Wearing my glasses will make my eyes weaker.
Untrue. You likely feel this way because you felt you were getting along fine without your glasses. And although you can see great with your new specs, you just simply can’t see as good as you used to when you take them off.
Try to imagine what your day to day tasks were like prior to getting your new glasses.
The struggle was real! Once you put your new glasses on, the hardship
ended.Seeing became unchallenging, your eyes and brain, and behaviors
didn’t have to try so hard.
Take exercise for example, when you start doing pushups it’s difficult, but after doing them for a while the task becomes easier (your body is getting used to doing a difficult task). Now, if you take a 6-month hiatus from pushups (wear your glasses) your body gets used to not having to work so hard but do a pushup and BAM! Not as easy as it once was, is it?
Yes, you may need your glasses for effortless vision, but the truth is, isn’t that the reason you got them?
I don’t need to wear my sunglasses in the winter.
Most people know that UV radiation can be detrimental to your skin. However, a lot of people may not realize just how damaging it can be to your eyes.
When your eyes are exposed to UV rays over a short period of time you can experience photo keratitis, this is kind of like a sunburn of the eye.
Symptoms may include:
Luckily, although uncomfortable these symptoms rarely lead to permanent damage.
Nevertheless, the longer your eyes are left unprotected from UV radiation the greater your chances are for cataracts and macular degeneration.
All this being said, why do we need to wear sunglasses when it’s cold?
Well although UVB rays (the shorter rays) are less intrusive when the earth is tipped away from the sun. The UVA rays (longer rays) are always reaching every spot that light touches. UVA levels are the same during December as they are in July whether you live in California or Winnipeg!
Not to mention reflective rays from the snow and ice can increase
risk to overexposure from UV radiation. As well if you enjoy winter
sports, higher altitudes = higher risk. UV exposure increases
approximately 5% per 1000 feet over sea level, and snow reflects up to
80% of UV light so you may even be hit with the same rays twice. Stay
protected year-round! Trust us, it’s worth it!
I don’t need glasses, so I don’t need to see an optometrist.
Well, your eyes are the window to your soul… okay the window to your body. Comprehensive eye exams, yes, will diagnose whether you need corrective lenses or not to see better. But eyes are astonishing!
They can show early signs of things like:
And anyone in the medical field will tell you that early detection is key!
Most insurance companies will even cover a routine eye exam every year or two. This should tell you something, because insurance companies won’t pay for the unnecessary. They consider it preventative. It cost them less money in the long run if you get your eyes checked regularly! And here in Alberta, Alberta Health Care will cover an eye exam for children every year, and seniors every year, weather they wear glasses or not.
Think about it, people who have undiagnosed problems for years are more likely to require more costly care in the future. How does that old saying go? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
So, how often should you see your Optometrist?
Other warning signs when it’s time to see your Optometrist
07 Mar 2019
07 Mar 2019
07 Mar 2019
07 Mar 2019
01 Mar 2019
We are open now with our first priority being patient and staff safety. We ask you to please wear a mask as we are abiding by all COVID safety protocols set out by the Alberta Association of Optometrists.
Eye exams and contact lenses will continue to be by appointment. Walk-Ins for new eyeglass selection, adjustments and repairs are welcome but traffic control measures will be taken at peak times.