FAQs

What's the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?

Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) are Optometrists, who specialize in vision care and eye health. They diagnose and treat patients for eye problems and diseases and prescribe glasses, contact lenses vision therapy, and medications. Optometrists complete four or more years of college and at least another four years of optometric college. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye disease and surgery. Ophthalmologists have a degree from medical school, have experience working in a hospital, and completed three or more years in an eye residency program.

How often do I need to see my eye doctor?

Yearly eye exams are recommended to ensure your continued vision health.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for my eye examination?

Take your glasses and contact lenses with you to your appointment and be prepared to supply the doctor with your medical history. If you have specific questions you would like addressed, write them down and bring the list with you to your appointment.

How often should my glasses be adjusted?

Adjustments, screws, etc. are all part of the service we provide our patients at no additional cost. Stop by any time we're open for these services or at least every three months for a maintenance check-up for your frame.

What's the best way to clean my glasses?

Two things adhere to lenses - dust and grease. Soapy water (without lotion) will dissolve both. Always dry your glasses with a clean soft cotton cloth. Follow with the appropriate spray cleaner that we recommend and provide.

Are lens coatings worth the extra cost?

Yes they are and here's why. Anti-reflective (A/R) coatings minimize the reflections from the lenses that make it difficult to see your eyes, or many times, for you to see through reflected light. Scratch resistant coatings are applied to both sides of plastic lenses to reduce the risk of surface scratches. UV coatings protect your eyes from exposure to ultra-violet rays which can cause corneal sunburn and may also contribute to the development of cataracts and retinal-tissue damage.

How do I know when a problem is minor or when I absolutely must see an eye doctor?

Schedule an appointment to see The Vision Professionals if you have persistent discomfort in the eyes, headaches when reading, difficulty with reading, inability to read material at the classic distance of 16 to 18 inches, and any difficulty seeing in low light situations.

If you have any of the following eye or vision related problems call the Vision Professionals today:

• Vision Changes
• Eye or Head Pain
• Flashes of Light
• Blurred or Double Vision
• Floaters or tearing
• A Decrease in Peripheral Vision
• Images of Colored Rings Around Lights (i.e. Halos), Any injuries to the Eye.

Why do my eyes dry-out when wearing contact lenses?

Dry eyes can be caused by some physical conditions as well as the weather, medications, hormonal changes, smoking or not blinking enough. For temporary relief, use artificial tears or an ocular lubricant. If your lenses become difficult to remove, irrigate your eyes with sterile saline solution and see your doctor. Be sure to tell our staff and doctors if dry eyes are a problem for you. We have a variety of specialized contact lens solutions for dry eyes.

Why would my eye doctor recommend more than one pair of glasses?

People have many different visual needs and one pair of glasses may not meet them all. In addition to everyday eyewear your eye doctor may recommend sunglasses, sport eye wear, special driving lenses, or glasses with a wider field of vision for close work or long hours at a computer.

What is LASIK, and how do I find out if it's right for me?

LASIK is an acronym for Laser In-situ Keratomileusis. This advanced procedure is not for everyone, but it is now an option for more people than ever before. When you schedule your appointment, let the doctors at The Vision Professionals know if you are interested in LASIK treatments. We can provide you with all of the information to help you make the right decision.

Visit Our Services Page to Learn More about LASIK vision treatments.

What causes 'red eye' in photographs?

The blood in your eyes is to blame for this phenomenon. When a flash goes off, it is reflected on the rear of the eyeball, which is red from the blood vessels found there. There are a few ways to avoid this, including moving the flash away from the camera or asking your subjects to slightly angle their face away from the camera lens. Another easy trick is to turn up the lights in the room, thus forcing the pupil to contract and allow less light in from the flash. Newer camera models include a 'Red-Eye Reduction' setting that will flash before taking the actual photograph.