All About Eyes

April 29, 2012   Fun at the Explorium for Lexington Clinic families; see the fun!

Lexington Clinic Foundation is sponsoring a three-year, interactive,
virtual eye exhibit at the Explorium of Lexington.

A leading ophthalmologist and Lexington Clinic physician, Dr. James L. Stambaugh was a strong supporter of vision-related, educational causes.  The Dr. James L. Stambaugh Fund was created through donations from physicians, patients, and interested individuals to cover the cost of visiting eye lecturers. Today, the fund continues the tradition of supporting vision causes and health education by sponsoring the EyePlay exhibit at Explorium of Lexington.

Promoting Children's Eye Health
Information on Eye Exams
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children have their eyes checked by a pediatrician at the following ages:

Newborn.
All infants before discharge from the hospital should have their eyes checked in the newborn nursery for infections, defects, cataracts, or glaucoma. This is especially true for premature infants, infants who were given oxygen, and infants with multiple medical problems
.
By 6 months of age.
Pediatricians should screen infants at their well-baby visits to check for proper eye health, vision development, and alignment of the eyes.

At 3 to 4 years of age.
All children should have their eyes and vision checked for any abnormalities that may cause problems with later development.

At 5 years of age and older.
Your pediatrician should check your child’s vision in each eye separately every year. If a problem is found during routine eye exams, your pediatrician may have your child see a pediatric ophthalmologist, an eye doctor trained and experienced in the care of children’s eye problems. *

School-Age Children and Vision
A good education for your child means good schools, good teachers and good vision. Your child’s eyes are constantly in use in the classroom and at play. So when his or her vision is not functioning properly, learning and participation in recreational activities will suffer. The basic vision skills needed for school use are:
• Near vision. The ability to see clearly and comfortably at 10-13 inches.
• Distance vision. The ability to see clearly and comfortably beyond arm’s reach.
• Binocular coordination. The ability to use both eyes together.
• Eye movement skills. The ability to aim the eyes accurately, move them smoothly across a page and shift them quickly and accurately from one object to another.
• Focusing skills. The ability to keep both eyes accurately focused at the proper distance to see clearly and to change focus quickly.
• Peripheral awareness. The ability to be aware of things located to the side while looking straight ahead.
• Eye/hand coordination. The ability to use the eyes and hands together.

If any of these or other vision skills are lacking or not functioning properly, your child will have to work harder. This can lead to headaches, fatigue and other eyestrain problems. As a parent, be alert for symptoms that may indicate your child has a vision or visual processing problem. Be sure to tell your optometrist if your child frequently:
• Loses their place while reading;
• Avoids close work;
• Holds reading material closer than normal;
• Tends to rub his or her eyes;
• Has headaches;
• Turns or tilts head to use one eye only;
• Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing;
• Uses finger to maintain place when reading;
• Omits or confuses small words when reading;
• Consistently performs below potential.
Because vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing them, your child should visit the optometrist at least every two years, or more frequently, if specific problems or risk factors exist. **

*Source:  Your Child’s Eyes, © 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics
**Source:  ©2006-11 American Optometric Association