{"id":247471,"date":"2026-04-01T23:09:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/247471\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T23:09:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:09:09","slug":"west-coast-eye-institute-is-bakersfields-complete-center-for-eye-health-and-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/247471\/","title":{"rendered":"West Coast Eye Institute is Bakersfield’s complete center for eye health and education"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eye health may not be top of mind for many people, but Dr. Walia say simple habits \u2014 from wearing goggles in the pool to taking breaks from screens can help protect vision, especially during spring break in the Central Valley.<\/p>\n

We visited West Coast Eye Institute in Bakersfield<\/a>, where ophthalmologist Dr. Sandeep Walia discussed common seasonal eye concerns and walked through what patients can expect during an exam and for some surgery options such as LASIK or cataract procedures.<\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Dr. Walia said spring break often means more time in swimming pools, and chlorine exposure can lead to irritation and infections.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can get conjunctivitis or pink eyes, what a lot of people call it, this time of year, so your kids can get really red and irritated,\u201d Dr. Walia said he recommends goggles for both kids and adults.<\/p>\n

He also urged people to wear sunglasses to protect against ultraviolet light as days get longer and people spend more time outside. \u201cA lot of UV exposure, a lot of eye damage can happen from UV light,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

On screen time, Dr. Walia said there is not \u201ca whole lot of damage\u201d to the eyes themselves, adding, \u201cThere\u2019s no retina toxicity.\u201d However, he said screens can affect sleep and behavior and recommended following the \u201c20-20-20\u201d rule: \u201cTake a 20-second break after 20 minutes Look 20 feet away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"WestcoastEyeInstitute_Bakersfield_California_Dr.Walia-287.jpg\"<\/p>\n

WestcoastEyeInstitute_Bakersfield_California_Dr.Walia-287.jpg<\/p>\n

How often someone should get an eye exam depends on their health history. For people with diabetes, DR. Walia exams are recommended \u201cevery year to six months, depending if you have active disease.\u201d For generally healthy people, he said it is \u201cprobably better\u201d to come in \u201conce every year to two years\u201d to check for developing problems.<\/p>\n

A typical eye exam at the institute takes about 45 minutes,, largely because dilation takes time. <\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

During our visit, Dr. Walia described what doctors look for during an exam, including cataracts which is \u201ca natural clouding of the eye that blocks light from getting in and blocks your view from coming out\u201d. He adds that it can make it difficult to drive at night or see in dim light.<\/p>\n

He also discussed signs of diabetic eye disease, which he said is commonly seen in Kern County. Dr. Walia explained that high blood sugar can clog small blood vessels in the eye, causing them to leak and leading to bleeding in the retina.<\/p>\n

\"WestcoastEyeInstitute_Bakersfield_California_Dr.Walia-490.jpg\"<\/p>\n

WestcoastEyeInstitute_Bakersfield_California_Dr.Walia-490.jpg<\/p>\n

For people who cannot regularly make appointments, Dr. Walia recommended at-home checks by testing each eye separately. \u201cLiterally, close one eye at a time and just look at an image and make that your morning routine,\u201d he said, adding that one eye can sometimes mask problems in the other.<\/p>\n

West Coast Eye Institute<\/a> offers multiple services, including LASIK, cataract surgery and Botox. The institute has been in business for a few years and has locations in Bakersfield, Oildale, and an office in Delano.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe accept those plans, and more importantly, we never turn away anybody,\u201d says Dr. Walia, \u201cSo if you don\u2019t have insurance, we still help.\u201d<\/p>\n