Patient FAQs

Dr.Chan & Dr. Stein Answer Your Eyecare Questions

Q: What causes cataracts to form?

Dr. Chan: A cataract is a loss of transparency to the lens of the eye, often appearing cloudy or hazy in its later stages. For people who have cataracts, their vision may feel like looking through a frosted or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car at night due to increased glare and see their surroundings in general.

Most cataracts develop slowly and can be difficult to detect, but some patients may notice a loss of contrast and a fading or yellowing to colours in its earlier stages. Over time, cataracts continue to progress and have greater impact on your vision.

Cataracts typically caused by UV exposure over a number of decades during the course of our lifetime but certain medications and medical conditions can cause an earlier onset to the condition. Certain types of cataracts can also congenital, which can be present at birth or be more noticeable at a young age.

Our eye doctors assess for cataracts during your eye exam and can determine if treatment is required.

Q: Which Eye drops Should I Use?

Dr. Chan: There are a multitude of over-the-counter options when it comes to eye drops but not all products are the same. Some are specifically formulated for dry eyes, while others may have active ingredients to assist with short-term relief of certain conditions. Symptoms of dryness and allergies can be common in Calgary due to our climate and environmental allergens in the spring/summmer months. Talk to our eye doctors about what options would be best suited for your eyes, which can include over-the-counter options or medicated eye drops available by prescription. Alberta Health Care provides coverage for medical visits relating to your eye health, feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation to determine what’s best for your eyes.

Q: I’ve noticed my child skipping words and lines while we read together. Should I be concerned?

Dr. Stein: While it is common for toddlers and young children to skip words or lines while reading, this symptom may indicate certain problems with their visual skills. Using a finger while reading, blurry near vision, double vision, complaints of eyestrain and eye fatigue can be symptoms that important visual abilities are missing. This will make simple tasks such as reading or copying notes from the board very difficult.

Annua eye exams are essential for children 18 years old and under to ensure potential visual problems are detected and treated before they hinder a child’s learning experience.

Visuals skills, such as eye-tracking, eye-teaming and eye-focusing abilities, are evaluated and compared to age-related norms. If a child lacks certain visual skills, an individualized treatment plan can be constructed to teach, improve and stabilize those important abilities.

Vision therapy is an avenue of treatment that can help a child improve on their visual skills, which makes learning an easier experience.

At Foresight Eyecare, Drs. Stein and Chan would be happy to discuss any visual concerns you may have at your child’s next eye exam.

Q: How Can I Prevent Macular Degeneration?

Dr. Chan: Fortunately, there is prevention and treatment for AMD if scarring has not yet occurred. A study called AREDS (Age Related Eye Disease Study) was started in 2001, and AREDS2 results were released in 2013. Compiling over 3000 subjects over 10 years provided data on a special formulation of vitamin supplements that reduced the risk of advanced AMD.

AREDS2 supports supplementation of Vitamin C, E, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin in patients with intermediate or advanced AMD. AREDS did not find any benefit in taking lutein or vitamin supplements for those who do not have AMD, nor AREDS also showed no benefit in subjects that were already well nourished with lutein in their diet.

An appropriate diet for those at risk for AMD can be found in “Eyefoods” which include food rich in carotenoids such as kale (nature’s sunglasses), orange peppers, spinach, and other examples found in the nutrition tab of our website.

Prevention of AMD can be achieved also by regular exercise, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, no smoking, and wearing sunglasses and blue blocker coatings to block UV light and high energy blue light.

Another controversial preventative measure includes genetic testing for CHF gene (complement factor H) and ARMS2 gene. The research on gene testing suggest that certain nutritional supplements may be appropriate or harmful depending on your genotype.

In our aging population, the number of people affected by AMD will increase. Our knowledge about AMD is increasing, and AMD is treatable if detected early enough. Drs. Chan & Stein would be happy to see you and discuss your macular health at your next eye exam. Our office employs the latest diagnostic imaging technology (Optical Coherence Tomography or OCT) to detect and manage macular degeneration.

