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Generations Don’t See ‘Eye to Eye’ On Vision Care

According to the latest American Optometric Association (AOA) annual American Eye-Q® survey, when it comes to eye and vision care there are differing levels of knowledge and varying views amongst different generations. The survey found that the traditionalist (or silent) generation (1925-1945), baby boomers (1946-1964) and generations X (1965-1977) and Y (1978-1994) all vary in their eye and vision knowledge and habits.

Even though these differences exits, most of those surveyed recognize that it is essential to maintain visual health through yearly, comprehensive eye exams.

The following are interesting points from the survey:

According to the survey, Gen Y-ers are the most diligent about following their doctor’s contact lens wear and care instructions, while baby boomers proved to be the greatest offenders, with 67 percent admitting to wearing lenses longer than recommended.

Gen Y respondents also scored the highest for appropriately storing their lenses, with almost half reporting they replace their contact lens case every one to three months, as directed. Again baby boomers have room for improvement – with just 28 percent saying they replace their case every one to three months.

As for glasses, the two younger generations, Generations X and Y, are twice as likely to consider glasses a fashion accessory compared to the traditionalists and boomers. This is most likely a result of the fashion eyeglass trend storming the market 20 years ago.

Americans of all ages are using technology more than ever for entertainment, work and general communication, and the toll these technologies are taking on the eyes is apparent according to the Eye-Q survey. More than half of all respondents report experiencing eye strain or vision problems as a result of using technology. Gen Y-ers report seeing the greatest impact, with more than two-thirds reporting technology-related eye or vision problems.

When it comes to knowledge about the visual consequences from diabetes and glaucoma, the traditionalists and baby boomers were more informed than generations X and Y. According to the survey, baby boomers and traditionalists are twice as aware that glaucoma can develop without early warning signs compared to generations X and Y. Likewise, baby boomers and traditionalists are more likely to correctly know that there aren’t any early warning signs or symptoms associated with diabetic eye disease.

Regardless of age, a yearly comprehensive eye exam from your eye doctor is essential in preserving your eye health and overall wellness. The good news from the survey was that even though there are generational differences in eye and vision health and awareness, the majority of respondents report seeing an eye doctor within the last year.

The sixth annual American Eye-Q survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From May 19 to 23, 2011, using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of U.S. general population. Full results of the survey are posted on the AOA’s website.

Tags: AOA, eye doctor, eye exam, eyecare, Eyeglasses, optometrist, vision

Posted in: Eye Health, Eyeglasses

Too Many Diabetics Neglect Simple Tests to Control Their Disease

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States, and most of these sight-stealing cases can be attributed to neglecting their disease. Unfortunately, new research has shown that the next generation of diabetic patients aren’t likely to fare much better.

A new study in the journal of Pediatrics reports that young Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics are not getting routine tests, such as eye exams, needed to properly manage their disease – setting them up for many future complications.

The most staggering statistic is that one third of those surveyed had not undergone routine eye exams nor had tests of long-term blood sugar control – both recommended by the American Diabetic Association (ADA).

Unlike a simple blood sugar test, a hemoglobin A1C test gives a snapshot of a patient’s blood sugar over the previous three months, a much better indicator of long term control. The ADA recommends this test every six months.

The ADA also says patients should have a routine eye exam from their optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once a year – but 34% of diabetic respondents had not had this crucial exam. The eye is unique in that it is the only place in the body where a doctor can see your blood vessels without cutting you open.

Diabetes is ultimately a disease of the blood vessels where blood cannot nourish your body and instead leaks out where the arteries meet the veins. This lack of nourishment can harm limbs, shut down organs and cause blindness.

The ADA guidelines are the most widely accepted method to control diabetes and prevent damage caused by this disease. Diabetes, for the most part, cannot be cured, only managed. The first steps are though routine medical exams, physical activity and a healthy diet.

Tags: A1C, blindness, diabetes, eye doctor, eye exam, optometrist

Posted in: Eye Health

The Classroom of Tomorrow May Be Affecting The Eyes Of Today

Schools all around South Florida are upgrading their technology and moving classrooms into the 21st century. But with the installation of new state-of-the-art equipment to enhance learning, we may be putting increased strain on our children’s eyes.

According to a new survey by the American Optometric Association, parents have concerns about the effects of evolving technology. Fifty-three percent of respondents with children 18 or younger believe viewing digital screens may be harmful to a child’s vision or eyes. Twenty-nine percent of parents feel very concerned that their child may damage their eyes due to prolonged use of computers or hand-held electronic devices.

Students can help relieve eye strain from a computer or close device by practicing the 20-20-20 rule. That is for every 20 minutes of near work, take a 20-second break and view something at least 20 feet away.

The eyes focus like any other muscle, and studies show that people need to rest their eyes to keep them relaxed, so staring off into the distance helps the eyes from locking into a close-up position.

Smartboards are interactive white boards replacing chalkboards of the past. And while this enhanced technology is ushering in 21st century learning, these new digital screens offer less contrast and force too many kids to squint just to see their daily assignments. Toward the end of the last school year, I noticed a trend – an increase in students complaining of seeing worse in classes that have this new technology.

