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Choosing between glasses and contact lenses for myopia can be confusing due to common myths. We debunk these misconceptions, explaining how contact lenses provide a natural field of view and correct various levels of myopia. Learn which option is best for your myopia management and discover the benefits of contact lenses for clearer vision.

Whether you spend a significant amount of your day on a computer, tablet or smartphone, the blue light that is emitted from these devices may be harming your vision and putting you at risk for developing serious eye diseases later in life. Blue light emissions create a glare on the...

Children and adolescents with diabetes are significantly more likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome (DES) than their non-diabetic peers.

Is your child’s vision problems preventing them from reaching their full potential in school? Undiagnosed vision and eye health problems that can interfere with academic and social success. Children often don't realize that they have a vision problem. Since school vision screenings are unable to detect vision problems related to...

Your child depends on good vision for learning Get your child ready for the upcoming school year with an eye exam. Undiagnosed vision and eye health problems that can interfere with academic and social success. Children often don't realize that they have a vision problem. Since school vision screenings are...

Embrace Your Vision As we celebrate the strength and achievements of women, we also want to spotlight the importance of eye health in women's lives. Learn why regular eye exams are crucial for women and discover how River Place Vision Center can help care for your vision. Why Women Need...

Eye allergies occur when the body becomes hypersensitive to a particular substance, such as pollen or dust, triggering the immune system to release histamine

The beauty of a solar eclipse is unparalleled, but viewing it without proper precautions can lead to irreversible eye damage.

Embrace Your Vision As we celebrate the strength and achievements of women, we also want to spotlight the importance of eye health in women's lives. Learn why regular eye exams are crucial for women and discover how River Place Vision Center can help care for your vision. Why Women Need...

Cataracts occur when the proteins in the eye's natural lens clump together, causing cloudiness that can worsen over time and lead to vision loss. They are most common in older adults, with half of all Americans aged 80 or older having cataracts. Cataract surgery is a safe and effective treatment with a success rate of around 95%. Cataracts are classified based on their location in the lens, and there are three main types: nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataracts.

Symptoms of cataracts include blurred or cloudy vision, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to light, and colors appearing faded or yellowed. If you are experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention for a comprehensive eye exam. The only way to treat cataracts is surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one. Prevention methods include protecting your eyes from UV rays, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting regular eye exams.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can cause severe vision loss, but early detection can help preserve your vision.

Here's how eye exams helped save Katie's vision and quality of life. Call River Place Vision Center to schedule your appointment.

Many retinal conditions can lead to vision loss if not diagnosed early and treated promptly. If your optometrist notices signs of retinal disease, they’ll manage the condition until it's necessary to refer you to a retina specialist.

Medication doesn't always work to heal dry eye syndrome's underlying cause. The following natural and holistic remedies may relieve your eye discomfort and relieve your symptoms.

Your eye experts at River Place Vision Center have compiled our top 7 tips for keeping your eyes healthy and safe this holiday season. Let us know how else we can help!

Did you know that having atrophied meibomian glands can signal uncontrolled blood sugar levels? To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact River Place Vision Center today!

Aging comes with many blessings but also certain challenges. Having a higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of them. Fortunately, a formulation of vitamins and minerals called AREDS2 may slow the progression of vision loss from AMD. We at River Place Vision Center in Austin offer treatment for macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

Blurry vision is a common symptom of dry eye syndrome. Thankfully, River Place Vision Center can help treat your dry eyes and clear the haze.

It's Contact Lens Safety Month, which makes it the perfect time to brush up on ways to keep your eyes and vision healthy when wearing contact lenses. Here are our top contact lens safety tips to keep your peepers happy.

Glaucoma in children is rare, but when it occurs, it must be treated with surgery to prevent vision loss. Read on to learn more about congenital glaucoma symptoms and treatments.

Macular degeneration is a disease that can threaten your sight as it progresses, but early diagnosis and treatment can delay and even lower your risk of vision loss.

Seeing floaters is common and usually nothing to worry about. Yet there are times when floaters are a sign of a serious eye condition. Here’s what you need to know about eye floaters, and how River Place Vision Center can help!

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common eye conditions in the world, yet many people put up with the discomfort, even though it's very treatable. Here are tips to help you deal with your dry eye symptoms, along with treatment from your eye doctor.

