Parents who are raising children are aware of what to anticipate in terms of toilet training, helping them to crawl, and eventually stand and walk. They encourage them to speak and caution them not to touch certain objects. They expose their children to a variety of tastes and smells, all of which are simple enough to name, discuss, explain, and comprehend. However, according to renowned Australian behavioural optometrist Gary Rodney, fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (FIAOMC), whose Smart Vision Optometry has a special interest  in this area, many parents are at a loss when it comes to assisting their children with their eyesight or vision, and just as many are overlooking the symptoms of potential vision disorders.

Being a step or two behind while starting school 

Because some children do not perceive the world or anything in it the same way that their classmates do, Rodney believes that many youngsters arrive to school a few steps behind their peers. Instead, everything has a blurry appearance or is not able to be visually processed properly. Also, it can make children feel uneasy in various situations. This can result in a variety of learning issues.

“When students first start school, they are exposed to a whole new environment, and they sometimes feel inferior to their new classmates when it comes to academic performance. They don’t understand why their reading skills may deteriorate and other learning abilities may lag. So many of them can start to display behavioural issues or refrain from participating in a procedure that looks too challenging. Many people don’t want to start doing sports, and some don’t want to read,” explains Rodney.

The issue of distance 

Myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) are two of the most well-known eye conditions, which coupled with other conditions afflict at least 22% of Australians under the age of 14. Both cause children’s vision to become hazy, whether they are trying to see anything at a distance, as is the situation with myopia or up close, as is the case with hyperopia. Both are refraction mistakes brought on by light rays that concentrate in front of or behind the retina rather than on it as they ought to.

However, Rodney has discovered that optical blur only makes up 11% of all other visual issues on school screenings. Both perceptual vision and functional vision abilities can create a lot more problems. Therefore, focusing just on refractive defects will not reveal the great majority of visual obstacles to reading and learning.

How to Recognise the Symptoms 

Parents can be alert for certain warning signs that indicate their children may have issues with visual function or the processing of objects at various distances. Some can be seen clearly in their bodily acts.

These include the habit of moving very close to what they are attempting to view, such as while watching television, or bringing books very close to their eyes when attempting to read. Children with eye issues may also become lost in a book when reading, let their eyes follow the text while using a finger as a guide, or begin to avoid tasks that are too challenging for them. According to Rodney, this may apply to literature or even sports since the blur makes it too tough because the required attention is uncomfortable for them.

In order to have the stronger eye perform the work and prevent the weaker eye from becoming “lazy” and further deteriorating, they may also squint or tilt their heads to one side.

“Frequent headaches, light sensitivity, and complaints of “sore eyes” may result from difficulties focusing. Additionally, it may cause children to refuse to do the recommended tasks when they read a book or use a computer or need to have great motivation to attend While this is frequently seen as poor behaviour, it may actually be the very genuine outcome of an eye condition,” says Rodney.

What parents can do

With this information in hand, parents are encouraged to set an appointment with a Smart Vision optometrist like those at Eyes InDesign Mosman to book a Smart Vision Skills Assessment to evaluate their children and get them the help they need.  

Smart Vision Optometry Eyes InDesign Mosman, provides professional expertise to best evaluate and treat eye-related queries and visual problems and supports patients to optimise their visual health.

Smart Vision Optometry clinics are located in multiple suburbs in Sydney. Book a Smart Vision Comprehensive Vision Skills Assessment or Advanced Eye Health Test for any child or adult by calling the Mosman clinic (02) 9969 1600 or the Bondi clinic (02) 9365 5047, book an appointment online.

Written and syndicated by YDMA News.

The importance of children’s eye health and safety often gets over-looked. It is, however, of major importance and should not be forgotten. As this month is children’s eye health and safety month, it is important to speak about issues on this topic. According to Optometry Australia, one in five children has an undetected vision problem which could be detrimental for their education as well as their self-esteem. The difference between adults and children is that adults will easily identify a problem where children rarely complain.

Gary Rodney, an Australian Smart Vision Optometrist and fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control at Eyes InDesign Mosman, is passionate about helping children pinpoint their eye issues and ultimately resolve their problems.

There are some symptoms to look out for to know if the child has any vision-related issues. There are a few symptoms that can indicate an issue with your child’s vision. These symptoms include; difficulties learning, lack of concentration, coordination problems, red or sore eyes, nausea, unusual body posture while reading or writing, fatigue, as well as headaches. “Many people are not aware that some learning disabilities in children can be heavily contributed by an undetected or untreated vision problem,” says Rodney.

The reason children with vision issues have problems with learning is because vision plays a big role in the process of learning. “Often it is not until children begin to read that we first notice they might have a vision problem. It is also important for parents to understand that even if a child has excellent eyesight they could still have significant vision skills related learning disabilities,” says Rodney.

