Monthly Archives: April

vision driving

Safe Driving Depends on Healthy Vision – Here’s Why

Learning to safely drive a car includes passing a driving exam, understanding the functions and safety features of your car and of course, a lot of practice.  But what they might not stress in driving school is the important role that healthy vision plays in road safety.  So along with regular maintenance on your vehicle, make sure you place the same importance on maintaining your vision to ensure a safer driving experience.

Age can make a difference

Of course it is important to take care of your vision at every age. But when it comes to driving, there are certain age groups that may encounter more difficulty if their vision is compromised. For example, young people with new driver’s licenses, as well as older drivers, may experience problems with focus and attention while driving, along with slower reaction times when on the road.  These additional risk factors make maintaining good vision even more important for staying safe while driving.

Vision disorders can make driving difficult

There are a number of ways that a vision disorder can create an unsafe situation for a driver.  Inside the car, it can greatly impact a driver’s ability to read essential information on the vehicle’s dashboard or navigation system.  Additionally, out on the road it can prohibit them from safely seeing and reacting to road hazards, warning signs, other vehicles or pedestrians, as well as completing basic maneuvers such as merging, parking or backing up. Some common vision conditions that can affect safe driving include:

  • Macular degeneration
  • Glaucoma
  • Retinal disease
  • Cataracts
  • Strabismus
  • Amblyopia
  • Nearsightedness
  • Farsightedness
  • Vascular disease
  • Retinal detachment
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Dry eye

If a driver suffers from any of these vision disorders, it can cause them to experience symptoms like poor depth perception, increased glare, a limited field of vision or slower response times – all of which can create potential danger while driving.

Regular eye exams are essential

Once you start driving it is imperative to take care of your vision, for your own safety as well as that of your passengers.  One of the most important ways to do that is to get regular eye exams.  At Family Vision Development Center, our comprehensive vision exams allow us to gather important health information to determine your likelihood of developing certain vision disorders.  Additionally, regular monitoring allows us to detect any changes in vision early on and quickly provide corrective treatment.

We are committed to providing our patients with exceptional care and helping to ensure they remain safe out on the roads.  Along with professional vision exams, we can hep you select the right pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses to best suit your driving habits and lifestyle.  And we even have a great selection of high-quality protective sunglasses from designer brands like Maui Jim and Nike.  Contact our Aurora office at 630-862-2020 to learn more or to schedule your appointment.

 

Additional information can be referenced here

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autism vision

Discover the Connection Between Autism and Vision Problems

Children with autism are faced with many challenges every day, including possible issues surrounding communication and social skills, increased sensitivity, sleep problems, and speech and language difficulties.  Additionally, kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can experience problems with their visual system, and are often more likely to have vision issues than children without ASD.  It is a good idea for parents of kids with autism to explore the possibility of certain vision conditions, as well as understand what treatment options are available.

Types of Vision Issues and Behaviors Common in Kids with Autism

Many traits and behaviors that are commonly experienced by children with ASD are similar to symptoms of certain vision conditions.  Oftentimes it is difficult to know if the symptoms are due to ASD alone, if it is an actual vision problem, or even a combination of both.  One or more of the following conditions or behaviors can be attributed to both autism and vision issues:

  • Lack of eye contact
  • Staring at light or spinning objects
  • Eye movement disorders
  • Crossed eyes
  • Difficulty following an object with their eyes
  • Amblyopia/lazy eye
  • Light sensitivity
  • Rolling eyes
  • Looking at objects from the sides of their eyes

A functional vision evaluation is important to help determine a child’s visual ability in aspects such as eye teaming and tracking, eye movements, visual processing, visual-spatial judgment and peripheral vision.

Vision Therapy Programs can be Very Effective

Vision therapy is like a kind of physical therapy for the visual system, including the eyes and brain, and can be an extremely effective form of treatment for kids with ASD. Through the use of specialized eye exercises and visual activities that are customized to target the specific needs of each individual child, a vision therapy program can help to restore visual abilities such as focusing, tracking objects, sustaining attention to visual information and coordinating visual stimuli with movements.  For a child with autism, regaining ability in these areas can help them to interact more fully with their environment and improve their overall quality of life.

We Can Help Diagnose and Treat Vision Conditions Associated with Autism

The caring, professional team at Family Vision Development Center is experienced in working with kids with ASD and is a trusted provider of comprehensive eye care services for our most vulnerable patients.  Starting with a comprehensive vision exam and functional vision evaluation, we can properly diagnose any vision issues that may be associated with a child’s autism.  Furthermore, our doctors have specialized training in the most up-to-date vision therapy techniques so we can provide the most advanced treatment options.  Contact our Aurora office at 630-862-2020 to learn more or to schedule your appointment.

 

 

Additional information can be referenced here

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