Vision plays an important role in early childhood learning and development. Kids explore and analyse the world around them through visual observation. They become curious on what they see, read, and watch. They also combine their other skills with their vision helping them gain a better understanding of how things work. Children are deemed visual learners and this only means that they need to have a good and healthy eyesight so that they can maximise all the learning experiences that they encounter each day.

While parents encounter an ever-growing list to ensure there children are developing well, proper eye care for their young ones should be very close to the top. Vision-related problems could develop even at an early age. Here are several ways by which you can better care for your children’s eyes:

1. Introduce your child to a healthy diet

Since most kids tend to favour sweets, as a parent, you need to encourage healthy habits that they can carry on into adulthood. The easiest way is to educate your child about choosing foods that are high in the following vitamins and minerals:

1. Lutein or the “eye vitamin”. Lutein is present in a lot of green, leafy vegetables, eggs, and citrus fruits.

2. Vitamin A, C, and E. This powerful combo is made up of antioxidants that help ward off the risks of macular degeneration, even cataract. These vitamins are found in a lot of fruits and vegetables so stock on more pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, apples, or avocados. There are a lot out there so be sure that your kid’s fruit and vegetable selection are rich and broad.

3. Zinc. This mineral is involved in several metabolic processes and helps the eyes by preventing inflammation in our eye tissues, therefore, promoting proper circulation. High-fibre oatmeal and cereals, as well as different types of nuts and beans, are good sources of zinc.

4. Omega 3-Fatty Acids. These essential “oils” helps fight off the effects of diabetes including diabetic eye disease. Omega 3-fatty acids are also anti-inflammatory agents that is why you should be serving seafood most especially fish, spinach, and beans to your kids.

2. Have your child’s eyes checked

Kids also need to have their regular visit to an eye care professional - be it with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Make this a part of your child’s regular health check most especially during important milestones such as:

School: There will be a lot of activities that will involve vision like writing, identifying colours, playing, drawing, reading, and a whole lot more; andActivity: Being active in sports or any extracurricular activities

You also need to schedule an eye check-up for your child if:

He or she complains of any issues with their vision;He or she reports any recurring headaches; orIf there is any accident that might have hurt or damaged your child’s eyesThe teacher reports any concerns with their visionYou have noticed they avoid reading or stand very close to the TV

In general, it is good practice to schedule an annual family eye check-up.

3. Educate yourself on different vision disorders and major eye problems

The best way to avoid any health-related issues including those of vision is awareness. You have to be ahead in order to know the potential risks of your child developing a vision problem, of detecting symptoms, and knowing when to seek help. Take advantage of the power of the internet by researching on information about eye care, as well as paediatric care in general. You don’t need to be an expert in any topics that you might find as there are eye care professionals who can provide validated and expert advice but knowing a few background information will, of course, be very helpful. You can also subscribe to blogs or follow social media pages that offer content on eye care.

4. Restrict your child’s screen time

Children’s eyes are still too young to endure long screen exposure. Long and uninterrupted use of smart devices mean they are being exposed to blue light and that their eye muscles are being put to a difficult workout. Sometimes, too much screen time can lead to digital eye strain or computer eye syndrome. Other children are even developing myopia which is near-sightedness, all because they have become used to focusing on small screens that are too close to their eyes. Be sure to be on top of your child’s smart device usage, making sure to restrict too much screen time.

5. Have your child wear appropriate clothing accessories.

This refers to sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats when going outdoors on a hot sunny day. You need to protect your child’s eyes just as you would protect his or her skin from the harmful rays of the sun. You have to remember that the sun is the biggest source of blue light which can damage vision. Having the right gear outside to protect their eyes is a must.

6. Encourage open communication between you and your child

Encourage your child to discuss with you whenever he or she thinks that something is wrong with his or her health. Teach your child proper eye care. But on top of that, let him or her know that the best way for you to help is by informing you of any pain or changes in his or her vision right away.

