A critical moment for children’s vision legislation

Dear colleagues,

As we reflect on the recent completion of the Pennsylvania state budget, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. While many important issues were addressed, our children's vision legislation, which aims to make comprehensive eye exams mandatory for children prior to entering school, was not passed or even voted out of committee. However, we have one final opportunity to change that—a chance akin to a hail Mary pass in football or a buzzer-beater shot in basketball. This fall, before we enter a new legislative session next year, we must rally together to advocate for this crucial legislation.

The Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams for Children

Every day, we see firsthand the difference that early detection and treatment of vision problems can make in a child's life. Comprehensive eye exams are essential for diagnosing conditions that can significantly impact a child's learning and development. Issues such as amblyopia, strabismus, and significant refractive errors often go undetected without a thorough eye exam, leading to difficulties in school and beyond.

The future of the children of the Commonwealth depends on us. By making comprehensive eye exams a standard requirement before children enter school, we can ensure that every child has the visual foundation necessary to succeed academically and socially. This legislation is not just about eye health; it’s about giving our children the best possible start in life.

Rallying for Change: Engaging Hearts and Minds

To achieve this goal, we must appeal to the hearts and minds of our patients and legislators. Share your stories with your patients—stories of children whose lives have been transformed by timely eye care. Encourage them to contact their legislators and express their support for the children’s vision legislation. Personal testimonials can be incredibly powerful in demonstrating the real-world impact of this initiative.

Additionally, you must reach out to your local representatives. Explain the importance of early detection and treatment of vision problems and how this legislation can make a profound difference in the lives of countless children. Emphasize that investing in children’s vision now will pay dividends in their future success and well-being.

A Unified Effort

Our association is committed to supporting you in this advocacy effort. We will provide resources, talking points, and guidance on how to effectively communicate with patients and legislators. Together, we can create a groundswell of support that cannot be ignored.

In closing, I urge each of you to take action. The window of opportunity is narrow, but with a unified and determined effort, we can achieve our goal. The future of the children of the Commonwealth is in our hands. Let us seize this moment and ensure that every child has the chance to see clearly and succeed fully.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to this vital cause.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Deom

POA President

The year we've had

As the end of 2023 approaches, I am incredibly proud of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) this year. We embarked on our journey with a goal of “breaking down the silos” and fostering increased lateral communication within our organization. What I have come to realize is, through our efforts, while those silos grew stronger, we developed better interconnectivity with sideward communication, effectively bridging the pillars of our organizational structure. We should take pride in the foundational work we have laid, and we will continue to build upon this spirit of collaboration. 

Let's delve into more of our collective achievements over the past months. We have actively contributed to Salus University's strategic efforts to attract more students to the profession of optometry. Our Proactive Optometry Initiative has gained significant momentum with pledges from many of our members. If you have not already pledged, please do so here. Our keyperson program has undergone thorough evaluation and is evolving into a more comprehensive strategy. This restructuring will provide a solid foundation for our grassroots efforts as we progress toward our legislative goals.

Additionally, we have successfully trained dozens of optometrists across our Commonwealth to perform advanced laser procedures, in partnership with and presented by Salus University on both the eastern and western sides of Pennsylvania. We are well-positioned to explore the modernization of our scope of practice in the near future. Our collaborative efforts with the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology have expanded, with their request for referral sources for scleral contact lenses and low vision services. We promptly answered this request for action. Please sign up here and here if you would like to be considered as an office providing these services and materials. Our initiative allows ODs, DOs, and MDs to refer through the POA to participating offices. 

In late September, the POA partnered with VSP and the Salvation Army to provide comprehensive eye exams and glasses to individuals in need in Harrisburg. Over two days, our doctors and supporting staff cared for over 220 people, making a substantial difference in their lives. Recently, the POA has enlisted new legal counsel from Tucker Arensberg, PC. They are a full-service law firm with over 80 attorneys who will specialize in addressing the diverse needs of the POA and its members. The POA is deeply grateful for the decades of service and expertise provided by our former counsel, Attorney Greg Knight. We wish him well in his future endeavors and will always consider him a friend of the POA. 

