Miscellaneous Articles
‘Go play outside, kids:’ Natural light reduces risk of nearsightedness in children, scientists say by Amy Ellis Nutt November 28 The Washington Post
It's long been thought kids are more at risk of nearsightedness, or myopia, if they spend hours and hours in front of computer screens or fiddling with tiny hand-held electronic devices.
Not true, say scientists. Looking at my article below about false science on Facebook may indicate that these scientists are wrong about excess computer time not causing nearsightedness. There is strong evidence computer screens cause vision damage. Yet, read on as they do have good news:
But now there is research that suggests that children who are genetically predisposed to the visual deficit can improve their chances of avoiding eyeglasses just by stepping outside.
Yep, sunshine is all they need -- more specifically, the natural light of outdoors -- and 14 hours a week of outdoor light should do it.
Why this is the case is not exactly clear.
"We don't really know what makes outdoor time so special," said Donald Mutti, the lead researcher of the study from Ohio State University College of Optometry, in a press release. "If we knew, we could change how we approach myopia."
What is known is that UVB light, (invisible ultraviolet B rays), plays a role in the cellular production of vitamin D, which is believed to help the eyes focus light on the retina. However, the Ohio State researchers think there is another possibility.
"Between the ages of five and nine, a child's eye is still growing," said Mutti. "Sometimes this growth causes the distance between the lens and the retina to lengthen, leading to nearsightedness. We think these different types of outdoor light may help preserve the proper shape and length of the eye during that growth period."
The scientists are also studying whether visible light outdoors, not just UVB, might contribute to healthy eyesight. Even on an overcast day, outdoor light is at least 10 times brighter than indoor light, they said. When a person is outdoors, certain specialized cells in the retina control pupil dilation, letting in more of less light.
Our initial research suggests that the pupil responds more if these cells have been exposed to a lot of sunlight in the previous few days."
Ultimately, there are more questions to be answered, says Mutti, but he believes his team's findings are already contributing to finding those answers.
"I think the research we are doing now will help us finally solve the mystery of the outdoor effect, and maybe help some people avoid a lifetime of wearing glasses," he said. "In the meantime, I tell parents don't worry about reading, get their kids outside, but don't forget ... sunscreen."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/11/28/go-play-outside-kids-natural-light-reduces-risk-of-nearsightedness-in-children-scientists-say/
It's long been thought kids are more at risk of nearsightedness, or myopia, if they spend hours and hours in front of computer screens or fiddling with tiny hand-held electronic devices.
Not true, say scientists. Looking at my article below about false science on Facebook may indicate that these scientists are wrong about excess computer time not causing nearsightedness. There is strong evidence computer screens cause vision damage. Yet, read on as they do have good news:
But now there is research that suggests that children who are genetically predisposed to the visual deficit can improve their chances of avoiding eyeglasses just by stepping outside.
Yep, sunshine is all they need -- more specifically, the natural light of outdoors -- and 14 hours a week of outdoor light should do it.
Why this is the case is not exactly clear.
"We don't really know what makes outdoor time so special," said Donald Mutti, the lead researcher of the study from Ohio State University College of Optometry, in a press release. "If we knew, we could change how we approach myopia."
What is known is that UVB light, (invisible ultraviolet B rays), plays a role in the cellular production of vitamin D, which is believed to help the eyes focus light on the retina. However, the Ohio State researchers think there is another possibility.
"Between the ages of five and nine, a child's eye is still growing," said Mutti. "Sometimes this growth causes the distance between the lens and the retina to lengthen, leading to nearsightedness. We think these different types of outdoor light may help preserve the proper shape and length of the eye during that growth period."
The scientists are also studying whether visible light outdoors, not just UVB, might contribute to healthy eyesight. Even on an overcast day, outdoor light is at least 10 times brighter than indoor light, they said. When a person is outdoors, certain specialized cells in the retina control pupil dilation, letting in more of less light.
