7 things you didn’t know about your eyes

Here are riveting facts you may not know about your eyes…

7.   Most people need reading glasses when they get older
If your prescription is between -1.00 to -3.00, you may get away with reading glasses by removing your distance glasses.  For the rest of us, the focusing eye muscles will get weaker and this condition is called presbyopia.

6. The lens in your eye is quicker than any camera lens
An average camera lens takes at least couple seconds before it can focus on an object.  Your eye is able to focus in milliseconds.

5. You blink approximately 15,000 times a day.
This is to ensure that your eyes stay moist.  This process allows you to maintain a clear image.  If you stare at the computer a lot, this number may decrease down to 10,000 times a day.

4. Everyone gets cataracts if you live long enough
The lens inside your eyes is like an egg.  If you cook an egg, it’ll become cloudy and white.  Over time, the UV rays from the sunlight will cook the lens in your eyes and you will eventually develop a cataract.

3. Diabetes is often first detected during an eye exam
People suffering from Type II diabetes are usually symptom free.  A comprehensive eye exam can detect early signs of diabetes from the tiny hemorrhages on your retina.

2. 20/20 vision is not best vision you can see
Most people should be corrected to 20/20 vision.  However a select few is able to see one line lower than 20/20.  That line is 20/15.

1. Your Eyes water when they are dry
The eye will tell the brain that the eye is dry.  When this happens, the brain signal the lacrimal gland (tear gland) to release tears to the eyes.  Sometimes this occurs in excess, and it will cause your tears to roll down your face.

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Longer, fuller, darker lashes with a single drop!

I just started promoting Latisse in my clinic and I’ve come across several common questions from patients who are interested in using the product.  Here’s a quick Q & A summary:

1.  What effect will Latisse have on my eyelashes?  Latisse will lengthen your lashes as well as deepen the colour and increase the volume of lashes.

2.  Why does Latisse take up to 16 weeks for its full effect?  Your eyelashes have a growth cycle which from beginning to end is approximately 16 weeks.  When you begin to use Latisse, it will take a full growth cycle to ensure all of your eyelashes are exposed to the medication during the beginning of the growth cycle.

3.  How often and when do I use the product?  You must use the eyelash applicator on the upper eyelash line and use one drop per eye every night.  Some find that once a full effect is reached, you can maintain the eyelashes even with a drop every 2-3 days.

4.  Does the product work if I have no eyelashes?  No. The product does not stimulate new eyelash growth.

5.  Why does the product need to be prescribed by a optometrist/doctor? Unlike mascara, this is a topical therapeutic medication (0.03% bimatoprost) with potential side effects. All therapeutic medications must be prescribed and its continued use should be monitored by a doctor.

6.  How much does it cost?  A 5 mL bottle lasts approximately 3 months and costs $200.  At Avenue  Eyecare, this includes the initial consult and 3 month follow up visit for patients who are interested in trying the product.

If you have any other questions about Latisse, please feel free to email me or contact me at Avenue Eyecare.

Dr. Jessica Chang, OD

drchang@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Can’t read the menu? Got presbyopia?

If you are reaching the age of 40 and have noticed difficulty reading small print, then you may be suffering from presbyopia.  Presbyopia is the weakening of the focusing system within the eye.  As you grow older, the muscles surrounding the lens loses its elasticity to focus. When this happens, this decreases your ability to focus on near objects.  Natural tendencies include holding objects further, using more light to read or in more advanced cases, avoiding all near tasks.

How do I know if I have it or not?  The main symptom is blurriness for near vision.  You may also experience eye strain or frontal/side headaches when you read.  Unfortunately, presbyopia is a progressing condition and will continue to get worse until the age of 65.

Can we do eye exercises to strengthen the muscles?  The answer is no.  The muscles are not skeletal muscles (eg. biceps, triceps); they are actually smooth muscles.  Just like how we can’t control how we digest our food in our stomach.

How is presbyopia treated?  It can be treated by near vision glasses, bifocals, progressives and even multifocal contacts.

One piece of great news is the 1 day Proclear Multifocals that just came out recently!  These are great for individuals that would like to wear contacts occasionally but still wants to be able to do some near tasks.  Imagine on the weekend, you would like to go for a run and then stop off at a coffee shop to read a magazine.  Then this product is for you.

Come by Avenue Eyecare to ask for more details!

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

How to improve your golf game

I recently attended a sports vision lecture about how to improve your patient’s golf game.  If you’re a golfer, you know how little things like changing your swing or a club can make a big difference.  When you think about what is involved with golf, it’s easy to see that there are many visual skills necessary to excel at this sport.  Golf depends on good vision and eye-body coordination.  Here’s a breakdown of things you can do to ensure your vision is optimized for golf.

