Specialized Services

The ChromaGen lenses change the wavelength of light going into both your eyes allowing the speed of the information traveling along your brain’s neurological pathways to be balanced.

If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, ChromaGen lenses are a life-changing aid that could work for you. 

Understanding Visual Dyslexia

We often hear about parents who struggle with children who have dyslexia that are told after an eye exam that their child’s vision is 20/20. They are told, “Dyslexia is not a vision problem” so they need to look elsewhere for help as their issues will not be solved with an eyeglass or contact modality. The problem stems from the term 20/20 being commonly mistaken for vision when it truly refers to an individual’s sight. 20/20 refers to sight and not vision. 20/20, 20/30, etc., are actually measurements of a person’s ability to see a certain size object at a certain distance. Vision is the ability to understand and use the information that we see for purposeful activity. In short, visual acuity or sight measures only the smallest detail we can see; it does not represent the quality of vision to understand what we see. Your child could have perfect sight (20/20) and still have a variety of vision issues. 

Dyslexia – A Vision Issue

Dyslexia is a vision issue because the child has difficulty correctly processing and understanding what they see. The vision process is quite complex. Each eye has two parallel processing systems that must be balanced and additionally, both eyes must work together for efficient reading. If these two systems are not balanced, the child will experience the common dyslexia symptoms of words blurring or doubling, words moving on the page, headaches, eyestrain and reduced reading speed and comprehension.
ChromaGen Can Help

We offer a simple survey to determine if you could benefit from using the ChromaGen lenses. Once approved, we will schedule an in-office exam to prescribe the correct ChromaGen lenses for you. The lenses have the appearance of neutral gray and you can wear them as contact lenses, eyeglasses and or we can incorporate ChromaGen into your existing prescription.
Our users report dramatic results in reading ability and comprehension when using ChromaGen lenses. ChromaGen users now look forward to reading where before they avoided reading at all costs because they got headaches, nausea and reading made them tired. The most common response from our users is, “…this is the first time I have seen words stand still and don’t move on the page”.

If you suffer from dyslexia or reading difficulties where you see words moving in some fashion, contact us now… ChromaGen lenses can change your life! 

Colour Blindness

Did you know that one-in-ten men and one in two-hundred women are colour blind?
Is colour blindness prohibiting you from pursuing your dream job?

• Firefighter
• Police Officer
• Military Personnel
• Commercial Pilot
• Graphic Artist
• Electrician
• Any job which requires color distinction

If you think that any of the above may apply to you or a family member, contact us today!

Headaches When Working at the Computer? Hard Time Focusing After Staring at Your Smartphone? Welcome to Digital Eye Strain. 

DIGITAL EYE STRAIN IS GETTING MORE COMMON

Nearly 73% of Canadians under age 30 experience the symptoms of digital eye strain. Let’s think about that for a second: 7 in 10 people experience symptoms associated with intense concentration. Headaches, blurry vision, neck/back pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms have become so commonplace that many just assume that it’s normal. It isn’t.

Digital eye strain – sometimes called “computer vision syndrome” – is a direct result of not only the devices we use, but how we use them. 

GIVE YOUR EYES A BREAK!

Have you heard of the 20/20/20 rule? If not, you may find that following it greatly alleviates the symptoms tied with digital eye strain. The gist of it is this: every 20 minutes look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

For most people, it means simply looking out the window for less than half a minute. This brief respite allows your eyes and their focusing muscles to relax- after all, they aren’t designed to be “always on” for hours at a time. 

WHAT IS DIGITAL EYE STRAIN?

We can help alleviate your symptoms! If you wear corrective lenses – eyeglasses or contact lenses – changing up the type of lens you wear is a good first start. Schedule an appointment to meet with an Optometrist so they can assess your symptoms.

Symptoms – The symptoms associated with digital eye strain often resemble other conditions and thus aren’t always called out for what they are. Look for:

• Headaches, especially when reading or using a computer for long periods of time
• Blurry vision after using the computer or smartphone for long periods of time
• Back pain/neck pain
• Difficulty concentrating after prolonged periods of computer or smartphone use
• Your eyes feel “heavy”, difficulty keeping your eyes open
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Watery eyes/excessive tear production
• Eyes that have a burning or itchy sensation

Causes – Digital eye strain is the direct result of focusing on something nearby for prolonged periods of time. Consider that your eyes evolved in a much more varied environment, where most objects were viewed at considerable distance. Compare that fact to today, where most people look intently at computer screens or smartphones that are well under the minimum ideal focal point for your eyes (approximately 31” away from your face).

