Vision Services

Eye Exams

At CHOW Eye Institute, we offer our patients a wide variety of programs for optimal vision care which includes a thorough vision analysis, eye health examination, and diagnostic evaluation.

Newborn and Infants

Your pediatrician or family physician may perform a vision screening at this age and may refer to an optometrist for a comprehensive assessment.

Children’s eye exams

Children as young as six months of age can have an eye exam, and the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that all children have a screening test by the age of three years. Children nineteen and under are covered for one full exam every twelve months through OHIP. The most common eye conditions in children are myopia (nearsightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) which, with appropriate treatment, can usually be corrected.

Due to advancements in technology, toddlers and school aged children are exposed to electronic devices at a much earlier age and tend to use them as frequently as adults do. This can easily lead to eye strain and can potentially cause an earlier onset of myopia. We have dedicated our practice to the detection and treatment of myopia as early as possible to prevent the pathological myopia progression.

Adult & senior eye exams

As a full service optometric office, we offer a wide variety of programs for vision improvement. Our family care services include a thorough vision analysis, eye health examination, and diagnostic evaluation.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are our specialty. It begins with a comprehensive contact lens exam and fitting. Whether you are a new to wearing contact lenses or already experienced in contact lens wear, we are happy to provide you with the best contact lens options for optimal vision.

We offer many types of modern contact lenses. From soft contact lenses to specialty lenses for certain eye conditions, to custom contact lenses worn overnight to allow clear vision during waking hours, a wide selection exists for our patients to choose from.

The following are contact lens types we specialize in:

If you have severe dry eyes, irregular corneas due to diseases like keratoconus or have had corneal surgery such as corneal transplant or laser/incisional refractive surgery, scleral lenses may be the best form of vision correction.

Scleral lenses are also used in patients who do not have any conditions of the eye. It can be used in people with very active lifestyles such as sports enthusiasts, or in people who are exposed to dry and dusty environmental conditions such as frequent flyers and construction workers.

Scleral lenses provide the comfort of a soft contact lens with the superior vision of a rigid gas permeable lens. They are large diameter rigid lenses that gently rests on the white of your eyes called the sclera. The lens vaults over the cornea leaving a small pocket of space that separates the lens and the cornea. This space is filled with saline which functions to lubricate or “bathe” your eyes in moisture as well as allow for improved vision by compensating for poor vision due to corneal irregularities.

Ask one of our eye care specialists today if scleral lenses are right for you.

We use the latest technologies to provide you the best fit with state-of-the-art equipment for progressive contact lens diagnostics:

Medmont E300 Topography & Topcon Topographer
ORA
A-Scan
OCT
Anterior Segment Photography

We recommend that all our patients consider doing a special diagnostic test called the Optical Coherence Tomography or OCT. This safe, non-invasive procedure will provide a cross-section of the retina and optic nerve as well as display a 3-D model of the back of the eye. The OCT is able to predict and analyze even the smallest detail of the retina and is considered standard of care for retinal diseases like myopic maculopathy, glaucoma and systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The results are immediate and our doctors will discuss your findings with you in detail.

Our clinic is only one of few across Canada that has the OCT-Angiography (OCT-A). Using special imaging technology, the OCT-A detects the movement of blood flow in the retina and choroid and helps in assessing vascular disorders such as myopic maculopathy, choroidal neovascularization, retinal vascular occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, macular telangiectasia and central serous chorioretinopathy. This is safe and non-invasive and the results are immediate.

Superb Optical

Offering unique artisanal, handmade and exclusive designer and luxury eyewear.

Our services include on site fabrication, prescription glasses and sunglasses, frame adjustments and repair, and personalized style consultation.

Ocular Diseases & Emergency Care

This disease is an acquired degeneration of the retina that affects your central vision and spares your peripheral vision. As you age, your central vision may become blurry and eventually lead to a blind spot. There are two forms: the dry form (non-leaky blood vessels) and the wet form (leaky blood vessels). There is a predilection to those of European ancestry, those who spend too much time in sun and also to those who have nutritional deficiencies.

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease where higher-than-normal eye pressure can cause thinning of the neural tissue of your optic nerve. This can lead to peripheral vision loss and shrink over time until you only have tunnel vision. Progression is slow and painless so glaucoma is considered the "thief in the night". Asians and Hispanics are prone to normal tension glaucoma where the eye pressure is within the normal range but can still cause the optic nerve to atrophy. Treatment options include eye pressure lowering eye drops, laser surgery and filtering surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels can be high and will very easily cause leaky blood vessels and swelling to form in the back of the eye. Abnormal arterioles will start to develop and when left untreated they can cause irreversible damage. Diabetic retinopathy has several stages but the signs and symptoms can occur at any stage. It is essential to have a comprehensive eye exam annually for early detection and prevention. A detailed report will be sent to the primary care physician who can properly manage your diabetes. Diabetic eye exams are fully covered by OHIP.

