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Optometrist Eye Care in Shelby Township, MI: Benefits

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:40:24 GMT

Regular eye exams play a key role in protecting vision and supporting long-term eye wellness for patients of all ages. Optometrist eye care in Shelby Township, MI, helps identify changes early while promoting clear, comfortable vision that supports daily activities and overall quality of life. Contact us today at 586-254-9620 to schedule an appointment with Fraser Optical, proudly serving the Shelby Township, MI area with personalized and attentive eye care services.

Many people wait to seek eye care until vision problems begin to interfere with work, school, or everyday routines, which can allow minor concerns to develop into more serious issues. Small changes in vision often happen gradually, making them easy to overlook without professional testing. Routine visits with a local eye doctor support early detection and help preserve strong vision over time.

Eye health is closely connected to overall wellness, and regular exams offer insight into more than just eyesight. “An optometrist evaluates eye function, comfort, and health during each visit., comfort, and health during each visit. These exams support prevention and long-term eye comfort.

Why Regular Eye Exams Are Important at Every Stage of Life

Vision can change slowly over time, making it difficult to notice problems without professional evaluation. Optometrist eye care focuses on identifying subtle changes that may impact comfort or clarity. Regular exams help create a clear picture of eye health over the years.

Children benefit from eye exams that support learning, focus, and visual development. Adults depend on clear vision for productivity, driving, and digital screen use. Seniors need consistent monitoring to manage age-related vision changes and maintain independence.

A trusted local eye doctor provides guidance tailored to each stage of life. Ongoing care allows vision changes to be tracked accurately. This consistency supports better outcomes.

What Happens During a Comprehensive Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye exam involves several steps designed to evaluate vision quality and overall eye health. Optometrist eye care emphasizes comfort, accuracy, and individualized attention throughout the process. Each test provides valuable information about how the eyes function.

Vision and Focus Evaluation

Vision testing measures how clearly each eye sees at various distances. These results help determine whether corrective lenses are needed or if prescriptions should be updated. Clear vision supports daily comfort and confidence.

Eye Health Screening

Optometrists examine both the internal and external structures of the eyes to look for early signs of eye health concerns. These screenings help identify issues before symptoms appear. Early care supports long-term eye wellness.

Personalized Care Recommendations

Each patient receives guidance based on lifestyle, work demands, and visual habits. A local eye doctor may recommend glasses, contact lenses, or follow-up visits. Personalized care improves satisfaction and comfort.

Understanding the Role of an Optometrist

Optometrists specialize in primary eye care, including routine exams, vision correction, and ongoing eye health management. Fraser Optical doctors are optometrists, not ophthalmologists, and they focus on preventive and comprehensive eye care services. Their training allows them to diagnose and manage many eye conditions and provide effective care plans, referring surgical cases to ophthalmologists when necessary.

Some patients are unsure about the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who performs eye surgery, while optometrists provide exams and vision care. You can learn more about this distinction by visiting the American Academy of Ophthalmology .

Optometrist eye care emphasizes prevention and early intervention. Regular exams reduce the risk of advanced vision problems later in life. This proactive approach supports lasting eye health.

How Eye Exams Support Overall Health

Eye exams can reveal signs of health concerns that go beyond vision changes. Certain conditions may show early indicators in the eyes before other symptoms appear. Optometrist eye care helps recognize these signs and guide patients toward appropriate care.

A local eye doctor monitors changes over time and provides recommendations when follow-up is needed. These observations support early action and improved outcomes. Consistent exams offer valuable health insight.

Patients benefit from clear communication and education during visits. Understanding exam results helps individuals feel confident about their eye health. Regular care supports peace of mind.

Personalized Eye Care at Fraser Optical

Fraser Optical provides optometrist eye care in Shelby Township, MI, with a focus on individualized attention and thorough testing. Their optometrists tailor each exam to meet the patient’s specific needs, ensuring accurate results and thoughtful recommendations. This approach supports clarity and comfort.

Serving the Shelby Township, MI area, Fraser Optical emphasizes patient education and preventive care. Their team explains findings clearly and takes time to answer questions. Patients feel informed throughout their visit. This commitment to quality care helps patients maintain healthy vision through every stage of life. Routine exams support long-term eye wellness. Learn more about our optometrist services in Shelby Township, MI

The Benefits of Choosing a Local Eye Doctor

Choosing a local eye doctor provides convenience, consistency, and personalized service. Regular visits with the same provider allow vision changes to be tracked more accurately over time. This supports better care decisions.

Local care also makes scheduling and follow-ups easier. Patients benefit from providers who understand their history and preferences. Strong relationships improve comfort and trust.

Optometrist eye care delivered locally supports better patient experiences. Personalized attention leads to higher satisfaction. Community-focused care makes a meaningful difference.

Make Regular Eye Exams Part of Your Wellness Routine

Routine eye exams should be a regular part of overall wellness for individuals and families. Clear vision supports learning, productivity, and daily enjoyment. Preventive care helps avoid unnecessary vision problems.

Fraser Optical proudly provides optometrist eye care while serving the Shelby Township, MI area with trusted optometry services. Their team focuses on early detection and personalized treatment plans that support lasting eye health. Call us at 586-254-9620 now or send us a message to get started today.

Find the Best Family Eye Care Doctor in Shelby Township, MI

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:20:00 GMT

Finding the right family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI , is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of your entire family. Vision care is not just about glasses or contact lenses; it’s about detecting early signs of eye disease, addressing vision changes, and providing guidance for long-term eye health. At Fraser Optical, we understand the unique needs of families in Shelby Township and are committed to offering comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages. Schedule your eye exam today to ensure your family’s vision is in the best hands. Regular visits to a family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, are critical because many eye conditions can develop without noticeable symptoms. Conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and pediatric vision issues often progress silently. By consulting a skilled family care professional, you can detect potential problems early, making treatment more effective and helping prevent permanent vision loss.

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams for Families in Shelby Township, MI

Regular eye exams are essential for maintaining the overall health and vision of every family member. Consulting a family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI , ensures that potential vision problems are detected early, allowing for timely treatment and long-term eye health. Many eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and pediatric vision issues, can develop silently, without obvious symptoms. By scheduling routine visits with a trusted family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, families can stay proactive about their vision care. Some key reasons to prioritize regular eye exams include:

Early Detection of Eye Diseases: A skilled family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, can identify issues like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy before they cause serious damage.
Monitoring Vision Changes: Children and adults alike may experience gradual changes in vision. Regular exams allow your family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, to update prescriptions for glasses or contacts and ensure optimal vision.
Preventive Care and Education: Eye exams provide valuable guidance on eye safety, nutrition, and habits that protect vision for the whole family.
Improved Academic and Work Performance: For children, detecting and correcting vision problems early can prevent learning difficulties. Adults also benefit from clear vision that enhances productivity and reduces eye strain.
Personalized Family Care: One eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, can monitor the vision needs of all family members, ensuring continuity of care and customized solutions for everyone.

By understanding the importance of regular eye exams, families in Shelby Township can take proactive steps to maintain healthy vision for years to come. Regular visits to a family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, not only safeguard eyesight but also provide peace of mind knowing that your family’s vision is in expert hands. Whether it’s a child’s first eye exam or routine care for adults and seniors, scheduling appointments consistently ensures that potential problems are addressed before they impact daily life.

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Eyes Between Exams

Your eye health doesn’t stop between visits. A family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI , can guide you on everyday practices to protect your vision, including:

Wearing UV-protective sunglasses outdoors.
Reducing screen time and taking regular breaks to prevent eye strain.
Maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E.
Keeping eyes hydrated and practicing good hygiene with contact lenses.
Scheduling regular follow-up exams for ongoing care.

By following these tips and keeping regular appointments, your family can enjoy long-term eye health and clear vision.

