At a recent gathering, one mother was commenting, “we are a dysfunctional family. At lunch today, at the restaurant, my husband was using his i-mode, I was using my blackberry to access my office emails, and my son was playing his handheld games. We are together and yet not-together.”
If it sounds familiar, you are not alone. Do you talk about it, and just accept it as it is? We often raise concerns that we do not have enough time for our family. When the family is together, we just have to actively plan to make it quality family time.
What has this got to do with eyecare management?
In the course of our business, we came to recognize that the difficulty most parents faced was with excessive use of computer games and handheld games. Although they know it is not entirely a healthy activity, most have resigned to it. This activity spoil our eyesight and affects negatively a child’s development and their families life as well.
Although there are tools to control a child’s computer usage such as Computer Time introduced by Energie EyeCare, what is important are the parents’ mindset. Its individual families’ priority and parents usually set the example. Sometimes, we are aware that it is undesirable, but we lack the patience, or worse, the confidence to disallow it so as not to be seen as Uncool.
Are there differences in computer gaming children, and non-computer gaming children? We will try to share that in our next blog.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Everything about EyeCare: Genetics & Myopia
Everything about EyeCare: Genetics & Myopia
Many people misunderstand the genetic link as a simple YES or No answer. We often hear parents saying "Its not genetic because we don't wear spectacles until secondary school...". Genetic links is always present, they just made us "more" or "less" susceptible to myopia.
Hence if a child needs glass in pre-school, he is probably more susceptible to myopia, and hence prevention more difficult. If a child needs glasses only when he is 9 - 10 years old, he is probably genetically less susceptible to myopia. And if you are able to identify the poor visual activity that may have caused it, determination to follow good visual practice coupled with EyeRelax may give you very good results.
This year's A*star medical research grant, a 3 year duration myopia research to investigate "Genes, gene-environment interactions and myopia in Singapore children," wins the highest grant of $1.73million. As the research investigator Prof Saw said, it is hope that the reseach would "help us identify children with a genetic disposition to myopia and allow us to counsel them earlier before they develop the disease."
While waiting for this multi year research to be concluded, just take good care of eyes now.
Many people misunderstand the genetic link as a simple YES or No answer. We often hear parents saying "Its not genetic because we don't wear spectacles until secondary school...". Genetic links is always present, they just made us "more" or "less" susceptible to myopia.
Hence if a child needs glass in pre-school, he is probably more susceptible to myopia, and hence prevention more difficult. If a child needs glasses only when he is 9 - 10 years old, he is probably genetically less susceptible to myopia. And if you are able to identify the poor visual activity that may have caused it, determination to follow good visual practice coupled with EyeRelax may give you very good results.
This year's A*star medical research grant, a 3 year duration myopia research to investigate "Genes, gene-environment interactions and myopia in Singapore children," wins the highest grant of $1.73million. As the research investigator Prof Saw said, it is hope that the reseach would "help us identify children with a genetic disposition to myopia and allow us to counsel them earlier before they develop the disease."
While waiting for this multi year research to be concluded, just take good care of eyes now.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Genetics & Myopia
Today’s The Straits Times has an article titled “FAT? Blame your genes”. It is reported that scientist has identified the presence of a certain "FTO" genes in the body is more likely to be obese.
Many readers may be confused, does that mean that the general advice to exercise to keep fit and trim is useless since its genetic anyway. But many have observed that their friends obviously lost "kgs" after diligently committing to an healthy eating and exercise routine. Are these scientist in the “real world”. How can we we reconcile this?
The subjects under the study of the scientist are usually of very obese nature. These are usually subjects whom are obese from young, and stays obese no matter what they eat/don’t eat, exercise/don’t exercise. These are generally known to be likely genetic causes. There is another group that is obese by choice, that is, they eat excessively or wrongly, and hardly exercises. For this group of people, if they choose to eat and live healthy, most of the time they do see significant improvements to their health.
Myopia has a lot of similarity to obesity. We see patients who are already -7.0D(700 degrees) at the age of 3 or 4. Some children needs glasses even before primary school despite their parents being very conscientious on their eyecare habits. There are also those whose eyesight are spoilt due to their lifestyle choice of excessive nearwork. And there are also lucky few whom can engage in computer games 8 – 9 hours a day and yet maintains a perfect eyesight! Both genetics and lifestyle plays a part in myopia.
How do we know which category we fall into?
