Dr. David Mitchell, Optometrist, Vancouver, BC

Recent Health Talks Authored by Dr. David Mitchell

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  Retinal detachment detected in a routine eye exam.

  David is a 45 year old male who came in for routine eye exam. He had no visual complaints and had laser refractive surgery 4 years previous. Uncorrected vision remains 20/20 and no correction was suggested.

  Dilated retinal exam including digital scanning ophthalmonoscopy found a retinal detachment in the mid periphery of the right eye. He was immediately referred to a retinal specialist who completed successful surgery that afternoon.

  Not all retinal detachments come with the classic signs of floaters, flashed and veiling of vision. The retina has no pain fibres, so many detachments are asymptomatic.

  David will have to continue seeing an optometrist and possibly an Ophthalmologist for routine exams to screen for other eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy as he ages.

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  Retinal Detachment Detection and Treatment " David is a 45-year-old bank manager "

  David is a 45-year-old bank manager who visits his optometrist for a routine eye exam. He used to wear eyeglasses, but had laser eye surgery 4 years ago to correct his vision.

  Upon examination, the optometrist discovers that David's uncorrected vision is still 20/20 and he requires no correction. A dilated retinal exam was conducted including digital scanning ophthalmoscopy to take pictures of the eye and determine the health of the retina. A retinal detachment was discovered in the mid-periphery of the right eye. Not all retinal detachments come with classic signs of floaters or other vision changes, so it is not uncommon to see a retinal detachment with absolutely no symptoms. David is immediately referred to a retinal specialist who completes successful surgery that afternoon and corrects the retinal detachment.

  It is important for David to carefully follow the recovery plan following his surgery with respect to pain management and caring for his eye. Retinal detachment may not always be prevented, however is sometimes linked with inflammatory conditions, high blood pressure and cataract removal. David should follow up with his family physician to see if he has any uncontrolled health issues that should be managed, and could see an exercise specialist and/or massage therapist to increase his activity level and help with relaxation techniques.

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  Eye Health and Night Vision Problems - " Stephanie is a 35-year-old figure skating coach"

  Stephanie is a 35-year-old figure skating coach who has recently noticed some difficulty driving at night when she returns from the rink after dark. She does wear eyeglasses and is up to date with her eye exams.

  Stephanie visits her optometrist who performs some vision testing to assess Stephanie's symptoms. He notes that her glasses continue to provide 20/20 vision with only slight changes to her prescription. Further testing is done to see if there are any higher order aberrations (HOA's). HOA's are distortions in the eyes that can cause issues driving at night including glare and blurred vision. Significant HOA's are found in both eyes, and Stephanie is given a new distance vision prescription for eyeglasses to reduce the glare and bleeding of lights she is experiencing at night.

  Stephanie would also benefit from being assessed for other eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration, since this can cause HOA's and issues with night vision. Stephanie should speak with her family doctor to ensure any other health symptoms are considered, given the changes in her eye health. A registered dietitian could help Stephanie understand which foods would help her with the required vitamins and minerals to promote good eye health.