Here’s a great explanation of amblyopia (aka “lazy eye”), and how we treat it with binocular vision therapy, which can achieve better results than just patching alone! Even adults with amblyopia can develop the ability to better integrate messages from both eyes together.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with amblyopia, don’t miss this video!
by Dr. Dan Fortenbacher, Founder of Wow Vision Therapy in Michigan
July has been a busy month! Dr Lee was away for a bit to get caught up on the latest research for treating eye turns (strabismus) and lazy eye (amblyopia). Patching is old news – it helps turn the brain “on” to use the non-dominant eye, but it doesn’t teach the brain how to use both eyes together. New research shows that binocular training (vision therapy to train the use of both eyes together) can improve visual function beyond what was achieved with just patching alone! Developmental optometrists have been treating strabismus and amblyopia this way for a long time, but the results are just now becoming more well-known among neuroscientists as well. Very exciting progress! Improvements are possible even if you’ve tried patching in the past. Ask Dr. Lee for more information
This 10-month old baby is so happy after putting on her first pair of glasses! She can’t stop smiling when she sees her parents clearly for the first time 🙂
Babies can’t tell you if there’s something wrong with their vision. That’s why you should have your children’s eyes checked starting at 6 months of age. An optometrist can use handheld instruments to determine how the light focuses in their eyes, so young patients and patients with special needs can be examined without having to read the letter chart. Yearly eye exams are crucial to ensure that development is on the right track!
Screen Addiction is Taking a Toll on Children
I see lots of kids in the exam room being handed a parent’s cellphone to entertain themselves when they should be observing the world around them, interacting with caregivers, and learning how to behave in public. Parents are just grateful to keep them calm, but are unaware of the potential harm from so much time spent in the virtual world.
Before age 2, children should not be exposed to any electronic media. Young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens. Older children and teenagers should spend no more than 1-2 hours per day with entertainment media, and should spend more free time playing outdoors, reading, doing hobbies, and using their imagination in free play. (Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics)
“[Kids] need time to daydream, deal with anxieties, process their thoughts and share them with parents, who can provide reassurance” – Dr. Steiner-Adair. “We’re [..] giving them distractions rather than teaching them how to self-soothe, to calm themselves down”
Read more on the NY Times blog:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/screen-addiction-is-taking-a-toll-on-children/
UV can cause some serious eye damage! Protecting your skin from sunburn and skin cancer is a no brainer, and it’s just as important to protect your eyes. Overexposure to UV rays has been linked to a variety of eye problems, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, corneal sunburn, and eyelid skin cancer. Here are some tips for staying safe in the sun:
Book an annual eye exam to identify early signs of UV damage to the eyes, and take the necessary precautions to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Dr. Lee can make recommendations to help you make sure your eyes are well-protected.