Most baby’s eyes are assessed by a neonatologist within a few days after birth.

Undetected vision problems could affect your baby’s abilities to interact with the environment around them and result in learning or reading delays.

Studies show that up to half of all infants in their first 2 years have astigmatism and long-sightedness.

Here are some answers to questions related to babies and their vision.

#1 Does my baby need eye exams?

Yes, all babies should have their first eye exam at 6 months of age, even if no visual problems are suspected. The most common vision problems in babies and toddlers are farsightedness and astigmatism.

Up to 5% of all infants have amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (eye turn).

#2 What does my baby see?

When babies open their eyes, their vision is fixed at about 12 inches (30 cm). This allows them to see their mother’s face and learn to recognize the source of their food.

At about six weeks a baby’s eyes should be able to follow objects, at about 1-2 meters away and by four months the eyes should work together.

Over the first year or two, a baby’s vision develops rapidly. A two-year-old typically sees around 20/30 vision, nearly the same as an adult.

#3 How can I help my baby’s visual development?

There are many things a parent can do to help their baby’s vision develop. The following are a few examples of age-appropriate activities that can help with an infant’s visual development.

From birth to 4 months;

• Place soft toys within your baby’s focus (up to 12 inches)
• Use a dim lamp or nightlight in your baby’s room
• Feed from alternate left and right breasts
• Talk softly from 12-24 inches away

From 5 to 8 months;

• Encourage floor play and exploration
• Use crib mobile for the baby to grab, pull and kick
• Stimulate grabbing and touching soft objects

From 9 to 12 months;

• Encourage crawling and creeping
• Play hide-and-seek games with toys

As a baby’s eyes are constantly changing, it’s important to get their eyes checked at 6 months and again at 2-3 years of age.

If you notice anything unusual, such as an eye turn, it is important to see an optometrist with experience in babies.

Schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you who can discuss your baby’s visual development and ensure they are meeting their milestones.

The post Does my Baby have a Vision Problem? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Studies of eye clinic records suggest that children with autism (ASD) and other special needs are prone to serious vision problems.

Journal of AAPOS, 2019

Recent publication of Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) showed among 2,555 children at a University of California Davis’ eye clinic that:

• 71% of children with ASD had a visual problem, of these:
  • 42% had significant refractive error
  • 32% had strabismus (eye turn)
  • 19% had amblyopia (lazy eye)

The most common vision problems experienced by children with ASD include strabismus (eye turn), in which the eyes are misaligned, and amblyopia (lazy eye), in which poor vision in one or both eyes results from issues in the early stages of visual development.

If your child has autism and you find they have vision problems, the Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that are experienced in treating children with autism.

SEE RELATED: Vision and Autism: Part 1

Autism and vision problems

Over 7 out 10 individuals with autism experience vision problems.

Visual symptoms of autism can include:

• Difficulty maintaining eye contact
• Fleeting peripheral glances
• Side viewing
• Staring at spinning objects or light
• Reduce visual attention span

People with autism often use visual information inefficiently.

Visual issues can include coordinating their peripheral and central vision, this is usually displayed by having difficulty or the inability to follow an object with their eyes.

These children tend to scan or look off to the side of an object, instead of looking directly at the object and might also have difficulty maintaining visual attention.

Crossed eyes, lazy eye and eye movement disorders are common in children on the autistic spectrum.

Poor integration of peripheral and central vision

Those with autism are found to ignore peripheral vision and remain fixated on a central point of focus for long periods of time.

When there is poor integration of peripheral and central vision it can lead to difficulties in integrating and processing visual information in individuals with autism. When visual processing is interrupted cognitive, speech, motor, and perceptual abilities can also be affected.

Hypersensitive vision

It is known that many people with autism are visually defensive.

Visually defensive people might have hypersensitive vision and avoid contact with specific visual inputs. They have a hard time visually “holding still” and frequently rely on a constant scanning of visual information.

Vision exams for people with autism

As every person’s eyes are different. The way a person’s eyes are evaluated will vary depending on their individual levels of physical and emotional development.

Evaluation of the visual skills are vital to understand the functioning of the eyes and visual system, to determine if vision therapy could provide significant benefit.

Specific testing of the visual system is often done while the patient performs specific activities while wearing special lenses. For example, observing a patient’s postural compensation and adaptations will be made as they walk, sit, stand, or catch and throw a ball.

These tests help to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the visual system  and determine the best way forward to improve the quality of life.

