Taking care of your family’s eye health

As parents, we value our children’s health and happiness. The way they see the world around them is something we especially treasure. Clear vision is particularly important for children because it is critical for learning and development. Children who need glasses for vision correction, but don’t have them, can be at a real disadvantage in school. Certain eye conditions can worsen over time if left untreated and, in extreme cases, even result in permanent vision loss.

“In a typical classroom environment, 80 per cent of learning is visual. Prior to and throughout their school years, it is important to ensure that a child’s visual system is functioning at maximum efficiency.” – Dr. Michael Kellam, Doctor of Optometry, Nanaimo, B.C.

Many kids who are diagnosed with learning and behaviour issues actually have a vision problem. Vision problems have been connected with conditions such as attention deficit disorder, depression and bi-polar disorder. Unfortunately, many kids don’t get regular eye exams because they don’t have symptoms that are recognized by parents and teachers. And children don’t realize they can’t see the way other kids do because they may never have experienced good vision and have nothing to compare to.

When should your child see a doctor of optometry?

• Between six and nine months of age
• Just before starting kindergarten
• Annually throughout the school years

“Our son Cohen was born with very limited vision, but CNIB [the Canadian National Institute for the Blind] helped us with strategies to help keep him visually stimulated so his sense of sight stays active – and we’re happy to say he’s meeting his developmental milestones.” – Mary Jordan, mother of 2-year-old Cohen

The best way to ensure your child has good vision and healthy eyes is by scheduling comprehensive eye exams for your children – and while you’re at it, for yourself.

Signs your child may have a problem with vision

• Headaches, sensitivity to light, squinting, rubbing the eyes or excessive blinking
• Covering or closing one eye, tilting the head or unusual posture
• Holding objects too close
• Avoiding books and television
• Trouble reading, including losing place or tracking words with the finger, omitting or confusing small words
• Irritability, short attention span or performing below potential

Did You Know? 1 in 6 school-age children diagnosed with a learning disability actually has a correctable vision problem.

For more information or to book an appointment with one of our Doctors of Optometry, please call 604.553.3900 or visit www.visionsourcenw.com.

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Super Eye Foods!

They say you are what you eat and eating healthy can go a long way towards making your body healthy...including your eyes. You need to start with good daily nutrition, but by making sure you include a few key eye healthy foods, you may be able to see improvements in your eye health.

Kiwi 

What's the best way to eat a kiwi with your eye health in mind? A cup of sliced kiwis gives you twice as much Vitamin C than an orange. Which is twice as much power to help repair damaged cells and help prevent cataracts from forming in older adults. Here are five more eye foods!

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is one of the best sources for Vitamin E which is a fat-soluble vitamin and potent antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Blueberries

Blueberries not only have been associated with helping reduce eye fatigue, but they contain anthocyanins, eye-nourishing phytonutrients which have been known to improve night vision and contain minerals such as selenium and zinc which help to maintain proper vision.

Fish

Cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, cod, haddock and sardines are packed with Omega-3 oils. Fish are rich in EPA and DHA, which are important for cellular health. DHA also makes up 30 per cent of the fatty acids that comprise the retina.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene and lutein which are helpful for proper vision. Lycopene’s antioxidant capabilities also act to protect the eyes from sun damage.

Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that protect the blood vessels in your eyes which help to keep your cornea and lens strong.

What eyeglass frames are people wearing after New York's 2014 Fashion Week?

Trend alert! What eyeglass frames are people wearing after New York's 2014 Fashion Week? Today's blog post will be talking about trends in lenses to match our changing lifestyles!

Click HERE for a video from a BC Doctor of Optometry!

In the past, it used to be the trend for people to wear contact lenses if they could. Glasses were bulky and not flattering. Only one or two basic styles and colors were available. The styles from the past brought up images of geeky awkward teens. This isn't true anymore! Instead of feeling sad that they have to wear glasses, women are excited because they get to wear glasses. Glasses are now cool and designers are devising new styles of frames for the fashionable woman. Here are a few trends from New York's Fashion Week 2014.

