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unhaopy toddler with sad face
30Dec 2020

How Family History Can Affect Your Child’s Eyes

Eye problems in kids can be linked to family history. Read about pediatric eye conditions & how family history can affect a child’s vision.

How Family History Can Affect Your Child’s Eyes

Like any medical issue that ‘runs in the family,’ problematic eyesight can be a serious issue if left unchecked. From developmental issues to learning difficulties in the classroom, children who experience undiagnosed eyesight problems regularly find themselves dealing with more than cloudy vision.

unhaopy toddler with sad face

In fact, according to the 2019 American Community Survey, there were approximately 547,083 children with vision difficulties in the U.S. – which regularly translates to struggles in school that can impact your child’s self-confidence and ability to progress in classes simply because they cannot see what they’re being taught.1

How Family History Can Affect Your Child’s Vision

Did you know? Nearsightedness and farsightedness have a strong genetic component. If one parent is extremely nearsighted or farsighted, or, if both parents are mildly nearsighted or farsighted, there’s a good chance the child will deal with the same vision conditions. Taking knowledge like this and applying it to your own family scenario can prove indispensable when working to identify potential vision problems that your child may contend with or already experiencing.

Eye Problems in Kids Associated with Family History

Retinoblastoma

In cases where a family history of retinoblastoma has been identified, a child is most likely to develop the disease within the first two years. It is common for newborn babies to have a dilated eye exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist in the nursery, which typically identifies any underlying issues.

In relation to inherited retinoblastoma, about 40% of kids who develop the condition have a hereditary form of the disorder. However, more often than not, children with genetic retinoblastoma don’t have other family members with the disease. Instead, their condition is caused by a random mutation that occurred around the time of conception. In fact, while it is hard to explain, about 90% of all kids who develop retinoblastoma are the first person in their family to have eye cancer.

Infantile Cataracts

A lot of people are under the impression that cataracts only impact older people, but the fact of the matter is that children, and even infants, can develop cataracts as well. The name for cataracts in children is infantile – or pediatric cataracts – and can show up in children’s eyes due to genetics, metabolic disorders (such as diabetes), and eye injuries.

Like adult cataracts, if left undiagnosed, infantile can have a significant impact on a child’s development and long-term eyesight. In order to understand this issue in kids, it is important to differentiate between the two primary types of cataracts they experience: congenital (present at birth) or acquired (develop after birth).

Unfortunately, there are times when the cause of cataracts in a child is not known, but experiencing a genetic fault inherited from their parents that caused the lens to develop abnormally is a common cause of the disorder.3

Congenital Glaucoma

Some forms of glaucoma, such as congenital glaucoma, only occur in children.

This is an extremely rare condition, affecting 1 out of every 30,000 live births, but it can cause severe and irreversible loss of vision in kids who are impacted by the disorder. In congenital glaucoma, the intraocular pressure increases because there is a birth defect in the development of the angle of the eye as a result of poor development of the eye. This means that the aqueous humor cannot flow out normally, so the intraocular pressure increases and leads to optic nerve damage. A family history of the disease has long been identified as a significant risk factor for congenital glaucoma, suggesting that specific gene defects contribute to the development of the disorder.4

Metabolic Disorders

Significant eye problems are commonly correlated with metabolic disorders and may result in significant visual impairment among children. Some of the major lens manifestations that have been identified include corneal opacification, lens opacification, optic nerve swelling/atrophy, and retinopathy.

Metabolism is commonly known as the process your body uses to make energy from the food you consume. Chemicals in your digestive system break the food parts down into sugars and acids that fuel your body; but a metabolic disorder typically occurs when abnormal chemical reactions in the body disrupts this process. When this happens, you might have too much or too little of some substances that are needed to stay healthy. Typically, a metabolic disorder is inherited and parents may not be aware that they carry dangerous genes until their children are born.5

Infantile Esotropia

Studies have shown a four-fold increased risk of strabismus if there is a family history of the disorder.

This condition is marked by a large amount of inward turning of both eyes in infants that typically starts before six months of age. There is usually no significant amount of farsightedness present and glasses do not correct the crossing. Inward turning may start on an irregular basis, but soon becomes constant in nature and is present when the child is looking far away and up close.

The treatment for this type of strabismus is surgery on the muscles of one or both eyes to correct the alignment.

Studies into the disorder found that nearly 20% of babies born into families with a first degree relative affected by strabismus developed constant or intermittent esotropia by the age of six, while others have reported the familial incidence of strabismus to be as high as 65%.6

Want to Learn More About Pediatric Eye Conditions?

While, yes, these conditions are unnerving to learn about, and there is a potential for issues to develop related to inherited vision problems, but – more than anything – we stress to all our parents and families that worrying about these conditions developing won’t do anything to help your child’s eyesight perform to the best of its ability.

Instead, know that an annual pediatric eye exam can go a long way and proactively identify any existing vision problems your child may be experiencing and help correct vision conditions before they become significant issues. Understanding pediatric eye problems and the best way to manage these medical issues can best be explained by a certified pediatric eye doctor who will thoroughly assess your child’s vision and accurately diagnose and treat, monitor, or manage any issue.

We’re a Team of Experienced Pediatric Eye Doctors: Let Us Help You Take the Best Care of Your Child’s Vision

If you notice any issues regarding your child’s vision or the natural functionality of their eyes, make sure to contact an eye care professional immediately. The sooner you address the issue, the sooner you will know the best course of action to take to help you child achieve proper vision.

In all cases, early diagnosis and treatment can help correct an issue and provide your child with improved eyesight. Consulting with a qualified eye care specialist – like the experts at iCare Vision – is essential to addressing the issue early on and avoiding negative vision issues.

Schedule an appointment for your baby or child to come in and see us soon:

Schedule Pediatric Healthy Eye Exam

Resources:

1 United States Census Bureau. American Community Survey (ACS). Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/.

2 VSP. All in the Family? A Primer on Genes and Vision Problems. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/eye-problems.

