FAQ's About Your Eye Health
2. How often do I need to see my eye doctor?
3. How do I know when a problem is minor or if it is something major?
4. Why do my eyes sometimes feel dry when wearing contact lenses?
What's the difference among an optician, optometrist and ophthalmologist?
Opticians are skilled in selecting eyeglasses and lens materials to best fill your prescription needs. Numerous opticians have completed a two year program of study.
Optometrists are doctors of optometry (O.D.) who specialize in vision care and eye health. They diagnose and treat patients for eye problems and diseases and prescribe glasses, contact lenses and topical medications. Optometrists complete four or more years of college and at least another four years of optometric college.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye disease and surgery. They have a degree from medical school, one or more years of general hospital experience, and three or more years in an eye residency program.
How often do I need to see my eye doctor?
In most cases, our office recommends a comprehensive eye examination every twelve months. This way you can receive a new prescription and can keep your eyes healthy.
How do I know when a problem is minor or if it is something major?
Schedule an appointment to see your eye doctor if you have persistent discomfort in the eyes, headaches when reading, difficulty with reading, inability to read material at the classic distance of 16 to 18 inches, and any difficulty seeing in low light situations. Eye-related conditions which should send you to an eye doctor immediately are: vision changes, pain, flashes of light, blurred or double vision, floaters or tearing, a decrease in peripheral vision, images of colored rings around lights (halos), and an injury to the eye.
Why do my eyes sometimes feel dry when wearing contact lenses?
Dry eyes can be caused by some physical conditions as well as the weather, medications, hormonal changes, smoking or not blinking enough.
For temporary relief, use artificial tears or an ocular lubricant. If your lenses become difficult to remove, irrigate your eyes with sterile saline solution and see your doctor.
