Dr. Shalu Pal

  • "If you want quality and wonderful service, please go to Dr. Shalu Pal! The patience, care, and true concern that Dr. Pal has for her clients is wonderful. "

    --Seleena J
  • " I was pleasantly surprised by finding a hidden gem within Dr. Pal's office"

    --Naveed
  • "Finally a doctor who is extremely knowledgeable, patient and explains things clearly. She is a wonderful human being who really takes the time to care for your needs. The office has a wonderful atmosphere and the staff are just as helpful as Dr. Pal. "

    --Mikail
  • "I couldn't ask for a better Optometrist. She is a delight to deal with, very patient, helpful and extremely knowledgeable. She was very good with my kids who can be very fussy at times.. And who could ask for a more beautiful location. Highly Recommend! "

    --Natalie M.
  • "My wife and I, highly recommend Dr. Pal. The staff, the service, the merchandise, are all top notch. They really make you feel welcomed. It has been several years since I have been able to see this well !!! You and your staff are the best !!!! "

    --Steve and Maria L.
  • "We barely go to optometrists so when we do, we should look for the best! I am super pleased I chose Dr. Pal\'s office. They were helpful from beginning to end, from booking on the phone to my actual visit. Dr. Pal was very detailed and went in-depth about my eye health. She is very patient and made me feel calm. The optician helped me pick a great pair of glasses, they were genuinely friendly which is a huge bonus."

    --Ahmad S
  • "I have been going to Dr. Pal for several years now. My most recent visit on June 6, 2016 was the best experience there that I have ever had. Firstly, the women on the desk were friendly and efficient - a very good prelude to my examination. Dr. Pal, herself, was, as usual, very thorough and encouraging in her examination. And she puts you at ease before we get into the eyes examination by discussing other things in life. That helps to ease any stress I may have. And they now have a man in the office who does that difficult examination (name of which I do not know!). He is so patient and encouraging and made the exam not so difficult for me this time. After all that, I saw Dr. Pal again before I left and she told me my eyes were good! Even had the news been not so good, I believe that I would be able to handle it because I truly believe that Dr. Pal and her staff would have taken good care of me. I will always go back to Dr. Pal and members of her team because I truly believe"

    --A. Howlett
  • " I have been to a few appointments at Dr. Pal\'s office over the last year for dry eye issues and every time it has been a very positive experience. The 3 receptionists at the front desk are warm and friendly. They are attentive and provide a very high level of customer service. I appreciate that they call me by name and remembered conversations we had at previous visits. I find Dr. Pal to be an excellent practitioner who is very thorough with her exams, has a lovely personality and takes the time to answer any and all questions that may arise. I am happy with the computer glasses I purchased and value the honest opinions I received from the staff when selecting frames. It was refreshing to have multiple opinions on styles and I felt they truly wanted me to walk out with a frame that was best suited to me. I highly recommend Dr. Pal \'s office! As a health care practitioner myself, I think all health care experiences should be this personilzed and friendly!"

    --A. Mclean
Eyewear for Sports: Protection and Performance


Contents

Eyewear for Sports: Protection and Performance

Introduction

Participating in sports is healthy and the activity is good for everyone. Each type of sport requires different visual skills, just as it does physical skills like speed, agility, strength and balance. The best eyewear for sports will enhance vision and protect the eyes from injury at the same time.

We make recommendations for sports eyewear with these two goals in mind, although the discussion for each type of sport emphasizes eye protection and safety. The lenses in the eyewear are made to the best prescription to enhance clarity and ease of vision.

For impact resistance from fast-moving balls or equipment as well as other players, we recommend polycarbonate lenses for their almost-indestructible impact resistance.


Racquet Sports: Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Racquetball and Ping-Pong

Eye injuries in racquet sports are fairly common, as balls, racquets and players are all moving quickly in a defined area. (This list also includes handball, because it has the same type of projectiles flying about in a confined space.)

For eye protection we recommend polycarbonate lenses in glasses or goggles. Goggles provide more protection than spectacle eyewear, as well as less interference with vision. Goggles may also be worn over contact lenses. It is also common for the fast-moving ball to cause damage or even break a pair of regular eyeglasses, although the glasses will provide some protection to the eyes.

There are specialty lenses available for tennis players, with lens tints to intensify the colour of the tennis ball, making it easier to track and enhancing a player’s game.

Basketball and Volleyball

Injuries from basketball and volleyball are mainly due to either a ball or a finger in the eye. Polycarbonate lenses in protective goggles that align closely to the face will protect the eyes from both large and small objects. If using eyeglasses or goggles, use an elastic band to keep the frames from falling off or becoming loose during play.

