Common eye issues that can be readily treated with corrective eyewear, contact lenses or eyeglasses and in some cases surgery.
During a normal eye exam when it is found that the patient has conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism we can prescribe eyeglasses ocontact lenses to improve vision.
There are many types of vision tests: visual acuity tests, refraction, visual field tests, and color vision tests are a few. These tests help us determine how well your eyes are working.
Low vision is considered a permanent loss of vision that doesn’t improve with eyeglasses, medicine or surgery, and typically interferes with daily activities such as reading and watching TV
Many major eye diseases and disorders such as Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataract, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Amblyopia, Strabismus can reduce the quality of life and should be found and treated as early as possible.
As a full scope practice, we provide comprehensive eye examinations for all ages from infants to seniors and everyone in between. We take pride in being a progressive clinic which provides a thorough eye examination with the latest in ocular instrumentation. We have a variety of instruments designed to allow our optometrists to analyse and thereby develop a treatment plan that best addresses your eye and vision care needs.
Finding the perfect contact lens makes all the difference in the world. We offer an extensive range of contact lens options suitable for nearly every prescription, including lenses to correct astigmatism and multifocals.
Your vision is essential to everyday life. Even a minor eye injury can have devastating consequences for your vision. Your optometrist can diagnose your eye condition and make sure that it is treated appropriately. Symptoms of an eye emergency may include sudden vision loss, sudden onset of double vision, eye pain, sudden onset of flashes of light or floaters, a scratched eye, or a foreign body in the eye. If you are experiencing an eye emergency contact our office immediately or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency department. We can usually accommodate same-day appointments if you need to be seen urgently.
Considering an alternative to glasses or contact lenses? Our optometrists provide pre-operative and post-operative care of patients who have opted for vision correcting surgery. While LASIK is currently the most popular refractive surgery available, there are other available options such as refractive lens exchange or private cataract surgery. We can help you find the best solution for your eyes and refer you to the appropriate surgical facility.
Did you know that your PEI Health Card covers visits to your optometrist for diagnosis of your red eye? Allergies, dry eyes, eye infections, and removal of foreign bodies from the eye are all included in PEI’s Red Eye Program.
Early detection of many eye diseases is crucial to effective treatment. Many eye conditions do not show obvious symptoms in the early stages. Regular eye examinations are important to detect and manage eye conditions at the optimal time. Your optometrist can diagnose and manage eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.
Dr. Bowes was born in Newfoundland but moved toPEI when looking for a place to practice after graduation. She graduated from Acadia University in 1990 with her Bachelor of Science. She became interested in Optometry during that time and went on to complete her Doctorate in Optometry in 1994 from The State University of New York College of Optometry. Upon Graduation, she received the CIBA Vision Contact Lens Achievement Award and the VSP Award for excellence in Primary Care. Dr. Bowes completed externships in both ocular disease as well as contact lenses. She practises full scope Optometry and enjoys attending continuing education seminars to keep current in eyecare. Dr. Bowes has been privileged to volunteer for her profession in many capacities over the years. Currently, she is the Registrar for the PEI College of Optometrists and is on the national boards for the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada and the Optometry Examining Board of Canada. Dr. Bowes enjoys spending time with her family as well as gardening and reading.
Dr. Alanna Stetson is originally from South Freetown, PEI. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2008 and then completed her Doctorate of Optometry on the Dean’s Honours List at the University of Waterloo and Vision Science in 2012. While in optometry school, she participated in an eyecare mission to Guatamala, providing eye exams and dispensing donated glasses. As part of her training, she completed an ocular disease externship at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. She also completed an internship with Dr. Bowes in 2011 and has been practicing at Dr. Kelly Bowes & Associates since her graduation in 2012. Dr. Stetson has been on the PEI Association of Optometrists (PEIAO) council since 2013. She served as the PEIAO secretary for 6 years before becoming the Canadian Association of Optometrists council representative. When not at work, Dr. Stetson enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family.
A Summerside native, Kim has been in the optical field since 1999. After becoming a Canadian Certified Optometrist Assistant (CCOA) in 2003 through the Canadian Association of Optometrists, she then went on to earn her Optician diploma from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in
2011 and has been practicing as a licensed optician since then. She is a current member of the Canadian Association of Optometrists, the Opticians Association of Canada and the PEI Association of Opticians (PEIAO). She is presently serving as the Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Board for the PEIAO. Kim is very knowledgeable in her field-whether it is helping a patient select frames and lenses or in answering a wide array of questions related to eye care products and services. Kim loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoys camping, movies and hanging out with her beloved pets.
Pamela is a native of Hamilton, PEI who joined our team in March, 2021. After working as an eyewear consultant in 2014, Pamela sought to broaden her knowledge in order to better assist her patients. She earned her Optician’s Diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2018 and has been practicing as a licensed optician since then. Pamela enjoys helping patients select the perfect set of glasses. Pamela enjoys travel, new experiences, the outdoors, and spending time with her husband, family and her dog.
Colleen is a life long islander who spent the last 15 years in the pharmacy field but decided she needed a change of pace and optometry peaked her interest. Colleen is excited to join our team and further her knowledge. She is currently enrolled in the Canadian Certified Optometric Assistants program. When not at work, Colleen enjoys hiking, kayaking, and all things outdoors.
Tara moved from Saint John, New Brunswick to PEI in 2001. She became interested in reception work after accepting a position at the East Prince Youth Development Centre that was for 6 months but lasted 9 years. To further her passion and knowledge in administration, Tara completed the Legal Administration program at Holland College.
Since starting with us in March 2022, Tara is the friendly face to greet you when you walk in the door. When she’s not at work, Tara enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dog.
The Program for Elementary Eye Care provides coverage for annual eye exams and up to three pairs of glasses for children in grades 1 to 6 who have a valid PEI Health Card. The program ends when a child completes grade 6 or moves out of PEI. Since one in four school-age children has a vision problem—often undetected—regular eye exams are essential, as 80% of learning is visual. Early detection supports better learning outcomes.
The Eye See…Eye Learn Program offers one free eye exam and one free pair of glasses, if needed, to all pre-kindergarten and kindergarten-age children in PEI with a valid PEI Health Card. Since young children often don’t realize they have vision problems, early eye exams are crucial—especially as 80% of early learning is visual. Identifying issues early increases the chances of correction. The program encourages all eligible Island children to participate.
The Provincial Diabetes Program provides coverage for ocular health assessments for Islanders registered in the Provincial Diabetes Program. Contact our staff for further details.
Have an eye infection, itchy eyes or dry eyes? Health PEI covers the cost of appointments to assess and diagnose conditions such as these.