Your Eyes

 The Optometrist?
 Anatomy of the eye
 Conditions of the eye
 Common eye diseases & conditions
 Caring for your eyes
 Getting more information!
 What Does an Optometrist
Do?
 Examines eye health, vision levels and
coordination.
 Diagnoses diseases and ocular conditions of
the eyes.
 Helps manage eye conditions and monitors
treatment.
 Provides assistance with vision training and
other lifestyle modifications.
Anatomy of the Eye
Anatomy of the Eye
Nearsightedness

 Nearsighted people
typically see well up
close, but have
difficulty seeing far
away.
Farsightedness
 Farsighted people
typically see well far
away, but have difficulty
seeing up close.
 Astigmatism
 With Astigmatism the
cornea likely oval
shaped.
 Can occur along with
nearsightedness and
farsightedness
 Presbyopia
(Short Arm Syndrome)

Normally begins after age 40.

Signs and Symptoms
Difficulty seeing clearly for close work
Print seems to have less contrast
Fatigue and eyestrain when reading
 Correcting Your Vision

Glasses
 Single Vision
 Bifocal
 Trifocal
 Progressive
 Correcting Your Vision

 Contact Lens
 Soft
 Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP)
Laser Surgery
 PRK
 LASIK
 Lasik Surgery

 A special instrument
called a keratome is
used to gently lift a flap
of corneal tissue, then
laser is used to reshape
the cornea.
Common Eye Conditions
 Computer Vision Syndrome
 Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a term
that describes eye-related problems and the
other symptoms caused by prolonged
computer use.
 These problems are more noticeable with
computer tasks than other near work because
letters on the screen are formed by tiny dots
called pixels, rather than a solid image.
 Tips When Using the
Computer
 Take frequent breaks
 Blink
 Avoid sources of glare on screen
 Maintain proper distance from screen
 Maintain good lighting, brightness & contrast
 Ensure your glasses are right for the task
 Dry Eyes Condition
 One of the most common problems treated by
eye doctors. Over 10 million Americans have
clinically significant dry eye.
 Tears are comprised of three layers.
 Tears keep the eye moist, creates a smooth
surface for light to pass through the eye,
nourishes the front of the eye, and provides
protection from injury and infection.
 Dry Eye Condition

 Causes
 Age
 Environment
 Contact Lenses
 Medications
 Diseases
 Dry Eye Condition

 Symptoms
 Burning
 Itching
 Redness
 Blurred vision that improves with blinking
 Excessive tearing
 Increased discomfort after periods of reading, watching
TV, or working on a computer
 
 Dry Eye
 Treatment
 Artificial lubricants
 Punctal occlusion
 Surgery
 Cataracts
 Clouding of natural
lens of eye
 Most common
cause… age
Cataracts
Cataracts
 Age Related Macular
Degeneration
 A degenerative condition of the macula (the central
retina).

 Most common cause of vision loss in North America in

those 50 or older, and its prevalence increases with
age.
 AMD
 Caused by hardening of the arteries that nourish the
retina depriving the sensitive retinal tissue of oxygen
and nutrients that it needs to function and thrive,
resulting in deteriorated central vision.
Dry Macular Degeneration
 Glaucoma
 Caused by increased intraocular pressure
(IOP)
 Left untreated, an elevated IOP causes
irreversible damage to the optic nerve and
retinal fibers resulting in a progressive,
permanent loss of vision.
 Early detection and treatment can slow the
progression of the disease.
Glaucoma
 Diabetic Retinopathy
 Occurs in people with diabetes.
 Visual symptoms vary from blurred vision
(depending on sugar levels), flashing lights, to
loss of vision.
 Treatment
 MAINTAIN AND STABILIZE BLOOD SUGARS!
 Laser surgery
Diabetic Retinopathy
 Caring for Your Eyes

Why get your eyes checked yearly?

