http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/rss/feedsOur passion for eyewear can be seen in our vast selections of unique readers, and name brand luxury eyewear from around the world.Fri, 01 May 2026 05:20:53 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-is-the-typical-procedure-for-an-eye-examhttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-is-the-typical-procedure-for-an-eye-examIf you have never had a comprehensive eye test before, you are likely to wonder what it entails and whether it is necessary. A number of tests and procedures are used during an eye exam to determine the health of your eyes. Your optician will perform these tests, and your ophthalmologist will then review the results. Your ophthalmologist may also examine your eyes. The time taken in getting your eye examined can be anything between 30 minutes to an hour and is likely to include a few of the steps listed below. Filling Out a Health History Form: Before you walk into the room for your diagnostic tests, you will be required to fill out a health history form. In this form, you will have to answer specific questions about any medical conditions you may have and a list of medications you may be consuming. The list will also ask you to fill out questions on your health history. Arrive a couple of minutes before your appointment to complete this form. Pre-Exam Consul: You will then be ushered into the pre-examination room, where you will meet with your optician. He or she will review your health history based on the form you filled out and make notes on any problems you may be having with your eyes or vision. The optician will next measure your visual activity without and with correction. Next, you will have to go through a series of objective measurements using a visual field machine to check to see if your vision is failing in any area. Finally, the opticians will then check the pressure of your eye to assess the risk of developing glaucoma. Glaucoma Test: Based on your test results, if your intraocular pressure is high, your doctor may run further diagnostic tests. Glaucoma left unattended can lead to permanent damage to your optic nerve and result in visual field loss. This is why all ophthalmologists check the pressure of your eyes during an eye examination. The most common way to check pressure is by the use of a non-contact tonometer. The test is quick and painless, accurately measures eye pressure, and helps identify any potential eye issues early. Perimetry Test: If necessary, your doctor may also choose to perform a visual field test known as threshold perimetry test to check for any blind spots in your vision. This test, too, is quick and painless and helps catch eye diseases at an early stage. Cover Test: Another test performed during a routine eye check-up is the cover test. This test is performed to check how both your eyes work together. You will be asked to stare at an eye chart and cover each of your eyes. The doctor will observe how much each of your eyes moves to register the object you are looking at. This test helps determine if you have a lazy eye, binocular vision problems, or poor depth reception. Aside from the tests mentioned above, your doctor may also perform a refraction test or dilate your eyes to get a better view of your eyes to rule out any eye conditions. It is important to get your eyes examined at least once every year. If you are looking for a reliable doctor to perform an eye exam near you, Bullock's The Eye Opener is the right place for you. Waste no time, and call us at 604-739-2015 to book an appointment for your eye exam in Vancouver today.Sun, 25 Jul 2021 06:47:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/how-do-you-know-if-diabetes-is-affecting-your-eyeshttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/how-do-you-know-if-diabetes-is-affecting-your-eyesContrary to common belief, people with diabetes need regular eye exams. If you have diabetes, it is imperative that you see an eye specialist near you at least once a year to rule out any complications such as cataracts and glaucoma that are common among people who have high blood sugar levels. According to doctors, diabetes is the primary cause of partial and total blindness in adults aged 20-75. If you have diabetes, it is important that you take good care of your eyes. While diabetes can harm your eyes, the good news is that you can take proper steps to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy. Listed below are a few eye conditions that you can develop if your diabetes is left unattended. Blurry Vision: If your vision goes blurry, do not go and buy a pair of new glasses. If you have diabetes, it is likely that your blood sugar levels may have shot up. In order to correct it, see a doctor who will put you on a regimen to bring down your sugar levels in the acceptable range of 70-130 mg/dL. While it may take a few months before your vision is back to normal, it is better to work on the root cause than mask it by buying glasses to see better. Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is prevalent among those who have diabetes. In fact, nearly one-third of those over the age of 50 and suffering from diabetes also suffer from diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy stems from damage caused to the retina when the blood flow to your eyes reduces. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to other complications such as glaucoma and macular edema. If you experience symptoms such as difficulty focusing on an object for long, altered color vision, empty areas in your field of vision, you must see your doctor immediately. This condition affects both eyes and in nearly the same measure. Cataracts: Your eyes' lenses begin to get cloudy after the age of 60, which is indicative of cataracts. However, if you have diabetes, high sugar levels in your bloodstream can cause a buildup on your lens and make cataracts happen much sooner than they would. According to doctors, diabetes doubles the risk of developing premature cataracts. Once cataracts set in, the only treatment is to remove them through surgery. Macular Edema: The macula or the eye is that part of the organ responsible for sending out bright and clear images to your brain. If you have diabetes, the blood vessels in your retina can bulge out and leak into the macula of your eyes. It causes the macula to swell up, which in turn can turn to make your vision wavy or fuzzy. There are several tips to keep your eyes healthy even if you have diabetes. To know more about how to care for your eyes, you must set up an appointment for an eye checkup near you. Your doctor will examine your eyes and give you tips on caring for your eyes, especially if you have diabetes. Contact Bullock's The Eye-Opener for a routine eye checkup to rule out eye conditions due to diabetes. Call us today at 604-739-2015Thu, 15 Jul 2021 03:29:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-eyeglass-frames-helps-you-look-youngerhttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-eyeglass-frames-helps-you-look-youngerContrary to common belief, eyeglass frames do not make you look like a nerd. If you pick out a set of eyeglasses that complement your face, it could knock off a bunch of years and make you look younger and attractive. Optical glasses in Vancouver offer a wide range of fancy and ultra-stylish frames that is sure to make you look more youthful in a heartbeat. Eyeglass Frames That Make You Look Younger Black frames: Black is royal and elegant. Period. Most will agree that Black is a very versatile color. And, no matter what you are wearing, what your hair color may be, or what your age is, you will rock it in a pair of black eyeglasses. In fact, black frames are most commonly worn by those beginning to grey as well! That is right! Wearing a pair of black frames will complement your age and make you look sporty and young. Oversized frames: Many seniors tend to believe that oversized frames are not for them. However, oversized frames do a great job at hiding facial signs that may give away your age. Oversized frames draw attention to the eyes, thus hiding any wrinkles or bagginess that may make you feel conscious of your age. In fact, oversized frames are a new trend and come in all shapes. If you have sharp jawlines, you could opt for oversized round glasses or oversized square frames if you have a round face. Cat-eyed frames: Gone are the days when cat eyes frames were a woman’s choice. Today men too wear cat eyes. These frames highlight the cheekbones and are an excellent choice for those with round faces and chubby cheeks. Cat-eye frames look good in all colors, but you will not go wrong with a black pair of glasses if you are looking for a formal look. Bold-looking frames: If you want to look young and are willing to experiment, go in for a bold-looking pair of glasses. Ditch the regular rimless office look for a funkier octagon-shaped pair of glasses. Go in for colors such as red and green that will add some pizzazz to your look. Round glasses: If octagon-shaped glasses sound bizarre to you, stick to the good old round glass frames. While this may be perceived as a traditional shape, you simply cannot go wrong with it. Round frames never go off the trend charts and are suitable for all age groups. What’s more? These frames look good on all face shapes and are sure to earn you compliments. These frames are great for those with a receding hairline as they draw attention to the eyes. Pick a color that compliments your hair color and skin tone, and you are sure to fall in love with your pair of glasses. If you are looking for optical stores near you, be sure to visit Bullock's The Eye-Opener. We are your go-to store for premium eye care products and eyewear. Call us today at 604-739-2015 to schedule an appointment or simply walk in to try out our trendy and stylish frames.Fri, 25 Jun 2021 03:23:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/importance-of-regular-eye-checks-and-the-checkup-procedurehttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/importance-of-regular-eye-checks-and-the-checkup-procedureOur eyes are one of the most sensitive organs of the body, yet taking good care of them is often ignored. This results in many children and adults alike losing perfect vision and needing glasses. Many eye problems have no symptoms, which means that you are unlikely to realize there is a problem until you notice your sight has begun to diminish. It is, therefore, rather important to schedule an eye check-up at least once every year to maintain healthy eyes and good vision. Importance of Eye Check-Ups Optometrists and ophthalmologists administer eye examinations to check proximal vision. In addition to checking a person's sight, an eye doctor also looks for any health issues such as astigmatism and myopia. Eye examinations help young kids: This one is for all you parents out there. If your child's school does not conduct annual eye exams, you will probably do good in scheduling one for your child. An annual eye examination is the only way to ensure your child can see clearly and comfortably in the classroom. Preventing myopia: The number of young children contracting myopia is growing. Are you wondering why this is a concern? Well, children who develop nearsightedness very early in life tend to experience a progression of the condition that puts them at a