How a Family Eye Care Doctor Can Detect Early Signs of Vision Problems or Eye Disease

Detecting vision problems or eye disease early is crucial for maintaining healthy eyesight for all members of the family. A family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, plays a vital role in identifying potential issues before they become serious or permanent. Regular comprehensive eye exams allow the doctor to assess the overall health of the eyes, monitor changes in vision, and screen for conditions that may not yet show obvious symptoms. By consulting a trusted doctor in Shelby Township, MI, families can ensure proactive care and timely intervention to preserve optimal vision. Some ways a family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, can detect early signs of vision problems or eye disease include:

Comprehensive Eye Exams: These exams evaluate visual acuity, eye alignment, and overall eye function. The doctor can detect subtle changes that indicate developing issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Screening for Eye Diseases: Conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy often progress silently. A family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, uses advanced diagnostic tools to identify early signs before symptoms affect daily life.
Pediatric Vision Assessments: Children may not recognize vision problems themselves. Routine eye exams detect amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), and other developmental issues early, supporting healthy learning and growth.
Monitoring for Systemic Health Issues: Eye exams can also reveal signs of broader health conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, which may manifest in the eyes before other symptoms appear.
Customized Recommendations: After detecting potential issues, the doctor provides personalized guidance on corrective measures, treatment plans, or lifestyle changes to prevent progression and maintain eye health.

Regular visits to a family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, are not just about updating prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses; they are a critical step in maintaining long-term eye health. By identifying early warning signs of vision problems or eye disease, families can address concerns promptly, reducing the risk of serious complications. Adults, children, and seniors alike benefit from this proactive approach, which emphasizes prevention, education, and comprehensive care. Prioritizing eye health is essential for every family. A family eye care doctor in Shelby Township, MI, at Fraser Optical provides the expert guidance, thorough exams, and personalized care your family deserves. Don’t wait for vision problems to arise; early detection can make all the difference. Contact us to book your eye examination online .

Tips for Choosing a Glasses Style

Wed, 27 May 2020 10:35:00 GMT

Glasses have changed drastically throughout the years. During the 13 century, Italians created a basic design for glasses with glass-blown lenses along with either leather or wooden frames. Today, you have numerous options of frames to choose from in different colors, shapes, and sizes. With so many choices, you may feel overwhelmed.

As a general rule, you should choose frames by looking for ones that have the opposite features of your face. Determine the shape of your face and choose your glasses using the following guide.

Heart-Shaped Face

Your face has a heart shape if the top of your face is wider than the bottom portion of your face. Ultimately, with this face shape, you want glasses with a rim that's wider on the bottom to lessen the width of the top third of your head.

Thin rims along with light-colored or rimless ones will soft the shape of the top of your face.

Oblong-Shaped Face

If your facial shape is oblong, you have a face that's longer than it is wide. You'll have a cheek line that's long and straight.

By choosing frames with more depth than width, you can make your face look shorter. Try decorative frames or ones that have different colored arms than the frames. These shapes and patterns will help balance the shape of your face.

Oval-Shaped Face

If your face has an oval shape, your face has balance already. With this shape, you want to find lenses that continue to keep your face in balance. Ideally, you should choose glasses that are as wide or wider than the part of your face that's broadest. Frames that have a shape similar to a walnut work well.

Square-Shaped Face

You'll notice if you have a square-shaped face that you have a broad forehead with a strong jaw. Both the length and width of your face are somewhat similar.

You can soften the shape of your face by choosing glasses with a narrow frame. Frames with less depth in comparison to the width can also give your face a more evened out appearance. Choose narrow oval-shaped lenses to complement the shape of your face.

Triangle-Shaped Face

You have a triangular face if the base of your face, including your cheeks and chin, are wider, but the top of your face is narrow.

Accentuate the upper third of your face with strong colors and details on the top of your frame. Try frames that similar to cat eyes to add width to your face and bring harmony to the overall appearance of your face.

Round-Shaped Face

A round-shaped face has curves. The width and length of your face are the same, but you don't have any strong angles.

Ideally, you want to select frames that are clear. Rectangular frames offer you width, and they enhance the appearance of the width in your face.

Diamond-Shaped Face

Diamonds are narrower at the top and bottom. In between, a diamond is wider. This the same concept that applies to those with a diamond-shaped face. This facial shape isn't common.

Frames with detailing will focus the attention on your eyes while drawing it away from your cheekbones. Choose frames that have detail to accomplish this goal. Another option to consider is rimless or oval frames. Even cat-eye shaped lenses complement this shape of face well.

You can find the ideal pair of glasses for you by determining the shape of your face and choosing frames that will balance it. Sometimes, colors and patterns can bring harmony to the shape of your face as well.

Schedule an appointment with Fraser Optical, serving the greater Detroit, IL area, by contacting us today .

Photochromic Lenses Versus Sunglasses: Which Is Right for You?

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 14:19:00 GMT

Both photochromic lenses (also known as transitions, after a popular brand of these lenses) and regular sunglasses can do an excellent job of cutting glare, preventing eye strain, and protecting your eyes against UV radiation. Photochromic lenses contain silver halides or organic photochromic ingredients that darken in bright light and lose their tint in low light conditions. If you already wear glasses indoors, you may wonder whether you should purchase a separate pair of prescription sunglasses or simply wear photochromic lenses all the time. The answer to this question may depend on your particular environment, activities, and circumstances. Here are some specific scenarios that might cause you to choose one type of product over the other. Traveling Light? Photochromic Lenses Make Sense If you commonly wear eyeglasses to correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or some other refractive error, you may find yourself constantly switching between your indoor glasses and prescription sunglasses. You might even need to carry a separate case for each pair if the two frames feature significantly different shapes or sizes. One major selling point for photochromic lenses lies in the fact that one pair of glasses can serve your optical needs, both indoors and out. If you prefer to travel unencumbered, or you worry about keeping track of two sets of glasses, photochromic lenses can provide the efficiency and convenience you seek. They can also spare you the expense of buying a second pair of corrective lenses. Headed Into High Heat? Sunglasses May Perform Better While photochromic lenses can darken significantly to bring you welcome glare relief in bright light, they still get only half as dark as the darkest sunglasses on the market, which can offer up to 97 percent opacity. They tend to darken less dramatically in high temperatures than in cold temperatures, unlike sunglasses, which maintain the same opacity level regardless of temperature. If you mainly need eye protection for summertime activities, you may find that you get a darker, more satisfying tint and less glare from standard sunglasses. However, if you prefer winter sports, you should get excellent results from photochromic lenses in chilly climates. Just keep in mind that photochromic lenses may need extra time to brighten after they come in from the cold. Going for a Drive? Go for Sunglasses When you try to drive with photochromic lenses, you'll notice that the lenses don't achieve their maximum darkness levels. The light-sensitive substances in the lenses actually react to UV light, not visible light. Automotive glass may let plenty of visible light into your vehicle, but it also blocks a certain amount of UV radiation. As a result, your photochromic lenses may only darken by about 30 percent. By contrast, the tint on your sunglasses should appear the same as always from inside your car. You may therefore find this option the more satisfactory one on bright days or long road trips, although you will have to switch to your everyday glasses as outdoor light levels change. Whichever kind of product you choose, adding polarization will help to reduce glare reflected upward from road surfaces. Want the Right Solution for Every Scenario? Get Both Since photochromic lenses and regular sunglasses each excel in different ways under different conditions, consider purchasing both. Your photochromic eyeglasses will help you enjoy clear, comfortable vision as you move from indoor to outdoor lighting and back again. Your prescription sunglasses can step for specialized situations such as hot summer days or drives. No matter what kind of glare-blocking glasses you want, Fraser Optical can equip you with them. Contact us for a consultation so that we can discuss your eyewear needs and goals.

4 Tips for Preventing and Managing Pink Eye

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 16:51:00 GMT

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is one of the most common irritations of the eye. Pink eye is characterized by inflammation of the membrane inside the eyelid and over the whites of the eye. Whether you have school-age children, who are at a higher risk of pink eye, or are dealing with the condition yourself, a little knowledge can make dealing with pink eye a lot easier. Here are four tips for preventing and managing pink eye.

1. Know the Types of Pink Eye

While you should always assume that any exposure to pink eye is contagious, pink eye can be caused by a variety of factors that may or may not be contagious. The four main causes of pink eye are bacteria, viruses, allergies, and irritants. Bacterial and viral pink eye can spread easily from person to person, while allergy- and irritant-related pink eye is limited to the person exposed to the allergen or irritant. Pink eye caused by bacteria and viruses is typically accompanied by a greater amount of mucus and discharge than non-contagious types. Visiting a doctor for antibiotic treatment is necessary to resolve the condition and prevent it from getting worse. Pink eye caused by allergies or irritants can often be remedied simply by removing the source of irritation.

