Richmond Eye Experts Blog

A 70-year-old Indian male with a history of diabetes and cataracts came in for his routine cataract follow-up. He felt perfectly healthy, and even recent cardiology exams had shown no issues. But our Optomap retinal imaging revealed subtle yet alarming signs, with worsening bleeding in specific areas of his retina.

Myopia (more commonly known as nearsightedness) is becoming increasingly common in children, and it can easily grow worse over time. Fortunately, your optometrist has a way to correct your child’s vision during the day while also slowing down the progression of their myopia: Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K for short. To help you make an informed decision for your child’s ocular health, here’s a closer look at Ortho-K and what the process looks like.

When your optometrist first hands you a prescription for new contact lenses, you’ll notice that it’s filled with all kinds of terms and numbers. Trying to make sense of this information may seem daunting at first, but once you have a grasp of the basics, you’ll have a much better understanding of how your contact lenses will be customized to meet your specific needs. Below is a brief overview of some of the terms you should know when reading your prescription.

A wide range of eye-related problems do not cause noticeable symptoms at first. In order to give yourself the best chance of having such issues caught before they can lead to vision loss, it’s recommended that you undergo at least one comprehensive eye exam every year. Below is a brief overview of what you can normally expect during this appointment, including some of the tests that your optometrist might perform.

If glasses and regular contact lenses no longer give you clear or comfortable vision, you may be a candidate for scleral contact lenses. These are advanced, custom-designed medical lenses used to treat keratoconus, corneal disease, severe dry eye, post-LASIK complications, and high or irregular prescriptions.

Unlike soft contact lenses, scleral lenses do not sit on the cornea. Instead, they vault over it and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), creating a liquid-filled cushion between the lens and your eye. This fluid layer smooths out corneal distortion, protects fragile tissue, and keeps the eye continuously hydrated — resulting in clearer vision, greater comfort, and healthier eyes.

Many of our patients come to us after being told,

“You’re not a contact lens candidate.”
Scleral lenses are often the solution for exactly those patients.

Contact lenses have become a very popular option for vision correction, with an estimated 45 million people in the United States using them. That said, if they aren’t properly cared for, they could potentially increase your chances of experiencing a variety of eye issues such as infections. Below are 5 helpful tips for making sure that you’re practicing healthy contact lens habits. 

While it’s easy to view sunglasses as a simple fashion accessory, the truth is that they can be a crucial tool for keeping your eyes in good health. In particular, they can provide protection against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause various problems with excessive exposure. Below is a closer look at how UV rays can affect your eyes and the importance of choosing the right glasses with UV-blocking lenses.

Diabetes can lead to all sorts of health issues, but did you know that it could potentially have an adverse effect on your vision? Some patients with diabetes suffer from an eye disease known as diabetic retinopathy, which can easily result in sight loss if it’s not treated quickly. Being able to recognize the problem is crucial for properly dealing with it; as such, here’s a closer look at diabetic retinopathy and some of the symptoms that can point to it.

Thanks to orthokeratology – or Ortho-K for short – it’s possible for nearsighted patients to enjoy clearer vision during their waking hours without having to rely on glasses or traditional contact lenses. But while Ortho-K is certainly an effective option for myopia management, it isn’t necessarily the best choice for everyone. Below is a closer look at how Ortho-K works and what can potentially disqualify someone from the treatment.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a rapidly increasing vision condition, especially among children. Today, nearly 1 in 3 adolescents are affected. Why is myopia becoming so widespread? And what can you do to help safeguard your child’s eyesight? Let’s take a closer look.