greater risk of contracting other eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract, and retinal detachment. An annual eye examination can help detect myopia in the early stages, and controlled measures can be followed to slow down the progression of myopia. Vision screenings cannot substitute an eye examination: It is not uncommon for many parents to believe their children can see perfectly well simply because they passed a vision screening in school. Adults also tend to assume they can see perfectly because they passed a vision screening at their local DMV. In most cases, neither of these assumptions are correct. Vision screenings are meant to screen out persons who have serious sight problems. These screenings can identify obvious vision problems associated with specific visual tasks such as reading off a chalkboard or recognizing road signs. On the other hand, a comprehensive eye exam ensures that your vision is good and that you do not have any serious eye diseases. These examinations also screen for eye conditions such as glaucoma and even eye cancer. Annual eye exams can help detect other serious health ailments: It is not uncommon for many people to first learn that they suffer from serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and even some forms of cancers at a routine annual eye exam. Our eyes are a window to our overall health. During an annual eye examination, your optometrist or ophthalmologist will evaluate the health of the blood vessels in your retina, which is a good indicator of the health of the blood vessels in the rest of your body. Health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels are all visible by changes in the appearance of retinal blood vessels and blood supply. Routine eye exams are also especially important for diabetes patients or those at higher risk of contracting the disease due to family history, obesity, or other reasons. Timely diagnosis can help patients control their sugar levels, prevent glaucoma and even total blindness. If you are looking for an experienced optometrist for an eye exam near you, look no further than Bullock's The Eye-Opener. We offer comprehensive eye examinations and quality eyewear and eye care products at highly competitive rates. Walk into our store today or call 604-739-2015 to schedule an appointment with our optometrist.Tue, 15 Jun 2021 03:15:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-are-the-benefits-of-wearing-sunglasseshttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-are-the-benefits-of-wearing-sunglassesSunglasses go way beyond just a fashion statement as there are several health benefits of wearing them. You'd have noticed most celebrities wearing sunglasses. They do so to protect themselves from the glares of cameras. To let you know about the benefits of sunglasses, we have created a list for you to check out. Below are all the reasons why you should never skip wearing your sunglasses. In case you don't have a pair, search 'sunglasses shop near me' and get them! Reduces the Risk of Cancer Skin cancer is life-threatening, and it has been observed that 10% of skin cancers are found near the eyelid. Thus, it becomes essential for you to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. Every time you buy sunglasses, make sure they are protected from the UV rays of the sun. So, you can reduce the risk of skin cancer and protect yourself. Prevents Macular Degeneration As the name suggests, macular degeneration is the deterioration of the macula over time. As a result of that, people encounter blurriness in the eyes and even blindness in some cases. The ultraviolet rays are responsible for macular degeneration as they fasten the natural process of macular degeneration. Therefore, you shouldn't forget your sunglasses at home, while you go out. Prevents Migraines You may have experienced migraines while in the presence of extreme sunlight. Extreme sunlight affects your vision, especially the people who have sensitive eyes. Thus, the sun serves as a trigger for these migraines. To protect yourself from constant headaches during the summer season, make sure you carry a pair of sunglasses wherever you go. Lower the Risk of Cataracts Cataracts usually occur at a very later stage in people's life. However, much like macular degeneration, cataracts are too affected by sunlight. Not wearing sunglasses can enhance the cataract formation in your eyes because of the UV rays. While you can get treatment for cataracts, you should take precautionary steps and lower their risk. Protection From Dust A lot of times, while traveling or going out, sudden winds can leave dust in your eyes. Consequently, you may feel some irritation and redness in your eyes. Further, it can also cause damage. Therefore, you should always wear sunglasses to protect anything from falling into your eyes and become the cause of damage. Protection in winters If you are living in any area where you experience snowfall, you should wear sunglasses. Many a time, the sun reflecting on the snow can affect your eyes. Consequently, it can damage your eyes if left exposed frequently. So, as a precaution, you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun. Adds to Your Style Apart from all these health benefits, sunglasses add to your style. They do not look bad; instead, they make you look more fashionable. Moreover, there are countless styles that you can choose from while you are buying sunglasses. So, it is a win-win situation for you. If you are looking for good quality and stylish-looking sunglasses, contact Bullock's The Eye-Opener at 604-739-2015. We will handle the rest!Sun, 25 Apr 2021 