2. Reduce Your Risk With Good Hygiene

Practicing good hygiene to limit your exposure to bacteria is the best thing you can do to prevent pink eye. Wash your hands often, and make sure all towels, washcloths, pillow cases, and other fabrics that contact your face are clean as well. Bacteria and viruses that cause pink eye can also reach your eyes through your sinuses and mouth, so you need to be careful of all possible bacterial contact with your face, not just your eyes. Even if no one you know exhibits symptoms of pink eye, you should avoid sharing objects that can transfer bacteria. Mascara and other makeup, eye drops, lipstick and chapstick, and even glasses can all transmit pink eye when they are shared. Viruses and bacteria can also be transferred through water, so there is a possibility that swimming in public pools can cause you to catch pink eye or spread it to others.

3. Understand Pain and Inflammation Management at Home

You have a number of at-home options to manage pain and inflammation from pink eye. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help with both pain and swelling. If your eyes are dry and itchy, lubricating eye drops can provide relief. However, you should avoid redness-relieving eye drops, as these can irritate your eyes further. One of the best home remedies for pink eye is simply to place a warm, damp cloth over your eyes to reduce swelling and itching. Leave the cloth there until it cools, and then replace it. If mucus is causing your eyelids to stick together, a moist cloth can help break up dried mucus and bring you relief.

4. Avoid Recontamination and Transfer Between Eyes

Bacteria, viruses, and even allergensthat cause pink eye can remain on the same surfaces for days orweeks, so it is possible to expose your eyes to pink eye again andrecontaminate them after they have healed. It is also possible to have pink eye inonly one eye, so you should avoid touching the healthy eye withanything that comes in contact with the infected eye. Never reusecloths, contacts, or makeup that you used previously when you hadpink eye. When you know how to care for your eyeswhen you have pink eye, you can make the condition much lessuncomfortable, and it will typically clear up in two weeks or less. Contact us at Fraser Optical if you suspect you have pink eye or another eye infectionso we can provide a professional diagnosis and treatment!

Is an Anti-Reflective Coating Right for Your Situation?

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Light from electronics or headlights from cars can be troublesome if you are using standard eyeglass lenses. Also, if you have certain health conditions that make you sensitive to light and glare, then you will find driving at night or using a computer very difficult at times with these types of lenses. An antireflective coating may be able to help in these situations so that you see more clearly.

Here is more information about anti-reflective eyeglass lens coatings so that you can decide whether this additional eyeglass feature is a good choice for you.

Basics of Anti-Reflective Coating

Anti-reflective coating is a type of film that is placed over your prescription eyeglass lenses with a machine after your lenses are thoroughly cleaned. The end result is a substantial amount of glare-reduction that allows most of the currently-available light to pass through the lenses to give you clear vision.

Benefits of Anti-Reflective Coating

Aside from the obvious glare reduction that an anti-reflective coating provides, you may also notice other benefits from having it applied to your eyeglasses. Here is a list of some of the side benefits of having your glasses treated with an anti-reflective coating.

An Anti-Reflective Coating Makes Your Eyes More Visible

Because this coating reduces reflections, your eyes will be more visible to others. People will focus on your eyes rather than the glasses. This is important if you work in a profession where eye contact is important.

An Anti-Reflective Coating Reduces Blue Light Exposure

Certain brands of anti-reflective coating reduce the eye strain associated with blue light exposure. Most modern devices such as computers and cell phones most commonly emit this type of light.

An Anti-Reflective Coating Repels Water and Oils

Most types of anti-reflective coating are water and oil repellent so that these materials bead off the lenses rather than causing smudges. Some brands can also resist dirt and dust. These abilities reduce the need for frequent lens cleaning compared to plain lenses.

An Anti-Reflective Coating Improves Night Vision

Because an anti-reflective coating improves the amount and clarity of light entering the lenses, you will notice improved night vision with it. This ability makes driving at night easier and safer.

Types of Lenses Best for Anti-Reflective Coating

Make sure you order high-quality lenses to go with an anti-reflective coating. Some types of lenses don't work as well with the coating than others. For example, basic plastic lenses are often more fragile and easy to scratch, so the extra cost of an anti-reflective coating may not be justified in that case. However, if you go up to specialized lenses, such as progressives, high index or high definition lenses, then the antireflective coating will enhance those features for even better vision.

Reasons to Get Anti-Reflective Coatings

An anti-reflective coating is extremely beneficial if you wear your glasses often and use them for various high glare, low light situations. If you drive a lot at night or use a computer all day, then these glasses will greatly improve your vision and lessen eye fatigue. An anti-reflective coating is also beneficial if you have certain eye conditions that increase your sensitivity to glare or halos. Make sure you tell the optician how you use your glasses because some brands of anti-reflective coating are targeted for certain types of uses.

An anti-reflective coating is an option and is not required in order for you to see well enough to go about most of your daily tasks. However, if you have certain issues, or struggle with seeing in high-glare situations, then this type of feature may be of great benefit to you.

Fraser Optical can not only provide you with an antireflective coating for your new pair of glasses, but we have a variety of different types of lens features available to give you the best vision correction possible. Call us or visit one of our many Michigan locations for an examination and to view our glasses options.

How Can You Convince Your Child to Wear Their Eyeglasses?

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 15:34:00 GMT

More than 36 percent of girls and 29 percent of boys ages 6 through 17 need corrective lenses, according to the National Center for Health Statistics' 2016 National Health Interview Survey. If your child is one of the many who needs glasses, but they refuse to wear them, take a look at how you can help.

Find a Role Model

Do you wear glasses? Act as an eyeglass-wearing role model. Point out the times when you wear your glasses and make note of the reasons why you don't - such as when you go to sleep at night, shower, or swim.

If you don't wear glasses, you can still help your child to find a role model. Possible options include:

Other family members . Your spouse, a grandparent, a favorite aunt, or siblings can show your child the advantages of eyeglasses through their own experiences.
Friends . Does your child have close friend who wears glasses? Another child who gladly wears glasses can play a positive role in your child's life. Think of this as positive peer pressure.
Characters from books, movies, or television shows . Characters such as Harry Potter and Superman (as Clark Kent) famously wore glasses. Even though these aren't real people, your child can still see them as role models.

Even though role modeling positive behaviors can help your child to wear their glasses, it isn't the only strategy. Read on for more information on what else you can do if your child still resists.

Offer Options

Who chose your child's glasses? The chance to make decisions for themselves gives children a sense of control over the situation. Whether they're anxious about their new vision change or have concerns about what other people will think of their glasses, your child needs to feel some degree of control or power over the situation.

Even though your child doesn't have the choice to wear their glasses or not, they can choose:

The frame style . What shape of glasses does your child like? Even though you may think a larger frame fits their heart-shaped face, take a step back and let your child lead the way.
The frame color . Do you think a plain neutral is the right way to go? Again, step back and let your child choose. If they prefer a bold color or a pastel hue, the choice is theirs.
The frame pattern . Does your child prefer a patterned frame over a solid color? If so, let them pick a pattern they love.

Not only do choices offer a sense of control, but the ability to select the just-right frame gives your child a sense of ownership. Your child can feel free to express themselves, and their own personal style, through their eyewear selection. And if they love the look of their glasses, they'll probably want to wear them and show them off.

Ask for Help

You aren't the only adult who can remind your child to wear their glasses. If your child ignores your constant stream of pleas, ask for help from:

Your spouse/partner . The other parent should chime in too. Ask them to gently remind your child to wear their glasses when you are, and aren't, around.
Your child's teacher . Does your child wear their glasses at school? If your child conveniently forgets their glasses in their locker or removes them during class, ask the teacher to remind them.
Your child's after-school activity instructors . A coach, art educator, dance instructor, or other after-school activity helper can also remind your child that they need to wear their glasses as prescribed.
Your child's eye doctor . Before you leave the office, ask the eye care expert to review the benefits of wearing glasses regularly.

