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Eye Exams
How often should I have my eyes examined? Drs. Eveland and Smalley recommend an annual eye exam to monitor your eye and vision health. Many eye and vision disorders can be detected and treated early before they cause vision loss. Remember check yearly to see clearly!
At what age should children first have their eyes examined? The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye and vision exams first at 6 months of age and then again at age 3 or 4. Our doctors recommend parents definitely bring their children in for an exam before they start school and sooner if they notice any squinting, eye-turns, poor coordination, headaches or if there is any family history of eye or vision problems. Drs. Eveland and Smalley both participate in the InfantSEE program. This is a public health program designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. Under this program they will provide a comprehensive infant eye assessment within the first year of life as a no cost public health service.
Contact Lenses
Is there anything new for contact lens wearers? Contact lens technology has progressed at an amazing pace recently. We now have continuous wear silicone lenses that many patients can safely wear without taking out for up to 30 days! These new lenses let about 6 times more oxygen through to your eyes than any other lens we have ever had.
We also have daily disposable contact lenses that are extremely convenient, in that, they remove the need to store and clean you contacts.
Acuvue Advance contact lenses with Hydroclear technology can significantly reduce contact lens dryness.
Can I wear contacts if I have astigmatism or need a bifocal? We also have new soft disposable contact lenses that even correct your vision if you have astigmatism or need bifocals.
There are also many new colored contact lens options.
Eyeglasses
What is the difference between no-line (progressive) bifocals and lined bifocals? After age 40, most people need new glasses for reading small print . In the past people had to choose from readers or lined bifocals. The lined bifocals had a upper distance vision lens with a lower reading vision lens. The two parts of the lens were divided by a visible line. Now people have choices. Progressive lenses, or no- line bifocals, correct for far, near and intermediate distances. They “progressively” get stronger for near vision as you look down to the bottom of the lens. This gets rid of the need for the distracting line. It also gives you more natural vision at all distances, not just far and very close. The Wal-Mart Vision Center carries the top quality progressive lenses, including Varilux, to help give you the best vision possible.
How do I make my lenses lighter and Thinner? New laboratory technology has allowed for lighter and thinner eyeglass lenses. We offer new high index types of plastic that can significantly reduce the thickness and weight of lenses. The days of “coke-bottle” glasses are gone!
What can I do if I have problems with glare? With ordinary lenses, headlights and street lights
create distracting double images that can hurt your eyes. Long hours in front of a computer screen and harsh fluorescent lighting can really make for tired eyes. Zeiss brand anti-reflective lenses have been proven in studies to dramatically reduce eye fatigue caused by light reflections. Zeiss lenses also eliminate those annoying glare and reflections and let the natural beauty of your eyes shine through.
What are the best kind of sunglasses for the lake? It is extremely important to protect your eyes from the damaging UV rays from the sun. UV can contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration. Please be sure to ask your doctor about having a UV protective coating put on your outdoor lenses. The Wal-Mart Vision Center also highly recommends polarized sun-wear while playing on or around the lake. Polarization is like a chemical venetian blind which rearranges light and lets you see "through" glare. 100% polarized lenses are the only truly effective way of eliminating glare off water, rain, snow, early morning dew and roads and highways.
How do I know if refractive surgeries like LASIK are for me? LASIK has allowed thousands of people to significantly reduce their dependence on glasses. The best way to find out if you are a good candidate is to ask your primary eye-care providers, the doctors at the Wal-Mart Vision Center. They can perform special tests that can determine if you are a good LASIK or other refractive surgery candidate. If they feel you are a good candidate they will help you make an informed decision whether surgery is your best option and which surgeon and surgery site would be best for you. They also can do all the follow-up visits right here at the Jefferson City office to make sure your eyes heal correctly after surgery.
How much does LASIK cost? Custom-Wavefront LASIK now is down to $3800 for both eyes at the TLC Laser Eye Center in St. Louis. This includes all the pre-operative testing, post-op visits and the surgery itself. There are excellent payment plans available. Some insurance companies do give a discount, but rarely pay for the entire procedure.
