Blog Archives | Page 2 of 25 | Kleinsorge Family Eye Care

August 9, 2021 By Arlene Kleinsorge

Tips & Tricks to Help Your Kids Vision

A child won’t raise their hand if they don’t know the answer to a problem, and that includes fuzzy vision. Most kids simply don’t realize if their sight is off. From tripping and tilting to picking the right lens, we’ve got a list of gotta-knows for parents aiming to keep their kids’ vision focused and healthy.

Want your kid to get straight A’s? A good way to start is with a clear “see.” A whopping 80% of a child’s learning¹ comes through the eyes, yet 1 in 4 school-age children have a vision problem.²

That’s pretty simple math for equating how many kids are at risk of vision-related learning deficiencies, but often kids don’t even know something is wrong. It’s up to us parents to spot the signs of compromised eyesight, and to take the precautions against it.

Here’s a few tips and tricks to help your kid and their vision.

Screenings aren’t everything. In-school screenings may detect basic problems, but don’t count on one for a clean bill of vision health. If the screening detects an issue, see an eye doctor soon. A comprehensive eye exam can help gauge the overall health of the eyes, how they work together and other functions.²

Vision and behavior are often blurred. Because grades may suffer and behavior changes with degrading vision, children who have trouble seeing are often misdiagnosed with behavioral problems like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.³ Before prescribing medications, Pearle Vision recommends taking notice if your child is holding books or other things unusually close or far away from their eyes . If he or she struggles, it may be time for an eye exam.

Reading, schmeading. If your kid hates to read, it may be because the letters are all mushed together or too fuzzy to detect, and this can lead to headaches, fatigue and lightheadedness. Another common sign of vision troubles is using a finger or pencil to guide the eyes while reading — even on social media. Swap out the reading for activities that sharpen vision skills, such as connect the dots or mazes to see how he or she does.

Make it routine. It’s recommended that by the time a child is 6 years old, she or he should have had 3 eye exams.⁴ We’re not judging here — the years do fly — but if not, you can make an eye exam a ritual by including 1 on your list of must-have school supplies and working it in with your back-to-school shopping.

Beware of tilt-a-words. Head tilting may look inquisitive and cute, but when a child makes a habit of doing so while reading, it could signal a potential vision problem. The same goes for kids who rub their eyes a lot or cover one eye while reading.³

Going “bump” into the night, and day. Clark Kent might be able to do super things without his glasses, but kids with vision problems can’t. If your child often bumps into desks, knocks things over and trips, he might not just be clumsy. See an eye doctor to help rule out vision problems before pulling out the first aid kit (again).

Computer vision syndrome is a thing. Yep, research suggests that heavy computer use among kids can lead to early myopia. This is because the computer forces the child to focus and strain more than many other tasks, which stresses the eyes. In addition to limiting computer time and regular eye exams, be sure the workstation is ergonomically suited to a littler body.⁴

See through their (scratch-free) lenses. Spend 20 minutes watching a playground and you’ll see why the lenses you pick matter when it comes to kids. Pearle Vision recommends opting for polycarbonate lenses – which are more lightweight and impact- and scratch-resistant than standard plastic lenses, and therefore more likely to take a hit or fall. And UV protection can further protect your kid’s eyes from the sun’s potentially harmful rays.⁴

If you want your kids to ace their classes this year, remember a good “see” can lead to straight A’s and — more importantly — a very happy child. Schedule a visit to the eye doctor as part of your back-to-school checklist.

Signs & Symptoms of Learning-Related Vision Problems, College of Optometrists in Vision Development. https://www.covd.org/page/symptoms. 2021.
Statistics on the Connections Between Vision and Learning, Greg Mischio. https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/bid/69067/statistics-on-the-connections-between-vision-and-learning. 2021.
Child Vision Problems in the Classroom, Staff Writers. https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/child-vision-problems/. April 15, 2021.
Vision Problems of School-Age Children, Greg Heiting, OD. https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/schoolage.htm. April 2021.

September 28, 2020 By Arlene Kleinsorge

Clear vision is just the beginning

Nearly all Americans believe their eye health is just as important as the health of their heart, but nearly half of those, ages 23-

38, don’t think they need an eye exam if their vision is clear, according to American Optometric Associations’s (AOA) Eye-Q^® Survey 2020. It’s time to turn belief into action: making a comprehensive eye exam a critical part of your overall health maintenance, equal to your annual physical with your primary care physician.

