B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 14, 1998

Eye Health Canada Month

Optometrists Launch Eye “Owner's Manual”

Richmond — To mark the national launch of Eye Health Canada
Month in October, doctors of optometry across Canada have pub-
~ lished a brochure on vision care, entitled “Your Eyes - an Owner’s
Recognizing that few things are more precious .than
manual” addresses how to take care of the

is youngest eyes in the fannily, and what happens as people’ 5 eves age,

Manual”.

one’s eyesight, the “

British Columbia Association of Optomettiss
(website : www.optometrists.be.ca)

This is one owner's manual you can’t afford not not to a read For yoler
copy, contact your local optometrist, or the B.C. Association of
Optometrists (604) 270-9909. ; 7

Key Contact
Lens Tips

“Hyziene - many studies show that only
25-30% of contact lens wearers follow
“all the directions of their eye doctor and
. ‘the lens manufacturer in caring for their
~ lenses. To avoid eye health problems, it

is recommended that contact lens wear-
ets get their eyes checked annually by

an eye doctor to make sure no compli-
. cations develop.

‘Trends - Contact lenses are a medical

device, but according to the B.C.
_ Association of Optometrists, there is a
‘disturbing trend to treat them as a com-
-moadity. All contact lenses are not alike:

just. because the name of a particular
contact lens is on everyone's lips doesn't
mean it will work for everyone. Various

~ brands. are designed and manufactured

differently. Only through regular eye

“exams can the optometrist check the

health of the eyes and determine how
they react and adjust to a particular pair
of lenses. :

Expectant mothers need to work close-

_ ly with their optometrist to avoid con-
‘tact lens wearing problems and to main-

tain good vision: hormonal changes,

~ water retention, and a reduction in tears

‘can bring slight changes in vision during

~ pregnancy and affect contact lens wear-

‘ing. Disposable contact lenses can be a

good choice for women in their child-
- bearing years. The lenses can be adapt-

ed easily to changes in the eyes and/or

‘vision experienced during pregnancy.

For somé:women, however, it is neces-
sary. to limit wearing time or even dis-
continue wearing c contacts during preg-

> many.

Computers & Vision

Can surfing the net or playing video
games all night ruin your eyes? There is

“no ‘proof that staring at a computer
‘screen for too long will harm anyone's
~~ | yision, at work or at play. It could, how-
- ever, aggravate minor vision problems

that-are normally not treated. And it
can definitely cause eye strain.

Over-concentrating on the screen can
make people forget to blink, causing the
eyes to dry out and start to itch or burn.
Give the eyes a 10 minute break every
hour, perhaps doing things that don’t
require near vision.

_ Watch for signs such as general discom-
fort, headaches, blurred vision, or minor

vision problems that may surface due to
computer use. If these persist, have an
eye exam by an eye doctor (optometrist
or ophthalmologist). They will not only
check your vision but also your eye

health.

Its important for computer users of all
ages to have repular eye exams..

_ more th:

Free “Get Visible”:

Reflective Stickers

Darkness and traffic can place children
at risk as chey set out trick-or-treating
on Oct. 31 —- or any time of the year.
To make children more visible,
optometrists are giving out free reflec-
tive stickers as part of their “Get
Visible” campaign. The sticker can be
affixed to clothing, plastic and metal,
and will reflect light up to. 300. times.
1 plain clothing, -

atinathel minh titan

crassed-eyes, “lazy
eye” and colour
perception.

Vision First
Check

In some regions,

The Eye - A Window to the Body

The eye is ; the only part of the body

‘where blood vessels can be examined
directly without using an invasive pro-
cedure. When the optometrist dilates
‘the pupil to examine the inside of the
eye, he or she can detect not only the
eyes’ health and vision conditions, but
also early signs of diabetes, high blood
pressure, and other diseases of the body.
By scheduling regular checkups with
their optometrist, patients can be sure
that vision and ocular health condi-
tions, an even certain systemic diseases,

are detected for timely treatment.

The minimum recommended frequency

of eye examinations by the Canadian

Association of Optometrists is:

¢ infants: at six months;

® preschoolers (2-5 years): at age 3. and
again before entering school;

* school age (6-19 years): annually;

® adults (20-64 years):every one to two
years; a

© older adults (65 and over): annually.

