Saturday, February 23, 2008
Rising Stars Concert and Photography Exhibition
The Rising Stars Concert and Photography Exhibition featured approximately 30 of my photographs.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Bionic Eye Implant
Seeing is believing for at least one man… thanks to a group of Swiss surgeons. Doctors here have carried out the first ever European bionic eye implant. The complicated procedure places a device in the eye and uses a camera to relay images wirelessly to the chip
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Kids Vision and Computer Use
Computers were primarily first used only by adults....now kids use them all the time. Read how this can affect their vision. DM
How "Fuzzy" Vision can affect Performance at School
This animation shows how school problems can be associated with how well you see. Great for kids. DM
Vision & Auditory Perception and Learning
Vision and auditory perception can alter how we learn....click the title above to lean how. DM
Good Vision is more than 20/20
Friend and colleague of mine, Dr. Arnie Sherman once said that 20/20 vision is = a body temperature of 98.6. While this body temp is normal....you still could be seriously ill.....
For those with 20/20 vision....well, you still can have major problems with your vision. DM
For those with 20/20 vision....well, you still can have major problems with your vision. DM
Another Bibliography with Article Summaries
This listing of articles supporting optometric vision therapy is from vision-therapy.com. DM
An Extensive Bibliography on Vision and Vision Therapy
My colleagues at the Wichita Vision Development Center have put together a good listing of articles to support optometric vision therapy...click on the title above to take a look. DM
Video on Stress
Stress affects all of us...even children. This video tells us about stress and hints at how we can manage it....
Prescribing Prism
This article discusses the use of prism for treating cases of diplopia, symptomatic heterophorias and abnormal head postures.
Reducing Tobacco Use in Adolescents
Our kids should never smoke...here's some information from the American Family Physcian.
Decrease Salt Intake....Decrease Soda Drinking
This study found a strong correlation between salt intake and consumption of total fluids as well as sugar-sweetened soft drinks in children and adolescents. Obesity and cardiovascular disease are becoming more common in adolescents and these conditions may predict early development of health problems in adulthood. ...
If you limit your child's salt intake....you may also slow down their consumption of soda! DM
If you limit your child's salt intake....you may also slow down their consumption of soda! DM
We're not getting older AND dumber....just Chronically Enhanced!
As a baby boomer I'm always interested in how "we" are doing....and even thought this doesn't pertain to children....it is of interest to me! DM
As Baby Boomers enter their dotage, they may be spared an overwhelming plague of cognitive impairment. Contrary to widespread belief, the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older Americans decreased by almost 30% from 1993 through 2002, investigators here reported today.
As Baby Boomers enter their dotage, they may be spared an overwhelming plague of cognitive impairment. Contrary to widespread belief, the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older Americans decreased by almost 30% from 1993 through 2002, investigators here reported today.
Improved Vision Function? Concentrate on the Brain not the Eyes
Optometrists have known for decades that most functional vision problems have more to do with the brain than the eye....and if you are going improve amblyopia, strabisumus, other binocular vision problems and learning related vision abnormalities....you have to change brain function to improve vision function....see story by clicking on title above...
Avian flu, West Nile Virus, and Lyme disease
Children are highly susceptible to a wide variety of diseases. The diseases noted above may be somewhat new on the scene, but you may want to know more about them so that you can protect those you work with and love!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Photos for Your OD Website
Do you need free photos to illustrate optometric concepts, examination procedures, etc on your website....and not want to pay an arm and leg to hire a photographer to take all the shots? Click on the title above for a great resource.
Eye May Tell How Ears Hear
The eyes may not just be a window to the soul, they may also provide a clear view to the state of your other senses. A new study reports that the eyes can provide clues that tell researchers how well a person can hear. This finding may be especially helpful for diagnosing hearing problems in babies, very young children and in people who can't actively take a hearing test, such as those with a traumatic brain injury.