Our legislative affairs committee remains dedicated to advancing our children's vision bill. Once this law is codified, it will be crucial that our Children's Vision Care Alliance (CVCA) be prepared for action, so sign up here. This alliance is not exclusive to vision therapy or pediatric optometrists; it is open to all who work with children giving them access to a first line comprehensive eye exam. If you see kids in any capacity, please sign up. 

In closing the year, the POA will be involved in assisting the Governor’s Office with his executive order directing the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to develop its Master Plan for Older Adults. Identifying early and treating visual conditions in an aging population will be a prominent focus within this Master Plan. 

As we reflect on all we have accomplished this past year, I am filled with optimism for our future. Let's continue to move onwards and upwards, as 2024 is just around the corner! I look forward to seeing you there!

Jesse
Jesse Jones, O.D.
POA President

Accessible, comprehensive eye care

 As this summer comes to an end, the POA stands proudly at the forefront of a transformative season filled with dedication, outreach, and innovation. Guided by a shared commitment to create access to high‐quality eye health and vision care for all citizens of Pennsylvania, we reflect on the journey that has brought us to this moment and look ahead with optimism and determination.

The POA has exemplified the true essence of its mission—providing education, advocacy, and support for Doctors of Optometry to be licensed and equipped to practice to the fullest extent of their training. Our tireless efforts in raising awareness, advancing education, and advocating for accessible eye care services for all Pennsylvanians have resonated.

One of our cornerstones this summer has been our unwavering commitment to children’s access to our care. We recognize that a well-informed community is an empowered one, capable of making informed decisions about their children’s ocular health. From informative public outreach to engaging social media campaigns, the POA has harnessed every platform to disseminate critical information about the importance of regular eye examinations for our children. The detection of eye conditions, and the benefits of adopting a proactive approach to eye care early on could change the life of a child. Here’s an interview with POA Past President Dr. Tracy Sepich where she explains the benefits and importance of consistent and preparatory eye exams in children. 

Moreover, this summer has been marked by our dedication to outreach. We continue to volunteer our care for underserved communities, partnering with POA Business Partner VSP Vision to provide free comprehensive eye exams and eyewear to those who need it most at the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region. By dismantling barriers to access, we've opened doors to a brighter future for those we help, ensuring that poor vision will no longer be a hindrance to their aspirations. Volunteers are always welcome to join us at the free eye exam event. You can register here. 

As President of the POA, I am profoundly grateful for the dedication and passion demonstrated by each member of our association. Your commitment to our shared vision and mission has been the driving force behind our collective success. Let us move forward with renewed vigor, embracing the challenges and opportunities that await us in the coming months.

In conclusion, let the spirit of this summer serve as a reminder that our objectives are attainable when we work together toward a common goal. Check out the POA's Strategic Plan here.

The POA will continue to champion accessible, comprehensive eye care, fostering a healthier and brighter future for our Commonwealth.

Please enjoy the last few days of summer. I hope to see you all in Bedford this November.

Most sincerely,

Jesse

Jesse Jones, O.D.

POA President

POA's bringing eye care to the children

One in five children has a vision problem. These vision problems may affect a child’s ability to learn, play, socialize, and develop positive self-esteem. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s vision report underscores that comprehensive eye exams are “the gold standard in clinical vision care to most accurately identify and diagnose vision problems.” The American Optometric Association and Pennsylvania Optometric Association recommend children receive a comprehensive eye examination during the first year of life, between the ages of 3 and 5, before entering 1st grade, and annually thereafter. 

As Doctors of Optometry, we are uniquely qualified to assess and treat children’s vision and ocular health. This year, the POA is practicing what it preaches. The Association has held a long-time position that vision screenings, even by competent professionals, are not sufficient replacements for eye examinations by licensed optometrists.

In September, the POA, in cooperation with VSP Vision™ Eyes of Hope® and the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region, is providing approximately 200 free eye exams to children who would otherwise not receive care. The eye exams will take place on the 16th and 17th at the Salvation Army on 29th street. POA member optometrists, as well as supporting staff and students, will examine children and others of the underserved community in need of eye care as identified by the Salvation Army. VSP Vision™ Eyes of Hope® is providing the eye exam equipment, maintaining the medical records, and supplying glasses to those children in need, while the Salvation Army will provide follow-up care.

