Happy Holidays from Airdrie & Innisfail Eyecare Centre

This holiday season the Optometrists, Opticians and Optometric Assistants from Airdrie and Innisfail Eyecare decided to donate time and the usually funds for a team gathering, towards some local charities.  This year we were able to help:

Airdrie Food Bank

Airdrie Lioness Club Hamper Foundation's Adopt-A-Family Christmas Hamper Program

In From the Cold Airdrie

In From the Cold Calgary

Tails to Tell Animal Rescue Shelter

Innisfail & District Food Bank

Innisfail & District Christmas Bureau

We wish health and happiness to all our patients and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

The Optometrists at Airdrie and Innisfail Eyecare would like all contact lens wearers to read the following article.

To lower your risk of complications such as infections and corneal ulcers while wearing contact lenses, please follow proper handling techniques.  The linked article explains why this is so important.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/13/143444214/dirty-little-secret-almost-nobody-cleans-contacts-properly

Varilux Exclusive Day

November 30, 2011 is a Varilux Exclusive Day.  During this day you will receive a $50 discount on orders of the following lenses: Ipseo, Physio F-360, 360, Physio Short 360, Comfort 360, Ellipse 360 and Single Vision 360 when ordered with the following coatings: Crizal Forte, Sapphire, EZ clean, or Sun.  For more information and to discover which lenses will best compliment your lifestyle, please stop by and talk to us.

Halloween Hazard: The Hidden Dangers of Buying Decorative Contact Lenses Without a Prescription

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you are thinking about a costume that includes decorative contact lenses, read the link below and think again.  Last year I treated a patient that found out the hard way about these dangers.

Halloween Hazard: The Hidden Dangers of Buying Decorative Contact Lenses Without a Prescription

Children are settling into school, but how are their eyes doing?

Last week Eye See… Eye Learn package were sent out to school boards which will pass them along to parents with children in Kindergarten.  This program was designed to encourage parents to have children’s eyes examined as they enter school.  A pilot study showed 80% of children in Alberta will begin school without a comprehensive eye examination even though there is not cost, as it is covered by Alberta Health Care.  In this age group 14% of children will have some form of vision problem.  Often children are unable to express their vision problems unless it become severe, at which point learning will have already been affected.  With the help of the programs sponsors, a free pair of glasses is available should they be recommended and last year over 1600 were provided across the province. 

 

http://www.optometrists.ab.ca/parents

In general children should have their first eye exam around 6 months, then at age 3 and annually thereafter.

 

http://www.opto.ca/en/optometry/exam-frequency.html

We can all image how difficult it would be for us to function in the world with reduced or no vision.  So ensuring a child’s vision is functioning normally, will allow them equal opportunity to learn with their peers.  In Alberta children are covered up to their 19^th birthday for routine eye examination as well as visits to deal with red eyes, injuries or monitoring for problems associated with systemic disease such as diabetes.

Our children are our future, and our world is becoming more visually demanding, so book your child’s examination today.

Save $2.00 on Systane Products for Dry Eyes!

Until the end of 2011, save $2.00 of your purchase of Systane lubricating drops from our office.  The Systane Family now includes:

Systane Ultra

Systane Balance

Systane Gel drops

Symptoms of Dry Eye can include:

• Eye dryness
• Eye irritation
• Scratchy eyes
• Burning or stinging eyes
• Foreign body sensation (Feels like something is in your eyes)
• Gritty eyes
• Tired eyes
• Fluctuating or blurry vision
• Photophobia (Your eyes feel sensitive to light)
• The impulse to blink more than usual
• General eye discomfort
• Excessive tearing

If you experience one or more of the symptoms above, you may have dry eye. To find out for sure, it's best to see your Optometrist.  Once your doctor determines the 

type of Dry Eye, a treatment plan can be formed.  

