Pressure

 

January is glaucoma awareness month across North America. Glaucoma is a painless eye condition that usually develops slowly over time and is often related to elevated eye pressure.

Did you know?

1. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of vision loss.
2. There is presently no cure for glaucoma, but there are numerous treatment options available to help slow the progression. These include medicated eye drops and various surgical procedures.
3. Everyone is at risk of developing glaucoma, including children. However, patients with a family history of glaucoma or patients of African American decent are at a higher risk.
4. African Americans are 5 times more likely to develop glaucoma and 15 times more likely to loose their vision. Glaucoma is currently the leading cause of vision loss amongst African Americans.

Have you had your eye pressures checked lately? If not, call our office and book an eye health examination with one of our optometrists. .

To learn more about glaucoma, please visit the glaucoma research foundation at www.glaucoma.org

Carrots - Myth or Fact?

Question:

Does eating carrots really improve your vision?

Answer:

Yes and No. Eating copious quantities of carrots will not prevent or reverse your need for eyeglasses. Carrots however are high in beta-carotene, which gets converted to Vitamin-A in the liver and is an important nutrient with regards to proper eye health. Vitamin-A is an antioxidant and has been shown to slow the formation and progression of degenerative eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts. Vitamin-A deficiency can lead to night blindness a condition known as nyctalopia.

Carrots also contain the antioxidant lutein. Lutein is highly concentrated in the central macula area of the eye and helps to protect the eye from age-related macular degeneration, which is currently the leading cause of blindness in patients over the age of 50.

Like all good things, there is a limit. Excessive beta-carotene intake can cause a persons skin to turn orange, and chronic ingestion has been linked with an increase risk of lung cancer in smokers and recent ex-smokers.

Note: Always consult with your health care provider prior to starting any new supplements.

Welcome to Winter!

Cold temperatures are not only tough on your car, but they can also be tough on your eyes. Cold weather increases dry eye symptoms for many patients, and can increase contact lens intolerance. Freezing temperatures and heaters dry out the air around us, causing your contact lenses and your eyes to loose their moisture quicker.

Try to reduce your contact lens usage during very cold periods and ensure that you remove your contact lenses when you get home at night. You can also consider using a quality lubricating eye drop that is approved for contact lenses or one that was recommended by your eye doctor.

Book Your Eye Exam Online

Total Focus Kingsway Optometry along with Pearle Vision Canada teamed up to offer a truly convenient and secure online booking system.

Other optometry clinics ask you to email them with a general date and time for when you want to be seen and then they call you back with an appointment. The problem with this system is that if you actually wanted to talk to someone, you probably would have just picked up the phone in the first place.

Our online booking system provides you with complete control and flexibility over booking your own eye exam. You can choose the day, the time, the service and even the doctor you wish to see. A confirmation email is immediately sent to you showing that an appointment has been booked and a reminder email is sent to you on the day of your appointment.

If a last minute emergency pops up forcing you to cancel or change your appointment, no problem! Simply log back in and make the changes on your own. No more hassles or excuses required.

One Exception:

Certain provincial government programs like Social Services (SS), Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and federal government programs like Indian Affairs (IA) will require prior authorization. If you have one of these insurance benefit plans we ask that you call our staff or stop by the clinic to book so that we can confirm your eligibility.

Book your next eye exam online today! Book Now

Multifocal Contact Lenses Exist!

A common condition in people over 40, presbyopia affects the eyes' ability to focus on objects at near and intermediate distances. Fortunately, there's a brand new solution: AIR OPTIX AQUA MULTIFOCAL contact lenses.

• Designed for crisp, clear vision at all distances
• Superior comfort vs other leading multifocal lenses
• Advance combination of oxygen and moisture for a healthy natural feeling

Ask your eye doctor about trying monthly disposable AIR OPTIX AQUA MULTIFOCAL contact lenses at your next eye exam.

To learn more, visit airoptix.com To try them, vist Total Focus Kingsway Optometry.

Image and text via: Ciba Vision Canada

Power Foods!

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries are some of natures most powerful and delicious foods.  These anti-oxidant rich fruits have been showed to have powerful health benefits. High in Vitamin-A, Vitamin-C and Vitamin-E, these berries help boost a person’s immune system and fight against common colds during the winter months.

A diet rich in berries ensure adequate soluble fiber in your diet, which helps to reduce cholesterol levels and improve overall heart function. Blueberries have been specifically linked to reducing vision problems by slowing down the progression of conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

Although vitamin supplements are great and can help to top up your daily requirements, we always recommend that people try to eat natural whole foods whenever possible.

You can eat more berries by adding them to:

• Salads
• Yogurt
• Muffins
• Deserts & Ice Cream

Ophthalmology Referrals

If it’s determined during a routine or emergency eye examination that you require the care of an ophthalmologist, our eye doctors will help take care of the rest. The eye doctors at Total Focus Kingsway Optometry work closely with many Edmonton based ophthalmologists to ensure that you have access to the appropriate health care provider.

Ophthalmology specialties available in Edmonton include:

• Retina Specialists
• Cornea Specialists
• Glaucoma Specialists
• Genetic Specialists
• Oculoplastic Specialists
• Pediatric Specialists
• Strabismus Specialists
• General Specialists

Ophthalmology Referral Process

1. All referrals start off with a comprehensive eye health examination by one of our optometrists.
2. Your optometrist will write a referral letter and call the ophthalmologists office to schedule your appointment.
3. Depending on your eye condition and the urgency, patients will be seen right away, or up to 6 month. Most patients though are usually seen within 2-6 weeks.
4. Our office will call you with your appointment information.
5. Our office will also mail you a letter outlining your appointment information.  
6. The ophthalmologists office will usually send a follow-up letter outlining the diagnosis, chosen treatment plan, and any follow-up care that may be required.

Eye Exams are Important

Routine eye exams are important to ensure the proper health and function of your eyes.  Your eye doctor can diagnosis and prescribe corrective lenses for common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and focusing problems.

These annual eye exams can also help to detect the early signs of eye disease. Common eye diseases detected during a routine eye exam include:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Dry Eye Syndrome
• Macular Degeneration
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Elevated Cholesterol

Colour Me Happy!

Start 2012 off right, with a new pair of eyeglasses. Pearle Vision in Kingsway Mall has new brighter looking eyewear styles and is focused on this year’s styles and trends.

Pearle Vision offers 2 pairs of quality eyeglasses starting from a low everyday price of $179.00, and includes:

• Select designer frames
• Single vision polycarbonate lenses
• Scratch coatings

To book your annual eye exam, give us a call, stop by our clinic or try our new online booking system.

Holiday Clinic Hours - Total Focus Kingsway Optometry

• December 23, 2011 - Closed at 4:00 pm
• December 24, 2011 - Closed
• December 25, 2011 - Closed
• December 26, 2011 - Closed
• December 27, 2011 - 9:00 am to 7:30 pm
• December 28, 2011 - 9:00 am to 7:30 pm
• December 29, 2011 - 9:00 am to 7:30 pm
• December 30, 2011 - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
• December 31, 2011 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• January 1, 2012 - Closed
• January 2, 2012 - Normal business hours

NOTE: If you have an ocular emergency which requires immediate attention, please proceed direction to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. For more information, please click here.