Category: Your Child’s Eyes

Eye Safety in the Gym

Karen Griffith

liberty-sport-eyeglasses

Basketball is the leading cause of sport-related eye injuries according to Prevent blindness America, Roughly 6,000 Americans each year report eye injuries from basketball. Basketball also leads the 15 and older age group for eye injuries.
The best recommendation for eye injury prevention is wearing protective eyewear that meets the ASTM standards.
The type of eye injury varies depending on the sport but the most common include corneal abrasion, blunt trauma, fractured eye socket and detached retina. The most common injuries occurring on the basketball court are abrasions caused by fingers scratching the eye and surrounding tissues.

Sports goggles can be worn with or without prescription lenses.  Protective EyewearAt Westside Optometry we have sizes for children, teens and adults and they are available in a variety of color combinations.

Electronics and Kids Eyes

Karen Griffith 1 Comment

This is my last back-to-school  post for the year, but I feel  very strongly about providing children with good vision. A vision screening performed in the pediatrician’s hallway or the vision test done at school are no substitute for a comprehensive eye examination.

Eye chart - kids exams

My focus today is the use of technology: phones, games, computers and tablets. Summer vacation probably wasn’t much of a break from electronic devices for most children. The integration of technology into the classroom is more reason for children to have an eye examination.

  • Kids are digitally connected longer than parents think. According to a survey done by the American Optometric Association (AOA), 83%of children report using an electronic device more than 3 hours daily while only 40% of of parents think their kids exceed that mark; furthermore, 42% of kids report 5 hours of use or more.
  • All that time can cause eye problems. 80% of children report their eyes have burned, itched, felt tired or had blurry vision after using an electronic device.
  • Kids aren’t taking appropriate breaks. Students should follow the 20-20-20 rule. This simple rule advises that after 20 minutes of computer, tablet or other device work, the user take 20 seconds to look in the distance at least 20 feet away.
  • Most learning happens visually. An estimated 80% of all classroom learning happens through visual pathways – nearly all tasks a child performs depend on good vision.
  • Get children eye exams early. I recommend a child’s first eye exam happen at 6-12 months of age.

Get your kids off to a good start this school year. Schedule a back-to-school  eye examination.

Kids and Contact Lenses

Karen Griffith

When can children start wearing contact lenses? Research has shown that children as young as 8 years old can successfully handle, care for and wear contact lenses. Is your child ready to try them? Consider the following information before making a decision:

  • Contact Lenses for Active Kids

Contact Lenses and Children

Spectacles are cumbersome. They don’t fit under sport helmets and can fall off or slide down the nose with vigorous activity. Spectacle frames obstruct the field of view and cold weather plus hot kid can fog lenses up.

  • Contact Lenses can Boost Confidence

Contact lenses can improve how kids feel about their appearance and sports abilities as well as their interactions with peers.

  • Vision with Contact Lenses

Contact lenses provide more natural vision than spectacle lenses, which can make objects look distorted. Spectacle lenses for the correction of myopia can also make objects appear smaller than they really are.

  • Contact Lenses are Cost-Effective

After taking into account the cost of lenses and frames, and replacing spectacles due to damage or loss, contact lenses may actually be a less expensive option.

  • Kids can Learn to Care for Contact Lenses

Research at the Centre for Contact Lens Research found that children aged 8-16 years old with no previous experience wearing contact lenses were easily fit with and able to care for contact lenses.

  • Is Your Child Ready to Try Contact Lenses?

Parents are in the best position to know whether a child is responsible enough for contact lenses. Does your child keep his room tidy? Does he need reminding to brush his hair and teeth? Can you trust her to know when to remove a contact lenses?

  • The Bottom Line

Serious ocular complications from contact lens wear are rare, and no more common in children than in adults. While contact lenses might not work for every child, a motivated child can be just as successful with contact lenses as an adult.

