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Frequently Asked Question

Flashes & Floaters

I am seeing flashes of light, what does that mean?

Flashes, Floaters & Vitreous Detachment

Floaters, sometimes called spots, are small, and semi-transparent or cloudy particles that float within the vitreous, the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inner portion of your eyes.

Floaters are usually harmless and are seen by many of us at one time or another. They generally look like translucent specks of various shapes and sizes or like cobwebs. They are frequently visible when you are looking at a plain lighted background like blank pastel walls, a blue sky or the white pages of a book.

Floaters become visible when they fall within the line of sight and cast a shadow on the retina (the light sensitive portion of the back of the eye).

There are a number of possible causes for floaters. They may be small flecks of protein or other matter that were trapped during the formation of your eyes before birth and remain suspended in the clear fluid of the vitreous.

Deterioration of the vitreous fluid may also cause floaters to develop. This can be part of the natural aging process and is often not serious, though it can be very annoying. And, certain eye diseases or injuries can cause floaters.

Sometimes flashes or streaks of light may appear. This may be happening because the jelly-like vitreous is shrinking and pulling on the retina. The retinal receptor cells are stimulated to "fire" by this tugging action and cause the perception of light flashes.

Vitreous shrinkage can continue and result in a part of the vitreous actually becoming detached or peeled away from the back of your eye. Flashes, floaters and vitreous detachment are common and only infrequently lead to serious eye problems.

On rare occasions, vitreous detachment can cause small tears or holes in the retina. The damaged part of the retina subsequently does not work properly and a blind or blurred spot in vision results. If untreated, retinal tears or holes can continue to worsen and severe vision loss can result if the retina becomes detached.

While flashes and floaters can be symptoms or signs of either vitreous detachment or retinal detachment, vitreous involvement occurs far more frequently and usually requires no treatment.

It is important to have a comprehensive eye health examination soon after experiencing flashes or floaters, or if you become aware of an increase in the number or intensity of flashes or floaters. In a comprehensive examination, your doctor of optometry or ophthalmology can use a variety of special instruments to look at the vitreous, the retina and the other interior parts of your eyes to determine the causes of the flashes and floaters that you see. That's why regular eye examinations are an important part of keeping your eyes and vision healthy.

Contact Lenses

I was just recently fitted with contact lenses and I am experiencing dryness What type of drops can I use?

There are many types of eye drops on the market. Our doctors recommend Refresh brand tears. These are a natural tear, that can be used at any time, by anyone. If you are looking for a "contact lens" drop you can try Blink and Clean or Bausch Lomb's Renu brand drops.

Refresh: http://www.allergan.com/site/products/consumers/home.asp?id=refresh_tears&largeText=

Blink & Clean: http://www.amoeyecare.com/OurProducts/OurProducts.asp?srchtype=1&id=12

renu: http://www2.bausch.com/us/vision/products/softcare/renumpdrops.jsp

Exams

How often should I get an eye exam?

Our doctors recommend a comprehensive eye exam every 12 months - visit Check Yearly/See Clearly for more information.

Also check out Transitions Eye.

http://www.eyedidntknowthat.info/default.asp

Dilation

I just had my eyes dilated, how long will the dilation last?

Typically, dilation drops will wear off in 2 to 3 hours time. Some people are more sensitive to the drops and it may take longer. If your eyes have not returned to normal in 24 hours, give us a call.

Contact Lenses

How can I re-order contact lenses?

You can re-order contact lenses for up to one year following a contact lens examination. You can call the office and tell us how many boxes you would like to order, and we will process your order. You can also e-mail us with your prescription (you can get that from your boxes), a daytime phone number and the number of boxes you would like to order. It typically takes 5 business days from the time the order is placed, for the lenses to arrive in our office. When they arrive we will give you a call.

Links to Check Out

Genesis Progressive Contact Lenses

Varilux Eyeglasses

Transitions Lenses

Check out our MySpace Page!