Hediyeh Arjomandi, O.D.

Ophthalmologist: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.) who is trained in the medical and surgical management of eye diseases and conditions. 

Optometrist: An optometrist (O.D.) is a healthcare professional who is trained to evaluate visual systems, provide eye correction prescriptions, and treat common medical conditions involving the eyes. In addition, optometrists may aid ophthalmologists in the detection, diagnosis, and management of eye diseases and conditions. 

Optician: An optician is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction.  They can help you select frames and advise on optical products.

Yes, Kaiser Permanente has highly trained refractive surgeons who provide laser vision correction for members and non-members. There is a fee for this elective procedure. To find out more, go to www.kplaservisioncorrection.com.

Your vision may be affected and your eyes may be light-sensitive when they are dilated. Dilation normally lasts for several hours. After the exam, you may be more comfortable wearing sunglasses. If you do not have sunglasses with you, we can give you a dark insert for your glasses before you leave the clinic. If you have had difficulty in the past or you feel uncomfortable about driving after your appointment, you may wish to use public transportation or bring a driver with you. However, many people feel they can drive even after they are dilated.

It is normal for near (closeup) vision to decline gradually after the age of 40. This condition is called presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs in most individuals around the age of 40 to 45 years. This develops because the lens inside the eye loses its ability to change shape and allow near focusing. People compensate for presbyopia by using bifocals and reading glasses. If you are noticing this, please make an appointment with one of our optometrists who will help you decide when and whether reading glasses would be helpful for you.

The lifestyle choices that are good for overall health are also good for your eyes. We recommend that you exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and get your routine health screenings. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your overall health and the health of your eyes. We also recommend wearing UV blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes.

The most common cause of scratchy, irritated eyes is dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome can also cause the eyes to sting and burn, feel gritty or sandy, and feel irritated. In addition, dry eyes can cause intermittent blurred vision and sensitivity to light. If you experience dry eyes, you can use over-the-counter artificial tears as needed to ease your symptoms. This is especially important with prolonged reading or computer use, when your eyes are more likely to become dry.

Generally, we do not recommend these eye drops as they can lead to eye irritation over time.

There are good over-the-counter antihistamine drops such as ketotifen (Zaditor) and others to help with symptoms of seasonal and other allergies. Refrigerated artificial tears and cool compresses can also help.

In general, we advise that you not rub your eyes, especially after surgery or a procedure. Please also refer above to other questions and answers if your eyes are dry, itchy, or feel strained.

The eye can hold only about a drop of medicine and after this it will overflow as tears. Occasionally putting in an extra drop is not harmful.

You should never sleep in your contact lenses, even the extended-wear type. This increases your risk of corneal infections or inflammation. The only exceptions are bandage contact lenses that your eye doctor has placed on your eyes for a specific purpose.

We advise you to instill another eyedrop to ensure the drop takes effect. It is generally better to put 2 drops in than none at all, as your eye blinks out any excess solution.