The more your child is reminded to wear their glasses by people they love and respect, the more likely they are to use their corrective lenses.

Does your child need an eye exam or new glasses? Contact Fraser Optical for more information.

Contacts, Summer Fun, And Eye Health

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 18:22:00 GMT

Summertime means sun, fun, and outdoor activities galore. But if you have contacts, can you wear them for seasonal adventures? Before you retire your lenses for the next few months, take a look at what you need to know about contacts and the summer season.

Can You Wear Contacts to the Pool?

You can wear contacts anywhere. The real question here is-can you wear contacts in the pool? If your pool day routine doesn't include a dip in the chlorinated water, your contacts shouldn't cause a problem. Contact wearers who plan to swim should:

Remove contacts first . Bacteria in pools (even chlorinated pools) can stick to your contacts and cause serious eye infections. Avoid this issue, along with other irritations, and remove your lenses before you swim.
Wear goggles . If you absolutely can't remove your contacts wear goggles. Make sure the goggles fit snugly around your eyes and don't allow pool water in.
Check for leaks . Leaky goggles allow water (and the bacteria/irritants in it) into your eyes. Check the fit before you swim and periodically look for leaks during your pool day.
Choose disposable lenses . One-use lenses make it easy to remove your contacts before pool-time. Simply take them out, throw them away, and replace the contacts with new ones after you're done in the pool.

If you forget to remove your contacts or your goggles slip, remove, clean, and disinfect them as soon as possible. Never put lenses contaminated with pool water back into your eyes.

Can You Wear Contacts to the Beach?

Like with pools, you shouldn't wear your contact lenses in the ocean. The same goes for a lake, river, or other natural body of water. Whether it's chlorinated, fresh, or salt, water should never touch your contacts. Not only can ocean (or fresh lake/river water) irritate your eyes or cause infections, but the beach itself can cause serious problems. Sand can irritate eyes without contacts. Add lenses to the situation and you could scratch your eye or damage the contact. Before you go to the beach:

Remove your contacts . Remove your lenses somewhere away from the beach. This reduces the risk of sand drifting or blowing into your eyes.
Keep your contacts somewhere safe . A beach bag is an open invitation for sand to get into your contact case. Keep your lenses in a secure bag pocket or somewhere away from the sand.
Consider alternative eyewear . If you need corrective lenses, but can't wear your contacts, try prescription sunglasses for your beach day.

While goggles can protect your contacts against water-related issues, they won't do much when it comes to sand spray. Unless you want to wear goggles for your entire beach day (without removal), leave your lenses at home.

Can You Wear Contacts in the Sun?

The sun shouldn't interfere with your contact use. But that doesn't mean you should leave your eyes unprotected. Whether you wear contacts or not, the sun's UV rays can damage your eyes. Over time, sun exposure can result in cataracts, changes to the eye's tissue, or skin cancer (in and around the eyes). Sunny-day outdoor contact use should include:

Sunglasses . Always wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun's UVA and UVB rays when you're outside.
Shade . The sun can creep into your eyes through the top or side of your sunglasses. To reduce overall exposure, take breaks and head for the shade.
UV - blocking contacts . Talk to your eye doctor about specialized UV-protecting lenses. These block varying degrees of UVA and UVB rays.

Another option is to choose wrap-style glasses. These provide additional protection on the sides and can reduce the amount of UV radiation on your eyes. Do you need a summertime eye check-up? Contact Fraser Optical for more information.

Tips to Protect Your Eyesight This Summer

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:41:00 GMT

You probably want to protect your eyes and vision from the rigors of summer sun, activities, and conditions. Take these small precautions to ensure you don't increase your risk for debilitating vision issues or injure your eyes, by protecting and preserving your eyesight. Protect your eyes and sight this summer with these tips.

Wear Sun Protection

The most important thing to remember in summer is to protect your eyes from UV rays of the sun, which can be harmful and damaging. Make sure that any sunglasses you buy and wear offer UV protection that is adequate for the time that you spend outdoors. Buy your sunglasses from your optical provider, where you may find shades that block out both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Watch for Growths

Don't ignore any abnormalities or growths that you see on or around your eyes. These spots are not uncommon among young adults that spend long hours outside. This is a form of sun damage that could lead to cancer, so if you surf, farm, ski, landscape, or enjoy outdoor activities, wear both sunglasses and a brimmed-hat to help protect your eyes.

Don't Underestimate Cloudy Weather

Think you're in the clear because of cloudy weather? The damaging rays of the sun can still permeate clouds to damage your eyes and compromise your vision. Consider picking up a pair of very-lightly tinted sunglasses that still offer full UV protection, but that won't be difficult to wear on dark or cloudy days.

Never Look at the Sun

Did you know that you can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss by looking directly into the sun? This is not only true on bright sunny days, but anytime - even during an eclipse! The result is retinopathy which refers to potentially permanent sun damage to the retinas of your eye.

Prevent Eye Trauma and Injury

Chores, sports, and activities that you typically enjoy during the summer are also potentially hazardous to your eyesight. Failure to wear eye protection, like goggles or specialty glasses, during these events could result in an accident and injury. Eye trauma from an injury puts you at a higher risk for other debilitating vision issues, including cataracts.

Reduce the Risk of Cataracts

Eye trauma is not the only thing that puts you at a higher risk of cataracts, too much sun exposure is also a contributing factor. Cataracts are common but require surgery to correct and are a major cause of blindness in this country.

Identify Seasonal Allergies Early

Summer is often the time when seasonal eye allergies rear their ugly head. Seasonal allergies can be triggered by pollen, plants, molds, spores, and weeds that are common this time of year, and may cause your eyes to be red, swollen, irritated, and runny. Talk to your optical provider about drops or medications that may alleviate and prevent symptoms.

Ask About Dry Eye

Do you live in a dry, arid climate? A hot dry environment can cause you to experience dry eye; dry eye is a medical issue whereas your eyes don't produce enough natural tears to lubricate your eyes. This can be a painful condition that interferes with normal vision. You can prevent dry eyes with soothing medicated eye drops. Any family member or loved one is at risk for these eyesight hazards, at any age. Help children and seniors by offering and providing sunglasses and hats this summer. Learn more about summertime risks by talking with your provider at Fraser Optical . They can offer you quality glasses, sunglasses, and eyewear that not only preserve and protect your sight, but that help you see well and look great year-round.

Glasses or Contacts? 5 Factors to Help You Decide

Mon, 06 May 2019 17:36:00 GMT

Do you need corrective lenses to see properly? Modern consumers have a wide variety of choices about their corrective vision wear - more than at any time in history. And the first question you'll need to answer is whether to opt for glasses or contacts. Which should you choose? And why? Here are five categories of pros and cons to consider.

1. Cost

Traditionally, contacts have cost more than regular glasses. That's largely because they must be replaced on a more regular basis - especially with weekly or daily wear options. However, the real cost of glasses depends on your prescription as well as choices about what add-ons or frames you want to buy. It also depends on how often you end up replacing the glasses. Those with a simple prescription who choose budget-friendly glasses may find that contacts come out as the more expensive option in the end. The only way to know for sure is to do the math for your particular situation.

2. Health

Contacts are more sensitive and require more maintenance to keep them healthy for your eyes. When you wear them, you'll also be touching your eyes more than a glasses-wearer has to. This touching does boost your risk of eye infections, especially if you are prone to them. In this case, glasses may be a better option. Glasses, though, do hold certain health risks. If you like sports or heavy outdoor activities, you could lose your glasses and end up in a tight spot for instance. And they may not fix your vision problems due to distorted vision around the edges of the glasses.

3. Durability

Contact lenses are not usually made to be used for the long term - and may cause eye problems if used for too long. Glasses, on the other hand, may hold up for several years if cared for properly. Despite the larger initial cost for glasses, many people find that their long-term durability offsets the cost and means they don't have to visit the optometrist as often. That said, you will have to take measures to protect your glasses. Every time you remove them, put them in a place where they won't be stepped on or otherwise damaged.

