Anisometropia is a condition in which the patient suffers from unequal vision in both eyes. This is due to the varying refractive power of both the lenses. The unequal movement of both eyes resulting from this condition could lead to other vision abnormalities such as asthenopia and diplopia.

Causes:

• Anisometropia could result from differing state of hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness) in eyes. In extreme cases, it could also be that one eye is hyperopic and the other is myopic.
• The disorder could be congenital or could be caused by developmental disorders in early childhood.
• In some cases, it could be caused by cataract surgery in which the intraocular lens power is miscalculated.

Symptoms:

• Blurry vision: Patients with anisometropia have poor binocular vision, which means that the size of images seen by the left and right eye differs- sometimes up to around 20%. This results in blurry vision, one of the key symptoms of the condition.
• In most cases, the eye appears normal in size and structure. This is why the condition has to be diagnosed through detailed eye exams, which are carried out at various locations in Harker Heights.
• In later stages, the patient may experience uniocular vision, with the better eye becoming dominant.

Treatment:

• The most common treatment for anisometropia is the use of corrective spectacles with a different prescription for both eyes. This is effective if the difference in vision in both eyes is not extreme. However, if there is a significant difference in the refractive power of both eyes, this could result in complications like double vision. If used from an early age and worn at all times, spectacles can effectively reverse the condition by training the weak eye.
• Another option is contact lenses. Prescribed by an optometrist, these have been found more effective in patients whom spectacles do not suit. These are highly recommended in Harker Heights.
• LASIK surgery can treat the condition by making the refractive power of both lenses equal.
• If the condition is left untreated, it can result in several complications, the most common of which is amblyopia, or lazy eye. In this condition, the weaker of the two eyes completely loses its vision, since the brain causes the better of the two eyes to dominate. This is why refractive surgery is considered even in children and is the ultimate solution.

Undeniably, the number of vision problems in children is quite high in the US. It is true that children and even some parents overlook symptoms such as headache, eye itching, watery eyes and other similar symptoms. If you are child is experiencing such symptoms then be alert because there could be a vision problem that your loved one is facing. It is extremely necessary to go for regular eye check-ups in order to diagnose eye problems at an early stage, if any. Let’s have a look at few warning signs of vision problems as these will help you detect if your child is suffering from any.

• If your kid is blinking, squeezing and rubbing the eyes too much, it shows the signs of tiredness and allergies. It is true that all such behaviors are common among children during daytime but if you are noticing these issues during bedtime, then schedule vision screening of your young one.
• If your loved one is winking a lot then it can be a sign of vision problem. Some children close their one eye while watching television and reading. It could be due to double or blurred vision. Go and get full eye examination now!
• Headaches are commonly the first sign of vision problem in young kids. It could be due to eye strain. If your child is struggling to have a look at the chalkboard or pages of a book then vision problem is a possibility. This is the reason most vision problems get diagnosed after a child starts going to school.
• Some children often avoid doing the tasks that require visual concentration. If a child holds toys or books too close then its time you visited a reputable eye clinic now.
• Do you have any family history of possible vision problems? If yes then it could be transferred to your child too. In such a case, it is always recommended to go for regular vision screening so that a possible eye defect can be diagnosed at an early stage.

Apart from all the above warning signs, there are some silent symptoms too which should be detected. For instance, a wandering or crossed eye is common these days and it affects around 3 to 5 percent of children throughout world. One eye appears to be crossed from other eye but it is actually not a vision problem, but nervous system impairment. Still, it should be screened as early as possible because it may also raise some serious concerns for both parents and kid.

Uneven focus is another silent vision problem that is found in 2 to 3 percent of kids available throughout world. In this, one eye is more far sighted from other. This vision problem is quite hard to recognize at early stage because a child cannot determine about the problem at that meager age.

Now, you can easily evaluate the signs of vision problems in young kids but still it is always suggested to stay in touch with a reputable and professional eye doctor to diagnose the problem as early as possible. Also, make sure to motivate kids to use eye glasses to stay protected from TV, computer and eye strain. So, only at good eye clinic, you can thoroughly get the root cause of vision problem that your kid is facing. Make sure to keep all the above points in mind for the better vision and future of your loved one!

For complete eye examination or for any related query, kindly visit us at Killeen Vision Source. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

Blepharospasm (blepharo- eyelid; spasm- involuntary contraction) is a disorder of the eye, in which the patient experiences abnormal blinking or twitching in the eyelid muscles. The disorder is not very common, and mainly affects patients in the age group of 45-60. In some patients, the spasms might also extend from the eyes to other surrounding regions of the face like the nose, cheeks and even the neck.

Causes-

• The condition can either be essential (without any known cause), or secondary, which can be caused by a variety of underlying disorders, including tardive dyskinesia, eye dryness, Parkinsonism, Wilson's disease, encephalitis, drug-related,(e.g. benzodiazaepines) and Tourette's syndrome.
• Some contributing factors to the disease are stress and the presence of an irritant.
• The affected region of the brain in patients with blepharospasm is the basal ganglia, which is responsible for controlling muscle movements of the face. Some patients might develop blepharospasm due to a blow/ concussion in the head, which might damage the basal ganglia.
• In rare cases, the disorder might be inherited.