Our initial research suggests that the pupil responds more if these cells have been exposed to a lot of sunlight in the previous few days."
Ultimately, there are more questions to be answered, says Mutti, but he believes his team's findings are already contributing to finding those answers.
"I think the research we are doing now will help us finally solve the mystery of the outdoor effect, and maybe help some people avoid a lifetime of wearing glasses," he said. "In the meantime, I tell parents don't worry about reading, get their kids outside, but don't forget ... sunscreen."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/11/28/go-play-outside-kids-natural-light-reduces-risk-of-nearsightedness-in-children-scientists-say/
Is it nature or nurture ?
Many think vision conditions are inherited while some feel they are developed in our environment. The Berkeley College of Optometry seems convinced nearsightedness is inherited and has spent energy on their Orinda study to prove it. Developmental optometry emerged in the 30's noticing many vision conditions appear to be developed and thereby cured. Research varies but with the advance of science the scale seems to tip toward nurture.
Why do so many feel it is inheritance? Optometry emerged in the late 1800's while genetics (look under nearsightedness) was discovered from works of Gregor Mendel. As the two emerged closely together, many assumed vision conditions just like eye color may be inherited.
My own family may be an encouragement that something can be done about your kids vision. I, the father, was nearsighted while my three kids’ mother was farsighted with amblyopia, anisometropia, and strabismus(cross-eyed). Berkeley College feels my nearsightedness is inherited, while the majority of my fellow eye doctors feel their mother’s conditions are inherited. From those views, all three of my kids should have vision problems. None do.
With each of our children we followed Infant Vision advice and the two Step Program from birth to six. Both are a part of our practice. We continued lens therapy throughout their schooling and did enhancement vision therapy. As adults, none of them developed any vision condition except presbyopia as they are all more than 40.
There is good news for the parents as well. Through vision therapy and lens therapy, 75% of my nearsightedness was reduced. I treated their mother with vision therapy and lens therapy. In turn, her amblyopia and strabismus were cured through vision therapy. At 35 she saw stereopsis (depth perception) for the first time in her life.
My own family may be an encouragement that something can be done about your kids vision. I, the father, was nearsighted while my three kids’ mother was farsighted with amblyopia, anisometropia, and strabismus(cross-eyed). Berkeley College feels my nearsightedness is inherited, while the majority of my fellow eye doctors feel their mother’s conditions are inherited. From those views, all three of my kids should have vision problems. None do.
With each of our children we followed Infant Vision advice and the two Step Program from birth to six. Both are a part of our practice. We continued lens therapy throughout their schooling and did enhancement vision therapy. As adults, none of them developed any vision condition except presbyopia as they are all more than 40.
There is good news for the parents as well. Through vision therapy and lens therapy, 75% of my nearsightedness was reduced. I treated their mother with vision therapy and lens therapy. In turn, her amblyopia and strabismus were cured through vision therapy. At 35 she saw stereopsis (depth perception) for the first time in her life.
False science noted on Facebook
Charles Lane, an editorial writer for The Washington Post, believes crimes committed by illegal immigrants are not an issue because, over the past 20 years, US-wide crime rates have dropped despite an increased rate of illegal immigration.
This reporter distorted science and confused reliability with validity. Reliability means you will get the same result each time you repeat an experiment or statistic (crime rate decrease and influx of illegal immigrants). Validity means one causes the other (A causes B). It is absurd to conclude the two statistics he quotes are causal.The parents of Kathryn Steinle killed by an illegal in San Francisco also would find his conclusion absurd. It would also be absurd to conclude all illegals commit crimes after they arrive. All he had to do is look at the statistics that show illegal immigrants commit a higher percent of crimes than the rest of the population. Unfortunately he is not alone in his distortion.