03:05:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/how-expensive-is-an-eye-exam-without-insurancehttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/how-expensive-is-an-eye-exam-without-insuranceGetting your eyes checked on a regular basis is very important, especially if you wear contact lenses or glasses. However, if you do not have a vision insurance plan, then you would probably have specific concerns regarding your eye exam, precisely its price. If you do not want to ignore the health checkup of your eyes and seek an eye exam within your budget limits, all you need to do is find out the best and affordable eye specialist near you. At Bullock’s Eye Opener, our annual eye exam services can easily detect all probable vision problems and keep you up-to-date with your vision care. What Is Included in an Eye Exam? Routine eye exams are imperatively crucial because they help detect different vision problems like myopia, eye strain, and astigmatism and allow you to stay updated with your vision care. Regular eye exams can easily help you to monitor your overall health alongside detecting symptoms of high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health ailments. Fortunately, there are numerous options for people who need an eye exam but don’t have insurance. It is of great importance for you to know that in a comprehensive eye exam, the ophthalmologist or an optometrist uses various instruments to evaluate the health and vision power of your eyeballs. It takes around 30 minutes for an ophthalmologist to examine: Your vision acuity of vision sharpness Your peripheral vision (also known as a visual field) Refraction checks to detect any refractive errors. Eye alignment and pupillary reactions Ocular health Muscle functions Once your eye exam is completed, your doctor will tell you about your eye problems, if any, and suggest you the most appropriate vision correction for it. Always remember that an eye exam will only measure your eye health and vision power. It doesn’t include any eyeglasses or contact lens fittings. So, if you need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, then you’ll probably have to contact professional and qualified eye-wear specialists and schedule your contact lens exam. Who Is the Right Person for Your Eye Exam? Many people don’t know that there are primarily 3 kinds of eye care professionals (opticians, ophthalmologists, and optometrists), and whom you should see depends mainly on your vision problems and needs. Ophthalmologists – These medical doctors specialize in eye care and are responsible for performing eye exams and eye surgeries and treating any medical condition of the eye. Optometrists – These eye care professionals are responsible for diagnosing vision problems and treating various eye medical conditions with proper medicines. An optometrist can easily perform eye exams and vision care therapies to correct vision problems and other eye diseases. Opticians – If you’re one of those individuals who think that opticians are eye care doctors, you are quite mistaken. Opticians are just eye care professionals who are responsible for fitting, adjusting, and repairing vision glasses. Now that you know about the three main eye care professionals and their job responsibilities, it is important that you consult the right professional as per your eye problems or vision care needs. All you need to do is search for eye checkup options near you and choose the right eye professional for your vision care. At Bullock’s The Eye-Opener, we allow you to book an appointment online and keep up with your eye health through our regular vision checkups and exams. For more details, please call us on 604-739-2015 and set up an appointment with our professional eye health care expertsThu, 15 Apr 2021 03:05:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-is-the-best-brand-of-lenses-for-glasseshttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/what-is-the-best-brand-of-lenses-for-glassesWe live in a beautiful world full of breathtaking sights and unforgettable views that we come across every day. You are entitled to the finest and most relaxing views possible to celebrate your life. In today's modern era, you would need the right eyeglasses to keep you working from morning to night and make the most of your time in front of computers and mobile screens. All you need to do is visit the best glasses store in Vancouver and get a hold of fashionable yet functional eyewear. Why should you purchase High-Quality Lenses for your spectacles? There are numerous reasons why you should opt for high-quality lenses: One of the most common causes of vision disorders is exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Branded lenses typically have superior UV protection as well as protection against Blue Light emitted from digital devices. Normal and lower quality lenses, on the other hand, only seem to be useful but, over time, might deteriorate your vision. Low-quality lenses don't often have comfortable viewing in all directions. After the manufacturing process, high-quality lenses are put to a stringent impact tolerance inspection. This is mainly because, in the event of an accidental influence or injury, there is a significant risk of the glasses getting crushed. This might lead to severe damage to the eyes. This is a serious point to remember because children wear glasses too. One of the most common and crucial aspects of eye care is to invest in higher-quality eyeglasses. With us, this investment doesn't have to be a massive one. If you are looking for high-quality designer eyewear in Vancouver, look no further than Bullock’s The Eye-Opener. Different materials used for the best lense brands The different materials used by lens manufacturers