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[Name of Presenter]

Children’s Eyes and Vision

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The Amazing Eye

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The process of vision

An object in the world is seen by the eye upside down

The brain processes the eye’s image to create the picture of the object

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When vision is bad...

The cornea and lens need to focus light onto the retina for clear vision

Often, the focus is not sharp...

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Hyperopia (farsightedness)

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Hyperopia (farsightedness)

Too little focusing power causes light to be focused “behind” the retina

Convex lenses focus light onto the retina

A significant cause of learning problems, as it often goes undetected by school or pediatrician screenings

Common cause of reading glasses

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Myopia (nearsightedness)

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Myopia (nearsightedness)

Light is focused “in front of” the retina

Distant objects look blurred

Very common vision condition affecting nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population

Concave lenses focus light onto the retina

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Astigmatism

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Astigmatism

Causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye

Found in combination with farsightedness and nearsightedness

Results in blur at distance and near

Compound-grind lenses focus light onto the retina

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Strabismus

“Eye turn” Crossed eye, esotropia Wandering eye, exotropia

Double vision is uncommon because of brain adaptation called suppression

Treatments include: proper prescription, patch to equalize the individual eyes’ abilities, and surgery by age 2 for greatest chance at a functional cure

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Amblyopia

Phrase “lazy eye” is often used to describe amblyopia

Permanent reduction of an eye’s best sharpness, even with glasses, that results from the brain constantly ignoring the image of an eye that is crossed or from an eye that is significantly different in prescription than the other eye

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Accommodative disorders

Accommodation = ability to “zoom” focus on near objects

Problems can include insufficient amount of focus, overly active focus, lock of focus, and slowly shifting focus

The muscle that controls focus can be trained to work more efficiently

Bifocals can be used for children

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Peripheral retinal abnormalities

Dilated eye examinations are periodically required to evaluate parts of the inner eye that can show abnormality

Examples include retinal degenerations, retinal detachments, and retinal tumors.

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Inside the numbers...

26% of US population is less than 18 years of age

31% of those 6 to 16 years old had an eye and vision examination within the past year

14% of those less than 6 years old had an eye and vision examination within the past year

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Vision checkups and screenings

Many people benefit from having their eyes tested with an eye chart to see if they see properly -- called a “screening”

Vision screening is never a replacement for a comprehensive eye examination Screenings check for vision blurriness

Exams evaluate vision blurriness,

PLUS eye muscle teaming, focus

ability, and eye health

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Why so few eye exams?

Parent reliance on vision screenings provided by pediatrician or school

Cost to uninsured families

Lack of good public information as to the importance of periodic eye care

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The Role of Vision in Learning

The eyes must see clearly, without double vision, and with accurate depth of focus control

A child must have the visual ability to learn to read prior to reading to learn

When a child has difficulties learning, think first of his or her ability to see, then of his or her ability to learn

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Comprehensive Eye Exams

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are eye doctors who provide eye examinations

Are easy and painless

Can find the problems that relate to poor learning

Here is a “peek”...

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Color Vision

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Depth Perception

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Keratometry

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Visual Acuity

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Refraction

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Eye Health Test

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Eye Pressure

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Eye Drops - Dilating the Pupil

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Eye Health Tests

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The “Headlight” Health Exam

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Questions?

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Thank you!

Presentation courtesy of: Scott A. Jens, O.D. AOA MemberMadison, WI