Prolonged periods of concentration tax your eye focusing muscles, which were not evolutionarily designed to remain on-task for so long. 

Addressing Digital Eye Strain – We can help by providing specialized glasses designed to enhance what you see and lower the effort required from your eye focusing muscles. By making what you see easier to see, the amount you need to squint and strain to see is drastically reduced.

Outside of specialized lenses, there are environmental and habit factors that you can address. These include:

• Setting your computer screens at least 31” away from where you sit – This will place them in the “ideal focusing zone” for your eyes, reducing the level of effort needed to focus on the screen.
• Ensure your work area is well-lit – Your ambient lighting should be at least twice as bright as your screens. This greatly reduces the level of strain on your eyes.
• Take frequent breaks – Follow the 20/20/20 rule.
• Blink often – You blink, on average, 12 times per minute. When focusing intently on a screen or book that number is reduced to an average of 5 times per minute. Blinking cleans and lubricates the eye-
• don’t forget to blink!
• Invest in glare-reducing equipment – New LED screens have reduced glare compared to older LCD or CRT screens. If possible, upgrade your displays so that they reduce glare on your eyes.

Dry Eye Syndrome is More Common in Ontario Than People Realize. Visit Us in Listowel for Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment.
 

DRY EYE IS ANNOYING FOR SOME, DEBILITATING FOR OTHERS. WE’RE HERE TO HELP.

We know first-hand how impactful dry eye can be on our quality of life. Most Canadians will experience symptoms of dry eye at some point in their lives, and many will have to deal with dry eye syndrome persistently throughout their lives. Whether your dry eye symptoms are newfound, or something you’ve been dealing with for years, we can help. 

There’s no denying the impact that dry eye syndrome can have on our quality of life. In addition to the physical discomfort it creates, dry eye can also have an affect on our psychological and mental well-being.

At Listowel Vision Care, we are first and foremost focused on your quality of life. We work with our patients one on one and create a personalized symptom treatment and management plan. Together, we can reign in your uncomfortable symptoms so that you can focus on other things. 

Not all treatments are equal, that’s why we invest considerably in new hardware and training as it becomes available. By staying up to date on the best of what’s out there, we can ensure that your dry eye is approached with the full breadth of treatment options available in Southern Ontario today. 

Don’t suffer longer than you have to. Visit us for accurate diagnosis and compassionate management of your dry eye symptoms. Book your appointment and visit one of our Optometrists to begin treatment.

What is Dry Eye? Simply put, dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes are inadequately lubricated. This lack of lubrication has one of two causes: the body does not produce enough tears, resulting in literal dry eyes; the body produces too many tears, but they are of low quality and evaporate before providing appropriate lubrication.

Symptoms – Some of dry eye’s symptoms are also associated with other eye diseases. It is important to undergo a comprehensive eye exam to assess the severity of your dry eye before beginning any treatment program.

Symptoms include:

• Eyes that feel itchy or have a persistent burning sensation (even with eyes closed)
• A feeling as if something (like sand) is stuck in your eye
• Red eye/conjunctivitis, often associated with some level of eye pain
• A stringy, sticky discharge from the eye
• Eyelids that feel heavy
• Eye fatigue

Blurry vision, difficulty focusing (especially when other symptoms flare up)

Diagnosing Dry Eye – Dry eye is typically diagnosed via a comprehensive eye exam. We may also measure your tear production (both volume and quantity).

