Eye Health
How often should I have my eyes checked?
Every year will be ideal, or at least every 2 years. Your annual eye check up is to make sure you eyes are healthy and you are seeing at your best. Do not assume your eyes are healthy because you have not noticed any change yourself.
When should I bring my child in for an eye exam?
Although children can not fully verbalize whether they see clearly or blurry, there are tests to assess their vision and eye health.
6 month: The exam at this age is to ensure there are no major health issues with the eyes; to ensure there is no major refractive error that can hinder the development of vision and to check for crossed eyes.
3 years: At this age, a major refractive error and crossed eyes can develop. Most children cannot tell you if something is wrong especially if it only involves one eye. Uncorrected refractive error in one eye can lead to lazy eyes (amblyopia).
5-6 years. At this age children are entering school and the demand on their visual system is dramatically increasing. Many seeming behavioral or learning issues can stem from not seeing properly. An eye check up is imperative
6-18 years: Learning relies on the visual system heavily. A near sighted child cannot see the board. A far sighted child will harder time read for long period of time. A common over-looked problem is eye efficiency issues. When the focusing muscle (accommodation) is weak, a child experiences blur and fatigue when reading. When eye teaming muscle don’t work properly, a child can have problems such as tracking when reading. Another common problem is developing myopia (near-sightedness). Please see our info page on myopia for more information.
What is Cataract?
Cataract is a condition in which the crystalline lens of your eye turns cloudy and less transparent over time. It causes your vision to be blurry and sensitive to glare. Most of the time, it is part of the normal aging process. To avoid having premature cataract, good UV protection is very important. When cataract becomes opaque enough to interfere with your vision, it can be removed surgically and replaced with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgeries. It has become a very safe and precise procedure nowadays.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. There are many types of glaucoma. Although not always, it is often associated with raised eye pressure. The optic nerve fibers slowly deteriorate during the disease process and often times does not produce any symptoms until significant loss of nerve fibers have occurred. An annual eye exam helps to monitor the health of your optic nerve and helps to catch glaucoma in early stages. Untreated glaucoma can lead to blindness. Glaucoma can be managed with medication or surgery.
Why do I see these little spots that are like a strand or a bug in my vision?
These are called vitreous floaters. Vitreous has a jello like consistence and fills the back chamber of your eye. As we get older, the vitreous start to turn more watery and the collagen fibers start to condense to form little particles, or strand like material, which floats in the vitreous. They can feel like a bug or mosquitoes flying at times. Floaters seem more obvious when you look at a white wall or blue sky. Most of time, floaters are just bothersome but do not cause any damage. However, there are times when you need to check those floaters out.
When you notice a sudden development of a big floater hanging in your central vision, which may or may not be accompanied by flashes of light, you need to have you eyes examined.
If you ever experience a sudden increase in floaters, small numerous dark floaters, with or without flashes of light, you need to be examined.
I heard that my mother has Macular Degeneration. What is that?
And how can I reduce my risk for it?
Macular degeneration is the deterioration of the central region of your retina, which is termed maculae. Macular degeneration causes blurriness and distortion to your central vision. Macular degeneration is age related but influenced by risk factors such as family history, smoking, UV exposure, low intake of dietary antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, higher BMI. Protect your eyes with quality sun glasses that blocks UV. Eat a diet consists lots of green leafy vegetables, anti-oxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. Have your eyes examined yearly to detect any early signs.
Your Vision
Can my myopia be neutralized by presbyopia when I get old?
A lot of presbyopic aged myopic people can still read at near when not wearing their glasses. This is not because their presbyopia is neutralized by the myopia. This is because your natural focus without glasses is around your reading distance. When you have your distance glasses on, your focal point has been pushed to infinity. If you want to see near now, you eye muscle and lens can no long make the proper adjustment to switch focus, whereas a non-presbyopic myopic person can still make such adjustment to see up close with their distance glasses on.
Will wearing glasses make my eyes weaker?
No. You might feel your vision without glasses is worse compared to when you did not wear gasses at all. This is not because the glasses made your eyes weaker, it is because you are used to the clear image and in contrast, the blur you experience now seems more so than you remembered. Wearing properly measured and made glasses helps you to focus and see clearly. Not wearing glasses causes you to see blurry, and blur induces strain and fatigue on your visual system.
I am far-sighted. How come I can still see near or far?