Treatment of visual problems

The results of the vision exam can help determine if specific optical lenses are needed to compensate for farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.

Vision therapy

Vision therapy is a successful process to help treat vision issues for those with autism and special needs. The activities in a vision therapy program can be used to stimulate general eye movements, visual arousal, and the central visual system.

The goal of vision therapy is to help autistic individuals to:

• gain peripheral stability
• gain more efficient eye coordination
• organize visual space
• attend to and appreciate central vision
• improve visual information processing

If your child has autism and you find they have vision problems, the Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that are experienced in treating children with autism.

LEARN MORE: Vision for Special Needs

If you think vision therapy will help your autistic child, contact an eye doctor near you to get your child’s eyes tested and to discuss the best treatment options to improve their quality of life.

The post 2021 Update: Autism (ASD) and Vision appeared first on Optometrists.org.

During a child’s early years it’s crucial to care for their eyes, which are rapidly growing and developing.

Diagnosing eye problems early can help minimize potential damage and makes treatment faster and more effective.

That’s why parents should know about the most common pediatric eye problems and their symptoms.

1. Refractive errors

The 3 most common refractive errors found in children are astigmatism (irregularly curved cornea), myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). These conditions prevent light from focusing on the correct part of the retina, causing blurred vision.

Signs to watch for:

• Frequent squinting or head tilting
• Headache or eye strain after a child performs visually demanding activities
• Holding books or digital screens very close to the face
• Sitting very close to the computer or television

2. Amblyopia

Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia occurs when one eye is weaker than the other and doesn’t achieve normal visual acuity or function.

Amblyopia is difficult to diagnose since the child relies on their ‘good’ eye and may be unaware of their problem.

Signs to watch for:

• Difficulty reading/doing math/playing sports
• Difficulty with attention and focus
• Frequently closing one eye
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Head tilting
• Squinting

If you notice any of these signs in your child, contact an eye doctor near you.

3. Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD)

BVD is caused by the two eyes not working together, due to a misalignment between the two eyes.

Signs to watch for:

• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Double vision
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Light sensitivity
• Motion sickness
• Stress

If you find that your child frequently suffers from any of the symptoms listed above, schedule an exam with an eye doctor that is trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating BVD.

4. Convergence insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency is a binocular vision condition that affects eye muscle coordination and near vision. It occurs when the eyes aren’t able to effectively work together to focus on a near object.

Signs to watch for:

• Attention and concentration difficulties
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Fatigue, especially when reading
• Headaches
• Homework avoidance
• Motion sickness or vertigo
• Reading below grade level
• Seeing words move or jump on the page

If you suspect your child has an eye condition, contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: What Is Myopia?

5. Nystagmus

Nystagmus is a congenital or acquired condition characterized by quick, involuntary back-and-forth eye movements. Congenital nystagmus appears in the first few months of life, while acquired nystagmus appears after 6 months.

Signs to watch for: Eyes that repetitively and rapidly move from side to side, up and down, or in a circle.

6. Pediatric cataracts

Adults aren’t the only ones affected by cataracts.

An estimated 20,000-40,000 children are born with cataracts each year worldwide.

Cataracts occur when the usually clear lens of one or both eyes becomes clouded. It’s possible that a cataract can impair vision, depending on its position and intensity.

Signs to watch for:

• Difficulty recognizing faces and seeing objects
• Eyes that point in different directions
• Gray or white-colored pupil
• Nystagmus

7. Strabismus 

Strabismus occurs when the eyes are turned, misaligned or “crossed.” If left untreated, it can lead to amblyopia and permanent vision loss.

An eye turn might be noticed soon after birth or even suddenly appear at about two years of age.

Signs to watch for:

• An eye that points inward, outward, upward or downward
• Excessive and frequent squinting, especially in bright light
• Head tilting, in an effort to align the eyes

Vision therapy can help

Vision therapy consists of personalized exercises aimed at developing visual skills so the eyes, visual system and brain are communicating correctly.

If your child is diagnosed with any of the above eye conditions, your eye doctor will likely recommend a personalized program of vision therapy.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Pediatric Eye Conditions

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam, and to discuss any questions you may have about treating your child’s eye condition.

Diagnosing eye problems in your child early can help minimize potential damage and allows treatment to be faster and more effective.

The post 7 Common Pediatric Eye Conditions  appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Are looking for published research on VT?

Provided below are just a few references for published research articles on vision therapy and its effectiveness for the treatment of many vision conditions.

