UrbanMommies » Eye Care

Baby’s Eyes Needs UV Protection Too

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:01:46 +0000

Even though babies can’t wear traditional sunglasses, they still require UV protection for their eyes, warns the B.C. Association of Optometrists. Cranbrook optometrist Dr. Bednarczyk says damage from ultra-violet light has a cumulative effect, so it’s better to start protecting children’s eyes while they are young. “Over time, UV radiation can damage the cornea, lens or retina of the eyes, and can be linked to a number of eye disorders including cataracts, macular degeneration and cancer,” says Dr. Bednarczyk.

“Slip a bonnet or baseball cap on your baby when you’re outside,” he suggests. “Although regular sunglasses aren’t always comfortable for young children to wear, there are new options with strappy bands that go around the child’s head.”

Whatever UV eye-protection you choose, Dr. Bednarczyk says it’s important to get your child used to wearing hats and sunglasses at an early age so they develop good habits.

The B.C. Association of Optometrists suggests these UV-protection tips for infants and children:

Put on a wide-brimmed hat, such as a bonnet or baseball cap.
Choose a stroller with a canopy. Most newer model strollers have a retractable canopy to provide shade. When you’re stationary, point the stroller way from the sun.
Watch the fit and UV rating of sunglasses. Sunglasses should fit close to your child’s face or wrap around the temples to reduce light from the side. Be sure the lenses offer UV-protection.
Avoid the sun during peak hours. Try to stay out of the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Be mindful of reflections from sand and water. Protect your child’s eyes at the beach – sand and water can act like a mirror reflecting up to 20 per cent of UV rays. Ensure your child is wearing protective goggles when in the water and sunglasses and/or a hat when on the beach. Do not use sunscreen on a baby under six months of age. A baby will absorb more of the product through the skin than an older child.
Ensure your children have regularly scheduled eye exams. Children need to have their eyes examined by six months, three years, before school entry and regularly thereafter to ensure eye disorders do not go undetected.

Optometrists specialize in examining, diagnosing, treating, managing and preventing diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and related structures. For more information on eye health, visit www.whatcouldbemoreimportant.com.

Image: Dragon Sunglasses from Mountain Equipment Co-op: www.mec.ca

See also our article on Beach Activities for kids! And don’t forget the sunscreen.

BC Optometrists offer tips for water-sport eye safety

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:23:13 +0000

BC optometrists remind swimmers, hot-tub and water-sport enthusiasts to take care of their eyes while enjoying water fun this summer.

“Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean your eye health and safety practices can take a vacation,” says B.C. optometrist, Dr. John Kemp, who practises in the Okanagan, a Mecca for water lovers.

The B.C. Association of Optometrists offers nine summer eye health and safety tips:

Beware of strongly smelling chlorinated pools and hot-tubs. Correct levels of chlorine shouldn’t smell and don’t pose a health hazard. But if the level becomes too high, the over-chlorinated water can become acidic and cause many problems, including a burning sensation in your eyes.
Wash your face with soap after swimming to reduce the chance of getting an eye infection. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is a swelling of the connective tissue inside the eyelids, and is often caused by bacteria and viruses. Symptoms include eye irritation, tearing, pain and redness. If you have pink eye, stay out of the pool or hot-tub until you get treatment and are fully recovered.
Remove contacts before hot-tubbing and swimming or wear goggles over top to protect your eyes from water that is heavily chlorinated or contaminated with micro-organisms.
Ensure your goggles fit properly. You should be able to tell by pressing them to your face without the straps on – if they don’t stay there for at least a second or two, they’re not right for you. With the straps on, they should fit snuggly and be comfortable.
Consider prescription goggles, especially for children who are significantly near- or far-sighted. Children with heavy prescriptions can be timid around water or reluctant to take swimming lessons if they can’t see well while in the pool.
Wear eyewear with UV protection if you’re in or around water outdoors. UV radiation damage to eyes is most common with sports on water or snow, where the effects of sunlight are also reflected. And prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun can lead to cataracts.
Wear protective goggles for high-risk sports, like water polo. Water sports are the third highest source of eye injuries, after basketball and baseball, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Swim goggles with polycarbonate lenses, which are strong and shatter-resistant, are considered the minimum protection for water polo.
If you scuba dive, wear a corrective mask. For vision correction, your options include a pre-made prescription mask, a custom-made mask that allows a different prescription for each eye, or a mask with a removable prescription insert. If you wear contact lenses with a non-prescription mask, be aware some types of rigid or hard lenses may not fit the eyes properly and could either dig into the eyes or pop out.
If you water ski and need vision correction, be sure to use it. You need to clearly see the boat, the spotter and any dangerous objects in the water. Prescription goggles are recommended because they are less likely to come off if you fall. And if they do, they float.

