Early Detection Through Advanced Technology

Eye diseases can strike at any stage of life, but the risk of developing one increases with age. At Northern Lights Optometry, we are dedicated to preserving the vision of all our patients. One of the ways we do this is through investment in leading diagnostic technology to detect eye diseases at their earliest stages.

From comprehensive eye exams to specialized evaluations for diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts, we combine technology and experience to give you a diagnosis and personalized management plan. We also do our best to provide you the peace of mind of knowing you’re being cared for by a skilled and dedicated optometric team.

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Why Early Disease Detection Matters

Good vision is essential to our daily lives and can be taken for granted when everything is working well visually for you. Many eye diseases can start to develop without showing any symptoms, affecting your ocular health before you know it. An eye exam gives us the opportunity to note any warning signs of ocular disease. If ocular disease is discovered, further diagnostic testing would be performed. Early treatment or management is generally simpler, more cost-effective, and less invasive than delayed treatment. It’s important to discover when vision loss is due to various eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Early detection could save your vision.

Common Eye Diseases & Conditions

The most common eye diseases and conditions that cause vision loss in people over 40 are glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease.

While lens replacement surgery can restore vision for people with cataracts, vision loss from other diseases is often irreversible, so prevention and early detection are essential.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting information from your eye to your brain, and when it is damaged it can result in permanent vision loss.

The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is typically characterized by high pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure. We can measure the pressure in your eye with a simple tonometry test.

While glaucoma can progress without any noticeable symptoms, it may eventually begin to affect your peripheral vision. We can perform advanced visual field testing (also called perimetry) to assess your side and central vision as part of detection and managing glaucoma.

Many mild and moderate cases of glaucoma can be treated with medicated eye drops that help control pressure in the eye. Laser treatment may be recommended if eye drops aren’t ideal for the patient. Other patients may benefit most from a minimally invasive surgery that installs tiny drainage devices in the eyes.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a natural clouding of the eye’s lens that happens with age. The good news is that while cataracts happen to nearly everyone as they age, vision can often be fully restored with lens replacement surgery.

Symptoms of cataracts may include:

Blurry or foggy vision
Poor night vision
Muted or dull colour vision

In the early stages of cataracts, you may be able to get along with an update to your glasses prescription. But if your vision loss is affecting your enjoyment of life, we may recommend cataract surgery. Learn more about our cataract evaluations and pre- and post-operative care for cataract surgery.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50—that’s about 1.4 million Canadians.

AMD affects the macula of the eye, which we rely on for our central vision, seeing fine details, and much of our colour vision. However, in the early stages of AMD you won’t notice symptoms, which is why eye exams are so important.

Learn more about how we diagnose AMD and about treatment for different types and stages of AMD.

Diabetic Eye Disease

People living with diabetes are at risk of eye damage due to high blood sugar. Good management of your blood sugar, plus regular eye exams on a schedule recommended by your optometrist, are both very important in protecting your vision.

Diabetic retinopathy can happen when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the eye, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. This damage to the retina may not cause vision symptoms at first, but eventually symptoms may include trouble seeing things either close-up or far away, or dark floating spots in your vision.

We used advanced diagnostic imaging to diagnose and manage diabetic eye diseases, including optical coherence tomography and fundus photography. Read more about our technology below.

Learn about our diabetic eye exams.

Keratoconus

Keratoconus happens when the cornea thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. This misshapen cornea causes blurred vision and light sensitivity.

It’s not always clear what causes keratoconus, though a family history of the disease is a risk factor, as are conditions including Down syndrome, retinitis pigmentosa, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hay fever, and asthma.

We use corneal topography to detect any corneal irregularities in the eye, as well as to fit custom scleral lenses that can provide clearer vision for people with keratoconus.

Our Diagnostic Technology

Diagnostic imaging is a key part of providing care for the long term ocular health of our community. Learn about some of our technology here.

Optos Monaco Retinal Camera

Our Optos Monaco retinal camera provides us ultra-widefield images of your retina as well as a cross-section view of the retina using optical coherence tomography.

These images of the eye’s retina, including blood vessels, macula, and optic nerve are essential for detecting and tracking progression of diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, macular edema, and glaucoma, as well as an eye care emergency known as retinal detachment.

Zeiss Cirrus 6000 OCT

Our Zeiss Cirrus 6000 OCT provides us high-definition images of the retina, including a cross-section view and an extremely detailed look at retinal blood vessels.

This tool is essential in our diagnosis and management of age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma as well as other retinal diseases.

Visit Us

Our Address

2093 2nd Avenue
Whitehorse, YT
Y1A 1B5

Our Contacts

Phone: 867-668-2020
Fax: 867-667-6526
Email: eyes@northernlightsoptometry.ca

Find us in downtown Whitehorse across from the Yukon Visitor Information Centre, just steps from Main Street and the Yukon River.

For your convenience, we are wheelchair accessible.

Hours of Operation

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Hours of operation may vary on holidays.

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Our Services

Adult & Senior Eye Exams

Our Brands

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Our Testimonials

We’ve been going to Northern Lights Optometry for 20 years. The service has been always first class. The staff are professional, courteous and knowledgeable about the products they sell. This all lead by Dr. Gorrell who is the consummate professional, always gives professional no BS advice and is always friendly. He is fantastic with kids and helped my son make the transition from glasses to contacts when he was 9. 6 stars for me!!

Marcel B.

Friendly staff and expert advice. We are very fortunate to have this level of service and selection in Whitehorse. They went above and beyond to help me out in a jam! Thanks for the great service and quality care!

Jordan S

Northern Lights Optometry has taken care of my ocular health for the past 30 years. I’ve never had anything but good experiences. Pleasant, knowledgeable staff and kind, professional service are the standard.

Sarah H.

Always a great, professional, and knowledgeable experience for myself and my family, whether it’s a regular eye exam or a diabetic exam. I’ve been a patient at Northern Lights for over 25 years, and I’ve always received the quality customer service I’ve come to expect because that’s what I’ve always received. Great selection of glasses and sunglasses at competitive pricing. I highlight recommend Dr. Gorrell and his staff.

Jill N.

Had been having headaches and fatigue for months when it was suggested I have my eyes checked. Has not had my eyes checked in ten years. I was referred to see Dr. Guy Gorrell by a good friend. Dr. Gorrell was professional and very thorough in his assessment of my eyes and overall vision. In the end Dr. Gorrell was able to diagnose that my eyes did in fact need a prescription lens and my headaches and fatigue were likely due to my straining my eyes to see properly. His friendly and helpful staff assisted me in choosing my frames and in a very short period of time my glasses were available. Since having the prescription glasses my headaches and fatigue have stopped and I am very pleased. I highly recommend Dr. Gorrell and his staff at Northern Lights Optometry.

Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Whitehorse