eye exam is more than just checking vision and reading letters (which we know your baby can’t do!). By looking inside your eyes, an optometrist can help detect potentially seriously health conditions such as brain tumours, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
May is Vision Health month!
Dr Lee is representing the Ontario Association of Optometrists at the Pri-Med Canada Exhibit, one of the largest medical conferences in Ontario. We’re meeting family physicians, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners and sharing the importance of eye health and vision care!
Beware of online “eye exams.” This TV station put one to the test, and unsurprisingly, it failed.
Online sight tests are NOT a replacement for a comprehensive eye health examination! Even on their website, it says, “Because our services are not a replacement for an eye health examination, we encourage everyone to obtain a comprehensive eye health exam at least once every 2 years.”
So you pay an extra $40 for just your glasses prescription, which you would get included as part of your regular eye examination, which you need to have done anyways. Also, you have to wait a day for them to email your prescription… which they might not be able to provide you with after all (see video)! At least they refunded her money. Furthermore, contact lenses are a medical device, and cannot be properly prescribed without assessing how they look ON your eyes and whether they are moving correctly.
This doesn’t save you time or money, because you end up paying extra money for a service that is included in an eye exam, and you have to wait a day to get your results…. Sounds like a terrible deal!
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide and as many as 4.5 million people are blind because of it. This number will rise to 11.2 million by 2020.
“It’s one of those things that is very advanced by the time people have symptoms. That’s why it’s really important to have an eye exam with a doctor of optometry to ensure it’s being monitored or that it’s caught early and treated so you don’t have vision loss.” – Dr. Maggie Gibb
Click here to read more
Damage from glaucoma starts gradually and subtly, so that by the time you notice any changes in your vision, it is already advanced. The damage is mostly irreversible once it has occurred, so it’s important to detect it early and start treatment early to slow down progression.
If you are…
– over the age of 40
– have a family member with glaucoma
– are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage
– have high eye pressure
– have had an eye injury
– have corneas that are thin; or
– have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor circulation, or other health problems affecting the whole body
…then you are more at risk of developing glaucoma. Come in for a comprehensive eye exam, and talk to Dr. Lee about your risk of getting glaucoma. She will let you know how often you need to come in for follow up exams.
Early detection and treatment can protect your vision. If you haven’t had an complete eye exam in the last 1-2 years, you need to schedule a complete eye disease assessment, even if you don’t need glasses or have any symptoms.
Call (905) 666-4848 to schedule an eye appointment today!
Whitby Vision Care was voted the Top Optician in Durham Region based on quality, service, image, value, and professionalism!
We do our best to provide exceptional service and quality products, and are honoured to be recognized for it!