Treating Dry Eye – Unfortunately, dry eye syndrome isn’t always “curable”. However, in the majority of cases it can be successfully managed so that its impacts on your life are minimized as much as possible. These treatments include:

• Artificial tears – The least expensive treatment option available, artificial tears are quite effective and are generally the first step in any management program. Artificial tears come in different thicknesses, making some suitable for use during the day and others ideal for overnight use.
• Punctal plugs – Small plugs are inserted into the eye’s drainage canal. When inserted, they are invisible. These plugs greatly reduce the speed that tears drain and evaporate from the eye, allowing the tears more time to do their job.
• Restasis – This daily eyedrop stimulates the production of natural tears. It also helps reduce inflammation of the eye, which reduces the intensity of symptoms. While effective, it can take up to 90 days before full results are felt.
• Steroid eye drops – These work to reduce inflammation and are quite effective. However, long-term use can have adverse impacts (such as developing cataracts); we use these eye drops sparingly to alleviate painful symptoms.
• Expressing your meibomian glands – This procedure is uncomfortable but effective in improving eye lubrication. It’s long-term benefit far outweighs its short-term discomfort. 

Influencing Dry Eye at Home – In addition to seeking help from our Optometrists, you can influence your dry eye symptoms by controlling your environment. Try these tips:

• When outdoors, always wear eyeglasses or sunglasses. Wearing glasses will greatly reduce how much wind strikes your eye, help prevent dust/allergens from entering the eye, and also protect your eyes from harmful UV light.
• Ensure your ambient room humidity is between 50% and 60%. This reduces how much moisture is lost to the air.
• If possible, stay indoors on days with poor air quality, low humidity, or when seasonal allergens are high.
• Reduce or cease smoking. Smoke is a significant irritant, and smoking influences your eye health directly (in addition to the physical smoke it creates).

Laser Eye Surgery Is a Safe & Effective Way to Say Goodbye to Glasses… Visit Us for an Assessment.
 

THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY

Imagine being able to see clearly, without corrective lenses, all day. For millions of Canadians, laser eye surgery has been a positive change in their lives. If you’re considering laser eye surgery, visit us on Main St. in Listowel so an Optometrist can assess your eyes and see if surgery is right for you.
If you’re considering laser eye surgery, it starts with a consultation with an Optometrist. Schedule an appointment. 

IDEAL FOR ALL FORMS OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS

Whether you have myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, laser refractive surgery can correct the error and improve your vision. By correcting the refractive error, light entering the eye is able to focus properly on the retina. The result? Clear, glasses-free vision. 

MINIMALLY INVASIVE, PERFORMED IN AN HOUR

Laser eye surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures performed in Canada. Every year tens of thousands of Canadians have their vision corrected, with more than 95% of surgeries being successful and hassle-free. 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LASER EYE SURGERY

Who is a Candidate For Surgery? Laser eye surgery is great for most people, though it’s not suitable for all. To determine if you are a candidate, a pre-surgery consultation is required. During the consultation, we assess your eye’s overall health, level of visual acuity, and determine if there are any physical concerns or existing eye diseases that would prevent surgery.

If you have dry eye or another type of chronic eye condition, laser eye surgery may not be possible. 

Types of Surgeries Available – Laser eye surgery is commonly referred to as LASIK. This is not incorrect, though technically it is not always correct either. LASIK is one variation of the surgery; in Canada, there are three popular versions of the surgery.

• LASIK – laser assisted in situ keratomileusis – In LASIK, a laser keratome is used to cut a small flap in the epithelial cells in the cornea. This flap is then gently peeled back, exposing the cornea. The laser then reshapes the cornea to correct vision.
• LASEK – laser epithelial keratomileusis – In LASEK, the skin flap is actually cut away from the eye and retained. Once the surgery is performed, the skin flap is placed back onto the cornea and covered in a protective contact lens.
• PRK – photorefractive keratectomy – In PRK, the skin flap is removed and completely discarded. The eye will then grow new epithelial cells within a few days of surgery.
  Each version of the surgery has strengths and weaknesses. During our consultation with you, we will walk you through what to expect from the various procedures and answer any questions that you may have. We will help you determine which surgery is right for you.

What to Expect During Surgery – Compared to most procedures, laser eye surgery is significantly less invasive and does not require you to be sedated. The entire procedure takes around an hour and a half to perform, though the eye itself is only operated on for around 10 minutes (each).

At the beginning of the procedure, your eye is numbed so that you do not feel pain. Each eye is then cleaned. LASIK patients generally have both eyes corrected at once; patients having LASEK/PRK performed may opt to wait a week or two between surgeries.

