Summer 2007
WHY DILATE PUPILS?
Regular eye exams are an essential way to monitor your vision and eye health. Healthy adults should have an eye exam every one to two years, or more frequently as recommended by your optometrist. During a typical eye exam, your optometrist will use several instruments with bright lights to look into the eye, assessing the health of each part of the eye. However, the bright light causes the pupil to get smaller, making it difficult for the optometrist to see inside to the back of the eye.
The retina, optic nerve, and important eye blood vessels are found internally at the back of the eye. When your pupils are dilated, your optometrist will be able to clearly see these parts of the eye and evaluate them. Pupil dilation may reveal general health problems like hypertension and diabetes. Dilation is also important for catch the signs of glaucoma and macular degeneration. For these reasons, pupil dilatation is an important part of a comprehensive eye examination.
Pupil dilation occurs after instilling eye drops in the eye. The eye drops force the pupil to stay open, even in bright light. Pupil dilation is generally not uncomfortable and the drops take approximately twenty minutes to work. After dilation you may have some blurring of vision for around an hour or two after your exam. In addition, you will be more sensitive to light; disposable sunglasses are available for your comfort (or you may use your own sunglasses). Some people prefer not to drive after their pupils are dilated and choose to bring a friend or family member with them for their eye appointments if dilation is planned..
“EYE-Q TEST” MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT CHILDREN’S VISION
Myth: If a child is struggling in school, the child must have a learning disability.
Fact: Children with poor vision may find it difficult to focus on their work and may be misdiagnosed as having a learning or behavioural disability. With more than 80% of learning done through visual means, children rely heavily on their vision to help them develop a number of skills including reading, copying, hand-eye coordination, and social skills.
(Source: Ontario Association of Optometrists)
Regular eye exams are an essential way to monitor your vision and eye health. Healthy adults should have an eye exam every one to two years, or more frequently as recommended by your optometrist. During a typical eye exam, your optometrist will use several instruments with bright lights to look into the eye, assessing the health of each part of the eye. However, the bright light causes the pupil to get smaller, making it difficult for the optometrist to see inside to the back of the eye.
The retina, optic nerve, and important eye blood vessels are found internally at the back of the eye. When your pupils are dilated, your optometrist will be able to clearly see these parts of the eye and evaluate them. Pupil dilation may reveal general health problems like hypertension and diabetes. Dilation is also important for catch the signs of glaucoma and macular degeneration. For these reasons, pupil dilatation is an important part of a comprehensive eye examination.
Pupil dilation occurs after instilling eye drops in the eye. The eye drops force the pupil to stay open, even in bright light. Pupil dilation is generally not uncomfortable and the drops take approximately twenty minutes to work. After dilation you may have some blurring of vision for around an hour or two after your exam. In addition, you will be more sensitive to light; disposable sunglasses are available for your comfort (or you may use your own sunglasses). Some people prefer not to drive after their pupils are dilated and choose to bring a friend or family member with them for their eye appointments if dilation is planned..
“EYE-Q TEST” MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT CHILDREN’S VISION
Myth: If a child is struggling in school, the child must have a learning disability.
Fact: Children with poor vision may find it difficult to focus on their work and may be misdiagnosed as having a learning or behavioural disability. With more than 80% of learning done through visual means, children rely heavily on their vision to help them develop a number of skills including reading, copying, hand-eye coordination, and social skills.
(Source: Ontario Association of Optometrists)
Would you like to have a chance at winning 1 of 3 gift certificates from The Toy Shoppe of London ($40, $25, $20)? Colour this picture (click here) and drop off your work of art at our office or mail it to 190 Wortley Rd, Suite 100D by August 31, 2007. You must be age 10 or under to enter. Only one entry per person.
REMINDER!
We collect used glasses to be distributed free of charge during missions to third world countries. Please feel free to drop off glasses anytime!
