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

Laser Vision Correction, commonly referred to as LASIK has been around for quite some time. LASIK was first done in early 1990s. Since then it has become a popular option for people who are looking for the freedom of glasses and contacts. Are you a Candidate? Not everyone is a candidate for laser vision correction. Before you get surgery it is important to make sure you have good ocular health and you are a good candidate for surgery. Laser vision correction involves cha

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

Macular degeneration affects 1 in every 6 people over the age of 80. It is the leading cause of vision loss in Canada and the incidence is expected to double in the next 20 years. It is the breakdown of retina tissue in the center part of the retina (macula). In many cases what happens is, our eyes get older they lose their ability to get rid of waste product and the waste product collects in the back of the eye which is called drusen. There are 2 common types of macular de

Good nutrition is important for overall health and wellness, and plays a key role in maintaining healthy vision. Mom always said eat your Carrots. Carrots have always been associated with improved vision and eyesight as they contain beta carotene. Beta carotene is converted by the body and used by our eyes to see light, but there are other nutrients which are just as important to our eye health. Lutein is a key antioxidant found in high levels in the eye. Research indicate

Hello everyone! I have teamed up with the Tofield Mercury to do a biweekly eye health column. For those who have not seen these articles yet well make sure to get this weeks mercury! Going forward will post them on this blog and post all the columns on this blog (albeit a few days after they appear in the mercury). #tofieldmercury #eyehealth #tofield #optometry