Many vision problems can be corrected more easily with early diagnosis and treatment. Reports have estimated that up to 25% of students in grades K- 6 have vision-related problems, which may contribute to poor school performance. The visual system matures rapidly during the first few years and it is important to identify any problems that may interfere with normal vision development.

A comprehensive eye examination will assess visual acuity, refractive status, ocular health, eye tracking, eye focusing, and eye teaming. Visual acuity measures how clearly a child sees objects. Refractive status measures for nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. The child is evaluated for any eye health problems, including active pathology or congenital anomalies. Eye tracking is the ability of the eyes to fixate, smoothly follow and look between objects or printed words. Eye focusing is the ability to efficiently change and sustain focus while reading. Eye teaming is the ability to coordinate both eyes accurately and without fatigue or excessive effort. Accurate eye teaming is also important for accurate two-eyed depth perception or stereopsis. Early detection and management is recommended to prevent vision loss or eye disease and to provide appropriate vision development. As part of the visual examination we also assess vision development. Young children use vision to explore the world by identifying and directing movement. If a problem in vision is preventing adequate development of perception and eye-hand coordination skills then early intervention is vital.

 At Visionhealth Eye Center, all of the above is the standard of care for children’s eye examinations. 

A common injury is a hot iron metallic foreign body embedded in the cornea.  Grinding or drilling in iron or other metals will release particles that are hot and when they hit the eye they embed themselves in the cornea.  If it is iron, as in this example, it will immediatley begin to rust due to the salty consistency of our tears.  When the metal particle is removed, there is a remaining rust deposit that has infiltrated the surrounding cornea.  We have experience at removing these rust spots.  With proper medical treatment these injuries resolve well.

If the foreign particle was embedded in the central visual axis of the cornea, there may be a scar remaining which could effect the patients ultimate visual acuity.  Safety glasses are always recommended to prevent these types of injuries.

Contusions, otherwise referred to as a “black eye” can result in more than just the obvious bruises on the face.  The retina is the nerve tissue that senses light which lines the back of the eye.  There is a blood vessel layer under the retina.  This is very delicate and sensitive tissue.

A compression type of injury can knock the retina loose and cause bleeding underneath.  These examples show both retinal hemorrhage and retinal detachment.  Both can result in blindness to the effected eye.  Immediate examination and subsequent treatment is needed in these types of injuries.

If you have symptoms of “Flashes of Light” in your vision, when there is no light to explain the flashes, this could mean that there is something happening on the back of the eye.  The eye does not have any pain sensors so flashes are your best clue that there is something wrong.  In contrast the cornea (the clear window on the front of the eye) has more nerve pain sensors that any other part of the body.  Injury to the cornea can be incredibly painful.  However, in both cases, immediate treatment is needed.  Our office staff is well trained to know how to expedite the treatment of these types of injuries.  Call immediately when an injury occurs.  We are here to help.