Optometrists specialize in examining, diagnosing, treating, managing and preventing diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and related structures. Children need to have their eyes examined by six months, at three years, before school entry and regularly thereafter. Adults 19 to 64 should have an eye exam every two years. People with diabetes or age 65 or older should have an exam at least once a year. For more information on eye health, or to locate an optometrist near you, visit www.whatcouldbemoreimportant.com.

InSight Developmental Learning

admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:09:31 +0000

InSight Developmental Learning is a pediatric eye clinic dedicated to your child’s success. Vision is a learned skill involved with nearly all aspects of development. When working well, it guides nearly all that we do but if not working well, it impedes. The most rapid and profound changes in a child’s brain and vision development happen in the first 3 years and if not detected early, vision problems may cause a lifetime of impairment. Many parents feel that they are able to tell if their child has a vision problem but unfortunately this is often not the case. As vision-threatening and even life-threatening conditions may be detected in an eye exam, we advocate for infant eye exams by 6 months of age and yearly thereafter. We offer developmental eyecare for all infants and children, as well as assessments and therapy for children with learning-related vision problems and developmental delays. Please ensure your baby has all the tools needed to meet their potential in life. Have your child’s eyes checked early.

How can a baby tell you what they see?

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:43:58 +0000

A -A child does not need to speak or know the alphabet to have their eyes examined. The methods of determining visual acuity, refractive error, eye movements, and eye health may differ from those used for adults but an experienced clinician can get much of the same information from a baby’s responses that can be derived from an adult’s exam. All the child needs to have is eyes. The methods used are non-invasive and fun but are too numerous to list here. The best way to learn more is to take your child for an exam. Eye doctors love to talk about what they do to anyone interested.

Dr. Darren Sass is the director of InSight Developmental Learning, a children’s eye clinic in Langley dedicated to the enhancement of visual skills to ensure success in life. Special interests include infant visual development, learning related vision problems, and acquired brain injury. Contact Dr. Sass at 604-455-0477 or www.insightlearning.ca

Your Baby’s Eye Exam

admin — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:57:34 +0000

The Canadian Optometric Association recommends that all children have a routine eye examination by 6 months of age. Babies don’t need to speak to be examined. Eye doctors are trained observers and have many ways to get the information needed to ensure your baby has healthy eyes and proper vision development.

Babies begin to move their eyes and react to light before birth. As they get older and more experienced, they learn to use their eyes more effectively to see and understand the world around them. Vision becomes an extension of their touch and taste. Vision is involved with many aspects of a child’s development so problems with eye health or poor vision skills can have a profound effect on a child’s quality of life.

You want the best for your baby so make an appointment to see your optometrist at around your baby’s 6th month unless there are obvious concerns, which should be seen sooner. Schedule the exam at the time of day at which your baby is most alert. Nap time and feeding time are not ideal. You will probably be at the office 30 to 60 minutes so a clean diaper might be needed. Bring a bottle or favorite toy to keep your baby happy. You may also want to leave any other children with a sitter to avoid any distractions during your time with the doctor. A thorough case history will be taken with questions about the pregnancy, birth, baby’s health and developmental milestones, as well as any related family history. Any concerns that you may have will be discussed.

The health of your baby’s eyes will be assessed, inside and out. Problems that interfere with the sight of one or both eyes could prevent further visual development, so this is a very important part of any eye exam. There may also be an assessment of the nervous system as it relates to vision. Bright lights may be used to see inside your baby’s eyes and while most fuss about it, the procedures used are entirely safe. If indicated, your doctor may use eyedrops to dilate the pupils and see more of the insides.

By 6 months of age your baby’s eyes should be working together as a team so the alignment and movement of the eyes must be evaluated. Babies will track anything of interest to them, particularly high contrast black and white objects, or sometimes just simple lights. We want to be sure that both eyes are aligned at the same spot, wherever baby is looking.