Many substances and situations can cause dry eyes, such as certain medications, hormonal changes, and your environment. No matter the cause, having dry eyes feels pretty terrible. Here we list the different symptoms of dry eye and address treatment options.

Unfortunately, glaucoma doesn't show any symptoms until its advanced stages. Read on to learn what you can to preserve your vision and live your best life.

Here are 5 eye symptoms that you should never ignore. Call River Place Vision Center without delay if you or a loved one experiences any of these eye or vision problems.

Every child should have a comprehensive eye exam before the start of the new school year. Just as you wouldn’t consider sending them to school without a backpack or a lunch box, make sure their eyes and vision are ready for the challenges ahead.

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you're at risk of developing certain eye diseases. Read on to find out how to protect your vision.

Did you know that Nerf® guns, a supposedly safe children’s toy, have been shown to cause eye injury in certain cases? What makes them so dangerous?

Hyperopia affects near vision in children and young adults. Want to know more about hyperopia? Here we explain ways to recognize the condition and help your child if they have it.

Whether you call it eye goop, crusties or gunk, there are times when a bit of mucus around your eyes is normal — and times when it’s not. Learn how a dry eye optometrist can help.

Cataract surgery not only improves vision. Research suggests that cataract surgery may also prevent cognitive decline.

Here’s how you can celebrate National Sunglasses Day on June 27.

Studies have found a correlation between asthma and dry eye syndrome. Fortunately, a dry eye optometrist can help by treating your uncomfortable dry eye symptoms.

Working at home has many benefits, but it can also trigger computer-related eye strain. Here are some proven ways to reduce digital eye strain, whether at home or in the office.

At some point in our lives, we've all had our eyes examined using an eye chart – whether during a school screening or at the optometrist's office. But what exactly is the chart and what does it measure? Read on to find out!

Beyond your annual eye exam, there’s one big thing you can do for yourself to prevent eye disease and keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy. Eat right!

Covid-19 patients have a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes than people who haven’t had the virus. Diabetes-related diseases can cause severe vision loss, so anyone who has recovered from Covid should have regular comprehensive eye exams.

Depression is an illness that can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including the eyes. Researchers are currently investigating whether depression can cause dry eye symptoms.

Did you know that people spend an average of seven hours every day staring at screens? What’s more, studies have shown that a whopping 68% of people regularly use more than one digital screen at the same time. This could mean using a smartphone while watching TV, a laptop while on a tablet, or any other combination of similar digital devices.

Bloodshot eyes can be harmless, but may also be a sign of an underlying eye condition.

Macular degeneration is a major cause of vision loss. Here are 6 ways to help lower your risk of developing this sight-threatening condition.

Vision supplements are a great way to add to your diet in a way that supports the long-term vision and eye health. Unfortunately, not all vision supplements are created equal. Many of them contain poor-quality ingredients or make claims about their benefits that are not backed up by science.

When you think about high cholesterol, what do you think of? Most people would say something like “heart problem” or “cardiovascular disease.” But did you know that high levels of cholesterol can also have an effect on your body that goes beyond your heart? You may be surprised that high cholesterol can also have an impact on your eyes.

With technology making life more and more convenient every day, there’s a growing trend toward online healthcare appointments. And eye care is no different. But what exactly can you get out of an online eye care appointment, and what should you still expect to visit your Austin eye doctor in person for? Let’s find out!

In this day and age, you simply can’t escape the glow of smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs. Unfortunately, this can have some very damaging effects on your eyes.

If your child spends too much time in front of screens, it’s important to set limits and establish routines to protect both their general health and their eye health and help prevent the development or progression of myopia.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness, but its symptoms usually aren’t noticeable until vision is already compromised. Here are 5 things you should know about this serious eye disease.

If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, your optometrist will monitor its progression and manage your symptoms. Once you need surgery, your optometrist can direct you to an eye surgeon.

Did you know that spending time in a climate-controlled airplane cabin can dry out your eyes? Find out what you can do to keep your eyes hydrated the next time you fly.

This March, in honor of National Save Your Vision Month, we’ve compiled a list of 5 essential ways to help you keep your eyes healthy and strong.

There are many reasons why your eyes may feel itchy and sore. However, new research suggests that these symptoms can also be linked to COVID-19.

Surgery is the only way to treat cataracts. Usually, it is better to have cataract surgery early so the patient can see clearly and resume the activities they enjoy.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to give your eyes some love. Here are 10 ways you can give your eyes the attention they deserve, to protect them both now and in the future.

