N e w s l e t t e r

Volume 2, Issue 1

In this issue:

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

More than 2 million Americans over the age of 40 have glaucoma, but many of those living with the disease don't even know it.
Read More..

Your Healthy Sight: Information for Parents

Frequently asked questions about vision tests for children and talking points to help children who have been prescribed corrective eyeglasses.
Read More..

Extras:

Web Site Feature: Privacy Practices

At Northland Eye Care, we respect our legal obligation to keep health information that identifies you private.
Read More..

Other Sites: Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center

Northland Eye Care provides LASIK services co-managed with Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center of Scottsdale.
Visit Hale-Qamar

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

More than 2 million Americans over the age of 40 have it and there are 65 million suspected cases of it across the globe. But, despite the staggering numbers, many of those who do have it don’t even know it. The disease is glaucoma, an eye disease that can rob people of their peripheral vision, and left untreated, can result in total blindness. Read more by visiting Prevent Blindness America.

Your Healthy Sight: Information for Parents

Family Outing Following are some frequently asked questions about vision tests for children and talking points to help children who have been prescribed corrective eyeglasses.

When should my child have his or her first vision test?

Here are general age guidelines to follow to help ensure your child's healthy sight. Remember that other factors, such as your child's overall health and genetic predisposition to develop eye problems, can affect the eye exam schedule. Follow your eyecare professional's advice.

Children under 5: It's difficult to perform in-depth vision tests on infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The American Optometric Association recommends that infants have a comprehensive eye exam during their first 12 months of life. You and your eyecare professional will be the best judges of when a full eye exam is appropriate for your child. The Vision Council of America recommends that everyone have a regular eye exam.
School-age children and adolescents: Before your child enters first grade, he or she should undergo a complete vision check-up. Your pediatrician's routine eye exam does not replace the need for this comprehensive eye exam, performed by an eyecare professional, which should be repeated according to the schedule your eyecare professional recommends.

How can I prepare my child for a vision check-up?

Most people, particularly children, are more frightened of the unknown than when they know exactly what to expect. Demonstrating what will happen during a vision check-up can help to reduce any anxiety your small child might be experiencing. It also helps you to learn about your child's specific fears and concerns so that you can address them ahead of time.

Use a doll or stuffed animal to "act out" some of the exam, such as covering one eye and reading from an eye chart. Often this reveals worries that your child might not be able to articulate.
Reassure your child that you will be there with him or her during the entire exam.
Make sure your child understands that the check-up is not a punishment but rather a way to ensure the healthiest sight possible.
Respect the wishes of an older child who might not want you to be present during the exam. Privacy is important to adolescents and should be respected.

Your eyecare professional has prescribed corrective eyeglasses for your child.

Congratulations! If you think we're kidding about having a reason to celebrate, consider this: Children who have undiagnosed vision problems can suffer from low self-esteem. They can become frustrated more easily, have trouble concentrating on reading, feel "stupid", experience frequent headaches, or rub their eyes until they smart. Once their vision is corrected, children with eyeglasses hold their heads high and exude confidence — especially if their parents are positive and supportive.

How can I help my child feel better about the need to wear glasses?

Check your own attitude about glasses first. Don't assume your child won't want to wear them. Eyeglasses have come a long way since the "coke bottle" lenses of our parents' generation. With the advances in impact resistant materials in thin, lightweight plastic and in photochromic lenses available in so many neat frames, your child could very well be enthusiastic about wearing glasses to emulate older kids or express an individual sense of style.

Transitions® Lenses, which change from light to dark when ultraviolet light is present, are a good option to consider. They block harmful UV rays and reduce glare. And, they can actually boost a child's willingness to wear glasses. Kids find it's cool to wear clear glasses with "magic" lenses that darken outdoors in the sun.

How do we choose glasses that both my child and I love?

Make certain that your child feels a part of the frame selection process. Nothing is more important in terms of getting children to wear their glasses and take better care of them as well. These days, kids have a lot more freedom in the style, color, and shape of the glasses they can wear. Take advantage of it!

While kids might want a specific frame color or brand, parents should be concerned about the durability and safety of the lenses and the frame. Your eyecare professional is your best source of information on what's available: durable spring hinges, flexible and strong new frame materials, impact-resistant lenses, and UV-blocking and glare-reducing photochromic lenses that automatically change from light to dark when UV is present.

What about protecting children's eyes from the sun?

Sun and UV Rays Many studies reveal that about 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Parents generally take precautions to protect their children's skin from the sun, but research shows that they seldom make any effort to protect children's eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and glare.

Even on an overcast day, UV light from the sun can cause sunburn of both the skin and the cornea of the eyes, which is called "photokeratitis." Over a long time, it can increase the possible risk of certain types of cataracts (a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye) and potential damage to the retina that could possibly lead to total blindness.

Sunscreens help protect your children's skin from overexposure to UV rays. Proper lenses can safely block UV radiation and help protect their eyes. Photochromic lenses, which change from light to dark when ultraviolet light is present block of UV rays and reduce glare. And they do it automatically, which eliminates the need for kids to keep track of two pairs of glasses-regular glasses and sunglasses. Transitions Lenses are as good as clear lens, but better!



