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.

Eye exams for children are important

Wisconsin's Appleton Post-Crescent (9/7, Dums) reported, "Children often cannot communicate they are having vision problems because they do not realize they are having them." Screenings "at a pediatrician's office or at school" often "miss problems that kids are having that they can't verbalize," said Carin LaCount, OD, who explained that uncorrected vision problems may even "hamper learning." She recommended that "children get their eyes examined by an optometrist." Dan Nowak, OD, pointed out that as children's "bodies change, their eyes change." Annette Wilde, OD, noted that "eye exams can begin as early as six months and can be free, if done by eye doctors participating in the public health program InfantSee." After that "early exam, children's eyes should be checked at three years of age, kindergarten, and then every year," Dr. Wilde said. In particular, children who have "a family history of vision problems" need to see an optometrist. (courtesy AOA)

When your kids need glasses

(HealthDay News) -- Some children may resist wearing eyeglasses, despite the resulting improvement in vision, school work and even extracurricular sports.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions to help your child accept a new pair of glasses:

• Choose frames that fit well, and don't pinch, slip or feel too heavy.
• Ensure that your child's lenses are the right prescription.
• Encourage your child to wear the new glasses a little bit at a time, gradually wearing them for longer periods.
• Ultimately, make putting on and taking off glasses a part of your child's daily morning and bedtime routines.
• Encourage your child with praise every time he or she is wearing the glasses.

-- Diana Kohnle

Back to school vision exams for kids.

MONDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Parents should add an eye exam to their children's back-to-school list, experts say.

Studies show that 86 percent of children start school without ever having an eye examination, even though youngsters can't learn if they can't see properly.

According to the American Optometric Association's 2009 survey, which assesses the knowledge and understanding of issues related to eye and visual health, 88 percent of respondents were unaware that one in four students has a visual impairment.

"Because a child's vision may change frequently, regular eye and vision care is crucial to a student's classroom success," said Dr. Michael Earley, optometrist and the AOA's vision and learning specialist, in an association news release. "Unfortunately, most parents are not including eye exams as part of their child's back-to-school health check-up."

According to the survey, 58 percent of parents did not take their child for an eye exam before age 3. The AOA recommends that the first eye assessment takes place at 6 months of age, followed by comprehensive eye exams starting at age 3, and then repeat exams every two years, unless directed otherwise by an optometrist.

Previous studies have found that 60 percent of children labeled as "problem learners" may actually have undetected vision problems and are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the association noted.

Treatment is more likely to be successful if vision problems are detected and treated early, according to the news release.

In between visits to the eye doctor, parents and teachers should watch for signs of eye problems. Schedule an eye exam if you notice that your child:

* Loses their place while reading
* Avoids close work
* Has a tendency to rub their eyes
* Complains of frequent headaches
* Turns or tilts their head when looking at something
* Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing
* Uses a finger to keep their place when reading
* Confuses or omits simple words when reading
* Seems to consistently perform below potential
* Struggles to finish their homework
* Squints while reading or watching television
* Experiences behavioral problems
* Holds reading material too close to their face

Good vision is crucial to your child's success.

HealthDay (8/31, Thompson) reported that, "according to the American Optometric Association's 2009 survey, which assesses the knowledge and understanding of issues related to eye and visual health, 88 percent of respondents were unaware that one in four students has a visual impairment." In fact, "studies show that 86 percent of children start school without ever having an eye examination, even though youngsters can't learn if they can't see properly." In a news release, Michael Earley, OD, "the AOA's vision and learning specialist," explained, "Because a child's vision may change frequently, regular eye and vision care is crucial to a student's classroom success." The AOA noted that "60 percent of children labeled as 'problem learners' may actually have undetected vision problems and are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder." (courtesy AOA)

Clear View Eye Care is fully equipped to help your child with their vision exam and treatment. We have numerous kid frames, vision therapy equipment and friendly staff who are prepared to make your child comfortable at our office. We recommend your child's first exam within the first year of life. Call us today.

Eyeglasses make you smart

Nebraska's Journal Star (8/24) reported that eyeglasses are no longer "the fashion don't for kids they once were, as wearers and manufacturers have realized they can be another accessory used to make a style statement." These days, youngsters "are not relying on glasses merely for their utility, but what they say about them." Some children believe that glasses make them look more intelligent. Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, of the Ohio State University College of Optometry, "has studied both how children with glasses perceive themselves and how peers view them." He said that "other than intelligence, glasses didn't affect how kids viewed one another in relation to sports skills, socialization, honesty, shyness or attractiveness in his testing." Dr. Walline explained, "'Smart kids wear glasses' is the way the media portrays it, and kids pick up on it."

Kids should have an eye exam by age 3

The Windsor Star examins the need for eye exams in young children. "Young children should have a thorough eye examination." It goes on to explain that "two particular conditions that are of concern at a young age include eye muscle problems such as 'crossed eyes' (strabismus) and 'lazy eye' (amblyopia)." Both of these conditions are easy to treat if detected early.

Dr. Todd Wilbee goes on to explain that children often do not complain of vision problems and are often not aware of problems thay may have. Signs that their vision may be suffering include low performance in school, losing place while reading and holding material very close. Teachers can also be a great resource for detecting vision problems.

