Vision Health Month

A fter suffering an eye injury, most people head to their doctor or the emergency room, but that's not necessarily the best idea. Optometrists are specially trained to treat eye injuries and infections, and in most cases, a patient will be seen a lot faster at an optometrist's office than if they went to an emergency room or urgent-care clinic. "If you have excess bleeding, serious trauma or sudden blindness, call 911 or go to emergency," says Dr. Irene Mestito-Dao of the Henderson Vision Centre, adding that an optometrist can treat most other eye emergencies. Optometrists typically leave room in their daily schedules for emergencies, but make sure to mention the emergency when calling for an appointment. "People often just call to make an appointment and don't express it's for more than a regular eye exam," Mestito-Dao says. "But if it's an eye-health problem you tend to go to the top of the list. We can prescribe the medication or make the referral you might need." If you're experiencing any eye irritation, inflamed (red or pinkish) eyes, or know you've got something in your eye, it's important to see an optometrist right away. Also make an appointment if you're experiencing unusual flashes, floaters or pain. "The sooner we catch it, the easier it is to treat. We've had kids come straight from school, but when it comes to adults, they're more likely to wait until the end of the day," says Mestito-Dao. "It's better to call as soon as you're aware of it. The longer there's something on the eye, the more uncomfortable the eye gets." Only 20 per cent of people with eye injuries go to their optometrist first. As a result, many risk being misdiagnosed or having the problem go untreated, she adds. "If a misdiagnosis happens, it could lead to complications. I get a lot of patients coming in after they've gone to the emergency room or their doctor and the problem hasn't gotten better," Mestito-Dao says. "They didn't really think of coming to me. They just didn't think of it — they see their general doctor as being their go-to person for all problems." Another benefit is that your optometrist knows what your regular vision was, and if there were any reoccurring infections or other issues. "If they're regular patients, we have their history. It's much simpler for everyone if there's already a history," says Mestito-Dao. "If something is happening too often, like an infection or inflammation, we might treat it differently." Most eye emergencies happen in the home. Mestito-Dao says 44 per cent of eye injuries can be prevented with some simple precautions. "A lot of eye emergencies involve foreign bodies — people have gotten something in their eye or had a fingernail to the eye. We've seen a lot of eyes scratched by babies. A lot of people get mascara brushes to the eye," she says. "Eye emergencies are also often related to home renovations and construction." People who are using equipment like saws often wear safety goggles, but those around them don't, which results in small particles of wood or metal getting in their eyes. "Put on safety goggles before spraying harsh chemicals or doing home renovations and avoid being in the path where things are flying around," says Mestito-Dao. "Make sure the branches on your property are (trimmed) enough not to walk into them, and don't apply makeup in your car. Point things away from you before you spray them or open them." Seeing your optometrist for an eye injury also helps ease the burden on the medical system. "If we can help out with eye issues and eye injuries, it helps the whole system. We can't do anything for a broken leg, but we've got training in the eye," Mestito-Dao says. "You also get through the system faster. You're not saving any steps by waiting at urgent care. You don't need a referral to go to the optometrist, and we have more machines geared to treat the eye." While she suspects some patients go to their general practitioners to save money, she says Manitoba Health will cover some eye treatments and children are fully covered until they turn 19. "It's a really good idea to see your doctor of optometry every two years," she says. "When we do a full exam, we get more information to help us treat any problems." To find an optometrist near you, please visit mb.doctorsofoptometry.ca. ◗ eye emergency? call your oPtometrist By hoLLi MoncrieFF For The Free Press Dr. Irene Mestito-Dao examines a patient holding a 90D diagnostic lens used to look at the retina. Photo by Darcy Finley vision health month pag e 10

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