Research suggests that children who are obese may have a higher risk of developing high myopia. Read up to learn why and discover what you can do about it.

An eyelid twitch can develop for a number of reasons, and most of the time it’s not a cause for concern. Find out what may be causing your eye to twitch and what can relieve it.

Isotretinoin, popularly known as Accutane, is a very effective acne medication that may cause eye dryness. In this article, we explain why it causes dry eye symptoms and what you can do to prevent or treat such an occurrence.

Myths and misinformation about glaucoma symptoms, treatments and detection can cause people to wait to see their eye doctor only once they’ve suffered vision loss. In this article, we debunk 6 common glaucoma myths.

It’s a fact of life. Eye health and vision naturally decline as you age. However, while some of these changes are inevitable, there are still natural actions (we’re not talking about taking medications!) you can do to improve eye health, even with the passing of years.

For many children, COVID-19 restrictions have meant more time indoors, and more time spent on digital screens. According to research studies, this has led to a worrying increase in myopia progression. Fortunately, there are ways to slow and sometimes stop myopia from worsening.

Your children's vision is their primary window into the world around them. Keeping their eyesight healthy is an important part of allowing them to experience life to the fullest. Read these 5 tips!

If your child spends a significant amount of time playing online video games, here’s what you need to know about how it can contribute to the onset and progression of myopia — nearsightedness.

During cataract surgery, your natural clouded lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). Learn about multifocal intraocular lenses and how you can benefit from these lenses.

Did you know that pregnancy hormones can affect your vision? Read on to learn about the possible visual changes that some women may experience while expecting, and what warning signs to look out for.

Blinking plays a crucial role in maintaining the right amount of moisture on the eye’s surface. If you don’t blink properly or enough, it can leave your eyes feeling dry and irritated. Fortunately, there are certain blinking exercises you can perform to prevent your eyes from becoming dry.

For many children, learning via a digital device has become routine, and their eyes are paying the price. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize digital eye strain while your child is studying.

A torn retina is a serious problem that makes your vision blurry. If not treated early on, it can lead to retinal detachment, a sight-robbing eye disease. Learn what causes a retinal tear and find out what you can do about it.

Red, itchy, irritated eyes are no fun. Here are 7 tips for alleviating the discomfort of dry eye syndrome.

Not sure if you should have LASIK surgery? Here are a few reasons why ortho-k lenses make a great alternative to refractive surgery.

Creating healthy living habits is a great way to preserve your vision throughout your lifetime. These can help keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear.

If you've noticed that your vision turns hazy after enjoying a meal, you may have an early stage of diabetes mellitus. Here's how your optometrist can help.

Excess fluid inside the eye can be a sign of a serious eye disease. That’s why it’s crucial to diagnose the underlying condition as soon as possible, and treat it, to prevent or minimize vision loss.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is the most common refractive error in children. While glasses and contact lenses can help correct a person’s vision, they don’t cure or slow the progression of myopia.

Dry eye syndrome can leave your eyes red, irritated, and itchy. If you ignore your symptoms, other complications can arise. Treating your dry eye syndrome is essential for your eye health and vision.

Eye care is just as important for children as it is for adults. The sooner you teach your children how to care for their eyes, the more likely they will be to ingrain these habits for life. Here are some tips for kids!

Do your eyes become irritated and itchy when you wear contact lenses? Could be dry eye syndrome, allergies or the contact lenses themselves. Read on to find out what to do if you experience contact lens discomfort.

Mosquito bites are annoying but on the eyelid they can be particularly uncomfortable and even impact your vision. Find out what you can do to treat the bite at home, and when it's a good idea to contact your optometrist.

Diabetes increases a person’s risk of developing a variety of serious eye diseases, such as glaucoma. Learn more about the link between diabetes and glaucoma and discover what you can do to preserve your vision.

Do people with dry eye syndrome have to forgo wearing eyeliner and other eye makeup? Although eyeliner can lead to meibomian gland dysfunction, there are steps you can take to safely wear eye makeup without compromising your eye health.

You may be familiar with dry eye syndrome, but still have some questions. Here, you’ll find answers to 7 of the most frequently asked questions about this common eye condition.

Is your child nearsighted (myopic)? Here’s what you need to know about myopia and how it can lead to sight-threatening eye disease in the future.