After all, your doctor of optometry may detect early signs of conditions or diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, Graves’ disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer and tumors. In fact, getting a comprehensive eye exam is the only way to visualize the blood vessels behind the eye for issues without an x-ray, CT scan or invasive surgery.

A comprehensive eye exam is not just a vision screening. Remember the eye test with the tiny letters you took at school or to renew your driver’s license? That’s a vision screening.

A vision screening isn’t enough

If you’re wondering what the difference is between a vision screening test (the kind you received in school) and a comprehensive eye exam, a vision screening only indicates a potential need for further evaluation. Even the most sophisticated vision screening tools, administered by the most highly trained screeners, miss one-third of children with eye or vision disorders, according to the AOA’s Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: Comprehensive Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination.

Why is an eye exam important?

According to Eye-Q, one in five Americans say an eye health professional detected or diagnosed a non-eye related health issue. In that same survey, one-fourth of those Americans note that an eye health professional detected “floaters” in their eyes, which may signal a risk or onset of diabetes. And doctors of optometry can detect more than 270 serious health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Early detection is key

Since many vision issues show no obvious signs or symptoms, the only way to truly get the “all-clear!” is by seeing a doctor of optometry for a check-up. Your doctor of optometry will also go over your overall health and family history, eye or vision symptoms, medications, and potential work-related or environmental issues that may affect your vision. You will also partake in preliminary tests such as depth perception, color vision, eye muscle movements, peripheral or side vision, and how your pupils respond to light.

So how do you make sure to make an eye exam part of your yearly routine?

Ask your employer if you can take sick time to take care of appointments like physicals and eye exams, and make the time to take care of your overall health.
Put your annual HSA and FSA dollars to good use to see the full portrait of your health, covering a comprehensive eye exam with a doctor of optometry – even if you don’t have vision insurance.

Nearly 30,000 professional doctors of optometry are typically only a few minutes away. Find an American Optometric Association member doctor of optometry near you and schedule your annual comprehensive eye exam today.

There’s no app for that

You may have seen apps advertised that can ‘replace going to the eye doctor.’ However, online vision tests attempt to replace one element of an eye examination, the refraction, to yield a prescription for glasses or contacts. It is not unlike taking a blood pressure reading at a kiosk and expecting a prescription – the reading does not provide sufficient information to determine a patient’s needed course of therapy. The refraction performed by online vision tests is only one of many tests performed during an eye examination, and taken by itself, does not provide sufficient information regarding the treatment of a patient, including the prescription of glasses or contact lenses.

Are online vision tests accurate?

Online vision tests may give inaccurate or misleading information, and can give patients a false sense of security. In fact, patients may delay essential, sight-saving treatment. Comprehensive eye exams with your doctor of optometry are one of the most important, preventive ways to preserve vision, and the only way to accurately assess eye health, diagnose an eye disorder or disease, and determine the need for corrective lenses.

September 28, 2020 By Arlene Kleinsorge

SOME COMMONLY USED OPTIONS FOR TREATING DRY EYES

Dry eye is a chronic ailment that can happen to anyone, at any point in life. It is a syndrome commonly found in both men and women. It is a progressive condition where the eye loses the required amount of lubrication that is necessary for a healthy vision. This disease may or may not be completely cured, depending on the severity of the condition in a person. However, ophthalmologists state that in milder situations, patients are able to overcome many disturbing symptoms of dry eye and experience clearer vision and greater eye comfort with proper dry eye treatment.

Dry eye can cause discomforts such as redness, irritation, itchiness, inflammation, and even blemish formation of the front surface of the eye. Dry eyes are common complaints among most people nowadays. No one usually ignores any issues with the eyes. Hence, dry eye treatment is a common phenomenon at a doctor’s clinic. Medically, dry eye syndrome is also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS.

Troubleshooter for dry eyes
Eyes are a highly sensitive organ in the human body. Any disturbance in your eye can result in serious disruptions in your daily activities and overall lifestyle. Tears are the important aspects of the eye. Tears are a mix of water, oils, mucus, and antibodies that help in maintaining the perfect functioning of the eyes, keeping infections at bay, and maintaining a healthy vision. Dry eyes often happen when the tear glands fail to develop enough tears. It might also happen that the tears evaporate leaving the eyes parched and dried up.

September 28, 2020 By Arlene Kleinsorge

Biking When (Legally) Blind

I was turned loose in town today. I went up to the square to my favorite Italian restaurant/pizzeria. I enjoyed a chicken parm sub as I watched the human circus go by my sidewalk table. I don’t know about you but I enjoy getting out where there is LIFE. An Italian radio station blared from the outdoor speaker as the cars, police cars, fire engines, and motorcycles riders who have not quite embraced the concept of a muffler went by.