Hypertension is a chronic systemic condition where your heart rate is elevated and can cause heart disease and significant vision problems if it is not properly managed. While early stages of hypertension can exhibit no symptoms, the damage to the blood vessels may already be present. Blood vessels become narrow and bleeding can occur. When pressure is extremely high, headaches and blurred vision is almost certain. As optometrists, we will collaborate with your family physician in caring for your hypertension.

Cardiovascular disease can be detected in the eye and serves as an early indication that there may be presence of the disease elsewhere in your body. Hypertension and carotid artery disease are both contributors to causing sudden loss of vision in either eye or in some cases, both eyes. These diseases involve the lack of blood flow to the eye due to a blood clot or blockage of fatty deposits and narrowing of the arterial wall. In many cases, the emboli or “plug” can originate from your heart or along a part of your vascular system and travel to the eye. Thus, it is important and crucial that you have your eyes examined annually so that we can detect and immediately refer you for management of this potential life threatening disease.

Keratoconus is a corneal condition where the natural bulge of the front surface of the eye progressively steepens to the shape of a “cone”. This irregular shape causes thinning of the cornea which can eventually cause rupture in the corneal layers. The end result is compromised vision which can only be corrected with a corneal transplant. Using corneal topography, our doctors can screen for keratoconus and recommend various treatments such as prescription drops, specialty contact lenses, surgical consultation and referral to the ophthalmologist for corneal crosslinking with or without laser refractive surgery and for Intacs corneal implants.

While the threat of COVID-19 pandemic remains at large, those who have been diagnosed with Coronavirus may possibly have pink eye followed by fever and nasal congestion. It is important to get tested for COVID-19 if you suspect you have pink eye. There is evidence that respiratory droplets can enter your eye and transmit the coronavirus. Thus, frequent hand washing is strongly advised as well as wearing eye protection and ensuring that objects that you touch are sanitized thoroughly before anyone else touches the object.

Accidents happen. When you suffer an injury to your eye or experience sudden changes to your vision, you should seek immediate medical attention no matter how minor the injury is. Our office is available for same day emergency appointments. Please call 905-415-3881 during office hours. Outside of office hours, please proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Serious symptoms include:

Sudden loss of vision
Sudden double vision
Eye pain
Redness or swelling in and around the eyes
Sudden onset of flashing lights or floaters
Foreign object in the eye
Scratch on your eye

First Aid for your Eyes

For chemical burns, immediately flush your eye with saline water. Try not to use tap water as tap water harbors many bacteria that can cause loss of vision.
For foreign objects in the eye, do not attempt to remove the object yourself. Do not move the object or rub your eye. Apply sterile gauze over the eye and bandage it before going to our clinic or to the emergency room.
If you wear contact lenses and experience red eye and pain, discontinue contact lens wear immediately and wear your glasses only. Call us immediately to schedule an exam.

Vision Therapy

If you experience double vision, eye strain or cannot see 3D, you may lack eye coordination and proper eye teaming skills. Because one out of four children and adults experience visual discomfort, we will identify and help you manage the following eye conditions:

Amblyopia
Strabismus
Binocular Dysfunction
Vision Information Processing

Sports Vision

Most if not all sports enthusiasts prefer not to wear glasses when playing sports. We offer all options that will enable you to see clearly and comfortably.

Refractive Surgery Co-Management

As a full service optometric office, we offer a wide variety of programs for vision improvement. Our family care services include a thorough vision analysis, eye health examination, and diagnostic evaluation.

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Pre/Post-Surgical Co-Management

Whether you require cataract, laser refractive surgery, glaucoma or retinal surgery, our doctors will be able to prepare you for the best outcome before surgery and monitor your recovery after surgery.

Digital Eye Strain

Digital Eye Strain or Computer Vision Syndrome characterizes a group of symptoms related to prolonged digital device use such as computers, tablets and phones. Symptoms include headaches, focusing issues, blurriness, neck and back pain and dry eyes. To help alleviate eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes of work on a digital device, take a 20 second break and look 20 feet away. If you are experiencing any of these issues, book and appointment with us for an assessment and to discuss your options on symptom relief.