1. Clinical Trial of Treatments for Convergence Insufficiency in Children

Conclusion: Office-based vision therapy is an effective treatment for children with Convergence Insufficiency.

Published by: Mitchell Scheiman, OD; Susan Cotter, OD, MS; G. Lynn Mitchell, MAS; Marjean Kulp, OD, MS; Michael Rouse, OD, MEd; Richard Hertle, MD; and Maryann Redford, DDS, MPH. ‘Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) Study Group. A randomized clinical trial of treatments for convergence insufficiency in children. Archives of Ophthalmology 2005’; 123:14-24.

2. Best Treatment Determined for Childhood Eye Problem

Conclusion: 75 percent of the children who had weekly office-based vision therapy experienced significant improvement in their convergence in 12 weeks.

Published by: Mayo Clinic: ‘Best Treatment Determined for Childhood Eye Problem’ : Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency with Vision Therapy.

3. Effective Treatment Identified for Common Childhood Vision Disorder

Conclusion: Vision Therapy is effective treatment for a common childhood eye coordination problem called convergence insufficiency.

Published by: National Eye Institute, ‘More Effective Treatment Identified for Common Childhood Vision Disorder’: Evidence-Based Treatment for Convergence Insufficiency

4. Effective Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency (CI)

Summary: Although CI is quite common, with reported rates of prevalence ranging up to 13%, this pilot study by Scheiman and colleagues does move forward our understanding of the treatment of this disorder.

Published by: Kushner Burton J. ‘The Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency. Archives of Ophthalmology 2005’, 123:100-101. Complete article – PDF version

If you feel you or your child could benefit from Vision Therapy, schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor and they will answer all your questions.

SEE RELATED: Guide to Vision Therapy

5. Study Reveals Developmental Mechanisms of Eye Movement

Conclusion: Genes linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and other developmental brain abnormalities, may be playing a role in people who cannot control their eye movements.

Published by: National Eye Institute: Autism and Eye Movements, 2019: Autism linked to Eye Movement Control

6. The Amblyopia Treatment Studies: Implications for Clinical Practice

Conclusion: Patching times for amblyopia can be reduced and still achieve a similar visual improvement.

Published by:  Angela M. Chen, Susan A. Cotter: Adv Ophthalmol Optom. 2016 Aug’ The Amblyopia Treatment Studies: Implications for Clinical Practice’; Amblyopia Treatment Studies.

7. Vision, Learning, and Dyslexia

Summary: A policy statement that addresses important issues regarding the identification and treatment process for individuals with learning-related vision problems and dyslexia.

A Joint Organizational Policy Statement of the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association. ‘Vision, Learning, and Dyslexia’. 1997. Complete article – PDF version

8. Research on the Efficacy of Vision Therapy for Specific Visual Dysfunctions

Finding: Optometric and ophthalmological research supports the efficacy of vision therapy for treatment of the visual dysfunctions discussed in this article.

Published by: Cooper, Jeffrey. Summary of Research on the Efficacy of Vision Therapy for Specific Visual Dysfunctions. Adapted from The Journal of Behavioral Optometry 1998; 9(5):115-119. Complete article – PDF version

9. A Joint Organizational Policy Statement of the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association

Summary: A policy statement describing the goals of a vision therapy program, and its effectiveness for treatment of a wide variety of vision conditions.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy

A Joint Organizational Policy Statement of The American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association. ‘Vision Therapy: Information for Health Care and Other Allied Professionals’. 1999. Complete article – PDF version

The post 2021 Update: Vision Therapy Research appeared first on Optometrists.org.

For many decades, it has been thought that only children under the age of 10 could be successfully treated for amblyopia (lazy eye). In other words, lazy eye treatment was usually not provided to children older than nine.

However, the National Eye Institute (NEI) recently funded a study that found that lazy eye can be successfully treated at least up to age 17 and even adults!

Now, lazy eye can be effectively treated in high school and college student and even adults!

What is lazy eye?

Lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is a neuro-developmental vision condition that is caused when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity or does not allow the full development of 3D vision.

A lazy eye typically affects the vision or visual function of the affected eye, causing blurred vision which contributes to poor depth perception and binocular vision.

Amblyopia may develop due to other vision conditions such as a wandering or crossed eye (strabismus), or unequal vision in the two eyes caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat your lazy eye.

