As part of October being Canadian Eye Health Month, the Canadian Association of Optometrists is calling on Canadians of all ages to make eye examinations a part of their regular overall healthcare.
“Many eye diseases, most noteably glaucoma, can progress for years without affecting the clarity in a person’s sight. Although 86% of the population fear losing their sight above all other senses, almost 20% have not had an eye examination in the past five years! This is such a contradiction – our vision seems to be the most important and valued of all the senses, yet we do so little as a whole to have the eyes examined – the basis of preventative eye care.
DARPAN shares this concern and supports the call of awareness to eye care disorders and the need for preventative measures such as routine eye examinations for all, but more so for those in high risk categories – such as those patients suffering from high blood pressures, diabetes, MS, seniors, children and those with a family history of eye diseases like glaucoma and retinal disorders. “I think there is a misconception in the minds of many people that just because they have clear vision there eyes must be healthy,” says optometrist Dr. Amit Mathur
However, it can devastate the field of vision of that patient very rapidly (ie. how wide of view of the world a person can see). In diabetes, blood leakages or hemorrhages in the retina can form long before they actually start to affect the vision of a person. Certain tumours detected in the eyes can form and progress without causing vision blur, yet be an urgent general healthy concern to the patient.”
This is why we encourage and work diligently to educate the South Asian community to take the time and effort to ensure that they give priority to eye health examinations on a routine basis,” explains Dr. Mathur. Preventative medicine is the key to a healthy lifestyle, and this is no different when speaking of eye health. At least 50% of sight loss is preventable if identified early enough. For adults, the South Asian populations are more vulnerable to sight-threatening conditions such as cataracts and diabetes-related eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes related eye disease is the second greatest cause of preventable vision loss in North American adults. “Glaucoma is treatable, diabetic eye disease is treatable, and today even macular degeneration is a treatable or manageable eye disease.
HOW SOON SHOULD EYES BE EXAMINED?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends thorough eye examinations should begin at 6 months of age. With equipment and techniques specific for this age, optometrists of course examine for basic vision problems affecting clarity and the need for glasses, but also for other visual development and eye health problems. Assessments amblyopia or a lazy eye, strabismus or turned eyes, eye movement/ tracking disorders, and congenital eye health conditions that may be a factor in reading and overall learning.
Dr. Mathur explained to us “as 80% of all learning at childhood is visually-based, it is crucial to ensure that your child’s eyes are healthy and function well during the formative years.” The treatment success for many of these muscle or nerve disorders is better the earlier it is initiated, and of course its important to remember that children many times cannot verbalize or communicate to parents that they are experiencing these vision problems – it’s up to the parents to have the children evaluated early and routinely.
WHAT ARE SOME RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN EYE CARE?
In detection of disease, better imaging cameras and scanning equipment is available to diagnose many diseases today, especially of the retina. Like all fields of medicine eye care continues to improve in almost all respects.
“Cataracts are seen in the South Asian population greater in general because of the greater exposure to UV radiation in sunlight while being brought up in India. The awareness of UV protection and the need to wear sunglasses to protect the eye is just not present in India. For this reason our elders suffer from cataracts greater and sooner here after migrating.” However, there are different implants among these foldable types. In most cases after cataract surgery the patient can see clearly at distance (driving, watching TV) but still requires glasses to see up close (reading or computer work).
Today multifocal implants can allow patients to see altogether without the need for any glasses at all – clear vision at a distance and at near! Today, the standard of care is to remove a clouded opaque lens that blocks vision and replace it with a soft foldable lens implant. Specific to the South Asian population, the advancements in cataract surgery is very important.
In our research speaking to eye doctors we found that ocular surface disorder and dry eye treatments also continue to advance. There are many new types of eye drops that can help manage these conditions giving relief to red, burning and irritated eyes and even tablets like omega-3 or fish oils are now used in treatment.
The disease of macular degeneration affecting the most important part of the back of the eye, called the retina, used to almost be a certain diagnosis of severe vision loss and impairment – now has very significant treatment advancements. Eye injections and vitamin supplements are now available and can in many cases slow the progression of the disease, and in some cases actually improve vision.
It is important to get this information and discuss these differences from an eye care professional before investing in glasses,” says Dr. Mathur. “It is the same in contact lenses – there are newer materials emerging each day – some have better wettablity and might be more comfortable than others, and some provide more oxygen to the eye and so be healthier and better suited for other patients.”
“Not all lenses, especially in the case of progressives, are made equally, and I agree it is difficult as a patient and consumer to differentiate one brand or type from another. These allow patients of greater than 40 years an easier time of adjusting to progressive lenses in the first place. Vison is improved with increased sharpness of image quality, colours tend to be more vivid, and wider areas of the prescription glasses are used. Digitally produced progressive lenses in general are replacing the old manufacturing process of making these lenses. In eyewear, there has been a huge technologic advancement in the process of producing progressive lenses – the so-called no-line bifocals.
Dr. Mathur concludes by saying that “ as primary health care providers, we hope to impress upon the South Asian patient to be educated and involved in their eye care to ensure that their overall eye care be entrusted to an eye care professional who they are comfortable and confident in not only assessing and managing your eye health, but one that is able to counsel you and take the time to explain findings and answer all your questions – not just based the doctor’s ability to speak in Punjabi or Hindi.
DARPAN joins the Canadian Associaton of Optometrists and local optometrists like Dr. Mathur in promoting Canadian Eye Health Month in October and urge routine eye health examinations for all ages.