Symptoms-

• The onset of blepharospasm is usually gradual starting with symptoms like excessive blinking in the presence of bright light and eye irritation, and dryness of the eyes.
• These symptoms may temporarily cease during periods of rest or intense concentration.
• At later stages twitching occurs incessantly with gaps of just a few seconds, causing immense discomfort to the patient.
• Though it is not considered to be life-threatening, it can result in functional blindness due to the eyes remaining closed for majority of the time.

Treatment-

• Massaging muscles of the face, including jaw muscles and cheek muscles provides relief to some patients. Massaging has been found to provide immediate relief to some patients, and in some cases this relief can also be permanent.
• Even though there is no effective drug therapy prescribed for the disease, trial and errors are conducted to find a drug that works for a particular patient. Magnesium Chloride, when consumed as a dietary supplement, has been found to alleviate the symptoms of blepharospasm.
• The preferred mode of treatment amongst most patients is botulinum toxins (e.g. botox), which help to induce temporary paralysis in the affected region. These injections are usually administered by Optometrist every three months.
• Patients who do not respond to drug treatment of botulinum injections might have to undergo surgery. The surgical procedure, known as “protractor myectomy” involves the removal of the muscles responsible for closing the eyelids.
• Patients can also benefit from stress management, and wearing dark eye glasses in bright light.

To know more about the treatment of Blepharospasm, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254-634-7805.

Vision Therapy is a therapeutic program specifically designed to correct the motor and cognitive skills of the vision and enhance the brain’s control on eye alignment, visual processing and focusing abilities. It uses various specialized optical devices like lenses, prisms and filters to boost the visual skills of the eye. In simple terms, it helps in treating those problems which cannot be treated successfully with the help of eye glasses, contact lenses or even the surgery. 

Vision therapy has proved to be highly beneficial for different vision problems that are faced by people in their daily lives, for example, problems in efficient reading, eye strain due to increased sitting hours in front of computer and TV, etc. Vision therapy has also helped in improving the self confidence of the patients who have undergone vision surgeries earlier. Some of the major benefits of vision therapy are listed here as under:

• Vision Therapy helps in enhancing the visual skills of the eye and helps in effective reading, writing and learning abilities of the individuals. 
• Vision Therapy helps in developing better binocular vision and coordination of the two eyes which further helps the person in doing the daily chores of life.
• Vision Therapy improves the visual function of the eyes and helps in curing the Strabismus and Amblyopia eye disfunctionality. It can give better results than eye glasses or eye surgery.
• Computer Vision Syndrome has become very common these days due to the stress caused at the workplace. The work culture which includes technology and more sitting hours in front of the computer has adversely affected the vision of the people. Vision therapy helps in relaxing this stress and helps in balancing the work induced eyestrain and visual difficulties.
• Children who watch more of TV or play games on computer for long time also develop visual problems, which can be efficiently treated with the Vision Therapy programs.
• Vision Therapy helps in effectively treating the environmental stresses of the visual system like pollution in the air, harmful gases coming out of the vehicles, etc., which adversely affects the eyes and causes headaches along with other visual difficulties.
• Vision Therapy also helps in visual rehabilitation of many patients who have gone through accidents which might have traumatized their nervous system. This therapy immensely helps in treating the consequences of the trauma caused to their eyes.
• Vision Therapy is also used for the enhancement of the vision, specifically for the sporting activities. It helps in enhancing accurate vision and other sport-specific visual skills which are necessary for the better performance in the game.

To know more about the various programs of vision therapy that are essential to cure your vision problems or for seeking consultation, feel free to visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

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Recent reports have shown that use of antioxidants can lead to reduction in the possibility of vision loss and eye diseases. Moreover, retinal power can be retained by a combination of zinc and antioxidant vitamins. Even doctors suggest that preventive eyecare measures are better than taking medication later on.

Frequently, eye diseases happen due to the break down of light-sensitive cells in the macula. Usually, such eye problems are known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD, leading to vision loss in the central and peripheral optic region. Basically, there are two kinds of AMD, namely wet AMD and dry AMD. In the first case, new blood vessels may suffer from blood leakage and lead to fluid creation under the macula. On the other hand, dry AMD is featured by thinning of the retinal pigment cells inside the macula.

Till a few years ago, treatment options for AMD patients were very limited. In fact, such kinds of macular degeneration were considered fatal. Every year, a large number of people get diagnosed with optical diseases and fail to get proper medication or treatment for the same.

If you want to avoid getting afflicted with eye diseases and vision loss, making certain adjustments in your diet is essential. This involves adding food items that are rich in antioxidants. Another idea that works well is to take daily supplements to provide potent antioxidants.

You will find antioxidants in many common foods, vegetables and fruits. However, natural sources may not provide desired amount of vitamins and antioxidants. The optimal level can be obtained from a balanced diet as well as supplements in the form of tablets, pills or capsules.

Killeen Eyecare Center provides complete Eyecare solutions. If you have any vision related problem, contact us for expert diagnosis and treatment.

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