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home
> children's eye care |
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Children's Eye Care
Center |
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Make YOUR eyes smile again ... |
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Vision
Problems |
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Binocular vision
difficulties affect at least 15 out every 100
children. Early detection and appropriate
therapy is vital.
The Florida Eye
Center is dedicated to providing valuable information
about visual health care and
binocular
vision impairments, such as
amblyopia ("lazy eye"), strabismus (esotropia,
exotropia, "wandering-eye", "crossed-eyes",
wall eyes"), double vision, and convergence
insufficiency. |
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Choosing Eyewear for your Child |
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Choose glasses with cable temples that wrap around the ear
so they can’t come off easily.
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Durable, malleable metals and hard plastics are likely to
withstand all the punishment a child can muster.
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Light-weight eyewear is best for children because heavier
glasses often leave red marks on the nose.
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Bright, colorful frames are especially popular with
children.
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vis'ion n:
power of seeing. |
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Did you
Know? |
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Eye
injury is the leading cause of blindness in children in
the US.
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Babies have very poor
vision at birth. |
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A person blinks once
every five seconds. |
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Each of your eyes weighs
1/4 ounce. |
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Saving Your Sight Articles |
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View All
Articles |
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Call
us today to schedule your child's appointment:
727-895-2020 |
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Ophthalmologist |
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A doctor of
medicine (M.D.) specializing in surgery and diseases of the
eye. |
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Optometrist |
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A doctor of optometry who diagnoses and
treats visual health problems. |
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Signs of Vision
Problems |
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If you answer "Yes" or "Sometimes" to four
or more of the following questions, your child may
have a learning related visual problem. Call our
office at 727-895-2020 to schedule a screening or consultation.
Does your child:
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hold objects very close to their eyes?
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excessively rub their eyes, blink or squint after
close visual work?
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tilt the head to one side?
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have
difficulty catching or getting a ball, tying
shoelaces or distinguishing right from left?
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move the head (and not the eye) when reading.
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complain of headaches after reading?
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become tired after reading?
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frequently lose his
place when reading or use his finger as a pointer?
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have difficulty comprehending what they have read?
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reads slowly?
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takes a long time finishing assignments?
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move
their head back and forth instead of just their eyes
while reading?
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complain of headaches or eyestrain?
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have red or watery eyes (which could also be a sign of
allergies).
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have poor hand-eye coordination (this may also
reflect muscle problems)?
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perform below expected levels in school?
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have a short attention span or difficulty staying on
task?
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have an eye that turns in or out?
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sometimes reverses words
or letters?
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have difficulty comprehending what he has read, or
reads slowly?
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complains of
blurred vision with schoolwork or reading?
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have difficulty copying
from a textbook or chalkboard?
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avoid reading?
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Children's Eye
Exam
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The American Optometric Association recommends
that pre-school children receive a complete
vision exam at the ages of six months, three
years and five years. It is particularly
important that a child have a complete
evaluation in the summer prior to entry into
Kindergarten. While in school, yearly
evaluations are recommended.
Florida Eye Center
provides a thorough pediatric exam. The exam
includes:
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visual acuity
using shapes and pictures
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intraocular
pressure
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pupil exam
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muscle evaluation
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external
assessment
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verification of
prescription for glasses if needed
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slit lamp or
internal exam.
The technician
will then dilate your child for a more accurate evaluation for
glasses by Dr. Sims. Once dilated, you and your child
will be escorted to the dilating area (Big Chicago), full
dilation takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Dr. Sims
will evaluate your child's eyes and do a retinal exam.
Then Dr. Sims will go over all the findings. A complete
report will be dictated and a copy mailed to you and your
child's pediatrician. Our escort will then take you and
your child to the check out desk, where another friendly face
will schedule any future appointments should they be needed. |
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Eye Conditions |
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Amblyopia ("lazy eye") |
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A
visual defect that affects approximately 2 or 3 out of every
100 children in the United States. Amblyopia involves lowered
visual acuity (clarity) an d/or poor muscle control in one eye.
The result is often a loss of stereoscopic vision (3D) and
depth perception. Vision therapy can improve this condition.
Early detection is extremely important.
For
many years, it was thought that amblyopia (lazy eye) was only
amenable to treatment during the "critical period". This is
the period up to age seven or eight years. Current research
has conclusively demonstrated that effective treatment can
take place at any age. The length of the treatment period
increases dramatically the longer the condition has existed
prior to treatment.