The POA’s initiatives for children’s vision do not end with the free eye exams—there are also ongoing discussions and education provided for free to school nurses, as well as free member materials to showcase the importance of eye examinations in the practice. Additionally, the POA supports current legislation to ensure all children receive the eye exams they deserve. 

Please remember to educate your patients, staff, schools, and community about children’s vision—reading teachers, pediatricians, and family physicians play vital roles in a child’s eye health also. You can teach this important community with the Kids Welcome Here posters and brochures, which are available to POA members free of charge, and Vision is Elementary posters, which are available for school nurses. Through the Children’s Vision Care Alliance, the POA has developed near point cards and a presentation to further educate school nurses of optometric care. The POA has developed all these materials for its members, but it needs you to get the word out. By joining the CVCA, you become part of a network of POA member optometrists dedicated to providing quality eye care to children. 

Thank you to the optometrists, staff, students, and other volunteers assisting in the September eye exams. Thank you to VSP Vision™ Eyes of Hope® and the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region for their cooperation.

Finally, a special thank you to the POA’s Ilene Sauertieg, who persisted to make the event, first conceived by our late executive director, Joe Ricci, into a reality.

Tracy Carpenter Sepich, O.D., MS
POA President

A strong POA is a diverse and inclusive POA

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association has a long history of providing member benefits ranging from advocacy to education. The Association provides a voice for optometry in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., offers problem-solving and maintains ongoing relationships with third-party payers on behalf of our members. POA membership opens the door to premium opportunities with buying groups, investment strategies with Fischer Financial, insurance, discounts with Element Risk Management, HIPAA compliance solutions with Abyde, and consultative services with POA legal counsel. Additionally, the POA Electronic Claims Service helps you submit claims to third-party payers while also generating income to reduce membership dues.

When the COVID shutdown hit, we devised quality online education, which has continued as an option in addition to our revived in-person educational offerings, and we will continue to provide cutting-edge education as we explore scope expansion.

Through the Children’s Vision Care Alliance, we form relationships with school nurses statewide, and provide members with no-cost posters, brochures, and presentations to educate local schools and families on the importance of eye examinations. We have similar materials available to promote the need and accessibility of diabetic eye examinations by optometrists through the Pennsylvania Diabetic Eye Health Alliance. These programs keep our member optometrists involved and relevant in these essential areas of vision and eye care. 

We partner with the Pennsylvania Paraoptometric Association which provides education as well as networking and professional development opportunities for your staff. The AOA Paraoptometric Resource Center also provides staff training and certification.

We support our fourteen local optometric societies so members can attend meetings, obtain CE, network, and advocate locally. We work closely with the Pennsylvania Student Optometric Association to recruit new members and keep our initiatives current and relevant.

We update our members through email and this bi-monthly newsletter, which includes a classified section to assist members with practice and equipment sales and job searches.

A new addition to our association structure is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) task force. As a result of responses to our 2021 membership survey, our new strategic plan calls for the creation of this DEI task force. This initiative is important in making sure all optometrists in Pennsylvania have a home in the POA. We need to make sure all optometrists know they are valued and welcomed. We want optometrists with a variety of backgrounds to contribute to the volunteer structure of the POA. We will be stronger as an association if we have a diverse community of members involved.

In an effort to recognize the AOA’s dedication to all people, at the 2021 AOA House of Delegates, the following statements were added to the Optometric Oath: “I WILL provide professional care for the diverse populations who seek my services, with concern, with compassion and with due regard for their human rights and dignity.  I WILL work to expand access to quality care and improve health equity for all communities.”

Please recognize we all have biases. Please educate yourself. Please attend local conversations about diversity in your community. Simply saying we are welcoming is not enough. When you are at a conference, sit next to someone who does not look like you. Stop into local optometry practices in various settings and invite them to your local society meetings.