Symptoms of lazy eye

Common symptoms of lazy eye:

• One or both eyes may wander inward or outward
• Both eyes may not seem to be working together
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting or shutting one eye in order to see
• Tilting one’s head in order to see
• Frequent eye strain, eye fatigue, or headaches

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you who diagnoses and treats lazy eye.

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help improve your visual skills.

SEE RELATED: New Research for Adults with Lazy Eye

Are eye exams important?

Yes, frequent eye exams are essential as the earlier a lazy eye is detected, the higher the chances of successful treatment.

In many cases, amblyopia is detectable during a comprehensive eye exam. In addition, if there is a family history of lazy eye, it is crucial that your eyes be examined regularly, as lazy eye can be an inherited condition.

Specific tests are used during eye exams to assess both the visual acuity and the visual skills of each eye. This enables your eye doctor to diagnose a condition such as lazy eye.

Adult lazy eye treatment

For many years it was believed that amblyopia was only treatable in children, often those who are 10 years of age or younger. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. While every patient is different, many adults can see results from amblyopia treatment.

The visual system which consists of the brain, eyes, and visual pathways, can be retrained due to the brain’s plasticity.

For amblyopia, specifically, binocular vision needs to be retrained, as this is the root cause behind a lazy eye. 

With poor binocular vision the two images that the eyes see cannot be combined into one single image, but due to the plasticity of the brain, this does not have to be permanent.

While treatment is most effective when it’s given at an early age, it is still possible at any age to retrain the visual system, restore binocular vision, and correct amblyopia.

Lazy eye and vision therapy

Vision therapy is an effective treatment method for amblyopia. It has been shown to greatly improve the visual skills of the lazy eye by re-training the visual system.

Through vision therapy, the two eyes will be trained to work together to achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.

Some vision therapy programs that treat amblyopia work to improve these visual skills:

• Accommodation (focusing)
• Fixation (visual gaze)
• Pursuits (eye tracking)
• Saccades (switching eye focus, “eye jumps”)
• Spatial skills (eye-hand coordination)
• Stereopsis (3-D vision)

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

Schedule an eye exam and vision evaluation for a proper diagnosis of lazy eye and to discuss whether a vision therapy program is the appropriate treatment for you.

The post 2021 Update: Lazy Eye and Adults appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Once an adult starts to notice the results of vision therapy with their own eyes they realize how beneficial it can be for them, motivating them to improve even further.

What is vision therapy?

Vision therapy is a personalized program of a series of progressive therapeutic eye exercises that help patients improve their visual skills.

The improved visual skills are as a result of enhanced communication between their eyes and the brain. It is an individual and custom-designed treatment program, often used in conjunction with other treatments such as eyeglasses or eye surgery.

Is vision therapy effective for adults?

Many people mistakenly believe that vision therapy is just for children. However, vision therapy is just as effective for adults as it is for children.

Adults can succeed with vision therapy thanks to neuro-plasticity — the brain’s ability to modify, change, and adapt.

Thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain remains dynamic and flexible throughout life. Additionally, adults are usually highly motivated to improve their visual skills, giving them the energy and determination to push through any difficult obstacles and improve their office performance.

Vision therapy can treat a variety of vision conditions:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Convergence insufficiency (eye teaming)
• Strabismus (eye turn)

Lazy eye and vision therapy

Amblyopia, commonly known as a “lazy eye,” is a neuro-developmental vision condition. Lazy eye develops when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity, causing blurry vision in the affected eye, even with corrective eyewear. The condition also commonly presents with poor depth perception and reading difficulties.

Vision therapy has been shown to considerably improve lazy eye, even in Adults, by re-training the visual system.

Vision therapy for adults can be very effective, but tends to take longer to achieve optimum results. Ultimately, adults can often train their eyes to work together to achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.

Vision therapy programs may include treatment for:

• Accommodation (focusing)
• Pursuits (eye tracking)
• Fixation (visual gaze)
• Saccades (switching eye focus, “eye jumps”)
• Stereopsis (3-D vision)
• Spatial skills (eye-hand coordination)

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help improve your visual skills.

SEE RELATED: New Research for Adults with Lazy Eye

Convergence insufficiency and vision therapy

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a binocular vision condition that can affect adults.

Convergence insufficiency affects eye muscle and near vision coordination. Convergence of the eyes occurs when the two eyes need to focus on a close object, such as a book or computer. Convergence insufficiency means the eyes struggle to focus for near tasks like reading and writing, affecting attention to tasks and work performance`.