Recovery & Complications – Most patients that undergo LASIK surgery experience noticeable changes to their vision within just a few days. Recovery is also quite rapid. LASEK/PRK patients undergo a slightly longer recovery period.

After surgery:

• Do not shower/wash your hair for at least 24 hours
• Do not exercise/play sports for at least 72 hours
• Avoid dirty environments, fine dust, and smokey/hazy areas for at least 7 days
• Keep water out of your eyes for at least 7 days
• Avoid pools, saunas, and hot tubs for at least three weeks
• Ensure soap/contaminants do not get in your eye for at least a month
• Side effects from surgery, while rare, do occur. They can range from mild discomfort, symptoms of dry eye, and light glare/halos/ghosting in your vision. These side effects are generally temporary and dissipate as the eye heals.

If you experience these symptoms after surgery, please visit our office to be seen by an Optometrist.

“Myopia control” is the term used to describe specific treatments to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Myopia control measures typically are prescribed by an eye doctor (an optometrist or an ophthalmologist).

There are four primary categories of myopia control treatments:

1. atropine eye drops
2. multifocal contact lenses
3. multifocal eyeglasses
4. orthokeratology (ortho-k).

Atropine eye drops

Atropine eye drops commonly are used to reduce the pain associated with certain types of eye inflammation. They also relieve focusing fatigue by dilating the pupil and temporarily limiting the eye’s ability to automatically change focus (a process called accommodation).

The effect atropine has on accommodation may be what accounts for its effectiveness in also reducing the progression of myopia in children. Some studies have shown that atropine is the most effective way of controlling myopia, and that its use can reduce myopia progression by up to 77 percent.

Multifocal contacts

Multifocal contact lenses are primarily designed to provide clear vision at all distances for people who have refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism) and also are experiencing the normal age-related loss of near focusing ability called presbyopia.

But multifocal contacts also can help slow the progression of myopia in some children. One recent two-year study found that nearsighted children who wore multifocal lenses on a daily basis had a 50 percent reduction in the progression of their myopia when compared with similarly nearsighted children who wore regular soft contacts for the same period.

Multifocal eyeglasses

Multifocal eyeglass lenses work similarly to multifocal contacts to help wearers with presbyopia see clearly at all distances. They also have been shown to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children.

Most studies that have evaluated the use of multifocal eyeglasses for myopia control in children have found the glasses had only a mild slowing effect. However, one three-year study of Chinese-Canadian children with progressive myopia found that wearing multifocal eyeglasses slowed the worsening of nearsightedness by 51 percent (compared with matched children who wore regular eyeglasses for myopia correction).

Orthokeratology

Often referred to as “ortho-k” or “corneal refractive therapy/CRT”, orthokeratology is an established process of slowly adjusting the shape of the cornea in order to correct a refractive error.

Similar in application to modern contact lenses, orthokeratology allows for all-day vision correction without the need for corrective lenses to be worn.

RESHAPE YOUR VISION WHILE YOU SLEEP

Orthokeratology uses specialised gas permeable contact lenses that you wear overnight. The ortho-k lenses reshape the cornea, providing temporary vision correction (correction lasts for between 24 and 48 hours).

GO LENS-FREE DURING THE DAY!

Because ortho-k lenses are worn overnight, there is no need to wear corrective lenses during the day. Through orthokeratology, people that are unable to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses can enjoy vision correction without corrective lenses or undergoing laser eye surgery.

IT WORKS, FAST!

For most people, orthokeratology will provide a substantial improvement to vision after just a couple of nights of the glasses being worn. However, if you have a higher prescription, full results may take a couple of weeks to present.

EXPECTED RESULTS

We always aim for 20/20 vision when undergoing orthokeratology, though this depends on the individual and their eyes. Generally, 70% of patients will correct to 20/20 or better, and over 90% of patients will see 20/32 or better*.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ORTHOKERATOLOGY

During your appointment, we will determine the curvature of your eye using corneal topography. This process is non-invasive and provides us with a detailed map of your cornea.