I hope to foster a POA in which optometrists of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and practice styles know they belong, are safe and valued, and work together for our common goals. My hope is by nurturing a diverse and inclusive association, we will become better providers and serve a greater community with more acceptance and positive results.

Little things matter. Respect, even in small ways, matters.

If you have an interest in strengthening the POA by participating in the new POA DEI task force, contact me at tsepich@restoreeyecare.com or the POA office at mail@poaeyes.org. Thank you.

Tracy Carpenter Sepich, O.D., MS

POA President

A fond adieu

Have you ever noticed that once you finally figure something out, something changes and you have to adjust? It feels like the last year flew by so quickly. As an association, we started the year virtually, with the pandemic halting yet another Spring Congress. Questions of “will there be a vaccine” lapsed into “which one did you get?” And then there’s the mask thing. One would have thought that someone would have at least mentioned that people had to wear masks in healthcare facilities. Through it all, the POA moved forward. The Children’s Vision bill gained traction and now has 40 co-sponsors thanks to the hard work of our legislative team. The Keyperson Committee and Legislative Affairs Committee collaborated to make “How To” educational videos for legislator meetings. The Children’s Vision Care Alliance (CVCA) also grew, developed talking points, a pediatric near point card, and reached out to school nurses. We began working with ophthalmology on public health issues. The Early Drop Legislation will allow our patients to renew their drop prescription if they run out of drops before the end of the month. I hope that this blossoms into an ongoing collaboration between the eye care professions on matters of public health. 

Just as the strategic plan was set to begin implementation, the unthinkable occurred. We lost our executive director, Joe Ricci, to COVID-19. This virus is a cold, unfeeling malady that has left many to pass quietly on a ventilator without the comfort of family. It was a terrible blow to the POA and to me, personally. However, the Board of Directors are the guardians of the organization, and the Personnel Committee met immediately to develop a plan to maintain the integrity of the POA. With the full support of the Board, past presidents, and many others, we moved mountains: message triage, emergency meetings, and the formation of an executive director search committee—none of which would have happened so smoothly without the POA staff. I called the POA office so often that Deb and Ilene became Debilene. It was a rough few weeks, but we all pulled together to make it work. Our immediate past executive director, Dr. Charlie Stuckey, has stepped up and will be the interim director for the next six months. Over the years, he has been an ED, friend, and mentor for many of us and lends some calm to an otherwise high stress and tragic event. The search committee is actively moving forward to attempt to fill the shoes left behind by Joe. 

I have the unique perspective of not only moving the POA through a pandemic, but also losing our executive director to the virus. If there is one thing I learned about the POA during this time, it’s that it is a family and everyone is essential. Countless calls offering condolences, help, and guidance. It was an all hands on deck situation and the POA structure, once in place, moved forward like clockwork.

I want to thank the POA Board for all of their support and effort, the POA staff… well, for all that you do, and all of the members that offer their time and talents to this great organization. It’s time for me to say a fond adieu to my time at the helm. Expect big things next year. The foundations have been set and you are in some of the most capable, hard-working hands as we move into 2022.

Until soon,

Ed

Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!

What a year! We just started and the pandemic hit. Businesses closed, restaurants were take-out only, and good luck getting a haircut or toilet paper. Slowly, the country re-opened with mask requirements, maximum capacities, and short supplies of PPE. Optometry was not immune to this new normal, but we continued to remain on the front-line serving our patients. To add to the mix, later in the year, the FTC imposed mandatory contact lens documentation. Despite these adversities, the POA forged ahead and was successful in passing a modernization of the Optometric Practice Act. The amended Act removes the Secretary of Health from the pharmaceutical approval process and places the management of the profession where it needs to be: the Pennsylvania State Board of Optometry. Additionally, the new Act allows for Epi-Pen use and removes the 6-week restriction for all forms of glaucoma, dry eye, and allergic conjunctivitis. Who would have ever imagined that 2020, The Year of the Eye Examination, would be so “exciting”?

