Can You Swim with Contact Lenses?
Exposing contact lenses to water can introduce various risks to your eye health, so it’s best to avoid swimming with contact lenses whenever possible. […]
Protecting Your Eyes From the Silent Thief of Sight
Glaucoma is the name for a group of progressive, degenerative eye diseases that can steal your sight. Glaucoma leads to damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for your sight and can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada, as it often develops gradually without noticeable symptoms. One of the best ways to detect and diagnose glaucoma in the early stages is comprehensive eye exams. There is no cure, but early treatment can prevent further damage and save your vision.
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Types & Causes of Glaucoma
Glaucoma’s specific cause is unknown, but it is generally associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). However, in some cases, glaucoma can occur without elevated intraocular pressure, which is referred to as normal-tension glaucoma.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma.
The eye drains the aqueous fluid through its drainage system, but when this system becomes inefficient over time, it can no longer drain effectively. When the aqueous humour can’t drain properly, it builds up and exerts pressure on the optic nerve, causing damage.
Primary open-angle glaucoma typically develops gradually without symptoms. You will likely not notice any symptoms until you have significant vision loss.
Angle-closure glaucoma is the less common but much more severe type of glaucoma. It is considered an eye emergency and should be addressed by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage angle between the cornea and iris suddenly closes or becomes blocked. This causes the aqueous fluid to build up rapidly, increasing eye pressure very quickly.
When this happens, it’s referred to as an acute attack and may be coupled with pain, sudden vision loss, or nausea. If you’re experiencing an acute attack, please visit your emergency room immediately.
Secondary glaucoma occurs due to an injury, infection, or tumour in or around the eye. It can also happen due to medical conditions, medications, or other abnormalities.
Normal-tension glaucoma often occurs when the eye’s internal pressure stays within the “normal” range, but the optic nerve still sustains damage. The cause for normal-tension glaucoma is unknown but is theorized to be related to an inadequate blood supply or poor perfusion.
Diagnosing Glaucoma
Because most types of glaucoma are related to elevated IOP, we perform a test that evaluates your eye’s internal pressure during every eye exam.
When we diagnose glaucoma, we perform a dilated eye exam that gives us a better view of your internal eye structures, including the optic nerve and retina.
Tonometry is a diagnostic test that measures IOP. At Calgary Family Eye Doctors, we use an iCare tonometer to measure your IOP levels, a handheld tonometry device that can indicate the presence of glaucoma.
The iCare tonometer doesn’t use an air puff to test IOP, which many people find more comfortable.
The Humphrey visual field test is used to measure your peripheral vision. It can detect areas of decreased vision, which may indicate signs of glaucoma, like optic nerve damage.
The test provides us with a wealth of information about your eye health. This helps us better diagnose and monitor any changes that may indicate glaucoma.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging technique that uses light to take cross-sectional pictures of the retina.
It can provide us with detailed information about specific layers of the retina and help us detect signs of glaucoma, such as optic nerve damage.
Optomap retinal imaging is a comprehensive digital imaging technique that captures a detailed, high-resolution image of the retina.
This allows us to detect abnormal changes that may indicate glaucoma, like damage to the optic nerve
During a dilated fundus exam, we dilate the pupils to gain a more detailed view of the back of the eye, also known as the fundus.
With this technique, we can also monitor changes that may occur over time that could be indicative of glaucoma progression, like optic nerve damage or changes to the retinal fibre layers.
Visit Us at Calgary Family Eye Doctors
Where is Our Office?
Find us just off Southport Road SW on the west side of Macleod Trail.
Where Can You Park?
There is 2 hour free parking directly outside the professional building.
Our Address
- 11th Floor, 1125-10655 Southport Road SW
- Calgary, AB T2W 4Y1
Contact Information
- Phone: 403.225.5660
- Fax: 403.225.5927
- Email: [email protected]
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
What We Have to Offer
Our Brands
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Our Blog
What Causes High Eye Pressure & How to Reduce It
Fluid buildup, eye trauma, medications, and other eye conditions are all potential causes of an increase in eye pressure. Typically, one of the keys to reducing it is treating the root cause. […]
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What Can Cause Red Eyes in a Child?
