CE in San Diego

Parents Active for Vision Education

Parents Active for Vision Education is an awesome website for parents by parents. Go to http://www.pavevision.org/ for the latest information on

The Hidden Disability -

Undetected Vision Problems

Arancello

This blog is supposed to be about children and the latest in eye/vision care research, but some times we need to consider what we adults might like too.....click on the title above and make (as my friend George says) the Nectar of the Gods! DM

AOA Journal

The AOA journal, Optometry, has several articles that are "must read".

I always read Dr. Freeman's editorials of course (since I'm an editor I know how important it is to read these things!)....

I also find Dr. Byron Newman's Health Notes most informative. He is a real eclectic pursuer of knowledge!

Dr. Gurwood constantly keeps us up to date with current research (It's mostly about path stuff...but that's OK...you can come to Mainos Memos for the pediatric vision research updates!)

Now for the REALLY, REALLY good stuff...

Powers, Grisham and Riles' article, Saccadic tracking skills of poor readers in high school notes that poor high school readers are at risk for exhibiting poor tracking skills...

...then

...Jamara, Potaznick and Matjucha in their article, Low vision rehavilitation for a target shooting marksman with visual field loss and diplopia, conclude that low vision rehabilitation and sports vision (not to mention some knowledge of how the binnocular vision system works) is important to improve function. In any case....I would have to assume that if some one is shooting a gun.....I do not want them to be diplopic!! Good job gentlemen!

and finally...

...Drs. Han, Craig, Rutner, Kapoor, Ciufredda and Suchoff wrote, Medicatios prescribed to brain injury patients: A retrospective analysis, noted that antidepressants, anticonvulsants, analgesics and HTN meds were most often Rx'ed. Many of these patients are talking multidrugs that could also result in unwanted visual side affects...

...Dr. Robert Donati and I just gave a presenation at ARVO that looked at meds taken by those with developmental disablities and the dually diagnosed (mental retardation and mental illness) so I'm very interested in reading this paper much more closely... DM

Off to Montana!

I am soon to be off to beautiful Missoula, Montana to give 6 hours of continuing education lectures (Diagnosis and Management of Special Populations, To BV or Not to BV: VT in the Primary Care Office, Working with Special Populations) during the Montana Optometric Association's annual meeting May 14-17th. If you need some CE hours you should consider coming to Montana! Hope to see you there! DM

Dyscalculia Forum

Did you know that 4-6 % of the population has dyscalculia? Find out more today by visiting the Dyscalculia Forum...

Origins of Neuroblastoma Potentially Uncovered

...In a large genome-wide study, alleles at chromosome band 6p22 were associated with up to a two-fold risk of having neuroblastoma....Children with neuroblastoma who were homozygous for these risk alleles were more likely to have metastatic disease (P=0.02) and disease relapse (P=0.01). ...

VEP maturation and visual acuity in infants and preschool children

...the expected maturation of flash, reversal and onset VEPs, and demonstrate their correlation to normal development of visual acuity. Maturation of VEP latencies is associated with development of visual acuity. ...

Computer vision syndrome related to improper work habits, poor workstation conditions.

From AOA First Look:

In continuing coverage from previous editions of First Look, New York's Ithaca Journal (5/8, Hibma) reported, "While most of us can't get by without using a computer for work, it's the very thing that's causing office workers to experience...eye strain." In particular, "[w]here the monitor is placed is important for the eyes." This March, "[t]he New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) put out a warning for New Yorkers...about 'computer vision syndrome' -- a condition for frequent computer users that leaves them susceptible to eyestrain, light sensitivity, fatigue, and neck and back pain." This condition, according to the NYSOA, "is related to poor workstation conditions, prior vision problems, and improper work habits." The "NYSOA gives suggestions to prevent or reduce eye and vision problems, such as checking for glare, reducing the lighting to match the computer, and to keep blinking." Eye-care experts also recommend "get[ting] an eye exam regularly."

Comments: Changing the work environment AND using optometric vision therapy can decrease or eliminate the signs and symptoms of CVS. DM

Chemicals in Plastic Shown to Cause Reproductive and Neurological Disorders

...children's brains and reproductive organs may be having their development harmed by an estrogen-like chemical that is present in plastic according to a federal health agency report. BPA is an ingredient in polycarbonate plastic. BPA is also one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals today. It has been shown to seep from hard plastic beverage containers (such as baby bottles) and even from liners in cans that contain food and infant formula...

Comments: The baby bottle controversy has been in the media for a while. The NIH is also looking at this. The thing to remember is that much of the research done in this area has been with rats....where you typically give them enormous doses of the BPA. Use caution...also use common sense. DM