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What is a cataract, and what causes one to form?

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, just behind the iris centered in the pupil. Contrary to common perception, it is not a ‘film’ on the surface of the eye, although it certainly can cause vision to appear ‘filmy’, among other symptoms. Cataracts are an inevitable consequence of aging: if […]

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What does ‘20/20’ mean, and why can some people who need to wear glasses see better than some people who don’t?

This may be the most commonly asked question during an eye exam, aside from “which is better, one or two?”. We’ve all heard about 20/20, or 20/40, but what do these numbers really mean? The two numbers both refer to distance measurements, in feet: the top number is always 20, because 20 feet is the […]

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What can be done if I have glaucoma?

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your optometrist will usually initiate treatment with a topical (eye drop) medication to lower your intraocular pressure and improve blood flow to the optic nerve. Routine monitoring of your response to treatment, including optic nerve and peripheral vision assessment, is critical. If necessary, a second or third drop may […]

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What can be done if I have dry eye?

First of all, the more accurate question may be “what can be done when I have dry eye?”, since most of us will experience dry eye at some point in our lives.  Elderly patients, females, and contact lens wearers are particularly susceptible. Many systemic medications can trigger dry eye. Because it is difficult to increase tear production, […]

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What can be done if I have diabetic retinopathy?

As with most diseases, the best treatment is prevention.  Keep your blood glucose under tight control: monitor your sugar levels regularly, and aim for steady readings in the target range suggested by your family physician.  The A1c laboratory test provides an overall picture of diabetes control, and should be 7% or lower for patients with […]

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What can be done if I have a cataract?

With early cataracts, the symptoms may be addressed with nothing more than a change in eyeglass prescription. Given that cataracts typically change slowly, this may be all that is necessary in some situations. Should the symptoms continue to progress, cataract surgery may be recommended. In this case, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist […]

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What are the visual symptoms of diabetes?

While diabetic eye disease often presents with no symptoms, some patients experience fluctuations of vision due to changing glucose levels within the tissues of the eye. Should retinopathy develop and progress without detection and treatment, the results can be devastating. In fact, diabetes is the leading causes of preventable blindness in working-age adults in North […]

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What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Untreated glaucoma slowly but steadily erodes peripheral (side) vision. While many of us are familiar with the symptoms of blurred vision or headaches when our prescription changes, peripheral vision loss is not apparent until a great deal of damage has occurred, essentially leaving tunnel vision. In short, glaucoma has no symptoms … and this means […]

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What are the symptoms of dry eye?

Ironically, one of the most common symptoms of dry eye is excessive watering, particularly in situations where tear evaporation is increased. For example, the decreased blink rate that accompanies tasks like reading and computer use is a common trigger. Dry environments (large buildings, hockey arenas, airplanes), moving air (a breeze outdoors, or the defrost vent […]

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