Baseball, Rugby, Soccer, Hockey and Football

In these rough contact sports, eye injuries result from balls or pucks hitting players when they use their bodies to block each other. In hockey, the stick becomes a source of injury as well. Both helmets and protective eyewear should be worn at all times, when permitted by game rules.

Swimming

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools are commonly sanitized with the use of chlorine, which is a corrosive substance that can damage the outer eye over time with extended exposure. Even after only a few hours in a highly chlorinated pool, many swimmers experience redness and irritation of the eyes.

Contact lens wearers should remove their lenses before entering the water, unless they are using watertight goggles over them. There are several reasons for this, including the possible loss of the lenses. Even with chlorinated water, there are microorganisms in the water that can cause serious eye infection. With soft lenses, the chlorine molecule binds with the lens material and this keeps it in contact with the ocular tissues for a longer period of time. While it is possible to swim with the eyes closed, there is still a risk of contamination or lens loss.

Prescription goggles are available for those who want to see more clearly underwater, and of course non-prescription goggles are perfect for those without need of prescription lenses or who wear contact lenses. Again, protect the contact lenses from contact with the water in the pool.

Non-prescription goggles are readily available at retail and specialty stores.


Surfing, Sailing, Water Skiing, Scuba Diving and Fishing

Outdoor water sports enthusiasts have several natural elements to contend with, including wind, reflected UV rays off the water, hard falls and the salt water itself. Shatterproof polycarbonate goggles will prevent the lenses from breaking and causing injury in a fall. Lenses should also have a specialized coating to reduce glare and reflected UV rays from entering the eyes. Polarized lenses are good for reducing glare off the water, and make it easier to see while sailing or fishing.

Similar to swim goggles, diving masks and goggles are available for outdoor water sports without a prescription. Some masks have prescription power in the lenses, but they will have the same prescription in both eyes, unless they are custom made with prescription lenses made to order.

Consult an eyecare practitioner if you wish to wear your contact lenses while scuba diving about the procedures to follow, to avoid either hard lenses pushing into the eye due to the increased pressure at depth, or soft lenses from attracting microorganisms in the water.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are great winter sports, but the eyes need protection from the reflected glare off the snow, wind, sun and accidental trauma. Polycarbonate lenses in frames of soft and flexible materials are the best choice for these sports. Traditional metal frames can become cold and brittle and thus prone to breakage.

Ski goggles should provide protection from both direct and reflected UV rays and glare. Usually, ski goggles are ventilated to keep them from fogging up for an unobstructed view. Some have polarized lenses to reduce the sun’s glare off the snow. Some goggles even come with additional, interchangeable, lenses of different tints for different weather conditions; a yellow tint, for example, will enhance contrast and make it easier to see obstacles and moguls. Most ski masks come with a wide strap that keeps them comfortably in place.

Ski goggles in general are usually large, as they provide protection not only to the eyes but to some of the face. However, some are smaller and could be mistaken for regular sunglasses, although they are designed to fit closely around the eyes and often have a wraparound design to provide a wide field of view.

Cycling


Cyclists must contend with wind and flying debris as potential causes of vision obstruction or eye injury. Well-fitted, aerodynamic polycarbonate lenses worn with an elastic strap to keep them in place will prevent injury and allow concentration on the path ahead. Wraparounds offer the best protection for cyclists, and most come with interchangeable lenses for different lighting and weather conditions.

Those who ride motorcycles should protect their eyes and face with a helmet that has a full-face shield, which will fit over prescription eyeglasses.


Hunting, Shooting, Archery and Golf


Any sport that involves flying projectiles such as bullets or arrows requires protective eyewear, preferably with polycarbonate lenses.

Specialty features such as flip-up sunglasses can help your eyes adjust to varying light conditions in wooded areas. Yellow or orange tints improve contrast and visual acuity in hazy, overcast or dark conditions. Brown or grey tints block sunlight on bright days, while red tints can enhance the target against a dark background of trees.

Polycarbonate lenses with UV protection and a scratch-resistant coating with an appropriate tint are the best choice for these particular sports.


Summing Up

As noted above, protecting the eyes is of utmost importance when participating in sports, indoors or out. It just makes sense to enhance your vision as well as protect your eyes to have the proper prescription in protective eyewear. Eye injuries are easily avoided, and protecting vision will help enhance performance as well.

As in sports, it is necessary to protect the eyes and vision whenever hazards exist for injury, even in everyday activities like hobbies or mowing the lawn. A simple pair of safety goggles worn over glasses or alone will prevent injury and will be well worth the small investment.

 
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