Many journal articles in my field make this unscientific conclusion. A recent one in a prestigious national journal said changing vision can't change learning. They selected five vision tests unrelated to learning, then looked for those five conditions in kids who had dyslexia. They found very few of their selected vision conditions were common in dyslexics. Of course they didn't. They did not select any vision conditions related to learning! Even though they did not include vision therapy treatment in their study, they concluded vision therapy can’t change learning problems. That one article violated many scientific principles. Try telling that to many of my patients who had success in vision therapy. Many are listed listed on this website and in chapter 12 of my book, What Would Jesus See?
My point, not political in nature, shows how the lack of vision processing skills by a syndicated reporter and writers in a scientific journal, led to miss-information to many. Vision processing difficulty causes confusion not just to individuals but to society as a whole. We can advance both society and science by diagnosing and treating vision processing problems in kids so they grow to productive citizens who will not draw false conclusions like the reporter above.
This reporter distorted science and confused reliability with validity. Reliability means you will get the same result each time you repeat an experiment or statistic (crime rate decrease and influx of illegal immigrants). Validity means one causes the other (A causes B). It is absurd to conclude the two statistics he quotes are causal.The parents of Kathryn Steinle killed by an illegal in San Francisco also would find his conclusion absurd. It would also be absurd to conclude all illegals commit crimes after they arrive. All he had to do is look at the statistics that show illegal immigrants commit a higher percent of crimes than the rest of the population. Unfortunately he is not alone in his distortion.
Many journal articles in my field make this unscientific conclusion. A recent one in a prestigious national journal said changing vision can't change learning. They selected five vision tests unrelated to learning, then looked for those five conditions in kids who had dyslexia. They found very few of their selected vision conditions were common in dyslexics. Of course they didn't. They did not select any vision conditions related to learning! Even though they did not include vision therapy treatment in their study, they concluded vision therapy can’t change learning problems. That one article violated many scientific principles. Try telling that to many of my patients who had success in vision therapy. Many are listed listed on this website and in chapter 12 of my book, What Would Jesus See?
My point, not political in nature, shows how the lack of vision processing skills by a syndicated reporter and writers in a scientific journal, led to miss-information to many. Vision processing difficulty causes confusion not just to individuals but to society as a whole. We can advance both society and science by diagnosing and treating vision processing problems in kids so they grow to productive citizens who will not draw false conclusions like the reporter above.
Walkers and Jolly Jumpers The New York Times presented an excellent articles on the danger of walkers._
Recently I noted a posting on Face book showing an infant in a Jolly Jumper. Two eyed development (Binocular Vision) requires tummy and knee time (crawling and creeping). Placing infants in a Jolly Jumper or a walker places them in the vertical position too soon and creates eyestrain and eventual binocular vision dysfunction and even strabismus (crossed eyes).
Ideally an infant should spend time first crawling on the tummy and then creeping on the hands and knees and should not be encouraged to walk. They will walk when ready. If your child walks before 12 months you are almost guaranteed a vision problem. I don’t even encourage holding your infant in your lap in the standing position.
Recently I noted a posting on Face book showing an infant in a Jolly Jumper. Two eyed development (Binocular Vision) requires tummy and knee time (crawling and creeping). Placing infants in a Jolly Jumper or a walker places them in the vertical position too soon and creates eyestrain and eventual binocular vision dysfunction and even strabismus (crossed eyes).
Ideally an infant should spend time first crawling on the tummy and then creeping on the hands and knees and should not be encouraged to walk. They will walk when ready. If your child walks before 12 months you are almost guaranteed a vision problem. I don’t even encourage holding your infant in your lap in the standing position.
The shame of the Jolly Jumper is the good use of which it could be put if the child could be placed in the prone position and swung. That would activate the vestibular system in the inner ear also essential for vision development. My oldest son did not walk until 13 months and simply pushed himself up from a squatting position on the floor rather than pulling himself up on a chair or table leg and then walking. He gained excellent binocular vision and was an excellent athlete as well as student.