1.  Visual Acuity:  We want both eyes to ideally be 20/20 or better so you can see your ball land on the green.  Contact lenses that fit a little tighter are ideal to minimize movement of the lens when you blink or move your eye.  Glasses can be problematic because they may fog or slip down your nose while you play.  Pro golfers such as Tiger Woods choose to have laser refractive surgery which is a great option for the right candidate.

2.  Contrast Sensitivity:  This is refers to our ability to discern between different luminance levels.  This is important when trying to read the green when we putt.  It declines with age due to factors such as cataracts, dry eyes, or diabetic retinopathy.  A routine eye exam can detect these conditions.  There are also certain exercises we can do to train contrast sensitivity.

3.  Appropriate Tints:  Sunglasses/tinted eyewear can help with things such as glare and reading the green.  Neutral greys and greens are good in sunny conditions.  Nike has also developed a purple-ish tint specific for golf called “Max Golf Tint”.  When dusk sets, consider an amber tint.

4.  Depth Perception:  This is often assessed during an eye exam at near, but for golf it should also be assessed in the distance.  This skill can be optimized with optimal visual acuity in both eyes and good binocular function.  There are eye exercises that can enhance depth perception abilities.

The weather is warming up so dust off those clubs and happy golfing!

Dr. Jessica Chang, OD

drchang@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription

You just had your eyes examined by an optometrist and at the end he/she gives you a record of your spectacle prescription(s).  The doctor probably mentioned that you are either nearsighted or farsighted. Or perhaps even told you that you have a little bit of astigmatism or presbyopia. Have you ever wondered what all the numbers and letters mean on your prescription?

Terms:

OD: Oculus Dexter (latin) or  Right eye

OS: Oculus Sinister (latin) or Left eye

Sphere: It’s the amount of lens power that is measured in diopters.  If you have a (-), it means you are nearsighted or myopic.  If you have a (+), it means you are farsighted or hyperopic

Cylinder:  this tells you the amount of astigmatism you have.  This means your eyeball is oval shape like an egg.

Axis: This describes the angle of the astigmatism.  It can be measured from 0 degrees to 180 degrees.  If you have astigmatism, your eyeball is not round and has an oval shape.  So all astigmatism will require the axis in the prescription.

Add: This is the magnifying power you need to correct presbyopia (a condition where your eyes are not able to focus up close)  Usually this is prescribed at the age of 40 and over.

Prism:   This is used for patients that are suffering from double vision.  The prism is also measured in diopters and also needs to have a specified direction of the base (in, out, up or down).

Note: An eyeglass prescription is not the same as a contact lens prescription.  Contact lens prescriptions need to include base curve, lens diameter and the specific manufacturer and brand name of lenses.  The power of your contacts may also be different than your glasses (sphere, cylinder, axis)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at Avenue Eyecare.

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Protecting your eyes from the snow blindness

I just came back from a ski trip and I realized many people don’t know that the combination of  sun & snow is much worse than sun & sand.  The damage to your vision and eye health is greater because the intensity of glare and UV off of the snow is much worse.  Did you know that snow reflects 80% of the sun’s rays but water only reflects about 10%?  For this reason, snow blindness is a common problem that can easily be avoided.  Snow blindness is a condition where intense UV rays reflected off surrounding snow damage your exposed cornea.  The symptoms include redness, tearing, soreness, swollen lids, blurred vision, and discomfort.  Here are some tips on protecting your eyes while you’re enjoying yourself on the slopes…

1.  Wear ski goggles to avoid snow blindness, even on a cloudy day.  They protect you from incoming UV rays from all directions (unlike regular sunglasses and glasses).

2.   Make sure your ski goggles are well vented to let moisture escape, this avoids problems with fogging and moisture freezing on your glasses.

3.  Keep  your eyes well lubricated with artificial tears, especially if your eyes have mild UV damage/snow blindness.  This promotes your cornea to heal more quickly.

4.  Wear sunscreen on your face and around your eyes

5.  Wear the appropriate tint for your ski goggles to enhance your vision in different conditions

If for some reason you do experience snow blindness, please see your eyecare professional as soon as possible.

Dr. Jessica Chang, OD

drchang@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Smoking and Eye Health

I hope everybody enjoyed their holidays. It’s the start of the new year and many of us have made resolutions that we want to keep. Quitting smoking would be high on the priority list for some of us. It has been well documented that smoking has a strong association with lung cancer and cardiovascular disease among the general population. However, according to surverys, only 9% of the population knows that smoking can be detrimental to your eye health. So what are some ocular complications from smoking?

1. Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) – Smoking is the strongest epidemiolgical risk factor for developing ARMD. The understanding of the mechanism is limited but the most likely causes are oxidative damage and pathological vascular changes.