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There are many trained professionals that are involved in the practice of caring for the eyes. Along with that are certain characteristics and factors that you need to look into because finding the right professional can certainly avert many vision-related problems. Now, some patients are able to find their choice right away while some take time in meeting and trialling different options. We want to be able to provide you with some helpful tips in finally getting to meet the right specialist. Here they are:

1. Know the difference between an optical dispenser, optometrist, and an ophthalmologist

The professional that you will seek help from must have the right training and experience on the kind of care that your eyes need. There are three different people who are concerned with eye care but all of them have different specializations.

You may have heard about the term optical dispenser before. This person has training in designing, verifying, and fitting eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct vision problems. They cannot make prescriptions as they rely on the prescriptions given by optometrists or occasionally ophthalmologists. They are technicians and not medical doctors and so you would normally go to them after seeing either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for your eye care concerns.

An optometrist, on the other hand, provides primary vision care which includes examining for eye health and vision problems, diagnosing vision disorders, and correcting refractive errors by prescribing and dispensing eye glasses, contact lenses, may even prescribe topical medication for eye conditions. They are not medical doctors and so at times, they may need to refer patients with serious cases to ophthalmologists.

A third professional is also involved in caring for the eyes and yes, that is an ophthalmologist. They are medical doctors who have completed college plus at least 8 years of combined study in medical school, internship, and hospital-based residency in ophthalmology. They can prescribe topical and oral medication for treatment and they also perform eye surgeries.

2. Seek recommendations from your network

Getting referrals from people who have the knowledge about this field or from those who may have gone out to seek the same care before can be helpful. People will gladly share a good experience with a professional and will be very eager to provide some insights regarding speciality, availability, pricing, and even attitude. Word-of-mouth is always an honest and a straightforward review about a service so go seek recommendations or reviews from your own family members, friends, physician, and co-workers. You may also want to check out organisations or online forums of eye care patients as they may have a directory of opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists who are on their radar.

3. Check their website and call their clinic to find out more details about their services

Every business establishment has its own website these days and most of the information about their group and the services that they provide are in there. Most of the time, they also offer some helpful information regarding eyecare and these can come in the form of blogs.

Take advantage of the power of the internet. Go ahead and do your research on your prospective eyecare help. Online, you will also be able to find heaps of information about their background and previous professional endeavours.

4. Ask questions during the initial consultation

Do not hesitate to interview your prospective eye care professional. Try to gather as much information that you can about his or her practice. There is nothing wrong with getting to know them for, after all, this person is who's going to help you take care of your eyes' health.

To conclude, patients need to do their homework by researching on their potential eye care professional. Finding the right one for you is just as important as finding a family doctor. A perfect match would be best as you need someone who has the right level of training and expertise to help care for your eyes, detect any pending disorders, and treat them. You need someone that you can depend on when you need help with your eyes, and with whom you will be comfortable with during consultations and surgeries.

We hope all the best for your journey in finding the right eye care professional. If you need any help, you may book a consultation with any of our optometrists at The Eyecare Place who are all ready to assist you with your eye care needs.

Diabetes is a complex and a progressive disease that causes a person’s glucose (sugar) level to become too high in the blood. When you have diabetes, either your body produces little or no insulin (Type 1 Diabetes) or becomes resistant to insulin (Type 2 Diabetes). Without insulin, glucose stays in your blood and over time, this can cause a host of complications including cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, Alzheimer’s disease, hearing impairment, skin conditions, and the most common, diabetic eye disease.

There are about 1.25 million Australians who have diabetes, with an additional 108,000 patients recently diagnosed in the past 12 months. It is highly possible that these people will develop some form of diabetic eye disease within 20 years after diagnosis. This report is very alarming as this means that Australia could be facing a major eye health concern in the next 20 years.

What is Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetic Eye Disease actually consists of a group of eye conditions that affect people with diabetes. It includes the following:

Diabetic Retinopathy

High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels on our retina, the part of our eyes that sends light signals to brain in order for us to see. Various changes can occur from swelling and leaking of the blood vessels to closing up and blocking blood from circulating the eye normally. The later stage of diabetic retinopathy is when abnormal vessels suddenly grow around the area. Some of the most obvious symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are blurred and double vision, dark or floating spots, difficulty seeing at night, being overly sensitive to glare, and problems with balance and other activities that involve visual recognition.

Diabetic Macular Oedema (DME).

The area of the retina responsible for our central vision called the macula. One complication of diabetes is fluid accumulation at the macula from leaky blood vessels. This results in significantly blurred vision, floaters or double vision. Macular Oedema is a typical consequence of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Cataract

Cataract is an natural, age-related eye condition amongst people who are 60 years old and above, but for people with diabetes it develops and progresses at a much faster rate. Cataract is the clouding of the lens inside the eyes which reduces the light that is received by the retina and also reduces the sharpness of our vision.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when there is damage to the optic nerve that connects our eyes to our brain. Generally, it can be considered to be either be slowly progressive (open angle glaucoma) or cause permanent damage very rapidly (closed angle glaucoma). Both eventually result in a irreversible loss of peripheral vision. In diabetics, the risk of developing glaucoma is twice as high.

How Common Are These Complications Here in Australia?

Everyone with diabetes is at risk of developing these eye complications, and if poorly managed, these conditions will most likely lead to permanent blindness. Diabetic eye disease is so common amongst Australians that three separate studies have all unanimously placed the average number at one diabetic eye disease patient for every three diabetics.

The studies were made by The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), The Melbourne Vision Impairment Project, and The Blue Mountains Eye Study from NSW. Here are the numbers:

Diabetes is considered a national epidemic as 280 more Australians develop it every day. Basing it on the percentage derived by industry leaders, the number of people suffering from retinopathy and macular oedema will most likely double. Hence, the number of people who are at risk of going blind will increase as well.

What are the Causes of the Prevalence of Diabetic Eye Disease in Australia?

Most patients are unaware that they have diabetic eye disease because they were unable to report its early signs. Remember to go and see your optometrist as soon as you start experiencing any changes in your vision. This is especially important if you are already a diabetic or suspect that you may have developed it already. Early detection is always best.

An unhealthy lifestyle, poor physical activity, smoking, and an unhealthy diet are just some of the causes of diabetes that result in a myriad of complications including those in vision. An easy way to prevent yourself from developing diabetes is making a conscious turn towards living a healthier life. Maintain your blood pressure to the prescribed level and then monitor your glucose and cholesterol levels too.

Many people disregard the importance of proper consultation with an experienced optometrist and don't have regular eye exams. Don't hesitate to have your eye checked should you be experiencing any of the symptoms described above. Book an eye test now before it’s too late.

In general, Diabetic Eye Disease is a serious condition that one should be aware of, whether you are diabetic or not. Also, people should be careful of the many causes of diabetes as developing it could easily take you from one condition to another including retinopathy, DME, and possibly cataract and glaucoma. It is a challenge for Australians now to lead a healthier lifestyle and observe preventive measures. If you have diabetes already, please ensure you follow the recommended steps on managing your condition. For more information today.

Have you been experiencing headaches, dizziness, and worse, blurred vision after hours spent on the computer? How about after using your smart phone? Yes? If so, you may be at risk of developing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or Digital Eye Strain. CVS is a condition resulting from focusing the eyes on the computer or on a digital screen for a prolonged period, which most of the time is continuous and uninterrupted. It covers a broad range of vision-related problems, and complaints are on the rise as the use of digital devices are increasing year on year. In a study conducted by IAB Australia and Nielsen in 2015, it has been reported that smart phone and tablet ownership in Australia have increased by more than 38% and 78% respectively for each device. This rate is equivalent to 15.3 million units for smart phones and 11.2 million units for tablets sold in 2015 and we know that the figures are even higher now as we have all embraced a more digital lifestyle.

The effects of prolonged screen time can lead to more serious eye problems. As you spend more hours on these digital devices, your eyes are being put on an endurance test which is causing them extreme exhaustion. The effects may not appear instantly but issues may develop over time. We do hope that you report any minor concerns to your optometrist right away but for now, we want you to be aware of what you could be dealing with if you are indeed someone who spends a lot of time looking at these screens. Here are a few things we wish you knew about the effects of prolonged screen time.