• Cat Eye: Designers have brought back cat eye frames you may remember from past seasons and even many years ago. There is a unique look though, they come in bold colours and even styles where the frames are two different colours.
• Chunky Bold: Remember the big chunky heavy glasses that you might have felt you'd rather die then wear? Now those are in style, but in bold colors or even two colors.
• Over-sized Round: These are another retro look. Once worn primarily by accountants and other number crunchers the Over-sized Round style is being embraced by fashionistas.
• Extra Detailing: Glasses with extra detailing are on trend. They might have mixed metals or metal and a tortoise shell accent. They might also have cutouts or embellishments on the sides.

Come check out our stylish sunglasses at Vision Source New Westminster!

#108 - 301 East Columbia Street
New Westminster 604.553.3900.

Your Child's Visual Development

A comprehensive eye exam performed by a doctor of optometry can reveal if your child’s eyes are developing and coordinating properly. Eye coordination is one of the many skills that we develop as children, and is something we as parents can help our children with by actively playing games that promote the development of visual skills and by taking our children for routine eye exams.

Tips to ensure healthy eye development:

1. 0 to Six Months - Take your child in for a comprehensive eye exam performed by a doctor of optometry. Optometrists recommend children have their first eye exam at six months of age and then annually until they’re adults. During your child’s first eye exam, a doctor of optometry assesses your child’s visual abilities, ensuring the eyes are properly aligned, free of congenital cataracts and developing normally.

2. One to Two Years - Play games that help your child develop good hand-eye coordination, depth perception and visual skills. Between ages one and two, it’s important for a child to develop good hand-eye coordination and depth perception. Playing with building blocks or balls, sorting shapes and sizes, and fitting or assembling pieces are all activities that can help improve these essential visual skills.

3. Three to Five Years - Play games that encourage fine motor skill development and visual thinking. Between ages three and five, it’s important for a child to begin to develop fine motor and visual thinking skills. Fine motor activities include bead stringing or painting. Visual thinking skills include comparing two images to find slight differences or recognizing patterns.

Children may display characteristics that may indicate poor eye coordination including:
 •  covering one eye

 •  head tilting

 •  skipping lines or losing their place while reading

 •  poor sports performance

 •  avoiding tasks that require close work

 •  tiring easily

Protect your child’s vision. If you notice any of these symptoms, book an eye exam with a Doctor of Optometry.

Please feel free to contact us at 604.553.3900 or www.visionsourcenw.com.

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Excellent Eggs Benedict Recipe

We love eggs! This protein rich food is great for eye health because it contains cysteine and sulphur that act as an antioxidant for the lens of the eye and could protect from cataract formation. So get crakin' to maintain good eye health!

Today's post is dedicated to our love for eggs! Below is a quick, easy and delicious eggs benny recipe!

Servings	Prep Time	Cook Time
2	5 minutes	10 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 English muffins
• 4 slices ham each slice 1/8 inch thick
• 4 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons butter - unsalted
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 pinch Meyer lemon zest
• 1 sprig fresh marjoram or sage
• 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
•  salt to taste

Instructions

1. Poach your eggs.
2. Poke the tines of a fork into the sides of the English muffins, working your way all the way around the muffin to split them in half. Toast until lightly browned.
3. Fry the ham until browned, but not tough or chewy
4. Start the Hollandaise sauce as soon as you start poaching the eggs. Setup a double boiler by finding a heatproof bowl that sits on the rim of a pot, then add 1/2" of water to the pot before covering it with the bowl. The bottom of the bowl should not be touching the water.
5. Add the egg yolk and butter into the bowl and turn on the heat to medium. Whisk together until there are no lumps and the mixture is smooth.
6. Add the lemon zest, marjoram and salt and then slowly add the boiling water while whisking constantly (it may be helpful to have someone pour the water for you). Continue whisking until the mixture is thick and creamy (about the consistency of thin gravy) or if you have an instant read thermometer it should read 160 degrees F (71 C). Do not overcook it or it will get lumpy.
7. Use a towel or oven mitt to remove the bowl from the pot, then whisk in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste. The Hollandaise Sauce needs to be used immediately or it will clump. If you need to hold it, you can periodically warm it in the double boiler while whisking to maintain a constant temperature between 150 and 160 degrees F.
8. To assemble your Eggs Benedict, put the toasted English Muffins on plates, top with a slice of ham, top with a poached egg, then finish with a generous blanket of Hollandaise Sauce. Garnish with paprika and serve immediately.