Check out Systane's website to learn more about Dry Eyes and to take the Non-Invasive Tear Break-up Time Test.

http://www.systane.com/Dry-Eye-Syndrome.aspx

Wiley X has arrived

We are proud to now carry an assortment of Wiley – X Safety Frames.  No more boring safety glasses, these sunglass styled plastic frames are available with prescription lenses, and removable sweat liners. And good news, they are eligible frames in the OVC Work Safety program!

Exceeds ANSI Z87.1-2003 High Velocity Impact Safety & Optical Standards

  

Most Frames are Rx-Ready & All Rx-Ready Frames Carry the ANSI Safety Marking

Exceeds Military Specifications For Ballistic Impact Protection.

Wiley X – Rout with gray sunglass lenses

The value of having a regular eye checkup

Calgary Herald Article


Some good information as to the importance of why it is important to have your eyes checked regularly, even if you are not experiencing any problems.  The article suggests a good time to have a child first examined is at age 3, but I prefer to check at 6 months to allow for earlier detection of developmental problems of the eyes such as amblyopia and strabismus.

Don’t ignore new onset flashes and floaters

So your vision is good, you are proactive with your eye health and see your Optometrist regularly, but one day all of a sudden you notice some flashes of lights and floaters in your vision.  You have 2 options:

Option 1- Ignore these symptoms because you believe they aren’t serious.

Option 2 - Visit your Optometrist. 

Here’s why you should choose Option 2.

My first concern when patients tell me they have been experiencing flashes and/or floaters is whether they have a retinal tear or detachment. Investigation of the symptoms will most likely include drops that dilate your pupils, as this allows me to view the peripheral retinal where tear often occur. This morning I had a patient with increased floater, and reduced vision, which after examination was diagnosed with a retinal tear.  A referred for surgical consult with a retinal specialist was made as soon as he could get to their office in Calgary, so that a treatment plan could be formed.  Treatment plans for retinal tears and detachments may include laser for smaller tears, insertion of gas or oil bubble into the vitreous cavity or scleral buckle surgery for larger tears, but the key is to have it done in a timely matter which will limit the lost of vision.  If you wait for these symptoms to go away, you risk a poorer vision outcome after treatment is preformed. 

A condition that can cause sudden onset flashes and/or floaters is a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).  Typically PVD occur after the age of 45 years and frequency increase as we continue to age.  Some studies suggested 15-30% of PVD will go on to retinal tears.  I like to rule out retinal breaks as close to onset of flashes and/or floaters and complete a follow-up 5-6 weeks after symptoms started to ensure that no tears have developed in this period of elevated risk. 

Since my patient picked Option 2, and came to see me within 24 hours of increased symptoms, I was able to diagnose the retinal tear, and have the case reviewed by a retinal specialist within hours.  I am confident the treatment will be successful given short duration between onset and surgery.  

Visioffice – Are your ready for lenses that are customized for your eyes?

Beyond your prescription there are numerous measurements that can affect your vision.  Visioffice is a new instrument which can accurately measure the center of rotation of your eye, where the frame is positioned on your face and how you move your eyes relative to your head.  When we combine these important measurements that are unique to your eyes with your prescription, our team can design lenses which provide clearer and more comfortable vision.  Come in today to have your Eyecode measured with Visioffice and harness this amazing new technology.

http://www.varilux.com/en/products/eyecode/multimedia/Pages/InStoreDemo.aspx

Innisfail Eyecare Centre turns 20

Fribbit stopped by for a visit

On June 17^th we celebrated the Innisfail Eyecare Centre’s 20^th birthday.  We would like to thank everybody who dropped by and enjoyed the cake, coffee and charity BBQ.  Over $500 was raised for Optometry Giving Site which aims to improve the quality of life for those with avoidable blindness and vision loss due simply to the lack of glasses.  We had a visit from Fribbit, the mascot for the Eye See… Eye Learn initiative which helps to ensure eye health and/or vision problems are not a factor in preventing children from reaching their maximum learning potential. 

Mmmm cake for dessert