Professional Eye Care Solutions For Your Whole Family
Each Vision West Optometrist in Vancouver is well-equipped to help assess patients who are suffering from problematic or annoying eye issues. Problematic occurrences include such things as dry eyes, red eyes, itchy eyes, eye pain, sudden vision loss, or the onset of floating items in the eye. Some of these symptoms may be chronic but, with proper treatment, the overall health of your eyes can be maintained. Some symptoms, however, may be more alarming. If not treated in a timely manner, vision loss may occur. If you experience any of these symptoms, please visit a Vision West optometrist for assessment and treatments.
What Is Dry Eye?
Simply put, dry eye is the direct result of not being able to produce enough tears to keep the eye comfortably lubricated. Without an adequate film of tears, spread over the eye by a blink, good vision is not possible. Symptoms can include stinging or burning eyes, general scratchiness, stringy mucus around the eyes, irritation from wind or smoke, excess tearing or difficulty wearing contact lenses. For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye, please visit one of Vision West’s Optometrists in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland for a comprehensive eye exam.
What Is Pink Eye?
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, describes an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that covers the white of your eyes. When the membrane becomes irritated, the blood vessels enlarge making the eye appear red in colour. Bacterial or viral conjunctivitis can be quite contagious, so contact with the infected person’s tears through handkerchiefs, towels, or any other item should be avoided. For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of pink eye, please visit one of Vision West’s Optometrists in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
What Is Itchy Eye?
More often than not, itchy eyes are caused by allergies. Seasonal allergies are typically present during the spring and fall due to an influx of environmental allergens like grass, pollen, trees, and weeds. Sometimes itchy eyes become a problem all year round due to the exposure of household allergens like mould, dust, pet dander and pet hair. Other eye diseases can also be associated with itchy eyes, so it’s critical to determine the source of the allergy and find direct relief for it. If you’re currently experiencing itchy eyes, and don’t suffer from any known allergies, be sure to contact your Vision West Optometrist immediately to check for other possible conditions.
What Are Floaters?
Floaters are those dark specks in the form of dots, circles, lines, or tiny cobwebs that seem to move across your field of vision. They’re often most noticeable when you looking at a light-coloured background, such as a clear sky or a white wall. Floaters come in many sizes and numbers, and can appear to move when you look in different directions. These floaters are actually clumps of visible material within the vitreous of your eye which can occur when your eye is irritated, or because there are crystal-like deposits in the vitreous. As you get older, you may notice more floaters appearing in your line of vision. If numerous floaters appear almost immediately, a retinal detachment may be occurring. This requires immediate medical attention and possible surgical treatment to prevent vision loss. For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of floaters, please visit one of Vision West’s Optometrists in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland for a comprehensive eye exam.
Please note: If symptoms occur while our clinic is closed, please go to your nearest hospital emergency ward.
