When it comes to your vision, it’s important to pay attention to changes or discomfort you may experience. By knowing what signs to watch out for, you can detect potentially-developing conditions early—when they’re often most treatable—and work together with an eye care professional to help your vision remain clear. But how can you tell if you need glasses in the first place?

Typically, the first sign of a vision problem or refractive error is blurry or double vision. However, this isn’t the only sign that you may need glasses! It’s also common to experience:

• Eye strain
• Headaches
• Glare at night
• Dry eye syndrome
• Difficulty reading things up close

It’s also important to note that if you have a family member with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), you’re significantly more likely to develop these conditions yourself. It’s essential to regularly visit your optometrist for comprehensive eye exams so they can monitor your vision.

Blurry Vision

Blurry vision is one of the first signs that you need glasses. If you notice that objects at a distance appear fuzzy, blurry, or just simply unclear, it’s time to visit the eye doctor. Blurry vision can be caused by myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or many other eye conditions. 

These conditions cause light entering the eye to refract improperly and hit different points than it should, leading to blurred images. Blurry vision shouldn’t be ignored—even if it’s only temporary, it could be an indicator of a serious eye disease or condition developing. 

Double Vision

Experiencing double vision is often an indicator that your eyes aren’t as healthy as they should be. This occurs when your eyes aren’t working together properly, causing overlapping or duplicate images to be processed and sent to your brain. 

This can be caused by several factors, such as astigmatism or cataracts developing, or could be linked to a problem such as your eyes themselves being misaligned. In some extreme cases, it could even be a sign of a neurological disorder developing.

It’s important that if you experience double vision, whether temporary or long-term, to visit an optometrist as soon as you can.

Eye Strain

In today’s day and age, with so much access to screens, eye strain has become more and more common. While eye strain is often linked to screen use, that isn’t the sole cause—eye strain can be caused by many different things, like:

• Driving long distances
• Reading too much
• Dry air
• Too much time indoors
• Stress

However, environmental factors aren’t always the cause. In many cases, eye strain can be a sign of an underlying visual problem or refractive error.

Headaches

Frequent headaches can be directly caused by vision problems. If your eyes are straining or working too hard to see clearly and focus, it can lead to a tension headache developing. If you notice that you’re often experiencing headaches after reading, using digital devices, or engaging in a task that’s visually demanding, it may be linked to a vision problem.

An optometrist can examine your eyes, test your visual acuity, and determine if a refractive error or other condition could be contributing to your headaches. 

Difficulty Reading

If you’re noticing it’s becoming increasingly difficult to read books, newspapers, or print of any kind, you may need prescription eyeglasses. Difficulty reading can be caused by many different visual conditions, but one of the more common causes is presbyopia—the lens of your eye slowly losing its ability to focus on nearby objects. This condition is commonly associated with age.

Presbyopia can be treated through the use of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to help you see comfortably at nearby distances.

Dry Eye Syndrome

One of the more common causes of vision conditions developing is dry eye syndrome, also known as dry eye. Dry eye can be caused by all sorts of things, but each of them has to do with your tear production. Your tears are responsible for keeping your eyes hydrated and moisturized, but if there’s an issue with tear quality or quantity, it can lead to dry eyes.

This condition can also be caused by environmental, medical, and lifestyle factors, like:

• Dust or dirt in the air
• Prolonged screen use
• Medical conditions like diabetic retinopathy
• Contact lenses
• Smoking

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that affects millions of people every year. It’s important to visit an optometrist so they can diagnose the root cause of your dry eye syndrome and help you make a plan to treat this condition.

Night Glare

If you’re experiencing a glare at night or a halo around light sources when it’s darker out, you may be developing a vision problem. Conditions like astigmatism, cataracts, or problems developing with your cornea can cause light rays to scatter as they enter your eye, leading to sources of light appearing blurry or circular. 

This can cause difficulty seeing at night and can impair your ability to navigate safely after dark, making driving and walking unsafe due to the glare. 

How to Tell When to Visit an Optometrist

Your vision makes a significant impact on your quality of life, so it’s important that you note changes to it. If you develop any problems with your vision, you should visit an optometrist as soon as you can so they can diagnose the root cause of your problem. They can help you make a plan to treat your vision problems accordingly.

