Eye Care FAQ's

If you have an eye care related question and cannot find the answer below, please call or email us and we will be happy to help with your answer.

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  • What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?

    An optometrist is a doctor who has devoted four years of doctorate education following four years of college to learning all about the eyes, ocular health and binocular function. Your optometrist will care for all of your vision corrective needs and treat most eye diseases, infections, allergies, syndromes, etc.. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who trained for 4 years on the entire body and then specialized after that in eye surgery. Your optometrist will refer you to the right ophthalmology specialist for you, if the need arises.

  • When should my child get her first eye examination?

    The American Optometric Association recommends all children have their eyes examined by an optometrist before age one. If you are noticing any problems for your child’s eyes or if she has a family history on either parent’s side of eye problems, she should have her eyes checked even sooner than six months.

  • How often should I have my eyes checked?

    The American Optometric Association recommends you have your eyes examined yearly. If you have any eye disease or condition or if you are in a high risk group for any specific problem, you may need to be examined more frequently. Ask Dr. Tamano Fletcher what she recommends in your case.

  • I want to buy glasses or contact lenses. Do I need an appointment?

    If your prescription is current, you do not need an appointment – just come on in at your convenience and our optical specialist will give any assistance you need in selecting eyewear and lenses and to maximize your insurance coverage. Your glasses prescription need not have been given by Dr. Tamano Fletcher – many people enjoy our large eyewear selection even if they have had an exam with Kaiser or some other private office. All are equally welcome.

  • Can Lasik surgery fix my eyes?

    Lasik is a fabulous option for many people. To find out if you are a candidate, call Dr. Tamano Fletcher anytime for your free Lasik consult. She will discuss the procedure with you and, if you are not a candidate, will recommend other options to consider. Hospitality Eyecare Center is affiliated with Nvision and will work closely with them to provide you the best surgical solutions available today!

  • Are there any surgery options for me if I am over 4o years old and need reading glasses?

    Absolutely! There are now better options than ever – options that can provide you with wonderful distance and near vision post-operatively without any corrective lenses at all! Ask Dr. Tamano Fletcher if you are a candidate.

  • How old does a child need to be to wear contact lenses?

    This depends on the child. From the medical perspective, there is no reason even an infant cannot wear contacts. The determining factor is more related to the child’s ability to wear the lenses responsibly, clean, insert and remove them safely, etc. When the child is old enough to have a level of responsibility the parent or guardian is comfortable with, Dr. Tamano Fletcher will be happy to discuss contact lens options.

  • Who should wear sunglasses?

    You should! Ultraviolet sun protection is very important for the long term health of the interior and exterior ocular structures. UV damage is known to contribute to the development of cataracts and such diseases as macular degeneration. Please wear your polarized sunglasses at all times when you are exposed to ultraviolet light.

  • If macular degeneration runs in my family, is there anything I can do to prevent myself from developing it?

    Yes, there are several things that can be helpful. Firstly, be sure to visit your eye doctor yearly, or more frequently if advised to do so. If you are a smoker, you should know that there is a ten times higher risk of blindness in macular degeneration patients who smoke versus those who do not: for the sake of your vision, please break the habit. You should definitely be wearing polarized sun protection whenever you are outdoors, take a multivitamin every day, be sure to get lots of bright colored fruits and vegetables in your diet, drink plenty of water and maintain an otherwise healthy lifestyle with appropriate exercise, etc.

  • Will reading in dim light hurt my eyes?

    It is a popular “old wives tale” that this will damage the eyes. However, there is no scientific proof that this is true. It is true, however, that doing so can put strain on the eyes and decrease long-term comfort. It is Dr. Tamano Fletcher’s recommendation that you endeavor to have adequate lighting for all visual tasks, including reading.

  • Can working on a computer all day hurt my eyes?

    Yes, it can. There are a large group of ocular and systemic symptoms associated with computer use that are known as Computer Vision Syndrome.

    The ergonomics of your work environment play a significant role in this, so take advantage of your employer’s ergonomic consultant, if they have one. Dr. Tamano Fletcher does contract Ergonomic Consulting Services as well, so if your employer does not have a consultant, she would be happy to contract with them to provide these essential on-location services.

    During your visit to Hospitality Eyecare Center, Dr. Tamano Fletcher will perform a number of tests on your eyes to determine exactly what your ocular needs are for computer use and she will take the time to advise you on specific glasses options to help your eyes function more comfortably and healthfully for your computer tasks.

  • Isn’t a pair of glasses a pair of glasses? I mean, isn’t the cheap stuff I can get at Wal-Mart just as good as anything else?

    Unfortunately, eyewear is comparable to the computer world: old technology just can’t compare! The lower end eyewear options available at many inexpensive retailers are old technology lens and coating options, which the retailer can obtain very cheaply and still make a significant profit when selling to you. New technology lenses and coatings are far superior both for your visual comfort, health, ease of lens adaptation and the length of time the lens will remain useful to you, the wearer. Would you buy a 1990 computer? Of course not! So treat your eyes to the phenomenal levels of visual comfort and health afforded by today’s quality lenses! Dr. Tamano Fletcher will take the time after examining your eyes to help you understand what your best options are and what is available in today’s technology that can make your visual world a pleasure to be in!