Biking legally blind

Since it is actually the topic of this page, I guess I should mention I was on my bike when I went to said restaurant. It was my first day out for the season. I rode a little over seven miles and averaged about 8 miles an hour. I might have a long way to go before I qualify for the Tour de France, but at nearly 67 and legally blind, I think I am doing OK!

Independent cycling for the visually impaired

I did a page on cycling “blind” for a different forum a few years back. At that time I was not finding a great deal about independent cycling for the visually impaired. Most of the articles were – and are – about tandem cycling. Blind guy in the rear.

While I enjoyed tandem cycling years ago, I really have no one who would go with me now. By definition, tandem cycling requires a willing companion. Finding someone to fit that bill can be tough.

Using peripheral vision and not going too fast

That leaves me going solo. Since I have two, busy roads to cross on the way into town, my bike and I get a ride to the fairgrounds. There there are enough paved roads and parking lots I can ride around at my leisure. Cars are at a minimum. The areas to maneuver in are wide. If I keep my macula on the horizon, I can see anything in my path with my peripheral vision. Although I am not speedy to begin with, I find about 8 or 9 mph to be a good speed for discerning what is in front of me and taking evasive action if needed. One of my concerns is going too fast for conditions… in my eyes.

Concerns about cycling blind

I was wondering if the concerns I have about cycling blind are the same ones that other VIPs have. That took me to an article published in June, 2018 in the Journal of Disabilities and Rehabilitation. Leave it to the Dutch master cyclists to investigate the key factors for the bicycle use of visually impaired people. Jeliis and his colleagues found that willingness to venture out on a bike alone depends upon such things as personality factors such as self-confidence, as well as things like infrastructure, weather, and light conditions. I assume infrastructure refers to the quality of the road. The traffic situation is extremely important as well.

Not too proud to get off the bike and walk

I agree with their findings as those are all things I look for when I ride. I also like to be in familiar territory so I have some idea what to expect next. If I am unsure, I am not too proud to get off and walk a bit. I ride with ears wide open as well. Environmental, especially traffic, sounds need to be heard.

Cherishing the independence my bike gives me

I like to be cut loose with my bike and be able to go my own way every once in a while. It at least gives me the illusion of independent travel and not having to be dependent upon others. However, as a visually impaired adult, I also have to be responsible and cautious. I hope some of the ideas put forth here will be helpful to you when you venture out to cycle.

P.S. and if you aren’t sure you want to go on two wheels anymore? There is a wide selection of adult tricycles for under $400. Ha!

By Sue LaBar Yohey · September 3, 2020

September 10, 2020 By Arlene Kleinsorge

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Nearsightedness, or myopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred.

Myopia occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) is too curved. As a result, the light entering the eye isn’t focused correctly, and distant objects look blurred. Myopia affects nearly 30% of the U.S. population. While the exact cause of myopia is unknown, there is significant evidence that many people inherit myopia, or at least the tendency to develop myopia. If one or both parents are nearsighted, there is an increased chance their children will be nearsighted. Even though the tendency to develop myopia may be inherited, its actual development may be affected by how a person uses his or her eyes. Individuals who spend considerable time reading, working at a computer, or doing other intense close visual work may be more likely to develop myopia.

Causes & risk factors

Myopia may also occur due to environmental factors or other health problems:

Some people may experience blurred distance vision only at night. With “night myopia,” low light makes it difficult for the eyes to focus properly. Or the increased pupil size during dark conditions allows more peripheral, unfocused light rays to enter the eye.
People who do an excessive amount of near-vision work may experience a false or “pseudo” myopia. Their blurred distance vision is caused by overuse of the eyes’ focusing mechanism. After long periods of near work, their eyes are unable to refocus to see clearly in the distance. Clear distance vision usually returns after resting the eyes. However, constant visual stress may lead to a permanent reduction in distance vision over time.
Symptoms of myopia may also be a sign of variations in blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or maybe an early indication of a developing cataract.

Symptoms

People with myopia can have difficulty clearly seeing a movie or TV screen, a whiteboard in school or while driving. Generally, myopia first occurs in school-age children. Because the eye continues to grow during childhood, it typically progresses until about age 20. However, myopia may also develop in adults due to visual stress or health conditions such as diabetes.