Vision therapy is the most effective treatment for CI, as standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications, and surgery cannot treat the condition.

In many cases, your eye doctor will prescribe prismatic (prism) glasses in combination with vision therapy, as they decrease some CI symptoms. Although prism eyeglasses can relieve symptoms, they are not a “cure” and the patient typically remains dependent on the prism lenses.

Vision therapy focuses on training the eyes to work together to improve depth perception, clear binocular vision and 3-D vision. The goal of vision therapy is to stimulate the communication between the eyes and brain, to enable clear and comfortable vision at all times.

Treatment exercises for CI may include:

• Depth perception practice
• Focusing for near and distance
• Eye tracking with pursuits and saccades
• Training with computerized technology
• Specialized equipment and tools such as prisms and lenses

Eye turns (strabismus) and vision therapy

Strabismus occurs when the two eyes are unable to focus together on one object and maintain proper alignment — one eye looks directly at the object, while the other eye points in a different direction. Strabismus does not go away on its own.

Vision therapy can a highly effective treatment for adults with eye turns and strabismus. 

A vision therapy program for strabismus can help improve:

• Binocular vision
• Eye alignment
• Eye focusing
• Eye teaming
• Eye movements
• Visual processing

A vision therapy program for strabismus may include therapeutic lenses, prisms and filters. Vision therapy involves ocular muscle training as well as training and development of the eye-brain connections required for clear and comfortable vision — resulting in a lasting cure.

A vision therapy program is sometimes recommended by your eye doctor after strabismus surgery in order to re-train the visual system. It is important to treat strabismus as early as possible, as the eye turn may be a result of a serious health issue.

LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Lazy Eye

 Schedule a vision therapy evaluation to discuss whether a vision therapy program is the appropriate treatment for you.

Vision therapy might just be the solution you have been looking for.

The post 2021 Update: Vision Therapy for Adults appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Poor visual skills can negatively impact performance in school, at the office, and on the sports field. Understanding and knowing what to look out for can help with early detection and treatment of visual problems.

Below are various visual efficiency problems and symptoms that are commonly diagnosed by eye doctors.

1. Eye teaming problems

Your two eyes need to work in perfect coordination and unison, in order to see the world in a clear and precise way. The images the brain creates may be confusing or uncomfortable when the eyes don’t function as a team.

Convergence excess and convergence insufficiency are two common eye teaming problems.

Convergence insufficiency refers to when the eyes have difficulty focusing inwards on an object that is being held closer to the nose. Convergence excess is the opposite, the eyes aren’t able to easily focus outward. This leads to difficulties with distance vision.

Symptoms of eye teaming problems include:

• Double or blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty reading
• Eye rubbing or squinting
• Headaches
• Poor depth perception
• Tired or uncomfortable eyes

2. Eye tracking problems

Eye tracking involves effortless and smooth movements of the eyes. Proper eye tracking helps quickly gain information from and scan the environment around us to understand where we are and what our next move should be.

When eye movements are slower than normal, it may indicate an eye tracking problem. Three types of eye tracking problems are: deficiency or pursuits, deficiency of saccades, and fixation dysfunction.

Individuals with an eye tracking problem may:

• Have poor hand-eye coordination
• Easily lose their place while reading
• Often skip lines when reading
• Spelling difficulties
• Substitute or omit words

Contact an eye doctor who can help diagnose and treat any visual problems you may be experiencing. Vision therapy might be the solution you have been seeking.

SEE RELATED: How does Visual Efficiency affect Learning?

3. Focusing problems

Every time our eyes shift their gaze from one object to another, they accommodate their focusing power so that each object appears clear. When the muscles responsible for accommodating focus in the eye can’t relax, tighten or maintain position, focusing problems arise.

Symptoms of focusing problems can include:

• Avoiding or difficulty reading
• Blurred vision
• Blurred vision when shifting focus from one object to another
• Headaches during or after reading
• Holding objects close to the face in order to view them
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Watery eyes

Vision therapy can help

Vision therapy helps to strengthen and increase eye-brain connection, which is often weak in a person with visual efficiency problems.

A personalized vision therapy program involves custom-made visual exercises that create new pathways in the visual system. By regularly performing these exercises patient’s will develop improved visual skills and may notice a significant reduction in symptoms. Vision therapy may also involve the use of specialized lenses, filters, or prisms.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy

If you or a loved one experiences any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact an eye doctor near you to have your vision evaluated.

