September 2014

Vision and Learning News

Are You Missing Something?

In This Issue

Poor Vision Increases Fall Risk

Non-Surgical Solution to Strabismus

LD? Or Vision Problem?

Vision Therapy Changes the Brain

Vision
Quick Links

Halloween Eye Safety

20/20 Isn't Everything

Poor Vision From Bad Habits

Playing Helps Kids Think

Reading Trick for Vision Problems

Vision Problems Increase Fall Risk in the Elderly

"Abnormal binocular vision, which involves the way eyes work together as a team, increases dramatically as we age, according to research from the University of Waterloo...

As many as 27 per cent of adults in their sixties have an actual binocular vision or eye movement disorder. That number rises to 38 per cent for those over age 80. About 20 per cent of the general population suffers from a binocular vision disorder, which affects depth perception and therefore may increase the risk of falls." Learn more

Did you know that visual skills in the elderly can be improved through vision therapy? Find out how by calling 301-951-0320 and scheduling an appointment today. Medicare accepted.

A Non-Surgical Solution to Eye Turns (Strabismus)

Eye turns (a condition called Strabismus), have to do with an inability to point both eyes in the same direction at the same time. One eye-- or both, as in crossed eyes-- may appear to turn in, or one eye may turn out, up or down.

Eye turns can change from one eye to the other, and may only appear after a person becomes tired or injured. It is not always noticeable to friends or family, but can cause symptoms of difficulty with certain daily activities.

An eye turn may cause double vision. To avoid seeing double, the person may tend to ignore the visual images from one eye by turning his or her head while reading.

Eye turns can be treated with Vision Therapy!

While surgery can straighten the eyes, one eye may still have a tendency to continue "seeing" as though it were still crossed. Actually, eye turns do not usually involve faulty or damaged eye muscles. Eye turns can often be treated non-surgically with a program of Vision Therapy.

Eyes that wander cause more than just an appearance problem. Abnormal binocular vision can cause trouble with:

Riding a bicycle or driving
Measuring objects in relation to oneself
Doing close-up work
Playing ball sports
Depth perception; inability to see in 3D

See a complete symptom checklist

If someone in your family has a detectable eye turn, has had strabismus surgery or has just been diagnosed with strabismus, please contact our office and arrange a visual skills evaluation:

(301) 951-0320 or

Request an Appointment online

It's hard to believe, but another school year is well underway. At interim report time, is something interfering with your child's success?

A child's vision can have a huge impact on academic performance and behavior in the classroom and an eye exam is often not on the back to school checklist.

Why an eye exam and not a vision screening? Vision screenings typically test to see how well your child can see the letters on the eye chart.

Back to School - Are you missing something?

Most people don't realize that all 20/20 means is that when you are looking at the eye chart from a distance of 20 feet, you are able to see the size of letter you are supposed to see from 20 feet. That's it!

Let's think about it for a minute: Where does a child do most of his or her learning? Most reading, writing, homework, and test taking is done up close. One may see well at distance, but not see properly at 16 inches away, which is the recommended reading distance.

So, what are some of the skills that are missed if we only look at distance vision, and only check if someone has "20/20"? When we are reading we need to be able to:

Follow a line of print from left to right.
See the letters clearly as our eyes are moving
Move from line to line effortlessly and accurately

In the classroom, your child needs to be able to look at materials on the desk and quickly focus on the teacher's writing on the board so he can copy it back to his notes. And he needs to be able to do this all day! If any of these visual skills are missing or deficient, reading and learning will be difficult.

If your child struggles with reading, is smart in everything but school or is a bright underachiever, you need to make sure your child has all the visual skills required for academic success. Schedule an appointment today to make sure your child is visually ready to go back to school.

Give us a call at (301) 951-0320 or request an appointment online.

Vision Problems Masquerade as Learning Disabilities

For Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, this October, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is bringing attention to the fact that vision problems can often masquerade as learning disabilities.

"When a vision problem is at the root of a child's struggles with learning, it is often very correctable," shares Ida Chung, OD, FCOVD, President of COVD.

"This is good news for parents and educators. Often years of struggling can be turned around with a program of optometric vision therapy ."

It is important to understand that while our eyes take in visual information... Read the rest

Learning Disability Awareness PSA

If you think your child may have a vision problem, give us a call at 301-951-0320 to schedule an appointment today or Request an Appointment Online

NJIT Studies How Vision Therapy Changes the Brain

What is fMRI?

Researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology have a 5-year grant from the National Institute of Health to investigate how vision therapy makes the changes in the brain that reduce symptoms of Convergence Insufficiency. They will use fMRI to map participants' brains before and after vision therapy treatment. Read more here.

All too often, people find our office after suffering for years. If someone you know is struggling with a vision problem, please share this newsletter with them.

Sincerely,

Amanda Zeller Manley, OD, FCOVD &
Mehrnaz Green, OD, FCOVD

Vision & Conceptual Development Center