Back-to School

Karen Griffith

Back to school

I know it’s tough to think about school starting in a few weeks. While you are scheduling immunizations, sports physicals and dental appointments, don’t forget the most important sense used in school – VISION.
Nearly 80% of learning is done through a child’s eyes. Reading, computer usage and whiteboard work are all visual tasks students perform everyday. A child’s eyes are always in use in the classroom. Therefore, when a child’s vision is not working properly learning and class participation will suffer.

Children with undetected vision problems are sometimes inaccurately diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When vision is difficult, it requires greater effort than normal causing the child to avoid close work.
Many children with undetected vision problems struggle in the classroom. Listed here are some of the behaviors associated with vision problems:

  • Trouble finishing written assignments
  • Losing his place when reading
  • A short attention span when doing close work
  • Skipping words when reading
  • Having greater potential than grades may indicate

Start the school year off right, schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your child.

Myopia Prevention

Karen Griffith

It might not be possible to prevent nearsightedness (myopia) completely, but researchers are making interesting discoveries about controlling myopia in children.
One intriguing finding is that kids who spend more time outdoors appear to have less risk of becoming nearsighted. Researchers in the U.K. found that for each additional hour children Myopiaspent outdoors per week. the risk of myopia fell by about 2 percent.
Though the cause for this finding is not fully understood, some scientists believe exposure to sunlight increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the eyes, which may prevent elongation of the eyeball.
So if you want to minimize the chances of your child developing myopia, the best advice to give them might be, “go out and play.”

Stepping away from video games and other screens can reduce visual stress which is thought to contribute to nearsightedness also. Click here to read about myopic stress.

UV Protection for Children

Karen Griffith

Babies, children and young adults have more transparent lenses in their eyes and more sensitive skin on their bodies. As a result, they are more susecptible to the adverse effects of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The negative effects of cumulative UV light exposure may not show up until later in life.
At 20 years of age, the average person has received 80% of their life’s UV exposure. This is why it is critical to protect our children’s eyes from the sun, beginning from their birth and continuing throughout their childhood.

For 13 Reasons Children should wear sunglasses, click here.

babiator boy

Westside Optometry has Babiator  sunglasses for infants and children. These sunglasses, designed especially for kids, come in 2 sizes and 10 colors. They have an amazing guarantee for loss and breakage.

 

Sunglasses as Prevention

Karen Griffith

UV and sunglasses

According to a 2013 survey by the American Optometric Association, only 40% of Americans wear sunglasses for the ultraviolet (UV) protection. I assume other reasons people put on sunglasses are to block glare, provide comfort and to look good.

Sun protection matters year-round

Are you active in winter sports such as snowboarding? UV protection is needed no matter the season. Consider this: UV radiation increases by about 4% with every 1000 feet elevation gain – and those rays keep coming even on cloudy days.

UV exposure can do short-term eye damage

You may not know about sunburn of the eye or photokeratitis. This condition comes from excessive exposure to UV rays. It’s not permanent, but can be extremely painful.

The sun can lead to long-term vision loss

Without proper protection, you can do damage to your eyes. Long-term over-exposure raises the risk of cataracts, pterygium, age-related macular degeneration and even cancer.

Sunglasses make a difference for kids, too

I hope parents are slathering sunscreen on their kids before a day at the beach. Sunglasses are important too. A child’s eyes are more sensitive than an adult’s so the need for protection is more critical at a very young age.

Examining your Baby’s Eyes

Karen Griffith

Baby Eye ExamsI recommend a baby’s first eye examination by 12 months. Your baby can’t tell you about his eyes, so it’s up to you to make the appointment. I feel so strongly about this first exam that I participate in the American Optometric Association (AOA) InfantSee program. The infant exam is on me!

As your baby grows there are a few signs you can look for that may indicate a vision problem. They include:

  • Frequent eye rubbing
  • Excessive blinking
  • Failure to maintain eye contact
  • Inability to maintain  gaze while looking at objects
  • Crossed or misaligned eyes

Remember some children with poor vision do not show obvious signs and need to have regular comprehensive eye exams to detect any eye health issues.

