Costume contacts can be dangerous

KESQ reports on the dangers of decorative contacts for your costume. These contacts may be a great addition to your costume and Clear View can prescribe you decorative contacts such as Wild Eyes. The article warns however that it can be hazardous without the supervision of a qualified optometric physician.

"You leave yourself absolutely open to eye infections, possibly permanent scarring on your cornea that could decrease your vision forever," says Optometrist Don Adkins with Actavision in Indian Wells. According to current FDA law, all contact lenses, including the ones only used for decorative purposes, are considered medical devices and are require a prescription.

This is an important step because of the risks involved. Eye infections and permanent vision loss are a concern if these contact lenses are not prescribed under the care of an optometrist. Decorative contacts can be the perfect addition to your outfit. The important thing is to be cautious and follow the instructions your doctor gives you when you receive your prescription. Happy Halloween.

Myopia may lower risk of Diabetic eye disease.

MedpageToday reports that nearsightedness may be related to reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy. According to Lurence S. Lim, MD, who reported at a recent Ophthalmology meeting, the more myopic the eye, the lower the risk of any type of diabetic retinopathy. They suspect the larger shape of myopic eyes may be protective against diabetes. "As the eye gets longer, the retina gets stretched out and can atrophy. While this would cause vision problems under other circumstances, atrophy lowers the metabolic needs of the retina -- a plus under diabetic conditions with reduced blood flow supplying oxygen to the retina," says Dr. Lim.

Debunking eye myths

BC news reports on eye myths. The article debunks 11 common eye myths. Here's a short summary of the myths discussed in this article.

Myth: Squinting a lot damages your vision.
The truth is squinting may mean you need glasses but it will not increase your need for spectacle correction.


Myth: Reading in poor light will harm your vision.
It may be harder to read in dim light but is is no worse than taking a picture in dim light damages a camera.

Myth: Sitting too close to the TV is bad for you eyes.
Sitting close to your computer may contribute to dry eyes which can cause temporary problems but not permanent damage.

Myth: We will have the same eye problems as our parents.
Many vision problems have a genetic component but that only increases your risk. It does not guarantee the same problems.

Myth: There's nothing you can do about your vision getting worse as you get older.
Though cataracts is a part of the aging process there are many things you can do about preventing cataracts such as a balanced diet or avoiding cigarettes. 

Myth: Eating carrots will improve your vision.
Vitamin A deficiency may cause a decrease in vision but such is rare in the United States. If you have  enough vitamin A in your system then eating more carrots will not enhance your vision.

Myth: Eye exercised can improve your vision.
Eye exercises to eliminate glasses or prevent presbyopia (short arm syndrome) have no merit. However, vision therapy, a series of exercises design to help focusing or eye alignment issues have shown great success. Clear View can help determine if vision therapy is beneficial for your child.

Myth: Using glasses over a long period of time will cause vision to deteriorate, causing dependence on glasses.
Wearing glasses constantly does not change your eye to create a dependence on them. Nevertheless, enjoying clear vision may become so enjoyable  that you do want to wear your glasses constantly.

Myth: Not wearing your glasses will cause your vision to get worse, faster.
It  may cause eye strain but it will not change your prescription.

Myth: Children will outgrow a crossed eye without intervention.
Children who have crossed eyes should see the eye doctor. Many of the causes of a crossed eye or strabismus can be treated and are best treated as early as possible. Effects on vision development are drastic and better handled when diagnosed at an early age.

Myth: It's OK to skip my child's first eye exam if they don't seem to have any problems
There are many vision problems in children that are not easily identified without a qualified physician. For instance amblyopia, where one eye doesn't see as well, can be masked by the fact that we have two eyes to work with. A proper evaluation at 9 months and again at 3 and 5 years are essential to intervening to identify issues that can be vision threatening or worse.

