The school nurse is still there for our children and also provides care for the staff. Health care ranges from treatment of a skinned knee or administration of medication, knowledge of vaccine schedules, and the ability to implement an emergency plan if needed. She knows about childhood diseases and epidemics- she wants out children safe. The school nurse screens and processes referrals for indications of vision, hearing, weight and posture issues. We saw these as mundane things that threw our day off schedule- made us wonder if we’d be last in the lunch line or late for recess. We did the tests every year, sure that nothing had changed from the last, happy that we were healthy.

The school nurse promotes physical and emotional safety and a healthy environment. She has pamphlets and brochures, posters and charts; and no waiting line. She organizes educational events to inform, not only children, the school community as a whole. She educates parents and staff of symptoms to look for when all you know is that a child’s ‘belly hurts’. She tells us when to keep them home and why. She tells us when it’s safe to send them back. She not only looks at sickness but also opens our eyes to health, nutrition and safety. She works with the cafeteria to be sure that they are serving a healthy diet then she goes to the classroom and speaks to the children to be sure it’s being eaten. We remember what we were told, we remember disregarding it, and we know now that it’s the same thing we’ll tell our own children. The school nurse is a leader and a link between the family and the school, the community and the parent. She is an expert in child development and supports social and mental health ensuring success and happiness in learning.

The school nurse has seen it all and doesn’t cringe. She knows that head lice is not the parents’ fault and sympathizes about the time it will take to remedy a six-year old with waist-length hair. She’s heard all the whiners, criers, complainers and babies. In her lifetime, she will have watched and helped thousands of children grow, even though not her own. The school nurse will always be there for our children. Her job never goes away. She is one of those very important unsung heroes that everyone would miss were she not there.

The School Nurse is Important For Us is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

With exceptional results and the ability to correct many vision impairment difficulties, lasik eye surgery is rapidly becoming one of the most popular elective surgeries. For many vision problems,Lasik eye surgery is a very common and effective treatment.

Keep reading to discover how to eliminate blurry vision with LASIK laser eye surgery

Do you curse your lousy eyesight…

When you?re driving at night?

When you’re reading the newspaper?

While looking for your lost pair of glasses?

If the answer is yes, then you must read the rest of this article…

You may find that tracking down the best eye correction solution can be a daunting task, particularly if you are looking on the internet…

What you should know… about LASIK laser eye surgery

For patients considering the LASIK laser eye surgery, it’s a good idea to compare the available options in surgical clinics and LASIK surgeons. To discover if you’re a likely candidate for LASIK laser eye surgery, make an appointment for a full eye exam with a qualified ophthalmologist.

After your eye exam – you should receive a full consultation from your doctor regarding the potential risks, benefits and alternatives of LASIK laser eye surgery

Aside from harboring realistic expectations, and being aware of the potential risks involved with LASIK eye surgery, a good candidate should have a strong desire to be free from the constraints of corrective lenses. There are some requirements that may make you ineligible as a candidate for LASIK laser eye surgery.

If you are still breast-feeding your baby or are pregnant you are not eligible to receive this procedure.

The best candidate is 18 years old or older.

If your corneas are thinner than normal you might not be an ideal candidate for LASIK laser eye surgery.

If your prescription has shown no significant changes in the last twelve months, you are a good candidate for LASIK laser eye surgery.

With the most up-to-date technology , LASIK laser eye surgery is the best choice for the relief of inadequate eyesight. It is a safe and painless technique. undergoing a LASIK laser eye surgery procedure, it is a perfectly safe and routine practice to have both of your eyes corrected on the same calendar day.

Many patient’s experience an instant improvement to their vision right after LASIK laser eye surgery. It’s possible you may not be eligible for this treatment, however, there are many other alternative methods of treatment. If you are one of the many people with far from perfect vision, LASIK laser eye surgery can be a safe and accurate way to permanently improve your eyesight.

Important and Useful Guidelines About Lasik Laser Eye Surgery is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

Lasik surgery is a surgical procedure that calls for a surgical circular incision to be made, and this exposure is created using the strength of a laser. When the cornea is exposed, the laser, at a lower level of power, is utilized to restructure the shape of the cornea. This process optimizes the refraction of the cornea in relationship to the retina. The flap covering the cornea is then restored over the eye. The results often provide correction of the eyesight to the extent that the need for eye glasses is reduced or not indicated at all.