It’s recommended that adults visit the optometrist at least once a year for regular comprehensive eye exams. To speak with a caring and educated professional today, schedule an appointment with us here at River Heights Eye Care!

The post Do I Need Glasses? Signs It’s Time to See Your Eye Doctor first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

Vision is an important part of our everyday lives, and our eye health helps keep our vision clear. But sometimes, even when we take care of those aspects of our health, such as with regularly scheduled eye exams, there are some diseases that can still affect our eyes. 

These diseases are not to be confused with eye diseases. They are other diseases of the body that could potentially affect your eyes. For example, 5 diseases that can affect your eyes include Crohn's disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, Lyme disease, and diabetes. 

Learning about the diseases that can affect your eyes can help you make adjustments to support your overall health and your eye health. 

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a condition that mainly affects your bowel. This is an inflammatory disease that causes swelling of the tissues in your digestive tract and can cause abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. While many of the symptoms of this disease affect your digestive tract, it can affect other areas of your body as well. 

Crohn’s is an inflammatory disease that affects other organs of your body, such as your eyes. In fact, Crohn’s disease can cause several different types of inflammation in the eye:

• Episcleritis: This is a common eye complication associated with Crohn’s. It involves inflammation that affects the white tissue of the eyes under the eyelids and can cause redness and sore eyes. Episcleritis often does not have any effect on your vision.
• Scleritis: This condition affects the white areas of the eye. This is a severe condition which can cause pain and reduce your vision. Scleritis is more common in older patients.
• Uveitis: With IBD, uveitis commonly affects the iris of the eye. Symptoms of this condition can include red, irritated eyes, sensitivity to light, headaches, and blurred vision.
• Cataract and dry eyes: IBD can be associated with blurred vision or ‘clouding’ of the eye caused by some steroid medications. If this occurs, you may need to change the treatment and medication you use for IBD. 

Kidney Disease

Your kidneys filter your blood and extra water from your system to get rid of any access waste. If you have problems with your kidneys, your blood may not be filtered the way that it should be.

For those who have kidney disease, eye complications and problems can come on without any warning. It is important to make sure that you are taking care of your eyes and speaking to both your kidney doctor as well as your optometrist to ensure you can take care of problems that arise early on. 

Some of the symptoms that can affect your eyes are sore, red, or dry eyes. This can be eased by controlling the phosphate and calcium levels in your blood. While kidney complications are not the only cause of dry eyes, they can be triggered or made worse by changes in kidney function. 

Retinopathy can be caused by kidney disease as well. It often occurs as a result of high blood pressure in the body. This can damage the small blood vessels in the retina and must be treated right away because it can lead to vision loss or blindness. 

Thyroid Disease

Thyroid eye disease is an immune system disorder which causes inflammation in the tissue and muscles around your eyes. 

There are many symptoms that you may experience with this disease, with some being quite mild and others being more serious. This condition can affect the area of your head where your eyes sit, causing your eyes to bulge out. One potential symptom is swelling that can make it difficult to close your eyes. 

Other symptoms that you may experience with thyroid eye disease are:

• Light sensitivity 
• Redness in the whites of your eyes
• Double vision 
• Watery or dry eyes
• Pain or pressure 
• Eye irritation

Lyme Disease 

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is transferred to humans through bites of infected ticks. One of the potential initial symptoms of Lyme disease is a rash somewhere on the body that appears after being bitten. 

There are many Lyme disease symptoms that a person can experience, such as joint pain or headaches, but the exact symptoms can differ from person to person because there can be many diseases carried in one bite from an infected tick. 

When you have Lyme disease, your vision and your eyes can be affected during the early and later stages of the disease. Some of the symptoms you could experience include:

• Visual fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Double vision 
• Headaches associated with visual activity 
• Eye inflammation 
• Eye floaters
• Sensitivity to light. 

