In this modern age, individuals are expected to process large amounts of visual information on a daily basis. Without sight, people could not communicate or learn at the rate society dictates. Although eyesight is highly important for life, it often falls short in its ability to perform functions necessary to daily life. Problems such as myopia, hyperopia, and refractive errors interfere with a large portion of the population in the United States. Luckily, numerous methods are available to the public that are able to reduce or completely eliminate symptoms regarding vison impairments. Vision therapy is a versatile treatment used for visual malfunctions. Vision therapy is a treatment prescribed to patients suffering from nervous system …show more content…
Eyestrain, headaches, blurred vison, and double vision are the most common symptoms one may possess due to a visual malfunction. Individuals may also have trouble doing tasks that require fast visual comprehension (Vision Therapy FAQ). People who struggle with reading and writing may get mentally fatigued easily, make written mistakes, and work slowly. Individuals may look past the seemingly simple mistakes, but over time these warning signs will develop into full blow problems that will take even longer to fix (Krebs, W. and Krebs, P., …show more content…
This simple, none invasive procedure is able to provide individuals with a cheaper opportunity than surgery or for those who do not wish to have surgery (Barrett, 2009). The more vision therapy is used, the more well-known this therapy will become and perhaps one day children and adults alike may not be misdiagnosed with a disease they do not possess (Boden and Brodeur, 1999). Although there are two major types of vision therapy, each session will differ between optometrists and ophthalmologists, but nevertheless the benefits will remain the same. These lasting benefits will have a tremendous impact in the daily lives of anyone who completes the therapy (Vision Therapy FAQ). Finally, if it was not for vision therapy’s use of physical as well as mental exercises, human’s poor vision would interfere with daily tasks and society could not function as efficiently as it does now (Krebs, W. and Krebs, P.,
Optometrists have accepted vision therapy, which is a medical treatment for optical muscle disabilities, as a feasible treatment used for eye related problems; claiming the treatment can strengthen vision and give the patient the opportunity to understand visuals quicker and clearer (Press). Vision therapy originated in the 1950s and over the past 25 years, has gained popularity, mainly because of new technological innovations in the field of treatment. Generally, vision therapy is prescribed as a measure mainly for people between the ages of 3 and 18. With the results from a comprehensive series of eye tests, the optometrist can work with the patient using special instruments—prisms, filters, occluders, and eye lenses—and strengthen the eye muscles, thus improving sight. According to optometrists in favor of vision therapy, these methods of treatment using these instruments function as safer routes to repair eye disabilities. Although vision therapy can yield favorable results, the practice as a treatment for innate eye disabilities has been in hot debate lately; as it can exceed $8000 and insurance companies do not cover the treatment. For decades, insurance companies have refused to accept vision therapy as a legitimate method for repairing eyesight (Boink). Concomitant with lack of insurance, the cost for a full treatment can exceed $8000, and doctors cannot guarantee a successful outcome. Recently, parents of children with eye related disabilities, such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (cross-eye), and doctors have attempted to cooperate with public schools to allow families access to school-funded doctors to practice vision therapy. With a tight budget, most schools cannot afford to supply vision therapy, and a...
My interest in the career of optometry stems from my first experience in the optometry office to receive my first pair of glasses when I was in middle school. I distinctly remember the moment when my optometrist slipped my new glasses over my eyes for the first time. Suddenly, everything in the room came into sharp, clear focus. I knew that the glasses would help me see the board in school, but I was astonished to find that I could see small details about the room, as it had never before occurred to me that I should have been able to see these details. I was also surprised that I was even able to see the expressions on the faces of people who were standing far away from me. It was one of the most incredible, freeing, and empowering moments of my life. As I walked out of the optometry office, I felt
Fortunately, cataract formation on the optical lenses proves to be a malady that is simple to fix. Future scholarship on such a topic could serve to address the remaining high statistic of blindness due to cataracts. Perhaps formation of cataracts is under diagnosed due to limited health care availability for some individuals.
Myopia is a condition in which visual images come into focus in front of the retina of the eye. This condition causes objects at a distance to appear blurry, while objects nearby are seen clearly. If not severe, myopia can be treated with contacts or glasses. Other treatments for myopia include photoreactive keratectomy (PRK), LASIK, and orthokeratology. Degenerative myopia is a quick progression of myopia and leads to complete loss of vision. The treatment for degenerative myopia is a combination of medication and laser surgery.
Glaucoma is a common and important health problem. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in Western Society (Hoskins & Kass, 1989). It is responsible for ten percent of all blindness in the United States and continues to be the second or third most common cause of blindness in the world (Bunce, Fraser, & Wormald, 1999). It is estimated that two million people in the United States have been diagnosed as having glaucoma. Glaucoma is known to affect about two percent of Caucasians beginning at the age of 40 with an increasing risk for those over the age of 60. This risk is especially high if a member of the family has glaucoma or diabetes. Further, there is a higher risk of a glaucoma diagnosis for African Americans over the age of 40.
