News & Resources

Notice of temporary closure for COVID-19

Posted by Gloucester & Almonte Family Optometristson in Almonte News, Gloucester News
Closed sign - but please call for urgent care

On the recommendation of the College of Optometry, we have decided to close our offices until March 29th to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. We feel it’s important to heed the government’s call for social distancing at this critical time.

Open only for urgent care

Updated March 20th: Both our Almonte and Gloucester offices will be closed except for urgent care as per the recommendations from the Ministry of Health. Appointments for routine care are cancelled but we are available for urgent cases.

If patients need to order contact lenses, this can be done through our website or by sending an email or leaving a message. Once contact lenses arrive, an appointment will be arranged for the patient to pick up.

Glasses can be picked up as well by arranging an appointment.

In all cases, we ask that you come to the clinic only if you are symptom-free and not in quarantine for another reason.

Almonte patients can leave a message at 613-256-0770 or by email at almonte@ottawafamilyeyecare.com.

Gloucester patients can call 613-745-5588 or email gloucester@ottawafamilyeyecare.com.

We thank you for your understanding and patience at this challenging time. Stay well.

2019 Holiday Hours for Both Clinics

Posted by Gloucester & Almonte Family Optometristson in Almonte News, Gloucester News
Holiday hours

In order to help you plan for the upcoming holiday period, we’re sharing our holiday hours for both clinics. We wish you a very happy holiday season!

Gloucester Hours

24 – 26 Dec CLOSED
27 Dec REGULAR HOURS
28 – 29 Dec CLOSED
30 Dec REGULAR HOURS
31 Dec 8:30 – 2pm
1 Jan CLOSED
2 – 3 Jan REGULAR HOURS

Almonte Hours

24 – 26 Dec CLOSED
27 Dec REGULAR HOURS
28 – 29 Dec CLOSED
30 Dec REGULAR HOURS
31 Dec 8am – 2pm
1 Jan CLOSED
2 – 3 Jan REGULAR HOURS

2020 Saturday Openings in Almonte

Jan 4, 18 | Feb 1, 22 | Mar 7, 21 | Apr 4, 18 | May 2, 23 | June 20, 27

Contact our Gloucester clinic or Almonte clinic to make your appointments, or book online.

Picture by Annie Spratt, Unsplash

Fall Prevention: Your Optometrist is here to help

Posted by Gloucester & Almonte Family Optometristson in Eyecare Tips & Resources
Two seniors walking on a snowy road

Building our awareness of risk factors as we age is a natural process, though we sometimes forget simple things that might help us.

November is actually Fall Prevention Month, and it’s a great time for seniors to book an eye exam. Sudden or gradual vision loss can greatly compromise independence as we age, including through the risk of frequent falls.

“By age 65, one in three Ontarians will have an eye disease that leads to changes in vision, and one in nine seniors experience irreversible vision loss.”

Source: The Ontario Association of Optometrists

For many seniors, a complicating factor comes in the form of medications, many of which can cause dry eye which in turn can lead to impaired vision. Advancing vision problems can intensify the difficulty of common daily tasks, increase the risk of depression, increase medication errors, and lead to double the risk of falls as well as quadruple the risk of hip fractures.

While changes in vision are a very natural part of aging, loss of vision can be avoided through regular eye exams and care under a qualified optometrist. If you or an aging parent has been putting off that eye exam, here’s an important reminder for sticking to regular appointments.

You can schedule a visit with one of our eye doctors either in Gloucester or Almonte. We look forward to seeing you.

Related Links

November is also Diabetes Awareness Month

 

Photo by Atanas Dzhingarov on Unsplash

Hallowe’en eye safety

Posted by Gloucester & Almonte Family Optometristson in Eyecare Tips & Resources
Woman with face painting

Hallowe’en is fast approaching and it’s a good time to remember some key eye safety points.

Cosmetic Contact Lenses – Be Safe, Not Sorry!

Cosmetic contact lenses are particularly popular at Halloween. Like contact lenses for visual correction, cosmetic contact lenses are classified as medical devices and can pose a risk of harm due to improper fit, use, or care. Complications can be serious, including vision loss.

If you can’t resist the allure of colourful contact lenses, be sure to purchase them from a licensed eye care professional. A prescription and proper instructions will help to minimize the risks associated with these medical devices. A licensed eye care professional can also ensure that the lenses are obtained from a licensed manufacturer.

If blurred vision, redness, discomfort, swelling or discharge occurs, stop using the lenses immediately and see your doctor of optometry. (You can contact our Almonte clinic or our Gloucester clinic if you are in the Ottawa area.)

Ensure Make-up Is Safe

Use products that are hypo-allergenic and make sure that any additives to the face paint are approved (check the recalls list at Health Canada if you are unsure).

When applying make-up near or around the eye, stay away from the lid, or lash line—the area where you would normally apply eye liner. If you are applying make-up very close to the eye, use only products approved for use in that area such as an eye-liner or eye shadow.

Don’t use blush or lip-liner to create a “red” effect, as some ingredients may not be approved for use in the eye and bacteria from the mouth can be transmitted to the eye.

Keep Costumes Safe

Avoid sharp or pointy objects such as swords in costumes. If your child must carry a sword, makes sure it is secured to the outfit. If your child does get poked in the eye, thoroughly inspect it for any signs of redness, decreased vision or pain.

Eye injuries may be more serious than they appear. If your child reports pain or blurred vision in the eye or if the eye is discoloured or bloodshot, you should take your child to see a doctor of optometry as soon as possible. Ensure masks don’t obstruct vision.

Be Seen After Dark

Use reflective tape and stickers on costumes and treat bags to increase visibility. Take a flashlight or wearable LED light so you can see and been seen.

October is Children’s Vision Month

Posted by Gloucester & Almonte Family Optometristson in Eyecare Tips & Resources
Boy smiling at optometrist

Many vision problems can be treated if caught early, but not all parents realize that regular exams at an early age are important. This October, remember that undiagnosed vision problems can impact a child’s learning and development.

Last month we underscored how vital vision is in the process of learning at school: 80% of classroom learning is visual. Vision problems can affect babies and children of all ages, making early and regular eye exams by a qualified optometrist essential.

Eye Rubbing

In the youngest children, eye rubbing can be a sign of a vision problem. If we see a young child rubbing their eyes we might assume an irritant is present, as with allergies, but it may be their vision is bothering them.

Common problems that can occur, sometimes together, include:

  • strabismus (misaligned eyes)
  • myopia (nearsightedness)
  • hyperopia (farsightedness)
  • astigmatism (causing distorted / blurred vision)

Glasses may be prescribed to treat these types of conditions successfully.

In addition, it’s possible that an eye disorder or disease may be present that needs to be addressed differently. One such example is Keratoconus, a progressive condition which causes thinning of the cornea at the front of the eye.

And not just any eye test will help to identify these conditions. Without the expertise of an optometrist and a comprehensive eye exam, your child’s vision problem could go undetected.

Regular Eye Exams

Young child using binocularsChildren should have their first routine eye examination between two and three years of age. However, if there are concerns such as a misaligned eye, frequent rubbing and blinking, infections, or failure to meet developmental milestones, infants as young as 6 months of age can be examined by our eye doctors.

Your child does not need to be able to read or to identify letters to have an eye examination.

The good news is that OHIP covers an annual comprehensive eye exam up to and including the age of 19.

Start a great yearly tradition with a visit to have your child’s eyes checked.

Schedule a visit with one of our eye doctors either in Gloucester or Almonte. We look forward to seeing you.