Despite that excitement and  the challenges it resulted in, the POA has adapted well to these COVID times. The executive director and staff were proactive and prepared well in advance for the work-from-home environment. Committees worked non-stop to modify meetings, offer virtual education, and retain business partners. Zoom meetings and remote access became the norm. Meetings changed from live to remote, and live meetings became sensitive to social distancing. Details, too many to count, have all been handled flawlessly. Thank all of you for your extraordinary effort in keeping the organization moving forward.

Twenty twenty-one may well be the year remembered as, “The Year of the Vaccine.” The POA and AOA continue to advocate for optometrists, as front-line healthcare providers, to be some of the first to be vaccinated. The response from the Secretary of Health is positive as the definition for those initially eligible will be broad and inclusive. We stepped up and have been recognized for the excellent primary care services that we provide to the people of Pennsylvania.

My hope for 2021 is that it is remembered as the year that all of the children of Pennsylvania have the opportunity to be on an even playing field upon entering the realm of academia. Pennsylvania has an estimated 400,000 children in pre-school through the sixth grade. According to public health statistics, 3% to 7% (28,000) of those children will have a visual disability. These vision disorders are the fourth most common disability in the United States and the most prevalent handicapping condition in children. Since vision screenings miss at least half of these maladies, we can no longer ignore this pressing public health issue. Pennsylvania State Representative Zimmerman, with the strong support of the POA, has proffered legislation that will address this inequity by mandating vision examinations for all children entering school and at significant developmental milestones thereafter. 

Additionally, members of the POA’s Children’s Vision Care Alliance (CVCA) are committed to elevating the visual well-being of children by adhering to set standards, intervening at refractive and functional levels when necessary. More details can be found at https://pennsylvania.aoa.org/doctors/poa-member-resources/childrens-vision-care-alliance. The entire POA Board has been charged with working to make this a reality and we are asking for your support. 

Together, let’s make this a year to remember, for the kids and Pennsylvania Optometry.

Edward Savarno, O.D.
POA President

The 2015 Planning Session and Board of Directors Installation Dinner

For full size photos, please visit the POA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaOptometricAssociation. 

Senator Vogel's 2015 Kids Extravaganza

Senator Vogel's 2015 Kids Extravaganza was held at Community College of Beaver County in Monaca on Saturday, June 27 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Local POA member optometrists supported the event with tables including two very busy face painters that were a huge hit at the event.

Kids Welcome Here®, InfantSEE® and There is More to 3D were the table themes.

The POA members' mission was to explain with demonstration the need to have children's eyes examined at a very young age.

This was the sixth consecutive year for the event and the sixth consecutive year for local POA member optometrists to take part in it. An estimated 1500+ were in attendance.

Information and photos provided by Dr. Bud Lilly.

When Water and Contact Lenses Don’t Mix

Pennsylvania Optometric Association recommends good hygiene practices for contact lens wearers while swimming

Harrisburg, May 27, 2015 – Flocking to local pools, waterparks, or larger bodies of water, Americans will attempt to escape the heat this summer to enjoy a relaxing day away. However, contact lens wearers sometimes forget important sanitation rules and risk infection by wearing their contacts around water, which often contains bacteria. According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2015 American Eye-Q^® Survey, nearly 25 percent of those surveyed admit to swimming in their contact lenses. The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) offers contact lens wearers safety tips on how to keep their eyes healthy during the approaching summer days.

Think of contact lenses as ‘sponges’

According to the FDA and the POA, contact lenses should not be exposed to any kind of water, including tap water. The American Eye-Q^® Survey found that 53 percent of contact wearers claim they shower while wearing their lenses.

Contact lenses are similar to sponges in that they will absorb whatever is in the water, including chemicals or bacteria. Acanthamoeba, a rare, but sight-threatening germ, can be found in freshwater lakes, rivers and unclean tap or well water. It can cause the painful eye infection Acanthamoeba keratitis. In the most severe cases of this infection, a corneal transplant may be required or the end result could be blindness.

If a contact lens is accidentally splashed with water, use artificial tears to lubricate and float the lens on the eye, wash and dry your hands before removing the lens, then clean and disinfect the lens with fresh sterile solution. If the lens is disposable, throw it away. If more pain or redness than normal occurs in the eyes after being in a pool, call an optometrist as soon as possible.