3 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Pediatric Cataracts. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-pediatric-cataracts.

4 JAMA Network. Genetic Etiologies of Glaucoma. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/418994.

6 Nature.com. Inherited metabolic disorders involving the eye: a clinico-biochemical perspective. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/eye2009229#:~:text=Ocular%20manifestations%20are%20common%20in,major%20lens%20manifestations%20of%20MPSs.

7 Nature.com. A study of heredity as a risk factor in strabismus. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/6700138.pdf?origin=ppub#:~:text=Aurell3%20found%20that%2017.6%25%20of,be%20as%20high%20as%2065%25.

Categories:
young girl wearing glasses while doing homework on computer
18Nov 2020

How to Get Your Kids to Wear Glasses

Find tips to help your child get excited about wearing eyeglasses & learn about other eyewear to consider, like kids’ blue light glasses, kids’ reading glasses and sports glasses for kids.

How to Get Your Kids to Wear Glasses

For most adults, dealing with moments of embarrassment and things that cause you to feel self-conscious is just a part of life. For a child, dealing with feelings of embarrassment and awkwardness can be anxiety-inducing and even borderline traumatic. That’s why it is so important to work with your kids to explain things in easy to digest terminology – especially when it relates to their health and wellbeing.

When it comes to wearing eyeglasses, this could not be more true.

young girl wearing glasses while doing homework on computer

While the idea of putting glasses on your face every day may seem like a crazy idea to a toddler or young child, it may be necessary to address common eyesight issues, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Additionally, wearing glasses may be an essential tool in helping them advance academically and avoid falling behind in the classroom due to vision problems during their formative years. The key is to properly explain the necessity of eyeglasses to them in ways and terminology that they will understand and embrace.

Why Some Kids Can Be Reluctant or Refuse to Wear Eyeglasses

Granted, some kids may jump at the opportunity to wear glasses that they consider cool or stylish. In these cases, explaining to them how eyeglasses can improve their vision and help them avoid eye problems in the future is a piece of cake.

But for children who find the concept of wearing glasses embarrassing, or downright disconcerting, the process of getting them to comply may prove a bit more difficult. This can be attributed to a number of reasons, from an improper fit to a fear of bullying.

Some of the more common issues include:

  • Improper Fit.If your child’s glasses don’t fit just right, they may display more resistance to wearing them consistently.
    • If the glasses are too tight, they could hurt their ears or nose, causing them discomfort.
    • If the glasses are too loose, they might slip off and become impossible to wear for long periods of time.Making sure a child’s eye doctor checks the fit and size before they wear the eyeglasses avoids this issue and ensures their new eyewear is properly snug in all the right places.
  • Fear of Being Teased. Although the idea of wearing glasses has become a bit trendier, many kids may still see them as nerdy or off-putting due to the way they make them stand out. Kids can be very self-conscious if they feel different from their peers, so allowing them to ease into the process and encouraging them throughout the entire course is important to protect their feelings.
  • Wrong Prescription. In order to find the right prescription, you need to find a child’s eye doctor so he or she can reassess your child’s vision and conduct the right tests. Tests – like a functional vision test – allows the eye doctor to identify any functional vision problem, if they exist, by properly assessing eye movements, eye focusing, and eye teaming. Once these are appropriately diagnosed or ruled out as functional vision problems, the eye doctor can do further testing to confirm what prescription lenses will optimize your child’s functional vision.

Tips to Help Your Child Get Excited to Wear Glasses

Staying calm and not obsessing over the issue is of the utmost importance when the topic of wearing glasses is brought up. Some resistance or reluctance is to be expected and showing them that their feelings matter empowers them and makes them feel a part of the process – not controlled by it.

Additional tips to help along the way and ease into the transition may include:

  • Pick a Child’s Eye Doctor that Suits Your Needs.
    Take your time and do you research before picking your child’s eye doctor. The right pediatric eye doctor for your child won’t have any problem putting your child at ease and helping them get comfortable with the idea of wearing glasses. Keep in mind that you’ll most likely need to get those glasses replaced every year or so. Also, you’ll need to bring your child in for regular checkups so the eye doctor can monitor the condition of their eyes; so, ensuring your child is comfortable with the doctor is essential.
  • Let Them Help Choose the Frames that Fit their Personality.
    The best way to instill a sense of ownership during the process of selecting their glasses is to allow them to pick out their own frames. When the time comes for them to make the big decision, go ahead and plan a special day for the event and even give it a cool name like “frame shopping day.” Most kids enjoy picking out things by themselves because it empowers them and makes them feel involved, so keep patient and allow them to try on as many frames as they want. Picking the perfect pair is not an easy deal!
  • Do Not Overreact to their Reluctance.
    If your child is upset about the notion of wearing glasses, what they absolutely do not need is for you to get upset. While it may be hard to not snap, remembering to take some deep breaths and remind yourself that teaching the right mindset about their glasses is key. Help them understand right from the get-go that being able to see properly is a gift. That way, they won’t take it for granted and it will help your child understand the importance of wearing their new glasses and taking care of them properly.

Other Eyewear to Consider: Blue Light Glasses, Reading Glasses & Sports Glasses for Kids

Kids Blue Light Glasses
Blue light has been shown to disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, or the wake-sleep cycle. That means when your child stays up late finishing homework — or watches a movie or plays a video game before bedtime ― it could potentially mess with their sleep cycle and cause minor problems like, headaches or dry eyes.

If you want an extra bit of protection to save you child’s eyes from all the screen time, kids blue light blocking glasses might be helpful for their eyes, too. They work by filtering out the blue light from screens before it reaches your eyes.

Kids Reading Glasses
Finding the right reading glasses is essential for your child’s academic progress and comprehension.

If they struggle to see words or are misdiagnosed and given the wrong prescription, their scholastic progress can suffer tremendously. That is why making sure they receive a proper diagnosis and fitting pair allows them to get acclimated to their readers and ensures they wear them when they need them most.