Many readers may be confused, does that mean that the general advice to exercise to keep fit and trim is useless since its genetic anyway. But many have observed that their friends obviously lost "kgs" after diligently committing to an healthy eating and exercise routine. Are these scientist in the “real world”. How can we we reconcile this?
The subjects under the study of the scientist are usually of very obese nature. These are usually subjects whom are obese from young, and stays obese no matter what they eat/don’t eat, exercise/don’t exercise. These are generally known to be likely genetic causes. There is another group that is obese by choice, that is, they eat excessively or wrongly, and hardly exercises. For this group of people, if they choose to eat and live healthy, most of the time they do see significant improvements to their health.
Myopia has a lot of similarity to obesity. We see patients who are already -7.0D(700 degrees) at the age of 3 or 4. Some children needs glasses even before primary school despite their parents being very conscientious on their eyecare habits. There are also those whose eyesight are spoilt due to their lifestyle choice of excessive nearwork. And there are also lucky few whom can engage in computer games 8 – 9 hours a day and yet maintains a perfect eyesight! Both genetics and lifestyle plays a part in myopia.
How do we know which category we fall into?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Health Promotion Board - Myopia Prevention Ads
Have you seen the latest Myopia Prevention Advertisement by Health Promotion Board? I am pleasantly surprised when I saw it two days ago. There is bigger emphasis on two points, do not play computer games excessively, when it shows a boy playing handheld games, and also the constant suggestion to go outdoors.
For those whom have being reading our blog, you would have being aware that we have being emphasizing much on bring your children outdoors too. However, with those whom has being in contact with us, you would also know that we are very much against computer games, especially handheld games.
Many eyecare providers noticed that children's myopic degree increases by as much as 150 degrees (-1.5D) within 3 months of intensive gaming. Its smallness in screen, and intense visual strain activity is very unhealthy to the eye.
We often advise our EyeRelax users to moderate or even eliminate handheld or computer games, if they wish to see good improvement to their eyesight. Alas, its not easy to stop a game addict. In fact, a social counseller whom was conducting a study on game addicts, tried playing to understand the feel, and herself got addicted. She told quite a while and lots of determination to relieve herself of the addiction.
So before you dig into your pocket to pay for the harmless looking handheld games or computer game software, do think carefully.
For those whom have being reading our blog, you would have being aware that we have being emphasizing much on bring your children outdoors too. However, with those whom has being in contact with us, you would also know that we are very much against computer games, especially handheld games.
Many eyecare providers noticed that children's myopic degree increases by as much as 150 degrees (-1.5D) within 3 months of intensive gaming. Its smallness in screen, and intense visual strain activity is very unhealthy to the eye.
We often advise our EyeRelax users to moderate or even eliminate handheld or computer games, if they wish to see good improvement to their eyesight. Alas, its not easy to stop a game addict. In fact, a social counseller whom was conducting a study on game addicts, tried playing to understand the feel, and herself got addicted. She told quite a while and lots of determination to relieve herself of the addiction.
So before you dig into your pocket to pay for the harmless looking handheld games or computer game software, do think carefully.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Myopia Prevention - Take more active interest personnally
There is an active discussion on THE STRAITS TIMES currently the use (or rather the non-use) of safety belt on school buses.
It is observed with unease horror that most Singaporeans do not belt up the kids when their cars are moving (Singapore laws requires children up to age of 8 to be belted when the car is moving). This is despite the fact that an unbelted toddler will plunge forward dangerously like a projectile in an emergency situation involving vehicles of just 60km/hr!
The reasons often sighted was the refusal of the children to be belted; non-convinced parents/care-takers on the safety necessity; inadequate space in the car for child-seat and so on. Then someone exclaimed:”…the irony is that it’s not required for children in school bus to be belted”; and SUDDENLY the discussion moves towards the responsibility of school buses and safety belts.
Why has the discussion moved towards the responsibility of school buses when it started off from “parents are even not responsible for their OWN children’s safety?. If parents themselves are not able to belt up their children, how can the school bus driver and his assistant requires the whole bus load of children to be seated and belted before the bus moves? The school bus will probably not be able to leave the school compound at all.
We are not discussing whether school buses should insist that their passengers belt-up, but that we as parents do have to take on more responsibilities. Without a supportive parent, there is a limit to what the school, or even the government can do. Just in our own experience in eyecare management, it’s quite common for parents to ask why, if excessive computer usage spoils the eyesight and may cause myopia, their school, or the Government encourages computer usage. Or that since EyeRelax helps to relax the eyes and help maintain the healthy function of their eyes, they look forward to their schools make EyeRelax available to the students; and they prefer to give handheld games to their children!
