Monthly Archives: July

4 Important Tips to Avoid a Dangerous Head Injury This Summer

Summer in the Chicago area is a great time to get outside and enjoy the weather.  However, certain summer activities can present the opportunity for a head injury or concussion to occur, so extra precautions should be taken in these instances.  A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that results from a bump, blow or jolt to the head or the body that is violent enough to cause the brain to hit the skull.  This type of head injury can be very serious, often with long-term lasting effects to your vision, memory, concentration and more. The following tips can help you stay safe this summer and avoid a dangerous traumatic brain injury.

Wear a Seat Belt

Summer often brings more people out on the roads. Vacations, events, festivals and other summer activities create extra traffic during the warmer months. On top of that, summer is the time for road construction, so lanes may be uneven or rerouted.  Summer driving conditions make it all the more important to wear a seat belt, as auto accidents are one of the most common causes of a head injury.

Wear a Helmet

Being active in the summer is a great way to stay healthy while enjoying the weather.  But it is important to wear a helmet whenever necessary in order to avoid a serious head injury.  For example, kids and adults on bikes should never ride without a helmet.  Additionally, anyone participating in a sporting activity should always wear the appropriate head protection. And never get on a moving motorcycle without securing a well-fitting helmet.

Pay Attention

It’s easy to get distracted while you’re having fun, but paying attention is an essential way to prevent accidents. Poolside decks can be extremely slippery with great potential to cause a fall if you’re not careful.  Another pool danger to watch out for is the depth of the water.  Diving into a shallow pool can cause a serious head injury, so always check before jumping or diving in.  Most importantly, parents need to pay attention to kids’ activities.  Along with pools, playground accidents are another big cause of serious head injuries. Always supervise and offer help when needed on playground equipment to avoid a dangerous fall.

Stay Hydrated

Lack of adequate fluid intake can be dangerous during the warmer months as it can result in dehydration.  Participating in outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking or sporting activities, can cause a greater loss of fluids.  Dehydration that occurs when you do not replenish those fluids can result in dizziness and fainting. A head injury is certainly possible from a fall like this.

Vision Therapy Following a Head Injury

If you have experienced any signs of a concussion following a head injury, it is very important to seek the appropriate care right away. Along with common symptoms of a concussion such as headache, nausea, dizziness, or sluggishness, some vision symptoms to watch out for include:

• Eye focusing – not being able to quickly and easily see an object clearly (objects look blurry)
• Eye Movements and Tracking – not able to easily follow a moving object from one spot to another, or switch fixation from one object to another. Sometimes this can be reported by students saying that words are moving on the page.
• Depth Perception Issues – difficulty with accurately judging the distance between objects.
• Eye Teaming – not able to get both eyes to work together to focus on an object, often reported as double vision
• Peripheral Vision Loss – problems with your wide-angle field of vision, or feeling like you’re looking through a narrow tube

Vision therapy is an extremely effective form of treatment for post-concussive vision syndrome that occurs following a head injury.  This type of individualized rehabilitation program helps to retrain the visual system to restore proper communication between the eyes and brain.  Family Vision Development Center is an exceptional concussion center that incorporates vision therapy programs to correct visual disorders that occur as a result of head trauma.  Contact us at 630-862-2020 to learn more or to schedule an appointment in our Aurora office location.

Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.  We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions.  We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.

A Beginner’s Guide to Contact Lenses: 3 Basic Questions Answered

Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the most common forms of vision correction and management for people of all ages. Choosing between the two is often a matter of personal preference, lifestyle and the specific vision condition that needs to be addressed. Contact lenses do require special consideration and people often need specific information before committing to this option.  Here are answers to a few of the most common questions people have.

What kinds of eye problems can contact lenses manage?

Contacts are an effective vision management tool for a variety of refractive errors, which occur when the eye does not refract (bend or focus) light properly into the eye resulting in a blurred image:

• Myopia, also known as nearsightedness
• Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness
• Astigmatism, elongated corneal shape
• Presbyopia, near vision focus problems that start around age 40

Are soft or hard contact lenses the best?

This is a common question, but the answer is actually “it depends”. Either could be the right choice, based on your particular vision issues and needs.

• Soft contact lenses are typically more pliable and many people find them easier to work with. They also absorb water so your own tears can keep them moisturized.  Additionally, soft contact lenses are available in disposable varieties that you throw away after each use, daily wear lenses that you wear daily for up to a month, or extended wear lenses that you can wear continuously for as much as a month.
• Hard contact lenses are made of hard plastic and may take a little extra time to get used to. However, they are very comfortable once you adapt to them.  These would be a good choice for astigmatism, as they offer the most precise vision correction possible. Hard contact lenses are also a good option for people who have allergies or tend to get protein deposits on their contacts.

How do I properly care for my contact lenses?

Caring for your contact lenses properly is extremely important. The following tips will ensure the best experience possible:

• Use fresh, unexpired lens solution and carefully follow the specific instructions on the solution bottle
• Not all solutions are safe for all lenses so do not alternate or mix solutions
• Do not put lenses in your mouth or use saliva to lubricate your lenses
• Never rinse your lenses in tap water, as the lens could wash down the drain, or the impurities in the water may damage the lenses
• Contact lenses should be stored in an appropriate lens case, and the case should be cleaned regularly to avoid bacteria growth

At Family Vision Development Center, our experienced team will help to ensure that you understand the pros and cons of contact lenses so you can decide if they are the right choice for you.  And our state-of-the-art optical center offers a wide selection of lens options to fit your lifestyle and personal preferences. Contact us at 630-862-2020 to schedule an appointment for your comprehensive vision exam, where we will complete a thorough evaluation and determine your best vision correction options.

Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.  We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions.  We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.