As a parent it can be difficult to determine what our children are seeing. Sometimes when they are still toddlers it can be hard to tell if they need to see an eye doctor. However it is our responsibility to make sure that our children are being seen on a regular basis as well. So how do we know when it’s time to take our children to the eye doctor?

Below are some signs of vision problems in children:

Squinting

Tilting their head

Losing their place when reading

Excessive tearing

Rubbing their eyes

Light Sensitivity

Frequent Headaches

Other common symptoms are sitting too close to the television, this is a classic sign, as well as pointing their finger to keep their place when reading. Some of these signs however are for older children in elementary school or starting pre-school. How do you tell if your child is suffering before that? Children with problems seeing will often rub their eyes, have excessive tearing of the eyes, or squint and/or move closer for a better view. Additionally you can tell if your child needs to go to the eye doctor if their eyes look crossed also known as (Strabismus) or if they have lazy eye (AKA- Amblypia).

If you are a first time parent, or a parent it is sometimes difficult to tell when your child is having vision difficulties. So remember if you have a family history of vision problems within the family have your child evaluated at a young age to be sure there are no problems. Often vision problems run in families and having a history of vision problems can put your children at risk for them too.

Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, MD is a renowned eye surgeon specializing in eye care treatment, and other procedures. For more information visit www.BoxerWachler.com

“Getting the Red Out”

Dry eyes can be irritating and frustrating to say the least. Many use over the counter drops to fight this problem throughout the day. But what happens when the drops aren’t as effective anymore and the irritation is still there?

Below are 3 tips to help you combat dry eyes:

Find out what is causing the dry eye: There are several things that can cause dry eyes. Lack of blinking which can be a problem with writers, or those who look at a computer screen or read frequently. Dry eyes can be a side effect to some medications, or even a symptoms of an underlying condition. While it isn’t a sever problem many times it is irritating, or frustrating to the sufferer. Find out what is causing it and treating that will best alleviate your problem.

Medications: While over the counter drops are often helpful they are not a permanent solution to your problem. Asking the doctor about your symptoms can often get the fastest results. Sometimes the condition needs a touch more than an over the counter remedy.

Treatments: There are some treatments that can help dry eyes. If your problem lyes in the tear ducts your doctor can help you obtain the proper care for it. Prolonging your symptoms often simply exacerbate the problem more.

If you are having regular problems with dry eyes a simple log of when they irritate you, and how long it lasts will also help your eye care professional better get to the bottom of things. Writing down any additional symptoms that accompany your dry eyes such as redness, and burning can help find a solution to your problem you can deal with.

Dr. Brian Boxer-Wachler, MD is a renowned eye surgeon specializing in I-Bite eye whitening, Lasik, Keratoconus treatments, Insertable Contact lens, and other procedures. More helpful information is at www.boxerwachler.com

According to USA Today & the Associated press about 700,000 Americans undergo laser eye surgery annually. According to the Association of Ophthalmology 95-99% of all Lasik procedures were successful with no complications. Over 12 million people to date have had corrective laser eye surgery.

The Boxer Wachler Vision Institute provides its patients with the highest quality of care. They have the most up to date medical equipment, caring and attentive staff, and a great surgeon to offer each person that walks through their door. The experience of working with them is like no other, but don’t take our word for it simply listen to the words of these patients:

Meet Michael-

Michael had a RK procedure done in 1986. RK was a procedure that quickly was abandoned with advent of lasers. RK was a procedure that involved making multiple incisions in the eye and over time those incisions would weaken causing the vision to change. In 1995 his vision started to breakdown and it became more and more difficult for him to function with normal daily activities. Dr. Boxer Wachler recommended that Michael undergo a PRK, now his vision is 20/20. Michael is no longer wearing glasses or contacts.

Michael says:

“I highly recommend these procedures for your vision needs, and I am thoroughly happy with my results”.

Meet Mathew Bencha- MMA Fighter

Mathew Bencha is an amateur fighter and was turning pro. However fighters can not fight with any eye glass wear or glasses and without it Mathew would not be able to see. After speaking with Dr. Boxer Wachler it was recommended he have PRK done, it would be the best procedure given his field of work and there would be no incision.

After the procedure Matt stated it took him about 4-6 weeks to fully recover, but he is absolutely thrilled with his results. Matt no longer needs to wear his contacts any longer and will be fighting in the Pros in no time.

Matt Says:

                                            “If you are getting the PRK, I recommend Dr. Boxer Wachler ”

*To listen to more patient stories or hear these for yourself visit www.boxerwachler.com

As parents our biggest concerns are for our children. Hoping for good health we sometimes need to question whether the physicians are right. While many of us are starting to sway on the side of Lasik for ourselves. We still have questions as to whether this is a good procedure for our children. Some doctors are saying yes. The idea of getting to the children early and helping them before the problem grows is the best bet in some cases.

Even the idea of an Implantable lens is peeking many curiosities. The severity of the vision problems need to be taken under consideration and the ease with which the implantable lens can be removed if needed is weighing on doctors minds. Lasik surgery in the past was not as easy and required extra from the patient to help ensure and effective outcome. However the laser guided Lasik procedures are allowing many more patients to have an uneventful procedure allowing them to look at children of a younger age.

There are still some concerns when it comes to the children and vision correction however many doctors feel that if the child is suffering with sever eye problems than the corrective surgery should be considered. The Staar Surgical company has been providing ICL for several years.

The Visian ICL is one of the most incredible pieces of technology. The Visian ICL provides many benefits and is finding its way into doctors offices around the world. The Visian Implantable Contact Lens is a state of the art lens that is bio-compatible with your retina. There are less complications and if a problem should arise they can be removed.

Additional benefits of the Visian ICL:

Vision Clarity-

No Halos

Undetectable to the eye [or wearer]

No maintenance [good benefit for children]

This lens is made of Collamer which is compatible with the human body. It will not be rejected and the Staar Surgical Company Visian implantable contact lens has an impeccable record of safety. In the end the decision is up to you. However with the advancements in technology over the past years Lasik and Implantable Contact Lens are becoming a more viable solution.