As we age our eyes start to change, but that doesn’t mean you have to struggle with declining vision. Find out what you can do to maintain eye health after the age of 50.

Although COVID is still present in our lives, we are slowly returning to a semi-normal life. With so many disruptions this past year, the one thing that should be consistent is your child's back-to-school eye evaluations.

If you wear contact lenses, you likely appreciate the freedom it provides. But did you know that wearing contact lenses in water or while sleeping can damage your eyes?

Eye conditions like cataracts and retinal disease affect the way we see the world, and may have influenced the famous works of several well-known artists.

Choosing the right eye drops to relieve dry eye syndrome can be a real challenge, as there are several brands and products on the market. Learn all about the types of artificial tears available and start feeling better today.

Although caffeine has a diuretic and drying effect, it also has tear-producing properties that can potentially lessen your dry eye symptoms.

If you wake up in the morning with itchy, burning eyes, you may have dry eye syndrome. Wonder how this happens when your eyes are closed all night? Read on to find out!

Do you have a lump on your eyelid? It could be a chalazion. Learn what a chalazion is, how to treat it and prevent it from recurring.

Here’s another reason for parents to send their kids out to play. Research shows that spending 2 hours or more outdoors lowers the risk of developing myopia and slows its progression.

Using your computer for long periods of time can irritate and dry your eyes. The condition is so common that researchers have coined it computer vision syndrome. Learn more about the causes and treatments of this condition.

Myopia is, unfortunately, becoming the new norm. Is that because more children are spending more time looking at computers? Learn more about myopia and ways to manage it.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is more than just blurry vision. Here’s why parents of myopic children should consider myopia control, and what we can do to help.

Playing outdoors offers numerous benefits, including delaying the onset of myopia. Read on to learn why that is, and learn why slowing myopia progression is vital for your child’s eye health.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, can affect not only your child’s vision but their school performance as well. Fortunately, there are ways to slow and sometimes stop myopia’s progression. Learn more about myopia control and why NaturalVue Multifocal lenses may be a good option for your child.

Eyes that protrude can signal an underlying medical condition and can cause uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Your dry eye optometrist can help.

A reduction in hormones during menopause, may lead many women to experience symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Read on to learn about the link between menopause and dry eye syndrome.

As time goes on, chances are you probably know someone who has myopia - whether your child, a friend, family member or yourself. But how much do you really know about this eye disease? Some parents expect that simply receiving a pair of glasses for their child is the only...

Dry eye syndrome is more common in women than it is in men. Read on to learn why, and how we can help diagnose and treat the cause of your dry eye syndrome.

Many parents who come into our practices consider their children’s myopia as a simple vision problem that needs correction.

Since our eyes grow as we grow, children tend to need new prescription lenses relatively often. If your child has myopia (nearsightedness), their prescription may change even more frequently. Find out ways to slow your child's myopia progression.

Does it feel like you have something stuck in your eyes, and that no matter what you do, that scratchy sensation won’t go away? If so, you may be experiencing dry eye. Consult your eye doctor, who will diagnose the problem and prescribe the best treatment.

While rare, LASIK surgery can occasionally cause dry eye symptoms. It is essential to speak to your eye doctor to determine your risk and effectively address the condition.

Is your child squinting more than usual? Is she or he having difficulty reading or seeing distant objects, even if they already wear glasses or have recently had an eye exam? Optometrists throughout the country are seeing more cases of myopia than ever before due to the effects of the...

Good Eye Care Habits & Hygiene By practicing good eye care habits and hygiene, you can prevent many vision problems from occurring. Eye problems and the risks associated with vision loss only grow as you age. By neglecting eye care, you place yourself at a higher risk of suffering from...

Countless adults, teens and even children will be wearing colored contact lenses this Halloween, but few are aware of the risks involved. Ever wondered what those cat-eye contacts are doing to your eyes? If you got them without a prescription, beware of health complications. Enjoy a safe and happy Halloween...

This summer, heat waves with scorching temperatures have hit communities nationwide, making an already hot summer even hotter. With high temps and heat waves in certain areas, it’s now more important than ever to protect yourself. For best practices and tips for maintaining healthy vision in the summer heat, talk...

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, and no wonder! With the summer sun out in full force, it’s now more important than ever to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. During this month, people who have suffered from UV ray damage and their loved ones are encouraged to share...