Sports Glasses for Kids
Just because your child is being active does not mean they can ignore a diagnosed vision issue. In fact, wearing proper sports glasses for kids may become as essential as the right shoes or clothing when playing the sport of their choice.

Their sports glasses can help protect their eyes from dangerous objects while they play, such as fast-moving balls, high-speed racquets in a confined space, and pokes from team players or competitors. Helping your child avoid serious injury and continued vision problems requires planning and preparation, so take the time to choose the right eyewear in all scenarios.

Let’s Make Eyewear Fun and Exciting to Wear for Your Child

At iCare Vision, we see to it that your child’s vision is thoroughly assessed, and they find the experience fun and engaging. If your child is feeling a little anxious about the exam, they can relax and play before they see the doctor in our children’s corner and coloring area in the waiting room. If one of our pediatric eye doctors find that your child would benefit from glasses, your child can pick out cool frames that fit their personality with our collection of children’s frames.

Categories:
15Oct 2020

iCare Vision has Expanded to Better Provide Safer Care & Expedited Services

Our practice has expanded to provide safer care and deliver expedited services, eye wear and eye health care. Read about our new examination wing.

iCare Vision has Expanded to Better Provide Safer Care & Expedited Services

This year has taught us a lot and helped strengthen our practice and services. From the day you become a patient at iCare, your health and safety remain our top priority. To better service our growing patient base, our practice has physically expanded and we’re able to see patients sooner for an emergency or urgent need. Here is how iCare Vision is delivering safer care and expedited services:

Our New Examination Wing

With your safety and satisfaction in mind, we have recently opened a second examination wing that allows us to offer an increased level of safety to every patient who steps through our door. This recently established exam wing is equipped with two new exam rooms and an additional screening facility. This provides all our patients ample safe space to remain socially distanced while waiting to receive services.

Additionally, this expanded space ensures that all our patients can comfortably and safely interact with our clinical staff without having to worry about infringing upon anyone else’s personal space.

We take pride in providing the highest quality clinical services, and this increased capacity ensures we continue to meet those personal expectations on a day to day basis.

Our Revamped Emergency Services

Our commitment to excellent care and services also extends outside routine appointments and continuously accounts for patients who need us immediately due to an eye emergency. With our new examination wing, we are now able to see emergency patients within one to eight hours of our office receiving the call.

With our expedited emergency care times, we can help patients receive the medical care they need now without having to wait an extended amount of time.

See Us Sooner for Urgent Needs

At iCare Vision, we focus on the needs of our patients in every situation and scenario. That is why we are intent on servicing our patients as soon as possible to properly address all vision concerns and needs. Having to wait two to three days to receive comprehensive eye care is simply not acceptable.

Our expanded facility and increased safety protocols help to significantly avoid unnecessary wait times, enabling our staff to address your eyewear and eye health care needs in an expedited time frame.

Let Us Help You Take the Best Care of Your Vision. Come See Us Soon.

With the addition of our new space, we can competently and comprehensively address all your vision issues without sacrificing safety or quality of service. Your eyes deserve the best, and your future vision depends on how you treat and nurture it today. Let us help you take the best care of your eyes today and every day.

Categories:
Female optometrist examining child's eye
28Sep 2020

All About School Vision Screenings

As a parent to school-aged children, it’s important to understand the difference between vision screening vs eye exam. Read why vision screening in schools doesn’t accurately assess vision.

All About School Vision Screenings

Most parents with school-aged children want their kids to have every opportunity available to them.

As we’ve just entered a new school year – whether in-person or virtual learning – make sure to not only prepare your child or children with the necessary school supplies, but also with the most important aspect of learning: proper vision.

Research shows that 80% of your child’s ability to learn effectively takes place through their vision, and that’s why an undiagnosed vision problem can cause major learning difficulties in even the most intelligent student.1

Did You Know? Vision Affects a Child’s Development and Ability to Learn

If you have noticed that your child is struggling in the classroom with common assignments and tasks – tasks that never used to pose problems in the past – the issue may not be their ability to comprehend, but rather a vision issue. Studies have shown that one in four children deal with a vision disorder that negatively impacts their ability to learn.

Since vision is vital to your child progressing naturally in their studies, kids who are forced to deal with an undiagnosed vision problem may:

  • Display significant delays in early developmental skills
  • Struggle to learn tasks as quickly as their peers
  • Show noticeable delays in normal school functioning associated with both reading and writing

The fact of the matter is that by the time most kids enter school, it is estimated that one in four will need glasses or contact lenses to help them with a vision issue.Being aware of these stats and planning accordingly to have your child’s vision regularly tested is essential to identifying a potential issue and providing them with the necessary tools to achieve all their goals.2

Vision Screenings in Schools: What You Need to Know

While school screenings are well intentioned, the American Optometric Association warns that school vision screenings may not accurately gauge your child’s overall vision and eye health.

Failed Vision Screening at School

What do you do if your child failed vision test at school? Keep in mind that a big reason these types of preliminary screens don’t produce the greatest results is because they tend to solely focus on your child’s distance vision and completely disregard potential issues related to eye movement skills, their ability to properly focus, their peripheral awareness, their binocular coordination, and their near vision – which is critical for reading.

When it comes to a vision screening vs eye exam, our advice is to not stress about a failed vision screening at school – but to prioritize a pediatric eye exam. Most schools do their best to provide a thorough initial evaluation, but a school screening is not intended to replace a comprehensive pediatric eye exam conducted by a children’s eye doctor.

School vision screenings are regularly performed by the nursing staff who are highly trained in medical issues, but not always in vision screening.

Additionally, a school vision screen is typically a measure of central vision acuity, which neglects to assess multiple other areas of eye health and vision systems.

It is a common misconception that seeing well equates to no vision problems, but that could not be further from the truth.

Your child can have good vision and still deal with a vision problem that negatively impacts their coordination and learning skills, like comprehension, reading, and recollection. Due to the that fact that kids grow and develop so quickly, sometimes they may not even recognize that their eyesight has shifted and become problematic. It’s when this occurs that vision problems can go undiagnosed, resulting in learning problems that impact your child’s ability to progress in the classroom.