Some of the main vision skills needed for early readers include; tracking, which is looking from word to word (scanning); focusing, keeping clear focus on a particular point and the ability to move to another point rapidly; sequencing, recognising the correct order of letters or numbers; short term visual memory, recalling information quickly; and visual discrimination, recognising subtle differences between different letters and words. Even though dyslexia is not mainly caused by vision problems, recent research has shown that there could be a connection between vision issues and dyslexia.

There are many ways to treat or solve these vision issues affecting children. The first step is to have the child undertake a Smart Vision Optometry comprehensive vision skills assessment with a Smart Vision Optometrist who will be able to determine what the issue is. A unique and personalised vision therapy program can then be planned for your child. The purpose of vision therapy is to correct visual motor and visual perceptual-cognitive deficiencies. Vision therapy can help with sequencing skills; using two eyes in tandem; visual skills essential for reading; eye-hand reaction time; and many other issues. Vision therapy normally runs over a period of 16 weeks. During the final stages of vision therapy, the patient’s newly learned visual skills are made stronger and become automatic, due to repetition as well as the integration of motor and cognitive skills.

It is important to make sure that children are not suffering from vision skills problems as it can affect their lives in many ways. Be vigilant, and if you think that they might have a vision-related issue, then book an appointment with a Smart Vision Optometrist today.

Smart Vision Optometry clinics are located in multiple suburbs in Sydney. Book a Smart Vision Comprehensive Vision Skills Assessment or Advanced Eye Health Test for any child or adult by calling the Mosman clinic (02) 9969 1600 or the Bondi clinic (02) 9365 5047, book an appointment online.

Written and syndicated by YDMA News.

We all know that a child’s development can vary immensely from child to child. It is perhaps not as well known that a child’s vision also develops over time and can also vary from child to child.

Jacqueline Gattegno, a leading Smart Vision Optometrist at Eyes InDesign Bondi, explains the relationship between vision and learning; and why it is so important for parents to understand the difference between sight and vision.

Often it is not until children begin to read that we first notice they have a vision problem. This is the time when they start using their visual system more intensively to tune in to small details. The level of demand on visual skills required for reading increases throughout a child’s learning years.

Jacquie says, “it is important for parents to understand that children with excellent eyesight can still have significant vision-related learning difficulties. A child presenting vision skills concerns is more likely to have difficulty reading and understanding what they have read. The extra effort required can cause blurriness and discomfort, as well as preventing them from performing to their potential.”

“It is important that we understand the difference between sight and vision,” says Jacquie. “Eyesight essentially refers to the physical attributes and performance of the many organic components involved in the visual system. 20/20 vision is a commonly quoted measure of normal vision, yet it simply describes the sensitivity of the eye to see fine detail in the distance,” Jacquie says.

“Unlike eyesight, vision is a thought process, which emerges as an understanding of what is seen, where it is and how to react to it. It combines information from many sensory systems to create a perception of reality,” says Jacquie. “Vision describes a more dynamic and interactive process, essentially a whole information processing system developed through experience to gain understanding of the external visual space world.”

For example, for a person driving a car, vision is much more than reading license plates clearly at a distance. Vision is the total process whereby the spatial relationships between the cars are taken in and processed by the driver in order to guide the car safely to its destination, without an accident and with minimum stress. Vision judges the relative speeds of the other cars, and alerts the driver to a pedestrian stepping onto the road or another car at an intersection, or the door of a parked car opening.

Jacquie says, “therefore, some of the primary visual skills required for early readers include; Tracking: scanning from letter to letter, word to word, looking ahead and predicting text, moving from one line to the next. Focusing: maintaining clear focus at a particular point (e.g. a word on a page) and the ability to rapidly change focus from one point to another (e.g. from copying from the board to the book). Sequencing: recognising the order of numbers or letters in words, as well as left to right progression when reading and writing. Short Term Visual Memory: recalling information presented quickly; and Visual Discrimination: recognising subtle visual differences between letters (e.g. m/n) and words (e.g. was/saw or big/dig), reducing reversals and improving overall recognition.”

Some children complain about headaches. These can be caused by vision problems, which can signal a broader issue as well as distract them from their learning, and it can also cause them to strain to see the board at the front of the classroom.

“A comprehensive vision skills assessment takes about one hour and is crucial for detecting various eye conditions. This includes, Strabismus (misaligned eyes), Amblyopia (lazy eye), Myopia (near-sightedness), Hyperopia (far-sightedness), and Astigmatism,” says Jacquie.

Many children and teens have near-sighted or far-sighted vision problems. “These conditions can be treated with special glasses or contact lenses,” says Jacquie. Some children and teens may benefit from having contact lenses instead of eyeglasses. Contact lenses are a good choice for those who often play sports and feel uncomfortable wearing glasses. Children often wear glasses to help improve their vision and provide protection against vision loss.