Q: What are the Risks of Online Shopping for Contact Lenses and Glasses?

A: Contact lenses are medical devices that require a proper fit, as one size does not fit all. The fitting process needs a professional that has been trained to assess lens sizing, appropriate lens movement on the eye, and healthy eye response to lens wear over time. Many people buy contact lenses online because of convenience and may not see that it is not always the least expensive option, and that wearing contact lenses requires maintenance.

Like driving your vehicle, if not maintained at least annually, problems are likely to arise. Contact lenses can become warped, eyes can change shape, and change in environment, medications or pregnancy etc may affect lens wear. From the Doctor’s perspective, patients often report that their lenses feel dry. When the doctor looks under the microscope, the “dryness” is actually inflammation requiring more intense treatment than over the counter dry eye drops.

Routine contact lens checkups ensure that serious eye complications are avoided. At Foresight Eyecare, we also provide warranties, include replacement lenses if a lens is torn, defective, or a lens power change has occurred. We also keep you up to date on new lens technology to better suite your vision needs and lifestyle demands. Drs. Leong and Bui focus their energies on total well being.

Many contact lens wearers rely on their contacts, and cannot remember the last time they updated their glasses. A back up pair of glasses is important, so Foresight Eyecare provides special bundling packages for contact lenses, glasses and sunwear to ensure that the eyes stay protected. If shopping for glasses online, you risk dealing with an unreliable reseller – a site that is dealing with grey market products or could go out of business.

Buying online does not always include Rx verification, advice on frame fit, adjustments, repairs, warranties and more. Often P.D. measurements are requested by online sites, but they are missing the total positioning of the lens in front of the eye. This can result in eye strain, headaches and other vision issues.

Our doctors and trained technicians would look carefully at selecting the most suitable lens material, design and coatings that meet your daily needs, and find the best fitting frame to go with them.

There is no safer and smarter substitute than dealing with vision care professionals in your community. At Foresight Eyecare, our team enjoys getting to know our patients to provide optimal service, know-how and value.

Q: How does diabetes affect the eyes?

Dr. Chan: The most obvious way that diabetes affects the eyes is that the vision can fluctuate. People unaware of diabetes often have good days and bad days with their vision, as their glasses prescription can actually be different if blood sugars are high or low.

Double vision can occur too as diabetes can affect the eye muscles that help with focusing and eye movement. There are many non-obvious ways that diabetes affect the eyes that need a visit to the eye doctor.

The front surface of the eyes (cornea) can lose sensitivity, cataracts develop at an earlier age, and the fine blood vessels at the back of the eye (retina) become weakened. If the blood sugars and blood pressure remain out of control for a long period, this damages the blood vessels to the extent that they break open and leak.

This causes poor blood circulation and when the vessels cannot get enough oxygen and nutrients, blindness could occur from the retinal damage.

Thankfully, if diabetes is detected by the eye doctor at earlier stages, treatment can be arranged with a retinal specialist and a plan can be coordinated with the health care team for the right diet, exercise, and medication.

If you or a family member has diabetes or elevated blood sugar levels, Alberta Health Care provides coverage for medical assessments of your eye health.

Q: Are carrots really the best food for my eyes?

Dr. Stein: Although carrots are very healthy, a number of other food groups and types can provide additional health benefits to your eyes. We offer a book called “Eyefoods”, available through our office, in which one of the co-authors Dr. Laurie Capogna comments that the top 5 eye foods are: kale, orange peppers, spinach, eggs, and wild Alaskan salmon. They are rich in antioxidants and carotenoids to help prevent age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and other eye diseases.

Q: It’s back to school time. How can I help my children best prepare for school?