To make sure you ensure clear,
comfortable vision
To make sure your eyes are healthy
Just because you see well, doesn’t
mean your eyes are well!
 The Eye Examination
History:
Your optometrist will ask you about any vision problems
that you are experiencing, your personal and family eye
and health history, your medications, and any special
visual demands of your occupation or hobbies.
 The Eye Examination
Visual Acuity:
 Checks your level of vision with an eye chart.
Binocular Vision:
 Determines how well your eyes work together in
coordinated movement.
 The Eye Examination
 Ocular Health:
 This is a painless examination that checks the external
and internal structure of your eye. It also checks for
signs of ocular conditions as well as chronic conditions
that may affect your eyes.
 The Eye Examination
Refraction:
 Determines the prescription that will give you the best
possible vision
 How Do I Become an
Optometrist?
 You must complete an Honors Bachelor’s Degree in
university with emphasis in math and science.
 You must complete a 4-year Degree of Optometry
program.
 You must write a national examination and apply to a
provincial College for registration.
Why Become an Optometrist?
 Work and help people of all ages.
 A chance to problem solving and help improve
people’s lifestyle and well-being.
 What Can You Do?
 Don’t smoke.
 Eat your vegetables, especially dark leafy greens and
yellows.
 Try to do some exercise if possible.
 Visit your eye doctor regularly.
 Visit your family doctor regularly.
Taking Care of Your Eyes
From Birth to Your Golden Years
 Vision and Eye Health

 Vision is one of our most important senses

but unfortunately, it is often taken for
granted.

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 Vision and Eye Health

 Regular eye care is essential to maintain a lifetime of

clear vision and healthy eyes.

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 Eye Care Providers
Who’s Who

 Optometrists
(Doctors of Optometry)
 Primary eye health care providers
 Experts in the examination, diagnosis
and treatment of vision problems and
eye diseases
 Can prescribe glasses and contact
lenses
 Can refer patients to specialists if
necessary

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 Eye Care Providers
Who’s Who

 Ophthalmologists
 Physicians who have completed an ophthalmology residency.
 Typically treat advanced eye diseases and conditions and can
perform surgery.

 Opticians
 Technicians who prepare and dispense eyeglasses.
 Some can fit contact lenses.
 Do not perform eye exams.

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 What is an eye examination?
 An eye health exam involves many steps including:
 Case history
 Visual acuity
 Refraction
 Eye coordination and focusing
 Eye pressure measurement
 External eye examination
 Internal eye examination

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 What is an eye examination?

 Additional tests may also be required such as:

 Colour vision
 Peripheral vision
 Corneal topography
 Binocular vision
 Imaging or photography

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 Eye Exam vs. Sight Test

 Some retailers are now offering “Sight Tests”.

 With a “Sight Test”, eye health is not assessed.
 Many sight threatening conditions could be missed.

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Children’s Vision

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 Your Baby’s Eyes

 It’s never too early for your child’s first

eye exam!!!
 Children should have their first eye
examination at 6 months of age.
 They should be examined again at
age 3, before school starts, and then
regularly throughout their school
years.

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 Baby Eye Problems

 Retinopathy of Prematurity
 Neonatal Conjunctivitis
 Blocked Tear Ducts
 Strabismus (Eye Turns, Crossed Eyes)
 Large Refractive Errors
(Nearsighted or Farsighted)
 Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

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 Children’s Vision

 Children may not complain of vision

problems because they may believe the
way their world looks is normal or they
have one eye that sees well and one that
doesn’t.
 Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) must be detected
early in order to be treated effectively.
 Any eye infections should be checked by
an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

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 Our Children’s Vision Crisis

 Approximately 85% of children begin

school without an eye exam.
 Learning is 80% visual – Vision and
learning are intimately “linked”.
 1 in 4 children begin Grade 1 with an
undiagnosed vision or eye health
problem.
 As many as 60% of children identified
as having reading difficulties in fact
have vision problems.

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 Our Children’s Vision Crisis

 Studies reveal that 70% of

juvenile delinquents have
undiagnosed vision problems.
 A vision screening - at your
pediatrician’s office, by a school
nurse or elsewhere - does not
equal a comprehensive eye
exam by an optometrist.

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Vision Care for Adults

 Generally, healthy adults should

have an eye health exam every 1 to
2 years.
 Seniors should have an annual eye
health exam.
 Some patients with certain
conditions may require more
frequent exams.

