After lensometry and autorefraction are completed (see the Part 1 article last month), the pretest then focuses on ocular health screening. At some of our clinics, your intraocular pressure will be measured by the technician during pretest. This technique is called non-contact tonometry (NCT). You will be asked to remain still and keep your eyes […]
The Purpose of the Pretest: Part 1
When you arrive for an eye exam at Cowichan Eyecare, you will spend the first portion of your eye exam experience with one of our highly trained technicians. The tests that are done prior to seeing your Optometrist are collectively called the “pretest.” The tests run depend on your age, the type of exam you […]
Maybe They’re Born with it, Maybe it’s Lash Extensions
Beauty trends come and go, but the pursuit of luscious lashes is one thing that will always be on trend. Throughout time various methods have been used to achieve this look, ranging from kohl to soot to crocodile poop. The early twentieth century saw the invention of what is known today as mascara, and remains […]
Tele-Optometry and our Pandemic Protection Plan
In the age of a pandemic where everyone is concerned about contracting the COVID-19 virus, especially the elderly and vulnerable populations, life is anything but “normal.” Still, life goes on and other diseases and emergency conditions need to be addressed. What about ocular emergencies? How does one address concerns about eye pain or sudden loss […]
Myopia Management – Part 2
Last month we started the conversation about the increasing prevalence of myopia and how environmental factors may play a significant role. This month we will concentrate on some of those factors and what current management options we have. At birth, the human eye typically has a low amount of hyperopia (farsightedness). Throughout childhood, this hyperopia […]
Myopia Management – Part 1
I can still remember the day that I got my first pair of glasses. It isn’t my fondest memory, but quite a common one. I was struggling to see the blackboard at school, so my parents took me back to the optometrist. It was a disappointment to learn that I needed glasses, but not unexpected […]
Smoking and Eye Health
While many people know the risks of smoking to their overall health, often there is less awareness of the impact of smoking on vision and the eyes. Avoiding smoking or taking steps to quit, lowers your risk of vision impairment and vision loss. Smokers are at higher risk for the following conditions: Age-related Macular Degeneration […]
New Treatment for Pterygium
A new report reveals a potential breakthrough in the treatment of a common eye condition known as pterygium that impacts the vision, eye health, and cosmetic appearance of people around the world. The newly published report shows that eye drops containing the anti-thrombosis drug dipyridamole (Persantin®, Cardoxin®) led to almost total disappearance of an inflamed […]
Vision-correcting display makes reading glasses so yesterday
What if computer screens had glasses instead of the people staring at the monitors? That concept is not too far afield from technology being developed by UC Berkeley computer and vision scientists. The researchers are developing computer algorithms to compensate for an individual’s visual impairment, and creating vision-correcting displays that enable users to see text […]
Flashes and Floaters
Several times each week patients call our Optometry clinics with symptoms of new floaters in their vision and/or flashes of light. The sudden onset of these symptoms can be concerning and for good reason – they can signal something very serious like a retinal tear or detachment. More commonly, they signify an aging change in […]