Fixing Poor Vision Boosts Preschoolers' Test Scores
Preschoolers with poor vision significantly improved their test scores within six weeks of consistently wearing prescription glasses, a new study shows. "It has been theorized that when young children have early vision problems that are undiagnosed and uncorrected, their development and performance in school are impacted," Stuart I. Brown, chairman of ophthalmology and director of the Shiley Eye Center University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement. "This study shows that children with vision impairment do perform below the norm in visual-motor coordination tests, and that they catch up quickly once they are given corrective [lenses]. ..... published in the February issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
It's interesting to note that my ophthalomogical colleagues are only now recognizing the impact on developement and learning when the visual system is not functioning appropriately. Optometry has used eye glasses as a therapeutic tool for decades. We welcome the fact that our ophthalomogical colleagues have now acknowledged the importance of glasses in a child's develoment.
It's interesting to note that my ophthalomogical colleagues are only now recognizing the impact on developement and learning when the visual system is not functioning appropriately. Optometry has used eye glasses as a therapeutic tool for decades. We welcome the fact that our ophthalomogical colleagues have now acknowledged the importance of glasses in a child's develoment.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Don't Lose Sight of Vision Care, Group Urges
As part of its efforts to educate Americans about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Prevent Blindness America has declared February Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month.
Forty-Fold Increase in Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis in Children over Last Decade
The diagnosis of children with bipolar disorder increased 40-fold in the time period between 1994 and 2003, a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry has revealed. Bipolar disorder, ... characterized by high energy, little sleep, and frenetic activity -- and depressive lows, characterized by ... negative emotions such as sadness, anger ...[and] ... disrupted sleep/eating patterns, irritability, chronic pain and even suicidal thoughts. Diagnosis of children with the disorder was very rare until the mid-1990s...the diagosis of children ...increase from 20,000 to 800,000 between 1993 and 2004, with the proportion of children diagnosed as bipolar jumping to 1,003 per 100,000, or more than 1 percent (the rate in adults, over the same period, nearly doubled to 1,069 per 100,000).
I've worked with several children with this disorder....they often exhibit binocular vision dysfunction and vision information processing anomalies as well. Have all children evaluated for eye and vision problems....DM
I've worked with several children with this disorder....they often exhibit binocular vision dysfunction and vision information processing anomalies as well. Have all children evaluated for eye and vision problems....DM
Infants eyes can focus and converge early
Many infants between 7 and 23 weeks of age were able to generate accommodation and vergence responses with latencies of less than a second in full binocular closed loop conditions. The correlation between the latencies in the two systems suggests that they are limited by related factors from the earliest ages tested
Infants should first have a comprehensive eye examination between 6-12 months of age. When problems are diagnosed early...treatment can be more successful. If all infants had their eyes examined, we could stamp our Lazy Eye (amblyopia) within our lifetimes!! Awesome. Ask me how. DM
Infants should first have a comprehensive eye examination between 6-12 months of age. When problems are diagnosed early...treatment can be more successful. If all infants had their eyes examined, we could stamp our Lazy Eye (amblyopia) within our lifetimes!! Awesome. Ask me how. DM
OTC cold medications no longer recommended for children younger than 2
OTC cough, cold products not proven safe or effective in this age group.
Due to the potential for serious adverse events in children aged younger than 2 years, over-the-counter cough and cold products should no longer be given to children in this age group, according to a recent Public Health Advisory issued by the FDA. ...Additionally, a study by the CDC recently concluded that an estimated 7,000 children aged 11 and younger are treated in hospitals for adverse events related to cough and cold medication. “The FDA strongly recommends to parents and caregivers that OTC cough and cold medicines not be used for children aged younger than 2 years....
To read more about this click on the title above. Just a reminder, at Northwest Optometric Associates we examine infants, toddlers and preschool children. We are also a part of the AOA's InfantSee program. Ask me about it! DM
Due to the potential for serious adverse events in children aged younger than 2 years, over-the-counter cough and cold products should no longer be given to children in this age group, according to a recent Public Health Advisory issued by the FDA. ...Additionally, a study by the CDC recently concluded that an estimated 7,000 children aged 11 and younger are treated in hospitals for adverse events related to cough and cold medication. “The FDA strongly recommends to parents and caregivers that OTC cough and cold medicines not be used for children aged younger than 2 years....
