As a parent of a young child it can be difficult to tell if your child is having trouble seeing, especially if they are unable to speak and communicate their difficulties with you.

Also, as a young child they may not understand that they have poor vision and that it can be corrected. Many children are used to their vision always being poor and do not know how to distinguish the difference between good and poor vision.

It is very important for parents not to make the mistake of thinking there is no way to tell if their child needs eye glasses. As a parent these are a few signs you can look for to determine if your child needs eyeglasses:

• If your child gets headaches
• If you notice your child squints quite often
• If your child tilts their head or face when looking at someone or something
• If your child’s eyes cross
• If one of your child’s eyes turns down, turns up, turns out or turns in while the other remains straight
• If your child is having problems with developmental tasks such as walking
• If you notice your child closes one eye when they read

If you notice any of these signs in your child it is important to have an eye doctor examine your child’s eyes. An eye doctor can perform an eye exam on any age of child and determine if your child needs eyeglasses. Eye doctors even have a fun and interactive way to determine your child’s prescription if they do require eyeglasses.

Vision is an important part of a child’s development from an early age. Don’t leave your child’s sight unattended too. Make sure you take them to the eye doctor at the first sign of a struggle with their vision.

If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Dr. Charles Breen, ophthalmologist, at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

Many individuals do not make visiting their eye doctor a regular part of their year until they have a serious eye problem or they are experiencing different uncommon symptoms with their eyes. It is important to visit your eye doctor on a regular basis but especially if you are experiencing one of the following conditions with your vision:

• If you are experiencing blurred vision throughout the day or evening you should make an appointment to see your eye doctor immediately. This symptom can be the start of a serious eye problem that could lead to serious vision problems.
• If you see flashes or floaters in your eye(s) a visit to your eye doctor is extremely important as you may have a retinal tear and it will be important to catch it as quickly as possible to avoid further damage.
• If you are hit in the eye with an object or chemicals get in your eyes it is important to see your eye doctor to determine if there is any internal damage to your eyes that may not be apparent from the outside.
• If you have or if you’re developing diabetes it is important to visit your doctor on a regular basis to have your eyes examined and prevent further damage to your eyes and vision. High blood glucose and high blood pressure caused by diabetes can hurt various parts of your eyes including: the retina, the vitreous, the lens, and the optic nerve. Diabetes can also lead to other serious eye problems such as developing a cataract or glaucoma.

If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Dr. Charles Breen, ophthalmologist, at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Macular degeneration of the eye happens gradually in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. This disease causes the retina to deteriorate slowly.

There are two types of macular degeneration:

1. Dry form – This type of macular degeneration occurs when the cells in the macula slowly break down.
2. Wet form – This type of macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow behind the retina in the eye. Because these new blood vessels are very fragile they often leak fluids and cause the eye to run.

Although the exact causes of macular degeneration are not fully understood, antioxidant vitamins and zinc may reduce the impact of AMD in some people.

You should speak with our ophthalmologist to determine if you are at risk for developing advanced AMD, and to learn if supplements are recommended for you.

If you or someone you know requires eye care visit Charles Breen, MD at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, Knetucky 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

Watch for these 5 ways to read the body language of the eyes:

• Looking sideways – If an individual looks to the right it often times means their left logical brain is dominant and it indicates they are trying to remember a sound in their head. If a person looks to the left it often times means their right emotional brain is dominant and they are constructing sounds in their head.
• Looking up – When an individual looks up during a conversation it generally means they are thinking or recalling information.
• Looking down – When an individual is looking down it can often times mean they are being submissive or that they are feeling guilty.
• Widening eyes – When an individual’s eyes widen it is a sign of interest and appeal. It is a gesture that welcomes individuals.
• Winking – If an individual winks at another it generally signals a friendly acknowledgment or that those particular individuals share a secret or joke between them.

Take notice this week of other individual’s eye expressions. Were you able to pick up on their non-verbal communication through the body language of their eyes?

If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Dr. Charles Breen at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

1. Shy eyes – Individuals who avoid eye contact during a conversation may be shy.
2. Glowing eyes – Often times an individual is happy when their eyes are glowing. On the contrary their eyes may not show any light in them when a person is sad.
3. Blinking eyes – Often times when someone is blinking more than usual during a conversation it means that they are nervous or worried about something.
4. Squinting eyes – Generally when an individual is squinting their eyes it shows that they are evaluating something, in discomfort, possibly stressed, or even angry. For example, when one is thinking about something and they want to imagine it in his or her mind they will squint their eyes.

