Question 1

At what age should my child have his/her eyes examined?

Accepted Answer

Children should have their first routine eye exam at 6 months of age and then annually thereafter. Since babies and toddlers have no way of knowing if what they see is "normal" and "clear" or not, having a comprehensive eye exam is the best way to ensure their eyes and vision is developing properly. In children, this should always include a cycloplegic refraction.

Question 2

What is myopia and what causes it?

Accepted Answer

Myopia is near-sightedness. In children, this is partially hereditary and partially caused by environmental factors. When a child's myopia progresses, it is often because the eye is growing too long. Studies show that if we can move the focal point of light in front of the mid peripheral retina we can slow the progression of myopia. We can do this using specialty contact lenses, myopia control glasses, or a special concentration of atropine eye drops. The increased use of cell phones and computers, as well as less time outdoors, is probably a contributing factor.

Question 3

What's the Difference Between an Optometrist & an Ophthalmologist?

Accepted Answer

An optometrist is a healthcare professional who is licensed to provide primary vision care. They are kind of like the family doctors of eyes. Their scope of practice includes routine eye exams, glasses and contact lens prescriptions, and medical management of certain eye diseases and conditions. An optometrist completes an undergraduate degree (3-4 years) and then a professional degree (4 years) at an accredited optometry school.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who is licensed to practice medicine and perform vision-related surgical procedures. They manage complex medical conditions and often receive referrals from optometrists for further management or surgical care.

Question 4

What is a residency-trained optometrist? Why did Dr. Capo do a residency?

Accepted Answer

An optometric residency is additional training with focus in a particular area. Dr. Capo completed a residency in pediatrics, binocular vision, and vision rehabilitation. This means she obtained extra knowledge and training in these areas. Here at A B See, Dr. Capo chooses only to practice her areas of expertise. She welcomes pediatric patients for both routine eye exams and vision rehabilitation, including all children with diverse abilities and needs.

Question 5

What is Vision Therapy?

Accepted Answer

Vision therapy is an individualized doctor-supervised program. It is used to treat eye conditions, such as convergence insufficiency (poor eye alignment and coordination) or amblyopia ("lazy eye"). Through Vision Therapy, Dr. Capo aims to improve important visual skills, such as eye tracking, eye focusing, and eye teaming. Without these visual skills, simple tasks like reading or copying notes from the board become difficult. Common symptoms include using a finger while reading, blurry near vision, double vision, eyestrain, and headache. A visual skills assessment is needed first.

Question 6

How do I know Vision Therapy is right for my child?

Accepted Answer

There are some conditions which evidence suggests can be treated by vision therapy, such as convergence insufficiency, accommodative insufficiency, and amblyopia. An evidence-based provider, such as Dr. Capo, will provide an honest evaluation and recommendation based on your child's symptoms and the examination findings. This is done through a visual skills assessment. She also works closely with other providers, such as neuropsychology, pediatric physiotherapy, and pediatric occupational therapy, to accurately determine the best and most cost-effective therapy for your child.

Question 7

Are there different types of vision therapy providers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are differences between evidence-based and behavioral optometry providers. An evidence-based provider will only recommend vision therapy for conditions where there is scientific support, and will be transparent about what therapy can and cannot treat.

Question 8

What is low vision rehabilitation?

Accepted Answer

Low vision rehabilitation is a specialized process aimed at helping individuals with significant visual impairments maximize their remaining vision. It involves a comprehensive assessment by an optometrist with training in low vision, such as Dr. Capo. Rehabilitation plans often include training in the use of visual aids, adaptive techniques for daily activities, and environmental modifications to enhance safety and independence. The goal is to improve quality of life by enabling individuals to perform tasks they might have found challenging due to their vision loss.

Question 9

What are blue light-blocking lenses, do I really need them?

Accepted Answer

Blue light is part of visible light and has a wavelength close to UV rays on the light spectrum. It is naturally produced by the sun, given off by fluorescent light bulbs, and emitted by LED screens. Evidence shows that blue light can affect sleep, so it is recommended to use a blue light blocker or change your computer and phone settings 2 hours before bed. There is little evidence showing blue light is harmful to the visual system and contributes to health problems in the eyes.

Question 10

How can a child's learning in school be affected by their vision?

Accepted Answer

A child's ability to learn is strongly dependent on having a normal visual system. Visual acuity (being able to see the 20/20 letters on the eye chart) is only one aspect of about 17 visual skills that are required for reading and learning. Children should be assessed with a gold standard eye exam annually to ensure there are no visual clarity or coordination challenges creating a barrier to learning.

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Frequently Asked Eye Health Questions — FAQs

At what age should my child have his/her eyes examined?

What is myopia and what causes it?

What's the Difference Between an Optometrist & an Ophthalmologist?

What is a residency-trained optometrist? Why did Dr. Capo do a residency?

What is Vision Therapy?

How do I know Vision Therapy is right for my child?

Are there different types of vision therapy providers?

What is low vision rehabilitation?

What are blue light-blocking lenses, do I really need them?

How can a child's learning in school be affected by their vision?

What are blue light-blocking lenses, do I really need them?

How can a child's learning in school be affected by their vision?

My child doesn't have any visual concerns, do they still need an eye exam?

Does my child have pink eye?

How does MSP coverage work for children's eye exams?

Why are Dr. Capo's exams different?

Why are eye drops an important part of the pediatric eye exam?

What if my child doesn't know the alphabet or can't fully participate?

Is an eye exam important even if my child seems to see well?

What are some common vision problems in children?

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