What other professions say? Optometry is not alone in this issue. A search in the internet brought concerns from chiropractors, physical therapists, orthopedists, and pediatricians. Also the country of Canada weighed in. In addition to developmental optometry's concerns of harm to the vision system they added others. The findings included delayed walking, impaired cognitive development, feet problems, delayed motor development, difficulty developing the muscle strength for walking and balance, future back problems for adults, poisoning from their extended reach to unsafe items like chemicals, bodily injury from falling down stairs, etc, and drowning. Need I say more?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends walkers not be used. Canada has taken this a step further. Use of a walker can result in fines up to $100,000.00 and six months in jail.Yes, I found that hard to believe.
In response to a question of using a walker as a babysitter, parental responsibility was addressed well if not bluntly by pediatrician Alan Greene, MD:
“We want our children to be happy. Often their delight is a good measure of what they need — but sometimes it can lead us astray. Sometimes short-term delight can lead to unfortunate long-term consequences. Children can’t think of the future. As parents, part of our role is to do that for them. With each new choice, consider what this teaches your son, how this will affect your son, what are the implications for your son — over the long haul.”
What other professions say? Optometry is not alone in this issue. A search in the internet brought concerns from chiropractors, physical therapists, orthopedists, and pediatricians. Also the country of Canada weighed in. In addition to developmental optometry's concerns of harm to the vision system they added others. The findings included delayed walking, impaired cognitive development, feet problems, delayed motor development, difficulty developing the muscle strength for walking and balance, future back problems for adults, poisoning from their extended reach to unsafe items like chemicals, bodily injury from falling down stairs, etc, and drowning. Need I say more?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends walkers not be used. Canada has taken this a step further. Use of a walker can result in fines up to $100,000.00 and six months in jail.Yes, I found that hard to believe.
In response to a question of using a walker as a babysitter, parental responsibility was addressed well if not bluntly by pediatrician Alan Greene, MD:
“We want our children to be happy. Often their delight is a good measure of what they need — but sometimes it can lead us astray. Sometimes short-term delight can lead to unfortunate long-term consequences. Children can’t think of the future. As parents, part of our role is to do that for them. With each new choice, consider what this teaches your son, how this will affect your son, what are the implications for your son — over the long haul.”
Academy Paper on Vision and Learning
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Childhood Readers
It is wise to do things at the appropriate and orderly time. That is true for our children in the process of learning, especially reading. Our society and educators are pushing kids ahead of time. The Bible talks about the prodigal son and consequences of doing things ahead of time. Ecclesiastics says there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.Then why do we let our educators push our kids to read when they are not ready?
Our children are forced to read too early. I now see nearsighted kids in kindergarten when it used to be the fourth grade. We ignored Solomon’s admonition of a time to refrain. We miss understood Jean Piaget a Swiss psychologist who demonstrated that children learn rapidly at a young age. Yet, they learn as children, not adults.
Scandinavian countries delay reading until the children are seven and developmentally ready for such a stressful task on the vision system. Ironically, in the United States in the late 50's educator George Spache demonstrated that kids who were taught reading early were better readers in the fourth grade; but in high school those who delayed until seven were better readers. We now push them too early and don’t have much to show for it when you compare our kids academically to other nations.
Who knows when education will adopt proper methods? Our current President (Barack Obama at the time of this writing) is pushing for reading at even younger ages. In the meantime there is a solution: enhance our young kids vision system with simple home activities as well as use special glasses for reading and computer activities to protect their eyes. The activities are based on the work of a developmental optometrist aware of George Spache’s research and the proper application of Jean Piaget’s work. Our office outlined Dr. Gerry Getman’s book How to Develop Your Child’s Intelligence written in the 60's and since revised into step by step principles with recording sheets to watch your child’s progress. We make the program (Two Steps to Academic success) available at a very reasonable price to all families with young children, and all the kids in the family can benefit from one program.
It is wise to do things at the appropriate and orderly time. That is true for our children in the process of learning, especially reading. Our society and educators are pushing kids ahead of time. The Bible talks about the prodigal son and consequences of doing things ahead of time. Ecclesiastics says there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.Then why do we let our educators push our kids to read when they are not ready?