  • A lack of confidence can easily result in frustration due to poor academic performance and potential regression in academic progress and learning abilities.
  • However, by paying attention to the warning signs associated with vision problems, such as squinting, frequent eye rubbing, chronic eye redness and tearing, and sitting too close to the TV, you can address issues before they become too severe.

Early intervention is essential to not only avoiding longer vision problems, but it is also the key to maintaining your child’s confidence in the classroom.

Symptoms of Common Vision Issues in Kids

Some of the more common symptoms experienced and their corresponding diagnoses include:

Diagnoses Common Symptoms
Eye coordination problems
  • Closes or covers one eye
  • Occasionally sees double
  • Rubs eyes frequently
  • Able to read for only a short time
  • Poor reading comprehension
Farsightedness Astigmatism Nearsightedness
  • Complains of blurred vision
  • Rubs eyes frequently
  • Squints
Eye focusing problems (inability to easily refocus eyes or maintain clear focus)
  • Holds things very close
  • Complains of blurred vision
  • Poor reading comprehension
  • Says eyes are tired
  • Able to read for only a short time
  • Has headaches when reading

Vision Screening vs Eye Exam

Understanding the difference between a vision screening and a comprehensive eye exam is important to identifying which is best for diagnosing vision problems that your child may be experiencing.

  • A school vision screening is a relatively short examination that helps to identify the presence of a vision problem your child may be experiencing. It cannot diagnose exactly what is wrong with their eyesight, but it can indicate that an appointment needs to be made with a children’s optometrist.
    Reading the letters on an eye chart is typically the most extensive portion of a vision screening.
  • A comprehensive eye exam is an in-depth examination where your child’s visual acuity is assessed as well as potential color blindness and serious eye issues related to glaucoma and cataracts.
    This is because the optometrist evaluates both the internal and external health of your child’s eyes through an in-depth assessment that takes into account prior vision issues, their current state of visual acuity, and potential vision problems.   Common eye exam tests for children include:
    • Current refractive error measurement using retinoscopy
    • Eye pressure measurement to identify glaucoma
    • Eye health using a silt-lamp
    • Visual acuity to measure the definition of your vision
    • Blind spot detection using a visual field test
    • Eye misalignment using cover tests
    • Eye disease identification through pupil dilation

Ensure Your Child’s Vision is Developing Accurately with an Annual Pediatric Eye Exam

Is your child on an academic support plan and/or showing or talking about vision issues they’re experiencing? Has there been a failed vision screening at school?

It’s time to get a comprehensive pediatric eye exam by one of our children’s eye doctors. Get to know our team of deeply committed pediatric optometrists:

As the school year gets underway, be sure to schedule your child’s pediatric healthy eye exam today.

Hey, Kids! Did You Know Healthy Vision Starts with YOU?

Your eye health is just as important as the health of your body’s other systems. Use these 4 tips to take care of your eyes:

1. Eat Healthy.
Did you know that what you eat can directly help or hurt your vision? That’s right! When you eat a well-balanced diet – one with different types of fruits, vegetables (especially leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens), and fish, you’re setting your eyes up for long-term health. Help your mom or dad make the next grocery list and be sure to ask if you can pick out extra fruits and veggies – and request salmon one night for dinner.

2. Get Moving.
You may know this already, but kids who exercise often have a healthier body weight than kids who don’t exercise as much. When you exercise, your body weight is more likely to stay in a healthy weight range. Being overweight can put you at higher risk for diabetes or other health conditions that can lead to vision problems.

3. Protect Your Eyes from Germs.
Germs can irritate your eyes and cause various infections. Try to keep your hands away from your eyes as much as possible. If you need to rub or touch them, always wash your hands before putting them close to your eyes. This is especially important if you’re putting in or taking out contact lenses.

4. Tell a Parent or Teacher If Your Eyesight Feels Different.
Are your eyes bothering you? Are you seeing things differently than you did yesterday or a week ago? Does your vision seem blurry? Do you feel like you’re squinting more than usual? Do you have a hard time seeing things at school? It’s very important to speak up if you feel like your vision isn’t right. Always tell a parent or teacher if you notice any changes in your vision.

References:

1 College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Signs & Symptoms of Learning-Related Vision Problems. Accessed September 14, 2020. https://www.covd.org/page/symptoms.

2 Intro Wellness. An Optician Reveals Her Best Glasses Tips. Accessed September 14, 2020. https://introwellness.com/eyes/glasses/best-glasses-tips/

Categories:
18Aug 2020

Is Lasik Eye Surgery Worth the Risk?

What is Lasik eye surgery & is it worth the risk? Learn about the procedure, including Lasik eye surgery risks, side effects, recovery & more.

Is Lasik Eye Surgery Worth the Risk?

Living with a common vision problem such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism can truly be a pain to deal with. From blurry vision to double vision, headaches, and even night driving issues, coping with consistent eyesight issues can impact every area of your life and leave you searching for relief. While eyeglasses and contact lenses are viable options to manage your vision condition(s), many people long for the day when they can put their daily eyewear away for good.

Is undergoing Lasik eye surgery the best option for you?

ophthalmologist examining eye before lasik eye surgery

What is Lasik Eye Surgery?

Lasik is considered to be the most commonly performed laser eye surgery used to correct everyday vision problems and eyesight issues. The procedure utilizes a highly specialized laser that is specifically designed to improve vision, reduce or eliminate the need for corrective eyewear, and treat refractive errors impacting a person’s vision. The procedure works by reshaping the cornea to enable light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clearer vision.