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Vision Conditions and Diseases

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 Types of Refractive Errors

 Myopia (near-sightedness)
 Hyperopia (far-sightedness)
 Astigmatism
(oval or football shaped eye)
 Presbyopia
(“arms aren’t long enough to make
the newspaper clear”)

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 Glaucoma

 A group of diseases characterized

by gradual loss of peripheral vision
due to damage of the optic nerve.
 Measurement of eye pressures,
peripheral vision and careful
examination of the optic nerves are
essential.
 Treatments include eye drops or
surgery.

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 Cataract

 The lens inside the eye gets cloudy with

age.
 Treatment is surgical removal of the
cataract and replacement with an artificial
lens.
 Cataract surgery is very safe and has
excellent outcomes.

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 Age-Related Macular
Degeneration (AMD)

 The leading cause of blindness in the

elderly population.
 The macula (central retina) becomes
damaged and causes distorted central
vision.
 Nutrition, early detection and
monitoring are important.
 2 types:
 Dry (early)
 Wet (advanced)

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 Diabetes & the Eye
 Diabetes can cause a number of eye
problems:
 Fluctuating vision
 Cataract
 Glaucoma
 Diabetic Retinopathy
 People with diabetes require
yearly eye exams, including a
dilated retinal examination.

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 Systemic Diseases
& the Eye

 AIDS • Thyroid Disease

 High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease
 Herpes Simplex • Rheumatoid
(Cold Sores) Arthritis
 Herpes Zoster (Shingles) • Ankylosing
 Chlamydia Spondylitis
• Drug Toxicity
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 Headaches

 Headaches can indicate an eye

problem
 Many headaches around the eye
can be due to other facial
structures
(e.g. Jaw, Sinuses, etc.)
 Ocular Migraines
 Tension Headaches
 Idiopathic Headaches

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 Floaters

 Opacities in the vitreous (jelly material)

of the eye.
 Very common and are usually not a
concern.
 However, if a sudden increase occurs
with flashes of light or loss of vision,
then urgent examination is required as
these can be symptoms of a retinal
detachment.

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 Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

 Inflammation of the thin outer layer of the eye.

 Caused by
 Bacterial infection
 Viral infection
 Allergy
 Chemical

 Always see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for

diagnosis and proper treatment.
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 Dry Eyes

 Tears have three layers:

 Mucous, water, and oil
 A problem with any one of these can cause
dry eyes.
 Tear production decreases with age.
 Treatments include various types of
artificial tears and lubricants and punctal
plugs.

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Vision Correction Options

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 Contact Lenses
 Proper fitting, assessment and follow up
care are essential for safe, successful
contact lens wear.
 Lenses are now available to correct
nearsightedness, farsightedness,
astigmatism and presbyopia (multifocals).
 There are many different choices of
replacement schedules and materials to
match different lifestyles.
 Good cleaning habits and maintaining a
proper wearing schedule are important to
prevent complications.
Beware of
“over-the-
counter”
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 Presbyopia Correction
Options

 Separate distance and reading glasses

 Separate glasses for computer and reading
 Bifocal
 Trifocal
 Progressive
 Bifocal/multifocal contact lenses

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 Laser Eye Surgery

 RK
 PRK
 LASIK
 The surgeon’s reputation and experience are
important.
 As with any type of surgery, risks are present but the
success rate has been good.

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 Harmful Effects of UV

 UV light exposure may contribute to the development

of:
 Pingueculae
 Cataract
 Pterygium
 Macular Degeneration
 Melanoma

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 Sunglasses

 To block UV light, sunglasses

should be worn by everyone.
 Different prices reflect the quality of
the frame, the lens material, optical
quality of the lens, and brand
name.
 Different tints and polarization
options are available.

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 Eye Protection

 Remember to protect your eyes at

work, in the yard, at the rink and on the
field.
 Wear CSA approved eye protection.
 Many options are now available for
prescription safety eyewear.

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 Conclusion

 Regular eye exams are

an important part of your
overall health care
regimen.
 Optometrists are your
primary eye care
providers.

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YOUR EYES deserve AN
OPTOMETRIST!

From Birth to Your Golden Years