General eye care and exams
Includes screening for eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and the treatment of eye infections.

Child friendly eye exams
Many children's eye disorders go undetected. After age 10 it is very difficult if not impossible to help a child obtain 20/20 vision if a significant deficit existed before this age. Many of these deficits are problems with reading or a "lazy eye", which are commonly overlooked during routine school screenings.

Contact lens fittings and care
Contact lens exams: Contact lens fittings include standard spherical lenses, colors, toric lenses for astigmatism, bifocal and multi-focal designs, and specialty lenses.

First, the optometrist and the optometry staff will ask you to provide current and previous ocular and medical health information. The optometrist will then complete a history, refraction, and an external and internal eye examination and render any diagnosis, which may include a prescription for eyeglasses. The examination will include pupillary dilation, which aids in testing for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration as well as other diseases of the eyes. Because the eye drops used for dilation may make the patients sensitive to bright light for a few hours, it is recommended that patients bring sunglasses to their appointment.

Barring any present or previous eye or vision problems, a routine eye examination to evaluate eye health should be done every one to two years. Periodic eye examinations are an important part of routine preventive health care. Many eye and vision conditions present no obvious symptoms. Therefore, individuals are often unaware that a problem exists. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for maintaining good vision and, when possible, preventing permanent vision loss.

The need for and frequency of eye examinations vary with age, race, medical history, family history, occupation, contact lens wear and other factors. Individuals with signs or symptoms of eye problems require prompt examination. In addition, the presence of certain risk factors may necessitate more frequent evaluations based on professional judgment.

There are a number of elements that make up the initial cost of contact lenses, not the least of which is the professional services necessary to provide the best lens selection and a good start toward safe, successful wear. If you are considering contacts, remember the services and materials needed are:

* the initial routine eye examination
* a contact lens examination and fitting
* the contact lenses
* the lens care kit
* lens wear and care training
* follow-up visits over a specified period of time.

If you already wear contact lenses and need replacements or if you want a spare pair, the total charge can include the actual cost of the lenses plus a service fee based on how much of the doctor's time is required. It is certainly important to check out costs when considering contact lenses, but don't base your decision on cost alone. All types of lenses are not the same. It is important for you to get the lenses that are healthiest for you, and the professional services and follow-up care to help you wear your lenses successfully.

If you have further questions regarding eye care services at Advanced vision Center,
please contact our Optometry Department at:
(339) 440-5105

Some people do have good luck with drugstore reading glasses. However, you need to visit your eye doctor regularly for two reasons:

* Regular eye exams are the only way to catch "silent" diseases in their early stages, when they're more easily treated.

* One-size-fits-all reading glasses do not work well for people who have a different prescription in each eye, or whose eyes are not centered in the lens. Headaches are a common problem in those cases.

Anti Reflecting Coating, also known as AR coating, helps you to see through your eyeglasses more easily, lets others see your eyes better and eliminates the annoying white glare spots in photos taken with a flash.

* Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close

* Losing his or her place while reading

* Using a finger to follow along while reading

* Squinting

* Tilting the head to see better

* Frequent eye rubbing

* Sensitivity to light

* Excessive tearing

* Closing one eye to read, watch TV or see better

* Avoiding activities that require near vision, such as reading or homework, or distance vision, such as participating in sports or other recreational activities

* Complaining of headaches or tired eyes

* Receiving lower grades than usual

Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor if your child exhibits any of these signs.

To choose glasses that your child can actually wear without breaking the bank, come on over to Advanced Vision Center and ask us about 25% off frames and lenses.

You should see your eye doctor if you're having any sort of problem with your vision. However, we can tell you some reasons this might be happening.

Watch this video on what causes blurry vision and how we can correct it.

This is a common problem for computer users who wear bifocals (which correct near and far vision) or reading glasses (which correct near vision), because computer monitors tend to be in your intermediate vision, neither near nor far. The solution is to ask your eye doctor about intermediate vision correction, in the form of either computer glasses or progressives or trifocals.

Sometimes, the problem is that the near-vision portion of your glasses is not compatible with what you're doing. Golfers, for example, benefit from having that portion placed very low and in the inside corner, so that it doesn't interfere with their game. Read more about these special types of multifocal, called occupational Lenses.

The tears your eyes produce are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Dry eye means that your eyes do not produce enough tears or that you produce tears which do not have the proper chemical composition.

With each blink of the eyelids, tears are spread across the front surface of the eye, known as the cornea. Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign matter in the eye, and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. Excess tears in the eyes flow into small drainage ducts, in the inner corners of the eyelids, which drain in the back of the nose.

People with dry eyes may experience symptoms of irritated, gritty, scratchy, or burning eyes, a feeling of something in their eyes, excess watering, and blurred vision. Advanced dry eyes may damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision.

Treatments for dry eyes aim to restore or maintain the normal amount of tears in the eye to minimize dryness and related discomfort and to maintain eye health. more info >>

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal pressure in your eyes increases enough to damage the nerve fibers in your optic nerve and cause vision loss. The increase in pressure happens when the passages that normally allow fluid in your eyes to drain become clogged or blocked. The reasons that the passages become blocked are not known.

The most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, develops slowly and usually without any symptoms. Many people do not become aware they have the condition until significant vision loss has occurred. It initially affects peripheral or side vision, but can advance to central vision loss. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to significant loss of vision in both eyes, and may even lead to blindness.

Glaucoma cannot currently be prevented, but if diagnosed and treated early it can usually be controlled. Medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. However, vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends an annual dilated eye examination for people at risk for glaucoma as a preventive eye care measure. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend more frequent examinations. more info >>

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It results from changes to the macula, a portion of the retina that is responsible for clear, sharp vision and is located at the back of the eye. Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form, for which there is no known treatment. The less common wet form may respond to laser procedures, if diagnosed and treated early.

Some common symptoms are: a gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly, distorted vision, a gradual loss of color vision, and a dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor of optometry immediately for a comprehensive examination.

Central vision that is lost to macular degeneration cannot be restored. However, low vision devices, such as telescopic and microscopic lenses, can be prescribed to maximize existing vision. more info >>

Spots (often called floaters) are small, semi-transparent or cloudy specks or particles within the vitreous, which is the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eyes. They appear as specks of various shapes and sizes, threadlike strands or cobwebs. Because they are within your eyes, they move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly.

Most spots are not harmful and rarely limit vision. But, spots can be indications of more serious problems, and you should see your optometrist for a comprehensive examination when you notice sudden changes or see increases in them.

By looking in your eyes with special instruments, your optometrist can examine the health of your eyes and determine if what you are seeing is harmless or the symptom of a more serious problem that requires treatment. more info >>


If you have any questions regarding eye care services at Advanced vision Center, please contact our Optometry Department at:
(339) 440-5105

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Advanced Vision Center (AVC) Dr. Tatyana Katz OD, eye care services glaucoma, lack of foresight, cataracts, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, orbital tumors, blindness, diabetic retinopathy
Designer Sunglasses, Contact lenses, vision/bifocal/multifocal lenses
serving Swampscott, Marblehead,Lynn, Salem, Danvers, Peabody, Lynnfield, Saugus, Boston, Nahant Boston area