Our children are forced to read too early. I now see nearsighted kids in kindergarten when it used to be the fourth grade. We ignored Solomon’s admonition of a time to refrain. We miss understood Jean Piaget a Swiss psychologist who demonstrated that children learn rapidly at a young age. Yet, they learn as children, not adults.
Scandinavian countries delay reading until the children are seven and developmentally ready for such a stressful task on the vision system. Ironically, in the United States in the late 50's educator George Spache demonstrated that kids who were taught reading early were better readers in the fourth grade; but in high school those who delayed until seven were better readers. We now push them too early and don’t have much to show for it when you compare our kids academically to other nations.
Who knows when education will adopt proper methods? Our current President (Barack Obama at the time of this writing) is pushing for reading at even younger ages. In the meantime there is a solution: enhance our young kids vision system with simple home activities as well as use special glasses for reading and computer activities to protect their eyes. The activities are based on the work of a developmental optometrist aware of George Spache’s research and the proper application of Jean Piaget’s work. Our office outlined Dr. Gerry Getman’s book How to Develop Your Child’s Intelligence written in the 60's and since revised into step by step principles with recording sheets to watch your child’s progress. We make the program (Two Steps to Academic success) available at a very reasonable price to all families with young children, and all the kids in the family can benefit from one program.
Light Exposure During Pregnancy Key to Normal Eye Development
New research published in Nature concluded that the eye needs light to develop normally during pregnancy.1
According to a news release from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), scientists reported that the unexpected finding offers a new basic understanding of fetal eye development and ocular diseases caused by vascular disorders, in particular retinopathy of prematurity. The research was led by scientists from UCSF and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
"This fundamentally changes our understanding of how the retina develops," said study author Richard Lang, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "We have identified a light-response pathway that controls the number of retinal neurons. This has downstream effects on developing vasculature in the eye and is important because several major eye diseases are vascular diseases."
Dr. Lang is a principal investigator on the ongoing research along with project collaborator, David Copenhagen, PhD, a scientist in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology at UCSF. The scientists say their current study, conducted in mouse models, includes several unexpected findings.
"Several stages of mouse eye development occur after birth," Dr. Copenhagen said in the news release. "Because of this, we had always assumed that if light played a role in the development of the eye, it would also happen only after birth."
However, researchers in the current study found that activation of the newly described light-response pathway must happen during pregnancy to activate the carefully choreographed program that produces a healthy eye. Specifically, they said it is important for a sufficient number of photons to enter the mother's body by late gestation, or about 16 days into a mouse pregnancy. Researchers were also surprised to learn that photons of light activate the protein melanopsin directly in the fetus—not the mother—to help initiate normal development of blood vessels and retinal neurons in the eye.
One purpose of the light-response pathway is to suppress the number of blood vessels that form in the retina. These vessels are critical to retinal neurons, which require large amounts of oxygen to form and to function. When retinopathy of prematurity occurs in infants, retinal vessels grow almost unchecked. This continued expansion puts intense pressure on the developing eye and in extreme cases causes severe damage and blindness.
1 Rao S, Chun C, Fan J, et al. A direct and melanopsin-dependent fetal light response regulates mouse eye development [published online ahead of print January 16, 2013]. Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature11823.
New research published in Nature concluded that the eye needs light to develop normally during pregnancy.1
According to a news release from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), scientists reported that the unexpected finding offers a new basic understanding of fetal eye development and ocular diseases caused by vascular disorders, in particular retinopathy of prematurity. The research was led by scientists from UCSF and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
"This fundamentally changes our understanding of how the retina develops," said study author Richard Lang, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "We have identified a light-response pathway that controls the number of retinal neurons. This has downstream effects on developing vasculature in the eye and is important because several major eye diseases are vascular diseases."
Dr. Lang is a principal investigator on the ongoing research along with project collaborator, David Copenhagen, PhD, a scientist in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology at UCSF. The scientists say their current study, conducted in mouse models, includes several unexpected findings.
