Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is CRT?

A. Corneal Refractive Therapy is a non-surgical process clinically developed to reshape the cornea while you sleep the result is the temporary correction of nearsightedness with or without moderate astigmatism.

Similar in appearance to standard contact lenses Paragon CRT therapeutic lenses gently reshape the corneal surface during sleep and provide clear, natural vision when the lenses are removed upon waking.

Because Paragon CRT offers freedom from glasses and the hassle of wearing contact lenses during the day, this leading-edge technology can enhance the lifestyle of those requiring vision correction. Active individuals can freely participate in sports without the interference of glasses or bother of contacts. Eye irritation or dryness sometimes associated with contact lens wear due to outside dust and pollutants is eliminated.

Q. Should I consider LASIK surgery?

A. This is probably the number one question we encounter in our offices. LASIK is one advanced and popular form of surgical vision correction available known as refractive surgery - referring to all surgical procedures designed to improve or correct the focusing ability of the eye.

It is estimated that nearsightedness and astigmatism affect over 60 million people in the United States. A person's inability to see clearly can be caused by nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and/or astigmatism. In most cases, these three types of refractive errors can be corrected through refractive surgery.

Our offices provide necessary follow-up care for refractive surgery patients, generally at the request of the surgical center. For more online information on surgical vision correction in Arizona, follow this link to the Axis Laser Eye Centers or visit our offices.

Q. Can you tell me about the benefits of Contact Lenses?

A. New advances in Contact Lenses have made them more popular than ever. In general; contact lenses move with your eye, allow a natural field of view, have no frames to obstruct your vision and greatly reduce distortion. They do not fog up, like glasses, nor do they get splattered by mud or rain. Contact lenses do not get in the way of your activities.

Contact lenses, compared to eyeglasses, generally offer better sight.

Contact lenses require an initial examination and periodic follow-up visits to maintain eye health and comfort. Prescriptions for contact lenses are generally valid for one year. For a list of the brands and types of contact lenses we recommend, please follow this link - Holle Contact Brands.

Q. Does computer work damage my vision?

A. The human eye is best suited for seeing objects at a distance. While there is no clinical research that says lots of computer work will damage your vision, it can make you uncomfortable, your eyes feel tired, or create trouble focusing due to eyestrain.

For any extended periods of computer work, of utmost importance is your position in relation to the screen and keyboard. Proper position minimizes eye, neck and shoulder strain, allowing you to work more comfortably for longer periods.

Ideally your eyes should be positioned from 20 to 25" from the screen with the screen positioned lower (rather then higher) to reduce neck strain. It is also important to take frequent breaks to give your eyes a rest from the strain of close focusing for long periods.

Q. Why should I protect my eyes from UV Radiation (aka sunlight)?

A. UV radiation is divided into UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. UV-C is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not present any threat (man made sources of UV-C, like electric welding arcs, are very harmful to the eyes, if you do not use the proper protection).

That's not true of UV-A and UV-B. Scientific evidence now shows that exposure to both UV-A and UV-B can have damaging long and short term effects on your eyes and vision. If you are exposed, unprotected, to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you are likely to experience a condition called photokeratitis. Like a "sunburn of the eye" it may be painful and you may have symptoms including red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes.

Long term exposure to UV radiation can be more serious. Scientific research has shown that exposure to even small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years may increase your chance of developing a clouding of the lens of the eye called a cataract and can cause damage to the retina, the nerve-rich lining of your eye that is used for seeing. Damage to the lens or the retina is usually not reversible. The effects of UV radiation are cumulative. The longer your eyes are exposed to UV radiation, the greater the risk of developing conditions such as cataracts in later life.

Therefore, you should wear quality sunglasses that offer good protection and a hat or cap with a wide brim whenever you are working outdoors, participating in outdoor sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun. To provide protection for your eyes, your sunglasses should:

· block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation;
· screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light;
· be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection; and
· have lenses that are gray, green or brown.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight, wrap around frames provide additional protection from the harmful UV radiation.

People who wear or are interested in wearing contact lenses can now enjoy an added measure of protection. Contact lenses with a UV-blocking feature are now available. These contact lenses would not be worn in place of your sunglasses, but they do provide excellent added protection by blocking much of the UV radiation that can seep in from the top, bottom and sides of your sunglasses. With the small, round lenses found on many fashionable frames and lenses, wearing UV-blocking contact lenses is an added measure of protection against potentially harmful UV radiation.

