It’s common for one of our eyes to be slightly different from the other. While facial asymmetry is usually natural, understanding the potential causes can provide valuable peace of mind and insight into your health. Often, these subtle differences are simply inherited traits or a normal part of the aging process. Lifestyle factors, such as long-term sun exposure, can also influence the appearance of the delicate skin around your eyes over time. In some instances, a change in eye symmetry…
Dry, irritated eyes can feel like more than just a minor inconvenience—often, they can disrupt your entire day. From reading to working at a computer, even the simplest tasks become frustrating when your eyes aren’t comfortable. But can dry eyes actually cause headaches? Dry eyes don’t cause headaches or migraines, but there may be a connection between the two. Let’s explore how dry eye disease develops, its relationship to headaches, and what treatment options can help you find relief. What Is Dry Eye Disease?…
Seeing sudden flashes of light in your vision can feel unsettling, especially if you don’t know what’s causing them. While these brief flickers might seem harmless, they can be your body’s way of signalling a deeper health concern. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can affect more than just your heart. It can damage the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, sometimes leading to vision changes like flashing lights or floaters. The retina is especially fragile, and these symptoms may be one of…
Sunglasses do more than complete an outfit or shield your eyes from bright light. Many are equipped with features that contribute to long-term eye health, polarization being one of the most popular. But while polarized sunglasses help improve comfort outdoors, people often wonder: do they also block UV rays? The short answer is no, not automatically. Polarized lenses and UV protection address different issues, and not all sunglasses offer both. To protect your eyes and see more clearly in sunny conditions, it’s important to understand…
Red light is gaining popularity in wellness and therapeutic settings for its potential benefits in skin health, pain management, and even eye care. With its increasing use in devices and treatments, it’s natural to wonder about its impact on your health, particularly your eyes. Red light is not generally harmful to your eyes. On the contrary, when used appropriately, it can be a key part of your eye and skin health routine. However, as with any technology, the more you understand about its…
When you hear terms like 20/20 or 20/40 vision during an eye exam, you may wonder what they mean for your sight. In simple terms, 20/40 vision means you can see at 20 feet what someone with “normal” vision can see from 40 feet. While 20/40 vision isn’t a severe impairment, it does indicate that your vision is slightly less sharp than average. In this article, we’ll break down how 20/40 vision impacts your daily life and explore ways to improve your clarity.…
If you wear glasses and are considering switching to contact lenses, you might wonder: Can you use the same prescription for both? The short answer is no—contact lens prescriptions differ from glasses prescriptions, even though they both aim to correct your vision. That’s because contact lenses sit directly on your eyes, while glasses rest at a distance. The physical difference affects how light enters your eye, changing the prescription values needed for sharp, comfortable vision. Understanding why these prescriptions differ can help you make confident…
Millions of people experience myopia (nearsightedness), a common refractive error, but leaving it unmanaged can increase the risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life. While you can’t cure or reverse myopia, we can prevent it from getting worse through myopia control therapies and a holistic approach that includes lifestyle changes. Annual routine eye exams help detect myopia early, encouraging timely intervention for these therapies for more effective results. All About Myopia Management Myopia is an eye condition that makes distant objects appear blurry…
Waking up with dry, gritty eyes can be an uncomfortable way to start the day. Whether it’s a mild irritation or an ongoing struggle, morning dry eyes can disrupt sleep quality and impact your mood and productivity. Morning dry eye symptoms can be caused by several factors (or a combination of them), including environmental factors (like humidity levels, dry climate, and poor air quality), medications, allergies, contact lenses, or tear quality. The good news is that understanding the potential causes of dry eye symptoms…
When thinking about maintaining good eye health, it’s easy to focus solely on regular eye exams or wearing the right prescription glasses. But did you know that your diet plays a major role in protecting your vision? At ERC Optometry, we believe in a holistic approach to eye care, which includes understanding how what you eat can impact your eyes. While plenty of foods are celebrated for their eye health benefits—like leafy greens, fish rich in omega-3s, and citrus fruits—it’s just as important to…