Eye Doctors serving patients in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake
March is SAVE YOUR VISION MONTH
By Gontarek Eye Care – 3/1/2021
March is SAVE YOUR VISION MONTH. Following are three stories from our patients who are very glad they were not too busy to get a comprehensive eye exam.
A 23 year old female from Norfolk came in for an eye exam because she noticed a change in her vision. She said “It’s time for new glasses.”
What our eye doctor discovered: She had a form of macular degeneration associated with severe nearsightedness. Her vision that day only corrected to 20/200…that’s considered legally blind! If she had come every year, this would have been caught earlier, treated quickly, and her vision loss would have been prevented. Fortunately, we referred her to a retina specialist who provided timely treatment. She eventually gained vision back in that eye, but not 20/20 vision…only 20/40 with best correction.
A mother from Virginia Beach brought her four-year-old son in for an eye exam at the recommendation of his pediatrician. The pediatrician had noticed decreased vision in his left eye on his vision screening. The patient’s mom had not noticed any signs or symptoms prior to that.
What our optometrist discovered: The young boy had juvenile glaucoma and had already lost a significant amount of sight in that eye. There are typically no signs or symptoms in the early stages of this visually devastating disease. Once the damage is done, sight cannot be regained. This is one of the reasons the American Optometric Association recommends pediatric eye exams at 6 months old, 3 years old, and 5 years old.
A 62-year-old man from Chesapeake came into our eye care clinic for an eye exam because it had been a few years and he said he was “overdue” for one. He had no complaints and was not noticing any problems or changes with his vision.
What our optometrist discovered: One of our eye doctors dilated his pupils as part of the comprehensive exam and found several small, unusual hemorrhages in the back of his eye. He was then referred for further testing. After seeing several specialists, it was found that he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma! His oncologist told him that the reason his cancer treatment worked so effectively was because it had been caught so early.
In today’s fast-paced world, a visit to the optometrist is often overlooked in the midst of our crazy schedules. However, we encourage you to make the extra effort and have a regular comprehensive eye exam for:
• Prevention of eye disease
• Prevention of permanent vision loss
• Evaluation of overall systemic health
Make eye examinations a part of your yearly preventative health care! If you have any questions, or to schedule an appointment for the entire family, please contact us at (757) 966-2206.
About our eye care clinic and optometrists
Since 2010, our eye doctors have provided families in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake with the best eye care possible. Our eye clinic is rooted in the philosophy of good old fashioned honesty and customer service – and our patients appreciate that. Our eye doctors and staff provide everything from routine vision care like eye exams and new glasses to co-managing surgical patients.