"Several stages of mouse eye development occur after birth," Dr. Copenhagen said in the news release. "Because of this, we had always assumed that if light played a role in the development of the eye, it would also happen only after birth."
However, researchers in the current study found that activation of the newly described light-response pathway must happen during pregnancy to activate the carefully choreographed program that produces a healthy eye. Specifically, they said it is important for a sufficient number of photons to enter the mother's body by late gestation, or about 16 days into a mouse pregnancy. Researchers were also surprised to learn that photons of light activate the protein melanopsin directly in the fetus—not the mother—to help initiate normal development of blood vessels and retinal neurons in the eye.
One purpose of the light-response pathway is to suppress the number of blood vessels that form in the retina. These vessels are critical to retinal neurons, which require large amounts of oxygen to form and to function. When retinopathy of prematurity occurs in infants, retinal vessels grow almost unchecked. This continued expansion puts intense pressure on the developing eye and in extreme cases causes severe damage and blindness.
1 Rao S, Chun C, Fan J, et al. A direct and melanopsin-dependent fetal light response regulates mouse eye development [published online ahead of print January 16, 2013]. Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature11823.
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Combining Physical Activity With Classroom Lessons Results in Improved Test Scores
ScienceDaily (July 1, 2011) — When schools cut physical education programs so students can spend more time in the classroom, they may be missing a golden opportunity to promote learning, according to research presented on May 1, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver. The study adds to growing evidence that exercise is good not only for the body but also the mind. It also shows that physical education and academic instruction need not be mutually exclusive. Researchers Kathryn L. King, MD, and Carly J. Scahill, DO, pediatric residents at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital, led by William S. Randazzo, MD, FAAP, and James T. McElligott, MD, sought to determine how implementing a daily physical activity program that incorporated classroom lessons would affect student achievement. |
First- through sixth-graders at an academically low-scoring elementary school in Charleston, S.C., took part in the program 40 minutes a day, five days a week. Prior to initiation of the program, students spent 40 minutes per week in physical education classes.
The school nurse was awarded several grants that were used to educate school administrators and revamp several classrooms into two gyms that housed equipment for an All Minds Exercise (AMX) room for older students and an Action Based Learning (ABL) lab for the younger schoolchildren.
"The teachers, administrators, parents and students at the school were brave enough to think out of the box to help the children learn in new ways," Dr. King said.
First- and second-graders moved through stations in the ABL lab, learning developmentally appropriate movement skills while basic academic skills were reinforced. For example, children traced shapes on the ground while sitting on scooters and hopped through ladders while naming colors on each rung.
Students in third through sixth grades had access to exercise equipment with TV monitors. For instance, a treadmill had a monitor that played geography lessons as the student ran through the scene, and a rock-climbing wall was outfitted with numbers that changed as they climbed to help students work on math skills.
Researchers compared state standardized reading test scores for the year before and the year after initiation of the program. Each student took standardized tests in the fall and spring. In the fall, the results included an individualized goal for each student to reach on the spring test. Researchers measured the number of students who met or exceeded their goal score in the spring.
Results showed that the time spent out of a traditional classroom in order to increase physical education did not hurt students' academic achievement. In fact, student test scores improved. Specifically, the percentage of students reaching their goal on the state tests increased from 55 percent before the program was initiated to 68.5 percent after the program was initiated.
"These data indicate that when carefully designed physical education programs are put into place, children's academic achievement does not suffer," Dr. King said.
"More studies are needed," Dr. Scahill added, "but there is growing substantial evidence that this kind of physical activity may help improve academic behavior, cognitive skills and attitudes."
The school nurse was awarded several grants that were used to educate school administrators and revamp several classrooms into two gyms that housed equipment for an All Minds Exercise (AMX) room for older students and an Action Based Learning (ABL) lab for the younger schoolchildren.
"The teachers, administrators, parents and students at the school were brave enough to think out of the box to help the children learn in new ways," Dr. King said.