Diabetes 

When you have diabetes, your body is prevented from making and using insulin, which can result in increased levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes can affect your eye health in several ways. Some of the conditions associated with diabetes include:

• Nearsightedness and farsightedness 
• Premature presbyopia 

• Glaucoma
• Paralysis of the nerves that control parts of the eye 
• Cataracts
• Retinopathy

There are also specific visual symptoms that you may experience when you have diabetes. These symptoms could include:

• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Loss of visual field 
• Occasional double vision
• Flashes and floaters within the eyes

When you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk for complications and blindness. It is very important to schedule regular diabetic eye exams to ensure that your eye health is being monitored. 

How Do I Manage My Eye Health?  

Managing your eye health along with a disease can sometimes be difficult, but you can get help. During your regular eye exam, our optometrists at River Heights Eye Care can help answer any questions that you might have and provide guidance specific to your eye care needs. There are various levels of care needed depending on which condition you might be experiencing. 

Learn More

If you have questions about how your eye health can be affected by diseases, book your appointment with the optometrists at River Heights Eye Care. Your health is important, and we are here to help care for your eyes. 

The post 5 Diseases That Can Affect Your Eyes first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

Eye exams are as important as an annual checkup at the doctor. Scheduling an eye exam can help keep your vision clear and allow your optometrist to monitor your eyes for the signs and symptoms of eye conditions.

Maintaining an eye exam schedule doesn’t have to take too much time out of your day. Comprehensive eye exams last an average of 20–60 minutes. Making the time to have your eyes tested can be a critical preventative tool for your eye health and vision. 

What Determines the Length of an Eye Exam?

Every eye exam is unique. Your eyes change from one appointment to the next, and your eye exam will reflect those conditions. Some factors that may influence the length of your eye exam include:

• A new eye injury
• If you have pre-existing conditions or are at risk of an eye disease that requires eye dilation as part of the eye exam
• If you’re experiencing vision changes or new symptoms that can indicate an eye condition
• If you present with risk factors for eye diseases
• If you’re a new patient and meeting your optometrist for the first time

Comprehensive eye exams are personalized to your eyes. We can provide an assessment of your eye health and vision and answer questions or concerns you may have while respecting your time.

What Happens During an Eye Exam?

During a thorough eye exam, your optometrist will perform a series of tests to assess the complete ocular structures and field of vision.

Visual Acuity

A visual acuity test assesses how well you can see from a distance. Your optometrist will use the standard Snellen chart of letters or symbols to help determine if your vision has changed. 

During the test, you'll sit or stand at a distance from the chart and use both eyes to read it out loud, down to the smallest letters you can see. Then you'll repeat the same thing with only one eye, and do the same for the other eye. Your optometrist may perform rounds of this test with different combinations of lenses to determine your new prescription.

Refraction Assessment

Refractive errors occur when the shape of your eye distorts your vision in some way, and it's becoming increasingly prevalent. The most common types of refractive errors include:

• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Astigmatism
• Presbyopia

When you have a refractive error, light enters through the cornea but can't focus on the retina, causing blurry vision. Uncorrected blurry vision can lead to eye strain, headaches, or squinting. Refractive error tests can help determine which refractive errors distort your vision and find corrective lenses to restore clarity.

Retinal Exam

Optometrists use eye dilation and innovative technology to examine the structures at the back of the eye during a retinal exam. The non-invasive testing allows your optometrist clear views of the retina, macula, optic nerve, and blood vessels at the back of the eye.

A retinal exam can help optometrists detect eye health problems before they compromise your vision.

Intraocular Pressure

Tonometry tests intraocular pressure to find out if your eye pressure is in the normal range. High intraocular pressure can indicate fluid buildup in the eye and may suggest that the fluid isn't draining properly.

Increased eye pressure can be a sign of glaucoma, so tonometry is a valuable diagnostic tool. If you have a family history of glaucoma, your optometrist may monitor your eye pressure to detect early warning signs.

Is a Contact Lens Exam Different Than an Eye Exam?

A contact lens exam should complement a comprehensive eye exam, but they’re not the same, so they’re not interchangeable. Contact lens exams have different aims than your annual eye exam.

If you’re new to contact lenses, your optometrist will take measurements and assess your eye’s shape and the surface of your eye to guide their recommendation for contact lens styles.