No matter what device your child’s school may be using, optimal vision is a must for optimal learning. And good eye care starts with a yearly comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist, especially in school-aged children.

Tags: classroom, eye doctor, eye exam, glasses, optometrist, school, technology, vision

Posted in: Eye Health, Technology

Don’t Fail Your Child Before School Starts

A usual back-to-school checklist for parents includes things like new sneakers, a new backpack and a trip to Office Depot for school supplies. But don’t leave off having your child’s eyes examined as well – even if you don’t hear them complaining about their vision.

Eighty percent of everything a child learns comes through their eyes, so starting them off on the right foot with a comprehensive eye exam can make the difference for a successful start to the school year.

Unfortunately, even the most attentive parents can miss vision problems in their kids – especially during a summer filled with camp, TV and video games. Children don’t always complain that their vision may have deteriorated simply because they may not even realize it. Vision changes happen slowly, and I always compare it to realizing you’re growing. You don’t feel it until eventually something doesn’t fit.

Now, many parents bring their kids to the pediatrician before the school year and have a vision screening there. And some parents know there is usually a vision screening at school. I’m here to tell you that the National Institute of Health have determined that distance-vision screenings miss 50% of all problems.

It is essential that your child have a comprehensive eye exam.

I recommend an exam before Kindergarten, and then again before third grade. From there we can start to get a feel for how a child’s vision is developing and what they might need as they transition into a full-fledged learning machine.
If you have any questions about your child’s eyes or vision, please don’t hesitate to call or email our office. We are a family optometry practice looking to build long-lasting relationships in our community. That’s why it is so important the next generation of community leaders can see clearly.

Tags: eye doctor, eye exam, glasses, kindergarten, optometrist, school, vision screening

Posted in: Eyeglasses

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The iPhone iDoctor

Smartphones, and the iPhone in particular, are changing the way we do everything. From helping to diagnose breast cancer to communicating with those unable to speak, this technology has led to breakthroughs in many areas. Now the iPhone is being developed to provide basic eye care to third-world and indigent populations.

The first development from MIT allowed the iPhone to measure eyeglass prescriptions – an extremely portable and relatively inexpensive technology.

The device, called Netra, is a $2 clip-on eyepiece that goes over the iPhone screen. The user looks through this eye piece to interactively align a displayed pattern by clicking the buttons. The number of clicks required to bring the patterns into alignment indicates the eyeglass prescription.

Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide – and the team at MIT has developed another low-cost add-on for the iPhone to detect cataracts in a matter of minutes. Normally, cataracts are diagnosed by a specially trained eye doctor using an expensive microscope called a slit-lamp.

This new ‘radar’ for the human eye, named Catra, is inexpensive, and clips onto a smartphone and sends a light into the eye. The patient reports changes they see in the light and the software computes the level of cataracts.

Cataracts are surgically removed when they cause a decrease in vision to the 20/40 level.

These developments at MIT have the ability to change worldwide eye care for the better. Enabling outreach organizations to diagnose eye conditions with less expensive equipment will ultimately result in better standard of care worldwide.

Tags: cataracts, eye doctor, Eyeglasses, iphone, optometrist, technology, vision

Posted in: Eye Health, Technology

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New kids' 3D glasses from Dolby

by Chris Newbould

Dolby Laboratories has announced its next-generation Dolby 3D kids’ glasses. Designed with Dolby’s 3D technical know-how, the expertise of a leading eyewear design company, and 3M’s new multilayer optical film lenses, the glasses provide the same lightweight, reusable design as the adult model, but are optimized to fit the smaller head sizes of children.

“Dolby 3D kids’ glasses are high-performance, environmentally friendly, passive glasses that require no batteries or charging,” said Matt Cuson, Senior Marketing Director, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby 3D kids’ glasses are made to the same premium-quality standards as the adult-size Dolby 3D glasses and will be available to exhibitors around the globe in time for movies coming out in Dolby 3D this summer.”

These eco-friendly glasses deliver a premium-quality visual performance and are compatible with Dolby 3D systems currently installed. The glasses come in fun, kid-friendly green and are equipped with Sensormatic and RFID tags. The glasses are available at a list price of $12.00 or lower when purchased with a Dolby 3D bundle.

Tags: 3D, Dolby, eye doctor, glasses, optometrist, pediatric

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Misconceptions About 3D Vision Are Common

A new survey of adults in the United States reveals that more than one out of four parents falsely believe that 3D content will hurt their child’s general health or vision. These adults also reported higher levels of discomfort than they think their children do when watching 3D media.

According to the survey, 70% of parents wrongly believed 3D content would negatively impact their child’s short-term or long-term vision. Luckily only 6.5% of the surveyed parents said their children had actually experienced discomfort while watching 3D content.

At the same time, almost one-third of adults said they experienced discomfort while watching 3D media, with symptoms of headaches, dizziness, nausea and blurry vision as the main causes for their discomfort.