Whenever surgery is being considered it is paramount that the selection of the right surgeon and facility is accomplished. This process especially holds true when considering have surgery that involves our precious eyesight. Selecting the right laser eye center includes the investigation of the surgeons affiliated with the laser eye center and getting referrals.

Surgeons

The popularity of Lasik surgery is on the rise. Accordingly, many laser eye centers take to the airwaves to advertise their services and availability. Often smiling and friendly individuals are seen on television raving about their services, the ease of having the surgery accomplished and all at a fair price. Those who are considering Lasik surgery must be careful.

Although these laser eye centers may be reputable, further investigation must be conducted. This investigation will reveal the full scope of services they provide, the full cost of having this procedure performed and the experience and knowledge of their staff

A critical member of that staff is the surgeon who will be performing the procedure. It is important to discover the credentials of the refractive surgeon. Those credentials should include their endorsement and affiliation with qualified medical groups. One such group would be their involvement with an educational medical facility. This affiliation would speak of their staying abreast of current technological advances in the field of Lasik surgery. Also, an important affiliation of the surgeon, you are considering, would be their good standing as a member of the American College of Surgeons.

Also, the website serves as a good resource in choosing and being comfortable with the prospective surgeon. These websites provide good information in the selection process including a checklist of items to cover with the surgeon. Included would be a series of questions that will aid you with your comfort level of their experience and surgical process.

Referrals

Another rich resource in determining the right laser eye center for you is through referrals. Referrals can be obtained from neighbors, friends and other acquaintances that have had the Lasik surgery performed. Questions posed to these individuals should include their satisfaction with the whole process, the care of the laser eye center staff, their experience, follow-up issues or concerns following the procedure that were properly addressed, would they do it again, etc.

Also, referrals from your regular eye care doctor or technician may prove to be valuable. In addition the website can be invaluable in locating the right laser eye center for you. There are websites that will help you to locate an affiliated laser eye center. In addition websites may provide a forum for disgruntled clients to voice their displeasure of service received.

Important Tips on Selecting a Laser Eye Center is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

The stronger prescription seems to be working out, however the bifocals are taking some getting use to and you have already noticed some scratches on that coating that was applied to reduce the glare. Also, when using the computer and reading your favorite magazine, you notice that you still have to make some frustrating adjustments in trying to read the pages.

Perhaps, you think to yourself, that it is time to get some information on laser eye surgery. You have heard quite a bit about this procedure and had even talked to some acquaintances that have undergone this surgery. You are hopeful and interested after hearing their testimonials of being able to see better and using glasses only for reading.

Information on laser surgery begins with an understanding of what this procedure is, how the surgery is performed and what are the advantages.

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

Education is a valuable and powerful tool when it comes to being personally involved with issues that directly affect you. These issues could be politics, finances, health, medical procedures, etc. Especially important, when considering any surgery, it is always prudent to be informed. Gathering information on laser eye surgery holds the same level of importance.

Information on laser surgery will reveal that this surgical procedure is conducted on both eyes to improve the refraction condition of your vision. Refraction refers to how the light is captured by the cornea of the eye. Successful laser eye surgery has been shown to be effective in the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. After effectively treating these possible vision impairments, the patient often reports less dependence upon the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The Surgical Procedure

Knowing about the surgical procedure is an important part of gathering information on laser eye surgery. Through the use of a surgical instrument called a microkeratome, a slight flap, that is circular in shape, is created on the part of the eye known as the cornea. This flap is then pulled back which in turn reveals the cornea.

The qualified surgeon then uses a laser to eliminate a portion of the tissue. This procedure results in the shape of the cornea being changed. This structural change of the cornea then allows for the light entering the eye to be refocused onto the retina. This entire process then allows for the vision of the patient to be improved. The surgical procedure is then completed when the circular flap is restored.

Advantages of Laser Eye Surgery

Your gathered information on laser eye surgery will reveal many advantages to this procedure. One of those advantages is the minimal amount of pain experience. In addition, results are almost instantaneous as the majority of patients report that their vision is improved the following day.

Important Information on Laser Eye Surgery is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

In fact, many serious developing eye problems have no obvious onset symptoms, so it is important to see an eye doctor regularly even if the visiting person does not suffer from any pains or headaches or does not have an already detected eye problem and wears glasses. The right doctor to visit is an ophthalmologist, an M.D. eye specialist. Optometrists also examine a person’s eyes but they are not physicians. Neither are the opticians who are trained to fit glasses and contact lenses.

