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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/

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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.

Categories:
child wearing glasses and pointing to brain
12Sep 2018

80% of the Brain is Visual

Vision is the primary sense by which we learn. Learn why healthy eyesight is crucial to a child’s learning, coordination and development.

How Does Visual Impairment Affect Learning

Did you know 80% of the brain is visual?

child wearing glasses and pointing to brain

The extensive knowledge and memory we acquire is due in large part to our eyesight. As stated in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry, 80% of what we learn is obtained through visual processing of information.1 In fact, it’s been found that our brains rely on our eyes so much that our vision accounts for two-thirds of the electrical activity of the brain. In more scientific terms, two of the three billion electric firings per second are due to what we see and the information the brain processes.2

With vision being the primary sense by which we learn, it’s easy to understand how poor vision can significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to learn and cause learning related vision problems. This is especially true for young children

Vision Issues are a Leading Cause of Disability in the U.S.

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development describe learning as a process that occurs through a number of complex and interrelated processes, where vision is a key contributor. At such young ages, children lack the ability to fully communicate what they are feeling and experiencing. Furthermore, visually impaired children may not know that what they are seeing (or not seeing) is incorrect and a call for concern.

Vision problems and certain eye conditions are the fourth most prevalent class of disability in the United States and visual disabilities are one of the most predominant conditions in childhood.3

Learning Difficulties Are Commonly Linked to Vision Problems

With more of our neurons dedicated to vision than the other four senses combined, weak eyesight is commonly the culprit to learning issues. However, even though some signs, symptoms, and behaviors of learning difficulties are extremely similar to those of vision problems, assessing a child’s eyesight isn’t part of the solution nearly enough.

How does visual impairment affect learning? Take a look:

  • Vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers and 1 in 4 school-aged children.4
  • An estimated 10 million children below 10 years of age have vision problems which affect their ability to learn.5
  • Reports have highlighted the fact that children with reading problems exhibit a greater than 50% prevalence of visual deficiencies in eye focusing problems, eye tracking problems or poor eye alignment as compared to normal achieving peers.5
  • As many as 80% of children who compete with a reading deficiency show insufficiency in one or more basic vision skills, such as eye focusing problems and eye tracking problems.5

Arguably more concerning, students with visual impairments can experience a lack of direction, feel insecure and inadequate, and embody a scarce sense of self-assurance.

Why an Annual Eye Exam by a Children’s Eye Doctor is Critical to Social, Emotional and Academic Success

It’s normal and necessary for children to focus at near and far distances for prolonged periods of time to accomplish certain tasks – like sustained reading for at least 15 minutes. A true indicator of a vision-related learning issue is when a child cannot complete a near-sighted activity – like writing, reading, and fun work books.

While the American Optometric Association (AOA) encourages parents to schedule regular comprehensive eye exams at approximately 6 months of age, three-years of age, and just before first-grade (around age five),6 only about 14% of children in the US have had an eye exam by the age of five or six.7

If a child is not achieving their potential in school or enjoying even fun learning activities, a comprehensive pediatric eye exam should be part of the evaluation period when trying to understand the ‘why’ behind the struggle. It’s crucial to note that the majority of vision problems are not detected during a routine school vision screening. These vision assessments typically only test a child’s distance vision. But to get a complete picture of a child’s vision and an accurate diagnosis of any vision issues, the following must be tested:

  • Near vision (critical for reading and writing)
  • Focusing skills
  • Binocular coordination
  • Eye movement skills
  • Peripheral awareness

When a child’s vision is thoroughly checked by a children’s eye doctor every year, a lot can begin to turn around. Not only will learning and coordination skills improve – such as reading, writing, comprehension, recognition, and recollection – but a child’s cognitive, emotional, neurologic, and physical development will improve; frustration with the learning process will subside; self-esteem can drastically increase.

A Successful School Year Starts with a Healthy Eye Exam by a Children’s Eye Doctor

Children learn best with clear, comfortable vision. With more than 12.1 million school-age children – or one in four – living with some form of a vision problem, and with studies showing that 60% of students identified as problem learners have undetected vision troubles, it’s crucial that a child’s vision is assessed before the beginning of the school year to give them a healthy start.