Now, that’s the real irony.
It is observed with unease horror that most Singaporeans do not belt up the kids when their cars are moving (Singapore laws requires children up to age of 8 to be belted when the car is moving). This is despite the fact that an unbelted toddler will plunge forward dangerously like a projectile in an emergency situation involving vehicles of just 60km/hr!
The reasons often sighted was the refusal of the children to be belted; non-convinced parents/care-takers on the safety necessity; inadequate space in the car for child-seat and so on. Then someone exclaimed:”…the irony is that it’s not required for children in school bus to be belted”; and SUDDENLY the discussion moves towards the responsibility of school buses and safety belts.
Why has the discussion moved towards the responsibility of school buses when it started off from “parents are even not responsible for their OWN children’s safety?. If parents themselves are not able to belt up their children, how can the school bus driver and his assistant requires the whole bus load of children to be seated and belted before the bus moves? The school bus will probably not be able to leave the school compound at all.
We are not discussing whether school buses should insist that their passengers belt-up, but that we as parents do have to take on more responsibilities. Without a supportive parent, there is a limit to what the school, or even the government can do. Just in our own experience in eyecare management, it’s quite common for parents to ask why, if excessive computer usage spoils the eyesight and may cause myopia, their school, or the Government encourages computer usage. Or that since EyeRelax helps to relax the eyes and help maintain the healthy function of their eyes, they look forward to their schools make EyeRelax available to the students; and they prefer to give handheld games to their children!
Now, that’s the real irony.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Myopia Prevention with Progressive Lenses
For those whom has being reading our blog, you would have noticed a news feed that shouts.
No-line bifocals may slow myopia progression in some children
It further went to summarise the info as follows :
"In the PAL group, progression averaged -2.01 D overall and was not related to the number of myopic parents, the authors said. Among children with two myopic parents, myopia progression in the PAL group was significantly less than the SVL group, they noted."
The report further reads that children with two myopic parents has their myopia controlled with the use of progressive lenses better than children with one or no parents with myopia. I am not sure if this research looks puzzling to you, but it sure does to me. What was the original motivation of the researcher, as to find out the effectiveness of progressive lenses based on the parent's myopia characteristics.
Upon further research, it became clear. This research was part of COMET, an ambitious 5 year, multi-centre reseach on the effectiveness of progressive lenses on myopia control with 232 subjects. In the course of research, many variables were collected such as parentage, age, gender etc so as to allow the researchers to draw a co-relation of progressive lense' effectiveness to as many variables as possible. In this case, parentage myopia history was identified.
The problem with such a research methodology is, it sometimes throws out very interesting results. For instance, if the colour preference of the subjects were collected, you may have results suggesting "subjects whose myopia is controlled better with progressive lenses tends to like blue"; or even "subjects whose myopia is controlled better with progressive lenses prefers Mcdonalds to Burger King, or vice-versa."
Hence in the actual research findings by Dr Kurtz and his team, they rightly pointed out that their results can only be taken as "exploratory" instead of "conclusive". It is important to put the result of this research in its right context.
No-line bifocals may slow myopia progression in some children
It further went to summarise the info as follows :
"In the PAL group, progression averaged -2.01 D overall and was not related to the number of myopic parents, the authors said. Among children with two myopic parents, myopia progression in the PAL group was significantly less than the SVL group, they noted."
The report further reads that children with two myopic parents has their myopia controlled with the use of progressive lenses better than children with one or no parents with myopia. I am not sure if this research looks puzzling to you, but it sure does to me. What was the original motivation of the researcher, as to find out the effectiveness of progressive lenses based on the parent's myopia characteristics.
Upon further research, it became clear. This research was part of COMET, an ambitious 5 year, multi-centre reseach on the effectiveness of progressive lenses on myopia control with 232 subjects. In the course of research, many variables were collected such as parentage, age, gender etc so as to allow the researchers to draw a co-relation of progressive lense' effectiveness to as many variables as possible. In this case, parentage myopia history was identified.
The problem with such a research methodology is, it sometimes throws out very interesting results. For instance, if the colour preference of the subjects were collected, you may have results suggesting "subjects whose myopia is controlled better with progressive lenses tends to like blue"; or even "subjects whose myopia is controlled better with progressive lenses prefers Mcdonalds to Burger King, or vice-versa."