Your optometrist may ask how often you plan to wear your contact lenses. If they're for sport and occasional wear, or you want to switch to contacts as your primary corrective lenses, they'll review the choices of daily, bi-weekly, or monthly wear.

At your contact lens exam, your optometrist can reference notes from your most recent eye exam to identify concerns of dry eye, determine which lenses you’ll need for any refractive errors, and update your contact lens prescription.

Are Children's Eye Exams Different Than Adult Eye Exams?

Your children should get their first eye exam earlier than you may think. Infants between 6–9 months can benefit from their first eye exam, and their exams are more straightforward than an adult's. Optometrists examine the ocular structures and help ensure your children are on track to develop healthy eyes as they grow.

As your child grows into toddler and preschool years, their subsequent eye exam should be between the ages of 2 and 5. This exam will focus on overall eye health, eye focus, binocular vision, and tracking movements. Signs of lazy eye (amblyopia) and crossed eyes (strabismus) become apparent at this growth stage, and early intervention can help.

After the age of 5, children should have eye exams every year. Young children typically can’t communicate vision problems like adults, so watching their behaviour, in addition to frequent eye exams, can get your child the vision therapy or corrective lenses they need as they grow.

Book Your Family’s Next Eye Exams

For every family member, from adults to kids, eye exams can help maintain eye health. Whether you have a family history, worrying symptoms, or need a prescription update for sharper vision, a comprehensive eye exam is critical.

Contact us at River Heights Eye Care to schedule an eye exam or contact lens exam today.

The post How Long Does an Eye Exam Take? first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

You may have an eye infection if you notice your eye is red, uncomfortable, or inflamed. Many people assume an eye infection is a minor annoyance that will be gone in a few days, but this isn’t always the case. An untreated eye infection can have serious complications, and you should always visit your eye doctor when you have one. 

Continue reading to learn more about eye infections, including why you should visit your optometrist for treatment. 

What Is an Eye Infection? 

An eye infection is a condition where viruses or bacteria attack the eye, causing irritation and inflammation. Your eyes may feel itchy, and they may look red and uncomfortable. You can develop an eye infection in several parts of your eye, including the 

• Conjunctiva: The thin membrane covering the inside of your eyelids & the whites of your eyes. 
• Cornea: The clear surface covering the outside of your iris. 
• Eyelid: The skin protecting your eyes. 

Many types of eye infections exist, both minor and severe. You may experience several symptoms, depending on the infection you have. 

Signs of an Eye Infection

There are many symptoms related to eye infections. You may experience several of these problems when you develop an infection, including: 

• Blurry or distorted vision
• Eye discomfort
• Eye redness
• Fever with no other cause
• Foreign object sensation
• Light sensitivity
• Yellow, green, or watery eye discharge

Types of Eye Infections

Many types of eye infections exist, and each affects your eyes differently. Some infections are less serious, while others can place your vision at risk. 

Some common types of eye infections include: 

Conjunctivitis 

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva. Several types of pink eye exist, caused by bacterial or viral infections or an allergic reaction. Pink eye can be contagious, but it rarely threatens your vision.  

The types of conjunctivitis include: 

• Allergic: Allergic pink eye occurs due to exposure to allergens like pollen, dander, & other irritants. It’s noncontagious & typically resolves after removing the triggering allergen. 
• Bacterial: Bacterial pink eye develops when bacteria enter the eye through contact. Touching your eyes with dirty hands & sharing makeup can cause this infection. 
• Viral: Viral pink eye develops due to common cold viruses. Someone sneezing or coughing near your face can cause this infection. 

Uveitis

Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation affecting the middle tissue layer in the eye, the uvea. Uveitis can appear suddenly and worsen quickly, affecting several aspects of your eye health. It can lead to redness, discomfort, blurry vision, worsened vision, and light sensitivity. 

Uveitis can occur for several reasons, including a viral or bacterial infection. If left untreated, this condition can lead to vision loss. 

Keratitis 

Keratitis is inflammation of your cornea, typically caused by injury, contaminated contact lenses, viruses, bacteria, or contaminated water. Someone with keratitis may experience red eyes, blurry or decreased vision, light sensitivity, or difficulty opening their eyelids. 

Without proper treatment, keratitis can lead to chronic inflammation, infections or potential vision loss. 

