Our doctors provide complete internal and external eye examinations. This includes checking for cataract development, macular degeneration, glaucoma assessment, diabetic retinopathy evaluation, as well as a complete visual assessment. Our optometrists will determine if further testing is required. We would like to remind parents that eye examinations should begin by the age of six months and earlier if parents have any concerns. For adults, eye examinations should be performed at least once every two years and more often if recommended by our optometrist. After the age of sixty-five, it is recommended that an eye examination be performed annually.

Our assistants and technicians are trained to take detailed retinal photographs with a fundus camera. These photographs provide our optometrist with vital information on internal eye health and for monitoring such things as diabetic retinopathy. Our doctors assess these photographs to determine the health of the optic nerve head, fundus, retinal vein and artery integrity, and the retina itself. These photographs will be kept in your file so future comparisons may be done if changes in your vision are noted.

During your eye examination our optometrist will check the clarity of the lens within your eye. If there is an opacity or cloudiness of the lens (cataract), our optometrist will analyse it and determine if a change in your eyeglass lenses will improve your vision. When vision cannot be improved sufficiently with eyeglasses and the cloudiness of the lens interferes with daily activities, our optometrist may refer you to an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) for cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. Following your surgery our optometrist provide complete post surgery follow-up care.

In addition to your comprehensive eye examinations, our office will measure the pressure in our adult patient's eyes with an instrument called an NCT (non-contact tonometer). Our optometrist will also perform a routine internal inspection of the optic nerve as part of your eye examination. A visual field test and pachymetry (corneal thickness measurement) may also be recommended by our optometrist if they determine you may be at risk for Glaucoma

If our optometrist diagnoses you with Glaucoma, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist who will determine an appropriate treatment. Your follow-up care and treatment will then be co-managed between the ophthalmologist and optometrist.

Visual field analysis provides our optometrist a "map" of your vision, both peripherally and specific areas of vision. The latest technology is used at the Optometric Centre when providing visual field analysis. Analysis of the visual field is extremely important in monitoring any vision changes due to stroke, brain tumor, neurological disorders, screening and monitoring of Glaucoma, post-surgical follow-up and even when providing information to Motor Vehicle Branch regarding drivers licenses.

Our optometrist can educate you regarding refractive surgery and help to determine if it may be an option for you. The first step consists of a comprehensive eye examination to determine your refractive status. Our optometrist will then discuss with you the various options that are available regarding PRK, Lasik, Lasek, and Wavefront refractive surgery. Our optometrist will explain what is involved with each procedure, current prices, and the necessary follow-up procedures required for each. If you wish to proceed, our optometrist will arrange an appointment with an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) for further testing and consultation. After refractive surgery, the follow-up care is crutial for success and will be co-managed between our optometrist and the ophthalmologist.

Pre-surgery assessment is a vital step in eye surgery as is follow-up care after surgery. Our doctors communicate closely with ophthalmologists to ensure the highest standard of care before and after surgery.

Our doctors provide contact lens assessment and fittings for conventional, daily disposable, 2 week disposable, monthly disposable, toric (astigmatism), and extended overnight wear contact lenses. Follow-up visits will also be scheduled to ensure a high standard of care. Our assistants and technicians provide complete training on care, handling, as well as insertion/removal techniques

Our Assistants/Technicians & Optician are all very experienced in frame dispensing. They will help you find the frame that best fits you and your lifestyle. Their many years of experience as well as their commitment to continuing education is a great benefit when advising patients regarding the lens designs, coatings, and what is right for you as an individual.

Intra-ocular eye pressure measurements called tonometry are preformed routinely with your eye examination and whenever deemed necessary thereafter. Knowing a patient's eye pressure is very important in screening for and monitoring Glaucoma.

A Pachymeter is an instrument that measures the thickness of a cornea. A small probe is placed on the center of the cornea and an ultrasound measurement is taken. With the corneal thickness measurement and the NCT (non-contact tonometer) measurement, the doctors can calculate the intraocular pressure more precisely. The pachymeter would be used in cases where patients have unexplained elevated pressure readings from the NCT (puff of air machine). Another use for the pachymeter is to determine whether a person is a good candidate for refractivce surgery... if your cornea is too thin, some surgeries are not recommended. Our technicians are fully trained to take accurate pachymetry measurements.

Visual perceptual therapy is performed for individuals that have shown difficulty on perceptual tests or who have shown signs of visual perceptual problems in school. A comprehensive vision examination and sensorimotor examination should be performed before commencing therapy to uncover any ocular health or visual gathering problems. Visual perceptual skills are significantly correlated with acdemic performance. It must be kept clear, however, that visual perceptual therapy is addressing visual problems and not learning problems. Visual perceptual problems that are addresssed in therapy include:

Visual Analysis - ability to match patterns

Visual Memory - ability to remember and understand what is seen

Visualization - ability to visualize a picture or pattern would look like from a different perspective

Visual fine motor integration - ability to process and reproduce visual images by writing or drawing

Visual form perception - ability to discriminate differences in size, shape or form

Laterality and Directionality - development of left and right awareness

Symptoms of visual perceptual problems include, but are not limited to, difficulty recognizing letters, words, or simple shapes, distinguishing the main idea for insignificant details, poor reading comprehension, poor spelling, sloppy handwriting, poor copying skills, reversals or letters and words, and trouble with mathematical concepts such as size, magnitude, and position.

Optometric vision theerapy is a program of care used to develop, restore, or enhance visual function and performance. The goal of optometric vision therapy is to automatize normative function, not to strengthen eye meuscles. The eye muscles are already incredibly strong. Vision therapy enables an individual to learn more efficient ways to perform visually. Vision therapy can improve visual function much like physical therapy can improve general motor function.

Functional visual problems that can be significantly be improved through optometric vision therapy include:

Ocular motility dysfunction - eye movement disorders

Vergence dysfunction- inefficiency in using both eyes together

Strabismus - misalignment of the eyes

Amblyopia - lazy eye

Accommodative disorders - focusing problems

Visual information processing disorders

Visual sensory and motor integration

Vision therapy procedures are conducted under the supervision of an optometrist and are individualized to meet the needs of each patient. Vision therapy is generally conducted in-office every two weeks for 30 minutes to one hour and is most often supplemented with procedures done at home between office visits. Therapy plans typically involve lenses, prisms, optical instruments, and specially adapted computers. The specific materials are less important than the feedback provided to the patient to enable change.

Some of the common symptoms relieved through vision therapy include eye strain, visually induced headaches, inability to concentrate when doing visual tasks, and errors such as loss of place or reversals when reading or writing. More often, individuals have no recognized symptoms due to their avaidance of visually demanding tasks or an adaptation that decreases their performance.