Centre for Ocular Research & Education
200 Columbia St West N2L 3G1 Waterloo, ON, Canada

Did you know a champagne cork can fly up to 80kmph as it leaves the bottle fast enough to shatter glass? When opening a bottle of bubbly this New Years Eve, consider the following. #SafeToysAndCelebrationsMonth

Children’s eye injuries: learn how to prevent and care for your child if they experience an #eyeinjury this holiday season #SafeToysAndCelebrationsMonth #eyehealth https://www.aao.org/eye-/tips-prevention/injuries-children

The holidays are a time for celebration and getting together virtually with friends and family, but this time of year can take a toll on our health and our eyes. Canadian Association of Optometrists encourages Canadians to take care of their eyes with helpful tips you can follow this holiday season.

#MemeMonday #Optometry

#neverforget #remembranceday2020

Think twice before buying Nerf guns as gifts. Projectile toys such as toy guns, crossbows and darts could pose a threat to your child’s eyes #SafeToysAndCelebrationsMonth #SafeToysMonth #eyesafety

Today is World Keratoconus Day. Keratoconus is a degenerative condition of the eye in which the normally round, dome-shaped cornea becomes progressively thinner, and when left untreated may lead to significant visual impairment and legal blindness. #WorldKCDay

Since reopening this past September, CORE has implemented a number of safety protocols. As we prepare to recruit for upcoming studies, we wanted to share what participants can expect when attending their appointments! what you can expect from us: Protective plexiglass barrier at our front desk... Hand sanitizer station for all incoming research participants Limited seating in our waiting area to encourage social distancing (6 feet) All staff, researchers, and research participants are required to wear masks and protective gear Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting practices between research visits #Reopening #COVID19 #SafetyFirst

Can cosmetics affect your eyes? CORE’s Dr. Alison Ng teamed up with Insight Eye Care Dr. Carolyn MacNeil to look at cosmetic ingredients and its effects on the eye in a recent blog post. Learn more about eye-friendly cosmetic tips and tricks, common preservatives to avoid and make-up removers to consider in your daily routine. https://insight-eyecare.ca///the-make-up-of-eye-cosmetics/

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Avoid unnecessary eye infections and handle your #Halloween eye makeup with care #HalloweenEyeSafetyMonth #EyeSafety

You only have one set of eyes be safe and get a prescription for your decorative contact lenses this #Halloween #HalloweenEyeSafetyMonth #EyeSafety

Thanks to all our wonderful participants who helped to fill the BERNESE study since reopening this past September! We couldn't do it without you.

Feel like you have something stuck in your eye that’s causing discomfort? Learn the #symptoms and treatments for #eyescratches #EyeInjuryPreventionMonth

Did you know that activities like yard work cause more than 40% of eye related injuries? #EyeInjuryPreventionMonth

Does your Halloween plan include getting lash extensions? False lashes can create a fuller and more dramatic look; however, caution should always be taken when a sharp object such as tweezers or adhesives are used around the eye. Here are some helpful tips and precautions you can follow from the @CanadianOpto with eyelash extensions Review the technicians’ certification and prior experience Ensure the salon or Spa is a reputable establishment Ensure the technician is pr...acticing proper hygiene practices and has properly sanitized all equipment Check the ingredients list for the lash adhesive before use. See more

Did you know glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 60? The @NatEyeInstitute explains what happens inside your eyes when you have #glaucoma #HealthyAgingMonth

Relief gained from dry eye drops can often be short. CORE is seeking participants with dry eyes to try a new ocular insert that releases an ocular lubricant. Receive $180 upon study completion. Check out corestudies.ca/DATE for more information

With Halloween fast approaching, you may already be planning on the perfect Halloween costume. From horrifying zombies to blood-thirsty vampires, colour contact lenses can help complete your look this Halloween, but how safe are they? The FDA teamed up with the Artist and Makeup Effects Designers from American Horror Story on the risks of improper use of decorative contact lenses. Learn more from the artists and creative experts as they explain the importance of properly fitting decorative lenses used on set. #HalloweenEyeSafetyMonth #EyeSafety #CosPlay

What should you do if something is stuck in your eye? Follow these easy steps from @CanadianOpto #EyeInjuryPreventionMonth

Your contact lens or glasses won’t protect your eyes from impact or debris. Learn about the different protective eye wear to use at home, work, and sport #EyeInjuryPreventionMonth

As you grow older, you can expect your vision to change. So how do you maintain good eye health while ageing gracefully? Here are 7 sight-saving habits you can incorporate in your daily life to maintain eye health from @AmericanAcademyofOpthalmology-Ophthalmologist 1. Regular eye exams are key. Preventative care will help identify any age-related issues or diseases 2. Learn the signs of vision loss. Trouble recognizing faces, squinting, sensitivity and sensitivity to light,... bumping or knocking over objects could be signs of vision loss. 3. Eat Healthily! Adopt healthy eating habits with a diet filled with vitamin A, C and E in addition to antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, help to boost your eye health 4. Quit Smoking Kick the habit and lower your risk of vision impairment and vision loss 5. Maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels 6. Exercise! 7. Avoid UV rays cover up your bright eyes with sunglasses when outdoors to avoid exposure to harmful UV rays.

Knowing what scratched your eye can determine the best treatment options from your optometrist. #EyeInjuryPreventionMonth

Exciting update from our CORE Eye News team!

Suited up and ready to go. Our team was thrilled to see our first research participant yesterday after reopening just a few days ago! #Reopening #COREstudies #Research #Participate #UWaterloo

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes permanent loss of central vision. The back of the eye is affected in a region called the macula. The macula is responsible for your central vision, most of your colour vision and allows you to see fine details, like recognizing a face. Patients with AMD struggle to see fine details up close or afar and may lose visual function such that they are unable to drive. However, their peripheral vision (side vision) is s...till intact. There are two distinct types of AMD. Dry AMD - This is the most common type. This type of AMD is usually milder as the condition progresses slowly. People with early dry AMD might not report any vision problems however; the eye doctor will notice yellow deposits at the macula when performing a health check of their eyes. Wet AMD - This type happens in 10% of cases of AMD. People with the dry type may progress to the wet type. Wet AMD is caused by the development of abnormal blood vessels at the macula. Loss of central vision happens quickly when these fragile blood vessels leak or bleed. Although age is the most significant risk factor for AMD, several other factors can increase your risk for the disease. For more information on risk factors and preventative measures, visit

We are happy to announce we can begin seeing research participants again! During the closure, we worked hard to create specific safety protocols under the guidance of the College of Optometrists of Ontario, and the University of Waterloo’s Office of Research Ethics. In the coming weeks, our Resource Coordinators will be contacting participants who are currently participating in an ongoing study here at CORE to schedule their next in-person appointment. We will also begin recruiting new research participants during this time! #Reopening #ResearchStudies #COVID19 #Safetyfirst

Floaters & spots understand the difference and how they affect your #Sight #HealthyAgingMonth

Reopening Update: At CORE, research participant safety is our number one priority. With this in mind, we have created a series of safety protocols that will protect you and our team during your scheduled research appointments. Here is what you can expect from us when attending your scheduled study appointment Protective plexiglass barrier at our front desk... Hand sanitizer station for all incoming research participants Limited seating in our waiting area to encourage social distancing (6 feet) All staff, researchers, and research participants are required to wear masks and protective gear Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting practices between research visits Stay tuned for more updates! #Reopening #COVID19 #SafetyFirst

As we get older, it is normal to expect our eyes to change - some changes are more serious than others. @CanadianOpto explains some of the ways our eyes and vision can change, as we get older #HealthyAgingMonth

CORE’s Karen Walsh sat down with CTV Kitchener’s Carmen Wong speaking about Mask Associated Dry Eye (MADE) and how we prevent symptoms of dry eye when wearing our masks.