This summer, whether you're headed across state lines on a family road trip, flying off to Europe, grabbing a quick weekend getaway, or taking a vacation in your own backyard, don't forget to protect your eyes! Summer Eye Care Near You Check out our top 4 tips for ensuring healthy...

June is Cataract Awareness Month. During this important time, people living with cataracts (and their loved ones) are encouraged to talk about their personal experiences by giving each other helpful information and sharing their knowledge and advice. Use the hashtag #CataractAwarenessMonth on your social media channels to encourage and support...

Do your kids need glasses in order to see clearly? Maybe they have a strong case of nearsightedness, perhaps they have astigmatism, or another type of refractive error. Whatever the cause, getting your kids to wear eyeglasses can be a parenting challenge. Dr. Dennis Smith treats patients from all over Austin, Texas...

Those with excellent visual acuity may experience difficulty with visual processing or focus, which can impact various aspects of a child’s development, learning ability, and daily functioning. Fortunately, visual skills can be trained through vision therapy. Question is: how young is too young for your child to begin vision therapy?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the USA; in Canada, Mental Health week is May 6th to 12th. Since 1949, it has been observed throughout the United States as a way of drawing attention to the importance of proper mental health. This year’s theme is #4Mind4Body. The idea is...

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month in the USA and Canada, a time when those living with the disorder, their family members, friends, and community come together to raise awareness and share helpful information. People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and their loved ones are encouraged to share their stories, struggles, and...

Spring is a season of new beginnings, when the cold harsh winter months are behind us, flowers bloom, and people begin spending more time outdoors. For people with allergies, spring means one more thing: suffering. Spring may be in the air, but for allergy sufferers, so is pollen, pet dander,...

March 8th is International Women's Day, a day when women are honored and their accomplishments celebrated worldwide. From medicine to law, entrepreneurship to corporate leadership, education to the military, women are achieving great strides in areas of business like never before. In addition to professional achievements, International Women's Day is...

Most of us have the basics: bleach, oven cleaner, air freshener, furniture polish, and window spray. Did you know that chemicals found in these kinds of cleaning products can be toxic and harmful to your health? In small amounts, they generally don’t cause much damage. But when used on a...

It’s February and that means we’re smack in the middle of winter, which is also the middle of the school year. It’s the season when kids fervently hope for snow days and parents hope they don’t happen. As we head towards the second half of the school year, you’ve probably...

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma, a silent eye disease, is the most common form of irreversible blindness in the world. It is actually a group of diseases that causes progressive damage to the optic nerve.  Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that can lead to...

Each year during the month of January we recognize World Braille Day which gives us the opportunity to take a moment and appreciate the incredible gift that Braille has given to those who are blind or suffer from vision loss.  What is Braille? Braille is a tactile representation of letters...

Nerf Guns: Popular, Projectile... Safe? With the newest Nerf guns and blasters reigning at the top of lists for the most popular toys this holiday season, many parents are excited to surprise their kids (or their spouses) with these coveted toy weapons. There is, in fact a whole culture behind these...

Whether you live in a climate with cold winter weather or you are planning a ski trip up north, winter can be a challenge if you suffer from dry eyes. Dry, cool air, cold winds and even drier indoor heating can cause eye irritation, burning, itchiness and redness, and sometimes...

Diabetes is becoming much more prevalent around the globe. According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 425 million adults were living with diabetes in the year 2017 and 352 million more people were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. By 2045 the number of people diagnosed is expected to...

Brush Up Before You Dress Up Halloween is one of the most fun times of the year for children and adults alike. When else do you get to dress up as anyone (or anything) you want, socialize with friends and eat lots of treats? Nevertheless, lurking behind those costumes and...

Regular exercise is an essential component of overall health and wellness. It is proven that exercise reduces sickness and disease; it increases strength, immunity, and mental health; and it also helps regulate bodily functions and maintain a healthy weight. Research shows that exercise can lower our risk of chronic conditions...

Screen Time Pros and Cons Whether it is homework, email, gaming, chatting with friends, searching the web or watching Youtube, kids these days seem to have an endless number of reasons to be glued to a screen. Many parents out there are wondering how bad this can be for their...

Getting old doesn’t have to be synonymous with vision loss. There is a lot you can do to keep your eyes and vision healthy and prevent age related eye disease and vision loss, especially if you start early. Keeping your eyes healthy and strong may require some lifestyle changes, but...

