What is a Vision Screening?

A Vision Screening is a quick, limited test to identify people who have common vision problems. Screenings are performed by a school nurse or volunteer, doctor’s assistant, or a DMV employee. A vision screening isn’t a suitable substitute for an eye exam.  

School vision screenings are great and catch many basic conditions!  And I’m grateful that our local schools perform them because in my state of Wisconsin, we do not have a law requiring students to have verified good vision in every grade.  We know that one out of four school-aged children have vision problems that can affect their confidence, learning, and personality.

Children Grow Fast, and Their Vision Will Change as They Grow

Vision screenings in general are usually well designed to alert people of vision problems that are easy to screen for, but they do not capture the very important details of related vision, eye health and teaming issues of the brain’s vision system.  

Why Do I Need a Eye Exam with an Eye Doctor?

Only an eye care professional can perform a Comprehensive Eye Exam to diagnose and treat eye and vision problems in adults and children.  Even with all of the awesome technology we have, still there is no substitute for a knowledgeable and caring person to put it all together for you.

Yearly Routine Eye Exams Begin at Age 3

Studies show that up to 11% of children who pass a vision screening have a vision problem that was missed and needs treatment.  That’s why even if your child passes her vision screening at school, she should still have an annual eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist who is great with kids.  

Kids don’t always know when something is wrong.  I’ve seen countless times the guilt and surprise on parents faces when a newly found vision problems was undiagnosed. 

Making sure the eyes are healthy and seeing properly and working together as a team is what make an eye exam comprehensive.  Just because your son tells you that he can see something small at a far distance doesn’t mean all is well!

Sometimes additional testing of the refractive, accommodative, or convergence system is needed.  A referral to a vision therapy center may be recommended for non routine eye problems which can impede efficient reading and learning.  

There is a Difference Between Seeing, and Seeing Well

To better understand functional vision, your eye doctor may ask how you or your child is doing in school, grades, reading habits, favorite subjects, sports played, and amount of screen time.  Any headaches, eye strain, doubling of vision?

With a comprehensive eye exam at Petrou Eye Care, you can expect a thorough and detailed dilated pupil eye health and vision system evaluation with explanations of specific situation and needs, such how posture and closeness to computer screens can affect the eye’s focusing system, or the importance of hydration, sleep, and exercise on the brain and eye’s ability to work together for reading, concentration and alertness.

To contact one of our knowledgeable team members with questions, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us by phone at 414-247-2020 or by email at info@petroueyecare.com.

Best wishes for a lifetime of healthy eyes and great vision!

~Christina Petrou, OD

Tips for Avoiding Diabetes:

1.  Wear a pedometer and get 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day.
2. Eat plant-based diet (seven servings of whole vegetables and fruits every day; at least 14 different types of vegetables each week.
3. Get  7-8 hours of sleep each night.
4. Eliminate high-fructose corn syrup and keep added sugars under 25g each day (read your food labels).
5. Take 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 every day to get blood levels above 40 mg/dl (see your PCP or consider a home test available through www.grassrootshealth.org).
6. Promote healthy gut bacteria that improve insulin sensitivity by taking a prebiotic or probiotic containing oligofructose and avoiding aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose.

Diabetes in a known cause of blindness if left untreated.  Long-term exposure to high blood sugars causes the retinal blood vessels to become leaky and cause permanent irreversible damage to the sensitive photoreceptors, rods and cones.

Tips for Good Sugar Control if You Have Diabetes:

7.  Do everything listed in steps 1 through 6 above.

8.  Limit carbohydrate content of any large meal to less than 30 grams.

9.  Take 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar before meals to l lower blood sugar spikes.

10.  Slow down, put your fork down while slowly chewing food.

11.  Take prescribed diabetes medications on time, every time; take rapid-acting insulin at least 15 min before eating if required prior to food.

12.  Fast at least one day a week to increase healthy gut bacteria and insulin sensitivity.

See your eye doctor regularly and ask what you can do to keep your eyes their healthiest.

Source: Paul A.  Chous, OD, MA, FAAO

This device has the potential for magnifying central visual acuity and holds promise for people with macular degeneration, as well as for other eye diseases which can result in decreased central vision. Low vision specialists and optometrists will be watching and following this interesting device for progress.

For more information check out:

http://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/new-tech-holds-promise-for-low-vision-patients?sso=y

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289504.php