Key Contact — Lens Tips Hygiene - many studies show that only 25-30% of contact lens wearers follow all the directions of their eye doctor and the lens manufacturer in caring for their lenses. To avoid eye health problems, it is recommended that contact lens wear- ers get their eyes checked annually by an eye doctor to make sure no complica- tions develop. Trends - Contact lenses are a medical device, but according to the B.C. Association of Optometrists, there is a disturbing trend to treat them as a com- modity. All contact lenses are not alike: just because the name of a particular contact lens is on everyone's lips doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. Various brands are designed and manufactured differently. Only through regular eye exams can the optometrist check the health of the eyes and determine how they react and adjust to a particular pair of lenses. Expectant mothers need to work closely with their optomerrist to avoid conract lens wearing problems and to maintain good vision: hormonal changes, water retention, and a reduction in tears can bring slight changes in vision during pregnancy and affect contact lens wear- ing. Disposable contact lenses can be a good choice for women in their child- bearing years. The lenses can be adapted easily to changes in the eyes_and/or vision experienced during pregnancy. For some women, however, it is“neces- sary to limit wearing rime or even dis- continue wearing contacts during preg- nancy. Computers & Vision Can surfing the net or playing video games all night ruin your eyes? There is no proof that staring at a computer screen for too long will harm anyone's vision, at work or at play. It could, how- ever, aggravate minor vision problems that are normally not treated. And it can definitely cause eye strain. Over-concentrating on the screen can make people forget to blink, causing the eyes to dry out and start to itch or burn. Give the eyes a 10 tninute break every hour, perhaps doing things that don't require near vision. Watch for signs such as general discom- fort, headaches, blurred vision, or minor vision problems that may surface due to computer use. If these persist, have an eye exam by an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist). They will not only check your vision but also your eye health. It’s important for computer users of all ages to have regular eye exams. Friday. October 16, 1998 - North Shore News - 79 ye Health Canada Month © Optometrists Launch Eye ‘ ‘Owner’s Manual” Richmond — To mark the national launch of Eye Health Canada Month in October, doctors of optometry across Canada have pub- “Your Eyes - an Ouner’s Recognizing that few things are more precious than “manual” addresses how to take care of the youngest eves in in the family, and Ww ‘hate happens as people’ 's eyes age. lished a brochure on vision care, entitled Manual". one’s eyesight, the The eye is the only part of the body where blood vessels can be examined directly without using an invasive pro- cedure. When the optometrist dilates the pupal to examine the inside of the eye, he or she can detect nor only the eyes’ health and vision conditions, but also early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases of the body. By scheduling regular checkups with their optometrist, patients can be sure that vision and ocular health condi- tions, an even certain systemic diseases, are detected for cimely treatment. The minimum recommended frequency of eye examinations by the Canadian Association of Optometrists is: ¢ infants: at six months; © preschoolers (2-5 years): at age 3 and again before entering school; © school age (6-19 years): annually; e adults (20-64 years):every one to two years; © older adults (65 and over): annually. The optomerrist will determine the fre- quency based on the patient's health and visual status at the preliminary examination. This is one owner's manual you can't afford not to read! For your copy, contact your local optomerrist, or the B.C. Association of Optometrists (604) 270-9909. British Columbia Association of Optometrists (we ehsite www. optometrist The Eye - A Window to the Body As Ss rléver “G0 EARLY FoR. Pov CULD'S FIRST Eye EXAM Three candles on the cake Full eye exam advised at age 3 About 15-20% of children have vision problems that may impair their ability to learn. As early detection of such condi- tions is essential for successful treat- ment, B.C. doctors of optometry recom- mend that all children have a thorough eye examination at age three, and again before entering school. The child does not need to know the alphabet. A comprehensive eye examination will assess eye health, and iden- tify vision problems such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness, crossed-eyes, “lazy eye” and colour per- ception. Vision First Check In some regions, . optometrists . offer a free 3 Vision First Check for chil- dren age 2 and 3, in conjunction with local health units. B.C. optometrists are working — with government to offer this pro- gram province- wide.Another benefit is the general aware- Presbyopia, A vision condition called presbyopia may well precede thickening waistlines and graying hair as the first sign of mid- dle age, say doctors of optometry. Telltale signs: a tendency to hold read- ing material at arm’s length to focus ket- ter, difficulty reading in poor light, trou- ble with small print, eyestrain or headaches after reading or other close work, including computers. The Vision Problem of Middle Age Presbyopia is an age-related vision prob- lem that affects almost everyone after 40, and brings about the need for read- ing glasses and bifocals. Presbyopia pro- presses for a number of years, and thus requires regular eye exams beyond age 40. Because eye health problems are more common at this stage, it's all rhe ness it creates of the need for eye care for pre-school children. Annual Exam Recommended As a child advances, school work puts more visual stress on the eyes as more reading is required while the print size decreases. As well, computer use can aggravate existing vision problems: asmall more important for optometrists to per- form a thorough eye health exam. Presbyopia actually begins in early childhood, but only becomes noticeable after 40: it occurs because, over time, the lens loses its ability to flex and help the eye focus. Optometrists can help presbyopes see better by prescribing glasses or contact lenses. There are many lens choices ‘short-arm” refractive error which normally does not need correction can suddenly cause problems if computer use increases. Regular preventive eye exams can cor- rect such conditions, before they inter- fere with the child's performance at school or in sports. Free “Get Visible”: Reflective Stickers Darkness and traffic can place chil- dren at risk as they set out trick-or- treating on Oct. 31 —— or any time of the year. To make children more visi- ble, optometrists are giving out free reflective stickers as part of their “Get Visible” campaign. The sticker can be affixed to clothing, plastic and metal, and will reflect light up to 300 times more than plain clothing. disease today: reading glasses for close work, multifocal lenses for near and far, bifocal © contact lenses and mono-vision, where one eye is corrected for distance and one for near vision. Advances in eye surgery may make ir possible in the near future to restore the eye's ability to adjust focus. TOYS CAN HURT EYES Every year thousands of children in North America suffer eye injuries caused by projectile toys: guns, sling shots, or toys that shoot missiles, arrows, balls, etc. Even if the projectiles are sponge- tipped, the speed at which they move can still cause serious eye injury. B.C. doctors of optometry issue a Christmas list of toys considered partic- ularly hazardous to the eyes. Call 270-9909 tor more information.