We then measure your eyes to determine the appropriate lenses to use. Depending on your prescription, there may be multiple sets of lenses that you progress through as you get used to ortho-k. Don’t worry, your doctor will provide all the information and help you need, including showing you how to insert and remove the lenses.

Most people will experience tangible changes to their vision after two nights of wear, though people with high myopia prescriptions may experience a gradual improvement over the period of several weeks.

There is also substantial evidence that says that orthokeratology can slow or even halt the progression of myopia in children. Research is ongoing, but exciting nonetheless!

MiSight contact lens

CooperVision MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are the world’s first one-day soft contact lens clinically proven to substantially slow the progression of myopia in children.¹

This breakthrough therapy has been shown to reduce myopia progression by more than half versus a single-vision one-day lens^1,4. Over three years, children wearing MiSight^® 1 day had 59 percent less myopia progression and 52 percent less axial elongation on average than those wearing a single-vision one-day lens¹.

The innovative contact lens is designed for children who have a myopia prescription from -0.25 to -6.00. Its ActivControl^® Technologyaddresses both axial elongation and refractive error⁴.

Ease of Fitting, Wear and Care

The lens was also designed for children’s ease of use and parental peace of mind. In a multi-center study, 100 percent of children who had never worn contact lenses before found MiSight^® 1 day easy to remove after one month of wear⁴. After a single month of wear, 85 percent of children said the lenses were easy to insert⁴. Children were found to have not changed their daily activities, and their wearing experiences were similar to those of children wearing a single-vision lens¹.

Parents in the same study also had a highly positive response, noting their children could mostly manage their lens wear independently. Prior to dispensing contact lenses, less than half of the parents were extremely at ease with their child wearing contact lenses, but this increased significantly to 79 percent after just one month and remained high through the two-year mark⁴. After their children had worn MiSight^®1 day contact lenses for three years, 100 percent of parents rated their children “happy” with the overall experience^1,5. 

Sources:

“What is Myopia Control” Beth Longware Duff; reviewed by Gary Heiting, OD, Retrieved 18 July 2019. < https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/myopia-faq/what-is-myopia-control.htm>.
“MiSight® 1 day”  – Product Specs” Cooper Vision, Retrieved 18 July 2019. <https://coopervision.ca/practitioner/our-products/misight-1-day/misight-1-day>.

¹ Chamberlain P, Logan N, Jones D, Gonzalez-Meijome J, Saw S-M, Young G. Clinical evaluation of a dual-focus myopia control 1 day soft contact lens: 3-year results. Presented at: British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference, Liverpool, England.
² Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(5):1036-1042.
³ Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660.
⁴ Data on file, CooperVision.
⁵ Children ages 8-15.

Did You Know That Most Eye Injuries in Canada Could Be Avoided With Safety Eyewear?
 

EVERY DAY MORE THAN 700 CANADIANS INJURE THEIR EYES

Annually, an estimated 720,000 Canadians injure their eyes. With most injuries being completely preventable just by wearing a pair of safety eyewear, this frustrating statistic reminds us that we must be more diligent in protecting our eyes. 

EYE INJURIES OCCUR AT HOME ALMOST AS MUCH AS WORK

According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), 37.5% of injuries occur at work, and 35.5% of injuries occur at home. Many people wear safety glasses when at work but neglect to do so at home. Don’t place your eyes at risk when working at home- protect them. 

VISION LOSS IS OFTEN IRREVERSIBLE

Your eyes are the only things that enable you to see the world. Serious injuries can cause permanent and irreparable vision loss. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), over 90% of eye injuries can be avoided by wearing the appropriate protective eyewear. 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY EYEWEAR

Eyeglasses Are Not Sufficient Eye Protection – According to the AAO, more than 78% of eye injuries occur when people are wearing eyewear. However, only 5.3% of eyewear worn is safety or sports eyewear.

To protect your eyes, eyewear must be CSA or ANSI certified. This designation means that the glasses meet or exceed standards for scratch and shatter resistance.

Protecting Your Eyes at Home – If you aren’t currently wearing protective eyewear when doing household maintenance, you are not alone. Unfortunately, only one-third of homeowners currently protect their eyes when doing chores and tasks that have the potential for eye injury.