Life revolves around being able to see things. Although individuals who are blind can lead a full and happy life, someone with excellent vision who suddenly loses theirs or notices a decrease in their visual acuity over time may find it difficult to adapt. Thankfully, with the help of an optometrist, individuals can actively work to preserve their vision for as long as possible. Phoenix Eye Care must be a priority for all, as advanced technology allows threats to the eyes to be detected as the earliest stage. The right treatment can help to slow or stop the progression before major issues develop. For this reason, every individual needs to undergo routine eye exams.
My father made a successful recovery and I became inspired. I realized that having the gift of sight is something people take for granted. Therefore, when I embarked on my undergraduate journey, I partook in several activities to help foster my thirst for knowledge about optometry. For instance, I became the treasurer of the pre-optometry club at the University of Florida. As an executive board member, I opened doors for others to find their passion for optometry through managing our budget and finances to sponsor trips and activities. Meanwhile, I also worked as a secretary and shadowed at the Eye Associates of Orlando, where I gained practical knowledge. I also volunteered for the KidSight Vision Screening Program where I entered data of visio...
Optic nerve atrophy is a debilitating condition that in almost all cases leads to blindness or near blindness. According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (2014), the disease is classified as “mild to severe damage to the optic nerve that can adversely affect central vision and color vision” (“Optic nerve atrophy,” para. 2). What is even more devastating is that there is no known cure for the disease – the damage caused to the eye by optic nerve atrophy cannot be undone. In order to treat the disease, the only option is “limiting further optic nerve damage (if possible),” (“Optic nerve atrophy,” para. 5). For those with optic nerve damage as a result of the disease, if vision has not been completely lost, co...
Sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell are all known most commonly as the five senses (Peate & Jones, 2014). People uses these five senses on an everyday basis to perceive the world presented before them. The five senses allows people to see what’s before them, admire beauty, detect potential threats, feel, and listen. Some of these senses such as hearing and sight work together (Peate & Jones, 2014). In some cases people are not given the privilege, that others take for granted, or no longer have the privilege of one or many of these senses due to disease processes or trauma. Worldwide, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness (Peate & Jones, 2014). Glaucoma is a condition that causes optic nerve damage to the eye due to an increase
...r vision, should get an eye examination. Regular examinations are important, especially for older people and those at high risk groups.
...s, trouble focusing on close up objects to visualize them clearly, squinting, and irritability after sustained concentration, and burning of the eyes. Treatment for hyperopia is no different from myopia. A person can cure hyperopia and myopia with glasses, contacts, and surgery. The most common type of surgery is Lasik. Lasik surgery is for humans who have relatively simple prescription lenses. Lasik surgery only takes about less than a minute. Surprisingly yes it does but there are some risks to it. Some loose vision, others are over treated or under treated; patients may develop severe dry eye syndrome, and much more. If the patient decides to continue the procedure, the ophthalmologist first puts eye drops in your eye than cleanses the cornea. A speculum is used during procedure to keep patients eyes open during surgery. It says to be comfortable for the patient.
One of the serious health problems that occurs as people age is their ability to see. The eye is a very complex, yet sensitive, part of the body. There are many things that make up the ability to see, for instance the pupil, which controls the ...
...ical condition that can easily be corrected. Whether one chooses a simple solution such as glasses or contact lenses or opts for a more complicated answer such as surgery or implantable contact lenses is entirely up to the individual. Based on what I've researched, I feel that corneal refractory therapy is an easy and reasonably safe way to not only cure the symptoms, but also permanently correct your vision.
To understand the technology that helps correct eye sight, one must know about the parts of the eye, what the functions of the eye parts are, and the structure/ anatomy of the eye. There are vast parts of the eye, so only the most important and known will be listed. The list is ciliary body, sclera, choroid, retina, fovea, macula, optic nerve, optic disk, vitreous humor, lens, aqueous humor, pupil, iris, and cornea. All these parts of the eye are the reason why people can see and without one of these parts their vision will be extremely damaged, if not blind. The ciliary body is the transparent part of the eye which is connected to the lens that releases aqueous humor (a liquid) and it also controls a muscle which changes the shape while the eye is focusing. The sclera is the tough white out layer that is connected to the optic nerves to help the structure and safety of the eye. The choroid is located in between the sclera and the retina, and it provides blood supplies, which also nourishes the eye. The
We need to do everything we can to protect our eyesight. It is crucial that we guard our eyesight with the resources we have available. Prevention and education are key factors to maintaining healthy eyesight. Visiting the eye doctor regularly, recognizing risk factors, and preventative eye care will help lengthen eyesight; rather than prematurely shorten it. This is my evaluation of the importance of an eye exam through my first hand experience, focusing specifically on glaucoma tests during eye exams, and how tests contribute to long-term vision.