Children & Their Vision

1. Children & Their Vision

2. SAO Representatives • Dr. Dorothy Barrie • Saskatoon Optometrist since 1990 • SAO Past President • Chair of the SAO Children’s Vision Initiative • Representative on the CAO Children’s Vision Initiative

3. Agenda • Know the Facts about Vision • Children’s Eye Conditions and Diseases • The Comprehensive Eye Examination • ESEL Optometric Clinic Partnership

4. Know the Facts About Vision • 80 % of learning is visual • 1 in 6 children have some form of vision problems • SK Health Stats: • 36% of age 5 children have obtained an eye examination • Only 31% of age 4 and less that 23% of age 3 children.

5. Know the Facts About Vision • A child’s visual system is not fully developed until about age 9 • The sooner eye conditions are detected & treated, the better chance for a positive outcome • Vision problems may not have signs or symptoms

6. Conditions of the Eye

7. Nearsightedness • Nearsighted people typically see well up close, but have difficulty seeing far away.

8. Nearsightedness Normal Nearsighted

9. Farsightedness • Farsighted people typically see well far away, but have difficulty seeing up close.

10. Astigmatism • With Astigmatism the cornea has an oval shaped, like a football • Can occur along with nearsightedness and farsightedness

11. Amblyopia- Lazy Eye • Both distant and near objects are not seen clearly. • Often occurs in one eye only and may be present from birth or very early in life. • Due to large differences in focusing ability of one eye compared to the other eye. • Treatment options: eyeglasses, contact lensesand the use of a patch over the "good" eye to stimulate the "poor" eye. Early diagnosis is important, as therapiesare less effective after the age of 9 years.

12. Amblyopia • Children naturally adaptive & will compensate • “Suppression” is an involuntary adaption of the brain – shutting off the image from the blurred or misaligned eye • Visual cells in the brain responsible for that eye will not mature or develop and damage becomes permanent

13. Strabismus- Turned Eye • 3 -5% occurrence rate. • Two eyes do not align properly. • The eyes can be misaligned horizontally, vertically or a combination of both. • The "eye turn" may be present constantly or periodically • Periodic eye turns are more often missed in vision screenings. • Strabismus usually occurs at birth (congenital) or in the first few years of life.

14. Turned Eye • A sudden onset of an eye turn is always something that requires urgent attention. In a very young child, it can lead to permanently reduced vision in one eye. • Treatment options include: eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery, patching and other therapies.

15. Technology Influencing our World

16. Trends • Spending far more time in front of computers, hand held devices, white boards and TV screens • Eye strain – constantly re-focusing • 20/20 does not mean that a child can read what is immediately in front of them • Children don’t know what normal is like

17. Uncorrected Vision • Reduced fine motor skills • Frustration with failure to learn at the same rate as peer • Easily become distracted • Can leads to decreased self esteem effecting social interaction

18. Comprehensive Eye Examinations

19. Frequency of Children’s Eye Examinations • Recommended Guideline for Frequency of Children’s Eye Exams: • Infants & Toddlers: Between 6 & 9 Months • Preschool (2 – 5 years): At least between 2 & 5 • School Age (6 – 19): Annually

20. The Eye Examination • Case History • Reveals symptoms of eye health or vision problems. • Frequent red eyes may be allergies or reoccurring eye infections.

21. The Eye Examination • Visual Acuity • Depth perception • Colour Vision Testing • Autorefraction • Glaucoma Testing

22. The Eye Examination • Eye Coordination Testing • Detects both periodic and constant turned eye • Detects delays in development of fine motor control that can lead to poor reading and copy.

23. The Eye Examination • Refraction • May be done with dilating eye drops. • A variety of tests are performed to ensure an accurate prescription.

24. The Eye Examination • Eye Health • Assessment of pupil reactions • Eye lid positions • Assessment of tear drainage and function • Assessment of internal and external health of the eye including optic nerve, retina and cornea.

25. After the Examination a Parent will know… • If the child’s eyes are working together • If the child has good depth perception • If the child has good color perception • If the child’s eyes are healthy • If the child can focus well • If the child requires glasses • If the child requires vision therapy

26. The Eye See Eye Learn (ESEL) Optometric Clinic • Goal to reduce barriers to ensure every child receives a comprehensive eye examination • Office is located in St Mary’s school in the core area of Saskatoon • In 2011, 265 children received eye examinations in the clinic -28% required eyewear

27. ESEL Program • The ESEL Program raises awareness of the importance of early childhood eye examinations • The ESEL Clinic was a partnership initiative with GSCSD, Saskatoon Tribal Council and the SAO • By 2015 we hope to have all school divisions using the ESEL Program

28. Ultimately everyone wins… and for those children that didn’t know they couldn’t see… improved vision could be life altering… For more information contact the Thank You