1. Digital screens expose you to blue light

Although we see sunlight as white, it is actually composed of seven colour rays – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet lights. The red range has longer wavelengths and carry less energy while those in the blue range have shorter wavelengths and thus carry more energy. Blue light has many benefits such as memory booster, cognitive function enhancer, and is generally needed by children as not enough sunlight can cause jaundice in newborns and could also impair eye development. On the other hand, too much exposure to blue light can increase the risk of macular degeneration.

Blue light is everywhere and that is because its primary source is the sun. There is a small amount of blue light emitted by digital screens but this small amount multiplies exponentially because of the huge amount of time that we spend on our computers, smart phones, and tablets.

2. CVS is more common than you think.

This is not a surprise as subjecting your eyes to uninterrupted sessions of staring and focusing on a screen will, of course, exhaust the muscles around them. About 50% to 90% of people whose work involves computers exhibit some form of eye strain like irritated or sore and even dry eyes. Other symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, headaches, neck or back pains.

If you are someone who uses computers on a regular basis, better check with your optometrist the ways by which you can protect your eyes. It may include arranging your workstation, fixing the lighting in your room, adjusting the brightness and contrast of the screen, using eye drops, or using a special type of eye glasses. But for the protection to be more effective, best that it is specially prescribed for you by an eye specialist who knows and understands your eye care history and needs. Never ignore the chance to care for your eyes now while it is not yet late. Remember, prevention will always be better than cure.

3. Myopia is on the rise here in Australia and in the US. Sadly, this report includes myopia in children as well.

Myopia is also known as nearsightedness. It causes people to have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. It is one of the most common refractive errors of the eye and is being considered by eye care experts now as a public health crisis in waiting. Why is this so? According to the Myopia Program at the Brien Holden Vision Institute, Australia, 5 billion (50% of the world population) people will be myopic while 1 billion (10%) people will be highly myopic by 2050.

The program even elaborates that this has now become very alarming because myopia is also prevalent even in children who are aged 18 years old and below. They conducted a study back in 2004 on 12-year old schoolchildren in Sydney and found out that 12% have myopia. The number increased to 19% when they did the study again in 2009. Myopia in children is now at 30% globally.

Could our little ones be at risk of developing myopia? Yes, if they are allowed too much screen time. Children’s eyes are too young to be exposed to intense screen exposure, receiving too much blue light and being put to a strenuous eye muscle workout. Their eyes are not yet built for that kind of activity. Be sure to monitor your children’s computer, phone, and tablet usage at home. Talk to their school as well on how they approach this matter.

4. Presbyopia is not directly caused by CVS but you will need help to better see things that are on digital screens.

Presbyopia is an eye condition whereby focussing up close becomes more difficult and it occurs in everyone around age 40. People with presbyopia have trouble looking at small screens such as tablets and smartphones and even at computers that are very bright.

We gradually lose the ability to see things up close as we age meaning presbyopia is normal but this does not mean patients should give up on activities that include the use of computers or other digital devices. They may still do so with the aid of reading glasses, or bifocal or progressive addition lenses. There are also multifocal and monovision contact lenses. Others undergo surgery for treatment. There are several options available and it is always best to work with your optometrist in determining the best approach that is right for you.

Too much screen time as you have just read can cause discomfort, eye strain, and vision problems. As a general advice, optometrists would recommend the 20-20-20 rule. It is very simple to do so try your best to practice this most especially if you are a heavy digital device user: for every 20 minutes screen time, for 20 seconds, glance at something that is 20 feet away from you. Also, if you think that you might be suffering from CVS or if you are concerned that your little one might be at risk, go and see your optometrist right away. Have your eyes checked at The Eyecare Place or call ( if you have other enquiries.

Also, watch out for our succeeding blogs and we’ll discuss more information about CVS and other eye care issues as well as tips on how to deal with them.