Protect your eyes.

Utah's Standard-Examiner (7/17, Park) reported that "July is 'UV Awareness Month,' and besides protecting children from sunburns, adults also need to protect the eyes of children from the sun's ultraviolet rays." Optometrist Renny Knowlton, OD, advised parents to exercise "good judgment and common sense." Children who "spend a good deal of time in the sun" need to "protect their eyes with sunglasses coded for UVA and UVB rays, he said. Some children will not wear sunglasses for long, so have them wear a hat with a brim to help shade their eyes." According to Whitney Johnson, health educator with the Utah Cancer Control Program with the state health department, "parents should buy sunglasses with a UV rating," and should consult with "an eye doctor" to find out which sunglasses are best. And, "to protect children's eyes while playing in the water or swimming outside, Johnson said, children should wear sun goggles that also have UV protection ratings." (courtesy AOA

I've been thinking of adding a collection of kid's sunglasses. Are there people out there who are interested in protecting their kid's eyes from the sun as mentioned above? I know my boys love to wear sun glasses. After all they just want to be like Daddy.

August is National Children's Vision and Learning Month

Florida's Cape Coral Daily Breeze (7/16, Cassidy) reports that "August is National Children's Vision and Learning Month," so "optometrists want to educate parents, teachers and children on the link between vision and learning." According to optometrist Rodney J. Smith, OD, "the American Optometric Association recommends children get their first eye exam at six months, adding that their next checkup should be at about age three, then every year until they begin kindergarten," because "a child's vision needs to be clear to facilitate normal development." Yet, Dr. Smith said that "he rarely sees children brought in for an exam at the recommended ages, even though many of them can develop eye issues that early." The American Optometric Association has estimated that "60 percent of students identified as 'problem learners' have undetected vision problems, meaning that some could see improvement in their school work with a pair of glasses or contact lenses." (courtesy AOA)

Clear View Eye Care has the tools to diagnose and treat many of these vision problems. We would love to see your children. They are fun to have in the office.

Vision problems in children are often undiagnosed.

On its website and on the air, WJZ-TV Baltimore, MD (5/21, 6:31 p.m. EDT, Lynn), a CBS affiliate, reported that "a study out of Johns Hopkins Children's Center," which was "funded by the National Eye Institute," found that "although vision problems are rare among urban preschoolers, many children with easily treatable problems are not being diagnosed." In the "study of nearly 2,300 children," researchers "found five percent had a defect in the eye's ability to focus light, but only one percent were treated." Study author Michael Repka, MD, attributed the lack of treatment to "lack of access." Dr. Repka explained, "There are no structured programs that are available in the community, to look for refractive errors." He added, "An uncorrected refractive error can lead to permanent visual loss." According to WJZ-TV, "the study should serve as a reminder for parents of children between the ages of three and four to ask their pediatrician for an eye chart exam."

Screening for kids

MSNBC (3/12) reports that, according to Carmen Bunde, program director with Prevent Blindness Nebraska, "blurry vision in a child can cause brain damage if the vision is not corrected." In some cases, "amblyopia is to blame. It's often called 'lazy eye,' because weak eye muscles make the eye drift to the side, eventually disrupting vision." Amblyopia "is responsible for more vision loss in people age 45 and younger than all other eye disorders combined." The article details how "trained volunteers" with Prevent Blindness Nebraska "screen more than 3,000 low income children a year, many of them...preschool age," for eye disorders. Children "who fail the eye exams are sent to their doctors for follow-up care." Approximately "one in 20 preschoolers are referred to" eye doctors "after the screenings." Experts point out that the "best time to catch eye disorders is between the ages of three and five years old."

Kids need eye exams too

When does a child need their first eye exam? According to Pediatric Ophthalmologist Dr. John Simon, there is no set age.


Most pediatricians screen children for eye problems, but parents should also be aware.

"Parents will come in when a child's eyes who are not straight. The parents will say, well, it didn't seem to be very bad, it didn't turn too far. It didn't turn too often, so we thought it was normal. It's not normal to have eyes that are not straight,” Dr. Simon said.

There are two types of eye doctors. An ophthalmologist attends medical school and performs internships and a residency at a hospital. Optometrists go to school after college. They are a doctor of optometry.

When to start eye exams for kids
When does a child need their first eye exam? Marcie Fraser has more.

“The biggest difference between ophthalmologist and optometrists is we are trained to do surgery and in most cases, optometry does not do surgery. We have more of an orientation in our training to do medical treatment; they have more of an orientation to do glasses and contact lens," Dr. Simon said.


Some of the tests include a basic vision test, an acuity test, a test for depth perception and color deficiency.

“Color deficiencies are quite common, especially in male children and one in twelve boys are color blind,” Dr. Simon said.

During the exam, eyes are also dilated to further evaluate the health of the eye.

There are a few myths. According to Dr. Simon, if you think your child's eyes will be affected by sitting too closely to the television, you’re wrong.

"Many children like to sit close to the TV set. Many parents spend a lot of effort dragging them back from the TV set. It is not necessary to do this. The TV will not hurt the children’s eyes," Dr. Simon said.