to make eyeglass lenses are described below, along with their benefits and drawbacks. Lenses made of plastic Here are some features of plastic lenses: Standard plastic is a dense, shatterproof, and impact-resistant composite made of the plastic polymer CR-39. Standard plastic is an older technology that is typically the cheapest lens material available. CR-39 plastic is now one of the most common materials for designer eyewear Vancouverlenses due to its good optical qualities and low cost. Other 1.56 index lenses are normally less clear. Polycarbonate lense Here are the characteristics of polycarbonate lenses: This particular material is used to develop the Air Force's helmet visors, "bulletproof glass", and other defense applications. Plastic lenses are thicker and less durable than polycarbonate lenses. If you have a very busy work life where your eyeglasses could quickly get broken, play sports, or have children who are rough on their glasses, these impact-resistant lenses are a perfect option. They've even got UV defense built-in. It's enough to claim that it's the material of choice for children's and sports eyewear. They are the least transparent lenses to use and they have the lowest abbe value. Trivex lenses Trivex is a lightweight eyeglass lens material with characteristics similar to polycarbonate. It was first launched in 2001. They're smaller, lighter, and more impact-resistant. They also improve eye correction. Check out Bullock’s The Eye-Opener. Get access to the best glasses store in Vancouver.Thu, 25 Mar 2021 02:52:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/how-long-does-it-take-for-eyes-to-adjust-to-new-prescription-glasseshttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/how-long-does-it-take-for-eyes-to-adjust-to-new-prescription-glassesIf you're wearing a new pair of single-vision lenses, getting used to them will take a few days. This applies if you wear them every day. It can take up to two weeks for you to adapt if you only wear your glasses at night or on weekends. The recovery time can be longer for people who have new bifocals or progressive lenses. Before you go ahead and purchase the best eyeglasses in Vancouver BC, make sure you read this article thoroughly. When you get hold of new lenses, why do you need to spend an adjustment period? If your eyes haven't adjusted to your current glasses or prescription even after two weeks, visit an optometrist to explore your options. It's likely that your eyes have adapted to the fact that you can't “see clearly”. The latest frame can make you feel uneasy, and your vision may be blurred at first. This is due to the fact that your eyes aren't used to the vision correction you need. When someone gets fresh lenses, this often happens. You aren’t alone. You've been used to the previous glasses. As a result, your eyes are not familiar with the new ones. Consequently, your vision might suffer initially. Irrespective of the type of glasses frames Vancouver product you are using, the experience might be the same for most people. If this has been happening with you, don't go back and forth between your old and new lenses. Instead, get ready to wear the new glasses. This will help your eyes to adapt. Have you recently switched from single-vision to bifocal lenses? In case you have already checked your eyes and got a new frame, there are a few things to consider. As mentioned earlier, sometimes, your eyes might not get familiar with your new lenses initially. In that scenario, instead of opting for a new prescription, you need to adapt to a new frame or the way it works. Training your eyes to see through the right portion of the lens would be the most difficult improvement. During the first day or two, all of this can be daunting. Your transition will be smoother after three days of continuous wear. If you're still having trouble after a week, contact your optometrist and ensure that your lenses are appropriately fitted and that you have the right prescription. Last-Minute Wisdom The majority of problems relating to transitioning to new glasses go away in a few days, but it can take up to two weeks for certain people. Contact your eye doctor if you have been experiencing eye pain, blurred vision, or headaches for more than two or three days. He or she may ask you to come back for a second look at your eyes, to double-check that your glasses were made properly, or to double-check that your prescription is valid. Visit Bullock’s The Eye-Opener to get hold of the best-in-class glasses frames in Vancouver.Mon, 15 Mar 2021 02:45:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/is-it-normal-for-your-eyes-to-hurt-after-an-eye-examhttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/is-it-normal-for-your-eyes-to-hurt-after-an-eye-examYour eyes are sensitive and an essential part of your body. But it is also one of the few human organs that quickly get damaged if not taken proper care of. In today's times, where we have continuously been exposed to harmful rays thanks to mobile, TV, and laptop screens, the probability of damaging our eyes has increased. Therefore, having regular eye tests or an eye exam in Vancouver helps you keep your eyes sound and healthy. However, if you wonder whether eye exams are painful or not, let this article give you an answer. Read on for other important information regarding eye health. Are eye exams and eye tests the same? Before answering the main question, we first need to understand what an eye test and an eye exam are. If you think that they are the same, you have misunderstood it. Eye tests are basic tests that help you test your vision, i.e., how well you can see. These tests include reading out from a chart set at a