Williams Lake Optometry
360B Proctor Street V2G 4P6 Williams Lake, BC, Canada

Today is the perfect day to let all of our wonderful patients know how much we appreciate each and every one of you. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Get in sync with your partner by gazing into each other's eyes! Research shows that couples that are in love and gaze into each other’s eyes for three minutes naturally experience synchronized heartbeats.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 50 and over. AMD occurs when the macula deteriorates, causing central vision loss. While there's no cure for AMD as of yet, there are many ways to reduce your risk and a wide range of low vision aids and devices available to maximize remaining vision so that those with AMD can live their best lives.

Did you know that Dr. William H. Lawson was the first African American optometrist certified to work in the United States and Canada? He graduated in 1912 from the Toronto School of Optometry in Toronto, Canada.

Icy mornings can lead to burning eye sensations. Don’t let winter get in the way of your comfort. Treat your winter dry eyes today!

It’s time for your eye exam!

As you prepare to chef-it-up this holiday season, keep this in mind as you chop up your next onion! A cut onion releases a gas called Propanethiol S-oxide, and when mixed with certain enzymes in the onion, it creates a sulfur gas that irritates the eyes and triggers your tear glands. Here's a tip: keep your onion refrigerated! Cold onion doesn't release that chemical compound as easily as it would if it were warm.

We live in a world flooded with digital devices. As a result, you may be starting to experience digital eye strain, which makes your eyes feel sore, tired, watery, and/or dry. To prevent this from occurring, follow the 20-20-20 rule!

Intense winds can cause tears to dry up faster. Treat your winter dry eyes today!

This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is, The Nurse and Diabetes. Nurses help support people living with all types of health concerns especially those that have diabetes. They face several challenges and education is so important to help equip nurses with the skills they need to help support them.

We will be closed for the holiday season on Thursday December 24th at 12:00 pm. We will reopen on Monday January 4th at 8:00 am. We wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Often, when winter is upon us our motivation to exercise and eat healthy foods tend to plummet along with the temperature. Don't let the cooler weather hold you back from staying healthy! Make sure you eat nutritious meals, stay active, limit alcoholic beverages, and avoid smoking tobacco.

Today, at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month marks the day the First World War ended in 1918. Take a moment of silence to remember and honour all those who sacrificed their lives serving our nation.

Why is it so important for diabetics to get a yearly eye exam? Not only does diabetes affect your body but it can also seriously damage your vision, potentially leading to vision loss. With the proper care, like getting a yearly dilated eye exam & maintaining a healthy diet, you can help keep your eyes healthy! Contact us to schedule your yearly dilated eye exam.

One of the best ways to give your eyes love is to get at least 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night. A good night’s rest keeps the eyes ready for the next day and can prevent eye spasms, dryness, itchiness, strain, and bloodshot eyes. It also prevents dark circles from appearing around the eyes and let's be honest, who wants those?!

Thousands of sports-related eye injuries occur every year. Heres a few tips on how to avoid them: Wear the correct eye protection and make sure theyre polycarbonate lenses, theyre 10x more resistant to impact than other lenses. Wear additional protective eyewear, if you wear contact lenses or glasses. Wear eye protection if youve had any previous eye injuries or surgeries. Regularly inspect protective eyewear for any damages. Lastly, contact us to determine which protective eyewear is best for your needs!

Our hands touch a variety of surfaces throughout the daycounters, doorknobs, our phones, etc. So remember to wash your hands before touching your face or eyes to prevent spreading any germs into your body!

Water on contact lenses is a big no-no! Water contains microorganisms that could cause an eye infection, even if the water is clean.

Stay tuned to learn more!

Happy Labour Day! Get ready to BBQ, grab some great sales, hit up the beach or pool, and enjoy the time off. How will you celebrate this #labourday?

Finding ways to alleviate stress is so important for your health, including your vision! Symptoms like blurry vision, eye twitching, watery or dry eyes, and headaches can be reduced significantly by finding tension relieving strategies, meditation anyone?

In honor of Healthy Aging Month, lets all stay active and vibrant as long as possible! No one can escape aging, but dont let that get you down. Lets focus on the positive! Take a good look at yourself: are you where you want to be physically, socially, mentally, or financially? Its never too late to reinvent yourself!

Using electronic devices right before bed can obstruct your bodys internal clock (circadian rhythm). The blue light emitted from these devices hinders the release of the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin, making it difficult to get a good night of quality sleep. Consider changing the settings on your phone to blue light filter/night shift or stop using your digital devices for at least 45 minutes before bedtime.

To keep safe & healthy, were constantly washing our hands. But what about our smartphones? Studies have shown that these devices can be carriers for viruses, bacteria, & even fungi! Check with your phone manufacturer for cleaning instructions. If your hands are contaminated & youve been using your phone, chances are... its contaminated too!

Did you know that your glasses can potentially transfer viruses? COVID-19 can live on plastic and glass surfaces for several days. Cleaning our glasses frequently after touching them could stop the contamination cycle. Heres how to disinfect your glasses:

With some of the kids going back to school this fall, please spend some time with them discussing ways to stay safe & protect themselves from COVID-19.

