Amblyopia is the lack of development of vision in one eye not directly caused by an eye health problem. It may be caused by a large difference in the prescription between the two eyes, or it can occur when strabismus (crossed eyes) is present. Blurred vision in the affected eye is a result of this. Poor early development can cause amblyopia and therefore it occurs before the age of six. Lenses alone cannot correct this problem.

Usually there are no signs or symptoms associated with amblyopia. Since only one eye is affected, the other eye usually has reasonable good vision and tends to take over all visual tasks. Unless the good eye is covered, the person will rarely notice the poor vision in the amblyopic eye.

Treatment for amblyopia involves therapy to develop the eye and improve vision. Often a patch is placed in front of the good eye. Patching the stronger eye is necessary to stimulate and strengthen the amblyopic eye. Corrective lenses may also be necessary.

Our optometrist can determine the presence of amblyopia and the earlier it is diagnosed, the greater the chance for a complete recovery. It is very important to have your child's vision examined at six months of age and again at age 3, and regularly thereafter.

When the normally clear lens within the eye becomes cloudy or opaque it is called a cataract. There is no pain associated with cataracts, but symptoms would include blurred or hazy vision, or the feeling of having a film over the eyes. Some people may also experience increased sensitivity to glare, particularly at night. A comprehensive vision examination by our optometrist can determine if you have cataracts forming.

It is known that a chemical change occurs within the eye that causes the lens to become cloudy. It may be due to advancing age, heredity, injury, disease, or excessive exposure to UV rays. Cigarette smoking or the use of certain medications are also considered risk factors for the development of cataracts.

Wearing glasses / sunglasses with UV protection can protect your eyes from harmful UV rays which can speed up cataract formation. A diet rich in antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, E, Zinc Selenium & Magnesium) is also thought to be beneficial.

When cataracts start to interfere with your daily activities and glasses cannot improve vision, our optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist for possible cataract surgery.

Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when there is a weakening or swelling of the tiny blood vessels in the retina of your eye. This results in blood leakage, the growth of new blood vessels and other changes. Left untreated, blindness can result.

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing retinopathy, they are smoking, high blood pressure, drinking alcohol and pregnancy

Through a vision examination, our optometrist can diagnose potential vision threatening changes in your eyes. Once damage has occurred, the effects are usually permanent. It is very important to control your diabetes as much as possible to minimize your risk of developing retinopathy.

If necessary, diabetic retinopathy may be treated with laser therapy, in other cases eye surgery may be necessary. Treatment is much more likely to be successful when detected in the early stages.

Dry eye occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or tears that do not have the proper chemical composition. The most common symptoms of dry eye are: itchy, scratchy and uncomfortable eyes, sometimes a burning feeling. Some people experience an overly wet eye... this is a natural reflex to comfort a dry eye.

Dry eye symptoms can result from the normal aging process, hormonal changes, exposure to environmental conditions, medications such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives or antidepressants.

During your eye examination our Optometrist will ask you questions about your general health, medications, and your daily environment. This will help determine whether you need further testing for dry eye.

If it is determined that you do have dry eye our optometrist may advise artificial tears. If the condition is more severe, lid hygene, gels and ointments may be advisable. Although dry eye cannot be cured, usually comfort and eye health can be maintained. Dry eye can harm your eyes if left untreated. Excessive dry eye can damage tissue and possibly scar the cornea impairing vision.

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal pressure of the eye rises to a point that the optic nerve is damaged. The optic nerve carries visual information to the brain, if the optic nerve is damaged, the amount and quality of information sent to the brain decreases and loss of vision occurs. Once vision is lost due to glaucoma, it cannot be restored. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada.

Glaucoma most frequently occurs in individuals over the age of 40. There is a hereditary tendency for the development of the disease in some families.

There are two types of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma which has no early warning signs and acute angle-closure glaucoma. The latter may have some symptoms such as nausea, eye pain, red eyes, blurred vision and haloes around lights.

If diagnosed at an early stage glaucoma can be controlled and little or no further vision loss should occur. Treatment with eye drops and possibly surgery is usually effective in maintaining remaining vision.

A regular eye examination is the only way to detect glaucoma before permanent vision loss occurs.

Retinal Detachment occurs when the layers of the retina's sensory and pigment separate. Because it can cause devastating damage to the vision if left untreated, retinal detachment is considered an emergency that requires immediate medical attention and surgery. It is a problem that occurs most frequently in the middle-aged and elderly.

There are three types of retinal detachments. The most common type occurs when there is a break in the sensory layer of the retina, and fluid seeps underneath, causing the layers of the retina to separate. Those who are very nearsighted, have undergone eye surgery, or have experienced a serious eye injury are at greater risk for this type of detachment. Nearsighted people are more susceptible because their eyes are longer from front to back, causing the retina to be thinner and more fragile.

The second most common type occurs when strands of vitreous or scar tissue create traction on the retina, pulling it loose. Patients with diabetes are more likely to experience this type.

The third type happens when fluid collects underneath the layers of the retina, causing it to separate from the back wall of the eye. This type usually occurs in conjunction with another disease affecting the eye that causes bleeding or swelling.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited diseases developing inside the pigmented area of the retina of the eye. They tend to become apparent between age 10 and 30, although some types of retinitis pigmentosa occur in childhood, other types can occur later in life. Vision changes include night blindness, loss of side vision, and "tunnel vision."

The most common symptom of retinitis pigmentosa is a personal history of visual problems at dusk or in low light. This problem cannot be helped by corrective lenses, because the retina itself is deteriorating.