Whatever your age, if you wear prescription lenses, either as glasses or contact lenses, there will undoubtedly come a time for you to update your prescription. To determine when this should be, ask yourself the following question:
Ask yourself:
Do I still see well at all times of the day and night?
Do I have blurry vision at times?
Do I squint to see better?
Do my eyes become tired more quickly than before? Are they more sensitive?
Do I get frequent headaches, especially after a day spent reading, watching, or using my eyes a lot?
Optometrists treat eye irritations, infections, and injuries. Establishing care with a qualified optometrist helps you receive faster treatment.
This guide helps you decide what to look for in an optometrist and how to choose the best eye doctor for you!
WHY SHOULD YOU SEE AN OPTOMETRIST?
Many people live with undiagnosed or untreated visual impairments. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to serious issues. Glaucoma and blindness are the most serious outcomes due to untreated eye problems.
Answering yes to any of these questions can indicate the need to update your prescription lenses. This can be done by calling your local optometrist.
Note, in Alberta, annual eye exams are covered by Alberta Health for all children 18 years of age and younger and for adults aged 65 and over. Many healthcare insurance plans include free biannual eye exams for adults not covered by the province. However, all medically necessary eye examinations are covered for all Albertans.
Investigate your prescription lenses:
Are they scratched?
Are they difficult to clean?
If you have trouble cleaning your prescription lenses, any coatings that may have been applied when you ordered them may be breaking down and leaving a hard-to-clean film behind. An optician can examine your prescription lenses and the state of your coatings for you.
Common Coatings include:
∘ UV protection
∘ scratch-resistance
∘ dust-repellent
∘ water-repellent
∘ anti-reflection
∘ blue light protection
How content are you with your current prescription lenses?
Would you like to add one or more of the coatings mentioned above to them?
Would you like to add a colour tinting either for fashion or function?
Tinted lenses are becoming popular for indoor and outdoor wear. Tints can be applied as a gradient of colour or full colour with varying transparency. Ask your optometrist if tinting is right for you. Your prescription lens dispensary can tell you about the various tints, shades, and colours available.
Would you like to have a pair of prescription sunglasses, safety glasses, or contact lenses in addition to your current eyewear?
If you need or want new and additional prescription eyewear, it is a good idea to book an eye exam beforehand to ensure that your new lenses are the most effective and up-to-date as possible.
UPDATE YOUR PRESCRIPTION LENSES IN ST. ALBERT
If you think it’s time to update your prescription lenses, contact Dr. Holly Parker at the Sturgeon Vision Centre in St. Albert. We are conveniently located on the north side of town and are easily accessible from all the main thoroughfares of Sturgeon County and northwest Edmonton.
Dr. Holly Parker offers eye exams for the whole family, and our opticians and frame stylists can help you find the perfect choice of prescription lenses and frames for work, play, and every day. Call us today.