2. Dry Eyes – Smoking can damage goblet cells that are important in producing the oily layer for our tears.

3. Graves’ Ophthalmopathy – Cyanide in the cigarettes can act as an anti-thyroid agent. This directly inhibits the iodide uptake and hormone synthesis. When this happens, this may lead to proptosis (bulging of the eyeballs)

4. Glaucoma – Some studies have shown a 2.9 times increase in developing glaucoma. Smoking has also shown that it may increase your eye pressure by almost 5.0 mmHg.

5. Cataracts – There is an increase of nuclear sclerotic cataracts and subcapsular cataracts. The free radicals that are in cigarettes may trigger the development of cataracts sooner than the general population.

Your optometrist can check if there is any ocular health damage due to smoking. If you need help to quit smoking, talk to your optometrist or your family doctor.  Websites such as www.smokershelpline.ca or www.gosmokefree.gc.ca may also help.  At Avenue Eyecare, we are here to help you with all your eyecare needs.

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Our Holiday Wishes to our patients and readers

Dear friends, patients and readers from all over,

As we near the holidays, we want to wish you and your family a joyful season.  We value our relationship with you and look forward to continue to take care of your eyecare needs for years to come.  We strive to do better and improve our clinic and blog as we go into 2013.  Please let us know what topics you’re interested in learning more about and we’d be happy to share our expertise with you.

We thank you and extend our best wishes to you this holiday season.

Here are our holidays hours:

December 24th:  9:30AM-12:30PM

December 25th:  Closed

December 26th:  Closed

December 27th-29th:  OPEN (Regular clinic hours)

December 31st: 9:30AM – 12:30PM

January 1st, 2013: Closed

Warmest Regards,

Drs. Jessica Chang & Sherman Tung
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

How to slow down myopia (nearsightedness)

Parents are often worried about their children’s nearsightedness (myopia) progression.  Nowadays, approximately 40% of children will develop myopia compared to 25% during the 1980′s.

There are 3 different types of myopia

1. Pathological myopia – Occurs early in life with little progression (Congenital)
2. School myopia – Begins between ages 8-12 and progresses dramatically
3. Adult-onset myopia begins at age 18 or older

Genes vs. environment

Studies have shown that myopia has strong genetic and environmental components.

1. Genetics – Studies have shown that a child with parents without myopia has a 10% chance of developing myopia.  With one parent, it’s 25% and with two parents, it’s 35%.
2. Environment – In school settings, progression of myopia was increased by 50%.  Lack of outside sunlight exposure is a strong risk factor for development of myopia

Progression and treatment

1. Bifocal and progressive addition lenses
According to the COMET study, children that wore single vision had a mean progression of -1.48D in 3 years compared to the progressive group of -1.28D.  Even though it’s statistically significant, clinically, it’s not.  This means that wearing bifocals or progressives may not help prevent further myopia.

2. Undercorrection
Sometimes parents may to have a lower prescription for their children because they feel they might be dependent on their glasses.  But research shows that undercorrection may increase myopia progression.

3. Orthokeratology
This type of lenses have show a 30%-50% reduction in the progression of myopia.

4. Vision therapy
Vision therapy, also know as vision training, is used to improve vision skills such as eye movement control, eye focusing and coordination and the team work of the two eyes.  There is no long-term study available to show that vision therapy can slow down the progression of myopia.

5. Atropine
Studies have shown that 1% atropine can slow the progression of myopia by almost 95%.  Atropine knocks out the focusing ability of the child and somehow blocks the signal that results in the elongation of the eye.  However, atropine does have side effects which include loss of accomodation (focusing) and photophobia (sensitivity to light).  Recently, studies have shown that 0.025% or 0.01% used once daily is just as effective as 0.5% atropine.  However, atropine treatment is not used on a regular basis in Canada.

If you are concerned about your child’s progression of myopia, bring your child in for an annual comprehensive eye exam at Avenue Eyecare.

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Computer Vision Syndrome

How many hours do you spend on your computer and Iphone?  According to new research, about 60% of parents estimate their children spend up to 4 hours per day at home or in school looking at a digital device’s screen.  Prolonged use of this technology may lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS).  Symptoms include eye strain, headaches, fatigue, burning/tired eyes, loss of focus, blurred vision, double vision, or head/neck pain.  If you are suffering from CVS, here are some guidelines that can help prevent or reduce the symptoms.

1. 20/20/20 rule
When you are using technology for near work for about 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away.  This will help reset your eyes from the locked close-up position.

2. Height and arrangement of the computer
The computer screen should be 15 to 20 degrees below eye level from the center of the screen and should be about 20 to 28 inches away from the eyes.

3. Check for glare
If possible, windows or other light sources should not be directly visible when sitting in front of the monitor.

4. Blinking
To reduce the chances of developing dry eyes, remember to blink.  It helps keep the front surface of the eye moist.  Usually we blink about 15 times a minute.  When we are staring at the monitor, we only blink about 3-5 times a minute.

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.