MVS optometrist Meagan Anderson, OD was recently featured on KMTV’s Omaha Extra with host Kari Wurth in an interview about eye exams for kids during the back-to-school season. We wanted to share the valuable information Dr. Anderson shared about pediatric eye exams on the interview with you.
Kari Wurth: Today, I am at Modern Vision Solutions and I’m getting some education from Meagan Anderson. She’s one of the optometrists here. Thanks for having us in, Dr. Anderson.
Dr. Meagan Anderson: Absolutely, yeah.
Kari Wurth: So, I’m a parent. Many of you out there are parents. I’ve got two little ones, and believe it or not, it’s almost school season. So this is a good time to get your eyes checked, right?
Dr. Meagan Anderson: Yes, this is actually the perfect time. So, we’re mid-July; school is probably starting up for most people in August. This would be a great time to get your kiddos in for an eye exam, get those new prescriptions, and check out the health of their eyes. But anytime is really a great time.
Traditional Eye Exam for Kids
A Modern Vision Solutions exam is going to be a lot different, a lot more in-depth than just your basic vision screening that your kids get at school. At school, they are going to just check your vision on a chart, just having them read off letters. This isn’t a full eye exam necessary for your child’s eye health.
Modern Vision Solutions Expanded Kid’s Eye Exam: We’re Different
At Modern Vision Solutions, we’ll do the eye chart, but we’ll also do a lot more. Here’s four additional things we check in your child’s eye exam:
- We’ll actually measure the length of their eye from the front to the back.
- We’re going to check their color vision.
- We check their depth perception.
- We can actually diagnose and treat problems, whereas the vision screening just checks to see if your child can see or not.
Kari Wurth: Right, so it can be a good indication, but you’re getting a lot more comprehensive at MVS.
Dr. Meagan Anderson: Exactly, yeah, for sure.
Kid Friendly Environment
Kari Wurth: Okay, and give me a sense of why Modern Vision Solutions is a good environment for Omaha families and kids to come get their eyes checked.
Dr. Meagan Anderson: We offer same-day and next-day appointments, which is really convenient for families that are super busy. We also have a great family feel. As pediatric optometrists, our staff is super used to working with kids. We make them feel comfortable and ensure they’re not scared of coming to the eye doctor.
Kari Wurth: And if people want to find out more or book online, where can they visit you?
Dr. Meagan Anderson: Yes, we have easy online booking, or they can just give us a call at (833) 586-2020.
We offer kid’s eye exams year-round in Omaha. It’s important to have your child’s eyes checked bi-annually at a minimum.
Additional Information on Unique Features of MVS Kids’ Eye Exams in Omaha
Why do you measure my kid’s eye length during their pediatric eye exam in Omaha?
Measuring the length of the eye, known as axial length, during an eye exam is important because it provides critical information about the overall health and refractive status of the eye. Here are five key reasons why measuring eye length is valuable:
- Assessing Myopia (Nearsightedness): Axial length measurement is particularly important for diagnosing and managing myopia. As the eye grows longer, the risk of myopia increases. Understanding the eye’s length can help determine how severe the myopia is and whether it is progressing.
- Predicting Myopia Progression in Children: For children, measuring eye length can help predict the likelihood of myopia progression. Longer eyes tend to become more myopic over time, so tracking changes in axial length can help eye care providers recommend appropriate treatments, such as orthokeratology lenses, atropine drops, or specialized glasses to slow the progression.
- Diagnosing and Monitoring Eye Conditions: Abnormal axial length can be associated with various eye conditions beyond myopia, such as hyperopia (farsightedness) and certain types of glaucoma. Measuring eye length helps us to diagnose these conditions and monitor your child’s progress.
- Detecting Abnormal Eye Growth: Abnormal growth in eye length could indicate potential structural problems within the eye. For example, excessively long or short eyes may be associated with conditions that affect the retina or other parts of the eye. We want to catch these issues early
- Providing Personalized Eye Care: Understanding the unique measurements of a child’s eye, including its length, allows our optometrists to tailor treatment plans specifically to the individual needs of the patient, enhancing the effectiveness of care.