4. Convenience

As mentioned, contacts require more care and maintenance. You'll have to put them in and take them out, clean them, and store them properly. Some users also have a hard time adjusting to new contacts or to a different type of contact. If you already have a busy and full life, the added effort may not appeal to you. Of course, glasses aren't completely free of inconveniences either. If you have to wear safety goggles for any reason - such as when playing sports, working with equipment, or swimming - you may need separate prescription goggles or glasses for these activities. Glasses can also be challenging in the rain, when you're very active, or when you're playing around water.

5. Looks

How do glasses make you feel? This is probably the most important factor for many people. Getting glasses can make a person feel less attractive, whereas contacts are an invisible corrective tool that won't change your appearance. You could even use colored contacts to change your eye color. On the other hand, glasses have become fashionable to the point where even those who don't need them sometimes wear them as a fashion accessory. If you're in an emotional place where you could use the feeling of being a new person, glasses might be the way to achieve that goal. No matter what your preference - glasses, contacts, or both - at Fraser Optical , we can provide you with what you need to see and feel great. Call today to make an appointment to learn more from our vision professionals.

3 Eye Injuries Ski Goggles Protect Against

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 04:17:00 GMT

Whether you are going skiing for the first time or you love hitting the slopes during the wintertime, you might be tempted to skip the bulky ski goggles in favor of your normal pair of sunglasses - or wear no eye protection whatsoever. However, there is a reason why eye doctors and professional skiers alike swear by professionally designed eye protection. Here are three eye injuries ski goggles protect against and why you shouldn't take any shortcuts.

1. Impact and Abrasions

Materials behave differently when they are warm than they do when they are cold, and your plastic eyeglass frames are no different. Since extreme cold causes many materials to shrink and compress slightly, some frames and lenses can become incredibly brittle in the cold, which could result in the glasses breaking, which could put you at risk for impact or abrasion injuries.

The most common eye injuries include scratches to the surface of the eye, foreign objects being lodged in the eye, and Subconjunctival Hemorrhages (or bleeding in and around the eye), amongst others.

Since skiing and snowboarding involve traveling over snow at fast speeds, it is crucial to wear eye protection that is designed to guard against impact. Even playing in the snow and engaging in a snowball fight could put your eyes at risk, since you never know when something will hit you square in the face.

Unlike many commercially available varieties of sunglasses, skiing and snowboarding goggles are made to withstand cold temperatures without becoming brittle, which helps to protect against impact, lacerations, and abrasions.

2. Sunburn

Although the concept might seem strange, your eyes can become sunburned just like any other part of your body, and the risks are actually higher when you are outside in the snow. In addition to being subjected to sunlight while you are outside, different ground covers reflect UV radiation in different concentrations, and snow is particularly dangerous.

While grass and ground plants only reflect about 10-30% of the dangerous UV rays emitted by the sun, snow is shiny enough to reflect as much as 90% of UV light generated by the sun, making it easier to receive facial and eye sunburns. When the eyes are subjected to harsh sunlight, it can damage the tissue of the eyes, causing problems such as snow blindness and Photokeratitis, a condition that can cause symptoms ranging from pain and redness, to sensitivity and permanent eye damage.

While standard sunglasses can help to prevent eye damage, they help less in snowy environments, since sunlight can reflect upwards towards your face from the ground. On the other hand, ski goggles designed to block 100% of UVA/UVB rays can protect your eyes from sunlight from all angles, since they fit snugly over your entire eye area.

3. Frozen Corneas

In addition to putting your eyes at a higher risk of impact injuries and sunburn, being outdoors in the cold can also trigger temperature-related damage. When subjected to extreme cold, your corneas can even become frozen, which can cause permanent damage.

While frozen corneas are one of the less common eye injuries people can endure while enjoying a day in winter weather, people who spend large amounts outdoors during the winter are especially susceptible. For instance, if you are going on a long snowmobiling trip or you like to participate in endurance sports, wearing eye protection is crucial for keeping your eyes warm enough to protect them from temperature damage.

If you are dealing with any kind of eye discomfort or recent injury, we want to know about it. Here at Fraser Optical , our eye doctors can help with everything from vision exams to diagnosing eye injuries or vision problems to help you to protect your vision. Whether you need a new pair of glasses or contacts, our team can help. Visit us online or in person today!

Beware of Autumn Threats to Your Eye Health

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Year-round eye care is essential to protect your vision from eye disease and injury. The autumn season is no exception; therefore, it helps to know what dangers to your eyes lurk in the crisp autumn air. Weed Pollen Avoid eye allergy symptoms such as red, swollen, itchy eyes, tearing, and sensitivity to light by minimizing your exposure to the air outside. Keep the windows in your home and vehicle closed, especially when the weather is damp and rainy. Since late summer into fall is the season for weed allergies - particularly ragweed - keep windows closed during the early morning hours when weeds release pollen. If you like to let fresh air in from the outside, open windows for a while in the mid-afternoon when conditions are driest. Autumn UV Danger Shorter daylight hours are a sure sign of fall, but that doesn't mean you no longer have to shield your eyes from the UV rays of the sun. Wear sunglasses when you are outdoors, even on cloudy days when ultraviolet radiation can still get through. Like your skin, it's important to protect your eyes from UV exposure yearround. Although age is a major risk factor for cataracts, research suggests that UV rays from the sun may contribute to getting cataracts. Benign growths on the eye, such as pinguecula and pterygium, also are related to exposure to the sun's UV rays. Pinguecula is a yellowish spot on the conjunctiva, or clear mucous membrane that covers the front part of the eye. Although the condition doesn't affect your vision, it can develop into a pterygium - a pink, fleshy growth that can cause blurry vision if it grows over the cornea and covers your pupil. While symptoms of a pterygium generally are mild, in rare cases, scarring on the cornea can occur. Severe scarring can lead to vision loss. Cold and Flu Viruses While fall is the start of the cold and flu season, hand washing helps prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. If you touch or rub your eyes with hands contaminated with germs, you may end up with conjunctivitis. Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis spreads easily, but symptoms usually are mild. If your eye gets infected with a virus or bacteria, inflammation of the conjunctiva swell blood vessels, making the white of the eye look pink or red. Your eye may be watery and feel itchy or burning. Severe cases of pink eye can cause pain and blurred vision in the infected eye. Autumn-Related Eye Injuries Make it a habit to wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when raking leaves and performing other yard cleanup chores this fall. Flying debris, including that propelled by power lawn equipment, can cause eye injury. Dust, dirt, and debris that leaf blowers blow around can get in your eyes and scratch the cornea. A corneal abrasion is a common type of eye injury that can cause pain, light sensitivity, and blurred vision. Mild corneal abrasions usually heal within a day or two. However, deep abrasions can lead to permanent corneal scars, which may require a corneal transplant. Falls are another common cause of serious eye injuries. Slipping and falling on wet leaves may result in a hard blow that can damage the eye or muscles within the eye socket. A severe injury can even break the bones around the eye. Symptoms of an eye socket fracture vary depending on the severity and what part of the eye is involved but often include swelling, a black eye, and bleeding on the white of the eye. Blurry vision, double vision, or decreased vision can also occur in addition to trouble moving the injured eye up, down, or sideways. Poor Nutrition Diets deficient in certain nutrients can lead to vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration regardless of the season. Foods that contain vitamins A and C, lutein, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids help improve eye health. If you experience signs of vision problems related to these or other causes, contact Fraser Optical to schedule a full eye exam.

Contact Lenses: Deciding If Your Child Would Benefit From Contacts

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Contact lenses, particularly gas permeable lenses, can help your child see better than when he or she wears eyeglasses. Although only 10 percent of individuals who wear contact lenses are younger than 18, there are some important factors to think about when deciding if your child is ready to advance from wearing eyeglasses to wearing contact lenses.

Consider the Responsibility Contacts Require Whether your child is ready to make the move from eyeglasses to contact lenses doesn't really depend on their age, but on how responsible he or she is. Generally, your child needs to be able to follow detailed instructions for contact lens care and wear - without constant reminders from you.

Your child must clean the lenses regularly to prevent an eye infection. And improper lens care can lead to an eye infection, which has symptoms like increased sensitivity to light, redness, pain, tearing, and blurry vision.