Water increases the need for UV protection

The POA stresses that the importance of UV protection applies to everyone, despite age, especially when around water. For instance, sand and water at the beach can reflect an additional 25 percent of UV rays, increasing the risk of damage to one’s eyes.

Just a few hours of intense exposure to sunlight out by the pool or on the beach could potentially causes photokeratitis, known also as the ‘sunburn of the eye,’ which can cause red eyes, a foreign-body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing.

For optimal eye-sun safety, the POA recommends wearing sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays. The AOA has a guide for choosing sunglasses here.

Water sports and eye safety

An optometrist can recommend the best options for those in need of vision correction while enjoying the water. For swimming and water skiing, well-fitted prescription goggles that offer vision correction may be an option. If one is looking for vision correction and protection against harmful UV rays, the durable, expertly fitted pair of prescription sun eyewear may be ideal. Once out of the water, individuals need to ensure their hands are clean before inserting new contact lenses.

If a patient doesn’t want to wear prescription goggles or sun eyewear, his or her optometrists may prescribe daily disposable contact lenses, which offer optimum sanitation since they are made to be thrown out every day. Patients still need to be very careful to avoid tap, chlorinated, or salt water getting in their eyes while wearing contacts. While goggles are the recommended solution for protection, disposable lenses make it easy to replace any contaminated lens with a fresh one.

Should an ocular emergency occur, your local optometrist can help prevent an eye infection or other serious damage from happening. Your eye doctor can answer questions over the telephone and recommend offices or emergency rooms for treatment and care. Click here to review the AOA Sports Vision Section ocular emergency triage card.

Whether aiming to champion the tallest water slide or set a new goal on water skis, remember to practice good hygiene and safety with contact lenses. Visit your optometrist annually, or more if directed, to ensure your eyes are healthy and remain that way. For additional resources about contact lens hygiene and safety, visit contactlenssafety.org or aoa.org. Find an eye doctor near you at www.poaeyes.org.

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the American Eye-Q® survey:

The 10th annual American Eye-Q^® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB).  From February 19-March 4, 2015, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.)

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):

The American Optometric Association, a federation of state, student and armed forces optometric associations, was founded in 1898. Today, the AOA is proud to represent the profession of optometry, America’s family eye doctors, who take a leading role in an individual’s overall eye and vision care, health and well-being. Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders, diseases and injuries that affect the eye and visual system, providing two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. For information on a variety of eye health and vision topics, and to find an optometrist near you, visit aoa.org.

InfantSEE Success Story - Dr. Arnold Bierman

The following success story comes from Dr. Arnold Bierman.

A 10-month-old patient was brought to Dr. Bierman due to the child’s lateness in crawling, standing and walking. The patient’s mother told Dr. Bierman that there was a history of bad eyesight on the patient’s father’s side and she wanted to rule out visual problems that might be contributing to developmental delay.

Upon examination, Dr. Bierman discovered the patient was significantly farsighted in each eye, the right eye being +4.25 and the left eye +5.25 on objective near point retinoscopy. He informed the mother that glasses would be best for the child.

This is when obstacles presented themselves to Dr. Bierman and the patient. The child’s pediatrician requested a report of Dr. Bierman’s findings, and the child’s father did not want the baby to have glasses. While in contact with the pediatrician, Dr. Bierman found out that an appointment for the patient was already made to have him evaluated by a pediatric ophthalmologist despite his having been examined and diagnosed by Dr. Bierman.

Following that appointment, the chief pediatric ophthalmologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia spoke with Dr. Bierman and told him that all his findings were valid and he agreed with Dr. Bierman’s desired course of action. The family followed through with Dr. Bierman’s original recommendations and ordered the glasses. Dr. Bierman contacted the patient’s mother to check in with the boy and the mother reported that “he’s like a different child” now.

Thanks for sharing your success story, Dr. Bierman! If you have an InfantSEE success story, send it to Kelsey@poaeyes.org to be included in a future issue!