Far-sighted people have low built in refractive power, which is determined by the curvature and length of the eyes. The variable focusing power supplied by the accommodation muscles, can compensate for the low built in power to a small degree. If a person is just a little bit far sighted they can still see far and near by adjusting their accommodation muscle. A moderately far sighted person can see far but can not see near. A very far sighted can not see far or near.
I am near-sighted. How come I can’t see far or near?
Near-sighted people have high built in refractive power, which is determined by the curvature and length of your eyes. Unfortunately, your variable focusing power can only be added not subtracted to alter the overall refracting power. So you can only see as far as your natural focus allows. If you prescription is -1.00D, you can see within 1 meter (3 ft). If your prescription is -2.50 D, you can see perfectly at 40 cm (16in), a typical reading distance. If your prescription is -5.00, you can only see clearly within 20 cm. That is when you feel you can see neither far nor near.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, are shaped more like a football than a basket ball. As result of this difference in curvature, light does not focus as one point but like a little blur circle. When making glasses, this difference in curvature needs to be compensated by two difference curves ground to the lenses. Contact lens wearers can choose toric soft contacts or GP lenses. Most people have some degree of astigmatism. People with astigmatism like to squint to see.
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a vision condition in which the crystalline lens of your eye lose its flexibility and and the focusing eye muscle lose its strength to change focus. It typically starts in your early 40’s.
How do I choose lens material for my prescription?
The professionals at our practice will help you select the best material for you needs. If you would like to understand more, here are some useful information.
Best for high prescription Aspheric high index >poly > trivex > plastic; for high prescription, a rolled and polished edge can reduce the edge thickness. Dark edge coating can be added to reduce internal reflection for those who are sensitive to.
Best for Impact resistance Trivex>poly>high index>plastic
Best for lightness Trivex>Poly>plastic> high index
Best for optical clarity (less aberration) Plastic>Triviex>high index>poly
Best for cost saving Plastic>poly>trivex>high index
Eyewear
Why are glasses so expensive?
Glasses are made one at a time according to the specification of each patient. It cannot be mass produced like over the counter readers. Making a pair of glasses is more than just cutting the lenses. It require a lot of services to select, consult, order, inspect, adjust and trouble shoot before a pair of glasses can finally sit on your face and start working for you. Glasses made locally that complies to the US rules cost more than glasses made elsewhere that does not have to comply to the US rules. Of course, quality frame parts, sophisticated lens design and material are also part of the cost. Anything can be had for a lower price at the expense of giving something up. Be educated and informed before you make your purchase.
What is the difference between sun glasses at different price points?
Quality sun glasses frames are made of quality plastic or metal that has superior durability, construction and finish. Quality plano sun lenses are distortion free from unwanted prescription. Some cheap plano sun lenses are not truly zero prescription. You might notice a slight warped image through the lenses. Do not buy this kind. Quality sun lenses are UV rated and protect you from UVA and UVB. Cheap sun glasses might be just a fashion tint without the proper UV protection. Prescription sun lenses are made of ophthalmic grade lens material that is distortion free. Prescription sun glasses can be tinted or polarized for 100%UVAUVB protection.
What is UV?
Ultra-violet light is the high-energy invisible light ranging from approximately 190nm to 380nm in wavelength.
315-380nm UVA
280-315nm UVB
200-280nm UVC
Don’t forget that UV radiation is reflected off all surfaces, particularly snow, concrete, and white sand. UV exposure is highest from 10 am to 3 pm. UV levels also increase nearer the equator and at higher elevations.
Does computer Screen emit UV?
The old CRT monitors does emit a small amount of UV. LCD screen generally does not. However, the LCD laptop monitor screens on some units use miniature fluorescent tubes behind the screen for back-lighting--also, some LED's used to replace miniature fluorescent tubes for back-lighting do emit Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR).
UV radiation is a contributing factor to many eye diseases, such as, pterygium, pinguecula, cataract and macular degeneration.
What is blue light?
Blue light, or more accurately the blue-and violet portion of the visible light spectrum, is the high-energy visible light (HEV). Study has shown that blue light is a contributing factor to macular degeneration.
What is glare?
Glare is a harsh, bright dazzling light. Glare can come from direct light source such as head lights on a car, over head fluorescent light or your computer screen; Glare can also come from a reflecting surface such as the back window of a car, water surface and snow. Glare can also be produced by fog, rain, haze and smog because light is scattered from the individual particles making up the haze or fog.
