Did you know cataracts is one of the most common preventable cause of vision loss? Learn more about it here. Inside the eye, there is a clear structure called the lens that focuses images on the retina. The lens is continuously growing and thickening since birth. With age, the lens becomes cloudy, and slowly causes blurry vision that is not correctable with glasses. In the early stages of cataracts, vision may not be affected at all. Our doctors, however, can detect early formation. When the cataracts start to affect daily activities, surgery can be done to replace the natural lens with an…

Diabetes can affect the eyes if blood sugar is not controlled properly or if a patient had been diabetic for many years. It is important for them to have eye exams at least once a year, or more frequent if their eye doctors find necessary. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the working population in Canada. It is a result of damaged blood vessels in the retina, which leads to the leakages, formation of new weaker vessels (neovascularization), and other changes. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can result in blindness. It is very important for diabetic patients to…

Usually 40-50% of your nerve fibres deteriorates before you would notice a problem! Make sure you get routine eye exams so our optometrists can help detect glaucoma as early as possible. Glaucoma is the degeneration of the optic nerve that leads to a loss of peripheral vision, then later central vision. The most common type of glaucoma is Open Angle glaucoma, which can progress asymptomatically and painlessly, while the less common type of Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma can cause nausea, vomiting, eye pain, and blurry vision. The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting information from the eye to the brain. If…

Similar to other parts of our body, our eyes deteriorate with age. Learn more about it here. Macula is the central vision area that provides the best vision to see small details and colour. With age, similar to other parts of our body, the macula can deteriorate, leading to decreased visual acuity and distortion. This is known as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD). If severe, it is possible to lead to central blindness; the periphery, however, can remain unaffected. Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for AMD, but there are ocular vitamins that can be taken or eye injections by specialists…

Do you see black little floaties in your vision? It's important to make sure it did not cause any damage to the back of your eyes. Within our eyes, there’s a clear jelly-like substance called the vitreous that helps keep the shape of our eyeballs. It is tightly adhered to the lens and the retina within a sac. With age, the vitreous liquefies and it can pull away from the retina, leading to posterior vitreous detachment. Since the vitreous is attached to the certain areas of the retina tightly, if it pulls too hard, it can create holes or tears that can…

Don't let allergies get the best of you this year. Our eye doctors can help improve your comfort. Most patients do not look forward to seasonal allergies. It can occur in people of all ages. Common symptoms of ocular allergies include redness, itchiness, and watery eyes. Depending on the severity of the allergies, our doctors will prescribe the appropriate treatment or medication when necessary. Don’t let allergies take control of your life! Come talk to our doctors to see what we can do to improve your outdoor experience.

If you notice floaters, flashes of light, and/or a curtain or veil, you should come in immediately to ensure you don't have a retinal detachment! The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye which transmits light from the eye to the brain where vision is perceived. When the retina detaches, it is peeling partially or completely away from the back of the eye. This results in loss of transmission to the brain that can lead to vision loss. Retinal detachment can be caused by various factors including injury to the eye, traumatic injury to the…

Dry eyes are more common than you think. Tears are important for the overall health and function of the eye. It creates a smooth surface to produce clear vision that is important for our everyday activities. When the eye does not produce enough or poor quality tears, it can affect our comfort and vision. Common symptoms of dry eyes include burning, stinging, watering, foreign body sensation and blurry vision. Dry eyes can be due to aging, environmental factors, hormonal changes, stress, eye surgery and certain medications. It is usually a chronic condition and cannot be completely resolved. It is, however, important to…

Learn more about one of the most common genetic eye condition. Patients with colour deficiency cannot distinguish colours or shades correctly. This is more common in males. Colour deficiency is normally inherited, but can also be a result of ocular diseases, side effect of medications or trauma. There are three types of colour deficiency: two forms of red--green deficiency and one form of blue--yellow deficiency. Red-green deficiencies are more common and are usually inherited. These patients are unable to distinguish between some shades of reds, browns, oranges, and pinks, or greens and blues. Blue-yellow deficiency is more rare and is usually due…

Here's a good reason to not rub your eyes all the time. The cornea is the clear, anterior most dome-shaped surface of the eye that helps focus light on our central vision area. Keratoconus is a progressive condition that affects the cornea, causing it to thin and bulge into a cone-shape that causes blurred and distorted vision. This condition is hereditary, and it is linked to Down Syndrome and chronic eye rubbing. Keratoconus often manifest in an individual’s teens or early twenties. It is found in 1 in 1000 people. The earlier the onset of keratoconus, the higher the risk of more…