Eyecare Plus Optometrist FAQs
Eye health
Do you have a question about eye health and eye conditions, such as how to maintain healthy eyesight and what major eye diseases you should be aware of? Find your answers here.
Glaucoma isn’t a single condition — it’s a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, the vital communication link between the eye and brain. While there is no cure, regular glaucoma screenings are crucial for early treatment to halt the disease’s gradual and irreversible effects, helping preserve vision and prevent further loss.
There are many reasons for your eyes to water — you simply may have too many tears or insufficient drainage caused by blocked tear ducts. Your eyes may also become watery to over-compensate for the symptoms of dry eyes. Before the symptoms of excess tears become too severe, it’s important to seek out an optometrist near you for answers.
- Glaucoma: Regular glaucoma screenings are necessary if you’re over 40 — it’s estimated that 50% of those who currently have it think they have healthy eyes. Left untreated, glaucoma can cause total blindness.
- Diabetic retinopathy: The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy, making it vital to control sugar levels. There are often no symptoms in the early stages, making regular diabetic retinopathy screening more important. Only an eye care specialist can detect early damage before it silently progresses, potentially leading to irreversible blindness.
- Myopia (short-sightedness): By 2050, half the global population will have myopia. Many modern activities, like spending too much time indoors and excessive screen time, make myopia worse. It’s the leading cause of vision impairment in children, and treating it can help address vision-related learning difficulties.
- Macular Disease: The term ‘macular disease’ comprises a range of conditions, including macular degeneration, that affect the central retina (the ‘macula’) at the back of the eye. It is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in the world. There is no cure, but treatments can slow it down.
Ocular migraines are the most common cause of short-term, partial vision loss. More rarely, damage to the retina (the wall on the back of your eye) can cause vision loss. Other causes can include a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)—a mini-stroke that can disrupt blood flow to the optic nerve and retina, potentially causing symptoms of double vision (diplopia), blurred vision, or the loss of the visual field—and Amaurosis Fugax—sudden, painless temporary vision loss in one eye. If you experience any loss or reduction in vision, it’s important to quickly seek help from a medical professional.
Dry eye can be generalised as a problem with the quality or quantity of tears. Either a person’s eyes aren’t producing enough tears, or the quality of the tears is inadequate. The reasons for this differ from patient to patient and require tailored eye care. If left untreated, chronic dry eye can cause severe pain and damage the surface of your corneas.
Maintaining your vision care is something you can easily do inside and outside of your optometrist’s office — they include:
- Remember the 20-20-20 rule. Take a break from your digital screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes and stare at something 20 feet away.
- Maintaining ample lighting in workspaces and keeping displays a sufficient distance away from your eyes are some of the best tips for protecting your eyes from screen time.
- Not smoking
- Maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and sources of protein
- Protect your eyes from UV light.
- Visiting your optometrists every two years for eye examinations and screening for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other ailments.
After a vision test, your optometrist may treat presbyopia by prescribing glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.
Glasses
Do you need to manage your vision care but wonder what types of lens technology and prescription glasses are right for you? Get the answers you need and want here.
After your eye examination, and if needed, your optometrist will provide you with a prescription for glasses. It features two columns sharing detailed information about your left and right eye and includes the following information:
- SPH (sphere): The power of your lens
- CYL (cylinder): The amount of astigmatism
- Axis: The direction that the astigmatism power is positioned in the lens
- ADD: Additional lens power needed for reading
- Prism: If you have double vision
- PD: The distance between pupils used to centre the lenses
Contact lenses are worn directly on the eye’s surface, while prescription glasses sit further away, requiring the power of your prescription and eyecare to be adjusted for the difference. Additionally, contact lens prescriptions include other parameters such as brand, size, and lens curvature.
Bifocal lenses are specialised spectacle lenses that offer two distinct optical powers within a single lens: distance-vision correction at the top and near-vision correction at the bottom. Designed for convenience, they’re an excellent option for users wanting to seamlessly transition between focal ranges without needing multiple pairs of glasses.
Microfiber cloths are the best way to clean any tarnishes from your lenses and maintain a clearer view. Avoid wiping them with a T-shirt or a common cloth, which can scratch the lenses over time.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are discreet and convenient to wear. Explore some of our most asked-about questions below.
Fitting your contact lens is easy once you become accustomed to the technique. Follow these simple steps:
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- Place a single contact lens on your finger — it should look like a little bowl. If the edges flare out, the lens is inside out and needs to be repositioned.
- Lift your upper eyelid and pull down your lower lid with your other hand.
- Look up and gently bring the lens to your eye.
- Release and blink.
- Repeat these steps for your other lens.
Your Eyecare Plus Optometrist will guide you during your consultation to ensure you feel comfortable and confident wearing them from your first day to every occasion after.
Removing your contact lenses is easy — follow these easy steps:
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- Gently bring the tip of your index finger to your eye and slide the lens down.
- Gently squeeze the contact lens between your thumb and finger and draw it away.
- Repeat for your other eye.
During your consultation, your Eyecare Plus Optometrist will guide you through quick and effortless removal techniques to help you feel confident and comfortable wearing contact lenses.
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- NEVER use tap water. Instead, squeeze a few drops of contact lens disinfecting solution into the palm of your washed, clean hand.
- Gently rub the lens with one finger and rinse the lens with a little more solution.
- Return it to your clean contact lens case and repeat with the other lens.
No — a contact lens cannot get stuck behind your eye. The conjunctival membrane that covers the white of your eye is continuous with the inside of your eyelid, creating a barrier that prevents the lens from slipping behind or becoming lost.
No, it is best to wear ready-made or customised prescription goggles when swimming. Consult an eye specialist at Eyecare Plus about how they can help you.
However, if you are wearing daily contact lenses you can wear them paired with googles and throw the lens away after your swim. If you are swimming in the sea, close your eyes when going through waves to reduce the risk of losing the contact lens.
Children's eyecare
Children should have an eye examination every 1 to 2 years, depending on their visual health. Kids with existing vision problems or a family history may need more frequent checks.
Poor vision in children can sometimes be mistaken for difficulty in concentrating or understanding the classroom material. If your child displays any of the following signs — or if a teacher raises concerns — it may be time to consult an eye specialist at Eyecare Plus:
- Squinting or rubbing eyes
- Sitting too close to screens or books
- Complaints of headaches or tired eyes
- Poor performance at school
- Difficulty seeing the whiteboard
Depending on the severity, the vision therapy recommended, may include:
- Prescription glasses or contact lenses
- Ortho-K — overnight contact lenses
- Myopia control lenses such as MiYOSMART or Stellest
- Low-dose atropine eye drops
Your optometrist can advise the most suitable approach for your child after reviewing the results of their most recent eye examination.
Your children’s eye care includes more than prescription glasses and contact lenses, we suggest:
- Encouraging daily outdoor activity
- Limiting screen time and promote breaks
- Providing a balanced diet rich in nutrients like vitamin A and omega-3s
- Ensuring good lighting while reading or completing homework
- Getting regular eye check-ups
It’s not unusual for children, especially younger kids to resist wearing prescription glasses at first — let alone consistently. To ease this transition, allow your child to pick their own pair from a selection you’ve previously chosen that are known for their durability.
By involving them in choosing their frames, they can foster a sense of ownership. It also helps to gently explain how glasses improve their vision, making everyday activities like reading, playing, and learning clearer and more enjoyable. With patience and encouragement, most children adapt well over time.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
If you have an unanswered question, fill out the form below,
and we’ll get back to you soon.