  • What makes Hospitality Eyecare Center different?

    Personalized Care: In an era when everything is rushed and we are pushed through a gamut of huge corporate chains in our everyday lives, it is our pleasure at Hospitality Eyecare Center to take time with each individual patient and to customize each person’s care, treatment and education to their specific needs.

    Greatest Latest Technology: We like to keep up with the latest advances in eye care and vision enhancement technology. In fact, we are the only office in our entire area to have certain instrumentation, such as the iZon Abberometer! You’ll find your level of care at Hospitality Eyecare Center to be unrivaled!

    Two Year Frame and Lens Warranty: When you purchase recommended frames and lenses from Hospitality Eyecare Center, you can be sure that you’re buying a quality product. In the unlikely case that your frame breaks or lenses scratch, don’t worry – we’ll replace them for you free of charge.

    Prescription Accuracy Program: We have the highest customer service standards. We guarantee satisfaction with your new prescription or we will remake it at no additional charge.

  • What does Dr. Tamano Fletcher check for in an eye exam?

    While most eye doctors do a basic eye health check and vision clarity check, Dr. Tamano Fletcher’s unique approach to your examination means she will evaluate 14 points of your ocular health, 12 points of your binocular function and a two part lifestyle customization in addition to the very traditional assessment for your visual clarity and glasses prescription. You may never have experienced a more thorough and personally customized exam – Dr. Tamano Fletcher hears this from patients all the time. And, most importantly, when the testing is completed, Dr. Tamano Fletcher takes time to explain your results and make recommendations for treatment or remediation of eye diseases or risk factors, as well as to educate you on corrective glasses designs, contact lenses, etc. that will best meet your needs. She will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. And if you find yourself back home after your appointment wishing you’d asked that one other question? Please call: Dr. Tamano Fletcher will be pleased to speak with you.

  • What does “20/20” really mean?

    The easiest way to understand this is to imagine seeing a given object from a distance of 20 feet away. Seeing 20/20 means that you can see the object as clearly as someone else can, while both standing at this distance. If you see 20/40, this would mean you must stand all the way up at 20 feet from the object to see as clearly as another person can while standing all the way back at 40 feet.

  • What is the difference between sight and vision?

    There are two large areas of visual performance. Most people think only of the aspect of clarity: do I see “20/20?” This is indeed an extremely important thing and most optometrists will test this and provide adequate correction lenses. The other area of visual performance has to do with how the eyes function together – how they move, point and focus, how they perform smooth movements across a page enabling complex visual activities, such as reading. This area is frequently overlooked or not even assessed by eye doctors. Unfortunately, problems with eye functionality may have tremendous repercussions in every day life, causing decreased ability to learn, read, perform in athletic endeavors, succeed in the work place, etc. Children often suffer in school and parents and teachers frequently conclude they are “lazy” or “learning disabled” when the problem may be only related to ocular function. Dr. Tamano Fletcher specializes in caring for Binocular Function problems and thoroughly assesses every patient for both clarity of vision and for functionality, in addition to extensive and thorough eye health examination.

  • Is my personal information protected at Hospitality Eyecare Center?

    Hospitality Eyecare Center takes your privacy personally! Your information is protected to the highest level and the regulations of HIPPA are followed consistently. We also have a state-of-the-art security surveillance system in the office to deter any unwanted intruders when the office is not open. We ask that you be understanding of our protection of your health information in the event that you wish us to share it with another medical professional – you will be asked to sign appropriate forms that formally give us your consent.

  • I’m a journalist with media-related questions. How should I best contact Dr. Tamano Fletcher?

    Dr. Tamano Fletcher would be happy to speak with you. Please feel free to call at any time. Ask for Dr. Tamano Fletcher. If she is unavailable, she will return your call as soon as possible. Also feel free to email her at drcorbett@SeeToLive.com.

  • What is vision therapy?

    Vision plays such an all-encompassing role in human development. Often, when other diagnoses are involved, be it autism, ADD, ADHD, etc., visual health and function can be overlooked. Unfortunately, deficits in vision and visual function can play a huge adverse role in these situations.

    Vision and visual function problems are common in those who have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum and can easily be overlooked or thought to be part of the other symptoms of the disorder. Having a visual evaluation by a Behavioral Optometrist may lead to treatment that often has a positive ripple effect on sensory development and integration.

    ADD and ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders, with 8.7% of children between the ages of 8 and 15 years being labeled as such. Now, while ADD and ADHD are real disorders, it is interesting to note that the DSM diagnoses codes used to make the definitive diagnoses are almost identical to the signs and symptoms of a learning-related vision problem. Dr. Tamano Fletcher, as a Behavioral Optometrist, will do a thorough assessment to determine the extent of any visual component in your child’s challenges.

    If visual functional problems are found to exist, Dr. Tamano Fletcher may recommend Vision Therapy, a treatment program of eye exercises and visual training similar to Physical Therapy but for the eyes. Many functional problems can be wholly remediated by Vision Therapy treatment.

  • How can I tell if I have glaucoma?

    You can’t. That’s what is so scary about this disease: nothing hurts and you may see well straight ahead, it just slowly takes away your side vision until you see tunnel vision or you go blind altogether. Glaucoma can run in families, but can also happen with no familial history whatsoever. You should be checked every year for this and perhaps more frequently if you are in a high risk category based on family history, ethnicity or certain ocular signs.

  • What is a cataract?

    Inside the eye is a clear lens, like a camera lens, that does our focusing for us. When we are born, this lens is clear, like a clean window. A part of the natural human aging process is for this lens to become increasingly cloudy, until it may become so cloudy that it decreases vision: at this point, we call it a cataract. Cataracts can be safely and easily removed. Wear sun protection regularly to delay the onset of cataracts and have a yearly eye examination to follow this aspect of your ocular health. Ask Dr. Tamano Fletcher if you have any questions.

  • How should I care for my glasses?

    Many people are unaware of the basics of eyewear care. Hospitality Eyecare Center endeavors to provide our patients with the best of lens technology and coatings – these technologies make the care of your lenses easier by making them repellant to oils and dust and less likely to scratch. However, please spray your lenses daily with Hospitality Eyecare Center’s lens cleaning spray. Use the cleaning cloth provided to wipe away the spray and any oils and dust, etc.. Never wipe your lenses on t-shirts or tissues, as this increases your risk of lens scratching and can nullify your warranty. It is best to always put on and remove your glasses using both hands; putting your glasses on or removing them with one hand can misalign your frame or cause breakage.

    It is always free at Hospitality Eyecare Center to have your frames adjusted and cleaned and minor repairs done. Just stop by during regular office hours and we will be happy to serve you! We also recommend a thorough ultrasonic cleaning of your eyewear at least every six months, a service we provide right here. We’ll send you a coupon for a complimentary ultrasonic cleaning for your birthday each year! See to live™ each new year of your life!

  • What are “single vision” glasses?

    These are glasses that provide a single prescription correction in the entire lens, such as might be needed for good vision at all distances for an individual under age 40. For those over 40 who need a different prescription correction for clear distance vision than is needed for clear close-up vision, single vision glasses would provide clear vision for one viewing distance primarily.

  • What are “multifocal” or “bifocal” glasses?

    These are glasses that provide clear distance vision in the top part of the lens and have either one or two lines part way down the lens to provide clear close-up vision through the bottom part of the lens. This type of lens has been available for many years, the inventor and first wearer being our founding father, Benjamin Franklin.

  • What are “no-line bifocals” or progressive” glasses?

    These are lenses that provide a different prescription in the top of the lens than is in the bottom of the lens, but without the visible line(s). These are much newer technology than the bifocal styles. There are nonetheless over 500 different kinds of progressive lenses on the market. Some of these are old technology and are much more difficult for the wearer to adjust to and to attain comfort with. These older styles can easily be found at lower end larger retailers and chain eye care providers. They tend to be less expensive, but what is saved in price is sacrificed in the functionality of the lenses. Hospitality Eyecare Center provides several inexpensive older technology lenses that are the best of this genre. However, it is our preference to provide our patients with the newer technologies which provide easier adaptation, clearer and more comfortable vision and less peripheral distortions than older options.

  • What is myopia?

    Also known as nearsightedness, myopia is the condition of the visual system where objects at a distance are more difficult to see than those up close. Corrective lenses, either glasses or contact lenses, or Lasik surgery are usually options to correct this condition.

  • What is hyperopia?

    Also known as farsightedness, hyperopia is the condition of the visual system where the eyes must work to see objects at a distance and must work even harder to see up close. This condition often worsens with age as the visual system is less and less able to compensate. If uncorrected, this condition can have serious implications to reading, learning, etc. even in children. Corrective options, such as contact lenses and glasses as well as Lasik surgery are usually options to correct this condition.

  • What is astigmatism?

    Astigmatism is caused by the irregularity of the refractive surfaces of the eye, where the eye may be shaped more like a football than a soccer ball. Of course this does not affect the outward appearance of the eye, but causes a decrease in vision no matter what the distance you are looking at. Astigmatism can usually be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or Lasik surgery.

  • What is presbyopia?

    This is the condition that effects most people in their late 30’s or early 40’s. It causes the individual to have difficulty focusing on objects up close. Presbyopia requires a prescription of glasses or contact lenses that is different for distance viewing needs than for the up close. A bifocal or progressive lens in glasses can provide the correction needed. Multifocal contact lenses are also an option, as is monovision (correction with a contact lens of one eye for distance vision and the other eye for near vision). Lasik surgery can correct both eyes for good distance vision but those over 40 years of age often will need to wear reading glasses. Lasik surgery may also be done in a monovision modality, where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near. Dr. Tamano Fletcher highly recommends this procedure but never without first trying it with contact lenses to assure adaptation. There are other refractive surgical options Dr. Tamano Fletcher may discuss with those over 40 who require different distance and near prescriptions, leaving the individual without the need for any glasses post-operatively. Call Dr. Tamano Fletcher if you would like to know more.