To read more about this click on the title above. Just a reminder, at Northwest Optometric Associates we examine infants, toddlers and preschool children. We are also a part of the AOA's InfantSee program. Ask me about it! DM
Children Cataracts
Breakthrough in cataract study
Researchers have identified a gene defect responsible for childhood cataracts. The research, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, also found that this gene may be responsible for a genetic kidney defect. Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, resulting in blurry vision and a disturbing glare. Treatment involves surgical removal of the affected lens and replacement with an artificial one. The cataract condition affects 14% of blind children and more than half of adults aged over 60. Although all cataract genes identified to date are known to affect children, genetic factors for age-related cataract continue to remain widely undiscovered. Through DNA analysis, the international team of researchers were able to identify and locate the defected gene from members of a large Swiss family, the majority of whom suffered from auto-somal dominant juvenile cataract. The researchers said that understanding the exact function of this gene may open up new venues for non-surgical treatment of cataract.
Researchers have identified a gene defect responsible for childhood cataracts. The research, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, also found that this gene may be responsible for a genetic kidney defect. Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, resulting in blurry vision and a disturbing glare. Treatment involves surgical removal of the affected lens and replacement with an artificial one. The cataract condition affects 14% of blind children and more than half of adults aged over 60. Although all cataract genes identified to date are known to affect children, genetic factors for age-related cataract continue to remain widely undiscovered. Through DNA analysis, the international team of researchers were able to identify and locate the defected gene from members of a large Swiss family, the majority of whom suffered from auto-somal dominant juvenile cataract. The researchers said that understanding the exact function of this gene may open up new venues for non-surgical treatment of cataract.
Do You Suffer From Computer Vision Syndrome?
...Do you use computers daily at work or at home? If so, you may be suffering from computer vision syndrome [CVS] and not even know it. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), this syndrome leaves people vulnerable to problems like dry eye, eyestrain, neck and/or backache, light sensitivity and fatigue. These symptoms can result from individual visual problems, poor work station configuration and improper work habits. ....
Click on the title above to learn more about CVS...
We at Northwest Optometric Associates diagnose and treat CVS.... email me for more information today....DM
Click on the title above to learn more about CVS...
We at Northwest Optometric Associates diagnose and treat CVS.... email me for more information today....DM
Computer Eye Problems
Eye on computers
Computers are a part of our daily life. Children may spend as much as four hours or more a day using computers both at school and at home. This screen time can cause headaches, blurred vision and dry eyes. Eye doctors are seeing more children with vision problems related to screen time. "Computers can be very useful and they're lots of fun," said Dr. Stuart Spind, O.D. of Glen Burnie, Md., on So what is a parent to do?......
For more info click on the title above.
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can be quite common in the workplace as well.... Many times a visual efficiency evaluation will help to diagnose CVS and allow your doctor to start treating this disorder...Please email me if you have any questions. DM
Computers are a part of our daily life. Children may spend as much as four hours or more a day using computers both at school and at home. This screen time can cause headaches, blurred vision and dry eyes. Eye doctors are seeing more children with vision problems related to screen time. "Computers can be very useful and they're lots of fun," said Dr. Stuart Spind, O.D. of Glen Burnie, Md., on So what is a parent to do?......
For more info click on the title above.
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can be quite common in the workplace as well.... Many times a visual efficiency evaluation will help to diagnose CVS and allow your doctor to start treating this disorder...Please email me if you have any questions. DM
Monday, February 18, 2008
YouTube Videos on Genetic Anomalies
You will find videos on Fragile X Syndrome, PKU, Neurofribromatosis and more.
http://scienceroll.com/2008/02/16/youtube-top-10-videos-about-genetic-conditions/
http://scienceroll.com/2008/02/16/youtube-top-10-videos-about-genetic-conditions/
Top 7 Tips To Treat Eye Conditions Using Vision Therapy
....Today’s vision therapy helps treat many vision-impairing eye conditions. Here are some of the tips you can consider to treat your eye conditions.
1. Traumatic Brain Injury
2. Athletic Performance
3. Balance
4. Crossed Eyes, Lazy Eyes And Binocular Disorder
5. Learning Disabilities [Learning related vision problems)
6. Focusing Problems
7. Jerking Eye ...
Click on the title to learn more...
1. Traumatic Brain Injury
2. Athletic Performance
3. Balance
4. Crossed Eyes, Lazy Eyes And Binocular Disorder
5. Learning Disabilities [Learning related vision problems)
6. Focusing Problems
7. Jerking Eye ...
Click on the title to learn more...
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