In addition to checking one’s eyes, recommend the right type of glasses and/or contact lenses-after determining whether or not one actually needs them-an eye doctor will use an ophthalmoscope to examine the optic nerve and retina-the light sensitive membrane at the back of the eye that captures images from the lens and cornea. It is also recommended that everyone gets an eye pressure test to detect at an early stage the second most common kind of serious eye problem, after the macular degeneration, the glaucoma. This type of eye problem, affects about 2 percent of people over 62 in the United States-making it one of the most common causes of vision loss. Detected in people of all ages-though older people are at higher risk-glaucoma is now considered a cluster of diseases that damage the optic nerve and cause limited peripheral vision. Thus, if it is not treated, glaucoma may lead to blindness. Most glaucoma is caused by a buildup of pressure within the eye, but more women than men develop an insidious form, called normal pressure glaucoma. That is why a checkup needs to measure eye pressure as well as to examine the optic nerve. If it is caught early, it need not cause blindness. Eye-drops, laser treatments and surgery keep glaucoma in check in most cases.

Another type of serious eye problem is macular degeneration that causes vision impairment by destroying the center of the retina. It wipes out central vision and gradually makes driving, reading and any other close work impossible. Although its cause is still unknown, genetic predisposition and family history have pinpointed that it is more common in people with light-colored eyes and those who smoke.

Finally, there is the well-known eye problem of cataracts, which is a clouding of the lens that interferes with vision, affecting usually more women than men, mainly because they live longer. But due to aging, ultraviolet light, and smoking, all men have to be aware of the danger to develop cataract. Fortunately, 20 to 30 minutes in surgery restores sight to 95 percent for both male and female patients.

Your Eyes Are As Important As Hers is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

Many people fail to realise just how important good vision is to the quality of life. But in reality, vision plays a huge role in various areas of our lives – from work and recreation to family. Yet for many people, achieving good vision means wearing glasses or contact lenses, which in itself can restrict a person from doing everything they want to do, or simply from feeling comfortable.

For instance, many contact lens-wearers complain about dry eyes, particularly if they work in front of a computer or if their workplace operates air conditioning. At the same time, people who wear glasses for long periods of time complain about the weight of their lenses on the bridge of their nose – which can result in headaches. So while their vision is improved, their comfort is compromised.

Likewise, with regard to recreation, many people feel that spectacles or contact lenses are a hassle – not only because of the risk of losing a contact or breaking a lens, but because some activities, such as swimming and diving, are not always compatible with glasses or contacts. The same notion applies to family life: many parents feel they can’t be as active with their children when worrying about breaking their spectacles or losing a contact lens – so they often opt out of many activities.

LASIK eye surgery has the ability to effectively remedy all of these situations, and more. With immediate results to your vision, you can start enjoying an improved quality of life in many respects. You won’t feel discomfort in the workplace due to heavy lenses or dry contacts, and you’ll be able to partake in any sports or recreational activities without worrying about breaking your glasses or losing contacts. You’ll also be able to relax and enjoy all types of activities with your children, and you might even experience better driving skills due to improved peripheral vision.

A very high proportion of laser eye treatment procedures have already been carried out across the globe, helping change people’s lives dramatically. So why not see if it can change yours? Of course, if you are considering such surgery then it is important that you speak to an optical surgeon to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery – it’s the first step to improving the quality of your life.

When The Perfect Vision Is Important is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

Some of such eye health care tips are:

•Once a year you should get your eyes checked by the ophthalmologist. Often people delay their visit to the doctor thinking that it has not yet been an year since their last visit to the doctor. However this can enhance the vision problems. Wearing glasses and contact lenses which are not suited for your developing visual problem increases the problem of uncorrected vision and causes severe headaches and vision problems. Therefore, if your glasses or contact lenses do not feel right or comfortable anymore, it is advisable to consult the doctor as soon as possible.

•You should always wear sunglasses in summer to protect your eyes. People wearing high quality contact lenses may think that they do not require sunglasses but little do they realize that contact lenses just protect the eye. And in reality the whole eyes need protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun. The harmful UV rays can cause serious damage to the eyes. Which is why, you should wear effective sunglasses to protect your eyes from damage. Though people have this popular belief that dark sunglasses offer more protection as compared to the light ones which might be true to some extent, in reality both dark and light sunglasses offer adequate eye protection. While purchasing sunglasses you should ask if it can block 98% of the UV radiation.