Make sure your child or teen doesn't moisten his or her contact lenses with saliva, which is swarming with bacteria. Eye doctors recommend the use of disinfecting solution (rather than a saline solution or tap water) for cleaning, wetting, and storing contact lenses.

Consider the Benefits Contacts Offer Once you determine your child is responsible enough to wear contact lenses, you should consider the benefits that contact lenses offer.

Contacts Provide a Broader Range of Vision

Eyeglasses can distort peripheral vision, in particular, the rims of eyeglasses are famous for obstructing side vision. Contacts adjust to the curvature of the eye, providing a wider field of vision. Because contact lenses sit directly on the eyes, your child will have better peripheral vision.

Contacts May Reshape the Cornea

Some contact lenses can even reshape the cornea of the eye. For example, lenses that your child can wear while sleeping may temporarily correct myopia (nearsightedness) by flattening the cornea.

The therapy - known as orthokeratology, or ortho-k - allows for clearer vision the next day without wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. Some studies suggest that wearing these specially-fitted lenses slows the progression of myopia in children.

Your child removes the lenses the next morning when he or she wakes. Although some kids can see without wearing corrective lenses for a day or two, your child should wear the ortho-k lenses every night to get the best results.

Whether ortho-k lenses can correct your child's refractive error depends on the severity of his or her vision problem. Generally, children with mild to moderate myopia are good candidates for corneal reshaping lenses.

Contacts Increase Safety for Sports and Outdoor Activities

Unlike eyeglasses, contacts won't fall off or get broken when playing sports or participating in outdoor play and other activities. Contact lenses stay in place and won't slide down your child's nose. They also won't fog up and blur his or her vision at that crucial moment before making a touchdown, field goal, or basket. The safety goggles that many sports require also are easier and more comfortable to wear with contacts.

Contacts Enhance Self-Esteem

Contact lenses can help boost your child's self-esteem, especially during the preteen and teen years. For children who require a strong eyeglass prescription, the edges of the lenses may be thick, or the eyeglasses can make your child's eyes look unnaturally large or small. Consequently, some kids feel unattractive or are embarrassed by wearing eyeglasses.

In contrast, contacts look and feel natural. This may help your child feel more confident in his or her appearance. Children who feel better about how they look can have higher overall self-esteem.

If you feel uncertain about whether your son or daughter is ready to wear contact lenses, contact Fraser Optical to schedule an examination by an eye care professional. We will determine if wearing contact lenses will provide the right vision treatment for your child's eyes.

Summer Is Here! Are Your Eyes Protected?

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Summer is a time of fun in the sun, but it can also be a time of danger for your eyes. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer, protecting your eyes is important. Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause cataracts later in life, while exposure to chemicals and natural pollutants can cause eye irritation. These tips can help protect your eyes while you spend time outdoors this summer.

Wear Sunglasses Sunglasses are some of the most useful tools that people have to protect their eyes from sunlight, but not all sunglasses are created equal. The best sunglasses are those that protect the eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays. When shopping for sunglasses, look for products that indicate they protect the eyes from both types of UV sunlight.

If you normally wear prescription lenses, you'll need prescription sunglasses for driving and conducting other activities in the summer. Without prescription sunglasses, you could find yourself driving outdoors while squinting in the sun. If you participate in sports, you may need to get special sunglasses that strap onto your head. Talk to your eye doctor for recommendations.

Know When to Wear Eye Protection Summer is a time when many people do yard work and home improvement projects. These outdoor activities can involve dangers like flying projectiles. Cutting grass, using a Weedwacker, and sawing wooden boards all involve flying debris.

Knowing when to wear eye protection is important. Personal protective equipment is available for sale at home improvement centers and online. Eye doctors even sell prescription eye protection for people who need it. Any time a swiftly moving blade or flying debris is involved, wearing eye protection can help protect your eyes from injury.

If you fail to wear eye protection and your eyes are damaged or injured by a projectile, contact your eye doctor as soon as possible. Early treatment for injuries can help prevent problems like permanent eye damage.

Use Goggles Exposure to chlorinated water can cause swimmer's eye, a type of conjunctivitis. Wearing goggles while swimming can prevent this illness from happening. If you spend a lot of time in the pool in the summer, buy a pair of goggles that fit well. If your goggles leak, adjust the straps or buy a new pair. Wear your goggles every time you go into the pool to keep your eyes protected.

Use Eye Drops Dry eyes are a common problem in summer because of the high pollen count, hot weather, and exposure to sunlight. Eye drops can help keep the eyes lubricated and protected at this time of year. Keep eye drops on hand and use them regularly, especially when your eyes seem red, irritated, and itchy.

If you're not sure which brand is right for you, talk to your eye doctor. He or she can recommend a brand of eye drops that can help protect your eyes. If you suffer from chronic dry eyes, your eye doctor may even prescribe special eye drops that can address this problem.

Wear Hats Outdoors

Although sunglasses certainly can help protect the eyes from dangerous UVA and UVB rays, another way to protect the eyes is by wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Sunglasses often have spaces on the sides that can expose the eyes to sunlight. Wearing a hat can prevent this type of exposure. When looking for a hat, purchase a product that has a wide brim on three sides.

Contact A Reputable Eye Doctor If you have more questions about how you can protect your eyes in the summer, contact a reputable eye doctor in your area. At Fraser Optical, we encourage you to contact us to discuss the best ways to keep your eyes safe this summer. We'll be happy to answer your questions!

How to Wear Contacts When You Have Dry Eyes

Tue, 15 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Dry eye is a condition where your eyes don't produce enough tears, leaving your eyes feeling gritty, itchy, red, and lacking moisture.

Your tear film has many layers, allowing your eyes to stay moist or to produce tears when needed, such as when debris gets in your eyes, and when you produce an inefficient amount of tears, eye problems can occur. As a result, wearing contact lenses can be a challenge.

Can you wear contacts when you have dry eyes? You can with the right assistance. Here is a guide to help you wear contact lenses even if you have a dry eye condition.

Wear the Right Lenses

Many brands of contact lenses are on the market that allow the eyes to breathe more effectively, therefore drying out contact lenses less. These are known as soft contact lenses. Speak to your eye doctor about your dry eye condition; your eye doctor will determine the best type of soft lenses for your needs based on how severe your dry eye condition is.

Before deciding on any brand or type of contact lenses, consider wearing multiple samples of different brands (provided for you by your eye doctor) to try for a few days each. Record your comfort level with each brand of contact lenses you try to help you pick the best brand for your needs.

Wear Contacts Less Often

Around 50 percent of contact lens wearers report having dry eyes from time to time. Limiting the amount of time you wear contact lenses can help your eyes breathe better and remain moister.

The brand of contact lenses you own will determine how long you should wear a single pair at a time: two-week, one-day, and even extended-wear contact lenses are available. For your dry eye condition, wearing single-day contacts may be your best option.

In addition to limiting the amount of time you wear a single pair of contacts, you can also limit your daily use of contacts. While it's considered safe to wear contacts for a full day (up to 16 hours for average contact wearers), you should take your contacts out as soon as they begin to feel itchy or dry and switch to glasses.

Consider Contact-Safe Drops

If contacts make your eyes feel instantly dry and uncomfortable, then consider asking your eye doctor about prescription eye drops designed to help your eyes produce more natural tears.

Some types of eye drops are safe to use with contacts; ask your eye doctor which type of eye drops are best for your needs and how often you should use them when you have your contact lenses in.

Take a Break From Contacts

Choose a day a week where you only wear glasses to give your eyes a break. Your dry eye condition may improve if your eyes are not exposed to prolonged contact use. Consider wearing glasses over the weekend, and make it a habit. Your eye doctor will help you select glasses frames that suit your face and feel comfortable.

As you can see, you have many options to make wearing contacts while having a dry eye condition possible. To protect your eyes from developing other conditions, always rinse your contacts with proper solution prior to wearing them. Also, store your contacts in a clean case to prevent eye infection.

If you’d like to try new contacts that are specially designed for dry eyes, our team of optometrists can fit you with the right lenses. Call us at Fraser Optical to schedule an eye appointment today. Arrive early and bring your insurance card for filling out new applicant paperwork.