The post What Are Visual Efficiency Problems? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Here are the top 5 myths and facts about cataracts.

Cataracts result from the buildup of protein on the eye’s normally clear  lens, they cause cloudy, blurry vision, decreased color perception and eventually vision loss.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness, affecting 20 million people worldwide. While most people have heard of cataracts,  misconceptions abound.

If you suspect you have cataracts, contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and manage this very common and sight-threatening eye condition.

SEE RELATED: When Should I Have Cataract Surgery?

Myth 1: Only older people get cataracts

Fact: People of all ages, even newborns, can have cataracts.

Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, and therefore affect the elderly more often than younger people. However, eye trauma and certain medications can also lead to cataracts. Some babies may be born with cataracts.

Myth 2: Cataracts are growths within the eye

Fact: Cataracts aren’t growths; rather, they’re changes in the eye’s natural lens. 

Cataracts occur when the protein cells in the lens start to clump together and deteriorate, resulting in cloudiness. A person with cataracts will typically have cloudy vision with a yellow or brown tint.

Other symptoms associated with cataracts include:

• Double vision
• Halos around lights
• Colors are perceived as faded or yellowed
• Frequent changes in one’s lens prescription

If you have experienced any of the following symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you.

Myth 3: To treat or reverse cataracts, change your lifestyle 

Fact: The only way to cure a cataract is with surgery. 

The surgery removes the cataract and implants a new clear lens. While healthy lifestyle choices such as regularly exercising, getting enough sleep and eating well can impact eye health and your overall health, it cannot cure cataracts.

Myth 4: There is no way to prevent cataracts

Fact: While there is no clear cut way to prevent cataracts, wearing 100% UV blocking sunglasses outdoors can help. 

Another way to delay the onset of cataracts is to incorporate eye-healthy foods into your diet, like colorful vegetables and leafy greens.

Myth 5: If you have cataracts you need surgery right away 

Fact: You only need to have cataract surgery if your cataracts are interfering with your vision and impacting your lifestyle. 

If you are able to safely perform activities, such as driving at night, you don’t necessarily need surgery right away. Have your eye doctor monitor your cataracts to determine if there is any cataract-related vision loss.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

The best way to manage cataracts is to schedule regular eye exams with an eye doctor who has experience diagnosing and managing cataracts.

The doctor will give you all the information you need to help you decide which treatment options are best for you.

The post Cataracts: Top 5 Myths and Facts  appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Myopia affects 1.45 billion people worldwide and is the most common refractive error among children and young adults.

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when the eye elongates, and rays of light entering the eye are focused in front of the light-sensitive retina rather than directly on it. This causes blurry distance vision.

Myopia is not just blurry vision, but can lead to serious sight-threatening eye diseases.

If you think you or your child may have myopia, contact an eye doctor near you to schedule an eye exam.

SEE RELATED: What’s Worse: High Myopia or Smoking?

Myth 1: Myopia only affects children

Fact: While in most cases nearsightedness develops in childhood, it is also possible to develop this condition during your adult years.

Eye examinations for children showing early signs of blurry vision are vital to rule out blurry vision due to an eye condition known as ‘pseudo-myopia’.

The blurry vision is due to eyestrain or a binocular vision dysfunction and vision therapy or reading/computer glasses might be prescribed to clear up the vision, without needing distance glasses for full-time use.

Myth 2: Wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses makes myopia worse

Fact: Prescription contact lenses and eyeglasses do not worsen myopia. Corrective glasses help you see clearly and comfortably.

There are even certain types of optical lenses that your eye doctor may prescribe to help manage myopia progression.

Some people mistakenly believe that wearing weaker lenses than the ones prescribed by your eye doctor will prevent your eyesight from getting worse.  In reality, wearing a weaker prescription contradicts the purpose of using corrective eyewear, which is to correct your vision.

Schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor to find out which type of lens can help manage the progression of myopia.

Myth 3: To cure myopia, take vitamins

Fact: Vitamins have been proven to prevent and slow the progression of some eye conditions including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

However, no vitamin has been shown to cure or prevent myopia. All vitamins and supplements should only be taken under the advice of your healthcare professional.

Myth 4: Vision therapy can’t help control progressive myopia

Fact: Vision therapy can help with progressive myopia.

People who have reduced focusing skills, have a greater risk of developing progressive myopia.