Visual field testing may indicate a variant of Alzheimer's

MedPage Today (10/26, Phend) reported that "when vision centers in the brain fall prey to an uncommon type of Alzheimer's disease, the early symptoms that stump a standard eye exam can be caught with a few simple tests," according to a study presented at an ophthalmology meeting. Researchers found that "one-sided defects on visual field testing were a giveaway in 80 percent of cases with the visual variant of Alzheimer's disease." MedPage added, "In the 10-patient case series they presented...a quick in-office assessment of higher cortical functioning was useful, as well."

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Protect your child's vision.

The following was an excerpt from a recent article at Review of Optometry:

Some fundamental concepts about vision make it truly unique. One such fundamental is that vision is a learned skill that develops over time. Unlike hearing, which is fully developed at birth, vision is rudimentary. When born, babies are routinely given an auditory evoked potential test, which is effective at detecting hearing loss. Vision can be tested at this time, but a visual evoked potential test cannot detect all vision problems.


The visual system undergoes profound developmental changes in the first years of life—especially during infancy and toddlerhood. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of visual problems can improve motor, cognitive and social development.1


Vision disorders are the fourth most common disability in the United States and the most prevalent handicapping condition in children.2 As many as 2% to 5% of preschool children—nearly four million children nationwide—are estimated to have impaired vision.3


A report by the National Eye Institute indicates that visual impairment in children is associated with developmental delays and the need for special educational, vocational and social services into adulthood.4 Of the 20 million children in America under age five, only 14% have had an eye exam. So, nearly 18 million children have not received an eye exam before entering school.5


Optometrists can take a proactive approach in addressing this alarming statistic. One of the newest avenues to provide infant examinations is the InfantSEE program. Managed by Optometry’s Charity—The AOA Foundation, InfantSEE is a program through which optometrists provide eye examinations for babies during their first year of life—a critical time when any findings may be treated proactively. The program is designed for babies between six and 12 months of age. Nine months is the ideal age to examine an infant. By nine months of age, the child is easy to examine, cooperates well, and also has undergone significant visual developmental milestones.


All children, and babies in particular, give you a finite amount of time to examine them before their attention shifts to something else. The problem is that you don’t know how much time you have! So, the key is to move through the examination efficiently. Also, try to obtain as much information as quickly as possible. So, here are some tips that may help when you find a very young patient in your exam chair.

Nine months is an ideal age to have your child's eyes tested for the first time.

Vision disorders are the fourth most common disability in the United States and the most prevalent handicapping condition in children. http://ping.fm/wxgIP

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If a bunch of cats jump on top of each other is it still called a dog pile?

When u buy glasses at Clear View we'll give u 1/2 off the second pair.

Going through a deposition is a most unpleasant experience.

The new Tura frames came in today. New hotness.

Fish oil is a good supplement to help with dry eyes.

If you get allergies, Zatidor is a good otc eye drop.

Orthokeratology can keep your kids from being legally blind when they are adults through myopia control.

Control your prescription with contacts

The UK's Daily Mail (10/20, Hodgekiss) reports that children who wear overnight lenses, which "work by gently pressing on the cornea, reducing its curvature," may experience "far less sight deterioration than those who'd worn regular contact lenses." The Mail notes that US researchers are two years into a study, known as SMART, to test the overnight lenses in children. "Around 300 children aged eight to 14 are taking part in the five-year study," and after the first year, "the children in the overnight lens group had no prescription change; in the control group the average increase was 0.4 diopters."

FDA studies potential LASIK problems

The Los Angeles Times (10/19, Healy) reports that the FDA, the Defense Department, and the National Eye Institute "announced last week that they are launching a three-year effort to gauge how many, and which, patients suffer troubling symptoms after undergoing" Lasik. "In the first phase of the FDA-led effort to measure Lasik's effects, the agency is drafting a Web-based survey of patients who have undergone the procedure." Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said that "the study likely will identify which patients are at higher risk of poor outcomes and 'could lead to a reduction' in those whose eye problems are made worse by the procedure." The FDA also "issued letters reminding 17 walk-in surgical centers performing Lasik surgery of their obligation to report poor outcomes and patients' surgery-related medical complaints."
States' healthcare experiences said to offer lessons for reform.

