About: Dr. Heather Cowie
Posts by Dr. Heather Cowie:
- Double Vision Posted on in Eye Exams
We are located just off Main St, in the Towerlane Shopping Centre. There is plenty of parking out front, and our team looks forward to welcoming you!
Explore expert advice, practical tips, and the latest research on maintaining eye health, preventing diseases, and more in our blog!
Imagine your child struggling to see the board at school or squinting at their homework every night. Myopia, or nearsightedness, can make daily activities a challenge, but there’s good news—myopia control lenses offer a way to slow the progression of this condition and protect your child’s long-term vision. These specialized lenses don’t just improve how […]
Some common causes of a baby rubbing their eyes include:
Tiredness
Dryness
Allergies
Infections
Myopia
Learning more about eye rubbing can help you make an informed decision about when to schedule an appointment for your child’s eye exam. […]
Myopia causes distant objects to appear blurry due to an elongated eye. Hyperopia makes close objects blurry because the eye is too short. Astigmatism distorts vision at all distances due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. […]
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and we’re here to shed some light on this stealthy yet potentially vision-threatening condition. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that affect the optic nerve. Think of the optic nerve as the unsung hero behind the scenes, responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. Now, here’s the catch […]
Let me start by saying WOW. Did I read that correctly? Has it really been 10 years? I remember bringing my 6-month baby to the clinic so that we could repaint, install counters and a sink, and hoping it would be dried for our first patient the next day. I remember feeling like I had […]
Your eyes are not just windows to your soul; they are intricate, delicate organs, acting as finely tuned cameras, designed to capture the world’s beauty in vibrant detail. These remarkable organs deserve their own superhero theme song, but instead, they often get hit with the blues when stress comes to town. Recognizing the significance of […]
Halloween is just around the corner, and you might be gearing up to put together the most epic costume ever. You’ve got the spooky decorations, the eerie soundtrack, and a killer costume idea. But wait, have you considered adding a unique touch to your look with colored contact lenses? Before you dive into the world […]
What is the Optomap? Have you ever wondered what the inside of your eye looks like? The Optomap is like the ultimate selfie stick for your eyeballs. It is a diagnostic tool that allows our Optometrists to capture an ultra-widefield view of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The Optomap […]
It’s no secret that computers, tablets, cell phones, and video games have become staples in our children’s everyday lives. So how does this affect our children? The truth is that most children are spending too much time on screens, which can lead to poor eye development and increases your child’s risk of developing certain eye […]
Too much rubbing could damage your eyes, worsen existing conditions like glaucoma, and increase your risk of getting an eye infection. […]
Just like the common cold, eye infections can happen to anyone. From shopping carts, door handles, and other everyday items, you can pick up bacteria and germs that can make their way into your eyes. Preventing eye infections takes positive hygiene practices, like using clean towels and washing your face and eyelids daily, to help […]
Medical terms for many conditions develop new names that are easy to digest for the layperson. Eye diseases are no different. Amblyopia and strabismus are sometimes referred to as “lazy” eyes because one eye sees better than the other. Not only is the term lazy eye misleading, but it’s also inaccurate. These conditions aren’t a […]
There’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that dark mode helps digital eye strain, but it may help reduce blue light, potentially affecting sleep quality.
It’s been suggested that dark mode isn’t enough, and what makes the difference is dimming the screen’s brightness setting.
[…]
Many factors can contribute to dry eye, including the foods you eat, your environment, and digital eye strain. The good news is, adding vitamins and minerals such as omega-3s and Vitamins A, D, and B12 can help protect against dry eye disease and maintain your overall health. […]
For many children of school age, myopia, sometimes known as nearsightedness, is a fact of life. About 30% of Canadians have it, with projections suggesting as much as 50% of the world population will have it by 2050! Suffice it to say, if you have it, you’re in good company. But what if your child […]
Experiencing dry eyes is never pleasant, and finding relief is usually the first thing on your mind. The first step to finding relief is visiting your optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam to get to the bottom of your dry eye symptoms. But dry eye can come in different forms, like evaporative dry eye. Let’s […]
Simply put, a comprehensive eye exam evaluates the health and function of your eyes. During an eye exam, your optometrist will check all parts of your eyes to check overall health and identify any eye conditions if present. Eye exams for adults, seniors, and children provide a proactive approach to eye health. Early detection of […]
It’s important to start your young children off right in every manner, including their eye health. But when should you begin having your child’s eyes examined? Beginning early is best to ensure they are successful at home, at school, and during after-school fun. It’s crucial to schedule eye tests for children early because some early […]
Vision care is a consistent process. With the evolution of vision care research, your optometrist has more options than ever to help manage your vision. Vision therapy is a program built on evidence-based activities to help your visual system. Let’s look at how vision therapy works, including some exercises you can do and the vision […]