What is polarization?
Light travels in waves. Emanating from its source, light waves vibrate in all directions. As light waves strike a smooth surface, they become plane polarized, which means that the light waves no longer vibrate in all directions but instead, vibrate in only one plane. This plane polarized light is a major source of glare. One example of pane polarized light is light reflecting off a body of water.
How does polarized glasses help glare?
Polarized glasses are embedded with a polarizing filter. This polarizing filter itself is made from a sheet of parallel rows of iodine crystals permitting light rays oriented in only one direction to pass trough while blocking light in the opposite meridian- like a Venetian blind.
(polyvinyl alcohol which is stretched to align the molecules into parallel rows. Iodine crystals are poured onto the stretched sheet and become diffused into the into the polyvinyl layer and attach themselves to the chains of long molecules.
How can I check to see if my sun glasses are polarized.
When you put one polarizing filter against another one at 90 degrees, you’ll find the lenses have turned so dark that you can no longer see through it. For example, check your sun glasses by turning your head while looking at the LCD display on your dash board. If the display disappears at certain angle, it means that your sun glasses are polarized.
What is Transition lenses?
Transition lenses is a type of photochromic lenses, which have a special UV sensitive additive in the lenses that allows the lenses to turn dark in the direct sun light. It blocks 100% UV coming through the lenses. It is a great choice for general daily protection. It does not turn dark in the car though. To have a little tint effect in the car, you may choose Transition XtraActive or Transition Vantage lenses. Transition Drive Wear is even darker behind the windshield and remains tinted indoors.
What is anti-reflective coating?
Anti-reflective coating today is a multilayered coating that combines anti-reflection, scratch coating and hydrophobic coating all into one coating that protects your lenses, keep your lenses clean, as well as reduce unwanted reflections to enhance the visual performance of eye wear. It helps greatly when you work on the computer or drive at night.
How do I care for my lenses?
Lenses can be cleaned with 100% lint free cotton towel or special microfiber cloth provided by your eye doctor. You can use special formulated lens spray or luke warm water with a mild liquid soap with out additives. Do not use Kleenex as they are made from wood fibers and are still abrasive. Avoid getting chemicals on the lenses such as hair spray, cologne, ammonia, bleach or house hold cleaners. Do not leave your glasses in the car. The heat can age the glasses faster and cause coating to weaken and frame to deform. Keep your glasses in a protective case when not in use. Do not lay your lenses face down.
My eyes are tired from computer use. How can computer glasses help?
Computer glasses can help to focus and reduce glares. When you look far away, your focusing muscles are fully relaxed. The closer you look, the harder the focusing muscles have to work. If you stare at the computer screen eight hours a day, the focusing muscles are working non-stop at full capacity. Computer glasses prescription can be adjusted to your computer screen distance so that your eye muscles do not have to do the work to maintain the focus.
Computer glasses can be coated with anti-reflective coating so that glares from the computer screen and overhead lighting can be minimized.
What is more? We are also offer a new lens coating that blocks blue light from the computer screen to further improve the computer viewing comfort.
Contacts
Why do I need to check my eyes yearly to renew my contact lens prescription when I do not notice any change?
The yearly contact lens progress evaluation is not just for making changes to your contact lens prescription power. It is for making sure your eye health, especially your corneal health is in good shape. Contact lens wear can cause complications such as neovascularization, allergy, dryness, inflammation, and infection. Longtime wear can reduce the sensitivity of your cornea. You can not always feel discomfort when there is a problem. Only a check up can make sure you are wearing contacts safely.
Office procedure and Policy
What is not covered in your warranty?
Breakage due to misuse is not covered. Normal wear and tear is no covered.
What is my insurance coverage?
Most vision insurance covers one eye exam every 1-2 years. Basic single vision and lined bifocal lenses are typically covered every 1-2 years. Frame is covered up to a dollar amount every 1-2 years. Progressive lenses, transition lenses, anti-reflective coatings are typically not covered and are considered upgrades, which you pay according to the fee schedule set by your insurance plan.
Vision benefit is either for contacts for glasses unless your employer purchased both for you. Contact lens coverage is typically a dollar amount allowance that you can apply to your contact lens service and material charge.