People
often confuse amblyopia (lazy eye) with strabismus (crossed
eyes, eye that wander, turn or deviate). These are two
different but sometimes interrelated visual problems.
There
are many reasons that early childhood eye examinations and
proper treatment are essential. Research has also demonstrated
that patients with amblyopia are more likely to sustain
injuries resulting in the loss of their good eye than
individuals with two good eyes.
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Binocular Vision
Impairment |
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A visual defect in which the two eyes fail to work
together as a coordinated team resulting in a partial or
total loss of binocular depth perception and stereoscopic
vision. At least 12% of the population has some type of
binocular vision impairment. Amblyopia and strabismus are the most commonly known types of
binocular vision impairment. |
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Conjunctivitis ("pink eye") |
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An infection of the conjunctiva (the
outer-most layer of the eye that covers
the sclera).
The three most common types of
conjunctivitis are: viral, allergic, a nd
bacterial. Each requires different
treatments. With the exception of
the allergic type, conjunctivitis is
typically contagious.
Treatment:
Conjunctivitis requires medical
attention. The appropriate treatment
depends on the cause of the problem. |
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Crossed Eyes
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("crossed eye", "wall eye", "wandering eye",
strabismus, esotropia, exotropia, hyperphoria) |
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Affects
approximately 4 out of every 100 children
in the United States. It i s a visual
defect in which the two eyes point in
different directions. One eye may turn
either in, out, up, or down while the
other eye aims straight ahead. Due to this
condition, both eyes do not always aim
simultaneously at the same object. This
results in a partial or total loss of
stereo vision and binocular depth
perception. The eye turns may be visible
at all times or may come and go. In some
cases, the eye misalignments are not
obvious to the untrained observer. A
consultation with an optometrist who
offers supervised vision therapy is
recommended with this condition.
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Myths about Children's
Eye Care |
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Child should not
sit too close to the TV. (FALSE)
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Child should not
hold books too close to the eyes.
(FALSE)
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Rubbing the eyes
will hurt them. (FALSE)
- Crossing your eyes will hurt
them.
(FALSE)
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Carrot should be
eaten to make your eyes stronger. (THEY HELP, and good for
you, and yummie, but carrots do not make the eyes
'stronger', FALSE)
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Reading in dim
light hurts your eyes/should be avoided. (FALSE)
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Lying down in the
bed and reading should not be allowed.
(FALSE)
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Too much TV and
computer exposure, especially computer games will hurt your
eyes. (FALSE)
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Protecting your
child's eyes |
Eye injuries
are among the most common threats to a
child’s vision. Most eye injuries happen
during sports or recreational activities,
and 90 percent of all eye injuries can be
prevented. It is important for parents and
children to become aware of the dangers
and to take these necessary precautions:
- Make
sure your children wear protective
eyewear when participating in activities
or sports, such as baseball, basketball,
soccer, hockey, tennis, or racquet ball.
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Supervise children when they are
handling potentially dangerous glass or
pointed items such as pencils, pens,
scissors, etc.
- Do not
allow children to play with darts, bows
& arrows, BB guns, guns or fireworks.
- Keep all
sprays and chemicals out of reach of
small children.
- Select
games and toys that are age appropriate.
If an eye
injury occurs, it is always best to have
an ophthalmologist, pediatrician, or
emergency room physician examine the eye
as soon as possible. Children with serious
eye injuries should always be taken
quickly to the nearest emergency room for
evaluation.
Eye First
Aid >> |
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Ask The Doctor |
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Dr. Sibley
has over 20 years of
experience in the ever evolving field of
ophthalmology. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist, F.A.C.S.,
and he is highly trained to perform the advanced operations
offered by the Florida Eye Center.
He is medical
advisor to the Society to Prevent
Blindness and to the American Diabetes
Association, and is team
ophthalmologist for the Devil Rays.
eMail:
AskTheDoctor@FloridaEyeCenter.com |
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Make YOUR eyes smile again ... |
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The information
contained herein is intended to be educational
and is not intended in any way as a substitute
for medical advice and care from qualified
vision care providers. Consult a vision care
professional in matters relating to visual
health and particularly with respect to any
symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical
attention. |
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