Health News
- Ensure Children's Eye Safety During Fall Sports Season
Children are back in school, playing sports, and parents can take precautions to ensure their children's eye safety as they compete. Although many parents are unaware of the risks posed to their child's eye safety, about 40,000 eye injuries take...
- Eye Doctors Warn About Danger From Fireworks, Even Sparklers; Optometrists Provide Safety Tips
The Fourth of July goes hand in glove with firework displays. Most families protect parents and children against the dangers of fireworks, but thousands still visit the emergency room every year, many with eye injuries. According to a report from...
- January Is Glaucoma Awareness Month; Disease Is Second Leading Cause Of Blindness
One million Americans will be diagnosed with glaucoma in the next 10 years, prompting Kentucky optometrists to raise awareness of the disease this month. "People who do not visit their eye doctor on a regular basis are putting their vision and quality...
- Watching 3-d Movies May Strain Eyes But Doesn't Harm Them And Can Help Detect Vision Impairment, Optometrists Say
With summer blockbusters set to be released in the coming months, the Kentucky Optometric Association says watching 3-D movies is not harmful to eyes, but can cause eye strain and headaches. To help with those conditions, the association recommends sitting...
- Early Screening Key To Preventing Vision Problems In Kids
Vision problems in children are common. An estimated 13.5 million infants and children ages 1 - 17 have vision problems. The good news is that the majority of these vision problems can be corrected if caught early. Yet less than a third of U.S. elementary...
Health News
Eye exams are now required for children ages 3 to 6 when first starting public school or preschool
Add eye exams to your back-to-school checklist, because state law now requires children aged 3 through 6 who are entering a public school or preschool program for the first time to have a vision exam.
?Studies show that vision problems are a major factor in limiting children?s abilities to learn and succeed,? said Dr. Tonia Batts, a Mayfield optometrist, said in a news release from the Kentucky Optometric Association. ?Having children?s eyes examined is one of the most important things parents can do to support their children?s education and good health. . . . Many problems may not be obvious to them or their children?s teachers.?
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent loss of sight from amblyopia, which most people call "lazy eye." Half of amblyopia cases are not diagnosed until after age 5, when it is difficult to correct, Batts said. Amblyopia the leading cause of vision loss in people under age 40, more than injuries or any other disease, but if detected early, is 100 percent treatable.
Batts said an eye examination is particularly important if your child loses place while reading; avoids close work; tends to rub his or her eyes; complains of frequent headaches; squints to use only one eye or consistently performs below academic potential.
Eye exams are covered by many private insurance plans, Medicaid and the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Plan. Private programs may also help families with eye exam expenses. The Kentucky Vision Project, sponsored by the Kentucky Optometric Association, has donated millions of dollars in vision care, says the group's news release. Sight for Students and the Lions Club have other programs that can help. To find an optometrist in your area, click here.
?Studies show that vision problems are a major factor in limiting children?s abilities to learn and succeed,? said Dr. Tonia Batts, a Mayfield optometrist, said in a news release from the Kentucky Optometric Association. ?Having children?s eyes examined is one of the most important things parents can do to support their children?s education and good health. . . . Many problems may not be obvious to them or their children?s teachers.?
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent loss of sight from amblyopia, which most people call "lazy eye." Half of amblyopia cases are not diagnosed until after age 5, when it is difficult to correct, Batts said. Amblyopia the leading cause of vision loss in people under age 40, more than injuries or any other disease, but if detected early, is 100 percent treatable.
Batts said an eye examination is particularly important if your child loses place while reading; avoids close work; tends to rub his or her eyes; complains of frequent headaches; squints to use only one eye or consistently performs below academic potential.
Eye exams are covered by many private insurance plans, Medicaid and the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Plan. Private programs may also help families with eye exam expenses. The Kentucky Vision Project, sponsored by the Kentucky Optometric Association, has donated millions of dollars in vision care, says the group's news release. Sight for Students and the Lions Club have other programs that can help. To find an optometrist in your area, click here.
- Ensure Children's Eye Safety During Fall Sports Season
Children are back in school, playing sports, and parents can take precautions to ensure their children's eye safety as they compete. Although many parents are unaware of the risks posed to their child's eye safety, about 40,000 eye injuries take...
- Eye Doctors Warn About Danger From Fireworks, Even Sparklers; Optometrists Provide Safety Tips
The Fourth of July goes hand in glove with firework displays. Most families protect parents and children against the dangers of fireworks, but thousands still visit the emergency room every year, many with eye injuries. According to a report from...
- January Is Glaucoma Awareness Month; Disease Is Second Leading Cause Of Blindness
One million Americans will be diagnosed with glaucoma in the next 10 years, prompting Kentucky optometrists to raise awareness of the disease this month. "People who do not visit their eye doctor on a regular basis are putting their vision and quality...
- Watching 3-d Movies May Strain Eyes But Doesn't Harm Them And Can Help Detect Vision Impairment, Optometrists Say
With summer blockbusters set to be released in the coming months, the Kentucky Optometric Association says watching 3-D movies is not harmful to eyes, but can cause eye strain and headaches. To help with those conditions, the association recommends sitting...
- Early Screening Key To Preventing Vision Problems In Kids
Vision problems in children are common. An estimated 13.5 million infants and children ages 1 - 17 have vision problems. The good news is that the majority of these vision problems can be corrected if caught early. Yet less than a third of U.S. elementary...