Stoney Creek, ON
(905) 575-3937
Menu
Correcting your vision while you sleep.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) also known as Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) is a revolutionary non-surgical procedure that uses specially designed vision retainers to gently and gradually reshape the front surface of the eye (Cornea) to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism.
The vision retainer is similar to a contact lens, but is only worn while you sleep. In the morning, the retainer is removed providing clear vision throughout the day, now how cool is that?! It is the primary modality for achieving Myopia Control.
OrthoK is not new, it has actually been around since the 1940s, when doctors discovered that glass contact lenses could reshape the cornea. Development continued over the next several decades and the procedure really began to gain a foothold in the 1990s. Initially, the process would take years to complete and the results were not very favorable. With improvements to gas-permeable lenses and computerized corneal topography software, technology has allowed vast improvements to the fit and vision obtained by these lenses. We also now know that orthokeratology is one of the most effective ways of slowing down the progression of myopia in children.
Many types of prescriptions can be corrected with OrthoK but the procedure works best on mild to moderate amounts of nearsightedness and astigmatism. Your candidacy can be determined through a consultation with our doctors. We fit children as young as six years old to achieve Myopia Control.
OrthoK is about half the cost of LASIK surgery and doesn’t involve any postoperative healing or medications. LASIK should not be performed on anyone under the age of 18 as the eyes are still changing. OrthoK is safe for all ages and changes in prescription can be accommodated easily by altering the vision retainers. Unlike LASIK, OrthoK does not cause or worsen dry eye syndrome. Best of all, OrthoK is completely reversible and non-surgical. A few of our staff and doctors are currently OrthoK wearers for years, feel free to ask us the reasons why we chose Orthok over Lasik!
OrthoK is a non-surgical alternative that enables patients to be free from both contact lenses and glasses during waking hours. This is ideal for anyone seeking to be free from corrective lenses without having surgery. OrthoK offers relief from contact lens related problems like dry eyes and irritation. Most importantly, exciting research has shown that OrthoK can effectively slow, or even stop, the progression of nearsightedness.
Not all doctors can perform OrthoK as it requires proper diagnostic equipment, computer software, and expertise. Our doctors have received extensive special training and are certified to fit a variety of lens designs.
A comprehensive eye health examination is performed first. Then, a corneal topographer is used to obtain a precise “map” of the cornea’s shape. If at that time you are determined to be a good candidate for OrthoK, customized vision retainers are ordered. Visual changes occur rapidly over the first days or weeks. You will be seen frequently for the first few weeks and changes may be made in the retainers to attain great vision.
Interested in OrthoK and want to know more? Call us to book an examination! (905) 575-3937
A multi-tiered treatment approach. Live life more comfortably.
MGD is inflammation and clogging of the small oil-producing glands of your eyelids. These oils are very important for the health of your tears. When your meibomian (“my-BOH-me-an”) glands become inflamed and clogged, less oil is released into your tear film. This causes your tears to evaporate from your eye more quickly, resulting in dry and irritated eyes.
- Redness
- Burning
- Stinging
- Gritty feeling
- Sensitivity to lights
- Scratching or itchiness
- Contact lens discomfort
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Crusting and sticky discharge
- Feeling like something is “in” your eye
Some common risk factors for MGD include:
- Medications
- Extended screen use
- Eye Makeup
- Eyelid Hygiene
- Ageing
- Female gender
- Hormonal Therapy
- Environmental factors
- Smoking and alcohol
- Diet
To better determine the severity of your dry eyes we may ask that you fill out a form describing any MGD risk factors and symptoms you may have. During the eye examination, your doctor will examine your eye lid sand meibomian glands under magnification for signs of blockage and inflammation. Light thumb pressure is applied to the eyelid to gently express the oil of the meibomian glands. The overall health of your eyelids and the quality of the oil released can help diagnose the presence of MGD.
Using specialized technology, we can also capture high resolution images of your meibomian glands. This will confirm the presence and severity of your MGD and is also used to track the health of your glands for future changes.
For mild cases of MGD we recommend the specialized iMED microbead heat mask. We have found that the fitted mask delivers heat more evenly and effectively when compared to a warm cloth. Gentle lid massage afterwards can loosen mildly clogged glands in less severe cases of MGD. Unfortunately, warm compresses and lid massage on their own can be cumbersome, time consuming and are often not enough to effectively treat the symptoms of MGD. To help, there are several supportive therapies for MGD and they are often used in combination for best results;
- Heat mask
- Omega 3 oil supplementation
- Preservative free artificial tears
- Eyelid cleansing wipes
As part of Spectrum’s ongoing commitment to provide our patients with the latest in eyecare technology, we recommend our TempSure Envieyelid warming technology for maximum treatment results. TempSure Envi heat therapy is the most current and effective treatment option for all stages of MGD. Treatments are non-invasive, safe for all skin types with no post treatment down time.
Compared to traditional heat mask therapy, our TempSure Envi technology delivers heat much deeper and more effectively to clogged meibomian glands. As a result, the melting and unclogging effect of stagnant oils is much greater. A soft massaging motion then breaks up the melted and deeply clogged oils, allowing your healthier oils to start working again. Healthier oils are clearer, richer and when mixed with your natural tears, reduce the stubborn symptoms of MGD related dry eye. TempSure treatment sessions generally take about fifteen minutes per eye. While some patients experience mild relief after one treatment, a minimum of three is required for maximum benefit. In more severe cases of MGD related dryness, symptoms may return after your warming treatments are completed. In this case, an annual maintenance session may be necessary to control any reoccurring symptoms of MGD.
