What's the difference among an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? Doctors of optometry (O.D.) are Optometrists, who specialize in vision care and eye health. They diagnose and treat patients for eye problems and diseases and prescribe glasses, contact lenses vision therapy, and medications. Optometrists complete four or more years of college and at least another four years of optometric college. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye disease and surgery. They have a degree from medical school, one or more years of general hospital experience, and three or more years in an eye residency program.
How can I find a good eye doctor? Many times referrals from family and friends will help in finding the doctor of your choice. You can also call state or local medical or optometric associations. If you're in a managed care program, the program should provide you with a list of doctors.
How often do I need to see my eye doctor? In most cases, our office recommends a comprehensive eye examination every twelve months.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for my eye examination? Take your glasses and contact lenses with you to your appointment and be prepared to supply the doctor with your medical history. If you have specific questions you would like addressed, write them down and bring the list with you to your appointment.
How often should I take my glasses in for adjustment? Adjustments, screws, etc. are all part of the service we provide our patients at no additional cost. Stop by any time we're open for these services or at least every three months for a maintenance check-up for your frame.
What's the best way to clean my glasses?
Two things adhere to lenses - dust and grease. Soapy water (without lotion) will dissolve both. Always dry your glasses with a clean soft cotton cloth. Follow with the appropriate spray cleaner that we recommend and provide
Are lens coatings worth the cost? Yes they are and here's why. Anti-reflective (A/R) coatings minimize the reflections from the lenses that make it difficult to see your eyes, or many times, for you to see through reflected light. Scratch resistant coatings are applied to both sides of plastic lenses to reduce the risk of surface scratches. UV coatings protect your eyes from exposure to ultra-violet rays which can cause corneal sunburn and may also contribute to the development of cataracts and retinal-tissue damage.
How do I know when a problem is minor or when I absolutely must see an eye doctor? Schedule an appointment to see your eye doctor if you have persistent discomfort in the eyes, headaches when reading, difficulty with reading, inability to read material at the classic distance of 16 to 18 inches, and any difficulty seeing in low light situations. Eye-related conditions which should send you to an eye doctor immediately are: vision changes, pain, flashes of light, blurred or double vision, floaters or tearing, a decrease in peripheral vision, images of colored rings around lights (halos), and an injury to the eye.
Why do my eyes sometimes feel dry when wearing contact lenses? Dry eyes can be caused by some physical conditions as well as the weather, medications, hormonal changes, smoking or not blinking enough. For temporary relief, use artificial tears or an ocular lubricant. If your lenses become difficult to remove, irrigate your eyes with sterile saline solution and see your doctor. Be sure to tell our staff and doctors if dry eyes are a problem for you. We have many specialized contact lens options for dry eyes.
Why would my eye doctor recommend more than one pair of glasses?
People have many different visual needs and one pair of glasses may not meet them all. In addition to everyday eyewear your eye doctor may recommend sunglasses, sport eye wear, special driving lenses, or glasses with a wider field of vision for close work or long hours at a computer.
What is LASIK, and how do I find out if it's right for me? LASIK is an acronym for Laser In-situ Keratomileusis. This advanced procedure isn't for everyone, but is more possible now than ever before. When you schedule your appointment, let us know if you are interested in LASIK. We can help you decide.
Why do eyes sometimes turn red in photographs? The blood in your eyes is to blame for this phenomenon. When a flash goes off, it's reflected on the rear of the eyeball, which is red from the blood vessels found there. There are a few ways to avoid this, including moving the flash away from the camera or asking your subjects to look slightly off andle from the camera lens. Another easy trick is to turn up the lights in the room, thus forcing the pupil to contract and allow less light in from the flash. Newer camera models include a 'Red-Eye Reduction' setting that pre-flashes before taking the actual photograph.
Frequently Asked Questions 