Endophthalmitis 

Endophthalmitis is severe inflammation within the eye caused by an infection. There are 2 main forms of endophthalmitis: 

• Exogenous endophthalmitis: An infection enters the eye from an external source.
• Endogenous endophthalmitis: An infection spreads to the eye from somewhere else in the body.

Endophthalmitis can lead to potential vision loss if left unaddressed. 

Stye

A stye (sty) is a painful lump around the edge of your eyelid, causing discomfort and swelling. You may mistake a stye for a pimple because of the similar look. This condition isn't a pimple—it occurs due to an infection of the oil glands in your eyelids. 

Touching your eyes with dirty hands, inserting contaminated contact lenses, leaving eye makeup on overnight, or having a preexisting skin condition can lead to a stye. 

A stay is typically harmless, disappearing within a few days. In the meantime, you can relieve discomfort by applying a warm washcloth to the stye for 5 to 10 minutes. Visit your eye doctor if a stye doesn’t go away or redness and swelling progress to other parts of your face. 

Why Should You Visit Your Optometrist for an Eye Infection? 

You may have had a previous eye infection that went away on its own, making you wonder why you should have to visit your eye doctor. While it’s true that some infections can go away with time, there’s always the possibility of potential complications. Your risk of complications depends on your infection. 

Some possible complications of an eye infection include: 

• Corneal ulcers
• Dacryocystitis
• Damage to the retina
• Meningitis
• Orbital cellulitis
• Scar formation 
• Vision loss

An untreated eye infection can lead to worse infections, swelling of the eye’s drainage system, blisters on the cornea, or even vision loss. For your safety, always visit your eye doctor if you experience symptoms of an eye infection. They can assess your eye and recommend a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. 

Don’t Ignore an Eye Infection

Always visit your eye doctor if you think you have an eye infection. Even if the infection is minor, your doctor can recommend ways to relieve your symptoms or improve your comfort as the issue subsides. If left untreated, many infections can significantly affect the eye. 

Contact River Heights Eye Care if you have symptoms of an eye infection. 

The post Why You Should Go to an Optometrist to Treat Eye Infections first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

Visiting your eye doctor for regular eye exams is important for protecting your eye health and vision. Besides looking for changes in your vision, your eye doctor conducts many tests to identify eye problems. Because eye exams are vital for your health, how often should you visit your optometrist?

Continue reading to learn more about how often you should visit your eye doctor. 

The Importance of Eye Exams

Comprehensive eye exams are more important than you think. When you visit your optometrist, they test for more than how well you can see. You experience several diagnostic tests that help your eye doctor identify signs of eye disease and other potential problems. 

Your eyesight is precious, and many eye conditions can develop with little to no symptoms. Regular eye exams are the only way your optometrist can identify changes in your eye health and vision. When diagnosing issues early, you increase your chances of recovery and prevent further damage to your vision. 

Several eye conditions become more common as you age. Your eye doctor can diagnose the following conditions during a comprehensive eye exam: 

• Refractive errors: Refractive errors affect your everyday vision, making it harder to see—presbyopia is common in adults after age 40, affecting how well your eyes focus during close-up tasks
• Glaucoma: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, causing irreversible vision loss if left uncorrected—many but not all forms of this disease raise your intraocular pressure
• Age-related macular degeneration: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition causing the gradual decay of your macula—you progressively lose your central vision while your side vision remains the same
• Cataracts: A cataract is the clouding of your eyes lens—this condition typically occurs due to age, worsening your vision until you struggle to read, drive, or read the expression on someone’s face

Regular eye exams are important, but many people think they don’t need one if they can see fine. Even if your vision is normal, you may have an underlying issue you’re unaware of. How often should you visit your eye doctor? 

How Often Should You Visit Your Eye Doctor? 

Your eye exam frequency depends on age and other factors. If you’re a healthy adult aged 19–64 with no current problems, you should have an eye exam at least every 2 years. 

After turning 65, an annual exam is ideal for your eye health and vision. Many eye diseases can develop with age, and yearly exams can help your optometrist track any changes in your vision. 