N e w s l e t t e r Volume 2, Issue 1 In this issue: January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month More than 2 million Americans over the age of 40 have glaucoma, but many of those living with the disease don't even know it. Read More.. Your Healthy Sight: Information for Parents Frequently asked questions about vision tests for children and talking points to help children who have been prescribed corrective eyeglasses. Read More.. Extras: Web Site Feature: Privacy Practices At Northland Eye Care, we respect our legal obligation to keep health information that identifies you private. Read More.. Other Sites: Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center Northland Eye Care provides LASIK services co-managed with Hale-Qamar Cataract & LASIK Center of Scottsdale. Visit Hale-Qamar	January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month More than 2 million Americans over the age of 40 have it and there are 65 million suspected cases of it across the globe. But, despite the staggering numbers, many of those who do have it don’t even know it. The disease is glaucoma, an eye disease that can rob people of their peripheral vision, and left untreated, can result in total blindness. Read more by visiting Prevent Blindness America. Your Healthy Sight: Information for Parents Following are some frequently asked questions about vision tests for children and talking points to help children who have been prescribed corrective eyeglasses. When should my child have his or her first vision test? Here are general age guidelines to follow to help ensure your child's healthy sight. Remember that other factors, such as your child's overall health and genetic predisposition to develop eye problems, can affect the eye exam schedule. Follow your eyecare professional's advice. Children under 5: It's difficult to perform in-depth vision tests on infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The American Optometric Association recommends that infants have a comprehensive eye exam during their first 12 months of life. You and your eyecare professional will be the best judges of when a full eye exam is appropriate for your child. The Vision Council of America recommends that everyone have a regular eye exam. School-age children and adolescents: Before your child enters first grade, he or she should undergo a complete vision check-up. Your pediatrician's routine eye exam does not replace the need for this comprehensive eye exam, performed by an eyecare professional, which should be repeated according to the schedule your eyecare professional recommends. How can I prepare my child for a vision check-up? Most people, particularly children, are more frightened of the unknown than when they know exactly what to expect. Demonstrating what will happen during a vision check-up can help to reduce any anxiety your small child might be experiencing. It also helps you to learn about your child's specific fears and concerns so that you can address them ahead of time. Use a doll or stuffed animal to "act out" some of the exam, such as covering one eye and reading from an eye chart. Often this reveals worries that your child might not be able to articulate. Reassure your child that you will be there with him or her during the entire exam. Make sure your child understands that the check-up is not a punishment but rather a way to ensure the healthiest sight possible. Respect the wishes of an older child who might not want you to be present during the exam. Privacy is important to adolescents and should be respected. Your eyecare professional has prescribed corrective eyeglasses for your child. Congratulations! If you think we're kidding about having a reason to celebrate, consider this: Children who have undiagnosed vision problems can suffer from low self-esteem. They can become frustrated more easily, have trouble concentrating on reading, feel "stupid", experience frequent headaches, or rub their eyes until they smart. Once their vision is corrected, children with eyeglasses hold their heads high and exude confidence — especially if their parents are positive and supportive. How can I help my child feel better about the need to wear glasses? Check your own attitude about glasses first. Don't assume your child won't want to wear them. Eyeglasses have come a long way since the "coke bottle" lenses of our parents' generation. With the advances in impact resistant materials in thin, lightweight plastic and in photochromic lenses available in so many neat frames, your child could very well be enthusiastic about wearing glasses to emulate older kids or express an individual sense of style. Transitions® Lenses, which change from light to dark when ultraviolet light is present, are a good option to consider. They block harmful UV rays and reduce glare. And, they can actually boost a child's willingness to wear glasses. Kids find it's cool to wear clear glasses with "magic" lenses that darken outdoors in the sun. How do we choose glasses that both my child and I love? Make certain that your child feels a part of the frame selection process. Nothing is more important in terms of getting children to wear their glasses and take better care of them as well. These days, kids have a lot more freedom in the style, color, and shape of the glasses they can wear. Take advantage of it! While kids might want a specific frame color or brand, parents should be concerned about the durability and safety of the lenses and the frame. Your eyecare professional is your best source of information on what's available: durable spring hinges, flexible and strong new frame materials, impact-resistant lenses, and UV-blocking and glare-reducing photochromic lenses that automatically change from light to dark when UV is present. What about protecting children's eyes from the sun? Many studies reveal that about 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Parents generally take precautions to protect their children's skin from the sun, but research shows that they seldom make any effort to protect children's eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and glare. Even on an overcast day, UV light from the sun can cause sunburn of both the skin and the cornea of the eyes, which is called "photokeratitis." Over a long time, it can increase the possible risk of certain types of cataracts (a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye) and potential damage to the retina that could possibly lead to total blindness. Sunscreens help protect your children's skin from overexposure to UV rays. Proper lenses can safely block UV radiation and help protect their eyes. Photochromic lenses, which change from light to dark when ultraviolet light is present block of UV rays and reduce glare. And they do it automatically, which eliminates the need for kids to keep track of two pairs of glasses-regular glasses and sunglasses. Transitions Lenses are as good as clear lens, but better!

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