What Is Progressive Myopia? Nearsightedness or myopia is one of the most prevalent eye disorders worldwide and its incidence is increasing. In fact by 2050, myopia is projected to affect half of the world’s population! Many children diagnosed with nearsightedness (myopia) experience a consistent worsening of their vision as they...

An online eye test may seem like a convenient way to check your vision or get an eyeglass prescription but beware, these tests aren’t all they are chocked up to be. In fact, they may even be dangerous.  What is an online eye test really testing?  An online eye test...

Healthy eyes and good vision are essential for your child’s growth and development. In fact, learning is 80% visual, which means a child’s success in school, athletics and many other aspects of life can be impacted by poor vision. Good vision goes beyond how far you can see, and also...

It’s almost back to school time for college students and whether this is your first time away from home or you are already a pro, you want to be prepared with as much knowledge as possible to live safely on your own. This knowledge includes eye and vision safety, as...

While it may seem like a harmless action, rubbing your eyes can actually cause a lot of damage. There are a number of different reasons that people rub their eyes and for the most part, it does more harm than good. While rubbing your eyes might feel really good in...

Migraine Awareness Month: An ocular migraine is any migraine headache that involves a visual disturbance such as flashes of light, seeing stars or zigzags or the appearance of blind spots in the visual field. Ocular migraines can interfere with your ability to go about your daily tasks such as driving,...

Sure, sunglasses might add the final touches to your chic ensemble, but the real reason to purchase your shades is to protect your eyes from the sun. Not only does glare from the sun make it difficult to see, but the UV rays it reflects can cause permanent damage to...

Vision is a critical component to succeed as an athlete and this doesn’t just mean having 20/20 vision. There are a number of visual processes that are involved in optimal sports performance, whether you are playing a weekly little league game or competing in professional sports.   The eyes and the...

While we all know that regular eye exams can help detect warning signs of disease and prevent vision loss, many people fail to seek medical attention when there is an acute problem with the eye. In fact, only about half of Americans that are at risk for serious vision loss...

April is Women’s Eye Health Month in the USA and May is Healthy Vision month in Canada too, so let’s take the opportunity to look at some tips for maintaining eye and vision health, with a special focus on women.  Statistically, women are more at risk than men for eye...

If you want strong, healthy eyes and clear vision for life, a major step you can take is to protect your eyes from UV radiation.  Wearing proper eye protection from the sun reduces the risk of a number of eye diseases and other conditions that are caused or worsened by...

We all experience the occasional eyelid twitch, which is when the muscle of the eyelid spasms involuntarily. Usually, it comes and goes without intervention and while sure, it can be irritating, is a twitching eyelid ever something to be concerned about? An eyelid twitch, also known as a myokymia, can...

Infant Eyesight Despite nine months of growth in utero, babies are not born with fully developed eyes and vision - just like they can't walk or talk yet. Over the first few months of life, their visual systems continue to progress, stimulated by their surroundings. Babies will develop the ability...

It’s that time of the year again. Each February, the optometric community bands together to create awareness about age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people 50 years and older; early detection plays a key role in the outcome of the disease. That’s why...

At this time of year when the sun sets early, many people are affected by night blindness. Night blindness or nyctalopia refers to difficulty seeing at night or in poor or dim lighting situations. It can be caused by a number of underlying conditions, sometimes completely benign and sometimes as a...

It’s that time of year again. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time set aside each year to create awareness about this potentially devastating disease. The reason awareness about glaucoma is so important is because as its nickname, The Sneak Thief of Sight, describes, the disease often causes permanent...

While most people have sunglasses high on their packing list for a tropical vacation, many people don’t consider it as much of a priority for colder climate getaways. But they should, and here’s why: Wintertime vacations often include activities that involve snow and ice and in general, conditions that can...

As the season to deck the halls arrives, make sure that you aren’t one of the many people who find themselves celebrating in the urgent care clinic due to an eye injury. The holidays present many opportunities for potential eye injury so it’s important to be aware and proceed with...

The New Year is coming and many people include healthier eating and exercise in their resolutions for the year ahead. Well other than weight loss and overall health and disease-prevention, a healthy diet and regular exercise can protect your eyes and your vision. In particular, there are certain vitamins and...