Lasik Eye Surgery Risks

Like any surgery, there are inherent risks associated with Lasik and the impact the procedure can have on your eyesight. While research has shown that serious complications are rare, there is a small percentage of people who experience real and persistent issues after the surgery. Some of the identified temporary complications can include:

  • Scratchiness and dry eye
  • Glare, halos or starbursts around light
  • Light sensitivity
  • Difficulty with night vision
  • Discomfort or pain

Being aware of the potential risks is important before making the decision to undergo any surgery. As for Lasik, over 300 peer-reviewed studies show that, on average, 95% of patients who undergo the procedure report being satisfied with the outcome.1

That being said, there is a small percentage of patients who have experienced the above-mentioned symptoms for an extended period of time, and an even smaller percentage that say their symptoms became permanent.

Lasik Eye Surgery Side Effects

Negative side-effects associated with Lasik surgery are rare, but they do occur.

While dry eye may present as a temporary risk, Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (or DLK) can cause severe eye damage if left untreated. A person experiencing this issue typically experiences an itch in their eye, causing the area to look hazy and cloudy, eventually swelling and even scaring the cornea.

In addition, significant loss of vision has been reported in a small percentage of cases, as well as other “flap complications,” which occur when the actual procedure is not performed correctly and does not adhere properly to the eyes’ surface. Some of these flap complications include:

  • Irregular astigmatism – Caused by an unequally curved corneal surface, or from laser correction that is not centered correctly on the eye
  • Keratectasia – Bulging of the eye surface that can occur if too much tissue is removed from the cornea during Lasik
  • Epithelial ingrowth – When cells from the outer layer of the cornea grow under the flap after the surgery

Lasik Eye Surgery Recovery

The average recovery time for each person can vary. However, most people undergoing the procedure will experience mild sensitivity to light, puffy eyelids, itching, and even some burning sensations for about four hours following the surgery. Due to these typical symptoms, it is common to receive a mild sedative following Lasik in order to ease the discomfort.

It is best to rest your eyes and even nap during this initial recovery phase to allow the body to heal and manage any experienced pain. After the initial two- to four-hour recovery period, having redness and even dark red spots on the whites of the eyes for several days is perfectly normal. Similar to bruising after a surgery, it may take several days – or even a few weeks – for these spots to disappear completely.

How Much is Lasik Eye Surgery?

The cost of the surgery can vary depending on the extent of your vision issues and the experience level of your eye surgeon. On average, Lasik can run between $1000 and $3000 per eye, which can include the actual surgery, post-operative care, and follow-up surgeries if additional corrections are needed.

As in all cases, it is important to discuss the cost and included services prior to committing to any surgery or procedure to ensure a stress-free and positive experience.

Comprehensive LASIK Eye Surgery Consultation and Care in Mount Vernon, Ohio

Do you want to learn more? Even if you’re not ready to commit to Lasik, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by simply exploring Lasik corrective eye surgery further.

The best place to start is by getting an in-depth analysis of your vision health. While iCare Vision does not perform Lasik surgeries, we can help you learn whether or not you’re a good candidate for the procedure and walk you through the ins and outs of Lasik.

When you start your corrective eye surgery journey with us – eye care experts with no financial stake in your procedure and completely unbiased recommendations – we’ll only suggest procedures that will help make your life and vision better.

Categories:
09Jul 2020

Do Gaming Glasses Really Work?

Do you stare at a blue light emitting screen for long periods of time? Considering blue light gaming glasses? Learn about computer gaming glasses, including prescription gaming glasses.

Do Gaming Glasses Really Work?

Staring at screens is a constant in this day and age. From the computers we work on to the phones we communicate with to the televisions where we find our entertainment, blue light is constantly inundating our sight and flooding our senses.

 
blue light prescription gaming glasses
 

Imagining a time when our lives existed without these screens is hard to recollect, but have you ever stopped to wonder exactly how all this additional blue light is impacting your eyes?

Is it safe to spend so much time staring at this artificial light source? Are their glasses available that can lessen the impact that sustained screen time has on ocular muscles?

Understanding the way in which blue light impacts your sight and how to protect yourself from any long-term damage is essential to enjoying your time online while also ensuring your eyesight does not sustain any damage along the way.

 

Blue Light & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know

During the day, blue light has been shown to be extremely beneficial, playing a significant role in establishing a healthy circadian rhythm and boosting your attention and overall mood.

Blue light is visible light with a wavelength between 400 and 450 nanomeers (nm).

  • As the name suggests, this type of light is perceived as blue in color but may be present even when light is perceived as white or another color.
  • Blue light is of concern because it has more energy per photon of light than other colors in the visible spectrum, such as green or red light.
  • At high enough doses, blue light is more likely to cause damage when absorbed by various cells in our body.

According to the US National Institutes of Health, current research on blue light suggests that there may be a link between eye exposure to blue light in the 400-470nm wavelength (Blue LEDs generally output light at approximately 464nm) and damage to photoreceptors in the eye.1

 

Are Blue Light Gaming Glasses Effective?

Effective gaming glasses are basically specialized eyeglasses designed for people, like gamers, who spend a lot of time in front of blue light screens. They are made to increase contrast and reduce glare, which is a major cause of eye fatigue.

  • A study done by the University of Toronto measured melatonin levels of people in an environment with bright blue light while wearing blue-light blocking goggles, and a group in dim light wearing no goggles.
  • The two groups of people had very similar melanin levels, suggesting that there is some benefit to reducing your eye exposure to blue light.

    • n most cases, the effectiveness of gaming glasses depends on their coatings. Whether we are talking about prescription or non-prescription lenses, the coatings remain the same – AR (anti-reflective) coatings and color tints.

    Anti-Reflective Coatings
    As their name suggests, AR coatings reduce glare from light sources, such as TV screens and monitor displays.
    The quality of the coating is of crucial importance here.
    Cheaper coating formulas tend to catch smudges and dirt really easily, forcing you to clean them every few hours. High-end ones, on the other hand, don’t have such problems, allowing you to concentrate more on your gaming session.

