“My eyes feel dry when I’m wearing contact lenses. Are there any eye drops that you recommend?” – Carl via email
You’re certainly not alone in having dry eyes associated with contact lens wear. Contact lenses can disturb a patient’s delicate tear layer, leaving them with chronic dry eye. Luckily there are many options available to manage these types of symptoms. First of all, sometimes an otherwise great contact lens is made uncomfortable because of the elements. If you know you’re going to be outside working in the garden for example, you may need to use a rewetting drop in anticipation of being out in the wind. Likewise, if you’re going for a run in your contact lenses, be sure to wear good wrap-style sunglasses to keep the wind off your eyes (in addition to preventing unnecessary ultraviolet light damage to your eyes). Another option is to get a thinner-profile contact lens. Daily disposable lenses such as Acuvue 1-Day Moist, offer fantastic comfort and the convenience of not having to fuss with contact lens cases and solution. These highly affordable lenses set the gold standard of comfort and can reduce the pesky dry eye symptoms that patients sometimes experience.
“Help! My glasses were lost over the weekend and I can’t see! How long does it take to get my glasses made?” –Betty via email
Betty, you’re in luck because our own in-house ophthalmic laboratory can have your lenses ready in just a few minutes. We stock a variety of lenses in a multitude of powers meaning that our lab only has to cut those lenses to match your frame. You can use one of your own frames, or select a frame from our extensive frame collections. Any new frame purchased from our optical department includes our 100% guarantee and our complete warranty. Adding a top-notch anti-glare coating extends the lens warranty to a full 2 years. Our opticians will have your lenses cut and ready in no time, and have you seeing your best again. No appointment is needed to visit our optical department, so swing on by!
“One of my parents was recently diagnosed with an eye disease, should I be concerned about my own eye health?” – Ron via email
We have patients ask our doctors this question all the time, and it’s an important one. Many eye diseases and conditions are thought to be hereditary. Macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, refractive error, strabismus (eye turns), and other retinal disease are thought to have at least some genetic component. The best route to preventing your own eyes from suffering from these problems is to be seen regularly for your annual comprehensive eye and vision examination. Glaucoma is a great example of an eye disease that probably starts relatively early in life, but that has symptoms that aren’t noticed until the disease is advanced. If a patient is diagnosed with glaucoma early, it is usually easily treatable. Universally, eye diseases are best treated when they are detected early on. Waiting until vision loss occurs greatly reduces the prognosis for good vision. Even refractive error, which many patients consider benign, plays a role in the long-term functionality of the eye. Refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) should be detected very early in a child’s life in order to prevent amblyopia. For this reason, Vista Eye Care, as well as the American Optometric Association, recommends children be seen for their first eye exam at 6-12 months of age. This early-life eye check-up can detect abnormalities with eye health and vision early, and often times parent’s refractive error is passed on to their children. Eyes are too important not to be well taken care of. Please use the link below to schedule your annual eye check-up with our optometrists, or call our office at (303) 450-2020.
