Blog | Airdrie Family Eye Doctors

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What Causes Clogged Meibomian Glands, and How Are They Treated?

Key Takeaways Meibomian glands are tiny oil glands along your eyelid edges, and their oil keeps your tears from drying too fast. When these glands get blocked or stop working well, the condition is called meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Age, hormone shifts, some medications, dry air, screen time, and contact lens wear can all play…

Optometrist looks through a slit lamp microscope to examine the eyes of an adult patient resting their chin on the device in a bright exam room.

Diabetes, Eye Care • November 9, 2026

Diabetic Retinopathy: Why Regular Dilated Eye Exams Matter

Key Takeaways Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood sugar damages small blood vessels in your retina. Early stages often bring no pain or vision changes, so your eyes can feel fine. A dilated eye exam gives your eye doctor a wide view of your retina, macula, and optic nerve. Retinal scans and dilation work as…

Older adult in a jacket steadies against a metal lamp post while stepping off a curb onto a residential street, looking down.

Eye Care, Vision Problems • November 6, 2026

Living with Low Vision and Blindness: Support, Resources and What an Eye Exam Can Detect

Key Takeaways Low vision means sight loss that glasses, contacts, or surgery can't fix, though some sight remains. Legal blindness is measured as 20/200 vision or a field of 20 degrees or less. Eye exams can detect signs of macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Magnifiers, electronic magnification, and phone accessibility settings can help…

Person in a floral head scarf sits in an armchair by a sunlit window, reading a book with a focused expression beside a plant and mug.

Eye Care • November 3, 2026

How Breast Cancer Treatment Can Affect Your Vision

Key Takeaways Eye side effects during breast cancer treatment are less common, though they're still worth watching. Dryness, watery eyes, blurry vision, and eyelid changes may show up during some treatments. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation have each been linked to vision changes. In some cases, changes may stop when treatment ends. A baseline eye…

A child in a green shirt rubbing both eyes while sitting at a kitchen table with an open, blank notebook and a pencil.

Eye Exams, Kids Eye Care • September 30, 2026

Eye Strain in School-Age Kids: Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam

Key Takeaways Tired eyes after reading or screen time are common in school-age kids. Watch for squinting, head tilting, eye rubbing, and headaches. Skipped homework or losing a place on the page can point to strain. Close-up device use and fewer blinks can add to dry, tired eyes. Yearly eye exams once school starts help…

Hand holding up scratched eyeglasses in front of a sunlit window, with blurred greenery and houses outside.

Eyewear • September 30, 2026

Why Scratched Lenses Can’t Be Buffed Out

Key Takeaways A scratch sits in the lens surface or its coating, so the damage stays put. Coatings go on during manufacturing, which means scratch-resistant treatment has to be requested when you order. Toothpaste, baking soda, and household glass cleaners can strip coatings and cloud your lenses. New lenses can often be fitted into the…

A child in striped pyjamas sitting cross-legged on a bed, smiling, beside a contact lens case and solution.

Myopia • August 28, 2026

What Is Ortho-K (Orthokeratology) and How Does It Help Slow Myopia Progression?

Key Takeaways Ortho-k uses rigid lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea for clear daytime vision. The method can help slow myopia progression in children by around 50%. Kids ages 6 to 16 with mild to moderate nearsightedness often respond well. Treatment starts with corneal mapping and custom-fitted lenses for each eye. 6-month checkups…

A focused child sits cross-legged on a living room rug, watching a flat-screen television.

Myopia • August 28, 2026

What Is Myopia? A Parent’s Guide to Nearsightedness in Children

Key Takeaways Myopia makes distant objects look blurry while close objects typically remain clear. Family history and frequent screen time can increase the risk of nearsightedness. Children rarely notice vision changes on their own. Early eye exams help track eye health from a young age. Myopia control methods, like specialty glasses and outdoor time, support…

A person leaning toward the bathroom mirror, inserting a contact lens, with the lens case and solution on the counter.

Eye Exams • July 29, 2026

How Often Do You Need an Eye Exam for Contacts?

Key Takeaways Contact lens wearers need an eye exam at least once a year, even if your vision feels fine. Contacts sit directly on the eye, so they should be checked regularly to ensure they fit properly and are not harming your eye health. This can be done as a part of your eye exam…

Person pressing fingers to temples while looking at an open book on a table, appearing strained.

Eye Care, Eye Exams, Vision Therapy • July 29, 2026

Do You Need a Binocular Vision Dysfunction Test? Signs to Watch For

Key Takeaways Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) can happen when your eyes struggle to work together as a team. Headaches, double vision, and dizziness may not be just "part of the day." They could be signs of BVD. If your child is squirming during homework or falling behind in reading, their eyes might be the culprit.…

Explore Our Blog

What Causes Clogged Meibomian Glands, and How Are They Treated?

Diabetic Retinopathy: Why Regular Dilated Eye Exams Matter

Living with Low Vision and Blindness: Support, Resources and What an Eye Exam Can Detect

How Breast Cancer Treatment Can Affect Your Vision

Eye Strain in School-Age Kids: Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam

Why Scratched Lenses Can’t Be Buffed Out

What Is Ortho-K (Orthokeratology) and How Does It Help Slow Myopia Progression?

What Is Myopia? A Parent’s Guide to Nearsightedness in Children

How Often Do You Need an Eye Exam for Contacts?

Do You Need a Binocular Vision Dysfunction Test? Signs to Watch For

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