    Color Tints
    The trademark yellow tint on certain types of gaming glasses isn’t there simply for aesthetical purposes.
    Yellow tint is present because it effectively increases the contrast while filtering out uncomfortable light spectrums.
    This helps your eye muscles relax and see the action more clearly.
    Computer gaming glasses that filter out this spectrum of light is an effective way to shield your eyes from early macular degeneration and typically a great investment for both occasional and professional gamers alike.
    While investing in a quality pair of gaming glasses can prove to be an excellent decision, other important preventative measures include: reducing on screen time, turning off your devices an hour or so before bedtime, and resting your eyes frequently.2

     

    Here’s How to Know if You Need Blue Light Gaming Glasses

    There are many factors influencing the necessity for blue light gaming glasses.

    These include:

    • Your particular age group
    • Pre-existing eye conditions that impact blue light exposure
    • Typical daily screen time associated with hobbies and professions

    Identifying your own specific needs is important.

    However, at the end of the day, if you find yourself spending four or more hours a day staring at a screen, or find that you have been struggling with headaches or eye strain, then investing in a pair of quality blue light gaming glasses may be just the thing you need to increase your enjoyment while also decreasing the negative impact that blue light is having on your eyes.

     

    Are Blue Light Gaming Glasses and Computer Gaming Glasses the Same Thing?

    Typically, computer glasses are made with the working professional in mind, so they are often in modern styles that are contemporary and unobtrusive.

    The professional can make a personal statement with functional eyewear that protects them from blue light disruption.

    They can block unwanted symptoms of eye strain with the bonus of a stylish appearance. While there are some similarities in style, gaming glasses are typically a bit larger and hug the sides of the user’s head more closely.

    They often feature a lightweight frame for extended use and a silicone nose for comfort. Flat temples are also popular since gaming glasses are often worn with a headset.

     

    Have a Prescription? You Can Get Prescription Gaming Glasses

    Finding a pair of gaming glasses online seems easy enough, but fitting lenses with your specific prescription requires a bit more planning and preparation.

    You can start by contacting your optometrist – such as the team at iCare – in order to schedule an appointment to discuss your specific needs.

    A comprehensive in-person eye exam will allow you to identify any and all existing eye issues, while also discussing your options for gaming glasses and the most cost-effective method of getting your exact prescription in the frames and lenses of your choice.

    Want to enjoy gaming more? Take care of your eyes and give them the relief they need.

    Schedule a healthy eye exam and talk to your doctor about gaming glasses.

    References:
    1 National Center of Biotechnology Information. Research progress about the effect and prevention of blue light on eyes. Accessed June 25, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288536/.
    2 National Center of Biotechnology Information. Effects of Filtering Visual Short Wavelengths During Nocturnal Shiftwork on Sleep and Performance. Accessed June 25, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3786545/.

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02Jul 2020

Meet Dr. Sanders

To our new and current patients, we invite you to get to know Dr. Sanders – including why she became an eye doctor & what she enjoys doing in her free time.

Meet Dr. Sanders

For Dr. Sara Sanders, optometry goes way beyond just glasses and contacts. Her passion for the care and keeping of your eyes and vision comes from her deep understanding of how important healthy vision is to your entire life.

Dr. Sara Sanders

Dr. Sanders’ interest in optometry peaked when she watched her dad get LASIK surgery. Above all, she became an eye doctor because she saw an enormous opportunity to help people and have an invaluable impact on their overall health.

 

At-A-Glance Background on Dr. Sanders

Dr. Sanders received her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio) and her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Optometry (Columbus, Ohio). She completed a year-long ocular disease residency after graduation at the Columbus and Chillicothe (Ohio) medical centers. Dr. Sanders is a new Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) – a distinction awarded by the American Academy of Optometry. Only five percent of the profession holds this advance recognition for high skills and knowledge in our field of vision care. She is also a member of the American/Ohio Optometric Associations.  

At iCare, Dr. Sanders Works Hard to Help Patients Achieve Their Best Vision Possible

It all comes down to the exam, and through a comprehensive, in-depth exam with a patient’s vision history and current concerns or symptoms in mind, Dr. Sanders is committed to performing thorough exams to help every patient achieve their best vision possible. Because eye exams provide a lot of information on eye and overall health – and because iCare Vision Center has advanced tests/technology (that not every optometry office has) that can be utilized – Dr. Sanders is dedicated to making patients feel heard and addressing their concerns to the best of her ability.  

Specializations

Dr. Sanders provides primary care and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.  

Want to Know More?

How cool is it that Dr. Sanders is a curler? Yes, a curler like the Olympic sport. She is a member of the Columbus Curling Club and spends most of her winter playing this sport she loves so much. What else would you like to know about Dr. Sanders? Be sure to ask her next time you’re in. She loves getting to know patients better and sharing more about herself. Have you got to know iCare’s Dr. Wineland yet?

Come in and see us today.

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23Jun 2020

Meet Dr. Wineland

To our new and current patients, we invite you to get to know Dr. Wineland – including why he became an eye doctor & what he enjoys doing in his free time.

Meet Dr. Wineland

Known as Dedicated Dave to his patients – for his focus with patient concerns, providing great medical care, and always remaining up to date on eye care and treatment advancements – Dr. Wineland was drawn to the study of optometry from a very early age and never veered from his drive to become an exceptional eye doctor.

Unfortunately, most of Dr. Wineland’s family went blind for multiple reasons later in life (when Dr. Wineland was young) which affected him deeply and made him quickly realize just how precious the ability to see is.

When his family history of vision issues caught up to him – at age 11 – he started wearing glasses to correct his nearsightedness. Seeing trees and leaves for the first time in detail while on a family camping trip truly changed his life and further motivated him to want to help others achieve clear, comfortable vision.

 

At-A-Glance Background on Dr. Wineland

Dr. Wineland received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University (Athens, Ohio) and his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Optometry (Columbus, Ohio).

He received the Feinbloom Low Vision Award from The Ohio State University for helping nearly blind patients recover their vision with special optical devices.

