Children With Eye Problems May Be Misdiagnosed With ADHD

20/20 just means the eyes can see letters on the eye chart, but to be able to read and learn effectively, both eyes have to work together as a team! Click the link below to watch a story about Kyle, a young third grader who was seeing double, which made it hard for him to focus on the page. He was labeled at school with learning/behaviour issues, but it turned out to be a vision problem for which he is now being successfully treated!
It is possible to train the eyes to work together, and the training can also have a positive impact on reading and schoolwork.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/05/26/add-misdiagnosis-eye-problems/

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Sunglasses Night in Whitby!

UV protection for your eyes is very important! especially for kids, who are more susceptible than adults to the harmful effects of UV

We’re having our annual Sunglass Night at Whitby Vision Care tomorrow May 21st from 5-7 pm, featuring Kaenon, Nike, Kate Spade, Hugo Boss, Guess, SPY, and more! Come check out some new styles and enter for a chance to win great prizes including Blue Jays tickets! With every purchase, you will also be entered into a raffle for $100 off your next purchase. Now is the perfect time to get your new shades for the summer!

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Eye Allergies – How To Get Relief From Itchy Eyes

Allergy season is coming! In addition to the common sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion, many of us also experience watery, itchy, irritated, red, and swollen eyes.

Allergies are caused by normally harmless substances which are seen as a threat to the body, and cause a reaction in the immune system that makes the eyes red and watery. The most common airborne allergens are pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander. Allergies can also be triggered by preservatives in eye drops or certain components in other cosmetics.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you can take some preventative measures such as staying indoors when the pollen count is high, and using an allergen filter with your air conditioner. Wear wraparound sunglasses to shield your eyes from pollen in the air, and drive with your windows closed. More tips for allergy relief here

The release of histamine is part of the normal allergic response. Antihistamines reduce allergic reactions by blocking the effects of histamine. Oral antihistamines are useful for overall allergy symptoms like sneezing, sniffing, and congestion, but topical antihistamine eye drops will target the eye allergy and have fewer side effects like sleepiness, dry mouth, and dry eyes. If your symptoms are mild, over-the-counter allergy eye drops containing antihistamines may be enough to provide relief. There are also combination drops containing antihistamines, as well as mast cell stabilizers which prevent the reaction from starting (rather than trying to block it after it starts). Ask Dr. Lee to recommend a treatment that best suits your needs.

Contact lens wearers may suffer extra discomfort, because the lenses can attract and accumulate allergens and debris. If you don’t want to wear glasses throughout allergy season, talk to Dr. Lee about switching to daily disposables that you discard after one day to avoid build-up on your lenses.

Allergies are very uncomfortable and can last for months. Don’t suffer! Call to make an appointment at the first sign of allergies – getting an early start results in faster relief.

For temporary relief before your appointment, use a cold compress over the eyes for 10-15 minutes, and a few drops of artificial tears or sterile saline solution in each eye to help flush out allergens. Putting the drops in the fridge before instilling them provides additional relief.

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How Vision Problems Can Affect Behaviour And Attention

An under-diagnosed eye problem could be the cause of your child’s temper tantrums and difficulty concentrating in class.
Psychologist and mother-of-two, Kim Knull says a vision problem left her normally happy and easy-going daughter exhausted and prone to temper tantrums.
This can be a major problem in the classroom where up to 80 per cent of learning is visual, said Yeung, and lead to eye fatigue which can send a child looking for distraction. As a result, the condition is sometimes mistaken for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
“Part of my feeling terrible as a parent is that I had no idea how much this was impacting her until it started to get better,” said Knull of watching her own daughter’s recovery. “I couldn’t believe the transformation.Since beginning vision training, Knull says her daughter’s reading fluency and compliance have both improved, as has her mood.  (from the article)

Click Here to read Kim’s story of her daughter’s temper tantrums which she thought were due to a learning or behaviour problem, but  turned out to be the result of her eyes not working well together. The vision problem was treated successfully with vision therapy and her behaviour and reading improved!

Children should have an eye exam every year — even if they don’t appear to have any vision problems. Parents should also be on the lookout for red eyes, frequent headaches, rubbing eyes after looking at something closely, or closing one eye to read. CLICK HERE for a list of more red flags for a vision problem

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