First- and second-graders moved through stations in the ABL lab, learning developmentally appropriate movement skills while basic academic skills were reinforced. For example, children traced shapes on the ground while sitting on scooters and hopped through ladders while naming colors on each rung.
Students in third through sixth grades had access to exercise equipment with TV monitors. For instance, a treadmill had a monitor that played geography lessons as the student ran through the scene, and a rock-climbing wall was outfitted with numbers that changed as they climbed to help students work on math skills.
Researchers compared state standardized reading test scores for the year before and the year after initiation of the program. Each student took standardized tests in the fall and spring. In the fall, the results included an individualized goal for each student to reach on the spring test. Researchers measured the number of students who met or exceeded their goal score in the spring.
Results showed that the time spent out of a traditional classroom in order to increase physical education did not hurt students' academic achievement. In fact, student test scores improved. Specifically, the percentage of students reaching their goal on the state tests increased from 55 percent before the program was initiated to 68.5 percent after the program was initiated.
"These data indicate that when carefully designed physical education programs are put into place, children's academic achievement does not suffer," Dr. King said.
"More studies are needed," Dr. Scahill added, "but there is growing substantial evidence that this kind of physical activity may help improve academic behavior, cognitive skills and attitudes."
HEAD TRAUMA OR WHIPLASH
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY VISION WHEN I’VE BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD ?
Whether you receive a head trauma- blow to head or whip lash vision is affected in at least four areas:
1. Your ability to focus your eyes for reading ( accommodation ) is reduced.
2. Your blind spots are enlarged while your side vision is reduced.
3. You have difficulty teaming your eyes ( binocular vision ) varying from eyestrain to an actual crossed or wandering eye.
4. Your vision processing skills (including vision memory, visualization, processing speed )are reduced.
Actually the disorientation and distractions most people experience from whiplash or trauma are mainly from the damage to the vision system. Yes, most doctors are unaware of the vision manifestations, especially those in emergency rooms, often the first to see the injured.
These problems are most common from auto accidents but are just as readily caused by any impact or whiplash from falls, physical beatings, and sports injuries (including heading in soccer). Also the degree of the impact does not seem to be a factor. Minor blows or whiplash show findings. Do not think that just because you had a minor "fender bender" that you did not damage your vision.
WHAT SYMPTOMS WOULD I NOTICE?
You may experience some or all of the following:
1. Headaches, 2. Dizziness, 3. Disorientation, 4. Memory loss,5. Concentration difficulty, 6. Fatigue, 7. irritability, 8.easily distracted, 9. overly absorbed, 10. performing tasks slower than before. 11. Job burnout
CAN THE DAMAGE BE FIXED?
Yes, in many cases you can not only be returned to normal vision function ,but may actually enhance beyond where you were before impact. Certainly this is not true in every case, and extreme trauma and stroke cases may leave limitations.
HOW CAN THE DAMAGE BE FIXED?
In a few rare instances treatment may be as simple as modification of your glasses prescription. In most cases the treatment is more complex and we combine light therapy and vision therapy.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY VISION WHEN I’VE BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD ?
Whether you receive a head trauma- blow to head or whip lash vision is affected in at least four areas:
1. Your ability to focus your eyes for reading ( accommodation ) is reduced.
2. Your blind spots are enlarged while your side vision is reduced.
3. You have difficulty teaming your eyes ( binocular vision ) varying from eyestrain to an actual crossed or wandering eye.
4. Your vision processing skills (including vision memory, visualization, processing speed )are reduced.
Actually the disorientation and distractions most people experience from whiplash or trauma are mainly from the damage to the vision system. Yes, most doctors are unaware of the vision manifestations, especially those in emergency rooms, often the first to see the injured.
These problems are most common from auto accidents but are just as readily caused by any impact or whiplash from falls, physical beatings, and sports injuries (including heading in soccer). Also the degree of the impact does not seem to be a factor. Minor blows or whiplash show findings. Do not think that just because you had a minor "fender bender" that you did not damage your vision.