Glaucoma is a term used to refer to a group of eye diseases that ultimately cause damage to the optic nerve. Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma; but there are treatments available to help manage the condition and prevent vision loss. People with glaucoma often experience slow and gradual vision loss that is so subtle, it is virtually undetectable until it reaches advanced stages. Glaucoma often presents no other symptoms than vision loss, which is why it is important to visit an eye doctor periodically for comprehensive eye exams. As the disease progresses, it can eye pain and nausea, as well as total vision loss.
that glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States? It accounts for approximately 10 percent of all cases of total vision loss – some who lose their vision despite seeking treatment. The disease can strike anyone at any time, from birth to old age. More than 2 million Americans are believed to live with glaucoma, of who only 50 percent have received a diagnosis.
Your eye doctor should perform a routine glaucoma screening at your periodic eye exams. However, you should see your eye doctor if you notice changes in your vision, such as blurring or halos when you look at lights. There are several tests available to test for glaucoma, including intraocular pressure testing and visual field testing. These screenings are painless, but could make it possible to diagnose and treat glaucoma in its earliest stages.
Treatment for glaucoma depends on the severity of the disease. If your [city] eye doctor diagnoses you with the disease, you may begin with a conservative treatment regimen of medicated eye drops or medications that help reduce pressure in your eye. If these types of treatments are ineffective, your [city] eye doctor may recommend a more aggressive treatment plan that includes a surgery to relieve excess fluids from the eye.
If you are taking medications or eye drops to alleviate pressure in your eyes, it is important that you do so according to your eye doctor’s instructions. If you undergo surgical treatment for glaucoma, you will need to adhere to a strict set of post-operative instructions in the days and weeks after your procedure. For example, you will need to wear an eye patch for the first 24 hours after your procedure, and avoid getting water or other substances in your eyes. You’ll also be told to avoid straining your eyes, refrain from strenuous activity, and wear an eye shield at night during the first several weeks after your procedure. Expect to feel some increased sensitivity in your eye, as well as a ‘scratchy’ sensation.
Corneal refractive therapy (CRT) is a non-surgical means of minimizing nearsightedness in vision patients. Also known as orthokeratology, CRT uses gas-permeable lenses similar to traditional contact lenses to reshape the cornea at during sleep. During the day, patients can experience a better natural vision without the aid of corrective lenses. The unique design of CRT lenses temporarily reshapes the eye, providing results that can last as long as two to three days.
that most CRT patients achieve a daytime vision that is at least 20/40? In fact, some people even achieve a vision that is 20/20 or greater with continual wear. Many patients choose CRT lenses as an alternative to refractive surgery because they are non-surgical and are cost less to begin therapy. Furthermore, after the first year of therapy, the annual cost of CRT therapy is comparable to the costs of wearing contact lenses.
CRT may be right for you if you suffer from myopia (nearsightedness) but are otherwise in relatively good health. To find out more about CRT and whether it’s right for you, contact your eye doctor to schedule a consultation.
You will visit your eye doctor for a complete eye exam to determine if CRT is right for you. You’ll then be fitted for special CRT lenses that you will wear only at night. Keep in mind that it is normal to experience some discomfort while wearing these lenses, although you may find that you adapt to the feel of CRT lenses over time. In the morning, you will remove your lenses and experience improved vision without the aid of contacts or glasses.
Simply follow you eye doctor’s instructions for use, and practice good hygiene and hand-washing before handling your lenses. Keep in mind that it takes time for corneal refractive therapy to begin producing results. You should begin to notice a significant difference in your daytime vision in as little as three weeks.
Regular detailed examination of the inside of the eye – the retina, is critical to eye health. Doctors use a number of techniques to examine the retina including looking into the eye, usually after dilating and the use of special cameras for imaging inside the eye. Until recently, most ophthalmic cameras could only photograph about 20% of the retina at a time. We now know that many eye diseases occur or begin at the outer edges of the retina, (“the periphery”), so examining this area is extremely important.
Because seeing the entire retina is so important at Spectrum Eye Care we have invested in the most advanced camera for ultra widefield photography and angiography. In a single, quick shot, this camera produces “optomap” photos of about 82% of the retina. These optomap images provide superior visibility of the retinal periphery allowing us to see, document, show you, and follow pathology that could not be seen with traditional eye cameras.
The optomap exam is quick and painless and combined with the thorough eye exams our doctors are trained to provide this advanced technology offers a new level of diagnostic confidence. We are proud and happy to offer this service to our patients.
Contact lenses are a discreet way of managing vision impairments without being tied to a pair of glasses. Many optometric patients choose contacts over eyeglasses because they are convenient, comfortable, and capable of correcting vision without affecting appearance. There are two classifications of contacts – soft and hard. Soft lenses are the most popular and are most commonly used to treat people with age-related vision loss, astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. They form to the shape of the eye and tend to stay in place for the duration of wear. Hard lenses, on the other hand, can also be used to treat most vision impairments, but are less versatile and more likely to move out of place. Patients who choose hard lenses typically do so in favor of the crisper and clearer vision they achieve with them.
that more than 30 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses? The majority of those people are females over the age of 25 who wear soft lenses. However, children as young as 10 years old could be candidates for contacts so long as they are capable of following all wear and care instructions.
You may be a candidate for contact lenses if you require vision correction lenses and are looking for a non-surgical alternative to eyeglasses. To find out if contacts are right for you, schedule an appointment with you eye doctor.
Your eye doctor will conduct a thorough eye exam and prescribe a contact lens brand and power based on the results of your eye exam and your frequency of wear. You’ll be fitted with a trial pair of lenses before you leave the office and asked to return for a follow-up visit several days or weeks later.
You will be given instructions designed to help you protect your new contacts, as well as your eyes. If you fail to follow these instructions, you risk getting a corneal infection that could threaten your sight. Most importantly, you’ll be instructed to wash your hands prior to handling your contacts. Depending on the type of lenses you wear, you may also need to remove your contacts at night before bed.