OPTX Optometry - Los Angeles & Valencia

Can my contact lenses get 'lost' behind my eyeball?

No, this can NEVER happen as the eyeball has a 'safety net' situated underneath both eyelids. This 'safety net' is a membrane called the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a continuous membrane enveloping the outer portion of the eyeball as well.

Why is it more difficult for me to see at night?

When it gets dark, our pupils dilate and this makes everyone more short-sighted. This is usually why night-time vision is worse than during the day even if you are wearing your up-to-date prescription. Should you be driving at night, more care should be taken on the roads, as oncoming headlamp glare can be quite distracting. Any prescription found for general use should obviously be worn in these conditions. Some inherited conditions of the eye like retinitis pigmentosa also cause problems with night vision.

Why do we become more "far-sighted" as we grow older?

This is due to a progressive change that occurs within the natural lens of the eye and is called presbyopia. Although similar to far-sightedness in its effect, these two conditions are not identical. Please see far-sightedness and presbyopia for more information.

What does the eye exam involve?

An Eye Exam allows the optometrist to:

Determine any relevant prescription for your eyes (far or near-sighted, astigmatism, Presbyopia)
Check that the muscles of the eyes work together
Check your Eye Health and screen for any associated general health problems
Perform any further testing as deemed necessary like Eye Pressures, Visual Fields, Color Vision or Pupil Dilation

What is the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist?

Ophthalmologists are sometimes known as eye surgeons or eye specialists as they concentrate on diagnosing and treating eye diseases. They are essentially medical doctors that specialize in eyes and may perform surgery and prescribe medication as they see fit. Some also undertake the prescription of spectacles, contact lenses and recommend eye exercises, although this is quite rare. Optometrists will screen the eyes for diseases and refer to ophthalmologists if necessary. However, optometrists concentrate on spectacle and contact lens prescriptions. Some specialize in eye exercises to improve eye muscle conditions.