distance, reading in different font sizes, and so on. These tests, commonly known as acuity tests, let your doctor know whether you would need glasses or lenses or not. However, an eye exam is another thing altogether. These tests examine your eye as a whole, checking the various parts of your eyes to understand if they are healthy or not. Herein, your doctor would try various tests on you, the most common one being putting eye drops in your eyes and then check them. Also, these tests take longer and would probably give you blurry vision for a few hours. Does it hurt after an eye exam? Eye exams or not painful. However, due to the eye drops used, your eyes may experience stress and pressure, which may cause you to feel irritation. This irritation is common and not per se painful. For example, eye exams include dilation, which includes using eye drops to enlarge or dilate your pupils. This allows extra light to enter your eyes and helps your doctor to examine the retina. However, due to the dilation, your vision will become blurry, and you may feel a bit light-headed. This, too, may irritate. Other tests would ask you to look in various directions, would flashlight in your eyes, or where the doctor would ask you to look into multiple machines. All these activities may give you a slight headache, as they will put stress and pressure on your eyes. How often should I get an eye check-up? The best time to visit an eye specialist near me is once every year. If you already wear glasses, you should get your eyes checked every six months or follow your doctor's advice. If you experience sudden pain near the temple, behind the ears, on the bridge of your nose, or in the neck, you should pay a visit to your doctor. Other symptoms and signs that suggest you need an appointment are redness, swelling, frequent tearing, itchiness, or pain in the eye. If you want an eye exam done, do get in touch with Bullock's The Eye-Opener for the best eye treatment and exams. Set an appointment today by calling at 604-739-2015, and let us take care of your eyes for you.Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:40:00 -0700http://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/diabetes-and-eye-exams-what-you-should-knowhttp://www.eyeopeneroptical.com/blog/post/diabetes-and-eye-exams-what-you-should-knowYour eyes can be severely affected if you have diabetes. Apart from your eyes, this disease can affect several parts of your body. However, an effective way to keep that under check is consistent checkups and regulations. That brings us to the subject of eye exams meant for people who have diabetes. If you have doubts about eye exams or simply want to know more, this article will help you. Read on to find out all that you need to know about diabetes and eye exams before heading to an eye checkup near me. How can diabetes affect your eyes? Diabetes can have numerous effects on your eyesight, including an increased risk for conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. However, the main concern is diabetic retinopathy. This is the condition where the blood vessels present in the retina of your eyes are damaged. If the damage continues, the patient may lose their eyesight as the retina is the light-sensitive portion of the eye that helps a person see. It will start with blurry vision, gradually deteriorating the ability to perceive. People suffering from diabetes 1 and 2 are likely to be affected. With age, a person who has diabetes will have a higher chance of suffering from diabetic retinopathy. However, if not be avoided, such a situation could be delayed by taking proper care of the eye and adopting better lifestyle habits. How can diabetic retinopathy be diagnosed? As mentioned earlier, one of the secure ways to be aware of your condition is to regulate yourself continuously. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you should get yourself signed up for an eye exam within the first year of getting diagnosed. Your condition could be revealed through an eye dilation exam. This is a simple test where your doctor would put a specific eye drop in your eyes and ask you to wait until the eyedrop starts working. This could take about 15 or so minutes to start working. This eyedrop will simply help dilate your pupil so that the retina of your eye is visible. This will allow your doctors to examine the retina to see if you are suffering from diabetic retinopathy. While your pupils are dilated, your doctors may take other tests such as: ● Fluorescein angiography In this test, the doctor would inject a kind of special dye into your arm. This will help the doctor understand which blood vessels inside your retina are damaged and which are well. ● Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) This includes taking high-definition images of the retina that would help the doctor examine them better. What should you remember before going for an eye exam? Going for an eye exam near me for diabetic retinopathy is a simple and painless process. However, it can be a little time-consuming. Also, the eye drops used in the examination can make your vision blurry for a couple of hours, so make sure you have a companion accompanying you to the test. It would be best if you are prepared to answer questions such as the appearance of the first symptoms, details about your diabetes, and any irregularities. If you have any questions, you should make sure that all your doubts are cleared. If you have diabetes and want to get your eyes checked, schedule an appointment with Bullock's The Eye-Opener at 604-739-2015 today. We have expert doctors and advanced technology to help you get the best services for your eyes.Mon, 15 Feb 2021 01:33:00 -0700