VISION PLUS OPTOMETRISTS

Vision Plus in Steveston first opened its doors 12 years ago as a unique model of eyecare, one owned and operated by Doctors Jolene Sun and Mark Aginsky. While most eyecare clinics are owned by large conglomerate companies, this independently owned clinic provides personalized vision care using state-of-the-art, cutting-edge equipment. Its patients represent a wide spectrum of ages and optical needs, from infants through to octogenarians.

Dr. Sun began working in the clinic as a locum back in 2015, and quickly fell for Steveston’s unique warmth and sense of community. “I felt right at home in this little town, where you can walk down the street and wave to people you know,” she said. She came on board as a co-owner of Vision Plus in Steveston in 2016 and her optometric skill and warm personality have made her a popular, well-known practitioner in the community.

Vision is a crucial element of overall health, but many new parents are unaware that their child’s first eye exam should happen as early as one year of age. Eye exams for babies are different than for other age groups, as there’s no reading off an eye chart for a child of that age. Nonetheless, optometrists are able to look inside the eye, examine for disease and deliver highly accurate readings of a child’s vision.

Vision Plus in Steveston is also a resource for residents at The Maples and Wisteria, where Dr. Sun conducts presentations on eye health.

A clinic that embraces the latest high technology, one of its key pieces of equipment is the Optos retinal scanner. It allows doctors a 200-degree view into the back of the eye, enabling detection of diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears and detachments, as well as other health-related problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Undetected, many of these problems can progress quickly and without evidence of symptoms until treatment may be too late to be viable.

“Using the latest in medical technology allows us to make a difference that can change the quality and trajectory of our patients’ lives,” Dr. Sun said. “There have been cases when we’ve detected cancers, tumours and even an aneurysm. But by timely detection and connecting patients to the right medical professionals, we’ve helped save lives that might otherwise have fallen through the cracks. As a doctor, that’s the ultimate reward.”

An integral part of the community, Vision Plus in Steveston is a strong believer in giving back. “It was important to us to donate to Steveston Sound and Stage’s fundraiser to assist Super Grocer after the devastating fire earlier this year,” Dr Sun said. “We love supporting our local high schools’ dry grads with donations and participating in Steveston Merchant Association-run events such as Girls’ Night Out and Trick-or-Treating in Steveston Village.”

Dr. Sun’s medical team is reinforced by two associate doctors. Dr. Eugene Wong has been seeing patients at Vision Plus for the past five years. Fluent in Cantonese and English, he performs routine eye exams, ocular disease diagnosis and treatment, co-management of refractive surgeries and contact lens fittings. Dr. Alison She joined the clinic two years ago after completing a residency in primary care and refractive surgery co-management. The Vision Plus team includes opticians Bindi and Inga and assistants Minnie and Carissa.

Vision Plus carries over 1,000 frames ranging from budget-friendly brands to European fashion, as well as contact lenses. Flex Eyewear frames, which are colourful, hinge-free and extremely durable, are particularly attractive to children, while other designs from Barcelona and Denmark are popular among adults.

“We share a passion for optometry at Vision Plus, a clinic where we’re known for going the extra mile for our patients,” says Dr. Sun. “Come on in, meet our friendly doctors and staff and experience the difference.”

Understanding Myopia with Dr. Jolene Sun

Myopia (or near-sightedness) is a common vision condition wherein close-up objects are seen clearly, but objects further away are blurry. It worsens with increased screen time and if left unmanaged, can increase the risk of eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy. The earlier the intervention, the better.

While traditional glasses and contact lenses can correct myopia and allow your child to see clearly, they do not help slow its progression. At the initial consultation, we establish the optimal myopia treatment and schedule the necessary follow-up appointments to slow down the progression.

Vision Plus uses gold-standard advanced equipment to develop a personalized treatment plan. Non-invasive myopia treatments include customized spectacle lenses, specialty soft contact lenses, orthokeratology lenses, or prescription eye drops.

Once an established treatment plan has been determined, your prescription has stabilized and the myopia progression has been effectively reduced, we continue to monitor every six months.

Since the pandemic, children have spent much more time focussing on up-close objects such as technology. Encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors to help prevent digital eye strain and aim for two hours outdoors daily. Also, to reduce eye strain caused by screen time, look up from your screen every 20 minutes and focus on something 20 feet away. Focusing on an item in the distance allows eye muscles to relax.

Complete eye exams are fully covered for children 18 years and under, and partial coverage is available through MSP for seniors 65 years and older. Ideally, eyes should be tested once a year between ages 19 to 64. Most insurance providers are billed directly, see in office for details.

Vision Plus Optometrists

12420 No. 1 Road, Suite 190, Richmond BC V7E 6N2

Phone 604-274-2020

www.visionplussteveston.com

Photos by Sandra Steier Photography