Whether your child is going to be learning at home or in school, dont forget to add an eye exam to their back-to-school checklist. Learning usually involves reading, writing, computer work & even physical education all of which require great vision. If your child is having trouble seeing clearly, he or she may feel tired & struggle to maintain focus. Here are 4 signs your child may have undetected vision problems:

In honor of National Eye Exam Month, dont put off your eye exam and schedule it! Go the extra mile and tell a friend, family, neighbor, anyone... to get theirs done too!

With the new school year right around the corner, this is the perfect time to schedule your childs yearly eye exam, if you havent done so already! Keeping your childs eyes safe is also an important part of maintaining healthy vision. Eye injuries are one of the leading causes of vision loss in children.

Dont forget to wear your sunglasses... enjoy your weekend!

There are many reasons to have your toddler undergo an eye exam. Eye problems can cause a variety of learning and behavioral problems later in life. The earlier problems are diagnosed, the more effectively they can be treated. Excellent vision and visual skills can lead to academic success and, in turn, self-confidence.

If you could have any eye color what would it be? Comment below!

A study conducted by John Hopkins University shows that a specific protein in the eyes makes them a target for COVID-19 transmission. This may also explain why certain people with coronavirus first developed conjunctivitis.

Williams Lake Optometry COVID-19 Policies On May 19th Williams Lake Optometry will begin to re-open and provide essential eye care services. As we start to open back up, we will be providing a limited number of comprehensive examinations for patients who need a prescription and for eye health concerns such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. The safety of our staff and our patients is of utmost importance and we are changing how we deliver optometric care to pr...ovide a safe environment for everyone. The following procedures will be in effect: - Eye examinations will be limited to allow for thorough disinfecting between patients and to minimize exposure to others in the clinic. - The number of patients in the dispensary will be limited to allow for sanitization of frames and dispensary between patients. - Telemedicine or virtual appointments are available for any eye concerns and this will help us scheduling patients coming into our clinic. - Our front door will remain locked so that we can control the amount of patients in our clinic at any one time. - Physical distancing will be in effect for both staff and patients. - Hand sanitizer will be provided when entering the clinic and at multiple stations throughout the clinic. - Pre-screening will occur upon entering our clinic. - Doctors, staff and patients are recommended to wear a mask at all times in the office. Please bring a mask or cloth face covering if you have one. - All staff have been educated and trained on sanitization and disinfecting procedures, hand washing, social distancing and how to properly screen patients for COVID-19. - Please do not bring any outside food or drink into the clinic. We request that anyone who feels ill to please stay home. We will happily reschedule your eye examination. We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience as we re-open our clinic. We also thank you for supporting our local business during this difficult time. Dr. Kate, Dr. Garman, Dr. Kisser & the caring staff of Williams Lake Optometry

Experiencing blurred vision? We can help! Were pros, after all

Contact lens wearers: make sure to practice good hygiene when handling your contact lenses! Prior to inserting or removing contacts, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds, and fully dry your hands using a clean paper towel.

Help prevent eye strain with the 20-20-20 rule! Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds! #EyeStrain #202020 #WilliamsLake #Optometry #MondayTips

Schedule your healthy eye appointment today!

While the sun provides us with countless benefits, it can also be harmful to our skin and eyes. Over time, unprotected exposure to UV rays can lead to macular degeneration, cataracts, and even skin cancer. Below are three essential ways to protect yourself from harmful UV rays:

As people reach their early to mid-forties, their eyes gradually lose their ability to focus on objects that are close up. Multifocal lenses are often prescribed to adjust to these changes. A multifocal lens is a lens that contains two or more prescriptions for correcting vision at different distances. These include bifocals, trifocals, progressives and special occupational lenses. Speak with your optometrist or dispense team to see which lens is best for you. #Multifocals #BCOptometry #WiliamsLake

Ever wonder whether wearing a mask and social distancing really works? A recent study conducted by McMaster University confirms the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) - including eye protection - along with physical distancing in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

As pollen allergy symptoms begin to manifest during the COVID-19 pandemic, we may confuse one for the other, as both have similar symptoms. These include sore throat, headaches, and feeling tired.

#HappyCanadaDay from your team at Williams Lake Optometry. Were in the office today until 5:30pm! We will be closed this Friday, July 3rd-5th and back at it on Monday, July 6th!

Oh, Canada! This year, Canada Day will be celebrated virtually. So whip out your flags, enjoy some great music, delicious food, dance away, and watch your favorite comedies, all in celebration of Canadas 153rd Birthday! Happy Canada Day!

Get your cameras ready Were celebrating #NationalSunglassesDay and we want to see you rockin your favorite pair of shades! Send us your #SunglassSelfie below

Like most of us, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, all summer vacation plans got canceled and pushed to the side. Everyone deserves a vacation, more now than ever. Here are some ideas of things you can do to have a safe summer vacation: