Dr. Douglas Guy Smith OD

Optometrist

585 Murphy Rd Medford OR, 97504 Show map

About
Contacts & Locations

About

Dr. Douglas Smith is an Optometric Physician in private practice in Medford, OR. Dr. Smith provides full family eye health and vision care, performs eye health exams, visual function tests , prescribes eye glasses, contacts, and other modes of therapy. He detects and treats eye disorders and co-manages general health problems. Dr. Smith is on the staff at two regional Medical Centers in their Neuro-Rehabillitatioin Units, specializing in Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Neuro-Degenerative disease management and rehabilitation . He begins each day asking "who are we going to help today. Visit his website for more information. www.bisonvisioncenter.com

Education and Training

Pacific University College of Optometry OD 1979

Pacific University Optometry

Provider Details

Male English, Spanish, French, Russian

Dr. Douglas Guy Smith OD

Dr. Douglas Guy Smith OD's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Does LASIK surgery have any side effects in the long term?
For most people experiencing LASIK, it is a life-changing adventure. Depending upon your age, you may need reading glasses at an earlier age. Anything you do with your glasses OFF now may require near focus glasses. If you select mono vision with one eye for near and one eye for distance vision, you will be sacrificing some binocularity and depth perception. There may be some regression, but as most LASIK surgery centers seek to provide vision sufficient for driving, you may have to wait until you are at 20/40 before the enhancement is available. Most patients reach 20/20 initially and the decline may not become apparent for 7 to 10 years. At that time, the patient may need bifocals due to stacking up birthdays and as they will be using glassed a lot, they forego the enhancement. Unpredictable medical corneal degenerations are factors independent of LASIK surgeries. READ MORE
What should I do for recurrent pink eye?
pink eye at that long interval suggests seasonal allergies or that you are a teacher exposed to little disease vectors bringing in a virus. Check with a local Optometric Physician who will differentiate between Allergic Viral, Bacterial, or environmental causes such as house dust house mites, air pollution. The OD will also be able to determine if you have periodic guests in your lashes that can easily be controlled. Dr Doug Smith /DOC BISON READ MORE
Is there any supplement to improve eyesight?
There are no documented and widely known nutrients that can alter Myopia (nearsightedness) Hyperopia (Far Sightedness) or Astigmatism (Distorted Vision), all of which are the most common causes of children needing spectacles. A workup by a developmental, or functional vision Optometric Physician may be able to determine if the need for spectacles is ingrained, genetic or environmental. A thorough work up may determine that it is possible to back the child out of glasses or minimize the progression. DOC BISON READ MORE
I am have hazy vision in the mornings. Could it be due to my blood pressure?
More likely it is because your eyes have dried out under your lids or you may have a form of angle closure glaucoma raining eye pressure and causing the edema ( swelling) A Optometric Physician can rule out Glaucoma and prescribe therapy for dry eye or MGD Meibomian Eye Disease. Doc Bison READ MORE
My mother is a blood pressure patient. Will this cause complications in her cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is usually performed in surgery centers of hospital environments, The patient needs to inform the surgeon of any and all MEDICATIONS and OVER THE COUNTER REMEDIES VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS. Hundreds if not thousands of patients with hypertension / High Blood Pressure experience cataract surgery daily. A reputable surgery Center / hospital and Ophthalmologist will prepare for the rare, unlikely surgical complication from any source, let alone the very common high blood pressure patient. Doc Bison READ MORE
I have been blinking too much. Is it normal?
Frequent blinking can be associated with dry eye, environmental irritants, seasonal allergies and corneal mischief resulting from UV overexposure on the water or on the snow. All of these can be ruled in or out by your family Optometric Physician OD. READ MORE
I have a problem seeing in dim light. Could it be night blindness?
Problems with dim light often come with birthdays. The need for more light is associated with early developing cataracts, as is glare when driving. The clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract) tends to both dim vision and cause light scatter and glare when bight light such as headlights are aimed at the eye. Sudden onset for needing more light should be evaluated by an Optometric Physician who will provide a solution or place you in the hands of the proper specialist, which may include an ophthalmologist, neurologist or endocrinologist. READ MORE
My nephew is 7 years old and has been diagnosed with cataract. What should we do?
Childhood cataract may have been of congenital origin. If it is of new onset he should be checked for juvenile TYPE I diabetes. The cataract should be removed to prevent or aid in the correction of any lazy eye( Amblyopia) that may have developed. Whether corrected by a pseudophakic plastic lens implanted where the cataract was removed or a contact lens, correction after cataract removal is critical for binocularity, depth perception and full visual acuity ( clarity)as an adult. READ MORE
What will happen if I sleep with my contact lenses?
You may experience a corneal abrasion. It is a real teaching moment and an experience when remembered remind you to not do it again. READ MORE
Are there any drops to keep my eyes clear of infections?
Use anti infective drugs in any form ONLY AFTER AN INFECTION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. Using unnecessary antibiotics builds resistance in Bacteria and leads to drug ineffectiveness. READ MORE
What causes eye floaters?
The vitreous of the eye is a jelly like viscous fluid composed of hyaluronic acid. Floaters can be caused by fluid imbalances in the vitreous, a lifetime of exposure to ultraviolet light and heat trauma. Floaters, so long as they truly "float around' and do not attach to the retina are benign. Because of the miniscule convection flow due to the temperature gradients of the fluid in the eye, gravity and head motion the floaters will drift in and out of your line of sight. They are most visible looking at a uniform color ceiling, sky of computer screen. You ay as well give them names and call them pets, because they will remain with you in some form always after they appear. READ MORE
Why do my eyes turn bloodshot by the end of the day?
Allergy, foreign body, dust in the air, eyestrain viewing a computer, incomplete or infrequent blinking and possibly a dry eye cause by an imbalance of the tear components of water, oil and mucous. DO NOT REACH FOR A RED OUT DROP. These can affect your blood pressure and create a dependence that requires you use the drops continually. Find the cause of your red eye with a visit to an eye care specialist, such as an Optometric Physician, or Optometrist, and follow their directions so you are solving the problem and not just hiding it with red out drops. READ MORE
My eyes are puffed up and feel heavy. Why?
Allergies set their own timetable for appearing in life. Many allergy free people have a sudden onset of allergies. As we season, our tissues become lax and stretch allowing fluids to accumulate, especially on the pillow side of the face when sleeping. Cold pack and massage often help reduce swelling. Watch for accompanying swelling of hands feet and ankles or shortness of breath.. If these appear also check with your General Practice Physician. READ MORE
Why does my eyesight get worse every year?
There are many reasons your vision can change as often as every year or even MORE frequently. First lets do what your doctor does: RULE OUT DISEASES. Do you have Diabetes, or any other blood sugar disorder, High Blood pressure, Elevated cholesterol, thyroid disease,cancer or neurodegenerative disease? If the answer is no GREAT. Lets take the next step and review your refraction or measurement of the focusing capability of the eye far and near.. Does the refraction relatively stronger or weaker than last year? Has your job changed? Are you spending ore time on a digital device for work or recreation? Are there additional or fewer stresses on your vision now? Are you approaching your 40s? Does the problem show up reading or driving? Is glare worse at night? So the answers range from body and health issues, work and recreation tasks, developing cataracts or the normal processes of adding that extra year. READ MORE
How often should we ideally visit an optometrist?
First: respond to any new or worsening visual complaints by having them checked by an Optometric Physician. Second: School age children and young adults experience increased demands on their vision each academic year, plus world of academic and recreational digital devices is creating a generation of younger and younger people with serious vision problems. So get the kids checked annually. As for Momma and Poppa bear..do you have any conditions for which you take or were advised to take medication? If so annually. Do you have a visually demanding job and do you get frequent headaches? If so get an annual or symptom based check up. Many conditions are covered by Medical Insurance even if you do not have a vision insurance plan in place. In summary, anyone with changes of complaints gets checked or rechecked upon complaint. Medicated patients annually and adults cruising through their 20s and 30s every 2 to three years. After forty, your changing reading ability will be the trigger to see your Optometric Physician. READ MORE
Why do I see hazy in the night?
This can be a condition known as night myopia or night nearsightedness caused by so very interesting but challenging physics principles. Also, emerging cataracts (clouding of the lens) or dry eye (clouding of the cornea) can scattrer the light and cause blur or even glare sensitivity. Why worry? Get it checked by an Optometric Physician. READ MORE
Is there a cure for color blindness?
Psycho-physical researchers at McGill University found that color vision can be developmental in some males not fully emerging until ages 12 and above. There are several marginal compensations for Gene linked colorblindness but it is currently not possible to fully restore color spectrum awareness (color vision). READ MORE
How can I get my eyes more accustomed to contact lenses?
Return to your licensed contact lens prescriber and explain your difficulty. Perhaps a modification of the type gas permable of soft, , shape, water content, size and landing zone on the eye can provide relief. In the hands of a skilled fitter there should be a 90 percent or better chance of a successful fir. A practice with one brand fits all such as you find in big box stores is NOT where you should be fit with contact lenses. The fitting process should provide access to the doctor and his staff under the initial fitting fee and should include a 1 week, three week and 2 month visit to check the accuracy of the fit and your eye's response to the application of a well designed product to the very sensitive and delicate surface of the eye. A one visit fit and go is setting you up for problems initially or down the road. READ MORE
My eye looks different because of my astigmatism. Anything I can do?
It is unlikely that the astigmatism of the cornea can be detected by observation. Is this a new observation, by you or by other observers such as family or friends? REGARDLESS, if there is an observable irregularity of the eye or you mean your vision is distorted (the way you see out of the eye) especially if this is a new finding, you need to be checked by an Optometric Physician or Physician specializing in the eye. READ MORE
My eye drops are getting into my mouth. Should I be concerned?
There is a natural passage between the eye and the back of the nose and mouth. To prevent the drops from draining in a large quantity, simply pinch the bridge of your nose closest to the eye and tip your head back as far as you can for at least 30 seconds. Then dab off any excess. The taste should stop or be minimized AND the drops will stay where they are supposed to work. There is little risk from the residual drops draining to the mouth. READ MORE