With the increase in screen time possible during the pandemic, many patients may inquire about the negative effects that the screens of their personal devices may have on their eyes and health. This article will highlight how digital screens affect the visual system and pediatric development, and will offer recommendations you can provide for your patients.
Binocular vision disorders are prevalent in patients at all stages of life—from pediatric to geriatric—and especially in patients with developmental disabilities and a history of traumatic brain injury. They can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life and their ability to perform daily tasks. Given the prevalence and symptomatology, all practitioners, regardless of their clinical settings, should be well adept at binocular vision testing and understand what is considered normal—and what suggests a binocular vision dysfunction.
Amblyopia can be described as a reduction of the best-corrected visual acuity of one or both eyes, caused by conditions that affect normal visual development.1 It is not progressive and does not continue to cause further vision loss after visual maturation. Some may consider it an unavoidable disease process that results in visual difficulties in children, but amblyopia is actually a preventable and manageable condition.
Let’s review how some long-time practitioners are faring in this volatile environment and what strategies for success can be gleaned from their experiences in the trenches.
Given the vital role vision plays in every aspect of life, all optometrists—regardless of specialty—must be able to distinguish between visual problems that can be corrected with conventional interventions and those that cannot. Low vision, which interferes with everyday activities, cannot be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, or other standard treatment approaches. Therefore, it is critical that primary care optometrists understand how to support these patients in their practice, even if their role is limited to assessment and comanagement.
You’ve taken the kids for their checkups and scheduled your parents’ doctor visits. You even went along to make sure they understand what was happening.
Nikki Iravani, OD, is always on the lookout for a great marketing tip.
Nine women ODs were honored during the fourth annual Theia Awards of Excellence from Women In Optometry magazine.