In fact the little known fact is that you require sunglasses even on cloudy days.Surprised?Well,not everybody realizes that clouds are form of mere water which are transparent and hence though they might provide shade but they do not block the UV rays in anyway.

Eat food which is nutritional and healthy to your eyes. Researches have shown that there is no food which is detrimental to the eyes. In fact, most of the foods that we consume do not have any impact on our eyes. Therefore if you are expecting that the healthy diet can restore lost eyesight, then you are wrong. However, a healthy diet will definitely slow down any kind of disease and also prevent further ones from afflicting. The right vitamins and minerals can do the trick.Vitamins, especially of the antioxidant group can prevent age related disorders like development of cataracts or macular degeneration.

Though the effects of most of the vitamins have not been determined yet, Vitamins C, A and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are known to be effective and essential for the eyes. One thing you can be sure of that whatever is healthy for the body will be healthy for the eyes. Therefore instead of going through they thousand pages book written eye care in the market, it is advisable that you simply add carrots and grapes to your lunch box.

Healthy break is important for your eyes. Working all day on the computer reduces blinking of the eyes by 25% and hence causes eye dryness. Hence, one should take breaks while working on the biggest invention of the 20th century.

Important Eye Health Care Tips is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

However, many, for example a lot of youth, are often under the general assumption that taking care of vision is important only when you are old or have any issues or impairments that have to be treated immediately. And this is not accurate.

Who needs eye care?

1. People of all ages

2. Those who have a family history of eye-related disorders

3. Those who work on computers for long hours

The world today has become computer centric, causing a lot of eye strain, dry eyes due to lack of blinking normally, and other vision / eye health problems. In addition, people who spend long hours before the computer are exposed to dust and other elements that can cause a permanent damage to their eyes long term, resulting in various eye problems like cataracts, degeneration or glaucoma may result from this.

Regardless of age, proper eye care has to be taken so that no health issue can be neglected. A regular visit to the ophthalmologist can help in identifying and also preventing damage to the eyes. Also as eyes reflect the overall health of the person, eye examinations can help the doctors in identifying any other major illness of the person.

What To Do About Costly Eye Care

Vision care expenses can be costly, and this is one of the major reasons why people avoid visiting an ophthalmologist or optometrist on a regular basis. But don’t let this stop you.

You need to visit a professional for proper eye care for all your family members. And even though the cost of eye care may have become expensive, there are ways for people who cannot afford to pay the money in one shot. For example, there are plenty of insurance companies that have several plans to accommodate your families’ bill on eye care. And there are a lot of state funded insurance programs that are available in each state.

Also check into discount programs. A popular one is with the American Automobile Association (AAA) where you get around 25% off frames and lenses at participating eye care centers.

When to Begin Eye Care

The real question that you may like to ask is when to start eye care? Ideally eye care should begin when children are twelve months old, because if eye care is administered to children at a young age, the examinations can be very useful to protect them against various other eye problems in future.

So if you want to enjoy – visually – everyday precious moments and special events, you need to take care of your eyes. It is always better to be safe, than to be sorry. You may be spending a very small amount for regular eye care, but may have to spend a fortune if a doctor detects an eye problem later.

There are many steps that an individual can take to prevent eye-related diseases, and the problems related to them. Eye care starts with you, and the more knowledgeable you are of keeping the eye healthy, the better it is for you.

Address Important Eye Care Issues For All Ages and Occupations Today is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

Blind spots (scotomas) – These are areas in our field of vision where it is impossible to see anything.

Blurred vision – This involves problems with seeing small details and the loss of visual sharpness.

Visual problems should never be ignored because they can grow worse and have a serious impact on your quality of life. They may be symptomatic of aging, an injury to the eye, a serious eye condition, or an illness that can affect your vision, such as diabetes. (In the latter case, your primary care doctor should also be involved in your treatment.) When you decide to se a medical professional, keep the following in mind:

An optician dispenses eyeglasses and does not diagnose vision problems.

An optometrist performs eye examinations and may make a diagnosis based on the results of those tests. In some states, this professional may also treat diseases of the eye.

An ophthalmologist is a physician who both diagnoses and treats diseases of the eye. Vision problems that may come up as we age.