A history of prematurity and delayed motor skills development, plus a family history of poor vision and eye health are also factors indicating an assessment. If you infant is between 9 and 12 months, call the office now for a free infant exam. (707)762-8643.

Eye Emergencies: What to do?

Karen Griffith

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Something in the eye/eye pain[/heading][big_heading centered=”no”][/big_heading]

Are any of the following true?

  • The foreign body can be seen, and remains after gentle washing. Eye Injury
  • The injury has penetrated the globe of the eye.
  • Blood can be seen in the eye.
  • It feels as though something is trapped under the eyelid.

Call the office immediately, especially if the vision is blurry and/or there is eyepain.

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Blunt Trauma[/heading][big_heading centered=”no”][/big_heading] [heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]such as the eye is hit with a ball, fist or other object[/heading]

Are any of the following true?

  • The lid is swollen shut.
  • There is blood.
  • The front of the eye is hazy or white.
  • The pupil is irregularly shaped, dilated or constricted.

Call the office, especially if the vision is blurry, or there is pain. If none of the above signs are present, apply ice packs for the first 2 hours.

For more information about preventing eye injuries or what to do if something splashes into the eye causing a  chemical burn click on the appropriate link.

2014 Eye Resolutions

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[big_heading centered=”no”]Your vision and eye health  are important every day of the year. Make changes now for a lifetime of good vision.[/big_heading]

Eat Smart. Diet and nutritional supplements go a long way in promoting eye health. Studies show a diet rich in fruits, leafy vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of eye problems like macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome.

Get Moving. Research has shown higher levels of physical exercise can reduce certain risk factors for glaucoma, as well as macular degeneration. iStock_000023582367Small
Quit smoking. Put simply, smoking harms your vision. Studies show smoking dramatically increases the likelihood of developing cataracts, macular degeneration,uveitis and diabetic retinopathy.
Wear Sunglasses. Protect your eyes from the sun (and make sure your kids do, too). Always wear sunglasses with UV protection when outdoors — no matter what time of year — to shield your eyes from UV rays. This may reduce your risk for cataracts and macular degeneration.
Start using safety eyewear for lawn-mowing, home repairs and other chores. Experts say 90 percent of eye injuries requiring a visit to the emergency room can be prevented with proper safety eyewear.

Properly Care for your Contact Lenses. Dirty contact lenses, even if they are not uncomfortable, can cause serious eye infections. Clean your contact lenses and contact lens case properly, and always replace your contacts as recommended.
Reduce Computer Eye Strain. Rest your eyes from computer work every 20 minutes to relieve computer vision syndrome and avoid dry, red eyes. Also, ask Dr. Griffith or Staton about stress-relieving computer glasses.
Improve Your Vision. If you’ve been putting up with contact lens discomfort, dry eyes, eye allergies or blurry vision, talk to us about changes you can make to improve or eliminate these problems.

Upgrade your contact lenses. Contact lenses come in a wide variety of materials, replacement schedules and wearing times — not to mention the array of color contact lenses and special effect contacts available. With the advancement in contact lens technology, there’s sure to be a type of contact lens that suits your individual requirements and lifestyle.

Improve Your Appearance. Upgrade your eyewear. Get with the times and refresh your look, as well as take advantage of the latest in lens and frame technologies. Try eyeglass lens coatings. Various lens coatings keep your field of view clear by reducing reflections, fogging and scratches. And eliminate glare during outdoor activities with polarized sunglasses. If you have a strong prescription, try high index eyeglass lenses. High index lenses provide the same optical power as regular ones, but are thinner and lighter.

Considering LASIK? If you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts, ask your us if you are a good candidate for LASIK or other vision correction surgery.

Schedule an Eye Exam for everyone in your family. Kids and seniors, especially, should have comprehensive annual eye exams to monitor vision changes. Also, have your family doctor screen you for diabetes and hypertension — if left untreated, these diseases can lead to serious eye problems. (707)762-8643.