by EyeLASIK | Aug 29, 2014 | Children's Eye Health
Children’s Vision
When pediatric ophthalmologists are consulted about the biggest issue that is facing our young people, invariably they say it’s the destruction of our children’s vision due to extensive computer usage. Gone are the days where computers are used only by adults and only in a work environment. Children’s vision is progressively more likely to develop myopia than in anytime in the past. Children’s vision preservation is paramount, and a good way to start is limiting their access to computers.
Children today have computer access at home and school, for educational and recreational pursuits. Children often ignore problems, and believe if they are having difficulty seeing that it is not a cause for concern. Computer vision syndrome is a real medical issue. It can cause headache, dry eye, eye discomfort, fatigue and blurred vision. For children, especially, computer vision syndrome can adversely affect their school performance. Children’s vision is valuable, and for the sake of future success in school, and life, it must be protected.
94% of American families have computers with Internet capabilities. It would be naive for parents or other caregivers to believe that all of the average 7 hours children between the ages 8 and 18 spend on the computer relates to purely educational websites. Games and social sites are unquestionably a large part of the 7 daily hours, in addition to time spent on cell phones and tablets. However, these days computers can be seen as necessary evils.
Minimize the Problems
But one cannot minimize the inherent problems in our children’s usage of this particular piece of technology. Part of the issue is that computers, primarily made for adults, do not fit the user. Children are smaller than adults and should therefore use different computer practices. A computer monitor should be positioned between 20-26 inches from the child. An adjustable chair must be used to make sure his feet can comfortably touch the floor in order to avoid arm, neck and back problems.
Often the visual demands of a task exceed the visual abilities of an individual to perform the task. Children’s vision has to mature along with the child. You cannot expect a child to be capable of advanced tasks that require him to pay attention to more than one thing at a time.
Bottom Line
What can you, as a parent, do to protect your children’s vision? First of all, you should limit their usage of computer primarily for school, with occasional recreational use. If a child is showing signs of dry eyes, rubbing their eyes or squinting, then perhaps lubricating eye drops or special computer glasses may alleviate the problem temporarily. Set a rule that for every hour on the computer, they must take a 20 minute break and do something outside that requires physical activity. Reduce the amount of light in the room where the computer is, by using shades, curtains and screen covers. This will minimize the glare on the screen while it is being used.
The bottom line when it comes to children’s vision and computer use is that adults must monitor children’s computer use, as it is simply not a concern of the children involved.
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by EyeLASIK | Aug 20, 2014 | Eye LASIK, laser vision correction surgery
When you’re making decisions about your health, most of us don’t take that lightly. Your vision is no exception. Many wonder: “what should I look for in an Eye LASIK Surgeon?” First and foremost, look for a vision center with a reputation for patient satisfaction and an experienced board-certified surgeon. While other surgeons may say they are the best, how you can you really trust that you’ve found the best surgeon for your vision correction needs? We’re listing our suggestions for choosing your LASIK surgeon. Want to know about the surgeons at Eye LASIK Midland? Check out our website eyelasikmidland.com.
For many prospective patients may first wonder about the cost. Don’t let this be your deciding factor; barging-shopping may be fine for shoes, but not eye care. Not all Eye LASIK surgery centers are created equal. The following checklist can help you in determining which LASIK provider can best suit your needs.
Cleanliness:
A reputable vision center will appear tidy & clean
Equipment:
What kind of technology does the Eye LASIK Surgeon use? Ask if the surgeon offers 100 percent all-laser LASIK (also known as Bladeless LASIK), or if she uses a microkeratome blade. Many patients prefer a Bladeless LASIK procedure.
Professional, friendly staff:
Look for staff who listen to your concerns and are willing to work with your schedule and financial situation.
Relationship with your eye doctor:
Will the surgeon work with your current eye doctor—both before AND after surgery—to ensure your continued satisfaction with your LASIK eye surgery.? At Eye LASIK Midland the patient’s optometrist performs all the work preceding the laser procedure, as well as all the follow-up visits. To see if your doctor is in our network visit https://eyelasikmidland.com/doctors-networks/
Patient Satisfaction:
What are the vision center’s success rates? Of course, you will want to select a surgeon with a low rate of complications, but be wary of a provider who advertises a 100-percent success rate and is unable to back up his claims with objective data.
At Eye LASIK Midland, we have 97% success rate in our clinic. Give us a call to schedule a FREE consultation.
Enhancements:
Are enhancements frequently needed? Remember, laser eye surgery outcomes may vary based on individual conditions. Even with successful surgery, future enhancements may be needed, or you might require eye glasses for activities such as reading or driving. Additionally, farsighted patients may experience deteriorating vision over time as part of the natural aging process.
Investing the time now will give you peace of mind while making your decision. Contact us today to schedule a FREE consultation! Click HERE or on the image below.
by EyeLASIK | Aug 18, 2014 | Healthy Vision San Angelo, LASIK San Angelo
We all enjoy the independence that comes with a healthy body and mind. When your eyesight begins to fail we risk losing the ability to accomplish these activities we may take for granted. That’s why it’s important to so what you can to protect your valuable eyesight and do what you can to prevent common vision health problems.
With that in mind, here are 4 healthy vision facts you should know:
#1 Vision Health Fact:
Smokers, people with blue eyes, and postmenopausal women are particularly prone to lower levels of lutein making it critical to supplement with this proven nutrient for vision health. Check with your provider if lutein supplements should be added to your diet
#2 Vision Health Fact:
Environmental factors such as dry air and long hours in front of a computer, certain medications including antihistamines and decongestants, and simply aging can make us more susceptible to dry eyes. While there are many eye drop products designed to treat dry eyes, check with your provider for a product he/she may recommend to keep eyes moist and relieve dryness but will also help to prevent eye irritation from occurring in the first place.