Although your baby can’t read a letter chart, there are a variety of ways that they can show how they see. Your optometrist can measure the power of your baby’s eyes objectively to ensure that both eyes are seeing equally and within expected ranges. Any imbalance or extremes in eye power should be treated to avoid later problems such as amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (eye turns).

There may also be an assessment of your baby’s body and hand-eye coordination. Social and language skills may also be screened. Other specialized testing may be appropriate for infants at high risk for visual problems. These risks may include:

Premature or low birth weight babies, particularly if oxygen was administered.
Family history of any eye or systemic disease.
Difficult births, infection during pregnancy, low APGAR scores.
Any baby with genetic anomalies such as Down syndrome or motor problems such as cerebral palsy.
Maternal alcohol or drug use.

If all is well, the optometrist will want to see you again in a year or so to follow your baby’s progress. If there are concerns, treatment may include: activities to help your baby develop vision, helpful tips to set up baby’s surroundings, eyeglasses or contact lenses to promote normal vision development, and referral to other professionals to assess their areas of expertise. Failure to adequately address vision problems can result in serious problems that have lifelong effects. Because the majority of vision problems are not noticeable by parents, please have your baby checked early and often.

Dr. Darren Sass is the director of InSight Developmental Learning, a children’s eye clinic in Langley dedicated to the enhancement of visual skills to ensure success in life. To learn more visit www.insightlearning.ca

When should I have my baby’s eyes checked?

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:00:21 +0000

A - We agree with the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommendation that children have a complete eye exam at 6 months of age. If a problem is noticed or if the baby is at high risk for vision problems (low birth weight, difficult delivery or strong family history of eye problems) you may want them seen sooner.

Dr. Darren Sass is the director of InSight Developmental Learning, a children’s eye clinic in Langley dedicated to the enhancement of visual skills to ensure success in life. Special interests include infant visual development, learning related vision problems, and acquired brain injury. Contact Dr. Sass at askanexpert@urbanmommies.com or visit www.insightlearning.ca

Sunglasses Key to Protecting Children’s Eyes from UV Damage

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:12:37 +0000

B.C. optometrists provide tips to parents on how to select the right sunglasses for their children.
For most children, summer months mean long hours of play outside in the sunshine. But a few months in the sun can lead to compromised eye health later on if proper UV protection isn’t part of children’s summer routines. The British Columbia Association of Optometrists urges parents to foster good UV eye-protection habits in their children at an early age by encouraging them to wear sunglasses all summer long. Even babies and toddlers should be wearing sunglasses when outdoors. “Cumulative exposure to UV rays can damage the cornea, lens and retina of the eye,” says Dr. Julie Louie, a B.C. optometrist. “UV damage is linked to a number of eye disorders including cataracts and macular degeneration in adults. That’s why parents should insist their child’s eyes are well-protected with proper sunglasses.”

The B.C. Association of Optometrists offers parents tips on how to select the best sunglasses for their children.

Allow your child to choose their own sunglasses. Your child is more likely to wear a pair of sunglasses they’ve had a hand in selecting. But check labels on the lenses or ask your optometrist to point out styles with effective sun protection.
Choose lenses with dark, even shading. Tinted lenses should have a dark grey, brown or green tint and should screen out 75 to 90 per cent of visible light. Lenses should also block 99 to 100 per cent of UV-A and UV-B rays.
Choose sunglasses with adjustable nose pads or specially designed frames for little faces. Because children’s noses and bridges are not fully developed, sunglasses with nose pads provide a better fit and are more likely to stay put than plastic frames, which may slide down their noses. For babies and infants, specially designed plastic frames may be best, as their faces are often too small for nose pads. Ask your optometrist for assistance in selecting the right frame for your child.
Check the fit of the sunglasses. Make sure the sunglasses do not slip down your child’s nose, pinch the temples, or are too tight. Sunglasses should be comfortable for your child to wear. Also, ensure sunglasses fit close to your child’s face to adequately protect their eyes from light entering at the top or sides.

Children need to have their eyes examined by three years, before school entry and regularly thereafter to ensure eye disorders do not go undetected and their eyes are healthy.
Optometrists specialize in examining, diagnosing, treating, managing and preventing diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and related structures. Adults 19 to 64 should have an eye exam every two years. People with diabetes or age 65 or older should have an exam at least once a year.

For more information on eye health, or to locate an optometrist near you, visit www.whatcouldbemoreimportant.com.