The ability to see clearly and possess adequate vision skills is key to a successful education and future, and with the right help, your child doesn’t have to contend with the effects of visual impairment on learning. At iCare Vision, we’re committed to your child’s vision and ensuring that their eyesight is promoting a healthy lifestyle. With school back in session, it’s never too late to schedule a pediatric eye exam. Request an appointment today to help your child have a bright year.

Schedule Pediatric Healthy Eye Exam

Resources:

1Journal of Behavioral Optometry. Children’s Vision Care in the 21st Century & Its Impact on Education, Literacy, Social Issues & the Workplace: A Call to Action. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.oepf.org/sites/default/files/journals/jbo-volume-22-issue-2/22-2%20Zaba.pdf.

2The Sniper Mind. Your mind Does All the Seeing. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://thesnipermind.com/blog/your-mind-does-all-the-seeing.html.

3College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Signs & Symptoms of Learning-Related Vision Problems. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.covd.org/page/symptoms.

4Healthy Day, News for Healthier Living. Vision Problems Can Harm Kids’ Development, Grades. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://consumer.healthday.com/eye-care-information-13/eye-and-vision-problem-news-295/vision-problems-can-harm-kids-development-grades-724812.html.

5PaTTAN Educational Video Series. Vision and Learning. Accessed August 10, 2018. http://www.pattan.net/presentation/download/index.php?presentation_id=624&download_id=2427&file_name=Presentation%20Slides&content_type=pdf.

6All about Vision. Eye Exams For Children. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/children.htm.

7VSP Vision Care. The Importance of an Eye Exam by Age. Accessed August 10, 2018.
https://visionbenefits.vsp.com/dms-inline/pdfs/client-resources/wellness-information/life-stages.pdf.

Categories:
17Nov 2017

Parts of the Eye

Categories:
17Nov 2017

Are You Using Both Eyes? Let’s Talk About Suppression of an Eye

Does your vision system utilize both eyes? Learn about suppression & the tools used in anti-suppression tests by watching this short video.

Are You Using Both Eyes? Let’s Talk About Suppression of an Eye

Suppression of an eye is when the brain ignores the visual signals provided by one eye. Essentially, suppression is a method of compensating or adapting for a specific vision condition, like amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (cross eyed).

With normal vision, the eyes are aligned and have an equally clear image. When they are pointed at the same object, the brain uses small cues to determine depth, size, shape, and more, and combines the images of each eye to see.

If one eye is experiencing blurry vision, the brain has a significantly harder time combining the images of each eye to compose one single image.

To compensate or adapt, the brain then suppresses visual input from the blurry eye. In the case of strabismus, where the brain would see multiple images, the brain would suppress visual input from the eye that is turned in.

If you think you or your child is contending with suppression of the eye, schedule an appointment so we can work to correct your visual system and have you using both eyes again:

Watch this short video by Dr. Wineland, where he discusses suppression and showcases the tools used in anti-suppression tests:

I’m going to discuss a special test we run on patients that have a condition called suppression. With this test, we can find out if the patient – child or adult – uses both eyes.

Did you know that 20-30% of patients don’t use both eyes? When you’re not using both eyes, it’s called suppression.

One eye may turn in, turn out, or just completely shut off deep within the brain.

When that happens, we won’t have stereo depth perception and you’ll have a lot of confusion with your vision system.

This can include:

  • Poor hand-eye coordination
  • Poor vision/coordination in sports (or the avoidance of sports completely)
  • Poor concentration and attention
  • Poor driving abilities
  • Difficulty with schoolwork
  • Frequently tired eyes
  • Overall confusion and frustration

If you have any of these symptoms – or your child has any of these symptoms – be sure to talk with your eye doctor.

We can run an anti-suppression test using an instrument that shines four lights at once. Patients who pass the test will see all four lights at all times. Patients who don’t see all four lights may see versions of red only or green only.

Once we know what your vision is contending with, we can make a plan to help your vision improve.

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