Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in Canada. Glaucoma is a group of diseases which cause degeneration to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the power cord which connects the eye to the brain. Glaucoma affects about 2% of the population and is expected to affect much more people by 2030. There is no cure for glaucoma - yet. If we diagnose someone with glaucoma, eye drops and/or surgery is often prescribed to lower the eye pressure and prevent

I get this question more and more these days. Canada is now one of the few countries in the world to legalize recreational Cannabis. Many people have heard or seen reference to Cannabis being good for your eyes and help treat glaucoma. Let's take a look into this a bit more. Cannabis has been promoted to have many health benefits and it is thought that cannabis can treat glaucoma by lowering intraocular eye pressure (IOP). Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve and is t

According to the MS society of Canada, Canada has one of the highest rates of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the World. MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the the protective covering of the nerves found in the brain and spinal cord. MS can have many unpredictable symptoms and this includes changes to your vision. Optic Neuritis: Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve (aka power cord to your eye) and in 20% of people with MS, optic neuritis is the initial s

Colour Vision deficiency (CVD) aka colour blindness affects about seven to eight percent of the population. The majority of colour vision deficiency affects males with less than 1% affecting females. Here are some facts on colour vision. 1- Most people with CVD still see colour- they just have a hard time seeing certain colours. Usually red / green are the colours that are difficult for people with CVD to see. 2- Colour Vision is inherited- It is inherited on our X chromo

The human eye is like a giant magnifying glasses. It has a power of about +60 diopters. If the eye has too much curvature or to little curvature for its size that is when someone will need glasses. Here is a breakdown of Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism and what they mean. Myopia: Aka nearsighted. Means you are able to see up close and need glasses to see far. People who are nearsighted have prescriptions with a negative sign in front of them. Essentially their eye has

New parents often ask me this question and are very surprised by my response. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends infants get their vision checked between 6 and 12 months. Before 1 year old?? YES that is not a typo. Although eye problems in infants are rare, if they are caught early they are easier to treat. An infant eye exam is obviously much different than your standard eye exam. When checking infants eyes we check for proper movement of the eyes, prop

These three eye care providers play key role in your vision and eyecare. An optician is the person who helps you pick out glasses and works with you to select the best frames and lens designs for your vision needs.   When it comes to frames and lenses there are hundreds if not thousands of different options for you.  Opticians go through extensive training to learn all these options and stay up to date with the latest technology and advancements. An ophthalmologist is a medic

According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in Canada.  Glaucoma refers to the breakdown of the optic nerve (aka the power cord to the eye).   The exact cause of glaucoma is unknown but it is associated with increased pressure in the eye however, glaucoma can even occur in people with normal eye pressure. Glaucoma causes IRREVERSIBLE vision loss (which can lead to blindness) and usually has no signs or symptoms associated

November was Diabetes awareness month.  Diabetes can have a major impact on your body and especially your vision.  In fact, Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in Canadians under 50 years old. Diabetes affects the tiny blood vessels in your eye.  With uncontrolled blood sugar the tiny blood vessels located in the retina (back of eye) get weak and they leak blood (diabetic retinopathy).   The leaking of blood vessels can cause major problems and lead to scarring in the