Welcome to your ultimate resource for all your eye health and vision-related questions. As trained optometrists with years of experience, we understand eye care can be complex.
That’s why we’re here to provide the answers you need to make informed decisions about your eye health.
On this page, you’ll find a range of frequently asked questions on topics such as dry eye, myopia, scleral lenses, and much more.
From understanding the causes of common eye conditions to exploring the latest treatments available, we’ll provide clear and concise answers to help you control your eye health.
So, whether you’re a first-time contact lens wearer or someone looking for expert advice on managing your myopia, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!
FAQs
1. What is dry eye and what are the common signs?
Dry eye is a collection of different disorders that produce similar symptoms. Common signs of dry eye include redness, burning, itching, and overall irritation. However, it can also cause excessive tearing and changes in your glasses prescription. Therefore, it’s essential to identify and treat it early to prevent vision problems. We offer various treatments for dry eye, including hot compresses that dissolve oil buildup in your glands. We may also prescribe omega-3 supplements or recommend lid scrubs for blepharitis and eyelash buildup. We aim to provide effective treatment so you can enjoy clear vision without discomfort.
2. What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and how is it best treated?
Meibomian gland dysfunction is the most common cause of dry eye. The meibomian glands are tiny oil glands in the upper and lower eyelids that secrete oil to lubricate the eye’s surface. When these glands begin to atrophy, they can no longer produce oil, leading to quick tear evaporation and dry eye. Meibomian gland dysfunction can develop due to several reasons, including age, medication use, wearing contact lenses, and more.
We offer various options to treat meibomian gland dysfunction, including in-office treatments like LipiFlow.
This procedure involves manually heating the eyelids and expressing the glands to restore their normal function. Another treatment option is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), which uses pulsed light to regenerate the meibomian glands.
Our goal is to provide you with the best treatment options that address the underlying cause of your meibomian gland dysfunction and alleviate your dry eye symptoms.
3. How are scleral lenses different from regular hard contact lenses?
Scleral lenses are unique specialty contact lenses that differ significantly from regular hard contact lenses. While traditional hard contact lenses sit on the cornea, scleral lenses vault the eye’s surface and do not touch the cornea.
This feature makes them an ideal option for patients who suffer from severe dry eye, have had corneal transplants, or have keratoconus. Scleral lenses can improve vision for patients with corneal diseases who cannot see clearly with regular glasses or soft contact lenses.
Unlike standard rigid gas-permeable lenses, scleral lenses offer a more comfortable and secure fit that can improve the comfort and stability of the lens on the eye. Scleral lenses are custom-fit to each patient’s eye, ensuring maximum comfort and visual acuity.
Our optometrists will evaluate your condition and recommend the best treatment option for your unique needs to provide you with the best possible vision and comfort.
4. What is Keratoconus and why are scleral lenses a good option?
Keratoconus is a progressive genetic disease that causes the eye’s surface to become thin and protrude like a cone. The condition results in light scattering within the eye, making it difficult to achieve clear vision with regular glasses or contacts.
We typically prescribe rigid gas-permeable or scleral contact lenses to address the visual challenges associated with keratoconus.
Scleral lenses are an excellent option for patients with keratoconus because sclerals vault over the eye’s cone-shaped surface, creating a more uniform curvature for the tears to spread between the lens and the cornea.
This process cancels out irregular astigmatism, improving patients’ visual clarity. Additionally, scleral lenses offer greater comfort compared to traditional contact lenses.
Our optometrists will evaluate your condition and provide a tailored treatment plan that may include scleral lenses to improve your vision and quality of life.
5. What is myopia and what’s myopia management? Why is myopia becoming a major health issue?
Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, occurs when the eye grows too long. With the increasing use of tablets and computers, we’re seeing a significant rise in children’s prescriptions.
This trend is becoming a major health issue because highly myopic individuals are more susceptible to developing eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal holes, tears, and detachments.
Myopia management refers to a range of treatments that aim to slow or halt the progression of myopia in children. Myopia management aims to reduce the risk of future eye diseases associated with nearsightedness.
Some of the most common management options include orthokeratology lenses, which are special contact lenses worn overnight that reshape the cornea, and atropine eye drops that reduce eye growth.
Our optometrists will evaluate your child’s eye health and recommend the best myopia management strategy for their unique needs. Addressing myopia early is essential to prevent severe eye complications later in life.
6. What is the MiSight contact lens and why is it a good option for myopia management?
MiSight is a type of contact lens that is specifically designed for myopia management in children. It is a soft contact lens worn during the day and disposed of at night.
MiSight has been shown in clinical studies to slow the progression of myopia by almost 60% over three years. In addition, one-quarter of the patients in the study progressed less than a quarter diopter over six years! MiSight is FDA-approved for children between ages 8 and 12, but this age range can vary.
It’s a new technology and not widely available yet, so we are very excited to offer it at our practice!
If you are concerned about your child’s myopia, it’s worth discussing with your eye care provider to see if MiSight may be a good option for your child.