Vision therapy is an effective treatment for people whose myopia is caused by  poor eye focusing skills and not the shape of the eye.

Vision therapy is a personalized program that trains the visual system, including the brain-eye connection, to work more efficiently— thereby improving focusing abilities.

Myth 5: There is no way to slow down the progression of myopia

Fact: There are a number ways to slow the progression of myopia.

Myopia Management is an evidence-based treatment that has been clinically proven to slow down the myopia progression.

Myopia Management may also prevent serious life-changing vision loss.

This treatment program includes:

• Multifocal lenses, which offer clear vision at various focal distances. There is scientific evidence that wearing multifocal glasses or multifocal soft contact lenses during the day can limit the progression of myopia compared to single-vision glasses or contact lenses.
• Orthokeratology/Ortho-k are specialized custom-fit contact lenses that have been shown to decrease the rate of myopia progression. Ortho-k gently reshapes the cornea overnight, during sleep.

Spend more time outdoors. Studies have found that children who spend significant time playing outdoors in the sunlight may have slower myopia progression than children who spend more time indoors.

Take a break. Doing close work, such as reading, doing homework, and spending an excessive amount of time looking at a digital screen has been linked to myopia.

Taking frequent breaks to focus on objects farther away can help. One well-known eye exercise is the 20-20-20 rule, where you take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.

Regular eye exams are essential to determine whether early detection can help prevent or slow the progression of myopia.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Pediatric Eye Conditions

Schedule an eye exam with a vision therapy eye doctor, who can diagnose and manage your myopia.

The post Top 5 Myopia Myths appeared first on Optometrists.org.

If your child is the 1 out of every 4 children that is struggling in school, it could be their vision.

Children who struggle with school, or have a learning difficulty, and begin to fall behind their friends often become unmotivated to learn. 

With the help of a regular comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor experienced in children’s vision and vision therapy, your child may not have to struggle anymore.

If you think your child may have a vision problem, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible. The Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that provide vision therapy for children.

SEE RELATED: Harvard Statement: Vision and Literacy

Here are a few eye conditions that can significantly impact reading and learning;

Amblyopia (lazy-eye)

Amblyopia, commonly known as ‘lazy eye’ is a visual condition that affects over 3 in 100 children.

A lazy eye can make it quite difficult to read— causing loss of place, re-reading words, skipping words, substituting or misreading words, and adding words into sentences.

While this condition cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses, with early detection and vision therapy, a child with amblyopia can achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.

Convergence insufficiency 

Convergence insufficiency (CI) affects up to 17 percent of children and adults.

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common near-vision condition that affects the ability to learn, read, and work at near distances. This condition tends to manifest or worsen as the demands in school increase for reading and homework assignments.

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), the most effective treatment for CI is in-office vision therapy.

Strabismus (crossed eyes)

Strabismus affects approximately 4 in 100 children in the United States. 

Strabismus occurs when the two eyes are unable to maintain proper alignment or focus together on an object— one eye looks directly at the object, while the other eye points in a different direction.

Strabismus can impact a child’s ability to read and concentrate during near-vision tasks due to the partial or total loss of stereo vision and binocular depth perception. This can result in fatigue and headaches, and severely impact a child’s academic performance.

Vision therapy is generally recommended to treat the eye turn, but in some cases surgery to realign the eyes may be recommended as well.

Focusing difficulties

Focusing skills allow a student to maintain and establish clear and comfortable vision while performing near-vision tasks, when switching focus between two distances is necessary.

Focusing difficulties can greatly harm a child’s academic success. Fortunately, focusing skills can be developed and strengthened with a program of vision therapy.

Eye-tracking difficulties

Eye-tracking difficulties can occur when the eyes’ movements are slow or irregular. It can significantly affect a student’s ability to learn, read, and even play sports.

Fortunately, this skill can be strengthened with in-office vision therapy.

How does vision therapy help?

Vision therapy is a fully customized treatment program designed to improve and strengthen visual skills. Vision therapy is more than just simple eye exercises.

Each vision therapy program is customized to the individual needs of the child and may include specialized lenses, prisms, filters, and eye exercises to help retrain the eye-brain connection and improve vision.

If you think a vision problem may be making school difficult for your child, a vision therapy program may help to improve their visual skills and provide them with the necessary tools to succeed in school.

LEARN MORE:   Vision Therapy for Children

Schedule a functional vision evaluation with a developmental optometrist near you and give your child the chance to achieve success— both in the classroom and in the future.

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