November 14th is World Diabetes Day. This year, the theme of World Diabetes Day is women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future. The goal of this campaign is to promote awareness of the importance of equal and affordable access for all women, whether they are at risk...

October is World Blindness Awareness Month, an initiative started to help the public to understand the realities of visual impairment and how it affects the world population. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of millions of individuals around the world who are unnecessarily blind or visually impaired due to causes that are...

October has arrived and that means many people are already starting to plan for upcoming costume parties and trick-or-treating for the Halloween season. This is why now is the time to remind the public about some very important precautions about eye safety since there are some common costume props and...

Every good pair of eyes eventually gets old and with age comes a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia, which usually begins to set in some time around 40, occurs when the lens of the eye begins to stiffen, making near vision (such as reading books, menus, and computer screens) blurry. You...

Even if you don’t have any eye or vision problems, the natural process of aging affects your ability to see and react to visual stimuli. It’s important to know the impact the aging can have on your eyes and vision so you can take the necessary precautions to stay safe...

Many teens who wear glasses are eager to try out contact lenses for convenience, fashion or to just provide another option for vision correction.

What’s it like to be color blind? Contrary to what the name implies, color blindness usually does not actually mean that you don’t see any color, but rather that you have difficulty perceiving or distinguishing between certain colors. This is why many prefer the term color vision deficiency or CVD...

On August 21st, for the first time since 1979, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America. What's even more historic is that it will also be the first time an eclipse will be visible across the continent, from coast to coast, since 1918. If you want to bear...

Light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, is a condition in which bright light - either natural sunlight or artificial light -  can cause significant discomfort, pain and intolerance. People that experience light sensitivity will find themselves needing to close their eyes or squint when exposed to light and often experience...

What Exactly Is a Black Eye? A black eye, also known as a periorbital hematoma, is usually not an injury of the actual eye (which is why it is called “periorbital”- around the eye). It typically occurs when there is an injury to the face or the eye socket which...

According to the World Health Organization, cataracts are responsible for 51% of cases of blindness worldwide - although this blindness is preventable with treatment. In fact, research shows that in industrialized countries about 50% of individuals over the age of 70 have had a cataract in at least one eye....

You Don’t Have to Live With Dry Eyes Have you noticed that your eyes feel chronically dry, itchy, scratchy or even sometimes watery? Many people that have these symptoms just go on with their lives until the symptoms become unbearable. What they don’t realize is that these are signs that...

Eye Doctors Weigh In: How Smoking Can Harm Your Vision & Eye Health We all know that smoking is bad for you, especially the risks that it poses to your heart and lungs. What many people do not know is that cigarette smoke negatively affects your eyes and vision too. Smoking...

In an effort to spread the word to increase awareness about Sjogren’s Disease, eye care providers are speaking out about this hard-to-diagnose condition. Sjogren’s is a systemic autoimmune disorder that can affect the whole body. One of the primary symptoms is excessive dryness particularly in the eyes and mouth. Other...

Hey women! Did you know that women are more likely to suffer from vision problems and are at higher risk of permanent vision loss than men? Well 91% of the women surveyed recently didn’t know that, which means that many of them aren’t taking the necessary precautions to prevent eye...

Hey women! Did you know that women are more likely to suffer from vision problems and are at higher risk of permanent vision loss than men? Well 91% of the women surveyed recently didn’t know that, which means that many of them aren’t taking the necessary precautions to prevent eye...

There is nothing worse than a dirty spot on your glasses - well except perhaps many dirty spots or smudges. When that happens, most of us are tempted to grab the corner of our shirt and wipe it off, but resist the temptation - this is actually not a good...

Blue light. Do you know what it is? Do you know where it comes from, or how it can be harmful to your eyes? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you are not alone, yet it is important that you become aware to protect your eyes for...

Eye color is a hereditary trait that depends on the genes of both parents, as well as a little bit of mystery. The color of the eye is based on the pigments in the iris, which is a colored ring of muscle located at the center of the eye (around...

Age-related macular degeneration is a serious condition that can threaten your vision and general well-being. Characterized by the deterioration of the central area of the retina called the macula which is responsible for focused vision, the disease gradually reduces your central vision. This affects the ability to see fine details,...

Your toddler may show every sign of good eyesight including the ability to see objects in the distance, however that doesn't necessarily mean that he or she doesn’t have a vision problem.

Make your resolution for healthy vision this year with increased awareness of the leading cause of blindness worldwide.