It’s a simple fact that in the age of technology, people worldwide are spending far too many hours in front of screens. Globally people are spending on average 6 hours and 40 minutes per day on screens across their various devices. These include computer screens, tablets, and smart phones.
In Canada, the numbers are equally concerning. Research done in Canada shows that Canadians are spending on average at least 6-7 hours per day on a screen up to even 12.5 hours per day. This includes recreational and occupational screen time. Not only is such sedentary activity having a negative impact on physical health, it is also affecting the quality of vision for many Canadians. In fact, reports indicate that up to 30 percent of Canadians suffer from an eye condition called dry eye syndrome.
BarrieToday took some time to speak with Barrie’s local Optometrists who recently opened their own practice, Duo Eyecare on Big Bay Point Road. A prominent concern from screen time is its impact on dry eye. “Dry eye is a fairly common ocular condition we see in our patients every day,” said Dr. Sundeep Padwal. "Many patients will turn to over the counter artificial tears as a source of relief."
Dr. Pooja Thareja explains that “over the counter artificial tears may be the convenient choice, but it may not be the correct and appropriate treatment for your eyes. It is important to have your dry eye properly assessed first before treating it. You need to have an eye care professional like us be able to diagnose that you are actually suffering from dry eye and not a different ocular condition. Once we confirm that your eyes are dry then we would provide the form of treatment that would be best for you."
Many clinical studies are confirming what nearly all optometrists already know. Being surrounded by these devices is having a profound effect on changes in vision particularly in children. “We are seeing more and more children becoming near-sighted, also known as myopia. It is predicted that by 2050 approximately 50 percent of the population around the world is going to be near-sighted (WHO). It is crucial that as eye doctors and primary eye care providers that we do our part in helping to prevent this rapidly occurring progression of myopia,” stressed Dr. Padwal.
“Unfortunately, what we’re seeing is that a large majority of children are only coming in for their first eye exam at school age, said Dr. Padwal. “We want to create more awareness about the importance of bringing children in for an exam early. We recommend as early as six months of age, and if that is missed then at least by 12 months or at the very latest, 18 months,” said Dr. Thareja. "If we do this then we can get ahead of any myopia progression that could occur in the near future and we can help reduce this progression". At Duo Eyecare, myopia progression treatment is available and can be started early to help reduce faster vision and prescription changes.
Both the Ontario Association of Optometrists and the Canadian Association of Optometrists (associations that both Dr. Padwal and Dr. Thareja are members of), recommend that the first eye exam in a child’s life should be as early as age six months.
On another very important note, many people who are experiencing sore, tired eyes and blurry vision think that they simply need to have their current prescription adjusted and get new glasses. However, both Dr. Padwal and Dr. Thareja mention that it is not always that simple. The first course of action for anyone with these types of symptoms should be to have a comprehensive eye exam.
“We believe it is important for patients to understand the importance of having their eyes examined on a regular basis because it that ensures good eye health, which is directly related to having good vision, says Dr. Thareja. "At Duo Eyecare, our clinic is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment designed to deliver thorough eye exams."
The dynamic husband and wife duo Dr. Padwal and Dr. Thareja went on to explain that, “A lot of people think it’s just going to be a quick 10-minute visit, you get a pair of glasses, and that’s it. However, at Duo Eyecare we are a full scope optometry practice with a focus on quality and care. We offer comprehensive eye exams that are at least 30 minutes long. We also do retinal imaging, which involves taking a photograph of the back of your eye. Our clinic is also equipped with OCT, which is a layer-by-layer scan of the retina. We have the capability to take anterior eye photographs and to do visual fields testing to assess peripheral vision. Together, all of these tests allow us to detect and treat eye diseases earlier so that our patients vision is never compromised. This allows for the preservation of excellent vision as best as possible. One of our core values is to provide quality eye care to take care of our patient’s eye health."
As part of their public awareness and education initiative, these two Optometrists at their clinic Duo Eyecare are promoting the fact that regular eye examinations are important at all ages. Not only are eye exams assessing your eye health, but they are also a means of getting more information about your overall health. An eye exam can also detect other medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and even strokes!
Duo Eyecare goes beyond 20/20 vision and just offering you a pair of glasses so you can see. They want to exceed expectations. Duo Eyecare also has a great relationship with many of the local Ophthalmologists as well as with eye specialists in the GTA for when a surgical consult is required. These include cataract surgery and other ocular conditions such as retinal detachments.
As their clinic continues to grow, Duo Eyecare plans on introducing advanced diagnostics in the future for severe dry eye treatment such as the LipiScan imaging and IPL treatment. This evaluates the function of the meibomian glands, the glands lining the eyelids, which are responsible for producing the oils that keep your eyes moist. This is paired with a cutting-edge treatment therapy for severe dry eye called Lipiflow. This advanced form of treatment for severe dry eye expresses and massages these meibomian glands to remove the obstructed glands that are causing dry eye. The end result is the restoration of the natural oil or meibum flow, which improves tear quality and overall comfort therefore managing any dry eye symptoms. This clinic is willing to bring into their practice any aspects of care that is important to the Barrie community.
To learn more about how Duo Eyecare can help you maintain healthy eyes and excellent vision, you can visit them online at www.duoeyecare.com or give them a call at (705)-725-8000.