Understanding Presbyopia and Its Corrective Options

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Your eyes go through many changes as part of the aging process. The inability to see close-up affects almost everyone, though to different degrees. After age 40 , most people will begin to notice that they have a problem reading small print, and by their mid-50s, most people will lose that ability altogether.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to compensate for vision loss. This guide will tell you more about presbyopia and some of your treatment options.

What Are the Mechanics of Presbyopia?

The word presbyopia literally means old eye. The name refers to the eye's reduced ability to focus on nearby objects. When you're young, the lens in your eye is very flexible and could change focus from close-up items to focus on items that are far away fairly easily. As you age, your lens becomes more rigid and it becomes more difficult for your retina to flex and focus on close-up images.

What Are the Signs of Presbyopia?

If you have presbyopia, then you may notice that you have to move objects further away in order to see them clearly. You may not even realize that you are doing this when presbyopia begins to affect you. Other signs are that your eyes feel strained more than usual, especially when doing close-up work.

You may also notice that your eyes don't focus as quickly when you adjust from looking at something close-up to something far away. Your inability to see in low light will also become noticeable.

If You Think You're Unaffected

Presbyopia affects nearly everyone and it's rare to come across someone who truly is unaffected after age 50. However, genetics and other factors play a role in how severe presbyopia is in each individual, so if you're in the early stages, then you won't notice that you have a problem at first.

If you don't do regular close-up work or work in low light, then you may not notice that you need glasses. You could find yourself in a situation where you need to see something close-up and it will seem that your vision has deteriorated all of a sudden. Therefore, it's best to have regular eye exams and have your vision corrected to reduce vision problems.

Can You Correct Presbyopia With Glasses?

Many people prefer to wear glasses because they are easy to use and very effective. Fortunately, there are several glasses options available depending on the quality of your vision. If your distance vision is adequate, then you may only need to wear reading glasses part of the time. If you are already wearing glasses for nearsightedness, then you can choose between lined and progressive bifocals.

Can You Correct Presbyopia With Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses have greatly improved in recent years resulting in a variety of options that can meet multi-focal vision needs. There are segmented contacts that are like traditional bifocals where the bottom part is for close-up and the top part is for distance.

There are also aspheric contact lenses, which work a lot like progressive lenses, however, it can take some time for your brain and visual system to adjust to them.

What Are the Other Treatment Options?

Your optometrist may suggest other options unique to your vision. For example, if you want contacts, but don't want to use the multi-focal kind, then you could choose monovision . This is where one lens is corrected for distance and the other for close-up. It can take some adjustment, however, as your brain learns to see differently.

There are also surgical options, which are not for everyone. In addition, surgery won’t always stop the progression of presbyopia, which usually gets worse over time.

Presbyopia is a normal part of the aging process and you have several options on how to treat this condition. You can choose a pair of glasses or contacts or work with your optometrist for other options that best fit your lifestyle.

If you're having trouble seeing, then contact Fraser Optical to have your eyes examined and to talk to our staff about vision correction options.

Five Eye Care Tips for Allergy Sufferers

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Do allergies cause your eyes to feel itchy, dry, and irritated? Perhaps they also appear red and puffy. These symptoms are known as allergic conjunctivitis, which is a common response to allergens like pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and dust mites. The number one way to alleviate your symptoms is to reduce your exposure to allergens. Also, follow these eye care tips for allergy sufferers to keep your eyes more comfortable.
1. Switch to Daily Lenses Allergens often build up on the surface of your contact lenses. Even if you clean the lenses carefully, some allergen particles may remain and then be reintroduced to your eyes the next time you insert the lenses. Consider switching to daily lenses, at least during peak allergy season. With daily lenses, you also don't have to worry about protein buildup on the lenses irritating your eyes and exacerbating your allergy symptoms. 2. Keep Glasses On Hand On days when your eyes are especially irritated, don't wear your contacts at all. Switch to glasses, which don't trap allergen particles in your eyes or restrict air flow like contact lenses do. Make sure you have a pair of properly-fitting glasses with lenses in your current prescription strength. Carry them with you daily, and also bring along your contact lens case. This way, if your eyes become too irritated, you can always remove your contacts and switch to glasses partway through the day. 3. Use Medicated Eye Drops While taking oral allergy medications is a good starting point, sometimes you need a little extra help treating allergic conjunctivitis. There are both prescription and over-the-counter eye drops for treating allergies. They contain antihistamines, which work by blocking the action of the proteins your body produces to trigger allergy symptoms. Try over-the-counter eye drops first. If you don't experience relief, talk to your doctor about prescription eye drops for allergy symptoms. Most medicated eye drops require that you remove your contact lenses before use. This is another good reason to always carry your glasses and contact case with you. 4. Apply Cold Compresses When your allergy symptoms become particularly bad, remove your contacts and hold a cold compress against your eyes. You can make a cold compress by wrapping a bag of ice in a small cloth or towel. A washcloth soaked with cold water also works. Close both of your eyes, and then hold the compress gently over them. Only keep the compress in place for 20 minutes at a time. The cold compress helps reduce inflammation and redness around your eyes. Make sure you wash the washcloth or towel after every use to avoid re-introducing allergies to your eyes. 5. Wash Your Hands Always wash your hands thoroughly and completely before touching your eyes. Do so before inserting or removing contacts, before applying a cold compress to your eyes, before inserting eye drops, and before itching or rubbing your eyes. Many patients with allergic conjunctivitis make the problem worse by introducing additional allergen particles to their eyes whenever they touch them. Wash your hands often throughout the day as well. You may touch your face or eyes without realizing it, and washing your hands often reduces the number of allergen particles you introduce to your eyes when doing so. By following the tips above, you can keep your eyes more comfortable in the presence of allergens. If you're in need of new glasses or contacts, visit Fraser Optical to explore our selections. We offer brand name eyeglasses from brands like Flexon, Fossil, and Kate Spade, along with daily wear contact lenses. We also offer eye exams for the whole family and are happy to discuss allergic conjunctivitis and other eye health problems with you.

5 Common Reasons Your Eyes Feel Tired

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Your brain processes most of the information it receives from your eyes automatically. You don't have to think about discerning the color of an object, perceiving the distance between your hand and an object, or interpreting shapes as meaningful symbols. In fact, if you have healthy eyes, you likely don't think about them often.

However, when your eyes become tired or strained, the fatigue may make it hard to think about anything else. Eye fatigue can lead to blurry vision, itchy sensations, difficulty with depth perception, headaches, sensitivity, and watering.

You can treat some types of eye fatigue with rest or medicated eye drops. But in many cases, the most effective treatment is to determine the cause of the problem, remove it, and avoid it in the future. In this blog, we list five of the most common reasons your eyes may feel pained, strained, or tired.

1. Exposure to Harsh Light

Most eye fatigue occurs when your eyes are forced to endure difficult conditions for a long period of time. For example, when you drive toward the setting sun during your evening commute, you automatically squint. If you squint for long enough, those muscles in and around your eyes become sore.

In some cases, the source of harsh light is obvious, like in the glare example. However, light can strain your eyes even if it doesn't seem overly bright. Many individual experience eye fatigue after using electronic devices due to the color of the light from the screen.

2. Focus in a Poorly Lit Area

When your eyes must work harder to provide the same level of vision, the extra effort may manifest as tenderness or irritation. A lack of light can be just as problematic as an excess of light — especially if you try to read, draw, or perform another small-detail visual task in this setting.

If you are prone to eye fatigue, you could experience strain after performing any small-detail visual task for a long period of time — even in good lighting. You may need to schedule regular breaks for your eyes to resolve the issue.

3. High Levels of Stress

Many individuals who experience chronic stress have been told to try relaxing certain parts of their body, such as the jaw and shoulders, because these areas tend to retain tension.

However, many of these people do not realize that they may also squint, furrow their brows, or otherwise tax the muscles around their eyes when stressed.

4. Lack of Sleep

Like any other part of your body, your eyes use periods of sleep to become refreshed. A lack of sleep can slow the response time to visual information, which forces the eyes to work harder and feel tired.

Additionally, a lack of sleep may dry out your eyes, which can exacerbate feelings of eye fatigue.