“Having a vision problem can affect a child’s academic performance and quality of life,” says Jacquie, “being able to identify these symptoms can help prevent this from happening.

A few signs or symptoms that indicate your child may be experiencing vision problems and needs glasses include squinting, also known as a refractive error. A child might tilt his or her head to one side and depend on one eye to improve their vision. It could also be a sign that the eyes are not aligned properly or that there is a lazy eye. Sitting too closely to a television or holding a hand-held device too closely to the eyes can be signs of poor vision. Excessive rubbing of the eyes is also a common symptom of poor vision and can also be a sign of other conditions that cause vision problems. Complaining of eye pain or headaches are other common symptoms to take note of.

Due to the nature of our environment and the variety of technology devices that children use, children with visual disorders may have difficulty concentrating on their schoolwork. “Many parents don’t know that their child has a problem with their vision, which is why it’s important that they have a comprehensive vision skills assessment, annually,” says Jacquie. She concludes that whenever children show signs of lack of concentration or symptoms such as mentioned above, a visit to the optometrist is a must.

Smart Vision Optometry clinics are located in Sydney. Book a Smart Vision Comprehensive Vision Skills Assessment or Advanced Eye Health Test for any child or adult by calling the Mosman clinic (02) 9969 1600 or the Bondi clinic (02) 9365 5047, alternatively book an appointment online.

Written and syndicated by: YDMA News

A poor diet consisting of highly processed foods with large amounts of salt and sugar can increase the risks of developing diabetes and many other health problems that can lead to blindness.

Jacqueline Gattegno, a Smart Vision Optometrist at Eyes InDesign Bondi, explains the importance of healthy food to maintain eye health. “Try adding some eye-friendly food to your diet, it can help improve vision and ward off diseases. While it’s important to nourish the body, adding certain nutrients can improve vision, especially in children. A well-balanced diet can help children develop vital learning skills and prevent vision loss,” Jacquie suggests.

We all know that a child’s development can vary immensely from child to child. It is perhaps not as well known that a child’s vision also develops over time and can also vary from child to child.

“Having a vision problem can affect a child’s academic performance and quality of life,” says Jacquie,” She explains the relationship between vision and learning; and why it is so important for parents to understand the difference between sight and vision. “Often it is not until children begin to read that we first notice they have a vision problem. This is the time when they start using their visual system more intensively to tune into small details. The level of demand on visual skills required for reading increases throughout a child’s learning years.”

 A healthy lunch box is a great start to help boost the nutrients children need to protect them from eye health issues such as the formation of cataracts, and macular degeneration. A good diet can also reduce the effects of dry eyes and other eye problems.

It is often a struggle to get children to eat more fruit and vegetables, but it is these that provide essential nutrients that children need for healthy vision. Including sliced fruit or vegetables in children’s lunch boxes can be a great way to tempt them with easy to eat bite-sized snacks. Some great options include apples, blueberries or strawberries. Citrus fruits deliver powerful antioxidant levels that can help prevent cataracts later in life, so the inclusion of oranges and mandarins can be beneficial. Citrus fruit can also help lower the risk of diabetes and blindness.

Studies have shown that vegetables, such as kale and spinach, can also support healthy eyesight as they contain the carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein necessary for the development and maintenance of healthy retinas. “Beta carotene can be found in capsicum, carrots, and tomatoes and helps protect eyes from night blindness. These foods can also be used as tasty snack options and are simple enough to prepare each morning. Beta carotene is also beneficial for protecting children from diabetes-related ocular diseases,” Jacquie says.

Eggs, oily or fatty fish, and nuts are great sources of omega 3, which supports healthy eye function and brain development in early childhood. Essential fatty acids protect the retina from weakening and can reduce the effects of dry eyes and other eye problems. “Excellent options for quick and easy lunches are tuna and crackers or salmon fishcakes,” says Jacquie.

A deficiency in zinc can lead to deterioration in the macula, which is the centre of the retina responsible for central vision. Eating fresh meats and green vegetables can help protect the macula from disease, including macular degeneration. As well as being used in a variety of metabolic processes throughout the entire body, zinc also helps transport other nutrients to the eye. “An easy way to get extra zinc into children’s diets is through zinc-fortified cereals or pumpkin seeds, which have added vitamins and minerals,” says Jacquie.

For more great ideas about how to support children’s healthy vision, talk to a Smart Vision Optometrist soon.

Smart Vision Optometry clinics are located in Sydney. Book a Smart Vision Comprehensive Vision Skills Assessment or Advanced Eye Health Test for any child or adult by calling the Mosman clinic (02) 9969 1600 or the Bondi clinic (02) 9365 5047, alternatively book an appointment online.

Written and syndicated by: YDMA News