Dr. Wineland is a member of AOA American Optometric Association, COVD College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and NORA Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

 

At iCare, Dr. Wineland Works Hard to Make a Big Impact in His Patients’ Lives

As iCare Vision continues to find new and better ways of caring for vision and testing for eye diseases – especially with new technologies and lasers – Dr. Wineland remains at the forefront of the evolving practice of medical ophthalmic care.

What inspires him to keep practicing medicine? Preventing blindness in patients remains at the top of his list, and helping one patient simply drives him to help another as best he can.

From helping someone in pain after an accident, when dealing with a foreign body injury, or while contending with an eye infection, he acknowledges that days are always very interesting and very challenging – just the way he likes it.

 

Dr. Wineland’s Promise to His Patients

Are you wondering what you can expect when you see Dr. Wineland?

His exams center on the three G’s: Good healthy eyes, Good health body, and Great easy vision. When you see Dr. Wineland, he will listen intently, test with your concerns in mind, and find or give solutions after educating you on your condition. He usually delivers several options on how to help treat your vision issues.

Dr. Wineland is focused on:

Helping patients achieve healthy eyes to live healthy lives. When you meet with Dr. Wineland, his number one goal is to make sure your vision remains as healthy as possible. If a medical condition is seen via eye tests – such as diabetes, blood pressure, high cholesterol, tumors, etc. – he will help refer you to a local physician or specialist to ensure whole body health.

Helping patients achieve vision that is easy, comfortable, and automatic without pain, strain, or an over-worked feeling. Through a quick and painless examination, Dr. Wineland will learn all about your eyes and deliver the right treatment or prescription so you won’t ever have to suffer from irritated, painful, less than optimal vision.

 

Specializations

Dr. Wineland specializes in treating eye diseases like glaucoma and helping to prevent and educate on diseases like macular degeneration and keratoconus.

He also works closely with children who contend with visual learning eye coordination problems, and since 80% of the brain is visually related, he frequently helps adults, children, and athletes recover and exercise their eye system for faster recovery after traumatic brain injuries.

 

Want to Know More?

Of course you do! Your eye doctor is a really cool guy.

Outside of optometry, Dr. Wineland loves spending time with his wife (of 39 years), his two sons and daughters-in-law, and his grandchildren.

He’s a Boy Scout Adult Leader, he loves to watch and play hockey – as he’s on three different teams – and he enjoys hunting, fly fishing, wind surfing and holding down the 10 acres his home sits on.

What else would you like to know about Dr. Wineland? Be sure to ask him next time you’re in. He loves to get to know his patients better and help them learn more about him.

Dr. Dave Wineland learning to wind surfDr. Dave Wineland playing hockey with his sonsDr. Dave Wineland fishing

Why iCare Vision?

Dr. Wineland and the team at iCare Vision have been helping patients in the community for over 36 years.

The amazing and experienced staff – averaging 18-34 years of experience with five licensed opticians on the team – remains up to date with high-level continuing education and best practices for the highly advanced equipment used (most pieces of equipment found at iCare are not available in the majority of practices in Central Ohio).

The practice’s newest doctor – Dr. Sara Sanders – joined the team after completing her residency and graduating from The Ohio State University College of Optometry. She compliments the practice with new knowledge and teachings from one of the mostly highly ranked universities in the country.

Come in and see us.

Categories:
polarized prescription sunglasses
15Jun 2020

Why Polarized Sunglasses are HOT this Season

You don’t have to squint your way through summer (or any sunny day). Learn about polarized sunglasses, including adult & kids polarized prescription sunglasses.

Why Polarized Sunglasses are HOT this Season

Have you ever spent a bright sunny day on the water or in the snow? Your eyes probably felt tired or strained after a short amount of time. Why is this?

Simply put, as sunlight hits certain surfaces, it reflects and creates an intense glare that is exceptionally hard on our eyes; and, unfortunately, standard sunglasses won’t do much to reduce the glare and help you stop squinting.

Enter: polarized sunglass lenses.

Read on to learn how polarized sunglass lenses reduce glare and how they’re ideal for anyone who is irritated by a wide array of outdoor glare.

How Polarized Sunglasses Cut the Glare

We have all dealt with glare countless times.

Sunlight scatters in multiple directions. When it hits a flat or uneven surface, it reflects horizontally and becomes polarized – creating a glare. Our eyes have a hard time seeing past the extremely bright light.

As we all know, in addition to being on the water or in the snow, glare can be intense and dangerous while driving, and severely reduce visibility.

Polarized sunglasses reduce glare-causing reflections and can even help light-sensitive people (like an individual who has had cataract surgery) see clearly and comfortably.

Polarized lenses provide excellent glare protection because of a special filter that blocks reflected light and, thus, reduces glare and eye discomfort.

Polarized lenses also help reduce water reflections, helping the eye see objects below the surface of a stream, lake, or ocean.

Polarized vs Non-Polarized Sunglasses

Polarized: Polarized lenses reduce glare and enhance clarity and contrast in bright conditions using a special filter that’s built into the lens and blocks intense, reflected, horizontal light.

Non-Polarized: Non-polarized lenses reduce light and darken the landscape.

Polarized Prescription Sunglasses Can Help You Experience Summer in an Entirely Different Way

You certainly don’t need a prescription to benefit from polarized lenses, but for those who have a prescription, polarized sunglasses can help your eyes get the exact support they need and provide a solution to frustrating glare.

Just about any prescription can be made into polarized prescription sunglasses, but the first step in any decision with eyewear should be to consult with one of our doctors here at iCare Vision.

  • Polarized sunglasses & progressive lenses: For individuals who need progressive lenses and spend a lot of time outside, polarized sunglasses are exceedingly advantageous.
  • Polarized sunglasses & photochromic lenses: For individuals who need photochromic lenses and are frequently in and out of the sun, polarized sunglasses can increase the vision system’s performance.
  • Anti-reflective coating: For top comfort and performance with polarized sunglasses when the sun is behind you, having an anti-reflective coating applied to the backside of the lenses will eliminate unwanted reflections from the back surface of the sunglasses.