Contact lenses with UV-blocking also provide UV protection against indoor UV radiation emitted by sources such as high wattage halogen and fluorescent lighting. By wearing UV-blocking contact lenses, your eyes will also be protected indoors when you are less likely to be wearing sunglasses. Don't forget protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults.

Q. What is Macular Degeneration?

A. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It results from changes to the macula, a portion of the retina that is responsible for clear, sharp vision and is located at the back of the eye. As macular degeneration advances, a distorted, dark, or empty area often appears in the center of vision.

Some common symptoms are; a gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly, distorted vision, a gradual loss of color vision, and a dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision. If you experience any of these, contact us or your Doctor of Optometry for a comprehensive examination. For more on Macular Degeneration follow this link.

Q. How early should children first see a Doctor of Optometry?

A. At about age six months, you should take your baby for his or her first thorough eye examination. We will test for excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and eye movement ability, as well as eye health problems. These problems are not common, but it is important to identify children who have them at this stage.

Vision development and eye health problems can be more easily corrected if treatment is begun early. Unless you notice a need, or you are advised otherwise, your child's next examination should be around age three, and then again before he or she enters school.

Q. What is "Near Sightedness"?

A. Or Myopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects do not come into proper focus. Nearsightedness occurs if your eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, so the light entering your eye is not focused correctly. Nearsightedness is a very common vision condition that affects nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population.

Q. What is "Far Sightedness"?

A. Or Hyperopia, is a vision condition in which distant objects are usually seen clearly, but close ones do not come into proper focus. Farsightedness occurs if your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, so light entering your eye is not focused correctly.

Common signs of farsightedness include difficulty in concentrating and maintaining a clear focus on near objects, eye strain, fatigue and/or headaches after close work, aching or burning eyes, irritability or nervousness after sustained concentration.

Q. What is Presbyopia?

A. Presbyopia is a vision condition in which the crystalline lens of your eye loses its flexibility, which makes it difficult for you to focus on close objects. Presbyopia may seem to occur suddenly, but the actual loss of flexibility takes place over a number of years.

Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in the early to mid-forties. Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process of the eye. It is not a disease and it cannot be prevented. Some signs of presbyopia include the tendency to hold reading materials at arm's length, blurred vision at normal reading distance and eye fatigue along with headaches when doing close work.

A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing for presbyopia. To help you compensate for presbyopia, your optometrist can prescribe reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals or contact lenses. Since presbyopia can complicate other common vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, we will determine the specific lenses to allow you to see clearly and comfortably. You may only need to wear your glasses for close work like reading, but you may find that wearing them all the time is more convenient and beneficial for your vision.

Since the effects of presbyopia continue to change the ability of the crystalline lens to focus properly, periodic changes in your eyewear may be necessary to maintain clear and comfortable vision.

Q. What is Astigmatism?

A. Astigmatism is a vision condition that occurs when the front surface of your eye, the cornea, is slightly irregular in shape. This irregular shape prevents light from focusing properly on the back of your eye, the retina. As a result, your vision may be blurred at all distances.

People with severe astigmatism will usually have blurred or distorted vision, while those with mild astigmatism may experience headaches, eye strain, fatigue or blurred vision at certain distances. Most people have some degree of astigmatism. A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing to diagnose astigmatism and determine the degree.

Q. How can you tell if someone is color blind?

A. Color blindness, clinically known as Color Vision Deficiency, means that your ability to distinguish some colors and shades is less than normal. It occurs when the color-sensitive cone cells in your eyes do not properly pick up or send the proper color signals to your brain. About 8% of men and 1% of women are color deficient.

Red-green deficiency is by far the most common form and it results in the inability to distinguish certain shades of red and green. Those with a less common type have difficulty distinguishing blue and yellow. In very rare cases, color deficiency exists to an extent that no colors can be detected, only shades of black, white and grey.

Since many learning materials are color-coded, it is important to diagnose color vision deficiency early in life. This is why the American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive optometric examination at least before a child begins school. Color vision deficiency is usually inherited and cannot be cured, but those affected can often be taught to adapt to the inability to distinguish colors. In some cases, a special red tinted contact lens is used in one eye to aid persons with certain color deficiencies.

Q. What about lenses that darken outdoors in bright light, can you tell me about the latest technology?

A. New advances in automatic darkening lenses - making them respond quicker and provide better protection - are now available. For in-depth information on these lenses, we recommend you follow this link to the Transitions Optical website.