Hence in the actual research findings by Dr Kurtz and his team, they rightly pointed out that their results can only be taken as "exploratory" instead of "conclusive". It is important to put the result of this research in its right context.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Lasik Cure Myopia?
Again and again, we hear people saying that Lasik is the “cure” for their myopia. Although the right term is “correct” your vision, it does not matter to them what it means as long as they can see clearly without glasses.
Lasik is but a cosmetic surgery that permanently reshapes your corneal, just like contact lenses do when you wear them. As far as the eye is concerned, its still myopic, ie its still abnormally elongated, and continues to subject our eyes at higher risk of eye blinding diseases like glaucoma, retina detachment etc.
Its always worrying that many parents feels that its ok for their children’s myopia to continue its rapid progression, as they will JUST send them for lasik when they are 18…
Is more health education needed?
Lasik is but a cosmetic surgery that permanently reshapes your corneal, just like contact lenses do when you wear them. As far as the eye is concerned, its still myopic, ie its still abnormally elongated, and continues to subject our eyes at higher risk of eye blinding diseases like glaucoma, retina detachment etc.
Its always worrying that many parents feels that its ok for their children’s myopia to continue its rapid progression, as they will JUST send them for lasik when they are 18…
Is more health education needed?
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Myopia Prevention - Just Bring Them Out?
Why is it important to bring our children out? How does it protect their eyesight?
In a major comparative study between children's lifestyle in Singapore & Australia to identify the major cause of myopia, it was noted that the major differentiating factor is not the hours of mugging their homework, neither is it the number of hours of computer games they play; but the major difference was found to be …
the number of hours of outdoor activities which the children engage in everyday!
The Australians spend 3 times as much of their time outdoors than Singapore children.
How does going outdoors improve our chance to protect our eyesight?
Scientists' speculation runs from sunlight is better than artificial light; our eyes positive reaction to sunlight; outdoor environment somehow protects our eyes, genetically Australians may be less vulnerable to myopia, and the list goes on and on...
While the scientist are debated on the possible reasons, I am just going to bring my children out!
Cheers!
In a major comparative study between children's lifestyle in Singapore & Australia to identify the major cause of myopia, it was noted that the major differentiating factor is not the hours of mugging their homework, neither is it the number of hours of computer games they play; but the major difference was found to be …
the number of hours of outdoor activities which the children engage in everyday!
The Australians spend 3 times as much of their time outdoors than Singapore children.
How does going outdoors improve our chance to protect our eyesight?
Scientists' speculation runs from sunlight is better than artificial light; our eyes positive reaction to sunlight; outdoor environment somehow protects our eyes, genetically Australians may be less vulnerable to myopia, and the list goes on and on...
While the scientist are debated on the possible reasons, I am just going to bring my children out!
Cheers!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Myopia Prevention - Bring your children Out
Having your own kids require lots of commitment. In busy and fast paced Singapore, worklife-balance is a challenge. Few of us has the luxury of staying at home to take care of our children ourselves. As much as I hate it, my kids would watch VCD (mind you, the eldest is only 2 years old!) most of the time they are with our maid. It’s the easiest way to keep them occupied so that our maid can do her household chores.
Guess what did my son uttered when he woked up at 2am this morning? “I want to watch TV!” Can you imagine the harm to their little eyes to be staring at the TV everyday? How are our children NOT going to be myopic?
So whenever I am home, I will quickly finish my dinner and bring them out for a stroll. Although we feel so exhausted, and just wish to sit down for a nice cool-down drink, I kept reminding myself what is important. I don’t want them to spoil their eyesight, and I want to introduce him to many new things in life. Bring them out for a nice stroll, out of the “boxy” flat, and allow their eyes finally to see something beyond the four walls of the flat for that day.
But then again, I do enjoy and look forward to the evening stroll everyday.
Guess what did my son uttered when he woked up at 2am this morning? “I want to watch TV!” Can you imagine the harm to their little eyes to be staring at the TV everyday? How are our children NOT going to be myopic?
So whenever I am home, I will quickly finish my dinner and bring them out for a stroll. Although we feel so exhausted, and just wish to sit down for a nice cool-down drink, I kept reminding myself what is important. I don’t want them to spoil their eyesight, and I want to introduce him to many new things in life. Bring them out for a nice stroll, out of the “boxy” flat, and allow their eyes finally to see something beyond the four walls of the flat for that day.
But then again, I do enjoy and look forward to the evening stroll everyday.
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