WHAT SYMPTOMS WOULD I NOTICE?
You may experience some or all of the following:
1. Headaches, 2. Dizziness, 3. Disorientation, 4. Memory loss,5. Concentration difficulty, 6. Fatigue, 7. irritability, 8.easily distracted, 9. overly absorbed, 10. performing tasks slower than before. 11. Job burnout
CAN THE DAMAGE BE FIXED?
Yes, in many cases you can not only be returned to normal vision function ,but may actually enhance beyond where you were before impact. Certainly this is not true in every case, and extreme trauma and stroke cases may leave limitations.
HOW CAN THE DAMAGE BE FIXED?
In a few rare instances treatment may be as simple as modification of your glasses prescription. In most cases the treatment is more complex and we combine light therapy and vision therapy.
Job Burn Out
Recently I read on-line article on burnout by Kris Vallotton Ministries [[email protected]] As usual his article was insightful and interesting. He is an excellent author. One of my favorite books of his is The Supernatural Ways of Royalty.
Although Kris was not aware, there is a connection between job burnout and vision. As a developmental optometrist, I have noted this for years. I found that everyone who told me they have job burnout have a particular vision condition. I call this a "wandering eye". The correct term is exotropia at near vision. It means one has difficulty aiming one's eyes together within arm's length. The eyes want to wander outward. However, the corollary does not hold. Not all people with a wandering eye experience job burn out.
The possibility that you may have a wandering eye is easy to detect by yourself. Simply hold your hand within reading distance with the thumb extended as if hitch-hiking. Then alternately close one eye after the other while looking directly at your thumb. The thumb should appear stationary. If the thumb appears to move you have an alignment difficulty. No, contrary to many's belief, that is not parallax. If the thumb appears to move toward the closed eye, you may have a wandering eye.
Recently I read on-line article on burnout by Kris Vallotton Ministries [[email protected]] As usual his article was insightful and interesting. He is an excellent author. One of my favorite books of his is The Supernatural Ways of Royalty.
Although Kris was not aware, there is a connection between job burnout and vision. As a developmental optometrist, I have noted this for years. I found that everyone who told me they have job burnout have a particular vision condition. I call this a "wandering eye". The correct term is exotropia at near vision. It means one has difficulty aiming one's eyes together within arm's length. The eyes want to wander outward. However, the corollary does not hold. Not all people with a wandering eye experience job burn out.
The possibility that you may have a wandering eye is easy to detect by yourself. Simply hold your hand within reading distance with the thumb extended as if hitch-hiking. Then alternately close one eye after the other while looking directly at your thumb. The thumb should appear stationary. If the thumb appears to move you have an alignment difficulty. No, contrary to many's belief, that is not parallax. If the thumb appears to move toward the closed eye, you may have a wandering eye.
A wandering eye is readily treatable and if provided at the right time can prevent job burnout. I cover job burnout from a Biblical perspective in chapter 17 of my book What Would Jesus See-a developmental optometrist's journey through vision care with an eye on the Bible. I included part of the chapter in promotions The What would Jesus See Section.I discuss a welder who experienced job burn out. We extended his career by treating his wandering eye.
If you are close to burn out or If you found during the above simple test your eye did wander, you may wish to give us a call at 334-2020 to confirm the condition and be helped.
If you are close to burn out or If you found during the above simple test your eye did wander, you may wish to give us a call at 334-2020 to confirm the condition and be helped.
Articles of interest from Eyefinity (a division of VSP insurance)
Children's Vision
- Controlling Nearsightedness in Children
- Learning-Related Vision Problems
- Vision Therapy for Children
Computer Vision Syndrome
- Children and Computer Vision Syndrome
- Computer Glasses
- Computer Vision Syndrome Q & A
- Worker Productivity and Computer Vision Syndrome
Contact Lenses
LASIK and Vision Surgery
Sports Vision
Vision Insurance