Meet Dr. Jayne Toombs Family Vision Centre
By Kristen Johnson Photos Kimberly Rashed
Dr. Toombs has been practicing optometry for 31 years as a part of Family Vision Centre in Charlottetown. After growing up in Kensington, she completed a BSc in nutrition from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax followed by a graduate degree in optometry in Glasgow, Scotland. When she is not behind a phoropter (that is the instrument with all the dials and knobs), you can find her biking, camping and enjoying time with her friends.
visual impairment can cause lifelong challenges.
should have their first eye exam between birth and 24 months old. Preschool children should be screened every two years and children ages 6-19 every year. What changes have been made at Family Vision Centre due to COVID-19? We have made many changes as directed by the province of PEI. There are several clear barriers in place, as well as decals and arrows on the floor to indicate traffic flow. Some seating has been removed to allow for social distancing. High touch areas are cleaned frequently and all frames are cleaned after being tried on. We have limited the number of people in the office at one time, and all are wearing masks.
Should you have your eyes checked even if you do not think you need glasses? An eye health exam is a comprehensive assessment. During the exam, the optometrist not only determines the need for glasses, but looks for diseases as well. Some eye diseases are painless and can eventually cause you to lose your eyesight. Diseases such as diabetes and hypertension have secondary effects on the eyes that can cause blindness.
Q and A:
What is your favourite part of your job?
Many of my patients are like family. I saw them when they were children and now I’m seeing their children. One of my favourite parts of being in this health profession is that I get to help improve people’s quality of life by improving their vision and taking care of their eye health. I love being able to interact and learn about so many people every day.
How often should people have an eye exam?
Adults ages 20-64 should be checked every two years, while people ages 65 and older should be examined annually.
What is the importance of a regular eye exam?
Family Vision Centre 111 Pownal St, Charlottetown 902.566.4418 www.familyvisioncentre.com
At what age should children have their first eye exam?
Regardless of age or visual ability, it’s important to have your eyes examined regularly. Vision and eyesight are often taken for granted, but even a slight
Many factors influence the frequency of eye exams, but in general, a child
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