Page 11 - Healthcare News July/August 2022

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EYE & EAR CONT’D
Eye Health Is No Game
OptT he American Optometric Assoc. (AOA) recently launched a first-of-its kind Screen Time Alli-
ance, in partnership with the gaming industry, to educate Americans about the effects of prolonged time on digital devices and its impact on eye health.
With the increase of online and app-based vision services, AOA’s Eye Deserve More, a national public- awareness campaign, takes a stand that every American deserves in-person comprehensive eye care from a doc- tor of optometry as part of their eye health and overall well-being. The Screen Time Alliance focuses on the rise of screen time — particularly among gamers — and shows how all gamers, streamers, and scrollers can keep their eyes healthy.
More than 227 million Americans play video
games, and with gaming and screen time on the rise,
so is the risk for long-term implications for people’s
eye health. AOA’s 2022 Gamer Survey results revealed that the average gamer spends more than eight hours a day on screens and has experienced various eye-related symptoms from gaming, including eye strain, headaches, dry eyes and blurred vision. Many gamers are aware of the eye-health implications for long-term screen time usage, but less than half (46%) visit a healthcare profes- sional for a comprehensive eye exam every year.
The Screen Time Alliance is a collaboration between a professional eye-health association and gaming-industry companies to educate gamers, and all screen-time users, about the importance of healthy screen time. Cur-
B l Cu r r e d L i n e s What Ophthalmologists Wan“
ometrists, Gaming Industry Launch Screen-time Safety Campaign
oncussion is a common injury in childhood,
affecting about 1.4 million children and ado- This report is important lescents annually in the U.S. Many of them
will find it difficult to return to play or school after a because pediatricians
concussion because they have trouble reading or experi-
ence blurred vision, difficulty focusing, and eye fatigue. in identifying children
The good news is that most of these visual symptoms
resolve on their own by four weeks. However, up to one- who will need school
third may need to be referred to a specialist for further assessment and treatment.
To make sure children are identified early and given proper treatment, the American Academy of Ophthal- mology recently teamed up with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Assoc. for Pediatric Oph- thalmology and Strabismus, and the American Assoc.
of Certified Orthoptists to write a policy statement and clinical report, published today in the journal Pediatrics.
Because children are not always able to describe their symptoms clearly, the screening and diagnostic tools contained in the report will help guide physicians when evaluating patients with concussions.
According to the statement, specialists with experi- ence in comprehensive concussion management — such
accommodations and management of the injury throughout recovery, or even extra care from a specialist.”
as those in sports medicine, neurology, neuropsychol- ogy, physiatry, and ophthalmology — can help with further assessment and treatment when necessary.
The statement also identifies ‘vision therapy,’ a prac- tice commonly promoted for the treatment of concus-
rent members include Nerd Street Gamers, a national network of e-sports facilities, events, and content, and Playcrafting, a game-development company.
The Alliance’s goal is to encourage people to get their eyes checked offline by a doctor of optometry so they can do more of what they love online. Additionally, the AOA has developed “Eye Health Guidance for Screen Time” to provide actionable steps for gamers to adapt and optimize gaming experiences to improve their eye and overall health.
“The establishment of the Screen Time Alliance is an important collaboration for us, as the majority of Ameri- cans spend a significant amount of time on screens
and playing video games,” AOA President Dr. James DeVleming said. “While there are many things we can do on our screens, getting a comprehensive eye exam is not one of them. Through in-person exams, doctors of optometry play a major role in an individual’s overall well-being by being able to spot vision and eye-health issues, as well as early signs of systemic diseases, such
as diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, and cancers.”
As part of this year’s campaign, the AOA is partner- ing with Jordan Fisher, an actor, singer, songwriter, producer, gamer, and parent, to educate fellow gamers and parents about the importance of taking care of their eye health and encouraging them to practice healthier screen-time habits.
“After injuring my cornea years ago, I did not real-
ize how it would affect the rest of my body. With the amount of time I spend on screens— about seven hours a day reading, producing, gaming, or taking videocon- ference calls — it’s key to practice healthy screen-time habits as it can really take a toll on your eyes,” Fisher said. “That’s why getting an eye exam in person is so important. Optometrists are able to look beyond your eyes into your whole body. I make eye health a priority for me and my family, so we won’t miss any important life moments.”
Doctors of optometry like Dr. Jason Compton, AOA member and a gamer himself, say some patients may not make the connection between screens and symptoms such as dry eyes and headaches.
“It’s my job as an optometrist to get to know my patients’ habits and behaviors to create tailored recom- mendations to keep their eyes and overall body healthy, especially since comprehensive eye health is not a one- size-fits-all approach,” Compton said. “Whether you’re a pro gamer, Twitch streamer, casual scroller, or someone who spends all day working at the computer, it’s critical to see a doctor of optometry in person every year and adapt healthy gaming and screen time habits, like taking regular screen breaks and stopping any gaming activity at least one hour before bedtime.”
To find “Eye Health Guidance for Screen Time” and to book an appointment with a local AOA doctor of optometry, visit aoa.org/eyedeservemore. v
t You to Know About Kids and Concussions
sion, as an intervention for which there is insufficient evidence of efficacy.
“There remains a lack of high-quality evidence to support isolated treatment of visual symptoms, such as double vision or blurred vision, after concussion with vision therapy; additional study is needed,” according to the report.
Vision therapy consists of supervised in-office and at-home reinforcement exercises performed over weeks to months to improve visual functions after the concus- sion. In addition to exercises, lenses (‘training glasses’), prisms, filters, patches, electronic targets, or balance boards may be used.
“Early identification of children who need help and getting them appropriate care can help reduce the negative effects of concussion,” said Dr. Christie Morse, a pediatric ophthalmol- ogist and reviewer of the statement and clinical report. “This report is important because pediatricians play a significant role in identifying children who will need school accommo- dations and management of the injury throughout recov-
ery, or even extra care from a specialist. A pediatrician can recommend academic accommodations such as larger font, preprinted notes, and temporary use of books on tape.” v
play a significant role