#3 Vision Health Fact:
If you could add just one food to your daily diet to protect your vision, it should be spinach. In one study, women who ate spinach five times a week had a 45 percent reduction in risk of cataracts. Plus, another study found that men who consumed it twice a week had half the risk of cataract surgery compared to those who ate spinach less than once a month.
#4 Vision Health Fact:
Anthocyanosides—phytonutrients found in dark berries, especially bilberry and black currant—can improve by enhancing light/dark adaptation and reducing glare. The suggested daily dosages are 30 mg of bilberry extract and 200 mg of black currant extract. Again, This are just guidelines. We always recommend discussing any dietary changes with your provider.
Are you wondering if LASIK Eye surgery is for you? The best way to know is to schedule a FREE consultation. We also work with your local local eye doctor on all follow-up. After our full evaluation, we’ll have all the information we need to make a recommendation and you’ll have everything you need to decide if LASIK is right for you! Click HERE or on the image below.
by EyeLASIK | Aug 13, 2014 | better vision, Children's Eye Health
When you have a baby you’re always marking your calendar for pediatrician appointments assuming they check it all. But what about the eyes. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Children then should have additional eye exams at age 3, and just before they enter the first grade — at about age 5 or 6.
Although 6 months may seem young, the six-month exam is also to make sure the baby’s eyes are developing normally. An eye doctor can spot a condition commonly known as “lazy eye” (the medical term is amblyopia) very early in a child’s life. And, early treatment can stop bigger problems down the road. Other exams should be in the 3 to 4-year-old range, because the eyes have basically done their growing and developing by then. And a pre-kindergarten exam is a must (don’t assume school-offered vision screenings are enough). After that, a yearly trip to the eye doctor will keep tabs on young eyes that can change fast.
A child’s eye exam will also focus on the classic vision problems: nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), structural irregularity in the eye (astigmatism) and a few other conditions, too. In between those yearly eye exams, keep a look out for symptoms of eye problems in your child. Because, like everything else going on with their little bodies, their eyes can change seemingly overnight.
Here are some things to watch for in between your child’s eye exam
- Squinting. The classic symptom of either nearsightedness (not seeing well far away) or farsightedness (not seeing well close-up). Glasses are probably in order.
- Alignment problems. If one eye keeps “drifting off,” it could be “lazy eye” or amblyopia. Treatment includes a corrective eye patch on the normal eye so it forces the weaker eye to work harder and improve. The younger the child, the better to avoid a grade-school patch.
- One eye. If your child closes one eye and it helps him or her see better, there could be a structural problem like astigmatism.
- Eye rubbing. If your child rubs his or her eyes or you hear complaints of headaches, see the eye doctor. There may be some eyestrain going on that glasses can help.
Remember that proper vision at an early age is vital to insure your child has the visual skills he or she needs to perform well in school.
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by EyeLASIK | Aug 13, 2014 | Eye LASIK, Healthy Vision San Angelo
Walk into your favorite grocery store and take a closer look at the people around you. How many people are wearing glasses? The fact is, loss of normal vision is extremely common. Some people don’t mind wearing glasses or contacts, but many find themselves wishing for a better way, LASIK eye surgery is the answer for many people. LASIK eye surgery is the better way to correct vision for many individuals.
For those with conditions such as astigmatism, which makes it difficult if not impossible to completely correct vision through use of contacts or glasses, LASIK eye surgery can make a difference. Although LASIK vision surgery has been practiced for more than two decades, not everyone is sure what it is or if it is right for them.
First of all, a quick definition of LASIK surgery: LASIK eye surgery corrects vision problems including but not limited to near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism. In LASIK, a thin flap is created on the cornea. Corneal tissue is then removed and reshaped and the flap is closed, which creates the corrected focus. LASIK is short for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, the technical term for the surgery.
LASIK eye surgery is the most common type of refractive surgery
. LASIK eye surgery is so successful – over 98 percent of LASIK surgery patients achieve their desired results. The change in vision is achieved quickly following surgery, and the long-term results are excellent.
So, are you a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery?
Here are some points to consider:
- You have astigmatism, which makes your vision difficult to correct with glasses or contacts
- You participate in activities such as sports or water activities and would prefer not to wear contacts or glasses
- Contact lenses are uncomfortable for you to wear
- You don’t enjoy the fit or feel of glasses on your face
- You would like to wake up in the morning and be able to see clearly
- You dislike the cost associated with buying contacts year after year
- You have had stable eyesight for at least a year, with no history of significant eye conditions such as glaucoma or ulcers.
The above points are just a few things to consider, but ones we find are significant to many of our patients. Patients over the age of 40 need to be aware that if their eyesight is corrected for nearsightedness, this will not completely eliminate the need for glasses in the future. Many people may need glasses for farsightedness as they age. Also, women who are pregnant or nursing are not good candidates for LASIK, as hormone changes can affect prescreening vision tests. Six weeks following the baby’s delivery and if the mother isn’t nursing, she can be properly evaluated for surgery.
The great news about LASIK eye surgery is the results are so beneficial for such a large percentage of people. Having your procedure with Eye LASIK Midland couldn’t be easier. You actually work with our local eye doctor in San Angelo. When you’re ready to discuss your possible procedure, we’re here for you. Contact us today for a free evaluation by clicking HERE or on the image below.