We recommend that homeowners have at least one pair of CSA-certified safety glasses with semi-side shields. Glasses of this type provide excellent protection for eyes in most situations.

Protecting Your Eyes on the Job – A full third of all eye injuries occur at work. Occupational hazards are very common. If your work places you in situations where your eyes may be injured, wearing safety glasses is a critical step in protecting them.

Prescription Safety Eyewear – If you require corrective lenses and need to wear safety glasses, you have two options: get fitted for contact lenses or get prescription safety eyewear.

If you do not want to wear contact lenses, having our team make a pair of prescription safety glasses for you is a simple, affordable way to protect your eyes without sacrificing comfort or vision quality.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a progressive disease affecting the front window of the eye and the cornea. It results in poor vision that cannot be corrected fully with glasses. Keratoconus usually begins in the late teenage years. However, it can start in the 20s or early 30s. Keratoconus causes the cornea at the front of the eye to become thin and bow outwards. It is this irregular distortion of the cornea that makes vision correction with glasses less effective. For this reason, other means of correcting vision are often necessary.

What causes keratoconus? 

There is no known cause of keratoconus but it can be hereditary. It has also been linked to chronic eye rubbing as well as Down Syndrome.

Does keratoconus result in blindness?

Keratoconus does not result in complete blindness, although it can cause very blurred and distorted vision. Improving the vision of someone with keratoconus requires patience and persistence on the part of the patient and optometrist. This is because no single treatment option works on every patient and the condition can change frequently and rapidly.

How do you correct keratoconus? 

Glasses and/or soft contact lenses may be used to successfully correct mild keratoconus. More moderate keratoconus is best corrected with rigid gas permeable contact lenses, which provide a smooth tear layer in front of the cornea, making clear vision possible. Since the lens is rigid, the tears between the lens and the cornea form a “liquid lens” which smooth the irregularities of the cornea and make clear vision possible again.

Is surgery for keratoconus necessary? 

As keratoconus progresses, surgery may be considered, especially if the cornea is becoming thin or scarred.
 

Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses for Keratoconus

Gas permeable contact lenses are rigid lenses made of durable plastic that transmits oxygen. These lenses also are called GP lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, RGP lenses, and oxygen permeable lenses.

What Makes Gas Permeable Lenses Different?

Most GP lenses incorporate silicone, which makes them more flexible than PMMA (impermeable acrylic glass). And silicone is oxygen permeable, so oxygen can pass directly through GP lenses to keep the cornea healthy without having to rely solely on oxygen-containing tears to be pumped under the lens with each blink.
 

Because gas permeable contact lenses allow oxygen to pass through them, GP lenses can be made larger than PMMA hard contact lenses, and the edges of GP lenses can be fitted closer to the surface of the eye. These design changes make modern rigid GP lenses more comfortable and easier to get used to than old-fashioned hard contacts and also keep the lenses more securely on the eye when worn during sports and other activities.

RGP lenses also provide better vision, durability, and deposit resistance than soft contact lenses. And because they last longer than soft lenses, they can be less expensive in the long term.
 

Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus

Many optometrists and ophthalmologists recommend scleral contact lenses for a variety of hard-to-fit eyes, including eyes with keratoconus.

In cases of early keratoconus, a standard GP lens may be used. However, if the lens does not center properly on the eye or moves excessively with blinks and causes discomfort, switching to a large-diameter scleral contact lens may solve the problem.

Because scleral lenses are designed to vault the corneal surface and rest on the less sensitive surface of the sclera, these lenses often are more comfortable for a person with keratoconus.

Also, scleral lenses are designed to fit with little or no lens movement during blinks, making them more stable on the eye, compared with traditional corneal gas permeable lenses.

Scleral contacts are large-diameter gas permeable contact lenses specially designed to cover the entire corneal surface and rest on the “white” of the eye (sclera). In doing so, scleral lenses functionally replace the irregular cornea with a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct vision problems caused by keratoconus and other corneal irregularities. The space between the cornea and the back surface of a scleral lens acts as a fluid reservoir to provide comfort for people with severe dry eyes who otherwise could not tolerate contact lens wear.
 