You’ve probably heard people talking about our eyes being windows to our souls, which is a nice thought but lacks evidence! On the other hand, routine comprehensive eye exams regularly catch many different diseases and conditions. Diabetes is one of those diseases that isn’t directly related to your eyes. However, not only can it affect […]
Contact lenses can be a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. They can be more convenient and hassle-free and they don’t fog up! Have you tried wearing contact lenses and given up on them because they didn’t quite work for you? Wearing contact lenses can cause dry eyes, although this can be treated and avoided by […]
Wow! What a whirlwind these last few months have been, we sincerely hope that you and your families are healthy and happy during this challenging time. On April 30th the Alberta government announced that essential health services, which includes Optometry clinics can return to offering routine care. This announcement means that we can now begin […]
What I was in my 20s, I spent some time living in Guatemala. I worked at an eye care mission and saw first-hand how even the most basic care could make an unbelievable difference in someone’s life, particularly someone living in a developing country. My experiences in Guatemala played a huge role in my decision […]
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of local Airdrie businesses close their doors. As a local business owner and a proud member of the Airdrie community, it makes me sad to see so many awesome Airdrie stores, restaurants, and more go under. Lately, I’ve been trying to support more local businesses and I’ve […]
80% of learning is visual, which is why optometrists try to stress the importance of eye exams for kids. But as a parent and optometrist, I think we’re focusing too much on a single facet of a multi-faceted issue. The reality is that vision affects your child in every area of their life, not just […]
Vision is a crucial part of the learning process. In fact, research indicates that approximately 80% of learning is visual. Regardless of your child’s age, they rely on their eyesight to help them reach developmental milestones, keep up with peers academically, and even pick up on social cues. However, the increase in myopia or nearsightedness […]
It’s no secret that vision problems can severely disable a child’s vision problem. But what happens if your child has vision issues and another learning disability? Research shows that children with learning disabilities are actually more likely to suffer from vision problems. Unfortunately, the symptoms associated with many learning disabilities often overlap with the symptoms of […]
UV & You: How Ultraviolet Light Affects Your Eyes You know you should wear sunglasses for your eyes and you know not to look directly at the sun. But do you know why? Every day, you’re warned against the dangers of UV light. But do you know what that means? Before you can protect yourself, […]
Living Without Colour: Understanding Colour Deficiency Did you know that colour blindness really isn’t blindness at all? It’s a deficiency. Did you know that about 8 percent of men are colour deficient, while less than 1 percent of women are? We’ve heard a lot about colour deficiency or “colour blindness” over the span of our […]
A Close Look at Macular Holes Your body changes over time; sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. While we can’t always change this fact, we can educate ourselves so we know what to look for, and when a change requires medical attention. In this article, we’ll be covering macular holes; what you need […]
Corneal Abrasions: Do They Damage Your Eyes? The human eye is not a particularly tough organ. It’s soft, exposed, and an essential part of our everyday lives. As such, it’s no surprise that eyes sustain injuries every day. The most common of these injuries is the corneal abrasion. A corneal abrasion is really just a […]
Understanding Double Vision Double vision is a condition that’s familiar to most. It’s so common in fact, that cartoons and comedies often use double vision as a joke or a gag. While it can set up some funny situations, double vision can cause significant difficulty and frustration, and can even be a symptom of a […]
“What an amazing experience! The office is easy to locate in Towerlane Mall and there’s lots of parking right in front. Entering, it is very clean, bright and the friendly staff greet you right away! Looking for new glasses for myself, we were presented with a very large and diverse selection to choose from. I can’t begin to recommend this Family Clinic highly enough and would without hesitation, rate a 10⭐ if that option were available. If you’re looking, give them a call, you’ll be happy you did!!”
My youngest and I will never go anywhere else. Your vision really is their number one priority. Treated with respect, kindness and compassion. Very grateful!
Absolutely love this place, from the moment you walk in the door you’re greeted with smiling faces and positives attitudes. My kids love seeing Dr. Cowie, she can brighten up anyone’s day 💜
We are long time patients at Airdrie Family Eye Doctors for a very good reason. We have interacted with multiple doctors and front end staff and they are all amazing. You will never find a better eye doctor than this. They are honest, trustworthy, and compassionate. They are dedicated members of the Airdrie community working incredibly hard to make a difference far beyond their clinic practice. I can’t say enough good about them. Highly recommend.
Great team – always go above & beyond to help and get you to the place you need to be with your vision without overselling. They genuinely care about the service they provide. Thanks!
“Airdrie Family Eye Doctors has been taking care of my whole family’s eye care needs since we moved to Airdrie 8 years ago. It always is a pleasant experience and every one is so caring and seem to really enjoy their jobs.”
“We see Dr. Kanji for our family and she is outstanding. She has a great sense of humor and is extremely thorough. Dr. Kanji is wonderful with children and teens alike. The staff that helps with glasses and contacts are incredibly friendly and helpful. They try every route with your insurance to save you on out of pocket expenses. I highly recommend Airdrie Family Eye Doctors.”