Vision Blog

A daily dose of a medication called pirenzepine can slow the rate of progressive nearsightedness, or myopia, in children, reports a study in the August issue of the Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus). Nearsightedness is an eye problem that causes objects at a distance to be blurry. A nearsighted person can clearly see objects that are close to them, but has a hard time focusing on objects that are far away. Myopia tends to worsen over time in many children.

In the study, nearsighted children were randomly assigned to treatment with pirenzepine gel or an inactive placebo gel. After a year, the average increase in myopia was significantly less for children using pirenzepine. More studies will be needed before pirenzepine can be recommended for children, including research for long-term effects, length of treatment and optimal methods of drug administration.

Related:

• Basics of Nearsightedness
• Video: Are You Nearsighted?
• Controlling Myopia

_{Image © David Sacks / Getty Images}

_Source:

Elsevier, Medication Slows Progression Of Myopia In Children. Medical News Today, 28 Aug 2008.

A question from our forum:

I have 20/25 vision in one eye and 20/30 in the other along with mild astigmatism. This explains why I have so much trouble seeing things at a distance, especially in school...Taking notes is quite hard for me because first of all, being 25-30 feet away from the board isn't uncommon, and second of all, there's the constant shift of focus from the board to the paper.

So anyway, the doctor noted that without a prescription I was clearly struggling, but with one, I could read with both speed and accuracy, and said that it was up to me whether I wanted to go for glasses or not...And since I'm sick and tired of not being able to see lots of things I want to, I was like, yeah, let's do it.

Well, my mom thinks that I'm just making this an excuse to get glasses because I want them.

My question is, is it unreasonable of me to want her to pay for them since I can see better with them?

Answer from the eye doctor:

No, it is not unreasonable. As long as your refractive error/prescription is of a significant amount and it really decreases your symptoms...then it is absolutely worth it! Parents of children I see in the office always ask this question before they spend anywhere from $150 to $350 on their children's glasses. I always make my recommendations as if the patient were my own child.

Is this expensive? Not in my opinion. First, you have to keep in mind that a spectacle prescription is a custom product made only for your eyes. In addtion, this is an object that you are going to wear every day for one or two years - and they actually will hold up for that long! What other item...such as jewelry, clothing or other medical device - do you spend money on that will hold up with daily abuse and correct your vision problem at the same time? I say it is money very well spent.

VSP (Vsion Service Plan) has acquired Marchon Eyewear Inc. for $735 million. VSP is the nation's largest eyecare benefits provider, with 55 million subscribers. Marchon Eyewear is one of the largest distributors of eyewear and sunwear.

_{Source: Sacramento Business Journal, VSP buys Marchon Eyewear Inc. for $735M. 18 Aug 2008.}

I believe all children should have a complete eye exam before starting school, usually around age 5 or 6. (Sometimes your pediatrician will notice a problem earlier.) I frequently perform eye exams on babies, so children can have their eyes checked at any age. Parents must remember that there is more to eye health than having 20/20 vision. A complete eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist can detect eye problems that school vision screenings may miss.

Top Reasons to Have an Eye Exam

School Vision Screenings

Vision Development

Nearly 50 percent of adults (age 20 and older) in the United States have refraction errors in their eyes, according to an article in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Refractive errors affect vision, resulting in less than 20/20 vision. They usually require corrective lenses for correction or improvement.

According to the article, refractive error is the most common condition affecting eye health of the U.S. population. Providing eye care to these adults, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, costs about $3.8 to $7.2 billion dollars per year.

Suggested Reading:

• What It Means to Be Nearsighted
• What It Means to Be Farsighted
• What Is Astigmatism?

_{Source: McKenney, Anna Sophia. Refractive Errors Significantly Affect Adults In United States. Medical News Today, 13 Aug 2008.}

Researchers at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science have identified a mutation in a gene associated with miniature wired-hair dachshunds, offering hope that may help people suffering from cone-rod dystrophies. Cone-rod dystrophies (CRDs) are eye diseases caused by loss of the photoreceptor cells in the retina that sometimes lead to total blindness. Researchers are hopeful that the mutated genes may lead to therapies for people suffering from these eye disorders.

_{Source: Genome Research, Mutation Found In Dachshund Gene May Help Develop Therapies For Humans With Blindness. Medical News Today, 07 Aug 2008.}

_{Photo © Getty Images}

A question from our forum:

I have suffered with conjunctivitis on and off since last August. 4 Weeks ago I was told I had a scratched cornea, pain was horrific, that is now better but can't get rid of pink eye and excessive watering, it is also sticky in the morning. Anybody have any idea what is causing this ongoing problem and how to get rid of it? I have tried everything.

Answer from the doctor:

Is the doctor sure that you don't have an underlying dry eye condition with perhaps blepharitis? After you finish your last round of antibiotic eye drops, try this: use artificial tears every two hours, every day. Then, use Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and lather it up on a very warm wash cloth. Scrub your eyelid margins 20 times back and forth, every night for two weeks.

Suggested Reading:

• What Is Pink Eye?
• What Is Blepharitis?
• Dry Eye Syndrome

Do you find it difficult to drive in the dark? Many people find driving at night intimidating as they age. Follow these tips to help improve your night vision.

Recommended reading:

Vision and Life Stages

_{Photo © Chase Jarvis / Getty Images}

A new study offers new hope for adults with untreated lazy eye. The canadian study shows that the brain regions responsible for vision are capable of adapting in adults. Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is an eye problem that sometimes occurs in growing children. Lazy eye is often associated with crossed eyes. If lazy eye is not detected and treated early in life, loss of vision and depth perception can occur.

Just 15 minutes of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) shows improvements. The treatment involves placing a handheld coil against the scalp. The coil delivers a rapid train of magnetic pulses. Repeated doses of rTMS may allow for longer-lasting effects.

Suggested Reading:

• What Is Lazy Eye?
• Amblyopia

_{Source: Genova, Cathleen, New Hope for Adults with Lazy Eye." Medical News Today, 20 Jul 2008.}

If your contacts are seeing a lot of pool time this summer, you may want to consider an alternative. Wearing contact lenses in the pool could lead to eye infections. Because soft contacts contain a lot of water, they act like sponges for microorganisms and chemicals. If the pool water is dirty, it could lead to coneal ulcers or infections.

If you wear contacts and want to swim in the pool, eye doctors recommend thoroughly cleaning the lenses immediately after swimming. Better yet, wear disposable contacts that can be thrown away after a dip in the pool. Also, you may want to invest in a pair of prescription goggles to wear in the pool instead of contacts.

Further reading:

• All About Contacts
• Before You Get Contacts
• 10 Ways to Minimize Infections