Large-diameter scleral and semi-scleral GP lenses rest on the sclera and vault over the misshapen cornea of a person with keratoconus, for better vision.

Corneo-scleral lenses are another category of gas permeable lenses that bridge the size gap between conventional GP lenses and mini-sclerals. These are a good choice for people who require larger-than-normal GP lenses for greater comfort. They also are frequently used when contact lenses are needed after LASIK or other corneal refractive surgery to correct irregular astigmatism.

The size of the lens used often is determined by the degree of complexity of the condition. Milder forms of keratoconus and irregular astigmatism from corneal grafts and refractive surgery often are easily managed with scleral lenses at the smaller end of the spectrum.

Smaller scleral and mini-scleral contacts can be easier to apply, can be less costly and require fewer care products.

More complex conditions, including advanced keratoconus, pathologically dry eyes or severe ocular surface disease that might require a large tear reservoir, often are fitted with larger scleral lenses, as they have more capacity to hold fluid or bridge large changes in corneal curvature.

During your contact lens exam and fitting, your eye care professional will determine the best scleral lens type and size for your specific needs.
 

Note:  Most insurance programs do not automatically cover the full cost of scleral contact lenses. In some cases, vision insurance may reduce the cost of your lenses and/or fitting fee. In other instances, contacting your medical insurance provider and inquiring what steps are necessary to obtain coverage can be helpful. Ask your eye doctor’s office for details.

Sources:

“Keratoconus” Ontario Association of Optometrists, Retrieved 18 July 2019. <https://www.optom.on.ca/OAO/Patients/Library/Keratoconus.aspx>.
“Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses (RGP Or GP Contacts)” Gary Heiting, OD, Retrieved 18 July 2019. <https://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/rgps.htm>.
” Scleral GP contact lenses: How these can help you”, Jason Jedlicka, OD,  Retrieved 18 July 2019. <https://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/scleral-lenses.htm>.

Specialized Eyewear for Sport & Other Specific Needs. Visit Us on Listowel’s Main Street.

SPORTS EYEWEAR THAT STEPS UP YOUR GAME

For an athlete looking to maximize their performance and achieve their best, having the right equipment makes the job easier. At Listowel Vision Care, we carry CSA-approved eyewear that protects your eyes and improves your game. 

NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR VISION QUALITY: YOUR PRESCRIPTION IS BAKED IN.

By incorporating your prescription into the lenses in your eyewear, you enjoy the protective benefits of performance glasses without having to sacrifice visual acuity. 

IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE WITH SPORTS EYEWEAR

Every sport has its own demands on our vision. In baseball, the batter has to make a snap decision on whether or not they’ll hit the ball if they swing. In tennis, a split-second is all a player has to determine how to respond to their opponents play. In golf, being able to properly read the slope of the green is essential to achieve a great score. In all these situations, a pair of sports glasses can help.

Sports eyewear are made for the job, designed to help the wearer do their best. Using specialized materials, sports glasses are strong, lightweight. Advanced lenses – with or without prescription – enhance colour, reduce glare, and make it easier to focus on what you need to see. 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPORTS & SPECIALTY EYEWEAR

What is “Specialty Eyewear”? There are many reasons someone may need specialized eyewear. These can include hobbies, work, computer use, and more. Many sports place exacting demands on the eye’s performance, and eyewear that reduces glare and improves colour differentiation can provide a competitive benefit to their wearer.

No matter your need, our team will help you find the appropriate eyewear solution.

What Benefits Can Specialized Eyewear Provide? Our Optometrists and Opticians can provide more specific guidance in this area, as the benefits of various types of eyewear depend on the application they are being used for.

For example, for people that work at a computer we recommend eyewear that reduces glare, filters out high-energy visible light (HEV), and makes it easier to read text on a screen. Wearing glasses with these qualities reduces digital eye strain and eye fatigue while also making it easier to work at the computer for longer durations.

Specialized eyewear can improve productivity, provide the eye an extra layer of protection, and reduce eye fatigue.

Protecting Our Eyes in Sports – Many people are injured playing sports every year. Even sports where you may not think to wear protective eyewear – such as basketball – benefit from improved protection. After all, you never know when a ball (or a hand trying to grab that ball) will wind up in your face.