You may need more frequent eye exams if you have certain conditions, like diabetes. If under 19, an annual exam is beneficial for protecting your vision. The eyes go through many changes as someone grows into adulthood. 

While these are recommendations from the Canadian Association of Optometrists, listen to your optometrist’s advice. They can recommend an examination schedule that meets your unique needs. 

With how important eye exams are for your vision, don’t delay your appointment. Depending on your age, you may not even need to worry about the cost. Alberta Health Care provides children under 19 and adults 65 and older with one complete eye exam per benefit year. 

What should you expect when you visit your eye doctor for an eye exam? 

What Happens During Your Eye Exam? 

Your eye exam features several diagnostic tests that help your eye doctor get a complete picture of your eye health and vision. The goal of these tests is to catch any problems as early as possible to help protect your vision. Expect to take an active role—your eye doctor will ask you questions throughout the exam. 

You can expect the following during your eye exam: 

Medical History

Your exam begins with a discussion about your medical history. Your optometrist will ask about your family history, lifestyle, and other relevant factors. During this section of the exam, you can bring up any eye issues you’re experiencing or any questions or concerns you may have. 

Testing

The testing section of your exam involves several tests that assess different aspects of your eye health and vision. Your optometrist typically begins with a visual acuity test to see how well you can see and if there are any changes in your prescription. Afterwards, your eye doctor will assess your eye health using different technologies to look for signs of eye diseases. 

Prescription Changes

After completing the necessary tests during your exam, your optometrist will review the overall results. If your prescription has changed, they can discuss using glasses or contact lenses to provide you with clear vision. 

This is an overview of what to expect during your eye exam. Everyone’s vision and eye health are different, and your optometrist will cater your exam to meet these needs. 

Why You Should Visit River Heights Eye Care

Regular eye exams play a vital role in maintaining your eye health and vision. While it can seem tempting to avoid booking an eye exam because you can see fine, you should never assume. An eye exam can help identify problems before they affect your vision. 

Visit River Heights Eye Care if you need an eye exam. With modern eye care technology and a friendly, caring approach, we can help meet your vision-related needs. 

Visit us in Cochrane if you need an eye exam. We’re here to help. 

The post How Often Should You Visit Your Eye Doctor? first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

Many different types of health conditions can cause vision changes or loss. It can be sudden and immediately noticeable, but it can also happen gradually, which may make it harder for you to detect. This is why your optometrist may suggest a visual field test after conducting a regular comprehensive eye exam. Your eye doctor may be able to notice blind spots in your visual field that you haven’t noticed. 

If you think you are experiencing vision loss, contact us to book an appointment —our team at River Heights Eye Care is always here to help you. 

Why Do I Need a Visual Field Test?

Eye care professionals perform visual field tests during a comprehensive eye exam to detect issues in your visual field. 

Your visual field covers everything you can see when you’re focusing on a central point. Your eye doctor can measure how far the eye sees and how sensitive the vision is in different parts of your visual field by assessing your visual field. This helps doctors identify certain types of conditions and diseases. 

As mentioned earlier, you may not be aware of blind spots in your vision and can easily miss the signs. By receiving regular eye exams, you can be confident that your eye doctor can see the signs of developing eye diseases, helping you get effective treatment as early as possible.

To protect your vision and overall health, book an eye exam today.  

Symptoms of Vision Loss 

There are several symptoms you may notice that could mean you are losing your sight. Some of these symptoms come on gradually, and some can appear suddenly. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact your eye doctor:

• Double vision, blurry vision, or tunnel vision
• Seeing flashes of light or halos around lights
• Seeing floaters or “spider webs” 
• Seeing a “curtain” coming down over one eye
• A sudden decrease in vision
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Eye pain, redness, or swelling
• Itching or burning eyes
• Tripping, falling, or an increase in clumsiness 
• Difficulty driving or moving in the dark 

While it's common to have some symptoms of vision loss, you may not experience any symptoms at all. 

What Can a Visual Field Test Detect?

A visual field test can detect areas of vision loss caused by several health conditions, including:

• Glaucoma
• Diabetes
• Brain tumor
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Head trauma

The 6 Types of Visual Field Tests 

There are many different types of visual field tests your optometrist may use. 