Eyes say a lot about what a person is thinking and feeling. Try watching people’s eyes this week and see what you notice!

If you require eye care visit Dr. Charles J. Breen at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

Test your Eye-Q with this list of 6 questions we bet you don’t know about your eyes!

1. Did you know you blink approximately 13,000 times each day?
2. Did you know diabetes could be detected through an eye exam?
3. Did you know 20:20 vision is not the best vision you can have?
4. Did you know only 1/6 of your whole eyeball is visible?
5. Did you know you could tell the difference between 500 shades of grey?
6. Did you know it is possible to keep your eyes open while you sneeze?

How many eye didn’t knows did you get? Are you surprised by any of these eye facts?

If you or someone you know requires eye care visit Charles Breen, MD at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

Use this checklist of common eye problem symptoms to determine if your child may have a vision problem and correct it before it’s too late!

1. Does your child experience headaches when they read or write?
2. Does your child find it hard to see the board in class?
3. Does your child hold their book close when reading?
4. Does your child experience itching, burning or watery eyes?
5. Does your child get tired when reading?
6. Does your child tilt their head when reading?
7. Does your child avoid reading all together?

Your child’s vision is continually developing and should be checked on a regular basis. It’s better to catch problems earlier rather than later!

If you or someone you know requires eye care visit Charles Breen, MD at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

If you have ever looked closely at your own eyes or at another’s eyes you will have noticed that there are a variety of different parts that make up your eyes. While human eyes may seem simple on the outside they are actually quite sophisticated.

These are 6 major parts of the eye:

1. Cornea – This part of the eye is transparent and it covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber.
2. Pupil – This part of your eye is located in the center of your iris. It allows light to enter the retina.
3. Iris – The iris is the colored part of your eye that is responsible for opening and closing the pupil to allow certain amounts of light to reach the retina.
4. Lens – This part of your eye aids in refracting light to be focused on the retina.
5. Retina – This part of the eye converts light rays into signals and send them to the brain.
6. Optic nerve – This is the part of the eye connects the eye to your brain.

Take a close look at your eyes and see if you can identify the major parts that make up your eyes and work together to help you see.

If you or someone you know requires eye care visit Charles Breen, MD at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

Playing sports and doing other physical activities is typically a part of our daily lives and they are fun to participate in. It’s also a great way to spend time with friends and family, as well as stay healthy and fit.

However, sports and physical activities can be dangerous. It is important for you to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your eyes from being harmed from activities such as:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Baseball or softball
• Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Skiing
• Badminton

Many of these sports require different types of eye protection. Here are different types of eye protection you can use depending on the sport you are involved in to prevent an eye injury:

• Protective eyewear
• Full-face mask
• Sports goggles
• A helmet with full-face protection
• High-impact resistant eye protection

Don’t take your eyesight for granted. If you are involved in sporting activities get the proper protection for your eyes.

If you or someone you know requires eye care visit Charles Breen, MD at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

Childhood is an important time in development, especially the development of the eyes. Throughout childhood many eye problems develop and if left untreated can lead to reduced eyesight or serious eye problems in the child’s future. Here are some ways to protect your child’s vision:

Schedule Regular Eye Exams

Ensuring you schedule regular eye exams for your child is an important step in preventing and detecting eye problems your child may be developing or experiencing. Although many children may have routine vision screening done at school or at their doctor’s office, these tests often times do not detect vision problems in children. Also eye exams can detect early health issues such as diabetes, neurological disorders, and other types of health problems.

Provide Sunglasses

Kids spend a lot of time outdoors and are exposed to the sun more often than adults. It is important your child wears sunglasses to prevent eye damage from UV exposure, such as sunburn to the eyes or eyelids. Too much UV exposure to one’s eyes can also lead to serious eye diseases such as cataract and macular degeneration.

Practice Prevention

Kids are involved in a variety of different sports and activities that can lead to eye injuries. Have your child wear protective glasses when they’re playing sports or involved in contact activities to prevent injuries to their eyes.

If you or your child require eye care visit Charles Breen, MD at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.