Changing Lives Through Individualized, Innovative Eye Care
Our team at Ham’s believes the best eye care starts early. That’s why our entire approach is built around prevention. With the right tools and the right timing, we can catch signs of eye disease before you ever notice a change in your vision.
This is where technology makes a real difference. It helps us see what your eyes are telling us, often years before symptoms appear. Whether it’s detecting glaucoma in its earliest stages or spotting subtle signs of dry eye or keratoconus, our goal is to protect your sight for the long term.
We include detailed scans in every exam, not just when something seems wrong. And we always take the time to explain what we’re looking at and what it means for your health. You deserve personalized care that looks ahead, not just reacts. Book your next eye exam with us today and put your vision first.
Diagnostic Technology Can Preserve Your Vision
Preventive eye care is life-changing. With the right tools, we can detect signs of disease in people who feel completely fine, sometimes even children as young as 5.
For example, our team has identified early keratoconus in young patients and initiated care that helped preserve their long-term vision. In many cases, technology allows us to intervene early enough to prevent irreversible damage and protect your ability to see clearly for decades to come.
Inside Our Diagnostic Technology
Every piece of technology we use has one clear purpose: to protect your sight before problems begin. Many eye diseases don’t show symptoms until they’ve already caused permanent damage. That’s why our approach focuses on early detection.
With the right tools, we can spot even the smallest changes in your eye health. Each tool in our suite plays a unique role in protecting your eye health. Here’s a closer look at how our technology works for you.
A deeper look, in seconds.
Optos captures a high-resolution, ultra-wide image of your retina in just a few minutes, no dilation required. This scan helps us detect serious concerns like retinal tears, retinal detachments, diabetic changes, cardiovascular risks, and even tumours.
It’s a powerful tool that gives us insight into your overall health, not just your eyes. We include Optos imaging as part of your routine eye exam, and it can be completed in about 3 minutes, so we can identify hidden problems before they cause symptoms.
Seeing beneath the surface.
OCT (optical coherence tomography) allows us to view the layers of your retina and optic nerve in microscopic detail. It’s the gold standard for detecting early signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other sight-threatening diseases.
At Ham’s, we use OCT on every single patient, because many eye conditions, especially glaucoma, develop silently. Early detection with OCT can prevent vision loss that might otherwise go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Dedicated care for corneal and tear health.
The Antares system helps us examine the shape, stability, and surface of your eyes. It includes specialized tests like:
- Meibography to assess the oil glands in your eyelids
- Tear break-up time (TBUT) to evaluate tear quality
- Corneal topography to map the eye’s surface and detect shape changes
This is crucial for diagnosing dry eye disease early, even in patients who don’t report symptoms. Every patient completes a SPEED questionnaire to help identify dry eye concerns that might otherwise go unmentioned.
Early diagnosis allows us to begin treatment sooner, which can improve long-term outcomes. Antares is also essential for spotting early signs of keratoconus, a condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge over time. Identifying keratoconus early, especially in children and teens, can be life-changing.
A multi-layered approach to early glaucoma detection.
We use a complete suite of diagnostic tools to assess your risk of glaucoma and monitor changes over time:
- Zeiss Cirrus OCT 6000 to visualize the optic nerve
- Zeiss Humphrey Field Analyzer 3 to test peripheral (side) vision
- Pachymetry to measure corneal thickness
- Reichert Corneal Hysteresis to evaluate the cornea’s ability to absorb pressure
Together, these tools help us detect glaucoma long before it affects your vision. Our technology allows us to build a complete picture of your eye health so we can take action when it matters most.
We’re Here to Explain Every Step
We understand that this technology can sound overwhelming, but don’t worry. At every appointment, we’ll walk you through each test and explain what we’re seeing, so you leave feeling confident, not confused.
You deserve to know what’s happening with your eyes and how we’re helping to protect your vision. Ham’s Superior Vision Centre offers comprehensive exams that combine comfort, clarity, and innovative technology. Let’s take care of your long-term vision, starting today.
Fabulous Independent Eyewear from Around the World
Signature style starts here—explore independent eyewear at Ham’s. We travel the globe to find standout independent eyewear that meets our highest standards—because our patients deserve nothing less. World-class eyewear, no passport required. Ham’s brings global style straight to Thunder Bay.
Backed by 150 years of combined expertise, our opticians are here to help you find eyewear that’s as functional as it is beautiful and tailored to your lifestyle.
Our Handpicked, Independent Eyewear Brands
Two Thunder Bay Eye Clinics to Serve You
Oliver Road
We’re on Oliver Road just east of Highway 17. There’s convenient parking right out front.
- 1144 OIiver Road, Unit 1
- Thunder Bay, ON P7B 7A4
- Phone: 807-285-4790
- Email: drmckiel@shaw.ca
Hours Of Operation
Centennial Square Plaza
There’s plenty of parking in the lot we share with Family Foods in the heart of Thunder Bay.
- 124 Centennial Square
- Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1H3
- Phone: 807-623-2020
- Email: hamsoptical@tbaytel.net
Hours Of Operation
Oliver Road
Reviews
Centennial Square
Plaza Reviews
Specialty Services
Products
Our Locations
Centennial Square Plaza
- 124 Centennial Square
- Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1H3