Some common contributing factors to red eyes in children include:
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Pink Eye vs. Stye: How to Tell the Difference?
Pink eye and styes are 2 common eye conditions that can cause redness and irritation. A couple of differentiating characteristics are the presence of a bump that could indicate a stye and more localized redness or swelling. […]
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What Are the Early Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration?
Common early warning signs of macular degeneration include:
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Difficulty recognizing familiar faces or reading
Empty or blind spots in the central vision […]
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10 Common Causes of Blurry Vision
Blurry vision can be caused by all sorts of factors, from digital eye strain to eye conditions such as myopia. Although people experiencing blurry vision may struggle to see clearly or manage their usual tasks, most cases are due to refractive error. 10 common causes of blurry vision include: If you are concerned about blurry […]
Is Rubbing Your Eyes Bad?
Rubbing your eyes can be bad for you because it can increase your risk of infection, damage delicate tissue, and worsen dry eyes and allergies. […]
What Is Myopia Control?
Severe myopia can increase a child’s risk of sight-threatening conditions developing later in life. For this reason, myopic control methods, such as specialized lenses and contacts, aim to slow myopia progression. […]
Astigmatism vs. Myopia vs. Hyperopia: What’s the Difference?
The difference between astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia is the physical shape of your eye and how that shape changes where your vision becomes blurry. […]
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Top 7 Tips to Improve Eyesight Naturally
It’s common for patients to experience little struggles with their vision when they’re younger, but age brings many changes to your vision and eye health. There is an increased risk of eye disease, but caring for your sight can help you enjoy comfortable, clear vision. Whether you have glasses or not, many patients want to […]
Are Eye Exams Free in Alberta? Understanding Your Vision Coverage
Basic eye exams for children under the age of 19 and seniors 65 and older are covered by Alberta Health Care. Retinal imaging, however, which is a very important part of assessing ocular health, is not covered by AHC and is recommended at every full exam. Most ocular health exams done for medical reasons like eye infections, removing foreign bodies, diagnosing and managing eye diseases, etc., are covered by AHC for all ages. […]
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Are Phone Screens Bad for Your Eyes?
Constant use of our phone screens can lead to digital eye strain, but there are ways to help reduce your risk of the uncomfortable symptoms and further eye damage. Talk to the trusted optometrists at Calgary Family Eye Doctors if you’re concerned about your eyesight. […]
Why Does My Eye Hurt When I Blink?
There are many factors can cause pain when you blink, including conjunctivitis (pink eye), blepharitis, cluster headaches, dry eye disease, debris in the eye, optic neuritis, eye injuries, and styes. […]
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Glaucoma?
The early warning signs for glaucoma include increased pressure in the eye, gradual loss of peripheral vision, and, on occasion, blurry vision. […]
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Types of Lenses for Glasses: What Are Your Options?
Various lens options exist that cater to different requirements. These include:
– Single-vision lenses
– Bifocal and Trifocal lenses
– Progressive lenses
– Photochromic lenses
– Polarized lenses
– Hi-Index lenses […]
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ZEISS Lenses: The Complete Guide
Whether you’re looking for eyeglasses for everyday wear or prescription sunglasses to keep your eyes safe in the sun, quality matters. ZEISS has been making quality prescription lenses for over 160 years. They have lens options for many lifestyles, regardless of your vision needs. We all have different vision needs. For example, some people may […]
How to Tell if a Contact Lens Is Still in Your Eye
Many Canadians wear contacts as an alternative to eyeglasses or laser eye surgery. Contacts can offer comfort and convenience while you’re moving through your daily tasks. You could even forget you’re wearing them—until suddenly something changes. Maybe they fell out, or worse, maybe they got stuck. You may panic, rub your eye, try to blink […]
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How Do Contact Lenses Work?