1. Confrontation Visual Field Test

A confrontation visual field test is a screening test performed by your optometrist during  your regular eye exam. During this test, your doctor will ask you to focus on an object in front of you and test how well you can see objects in your peripheral vision. If your doctor notices any abnormalities during a confrontation visual field, they may perform additional visual field tests. 

2. Automated Static Perimetry Test

If you need a more specific test to monitor the progression of an eye disease, your eye doctor may use an automated static perimetry test. This test uses an instrument called a perimeter that flashes lights around your visual field. Then, when you see the light, you press a button, helping your doctor create a detailed map of where you can and can't see. 

3. Kinetic Visual Field Test

A kinetic visual field test is similar to an automated static perimetry test, but instead of flashing lights, it uses moving light targets to test your vision.

4. Frequency Doubling Perimetry Test

Another way your doctor can assess your visual field is through a test called frequency doubling perimetry. This test uses a flickering optical illusion to check for damage to vision. The illusion uses vertical bars and can show vision loss if you’re unable to see the vertical bars at certain times during the test.

5. Electroretinography Test

Electroretinography is a test that can determine vision loss caused by certain retina conditions. This test is similar to an automated static perimetry test, but it uses electrodes to measure the electrical signals of the cells in the retina to see how your eyes respond to flashes of light.

6. Amsler Grid Test

The Amsler grid test is a visual field test specifically for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This test uses a grid pattern with a dot in the middle. Your eye doctor will ask you to describe the image and describe any areas that may appear wavy, blurry, or blank.

While this test only measures the middle of the visual field, it is still an effective tool to test your overall vision.

How Often Should I Get my Eyes Checked 

We recommend you get an eye exam at least once every 1-2 years to keep your eyes healthy and seeing well, depending on your age and overall health. In addition to your regularly scheduled eye exams, you may need to see your optometrist if you are experiencing any vision issues, symptoms, or injuries.

If you have any questions or concerns about your eye health, book an appointment with us today! 

The post What is a Visual Field Test? first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

If you are curious about trying contact lenses, you will need to get a contact lens specific eye exam. A contact lens specific eye exam involves extra measurements not included in a comprehensive eye exam that will allow your optometrist to get a detailed map of your eye and determine the best contact lenses for your daily use.

How are Contact Lens Specific Eye Exams Different?

Comprehensive Eye Exams

A comprehensive eye exam involves various tests used to determine the visual acuity of your eyes. This gives your optometrist an idea of what your current prescription is and can help assess the current state of your eye health. Some of the tests your optometrist will perform are:

• Eye Chart Testing
• Cover Testing
• Retinoscopy
• Refraction and Autorefraction

Contact Lens Eye Exams

Compared to a regular comprehensive eye exam, a contact lens specific eye exam involves additional measurements that will help determine the shape and size of your eye’s surface and what kind of contact lens is best for you. During a contact lens eye exam, you will be able to input your preferences for colour, how often you want to replace your contact lenses, and how hard or soft you want your contact lenses to be.

Additional Measurements for Contact Lens Specific Eye Exams

Cornea Measurements

During a contact lens specific eye exam, a device called a keratometer will analyze light reflections from your cornea, and be used to measure the curvature of your eye’s front surface. Additional computerized measurements may be performed on your cornea by using a corneal topographer. This will give your optometrist precise details about your cornea, and once again involves measuring how your eye reflects light.

Pupil and Iris Measurements

This test is quite simple: your optometrist will use a special ruler or another measuring device with specific pupil and iris sizings to figure out the size and shape of your pupil and iris. This will help choose contact lenses that are the proper size for your eyes and determine what type of coloured contact lenses you can wear if you want them.

Tear Film Evaluation

This test is used to determine if you can sufficiently produce enough tears to keep your contact lenses moist and avoid your eyes drying out. If your eyes are too dry and you cannot produce enough tears, then contact lenses may not be comfortable or safe for you to wear. If you only experience mild dryness, then some special contact lenses exist that will help keep your eyes from completely drying out.

