Optometrist Services Toronto

Frequently Asked Questions:

"My daughter has been asking for contact lenses. What age would this be appropriate?"

Around age 10 (and perhaps even earlier), children may express a desire for contact lenses for cosmetic purposes or for convenience if they play sports. Whether or not your child is a suitable candidate for contacts depends largely on whether or not you feel he or she is ready to accept the responsibility of ongoing care and maintenance. In addition, your child must be able to easily insert and remove the contact lenses properly. For further information about what type of lenses may be the most suitable for a child, speak to us.

"Can I still wear contact lenses now that I need bifocals?"

Bifocal contact lenses continue to improve every year and now include several disposable varieties. To find out if you are a candidate and for a complimentary trial pair, please contact our office to book a fitting.

"Can my contact lens slip behind my eye and get lost there?"

A contact lens that slips off the corneal surface of the eye and moves under the eyelid cannot go far. The conjunctiva, a clear lining that covers the inner surface of the eyelids, forms a small sac or pouch between the eyelid and the eye to contain the eye's tears. The "lost" contact lens can go only as far as the edge of this sac, not behind the eyeball.
Usually you can gently manipulate the contact lens back into place. If the lens is difficult to retrieve, you may need to flush your eye with sterile saline. Your optometrist can advise you on safe methods of retrieving a "lost" lens.

"How can I tell if my contact lens is inside out?"

Be sure the lens is not too wet and place it on your fingertip. Inspect the edges at eye level. When the lens is right side out, the entire lens is shaped like a teacup. When it is inside out, the edges point outward giving the appearance of a bowl with a rim. It you are still not sure, leave the lens on your fingertip and gently pinch it together. The edges should roll in like a taco if it is the right way. If it is inside out, the edges will flare out away from each other. If you still can't tell, put the lens on. Inside out it will feel more uncomfortable and may even slide around or move excessively.

"Will looking at the sun really hurt my eyes?"

Occasionally glancing at the sun usually does not harm your eyes. However, staring for several minutes at the sun or a solar eclipse can damage visual cells in the part of the retinal that allows us to see fine detail. This kind of injury, called solar retinopathy, can cause a blind spot in the center of the field of vision. Loss of vision in theses cases can be temporary but often is permanent.

"What is Astigmatism?"

Astigmatism is not a disease, but actually a vision condition that is quite common. This occurs when there is an irregularity in the shape of the front surface (cornea) of the eye. When the cornea is more oval than round, light does not focus properly on the back of the eye (the retina). Severe astigmatism will usually cause blurred or distorted vision. Mild astigmatism may cause headaches, eye strain, fatigue and blurred vision at certain angles. We will test for astigmatism at every complete exam and if necessary, glasses or contact lenses will be prescribed to correct the problem.

"I've heard about computer glasses. What are they?"

Computer glasses are single vision prescription glasses. They are most often prescribed for people who wear bifocals and find themselves having to tilt their heads at awkward angles to be able to read or see the computer screen. Computer glasses are set up precisely for the distance which enables you to see your screen in focus, thereby avoiding unnecessary neck and eyestrain. These glasses are recommended for people who spend long amounts of time on the computer.

"I passed the vision test when I tried my license. Why should I have another vision examination?"

As 90% of all driving decisions are based on vision, your visual skills are important to your driving ability. Driving ability depends on six factors:
1) Visual acuity - the ability to focus sharply which allows you to see in sufficient time to react to any situation.
2) Depth perception - necessary for you to accurately judge distances while controlling a moving vehicle.
3) An adequate field of vision - allows you to take in a larger picture around you without any distracting head movements.
4) Eye co-ordination - if inadequate, can reduce your depth perception and increase fatigue.
5) Good night vision - allows you to see under low levels of light and after exposure to oncoming headlights.
6) Colour vision - any defect will slow responses to traffic lights and could possibly cause problems under fog or night-time conditions. The usual screening tests do not cover all these factors and are rarely repeated after the license exam. A weakness in one or more of these areas can cause unsafe driving.

"Is 20/20 perfect vision?"

20/20 vision (or 6/6 in metric) is a term used to express normal visual acuity (clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of twenty feet. A person with 20/20 vision can see clearly at twenty feet what should normally be seen at that distance. A person with 20/100 vision must be as close as twenty feet to see what normally can be seen at a distance of one hundred feet. The 20 foot standard is used for consistency and does not refer to perfect vision. A person with better than average vision, (20/15 for example) can see at 20 feet what normally is seen at 15 feet.