Purchasing Contacts without a Prescription is More Than Dangerous

Over half of Americans unknowingly buy decorative lenses illegally

A growing American trend in recent years is the use of decorative contact lenses to alter the appearance or color of the eyes. Mostly used as costume accessories around the Halloween holiday, these non-corrective, decorative lenses pose the same health issues as corrective contact lenses. Like all contacts, these should only be acquired through a prescription from a licensed optometrist.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies contact lenses as medical devices requiring a valid prescription. The accessibility of these decorative contacts have eye doctors growing increasingly concerned about the risks for consumers who purchase them illegally on the Internet, at flea markets, off-the-shelf in retail or drug stores and even on the street. The American Optometric Association (AOA) has collaborated with the FDA and the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) to help educate consumers about only acquiring lenses with a valid prescription from an optometrist.

Decorative contact lenses, without a prescription from an eye doctor, can cause serious eye and vision problems, just like any contact lenses. Many consumers mistakenly believe a prescription is unnecessary for decorative contacts because they do not provide vision correction. It’s important that consumers get an eye exam and only wear contact lenses that are properly fitted and prescribed by an optometrist, regardless if the lenses provide vision correction or not.

According to the AOA’s 2014 American Eye-Q^® consumer survey, 11 percent of consumers have worn decorative, non-corrective contacts, and of that 11 percent, 53 percent purchased them illegally and without a prescription. Wearing illegally purchased lenses can result in unhealthy consequences such as bacterial infections, allergic reactions or even significant damage to the eye’s ability to function, which can lead to irreversible sight loss.

When used properly, contact lenses are among the safest forms of vision correction. A medical eye and vision examination from your optometrist is a great way to determine if you are eligible for contact lenses. During the exam, the eye doctor will make sure the lenses fit properly and teach you how to safely care for them.

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) identifies six common mistakes made by patients when it comes to handling contact lenses:

• Not washing and drying hands. It is common sense to wash your hands, but the American Eye-Q^® survey found that 35 percent of contact lens wearers skip this important process. Drying your hands before applying contacts is also important because tap water can contain harmful microorganisms that easily transfer from your hands, to the lens and therefore onto your eye.

• Wearing lenses longer than recommended. Many contact lens wearers allow their contacts to overstay their welcome until irritation in the eye occurs. The American Eye-Q^® survey found that 57 percent of contact lens wearers admitted to wearing disposable lenses longer than directed. Optometrists recommend a changing schedule for contact lenses to help prevent eye irritation or permanent eye damage from bacterial infections.

• Not replacing contact lens cases regularly. Lens cases should be replaced at least every three months, with frequent cleaning and disinfecting in between replacements. Despite eye doctors recommending this, only 41 percent of contact lens wearers follow this rule.

• Sleeping in contacts overnight. The American Eye-Q^® survey revealed that 21 percent of lens wearers are guilty of this bad habit. Sleeping in contacts puts consumers at risk for eye infections unless the lenses are specifically designed for day and night use and monitored by your doctor.

• Reusing old contact lens solution. Use only fresh solution to clean and store contact lenses. Products recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect lenses are the best bet. Remember that saline solution and rewetting drops do not disinfect lenses.

• Wearing contact lenses while swimming or in a hot tub. More than a quarter of contact lens wearers report swimming in their contact lenses. This act can lead to serious sight-threatening eye infections and irritation. According to the FDA and POA, contact lenses should not be exposed to any kind of water, including tap water or water found in swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs and showers.

To educate yourself on the risks associated with decorative contact lenses, visit www.contactlensart.org. For additional resources about contact lens hygiene and safety, please visit www.contactlenssafety.org or http://pennsylvania.aoa.org/x5230.xml.

About the American Eye-Q® survey:

The ninth annual American Eye-Q^® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB).  From March 20-25, 2014, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95% confidence level)

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):

The American Optometric Association, a federation of state, student and armed forces optometric associations, was founded in 1898. Today, the AOA is proud to represent the profession of optometry, America’s family eye doctors, who take a leading role in an individual’s overall eye and vision care, health and well-being. Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders, diseases and injuries that affect the eye and visual system, providing two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. For information on a variety of eye health and vision topics, and to find an optometrist near you, visit www.aoa.org.