5. Refractive Vision Issues

While eye fatigue often happens when both eyes are overworked, this strain may also occur when one eye has to compensate for the other. If you have an untreated refractive vision issue, your eyes have to work particularly hard at normal tasks — causing eye tiredness.

Corrective lenses with the correct prescription should clear up eye fatigue caused by this type of vision issue completely.

If you suspect that one of the common causes of eye strain listed here is affecting your eyes, then avoid that situation to see if your symptoms improve.

If your eye fatigue persists in spite of your experiments with removing the causes listed above, consult with your eye doctor . You could have an underlying condition or need an updated corrective prescription.

For expert eye care, trust the professionals at Fraser Optical.

Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to your child's health and their ability to thrive in school and beyond, the quality of their vision can be one of the most important aspects. Many children go through early childhood and even into their school years with undiagnosed eye conditions that may negatively affect them.

The problem with vision problems in children is that the initial symptoms may not always be obvious to the child or their parents. However, there are signs to watch out for that a child may be in need of some assistance from an optometrist. As a parent, it is important that you get to know some of these signs of vision trouble so you can schedule an eye exam for your child as soon as possible.

Your Child Complains about Headaches Often

One of the signs that your child may need to have their eyes examined is if they are suffering from frequent headaches. When children complain about headaches, most parents will think that their child has allergies, a cold, the flu or some other passing condition.

Although a headache every once in a while is not likely an indication of eye problems, frequent headaches are definitely a possible sign of eye trouble. If your child has headaches after most days in school or after they have been reading, eye strain could be the culprit.

Your Child Has Trouble Concentrating in School or on Homework

Concentration issues in school or on homework may not seem like an eye or vision issue. Many parents, and even teachers, tend to assume that concentration problems stem from behavioral issues such as ADHD.

While it is understandable to worry that your child's behavior issues are mental health-related, concentration problems can be related to vision. Not being able to see can make focusing on school frustrating, difficult, and physically and mentally tiring. These struggles will look like behavior problems to the outside observer, but before you think about starting your child on meds for ADHD, schedule an eye exam.

Your Child Rubs Their Eyes a Lot

Children of any age can have trouble with their eyes and vision. And sometimes, they are not able to explain what they are experiencing especially if they are toddlers or preschoolers. When these children are having trouble seeing, they may rub their eyes frequently.

If your young child is constantly straining their eyes to concentrate or see, their eyes will become tired. And when a person's eyes are tired, they often rub or touch their eyes in an attempt to relieve some of the discomfort.

Your Child is Overly Clumsy

Another sign of eye trouble in your child is if your child is overly clumsy. This can mean that they frequently bump into objects in your home, do not go around potholes or cracks in the pavement, or even that they trip up or off the curb quite often.

Most children are a bit clumsy from time to time, but falling often could be a sign of trouble. Additionally, when your child bumps into furniture and other items around the home that are in the same place all the time, their depth perception may be to blame.

Many of the signs of vision problems in children are not as easy to notice as they are in adults. Children often do not know that their eyes the issue because they do not know what clear sight and vision would feel or look like. As such, you cannot just ask your child if they are having trouble seeing.

Watch out for these various signs of vision problems in children so you can be sure you get your child scheduled for an eye exam as soon as possible. If their troubles do turn out to be their eyes, then you can get them the corrective lenses they need to resolve their symptoms.

When Should You Schedule an Eye Exam?

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Your eye health and vision acuity affect your day-to-day physical comfort and your safety while commuting or traveling. You may understand the importance of regular eye exams but feel unsure about how often you should have them.

Multiple factors determine how often you as an individual need to schedule an eye exam. Find out the most common factors that can let you know when an exam is needed.

Age

Many eye health issues occur gradually over time and may not be obvious to the affected individual, especially when that individual is a child. Because eye health conditions can be difficult to detect on your own, schedule age-based exams throughout your life.

Generally, eye health care providers recommend that adults receive exams at the following age-based intervals:

• 18 to 60 years of age—Every other year
• 60 years of age and older—Every year

If you are a parent, plan to take your child in for exams within the recommended age time frame. Children should receive their first eye exam at no later than age five, but eye doctors also recommend that parents comply with the following guidelines:

Birth to 2 years of age—Once at approximately 6 months of age
2 to 5 years of age—Once at approximately 3 years of age
6 to 18 years of age—Once before beginning elementary school and every two years after reaching school age

These general guidelines apply to individuals who are not at high risk of eye health problems and who do not currently use vision correction. Your individual risk factors can shorten the intervals between exams.

Individual Risk

For at-risk individuals, eye health problems and vision changes occur more rapidly. Some of these changes can be prevented or slowed with proper medical care.

If you are at a higher risk of eye health issues, you should schedule an eye exam annually or as frequently as recommended by your eye health care provider. Risk factors for future eye health conditions include:

Certain infections during pregnancy like rubella
Childhood eye health conditions like lazy eye
Developmental delays
Diabetes
Eye strain in your work environment
Family history of serious eye health conditions like macular degeneration
High blood pressure
Low birth weight
Past eye surgery
Past eye trauma
Premature birth
Use of medication that can cause side effects affecting the eyes, including prescription, over-the-counter and controlled substances

Your risk of vision and eye-related issues may change over the years, so always check with your primary care physician and eye health care provider when you experience a change in your health that may necessitate more frequent eye exams.

Symptoms

In addition to routine exams, schedule an emergency exam whenever you experience abnormal eye-related symptoms. Your symptoms could include:

Blurred vision
Difficulty seeing at night
Dizziness, nausea, or headaches, especially after focusing your sight on an object
Light sensitivity
Physical discomfort such as itchiness

If you experience these issues along with other serious medical symptoms, like high fever or confusion after a head injury, seek emergency medical care immediately. If the symptoms come and go or appear slowly over time, your first stop should be an eye doctor.

Keep these factors in mind when deciding on the date of your next eye exam. If you have questions about how any of these factors apply to you or to a child you are responsible for, consult with your eye health care provider.

Think it is time for you or your child to have an eye exam? Schedule an appointment with the expert team at Fraser Optical . We work with patients of all ages to provide excellent eye health care and vision correction.

Stages of Eye Care

Wed, 31 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Like any other part of our anatomy, our eyes change throughout our growth cycle as we age. It is important to have yearly eye examinations in order to check the progress of eye health and growth throughout all the stages of life.

Infants must learn to see, just as they learn to talk and walk. Nutrition plays an important role in the continued development of eye health as a child grows. School-age children need eye examinations regularly to maintain not only eye health, but also brain and learning development. Poor eyesight is a leading contributor to developmental delay.

Adult vision begins at age 19, and while most people enjoy healthy vision or are utilizing corrective measures, if needed, by this point in life, new concerns come into play. Often eyestrain from studying, working later hours, or not getting the proper rest begin to appear.

The next major stage of eye health is age 40, where presbyopia, or difficulty focusing on close objects, begins. This occurs due to the lens hardening inside your eye. Eye examinations take on new priority, as this is the stage of life where cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye problems tend to show up. Contact Fraser Optical to make an appointment today!

The Importance of Getting an Eye Exam

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

While many people recognize the importance of routine physicals and dental appointments, a surprising number of people fail to schedule regular eye exams . To make sure your eyes stay healthy in the coming years, be sure to make time for eye exams. Here are a few of the top reasons to schedule your next comprehensive eye exam. Identify Eye Problems While a vision screening can be great for identifying risk factors, a comprehensive eye exam is needed to pinpoint specific problems. Even if you’re not aware of any vision problems, you might find a problem area to fix. In addition to getting a complex overview of your unique vision, the doctor will work with you to find solutions for existing problems. Improve Eye Conditions If you suffer from an eye condition like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, routinely scheduled eye exams become even more important. Your eye doctor will be able to explain treatment plans and monitor your progress in order to ensure that your eyes stay as healthy as possible for the future. Find Treatment Plans After your eye exam, your doctor will issue a treatment plan if any eye conditions are discovered. Keeping on top of treatment before the condition worsens is vital in reducing your health care costs over the course of time and preserving your vision. To schedule an eye exam, contact Fraser Optical today.