Let us help you get the sun protection you need this summer:

Kids Polarized Sunglasses

Can kids wear polarized sunglasses? Absolutely! Kids’ eyes need glare protection, too!

When buying sunglasses for your baby or child, be sure the sunglasses are 100% UVA and UVB protected first and foremost. Polarization and UVA/UVB protection are not one in the same.

But, just like polarization in adult sunglasses, polarized lenses in your child’s sunglasses are a great idea. The lenses will reduce glare, make objects appear sharper, and deliver visual comfort for your child.

Let us help your child get the sun protection they deserve this summer:

Polarized Sunglasses Aren’t for Every Activity

Though polarized sunglass lenses improve comfort and visibility, certain individuals may encounter some instances when these lenses aren’t advisable.

  • Downhill skiing, because bright patches of reflected light signal icy conditions.
  • Viewing LCD screens – like ATMs and gas pump station screens – because polarized lenses reduce the visibility of images produced on the screens. Boaters and pilots, who need to see LCD displays on instrument panels, may have a hard time seeing all the information displayed on a screen.

Despite these exceptions, polarized sunglasses are ideal for anyone who spends a lot of time outside or needs to see clearly at work when glare is prevailing.

Are You Excited to See Summer in a Whole New Way?

We’ll help match you and your vision to the right pair of polarized prescription sunglasses.

iCare Vision offers shades for the entire family and for a wide array of lifestyles, such as daily wear, reading, sports, driving, and more.

Give your eyes the protection they need this summer and year-round.

Categories:
30May 2020

iCare is Equipped to Diagnose Diabetic Retinopathy Earlier and Treat the Disease More Effectively

We’ve added a new piece of equipment that will help us diagnose & treat diabetic retinopathy earlier and better. Read about the Optomap Retinal Camera.

iCare is Equipped to Diagnose Diabetic Retinopathy Earlier and Treat the Disease More Effectively

Introducing Our New Piece of Equipment: The Optomap Retinal Camera

For any individual living with diabetes, there is a very real and very silent threat to their vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye disease that is caused by diabetes and is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness.

Manifesting little to no symptoms, depending on the individual, the chronic, complex disease of diabetic retinopathy affects 40-45% of diabetic Americans. Because there are typically no signs or symptoms of the disease in the early stages, only about half of the 40-45% affected know they have the disease.1

Without knowing diabetic retinopathy is present and worsening, the disease goes untreated for too long, resulting in vision loss or, worse, blindness.

Advanced Imaging for Early Treatment is Essential for Disease Management

The number of individuals who live with diabetic retinopathy is expected to grow.

Why?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 30 million Americans are diabetic, and that number is predicted to increase by 54% to 54.9 million by 2030.1

Managing diabetic retinopathy is already a challenge for optometrists, but with a growing number of patients who will contend with diabetic retinopathy, the ability to detect the disease earlier is more crucial than ever.

This is where the Optomap Retinal Camera becomes a game changer.

The Previous Standard for Evaluating Diabetic Retinopathy:

Evaluating the severity of diabetic retinopathy (in recent decades) was conducted by Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) photography.

Comprised of 35-mm color images that break down to seven stereoscopic pairs of photographs per eye, the location and degree of retinal lesions in the posterior pole could be detected. But this test has significant limitations, as the field of view with ETDRS only equated to 30% of the entire retina surface.

This is a big issue because the risk of missing pathology that is present in the periphery (outside the ETDRS field of view) is high.

  • Pathology that is present in the periphery may contribute to the progression and outcome of the disease.
  • Research on diabetic retinopathy has revealed that pathology often exists outside the seven standard fields of ETDRS.
  • Peripheral pathology can be associated with greater disease severity and higher risk of disease progression.1

A new test was necessary.

The Optomap Retinal Camera Furthers iCare’s Mission to Provide Better Care to More Patients

Your eye care and vision health are always our top priority. With this new piece of equipment, more patients can be screened in less time.

Additionally, screening and identification of diabetic retinopathy is not only improved on a clinical and diagnostic level, but also on a patient engagement and education level, too.

During an exam with the Optomap, images can be captured in less than half a second and without dilation.

Images are also easily annotated, stored, and shared. This is extremely beneficial when making treatment decisions and necessary referrals.

The Optomap Empowers Us to Partner with Our Patients on Treatment

Once images are captured from the Optomap, we can better explain a patient’s condition by showing and describing what the images are telling us.

Patients can see firsthand the areas of concern in their eyes. Additional exams can show patients the changes that are occurring since their last visit.

Our hope is that patients feel empowered with this information and, after seeing the damage to their retina, are motivated to strictly adhere to treatment recommendations and even make behavior modifications – like actively working to improve blood glucose levels.

A Few Words from Our Doctors:

  • While, yes, we have had retinal cameras since the 1980’s, they only photographed the central 30-45 degrees. With advanced imaging from the Optomap Retinal Camera, we can get a view of more than 100 degrees. In diagnoses and treatments, this is huge.
  • We’re really looking forward to finding more “at risk” problems for the present and future risks for our patients’ visual welfare.
  • We can easily photograph any patient starting at age 6 or 7. Keep in mind that the use of the Optomap Retinal Camera does not require us to use dilation drops that burn and may blur vision for more than four hours.
  • We want all patients to know that an exam with the Optomap is quick and painless, and – above all – it’s exciting for us to show patients their internal eye health and their visual brain tissue with the images.
  • We are also using the most advanced equipment to improve care and prevent eye diseases, like glaucoma and macular degeneration, and body problems that show up in the eyes, like diabetes, blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many auto-immune diseases.

Early Diagnosis and Timely Treatment Starts with Regular Eye Exams

If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, blindness can occur. Complete diabetic health includes regular eye exams.

At iCare Vision, it’s our mission to help you take the best care of your eyes.

Resources:
1 UWF imaging contributes to earlier disease detection. Modern Retina. Accessed April 15, 2020. https://www.modernretina.com/diabetic-retinopathy/uwf-imaging-contributes-earlier-disease-detection/page/0/2.

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