For Your Eyes Only

�Childdislikesreading �Skipsorrereadslines �Preferstobereadto �Lossofplacewhenreading �Troublec o p ingf r o m board �Headachesintempleorbrowarea �Difficultyrememberingwhathas b e e n r e a d � Difficultypayingattention,ADD/ADHD �Number/letterreversals �Homeworktakeslongerthanitshould Aregulareyeexamdeterminesthehealthoftheeyesandwhetherglassesarerequired,butdoesnotincludeevaluatingvisualdysfunctions thatcancontributetoacademicstruggles. Ifyourchildhasanyoftheabovesigns,scheduleadevelopmentalvisioneyeexamtoday. �������� ���������� ������ � ������������ � �����������������ute.ca � ���������������������������� AttentionParents StrugglingwithReadingor HomeworkBattles? …Ifso,wecanhelp! Doyouknowthesymptomsofvisionproblemsthatinterferewithreadingandlearning? THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE MORE COMMON SYMPTOMS: �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������� Parents Attention or Reading with Struggling Battles? Homework � � � � � � � � � � � B r i g h t c h i l d , b u t g r a d e s a r e p o o r � �C a n ' t r e c o g n i s e sa m e w o r d s i n p a r a g r a p h � i t won't bring a tear to your eye — in fact it can produce the opposite reaction in some people, but dry eye syndrome is no laughing matter, says one Winnipeg optometrist. Dry eye syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is an eye disease in which an individual's eyes dry out and become inflamed. It is usually caused by high tear film evaporation, low tear production or an imbalance in the tear mixture. While most people suffer dry eyes from time to time, Dr. Luke Small says the difference with dry eye syndrome is it's a chronic condition with persistent symptoms. So how can you tell whether or not you have it? Small says one of the most common signs of dry eye syndrome is a recurring feeling of grittiness or soreness in the eyes. "One of the most common things I hear from people with dry eye syndrome is they'll say it feels like they have something in their eye and it feels sandy or gritty," he said. Other common symptoms include a stinging or burning sensation in the eyes, redness, eye fatigue or a change in vision after blinking. The problem, Small says, is that tears act similar to the wiper fluid in your car. If you aren't producing enough tears its equivalent to trying to clean your car's windshield when you have no wiper fluid in reserve. Small says as many as 30 per cent of all Canadians suffer from dry eye syndrome. It can occur at any age but those most at risk of contracting the disease are the elderly, women, individuals who have undergone some form of eye surgery and contact lens wearers. Although extended time in front of a TV or computer screen won't cause the disease, it can worsen the effects. Small says people tend to blink far less often when they are looking at a screen which means their eyes produce fewer tears. The key to mitigating the effects of all that screen time, he says, is remembering to blink more frequently. "I tell a lot of my patients to post a sticky note on their computer to remind themselves to blink," he said, adding lowering your monitor to just below eye level also helps because it forces your eye lids to drop and form more of a protective barrier around the eye. Although dry eye syndrome can be especially frustrating for contact lens wearers, it doesn't mean contacts are no longer an option, according to Small. Dry eye sufferers can still safely wear contacts, he says, although they may have to consider reducing the amount of time they wear them and using lubricated drops to keep them moist. Small says he favours the use of disposable lenses because they are changed daily and there is less chance of deposit buildup. While there is no foolproof way to avoid dry eye syndrome, there are a number of options available to help reduce its effects. Small says one of the most effective options is artificial tears, which are available at most pharmacies and retail outlets. "Artificial tears are crucial and people don't use them nearly enough. They'll use them when they have the symptoms but they are not being proactive," he said, adding that dry eye sufferers should check with their doctor or optometrist to ensure they are using the right kind of solution. Small also recommends the use of Omega 3 supplements, which help increase the production of the oily part of tears, increasing your daily water intake, medicated drops in some cases and wearing wrap- around glasses to protect your eyes from wind and dry air. "Glasses can act like goggles or a protective surface. When cold air is blasting in the winter they can really help people," he said. Still, the main thing dry eye sufferers need to do is stay on top of the problem, Small says. That means regular eye exams and following the advice offered by your doctor. "If you want to be comfortable you've got to follow through. It's not going to simply go away. You've got to stay on top and make (treatment) a part of your daily routine. It can make a huge difference." be proacTiVe aboUT dry eyes by JiM TiMlick FOR ThE FREE PRESS eyes for yoUr 4 only dr. lUke sMall says dry eye syndroMe is a cHronic condiTion WiTH persisTenT syMpToMs. Photo by Darcy Finley

• Cover