The worst patient in the world is one who sees well and falls victim to eye pathology or disease, many of which have symptoms at all.

Here's an example: the human eye, being fluid-filled, can over time have its drainage system slowly blocked, increasing the pressure inside the eye and slowly killing the optic nerve. The optic nerve is not a true nerve but an extension of brain tissue which does not regenerate, so all damage from this (glaucoma) is permanent. It does not get better, so early detection is essential.

The bottom line is this: eye examinations are not only about vision, but about health as well, and eyesight is irreplaceable. You want to make sure that the rest of your body is healthy - why not your eyes?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye care. Both an optometrist (OD) and an ophthalmologist (MD) detect and treat ocular disease, but an ophthalmologist is needed if a surgical option is required.

Technically known as myopia, this is a refractive error in which objects up close are seen more clearly than objects at a distance. Myopia is caused by the eye being too long for its focal length, causing images to be focused in front of the retina.

Technically known as hyperopia, this is a refractive error in which objects at a distance are seen more clearly than objects up close. Hyperopia is caused by the eye being too short for its focal length, causing images to be focused behind the retina.

Astigmatism is the most common eye problem in the world. It is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance. Imagine the surface of a mirror being curved, not flat, and the effect it would have on an image.

Welcome to the age of presbyopia! Presbyopia is the loss of the ability to see clearly up close, caused by the crystalline lens in the eye losing its ability to change shape, or accommodate. In most patients, symptoms begin in the early forties and continue until the mid sixties, when the lens in the eye completely loses its ability to bend. But don't worry! This can be corrected with either reading glasses, bifocal or progressive lenses, or multifocal or monovision contact lenses.

No. With glasses sitting in front on your eyes and contact lenses directly on your eyes, each prescription is determined differently. A contact lens prescription also requires a particular brand, diameter, and base curve.

Certain contact lenses are FDA-approved to sleep in and are advantageous for younger patients who don't need "one more thing to do in the morning". If you are interested, Dr. Thomas will help you determine which contact lens is right for you.

All contact lenses, even if they are for cosmetic purposes only, are medical devices and must be prescribed by an eye care professional. Contact lenses are fit in tenths of a millimeter. Too loose of a lens chafes the eye and too tight cuts off oxygen to the eye, but these problems are seldom noticed immediately.

Yes! Many choices are available with today's contact lens market. Depending on your prescription and your situation, Dr. Thomas will determine what choice and type of contact lens is the best option for you.

Contact lenses are a medical device and must be prescribed by an eye care professional. Your eyes can change over the course of a year and must be evaluated annually to ensure proper health and fit.

Our office sends glasses jobs to a local outside lab. The turnaround time is typically 7 to 10 business days.

This depends entirely on the frame and the situation. As long as your frame is in good condition (which we will check beforehand), it can be reused. Keep in mind though that this usually requires sending the frame to the lab. Also, neither our office nor the lab can be held responsible if the frame is damaged in any way during this process.

A progressive lens (sometimes referred to as a "no-line bifocal") is a bifocal lens with an infinite number of focal points. The lens gradually strengthens as you look down it, allowing you to view multiple distance lengths, such as a computer, a dashboard, and a newspaper.

An anti-reflective (AR) coating is a coating that is generally applied to the front of lenses and provides numerous benefits. AR's main purpose is to reduce the amount of glare that you receive, from computer monitors to overhead lights to nighttime driving and more. Because it is cutting out that glare, it tends to make the lenses look clear as well, so people can see YOU and not various reflections. Also, have you ever seen someone whose eyes look incredibly minified or magnified? (Think of Milton from Office Space, for example.) AR helps reduce that, especially in higher prescriptions.

Absolutely! Different types of high-index lenses are available to cut down on the thickness of a high prescription lens, whether you're nearsighted or farsighted. The higher index you go, the thinner the lenses will be. Something you can do in addition is add an anti-reflective coating to your lenses, which will help reduce the magnification or minification of your eyes due to the prescription, as well as drastically reduce glare.