Diagnosis

Testing for myopia may use several procedures to measure how the eyes focus light and to determine the power of any optical lenses needed to correct the reduced vision. As part of the testing, you will identify letters on a distance chart. This test measures visual acuity, which is written as a fraction, such as 20/40. The top number of the fraction is the standard distance at which testing is performed (20 feet). The bottom number is the smallest letter size read. A person with 20/40 visual acuity would have to get within 20 feet to identify a letter that could be seen clearly at 40 feet in a “normal” eye. Normal distance visual acuity is 20/20, although many people have 20/15 (better) vision.

Using an instrument called a phoropter, a doctor of optometry places a series of lenses in front of your eyes and measures how they focus light using a handheld lighted instrument called a retinoscope. Or the doctor may choose to use an automated instrument that evaluates the focusing power of the eye. The power is then refined based on your responses to determine the lenses that allow the clearest vision. Your doctor can conduct this testing without using eye drops to determine how the eyes respond under normal seeing conditions.

In some cases, such as for patients who can’t respond verbally or when some of the eye’s focusing power may be hidden, a doctor may use eye drops. The eye drops temporarily keep the eyes from changing focus during testing. Using the information from these tests, along with the results of other tests of eye focusing and eye teaming, your doctor can determine if you have myopia. He or she will also determine the power of any lens correction needed to provide a clearer vision. Once testing is complete, your doctor can discuss treatment options.

Treatment

People with myopia have several options available to regain clear distance vision. They include:

Eyeglasses. For most people with myopia, eyeglasses are the primary choice for correction. Depending on the amount of myopia, you may only need to wear glasses for certain activities, like watching a movie or driving a car. Or, if you are very nearsighted, you may need to wear them all the time. Generally, a single-vision lens is prescribed to provide clear vision at all distances. However, patients over age 40, or children and adults whose myopia is due to the stress of near vision work, may need a bifocal or progressive addition lens. These multifocal lenses provide different powers or strengths throughout the lens to allow for clear vision in the distance and up close.
Contact lenses. For some individuals, contact lenses offer clearer vision and a wider field of view than eyeglasses. However, since contact lenses are worn directly on the eyes, they require proper evaluation and care to safeguard eye health.
Ortho-k or CRT. Another option for treating myopia is orthokeratology (ortho-k), also known as corneal refractive therapy (CRT). In this nonsurgical procedure, you wear a series of specially designed rigid contact lenses to gradually reshape the curvature of your cornea, the front outer surface of the eye. The lenses place pressure on the cornea to flatten it. This changes how light entering the eye is focused. You wear the contact lenses for limited periods, such as overnight, and then remove them. People with mild myopia may be able to temporarily obtain clear vision for most of their daily activities.
Laser procedures. Laser procedures such as LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) are also possible treatment options for myopia in adults. A laser beam of light reshapes the cornea by removing a small amount of corneal tissue. The amount of myopia that PRK or LASIK can correct is limited by the amount of corneal tissue that can be safely removed. In PRK, a laser removes a thin layer of tissue from the surface of the cornea in order to change its shape and refocus light entering the eye. LASIK removes tissue from the inner layers, but not from the surface, of the cornea. To do this, a section of the outer corneal surface is lifted and folded back to expose the inner tissue. A laser then removes the precise amount of corneal tissue needed to reshape the eye. Then, the flap of outer tissue is placed back in position to heal.
Other refractive surgery procedures. People who are highly nearsighted or whose corneas are too thin for laser procedures may be able to have their myopia surgically corrected. A doctor may be able to implant small lenses with the desired optical correction in their eyes. The implant can be placed just in front of the natural lens (phakic intraocular lens implant), or the implant can replace the natural lens (clear lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation). This clear lens extraction procedure is similar to cataract surgery but occurs before a cataract is present.
Vision therapy for people with stress-related myopia. Vision therapy is an option for people whose blurred distance vision is caused by a spasm of the muscles that control eye focusing. Various eye exercises can improve poor eye focusing ability and regain clear distance vision.

People with myopia have a variety of options to correct vision problems. A doctor of optometry will help select the treatment that best meets the visual and lifestyle needs of the patient.

Prevention

Children who are at high risk of progressive myopia (family history, early age of onset, and extended periods of near work) may benefit from treatment options that have been shown to reduce the progression of myopia. These treatments include the prescription of bifocal spectacle or contact lenses, orthokeratology, eye drops, or a combination of these. Because persons with high myopia are at a greater risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration, myopia management may help preserve eye health.

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