Sherri Dmyterko: Paul Ferreiera credits being alive today on a routine appointment with his optometrist. What optometrist found saved his life by leading to the diagnosis of choroidal melanoma and the removal of Paul's right eye.
Paul Ferreiera: I felt no symptoms at all, no pain and I didn't notice any degrading or worsening of my eyesights since my last eye examination in 1987; there was nothing at all, they have gave even a clue that there was anything serious.
Sherri Dmyterko: The exam follow up in eventual diagnosis and surgery saved Paul's life and serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough preventive eye exams. Doctor Sabrina Ahmed is an optometrist practicing in Mississauga, Ontario.
Sabrina Ahmed: Seeing road sides clearly, being able to read or see color doesn't necessarily doesn't mean that ones eyes are healthy. So many ocular diseases occur without any visual symptoms whatsoever which is why it's so important to get ones eyes checked on a regular basis.
Sherri Dmyterko: Like Paul, Stephanie Dagenais understands just how important regular visits to the optometrist can be. After an eye exam, Stephanie's optometrist uncovered swelling of the optic nerve which light to the diagnosis of a life threatening tumor growing on her brain.
Stephanie Dagenais: When I found I had a brain tumor, I was very upset, very confused, thinking that I was in perfect this all time and the fact that if I hadn't been wearing glasses or if I hadn't had to go to my optometrist, we would have never known I wouldn't be here today. It is very important to go and see your optometrist not only for your vision problems, but they can also discover other health problems that could be possibly life threatening and in my case it was and my optometrist saved my life.
Sherri Dmyterko: The Canadian Association of Optometrist Guideline state that infants should visit an optometrist by six months, toddlers by three years, annual visits for school age children and every one to two years for adults and annually for adults over 65 years of age.
For more information about vision care and eye health you can visit the Canadian Association of Optometrist website and OPTO.ca or call 188-263-4676; Sherri Dmyterko reporting.