Contact Lens Fit Evaluation

A biomicroscope, or slit lamp, can be used to evaluate the health of your cornea. This apparatus magnifies the view of your cornea, which helps your optometrist determine if you can wear contact lenses without feelings of discomfort. If you already wear contact lenses, this test can help determine any issues that your current lenses are causing to your eyes.

How Often Should You Get a Contact Lens Specific Eye Examination?

Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

• Ages 19-64: Once every two years
• Ages 65 & over: Once per year
• Children ages 5-18: Once per year

Contact Lens Specific Eye Exams

• If you have just had your first fitting, after a certain trial period recommended by your eye care professional another evaluation will be necessary. If your current contact lenses are bothering you, you can ask your optometrist about switching brands or types of lenses. 
• If your current contact lenses are comfortable, then a contact lens specific eye exam should be performed on an annual basis regardless of age.

What Type of Contact Lenses Should You Get?

Your optometrist will recommend the best contact lenses for the shape of your eyes, but there is some leeway in which you can choose your preferred lenses if it will not harm the health of your eyes. Some of the attributes you can choose from are the softness of the contact lens, the colour of the iris that the contact lens will show, and the desired frequency of disposal/replacement.

If you suffer from an eye condition, a specialty contact lens might be necessary. If you have astigmatism, dry eyes, or keratoconus, then ask your optometrist about what type of specialty contact lenses could help alleviate your specific issues. 

Book an appointment to get more information on contact lenses and contact lens specific eye exams. 

The post Why You Need a Contact Lens Specific Eye Exam first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.

Routine eye examinations are a crucial part of sustaining your eye health and catching any potential eyesight issues. Whether you are an adult, senior, or child, keeping up to date with your regularly scheduled eye exams is important. Under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, or the AHCIP, you may be eligible for coverage of your routine eye examinations.

What is the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)?

The AHCIP provides eligible Alberta residents with full coverage for medically necessary physician services and some dental and oral surgical health services. Services that are deemed necessary will be determined by your doctor; if you are unsure if a service is considered necessary, ask your doctor or contact the AHCIP office.

Who Is Eligible for the AHCIP?

To be eligible for the AHCIP, you must be an Albertan resident and be registered with the AHCIP through Alberta Health. A list of services that are covered by the AHCIP can be found through Alberta Health’s Schedule of Medical Benefits and the Allied Health Services Benefits Schedules.

Eye Exam Coverage in Alberta

Children aged 18 and under, and seniors aged 65 and older are covered for one eye exam per year under Alberta Health. 

This also includes one partial exam and one diagnostic procedure if necessary. For example, if your optometrist recommends you have a dilated eye exam, in addition to your standard eye exam, this is covered by Alberta Health.

Albertan residents aged 19-64 are not covered under the AHCIP for routine eye exams. However, an eye exam can be covered for those aged 19-64 if your optometrist deems it medically necessary. A medically necessary eye exam includes situations where you have:

• An eye injury or trauma
• An illness or medical condition that affects the eyes (ex: eye infection, diabetes)

Seniors with low to moderate incomes may also be eligible for some benefits through the Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors Program.

Options for Those Not Covered by the AHCIP

For those who are age 19-64, there are two ways to receive coverage for your routine eye exams: personal health care insurance and employee benefits. 

Buying an insurance package from a private insurer will enable anybody to receive coverage for their eye examinations as long as they are included in the benefits of said package. Along with optometry services, many private insurers offer insurance packages that include a range of coverage for multiple medical services. 

You may also be able to receive coverage for eye examinations through your employer. Check your benefits package or get in touch with your employer to see if your employee benefits include coverage for eye examinations. 

Regular Eye Exams Are Crucial

Having a regular eye exam is crucial to your eye health. Even if you don’t have vision issues, you should still be having an eye exam regularly. Depending on your age, your eye exam schedule should be:

• Once per year for children aged 6-19 and seniors 65 or older
• Once every 2 years for adults aged 20-64

However, the best person to recommend your eye exam schedule is your optometrist. Your optometrist knows you and your eyes, and might recommend you come in more or less frequently, depending on your needs.

If it’s been over 2 years since your last eye exam, contact your optometrist to schedule your next appointment.

The post Are Eye Exams Covered by Alberta Health? first appeared on River Heights Eye Care.