Specialty Services
WHEN TO SEE OUR EYE DOCTOR IN NORTH VANCOUVER?
Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. With vision-threatening eye conditions, time is truly of the essence, as delaying treatment with an eye doctor will allow irreversible conditions to progress quickly. We strongly encourage you to seek emergency care right away, if you incur trauma or an injury to the eye or eye area, come into contact with harmful chemicals, or notice any of the following symptoms:
- Sudden Vision Loss
- Pain Around or In Your Eyes (dull, sharp, aching, burning, stabbing, shooting, or gritty)
- Flashing Lights
- Floaters or Other Visual Obstructions
- Light-Sensitivity, Redness, or Pain After Sleeping in Contact Lenses
WHAT COULD THE ABOVE NOTED SYMPTOMS BE?
These symptoms occur with conditions such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, problems with the optic nerve, a blockage in the central retinal artery, corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, burns, conjunctivitis, uveitis, tumors, trauma, chemical burn, and migraines. Pain which follows sleeping in contact lenses can signify the presence of a corneal ulcer, which often progress extremely fast, causing permanent damage within 48 hours. Each of these symptoms can signify serious eye conditions which can cause permanent vision loss and or damage to the eye.
WHAT DO I DO IN A VISION EMERGENCY SITUATION?
Eye emergencies require quick assessment and treatment with our North Vancouver eye doctors. If you experience an eye injury, any sudden vision changes, eye pain, or accidentally introduce a chemical into your eyes, you should always seek immediate treatment. The eyes are a delicate part of the body, and vision is essential to your everyday life. If you have an eye or vision emergency, visit Hollyburn Eye Clinic for immediate treatment with our North Vancouver eye doctors. For more information about our emergency vision care services contact our office at 604-984-2020 (north).
WHAT WILL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT ENTAIL?
During an emergency exam, our eye doctors quickly assess the patient’s condition with a discussion of current symptoms, a determination of the timeline of symptom onset, and a thorough physical evaluation. After reaching a diagnosis, our eye doctors will begin immediate treatment to halt the condition’s progress and manage pain in order to best preserve and restore the patient’s vision.
After initial diagnosis and treatment in an emergency situation, the eye patient will likely need to return to our clinic for follow up appointments, further treatment, and to allow our eye doctors to monitor the patient’s condition.
WHAT IS VISION THERAPY?
Vision therapy is a form of physical therapy used on the eyes and brain. It is designed to resolve vision problems that can contribute to learning disabilities. This therapy can also be used as an effective treatment for problems like lazy eye, crossed eyes, or double vision.
DOES VISION PROBLEMS REQUIRE SURGERY?
Many vision problems do not require surgery for correction. In these situations, vision therapy is typically an option.
WHAT DOES VISION THERAPY DO?
There is more to vision therapy than simply strengthening the eyes. It also enhances the neurological connections between the eyes and the brain. It directly influences sight based on how it interprets images received. A healthy connection between the eyes and the brain is essential for good eyesight.
HOW DOES VISION THERAPY WORK?
It uses progressive vision exercises performed under the supervision of your eye care provider. Each set of exercises is tailored to meet the individual visual needs of a patient. These exercises are done 1-2 times per week in sessions lasting 30 minutes to a full hour. The exercises are designed to continue until visual processing problems show improvement.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE VISION THERAPY EXERCISES?
Vision exercises are designed to help patients improve basic visual skills that connect the eyes to the brain. These exercises can improve visual efficiency by changing how a patient interprets images. This helps them see and understand images correctly.
EXERCISES STRENGTHEN EYE MUSCLES?
Nothing about vision therapy is centered on strengthening eye muscles. These muscles can be strengthened through orthoptics if they need strengthening. This therapy is all about improving vision problems that may interfere with learning by strengthening the neurological pathways between the eyes and the brain.
WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN A VISION THERAPY PROGRAM?
A comprehensive vision exam is necessary before starting therapy. Following the exam, your eye care provider can determine whether or not this type of therapy is the recommended treatment for your vision problems.
IS THERE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT VISION THERAPY WORKS?
Yes. Data shows that this therapy can improve visual function enough to keep it from interfering with a patient’s ability to absorb information and learn. In its own sphere, this therapy is as effective as physical therapy or occupational therapy.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM VISION THERAPY?
Children with learning or reading problems can benefit from the vision boost these exercises provide. Eyeglasses are not the solution when the problem is visual processing. These problems can’t be detected without tests done by an eye doctor. Adults can see vision improvement through this therapy as well. It can help curb eye-strain related vision processing problems brought on by working with computers all day.
WHAT IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME?
Eye problems associated with squinting at computer, tablet, or mobile screens for hours at a time cause vision syndrome symptoms such as:
- Blurry vision
- Eye strain and discomfort
- Headaches
- Dry, scratchy eyes
- Neck and/or shoulder pain
HOW IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME DIAGNOSED?
The severity and length of computer vision syndrome symptoms depends on how long you stare at the computer, your posture, lighting, glare, the angle of the monitor, and whether or not you have other diagnosed or undiagnosed vision problems.
Symptoms, pre-existing conditions, and potential undiagnosed conditions are taken into account while performing the following eye tests:
- Visual acuity — Measures the quality of your current vision.
- Refraction — Tests the potential lens prescriptions that would optimize your vision.
- Focus and Eye Coordination — Tests how well your eyes work together and how quickly and accurately your eyes are able to focus on objects and varying distances.
HOW DO SYMPTOMS WORSEN?
If you already suffer from astigmatism, farsightedness, presbyopia, aging eyes, and/or diabetic eye problems, your computer vision symptoms may worsen. If your symptoms are mild, they can worsen and cause other vision problems if not addressed.
DO GLASSES AND CONTACTS HELP COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME?
You can get computer vision syndrome even if you already have prescription contacts or glasses. Many regular eyeglasses and contact lenses are not designed to deflect the problems caused by computer screens.
HOW IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME TREATED?
With a combination of the proper optometry care and self-care, you can minimize computer eye syndrome and other modern-day vision problems. From test measurements, a personalized treatment plan will help to relieve your symptoms. For people with otherwise normal eyes and vision, a set of specially-designed glasses used during the time you are working on the computer can be very helpful. For patients already wearing contacts or glasses, new, more computer-friendly prescriptions are available. In addition to these treatment options, there are many things we can suggest to cut down on computer eye strain problems:
- Computer setup
- Adjust Lighting
- Eye Rest and Blinking Breaks
WHAT IS SPORTS VISION TESTING?
Sports vision testing helps athletes determine how well their eyes perform; assessing athletic abilities associated with hand-eye coordination, eye tracking, and depth perception. Sports vision testing takes eyesight evaluation one step further, which is vital to overall athletic training as well as specifically enhancing visual function. Sports vision testing can vary greatly depending on an athlete’s specific needs.
WHY IS SPORTS VISION TESTING IMPORTANT FOR ATHLETES?
Some athletes are unaware that they suffer from an undetected refractive error. Refractive errors are any number of different size and shape abnormalities that affect the eye’s ability to focus light on the retina, affecting vision.
HOW DO YOU TEST SPORT VISION PROBLEMS?
- Classic Snellen Eye Chart
- Contrast Sensitivity Test
- Ocular Alignment Tests
- Eye Dominance Tests
HOW ARE SPORTS VISION PROBLEMS TREATED?
Depending upon your sports vision needs it may be recommended that you wear specialty tinted eyeglasses, or vision correction procedures like LASIK, which could eliminate the need for glasses and contacts.
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