When it comes to vision correction, there are several options available, including contact lenses. These small and versatile lenses offer an alternative to traditional eyeglasses, allowing you to have clear vision without compromising your comfort or style. But how exactly do contact lenses work? Contact lenses work by correcting your natural refractive error. They bend […]
What Does 20/20 Vision Mean?
When it comes to maintaining clear vision, there’s a certain term often thrown around during eye exams that may not be well understood—20/20 vision. It’s used by optometrists to describe optimal vision or visual acuity, but what does this term actually mean? 20/20 vision is the term used to describe normal visual acuity (the clarity […]
Can I Wear Blue Light Glasses All the Time?
As our lives become increasingly dominated by screens, more and more people are seeking ways to mitigate the negative effects of extended screen time. One popular solution is blue light glasses, which are designed to filter out the blue light emitted by digital devices and may help reduce eye strain, headaches, and other symptoms commonly […]
Is Glaucoma Hereditary?
Glaucoma can be a risk for your vision, especially with time. This eye disease can lead to severe vision loss if untreated, but many people don’t know its dangers. Several factors can make you more likely to develop glaucoma. You may be more at risk of glaucoma if your immediate family has a history of […]
What to Expect at a Kids Eye Exam
Children rely on their eyesight to learn, explore, develop, and grow. A child’s eyes change rapidly as they age, which is why experts recommend regular eye exams for growing kids. But what happens during a kid’s eye exam? Simply put, an eye professional will go through a series of tests to ensure your child’s eyes […]
Do Contact Lenses Dry Your Eyes?
Contact lenses can be a great alternative to glasses. They can be more convenient when playing sports, help you look polished, and don’t fog up like glasses in cold weather. Switching between glasses and contact lenses helps keep your vision crisp and clear in any environment. But contact lens care can be high maintenance compared […]
What Can Video Games Do to Your Eyes?
Think back, and you may recall when children and adults spent more time outdoors. But with the increase in digital device usage, more people are spending their time in front of a screen, resulting in digital eye strain. In 2020, 61% of Canadians played video games, with the average age being 34. And with the […]
Do Contact Lenses Get Thicker with Prescription?
Everyone deserves quality eye care, and regular eye exams play a critical role in preserving eye health and vision. For those people with vision correction needs, glasses and contact lenses provide staple choices. Eyeglasses for refractive errors include a lens prescription. With significant refractive errors, one may need a stronger prescription and a thicker lens. […]
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What Does Retinal Imaging Show?
Early detection of vision issues is key in protecting the health of your eyes. Comprehensive eye exams, like digital retinal imaging, are quick, painless, and effective ways for eye doctors to view inside the eyes and record any changes that might point to vision or other health issues. Early eye disease detection makes it possible […]
How Often Should Glaucoma Patients Be Checked?
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60, but it can occur at any age. Sometimes, glaucoma can develop without any symptoms or warning signs, and can only be detected during an eye exam. Eye exams are crucial to keep your eye health and vision on the […]
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How Is a Contact Lens Prescription Different Than Glasses?
Believe it or not, you can get multiple prescriptions for corrective eyewear. Contact lenses and glasses (regular and sun) require different prescriptions. But why? We’ve broken down the differences between contact lenses and eyeglasses so you can make the right choice for your eyes. If you need recommendations, we’re always here to help. Contact Lenses […]
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How To Tell if a Baby Needs Glasses
Vision Health for Infants Infants experience a lot of growth in their early years. They’re learning how to use their bodies, including their eyes. Visual skills are necessary for many everyday things your baby is learning. Visual skills include tracking object movement, recognizing faces, and hand-eye coordination. Every child develops differently. But vision development milestones […]
Can an Optometrist Tell if You Have Diabetes?
Dealing with diabetes can be difficult and might leave you feeling overwhelmed. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can give you the power to manage your diabetes with confidence. There are many ways to diagnose diabetes early, including through regular eye exams. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in Canada, so regular eye exams and […]
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Do Contact Lenses Expire?