Changes in our vision and the various symptoms related to them listed above can be caused by a wide range of factors: They include:

Nearsightedness (or presbyopia) – This is indicated by problems in seeing objects that are close at hand clearly. It is often experienced by people in their early or mid 40s. Glaucoma – This is indicated by poor night vision, scotomas, and loss of peripheral vision. It can lead to blindness, and may be either gradual or sudden. Cataract – This is indicated by halos around lights and cloudiness above the lens of the eye. It is very common in the elderly, who often become sensitive to glare, and both their daytime and nighttime vision may be affected. Macular degeneration – This is indicated by blurred vision, distorted vision, and poor central vision. It is also the most frequent cause of blindness in people age 60 and above. Diabetic retinopathy – This condition is indicated by bleeding in the retina, and it can also result in blindness. Floaters – These minute particles that drift over the eye may be harmless and brief, but they may also indicate that the retina has become detached. Detached retina – Some symptoms include flashes of light over your field of vision, floaters, or the sensation that something is blocking one side of your field of vision. Any eye inflammation, infection, or injury. Optic neuritis – This condition exists when the optic nerve becomes inflamed from multiple sclerosis or some type of infection. Temporal arteritis – This results when the artery in the brain supplying blood to the optic nerve becomes inflamed. Migraines – Zigzag patterns, halos, or scotomas often indicate the onset of a migraine headache, and the same symptoms are present with an ophthalmic migraine, minus the headache. Some medications – Antihistamines, certain high blood-pressure pills, and others.

As a preventive measure, wear sunglasses, give up smoking, limit the amount of alcohol you consume, control your cholesterol level, blood sugar and blood pressure, and eat green, leafy vegetables and other foods containing antioxidants.

Why It’s Important To Care For Your Eyes is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses

Blind spots (scotomas) – These are areas in our field of vision where it is impossible to see anything.

Blurred vision – This involves problems with seeing small details and the loss of visual sharpness.

Visual problems should never be ignored because they can grow worse and have a serious impact on your quality of life. They may be symptomatic of aging, an injury to the eye, a serious eye condition, or an illness that can affect your vision, such as diabetes. (In the latter case, your primary care doctor should also be involved in your treatment.) When you decide to se a medical professional, keep the following in mind:

An optician dispenses eyeglasses and does not diagnose vision problems.

An optometrist performs eye examinations and may make a diagnosis based on the results of those tests. In some states, this professional may also treat diseases of the eye.

An ophthalmologist is a physician who both diagnoses and treats diseases of the eye. Vision problems that may come up as we age.

Changes in our vision and the various symptoms related to them listed above can be caused by a wide range of factors: They include:

Nearsightedness (or presbyopia) – This is indicated by problems in seeing objects that are close at hand clearly. It is often experienced by people in their early or mid 40s. Glaucoma – This is indicated by poor night vision, scotomas, and loss of peripheral vision. It can lead to blindness, and may be either gradual or sudden. Cataract – This is indicated by halos around lights and cloudiness above the lens of the eye. It is very common in the elderly, who often become sensitive to glare, and both their daytime and nighttime vision may be affected. Macular degeneration – This is indicated by blurred vision, distorted vision, and poor central vision. It is also the most frequent cause of blindness in people age 60 and above. Diabetic retinopathy – This condition is indicated by bleeding in the retina, and it can also result in blindness. Floaters – These minute particles that drift over the eye may be harmless and brief, but they may also indicate that the retina has become detached. Detached retina – Some symptoms include flashes of light over your field of vision, floaters, or the sensation that something is blocking one side of your field of vision. Any eye inflammation, infection, or injury. Optic neuritis – This condition exists when the optic nerve becomes inflamed from multiple sclerosis or some type of infection. Temporal arteritis – This results when the artery in the brain supplying blood to the optic nerve becomes inflamed. Migraines – Zigzag patterns, halos, or scotomas often indicate the onset of a migraine headache, and the same symptoms are present with an ophthalmic migraine, minus the headache. Some medications – Antihistamines, certain high blood-pressure pills, and others.

As a preventive measure, wear sunglasses, give up smoking, limit the amount of alcohol you consume, control your cholesterol level, blood sugar and blood pressure, and eat green, leafy vegetables and other foods containing antioxidants.

Why It’s Important To Care For Your Eyes is a post from: I Dont Need Glasses