Be cautious with Halloween contacts

FRIDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- This Halloween, don't put anything in your eye unless it has been prescribed by an eye doctor.

That's the warning from the American Optometric Association (AOA), which is concerned about people wearing decorative contact lenses to enhance their costumes.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates decorative lenses as a medical device, some of these products are illegally marketed and distributed directly to consumers through the Internet, beauty salons and other sources. The AOA warns that only a proper medical evaluation from an eye doctor can determine whether someone is a candidate for contact lenses and that the lenses fit properly.

"Purchasing contact lenses without a prescription can result in serious eye health and vision damage, since consumers are not properly educated on cleaning and disinfecting, nor in proper removal and application of the contact lens," Dr. Paul Klein, chairman of the AOAs Contact Lens and Cornea Section, said in a news release from the organization. "Without a prescription and wearing instructions from an eye doctor, consumers who wear these contact lenses put themselves at risk of serious bacterial infection, or even significant damage to the eye's ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss."

Risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit. This could result in several types of eye problems and vision impairments.

"Even though they carry no prescription and may be worn for short periods of time, decorative contact lenses carry the same risks as corrective contact lenses," Klein said. "Because of this, it's important for consumers utilizing these lenses to familiarize themselves with the information available from an eye doctor, so as to reduce the risk of infection."

It's important to find retinal detachments early

In the UK's Daily Mail (10/13), reporter Janette Marshall details her personal experience with a torn retina, the "first warning sign" of which "was a sudden onset of frequent flashes like cartoon lightning streaks," followed by numerous floating black spots. Eric Ezra, director of vitreoretinal surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital, explains that "early diagnosis and treatment" of a torn retina "is essential." Without immediate treatment, "a torn retina can cause the entire retina to detach from the back of the eye, causing loss of sight," sometimes within "a matter of days or even few hours."

Electronic Medical Records are good for patients

In an op-ed in the San Jose Mercury News (10/11), Raj Bhandari, MD, and Terry L. Austen, of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, wrote that electronic medical records (EMRs) "improve the quality of care," giving "physicians, nurses, and technicians a patient's comprehensive medical history at the point of care," while increasing "efficiency and" containing "costs by reducing duplication and improving patient safety." EMRs can also allow patients to "use their home computers to increase convenience by making appointments online, ordering prescription refills that are delivered to their home, viewing their lab results through secure webpages, and emailing their physicians." Bhandari and Austen concluded, "Notes jotted on paper and placed in multiple files where doctors rarely see them are a remnant of a fragmented, inefficient model of medical care."

How to prevent pink eye.

(HealthDay News) -- Conjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is a highly contagious infection.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to protect your child and help reduce pinkeye's spread:

* Teach your child to wash hands frequently, using soap and warm water.
* Tell your child to never share products such as eye makeup, washcloths, eye drops, pillowcases or towels.
* Limit exposure to allergens by keeping windows closed (when outdoor allergen levels are high) and vacuuming often.
* After you've cared for a child with pinkeye, wash your hands thoroughly, and discard anything used to clean the eyes.
* Carefully wash in very hot water, and separate from other washables, any towels or linens that the infected child used.

People with AMD may be at risk for heart disease

MedPage Today (10/1, Fiore) reported that, according to a study published online in Ophthalmology, "patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have" a 50 percent "increased risk of coronary heart disease." Researchers from the Singapore National Eye Center "conducted a population-based cohort study of 1,786 patients who didn't have heart disease and 2,228 patients without stroke at baseline." Patients "were between the ages of 69 and 97." The investigators "found that those with early macular degeneration had a higher cumulative incidence of heart disease than those without (25.8 percent versus 18.9 percent)." Notably, "there was a significantly higher cumulative incidence of heart disease for those with specific signs of early macular degeneration -- soft drusen, hyperpigmentation, and RPE depigmentation."