The 3D craze that has swept Hollywood may actually be beneficial to help detect underlying vision problems, which may be the cause of the reported discomfort.

In order to see 3D, you need two optimally working eyes. So if one or both eyes isn’t working properly, you either won’t experience the effects of 3D or it will be uncomfortable. Anytime you or your child has discomfort after watching a 3D movie it’s an indication that a comprehensive eye exam is in order.

Tags: 3D, eye doctor, glasses, headaches, optometrist, vision

Posted in: Eye Health

Super Carrots for Improved Vision

A common joke in optometry is when patients come in telling me their vision is perfect because they’ve been eating a lot of carrots. A few have even gone so far as to offer scientific evidence by pointing out that they’ve never seen a rabbit wearing glasses. Of course, they are there for an eye exam so I can’t trust what they’ve “seen.”

But now it seems they may be on to something.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found a way to “super-charge” carrots by quickly passing slices under UV light. This process produced three times as many antioxidants as compared to your regular mild-mannered carrots.

The head researcher, Tara McHugh, said, “The hypotheses is that it’s a stress response to protect the plant.”

In normal plant and human cells, UV light usually produces free-radicals that damage cells. Antioxidants render free-radicals harmless by binding to them and absorbing the UV rays directly.

Some food companies, such as Dole, already sell UV-treated mushrooms with increased vitamin D levels.

The researchers are turning their focus to sweet potatoes and other root vegetables that aren’t normally exposed to the sun’s UV light.

Although this research is interesting, I wouldn’t throw out your glasses just yet.

Tags: antioxidants, carrots, eye doctor, optometrist, UV light

Posted in: Eye Health

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Sunglasses Are The Smart Choice For Summer

It’s common knowledge to lather on sunscreen before going outside to protect yourself from harmful UV rays, but an unfortunately lesser known fact is that UV damage can also occur to your eyes. Sunglasses are the best means to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet light, and they can leave you looking ‘cool’ at the same time.

UV exposure has been linked to many eye diseases, such as an increased risk of developing cataracts, growths on the eye or full-blown cancers that can devastate your vision.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on fancy lenses to block the rays, a cheap pair of sunglasses may be adequate. Just make sure the glasses block both UVA and UVB rays. Extra protection can come from a larger frame or a wrap design, which will give more coverage.

You might also look for polarized lenses, which have the added benefit of blocking the sun’s reflections and decreasing blinding glare. By blocking light in the horizontal plane, any glare from a non-metallic surface will be filtered out, allowing you to see more – and more comfortably.

Since most sun damage occurs before your 18th birthday, it’s important to make sure your child has proper sun protection. There are so many children’s sunglasses being sold, with great designs from their favorite movies or TV shows. Just make sure to see the sticker claiming the UVA and UVB protection.

A common misconception is that the darkness of the lens is indicative of the level of UV protection – a statement that could not be further from the truth. You may, however, want to choose a lens color based on your activities. For instance, a gray-tinted lens will decrease the overall light coming in for all colors. But a brown or amber lens blocks only light in the lower wavelengths, so these lenses are not as dark but they improve contrast.

In the end, just wearing a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes is the smart choice. It’s easy to spot who is taking their eye health seriously, and looking good at the same time.

Tags: cataracts, eye doctor, eye health, optometrist, sunglasses, uv protection

Posted in: Eye Health, Eyeglasses

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New Research on Vitamins May Reduce Macular Degeneration

As the population ages, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is becoming more prevalent. Two recent studies about different vitamins may hold the answer to managing and slowing down the deleterious effects of this serious disease.

The first study shows that people with increased levels of vitamin D are less likely to have an early onset of this sight-threatening condition. In this study, women who consumed the most vitamin D had a 59 percent lower risk of developing AMD, compared to age-matched women who took in the least vitamin D.

Vitamin D is available in many foods and is produced naturally by your body during exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Still, many experts recommend taking a daily supplement to increase your vitamin D levels.

Meanwhile, scientists at Columbia University are trying to slow down the progrrssion of AMD by slowing down the buildup of vitamin A in the eye.

In order for the retina to process light, vitamin A has to undergo a series of chemical transformations, which often causes the vitamin to form ‘clumpy’ deposits. These deposits are the basis of AMD.

Now a team at the department of ophthalmology at Columbia’s Harkness Eye Institute, have synthesized a modified vitamin A drug. By feeding this artificial vitamin A to healthy mice, the experts were able to reduce the amount of vitamin A deposits without any noticeable side effects. These findings may eventually help to reduce the risk of, and in some cases stop, the condition in its tracks.

While these two studies show hope in the treatment of AMD, until more concrete results are produced patients need to take the condition seriously. Anyone with a family history of Macular Degeneration should visit their optometrist yearly for a comprehensive eye exam. If your eye doctor has seen early signs of AMD, your may need to be seen more frequently.

Tags: AMD, blindness, eye doctor, Macular degeneration, optometrist, vision, vision loss

Posted in: Eye Health

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