The optometrist will determine the fre-. ».
quency based on the patient's health | ©

and visual status at the. ‘preliminary

examination.

vs Never.
“oo CAREY FoR
Souk. CHILD'S F:RST
Bye EXAM

Three candles on the cake ?
Full eye exam advised at age 3

About 15-20% of children have vision
problems that may impair their ability
to learn. As early detection of such con-
ditions is essential for successful treat-
ment, B.C. doctors of optometry rec-
ommend that all children have
a thorough eye examination
at age three, and again
before entering school.
The child does not need J
toknow the alphabet.
A .comprehensive eye @
examination will assess
eye health, and identify
vision problems such as a
near-sightedness,: far- ~
sightedness, «

optometrists offer a
free Vision First
Check for children

age 2 and 3, in conjunction with local
health units. B.C. optometrists are
working with government to offer this
program province-wide.

Another benefit is the general aware-
ness it creates of the need for eye care

for pre-school children.

Annual Exam Recommended

As a child advances, school work puts

more visual stress on the eyes as more
reading is required while the print
size decreases.

vate existing vision problems:
a small refractive error
which normally does not
h meed correction can
suddenly cause. prob-

use increases.
Regular preven-
tive eye exams
can correct
such condi-
tions, before
they interfere
with the child’s
performance at
school or in
sports.

Presbyopia,

A vision condition called presbyopia
may well precede thickening waistlines

and graying hair as the first sign of mid-

dle age, say doctors of optometry.
Telltale signs: a tendency to hold read-
ing material at arm’s length to focus bet-
ter, difficulty reading in poor light, trou-
ble with small print, eyestrain or
headaches after reading or other close
work, including computers.

The Vision Problem of Middle Age

Presbyopia is an age-related vision prob-
lem that affects almost everyone after
40, and brings about the need for read-
ing glasses and bifocals, Presbyopia pro-

_gresses for a number of years, and thus
| requires regular eye exams beyond age
40... Because eye health problems are

more common at this stage, it’s all the

_ More important for optometrists to per-

form a thorough eye health exam.

Presbyopia actually begins in early
childhood, but. only becomes noticeable
after 40; it occurs because, over time,

the lens loses its ability to flex and help

the eye focus.
Optometrists can help presbyopes see

TOYS CAN

Every year thousands of children in
North America suffer eye injuries
caused by. projectile toys: guns, sling
shots, or toys that shoot missiles, arrows,
balls, etc. Even if the projectiles are
sponge-tipped, the speed at which they

‘short-arm”

disease

better by prescribing glasses or contact
lenses. There are many lens choices
today: reading glasses for close work,
multifocal lenses for near and far, bifocal
contact lenses and mono-vision, where
one eye is corrected for distance and one
for near vision.

Advances in eye surgery may make it

possible in the near future to restore the .

eye's ability to adjust focus.

HURT EYES

move can still cause serious eye injury.
B.C. doctors of optometry issue. a-
Christmas list of toys considered partic :

ularly hazardous to the eyes.

Call 270-9909 for more information. a :

WINTER INCREASES
IRRITATION

People affected by dry eyes should cone.’

“DRY EYE”

Cold, windy weather may irritate peo-
ple who suffer from a condition called
“dry eye”... This term is used to describe
eyes that are not able to lubricate
themselves adequately. Dry eyes are

not an uncommon condition, especially .

among people over 50 years of age.

The eye is lubricated by three layers of
tear film, and it is the innermost layer

_ that makes it possible for the tears to

‘spread evenly 0 over. the: surface of the

eyc. Dry cye usually occurs if this layer
does not cover the eye properly and
teats can’t spread evenly, resulting in’
relatively dry patches.

Symptoms include: red or tired eyes,
excessive watering of eyes, a feeling of :
burning or gritty eyes, and blurry.
vision. The eyes may tire much more’
quickly after long periods of Near use, .

due to the irritation of the driet spots.

sult an optometrist. A cure has not yet

been found for this condition, but it
can be controlled with the use of artifi- - -
‘cial tears to lubricate the eye. People

with dry eyes should also make a con-
~ ‘scious effort to blink often, and to

“maintain a more humid home environ-
. : ment.

‘lems if computer”

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As well, computer use can aggra- -

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