In summary, measuring eye length is an advanced diagnostic tool that offers a comprehensive view of eye health, helping to detect, manage, and treat various eye conditions more effectively.
Why does Modern Vision Solutions measure depth perception during my kid’s eye exam?
Measuring depth perception during your child’s eye exams is important for six reasons including:
- Detecting Vision Problems: Poor depth perception can be a sign of underlying vision problems, such as strabismus (misaligned eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), or eye muscle imbalances. Early detection of these conditions is critical for effective treatment and preventing long-term vision issues.
- Impact on Daily Activities: Good depth perception is essential for many everyday activities, including catching a ball, climbing stairs, pouring liquids, or even walking without tripping. Children with poor depth perception may struggle with coordination, sports, or tasks that involve precise movements.
- Learning and Academic Performance: Depth perception plays a role in reading, writing, and other classroom activities. Children with depth perception issues may have difficulty with spatial awareness, copying from a board, or maintaining focus on tasks, which can affect their academic performance.
- Safety: Proper depth perception is crucial for safety, as it helps children judge distances when crossing the street, riding a bike, or navigating playground equipment. Poor depth perception increases the risk of accidents and injuries.
- Monitoring Development: Measuring depth perception helps eye doctors monitor the visual development of a child. If any discrepancies are found, they can provide targeted interventions, such as vision therapy, glasses, or other treatments to improve binocular vision.
- Ensuring Proper Eye Coordination: Good depth perception is a sign that both eyes are working together effectively. Measuring it helps ensure that your child’s eyes are well-coordinated, which is important for overall vision health.
By assessing depth perception during an eye exam, eye care professionals can detect potential issues early and provide treatments to help your child develop the visual skills they need for a healthy, active, and safe life.
Why do you measure my child’s color vision in his or her pediatric eye exam?
There are seven reasons we measure color vision in our kid’s eye exams in Omaha. These include:
- Detecting Color Vision Deficiencies (CVD): Color vision deficiencies, commonly known as color blindness, affect the ability to distinguish certain colors, usually reds, greens, and sometimes blues. Detecting these deficiencies early can help in understanding how your child perceives the world and can impact their daily life and learning.
- Identifying Underlying Eye Conditions: Abnormal color vision can be a sign of other eye health issues or neurological conditions. Some eye disorders, like optic nerve abnormalities or retinal diseases, can affect color perception. Measuring color vision can help detect these conditions early, allowing for timely intervention.
- Impact on Learning and Development: Good color vision plays a significant role in a child’s learning and development. Many educational materials, such as charts, diagrams, and digital content, use color coding to convey information. If a child has difficulty distinguishing colors, it can affect their ability to learn effectively and keep up in school.
- Safety and Daily Activities: Proper color vision is crucial for daily tasks such as identifying traffic lights, selecting clothes, and distinguishing between colored objects. Measuring your child’s color vision helps ensure they can navigate these everyday situations safely and confidently.
- Assessing Visual Development: Color vision testing helps evaluate the overall development of your child’s visual system. Atypical results can indicate developmental concerns, prompting further investigation or specialized care to support their vision.
- Family History of Color Vision Issues: Color vision deficiencies often run in families. If there’s a family history of color blindness, testing your child’s color vision can help determine if they have inherited this trait.
- Improving Educational Accommodations: If a child is diagnosed with a color vision deficiency, educators and parents can make appropriate adjustments, such as using high-contrast materials, avoiding reliance on color-coded instructions, or using labels that include shapes or patterns.
A routine pediatric eye exam at other local practices typically does not include all of these important features in their examination. However, as a leading pediatric optometry practice, Modern Vision Solutions designed our kid’s eye exams to be the most comprehensive in all of Omaha, so you can be confident your child’s vision needs are fully covered at Modern Vision Solutions. We’d love to see your child soon!
Dr. Meagan Anderson is the lead optometrist at Modern Vision Solutions in Omaha, NE. She completed her Residency in Refractive Surgery and Primary Care and holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry St. Louis, MO. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry, and the Nebraska Optometric Association. Dr. Anderson has had experience in multiple refractive surgery and optometry practices. She has served as a teaching assistant in Clinical Optometry I, II, & III courses. Our patients love her incredible empathy.