Many people choose contact lenses over glasses when they need vision correction. These lenses can help you see clearly without needing frames, but they require more maintenance. Because contact lenses rest on your eyes, do they have an expiration date? Continue reading to learn more about contact lenses, including if they can expire and how […]
Are Floaters in the Eye Dangerous
Eye floaters are a normal part of ageing, but can they be dangerous? Understanding why eye floaters occur can help you know whether or not you should visit your optometrist for an emergency. Continue reading to learn more about eye floaters, including what they are, how they develop, and if they’re dangerous. What Are Eye […]
Does My Child Need Glasses?
Healthy Vision for Our Little Ones We all want our children to be happy and successful in their endeavours, and healthy vision can play a massive part in a child’s overall wellness. Our kids grow up fast, and their eyes develop right alongside them. How can you tell if they’re hitting the correct visual milestones? […]
What Happens If I Wear My Contacts Too Long?
Contact lenses can be a great alternative to glasses. For many people, contact lenses are easy to wear, more comfortable, and more aesthetically pleasing than traditional eyeglasses. Even though many people prefer contacts over glasses, they do require more maintenance and care. Contact lenses can be a lot more work than glasses and need to […]
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What Is an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) Test?
Not Just A Pretty Picture An Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) test may sound like a mouthful, but the procedure itself is a little more straightforward. An OCT is a non-invasive test that allows your optometrist to take cross-section pictures of your retina using light waves. An OCT employs a laser (with no radiation) to obtain […]
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How Do Optometrists Test for Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada, and you may not even notice anything is wrong until vision loss occurs. If you have undiagnosed glaucoma, how do you identify this disease before your vision is affected? A series of tests used during a comprehensive eye exam can detect any eye problems. […]
How Too Much Screen Time Impacts Kid’s Eye Health
Are you worried about how screen time is affecting your child’s eye health? The truth is, most children are getting too much screen time, and it can lead to poor eye development and puts your child at risk for developing certain eye conditions, such as digital eye strain. If you’re concerned about the effects of […]
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COVID-19 Update – Our promise to you.
Our promise to you. Wow! What a whirlwind these last few months have been; we’ve all seen some challenges during these unprecedented times. On April 30th our government made the announcement that allied health services can return to offering non-urgent routine care. We are beyond happy to announce that we are open once again, doing […]
COVID 19 and Eye Emergencies
At Calgary Family Eye Doctors we are hoping you and your family are staying safe during these unprecedented times. If you are on our email list you will already know that we are seeing eye emergencies only, at the moment. We are currently not providing routine eye exams. We are dispensing glasses and contact lenses […]
Options for elective corrective eye surgery
Have you ever thought about getting elective eye surgery to correct your vision? Many people decide to have corrective surgery to eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. The most well-known type of surgery is laser eye surgery. There are also non-laser surgery options, such as implantable lenses (or ICLs). Types of corrective laser surgery: […]
10 things to remember when wearing contact lenses
Contact lenses are a popular option for vision correction; many people prefer them to glasses. Contact lenses do have several benefits, such as being able to wear non-prescription sunglasses and having better peripheral vision. However, contact lenses are a medical device that sit on your eye (they sit on a layer of tear fluid on […]
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Presbyopia: an overview
Getting reading glasses sometimes feels like a rite of passage – or, at least, a rite of aging. It’s common to hear of people with perfect vision having to need glasses when they’re in their 50s or 60s. Why does this happen? Do our eyes suddenly worsen after a certain age? Well…sort of. The culprit […]
May is Vision Health Month
May is Vision Health Month! Throughout the month, eye care professionals in Canada and around the world will work to raise awareness about eye health. Good eye health is important for everyone, regardless of age. In fact, we recommend that children go for their first comprehensive eye health exam at six months of age, and […]
Eye See You education program launch
We’re very excited to announce the launch of Eye See You, our community outreach and education program for children. It’s designed to complement the province-wide Eye See Eye Learn program, which provides free prescription glasses to children in kindergarten. Since Calgary Family Eye Doctors is a participating clinic in the Eye See Eye Learn program, […]
