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I do not have vision coverage with my insurance, what do I do now?
One of the most misunderstood notions is that you have to have a so-called "vision plan". More often than not, your medical insurance can be billed for your eye examination. Sometimes, however, depending on if your insurance is an HMO or PPO you will need a referral. We will help with that, please just fill out and submit the Forms (click here) prior to your visit. Bottom line, if you have a concern about your the health of your eyes, whether you are concerned that you might be developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, on certain medications that you read might affect your vision, etc. your medical insurance will often cover your visit with us.
What age should my child have his/her first eye exam?
This is a very common question. And my answer is the InfantSEE program! Many parents are unaware that the vision screening at the pediatrician office frequently allows disorders to go undetected. It is recommended that children visit with an optometrist between 6-12 months of age. We will make every effort to make this a comfortable and non-traumatic situation for all parties involved.
Do vitamins help the health of eyes?
We've all heard it, "eat your carrots"! Actually, there has been much to learn about nutritional supplements over the past years. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) confirmed that "high levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss."1. That being said, you should consult an optometrist, your general physician and especially your cardiologist (if you have cardiovascular difficulties) before taking any over-the-counter nutritional supplements.
Will computer use or video game playing harm my eyes or my child's eyes?
Call it a myth, but one argument has been shown in various studies that concentrated efforts on the computer or reading greatly decrease a person's blink rate. Although this will not cause any permanent damage, when a person does not blink enough, the result is usually dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome usually manifests as fluctuation in vision, blurry vision, gritty or "sandy" irritation. Dry eye syndrome or tear film insufficiency can be frustrating for the patient and doctor because this can cause inaccuracies in prescription readings.
My parents both had cataracts, does that mean I'll get them?
Bottom line, cataracts are an age related phenomenon. If you live to the same age as your parents you will likely have cataracts as well. I like to tell patients, "I hope you get cataracts, that means you lived long enough to get them!" Certain factors can speed up cataract formation and some of those include, diabetes, ultraviolet exposure and corticosteroid use. The symptoms of cataracts often include, glare, halos and an overall decrease in vision that hinders the daily activities you engage in.
1. http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd/
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