InfantSEE Success Story - Dr. Daniel Schott

The following InfantSEE success story came from Dr. Daniel Schott.

Schott Associates Eye Care in Potter and McKean counties have found a way to better its InfantSEE screenings by coordinating the appointment with the patient’s pediatrician. The Coudersport location owes its success, in part, to the office’s ideal location in Cole Memorial Hospital, but the other locations have also found this coordination tactic successful despite the pediatrician’s office being in another building.

At the child’s nine-month check-up, the infant comes to the office for a screening first. After the screening, the InfantSEE report is sent with the parent to be delivered to the pediatrician at the child’s visit. This way, the pediatrician is reviewing the report with the parent at the appointment and can stress the importance of early intervention in visual development.

Schott Associates Eye Care has found the nine-month visit to be the best time for this screening because infant cooperation is typically better at this age. Cooperation leads to more accurate data. Also there are usually no immunizations at a nine-month well-child visit, so if the patient must come in after visiting the pediatrician’s office, they are usually not cranky from receiving shots.

This has been a very successful way to market not only the practice, but also the importance of early childhood eye exams. In addition, the interaction with pediatricians in this manner has lead to other cases being referred to the practice. This is a win-win for all parties involved. 

Well done, Dr. Schott! Send your own InfantSEE success stories to Kelsey@poaeyes.org to be included in a future issue of the Keystoner and featured here on our blog.

Parents and children aren't seeing eye-to-eye

Identifying vision problems caused by digital devices

Rising technology use in both homes and classrooms is leaving parents underestimating the time their children actually spend on digital devices. The American Optometric Association (AOA) conducted a survey that discovered 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 use an electronic device for at least three hours a day. Only 40 percent of parents polled on a separate survey were aware that their children were using digital devices for that same amount of time. These statistics may indicate that parents are likely to overlook warning signs associated with vision problems caused by technology use.

Prolonged technology use can cause burning, itchy or tired eyes, headaches, fatigue, loss of focus and blurred vision. This temporary condition is called digital eye strain. To protect vision from digital eye strain, children should practice the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break by staring at something 20 feet away. The following tips can also reduce this particular type of eye strain:

• Make sure computer screens are four to five inches below eye level and 20 to 28 inches away from the eyes. Hold digital devices, like phones and tablets, slightly below eye level.

• Turn your desk or computer away from windows or other light sources to prevent glare on the screen.

• Match the room lighting and the computer screen by using a lower-watt bulb in the overhead light.

• Make text bigger and easier to read.

• To minimize the chances of developing dry eye, blink frequently and fully.

Also concerning is the effect that high-energy, short-wavelength blue light emitted from electronic devices can have on the eyes. Early research on the topic shows that overexposure to blue light may be a contributing factor to eye strain and discomfort, and may lead to serious conditions such as age-related macular degeneration.

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) recommends that children have regular eye exams by an optometrist to keep their eyesight healthy and strong. POA also encourages parents to start their child's eye exams early. Every child should have an examination after 6 months of age and again before age 3. Now, under the Affordable Care Act, children through age 18 are covered for yearly comprehensive eye exams.

To learn more about eye and vision health, or to find a nearby doctor of optometry, please visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):

The American Optometric Association represents approximately 36,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country, and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors. Doctors of optometry provide two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States.

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Prior to optometry school, optometrists typically complete four years of undergraduate study, culminating in a bachelor's degree. Required undergraduate coursework for pre-optometry students is extensive and covers a wide variety of advanced health, science and mathematics. Optometry school consists of four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care. For more information, visit www.aoa.org.

Optometry Heeded in Washington, D.C. and State Capitals: Full Eye Health Coverage for Children to be Nationwide Priority in 2014

A recent state-by-state analysis of health plans to be offered under the 2010 health care law indicates that nearly all states will feature a pediatric vision care benefit that is based on an annual comprehensive eye exam provided by an eye doctor and is embedded with other benefits as part of the overall health insurance plan.