Myopia in children: what you need to know
Approximately 30% of Canadians are myopic, and that number continues to rise. While myopia affects people of all ages, there has been a recent rise in the number of children who are myopic. Currently, about 6% of children between the ages of 6 and 8 are myopic; by the time kids reach the ages of […]
Colour blindness: an overview
The world is full of colour. Life is permeated by vivid and brilliant colours, and colour can have an impact on what we see and how we perceive the world. But what if you see colours in a different way than most people? What is colour blindness? Colour blindness is the inability to distinguish between […]
Why it’s important to wear sunglasses in the winter
Sunglasses are usually seen as a summer accessory, along with hats and sunscreen. But, just like hats and sunscreen, it’s important to wear sunglasses in the winter. Even though the weather is colder (and snowier) and the days are shorter, UV rays are still hitting us. Here are three reasons why it’s important to wear […]
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2019 Prescription Eyewear Trends
New year, new glasses! (Right?) But before you head out to buy your new glasses this year (hopefully at our clinic, of course!), let’s take a look at some of the trends for prescription eyewear for 2019. Shapes A lot of people have glasses that are more neutral in shape (that is, shapes that are […]
Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness; in Canada alone, there are over 400,000 people who suffer from glaucoma. It’s called the “silent thief of sight” because it usually occurs with no symptoms. What is glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that affect the optic nerve. Glaucoma occurs when there is […]
Diabetes and your eyes
If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you’ve likely been told that you need to get your eyes checked yearly. Have you wondered why your family doctor is telling you that you need to see your optometrist to help monitor your diabetes? The short answer is that in an eye exam, your optometrist […]
Introducing the Dry Eye Clinic
A note: if this post looks familiar to you and you’re a newsletter subscriber, that’s because this post was initially released as a newsletter to our patients. If you’d like to sign up for our newsletter, please sign up here. Do you suffer from dry eyes? Have you tried multiple drops and found only temporary […]
Vision Coverage: What is Covered by Alberta Health?
Here is a brief overview of Alberta Health’s vision coverage. Children Alberta Health covers one complete eye exam for children and teens under the age of 19 every benefit year (a benefit year is July 1 – June 30). They will also cover one partial exam and one diagnostic procedure. Please note that Alberta Health […]
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Five ways your glasses prescription can change rapidly
Diabetes This is probably the most common cause of temporary prescription changes. In general, if a patient has high blood sugars, they will experience a myopic shift (become more nearsighted). When their blood sugars stabilize, I will see the opposite change, there will be a hyperopic shift (become more farsighted). Both of these shifts will […]
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Children’s Vision Issues
While children may have symptoms that can indicate a vision or eye health problem, it’s also possible for vision issues to be asymptomatic. In these cases, the only way to detect them would be through a comprehensive eye health exam. […]
Children and Eye Health: The Importance of Regular Eye Exams
October is children’s vision month, so throughout the month, we will be working to bring awareness to children’s eye health. This month, we wanted to talk about the importance of children’s eye exams, and why focusing on their eye health is just as important as focusing on our own. […]
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Digital Eye Strain
It’s no secret that people are spending more and more time on digital devices. After all, we’re very much a plugged-in society. But how does all this screen time affect our eye health? Does it have an effect at all? […]
Blue Light
So…what exactly is blue light? Essentially, it is a high energy light that is visible to the human eye. All light that we see falls along the visible light spectrum (remember the acronym ROYGBV?). […]
Eye Care Missions
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to volunteer with VOSH International to perform ocular examinations for the underprivileged in Belize. It was one of the most incredible and memorable trips I have ever taken. Belize is a beyond-beautiful country with such friendly and kind people. The first few days were spent on the […]
International Eye Care Missions
Volunteering with international eye care missions has changed my life. My inaugural trip was serving as a translator for an eye care team in Guatemala. […]
About Us
Eye Exams
Specialty Eye Exams
Brands
Calgary Family Eye Doctors
- 11th Floor, 1125-10655 Southport Road SW
- Calgary, AB T2W 4Y1
- 403.225.5660
- 403.225.5927
- [email protected]