Dr. Stein: Vision is a significant part of a child’s learning experience. Therefore, a great first step is ensuring your children have complete eye exams before school starts. Full eye exams not only detect vision changes but they can also determine if there are any health concerns. Remember, annual eye exams are recommended for children under 18 years old because their eyes and/or vision can dramatically change within a short time period.

Q: Do polarized sunglasses block more UV light than non-polarized sunglasses?

Dr. Chan: Both provide the same amount of UV protection, but quality polarized lenses greatly reduces glare from water, sand, snow, and sun in your eyes when driving. UV blockers protect your eyes from sun damage, but polarized tints block reflected glare and benefit you by enhancing contrast (Maui Jim lenses also enhance colour) to help you see more comfortably.

Q: Do polarized sunglasses block more UV light than non-polarized sunglasses?

Dr. Stein: Both provide the same amount of UV protection, but quality polarized lenses greatly reduces glare from water, sand, snow, and sun in your eyes when driving. UV blockers protect your eyes from sun damage, but polarized tints block reflected glare and benefit you by enhancing contrast (Maui Jim lenses also enhance colour).

Q: I have glasses that I normally wear every day. Are those good enough to protect my eyes while I play sports?

Dr. Stein: Not all glasses can withstand the rigours of physical or sporting activites. Our optical staff can recommend proper sports eyewear to protect your eyes while providing you with great vision. Drop by Foresight Eyecare, the doctors and staff will be happy to discuss the best options for you.

Q: When my eyes get itchy, does eye rubbing harm my eyes?

Dr. Chan: Rubbing can provide short term relief to alleviate the itchiness but the action of rubbing itself will increase the immune response and exacerbate symptoms in the long run, triggering more swelling and redness. See our eye doctors to determine the cause of your symptoms and determine the best treatment options. If you are unable to see us immediately, applying a cool compress can provide more adequate relief to your symptoms.

Q: What is Vision Therapy?

Dr. Stein: Vision therapy is an individualized treatment plan prescribed by a Doctor of Optometry. It is used to treat eye conditions, such as strabismus (eye turn) or amblyopia (“lazy eye”). Through Vision Therapy, a Doctor of Optometry also teaches, improves and or reinforces important visual skills, such as eye tracking, eye focusing and eye teaming abilities.

Without these visual skills, simple tasks like reading or copying notes from the board become difficult. Skipping words or lines while reading, using a finger while reading, blurry near vision, double vision, eyestrain and/or eye fatigue are also common symptoms.

Q: What does the puff of air test for during an eye exam?

Dr. Chan: The puff of air comes from a machine called a non-contact tonometer, which doctors use to determine the pressure inside your eye.

The machine emits a gentle puff of air onto the surface of your eye and then measures the time it takes for the air to return to the machine after creating a slight area of compression on the cornea. The instrument then uses this to determine the pressure inside the eye.

Q: Why can’t I see colours at night?

Dr. Stein: There are two types of photoreceptors – rods and cones. Cones see colour, but they are not stimulated when it is too dark. Rods help you see at night, but they do not see colour. Green is the easiest colour to see when it is dark.

Q: True or False: Tinted lens automatically has built-in UV protection?

A: False – regular plastic lens (CR39) do not provide sufficient UV protection even when tinted. A UV coating has to be added. Dollar store sunglasses have UV protection. Maybe – many have “spray’on” UV coatings that can wear off with cleaning.

A: FALSE – They reduce MORE glare than regular sunglasses, because they reduce reflected glare from smooth or shiny surfaces like water or snow, as well as reducing overall light intensity.

Q: I don’t need to worry about UV protection in the winter because the sun is not as strong as it is in the summer. – T or F?

A: FALSE – Remember our answer on polarized sunglasses? UV light reflects off of fresh snow and water, sometimes creating even more glare and dazzle than during the summer.

Q: Clear lenses don’t have UV protection.- T or F?

A: It depends, some clear lenses have built-in UV protection or can have a UV protective coating applied to them. Talk to our optical staff for options best suited to protect your eyes.