As seen on WGN News at 9:00 p.m.
On September 13, 2002, Dr. S. Barry Eiden of North Suburban Vision Consultants, Ltd. was interviewed by WGN Chicago, Medical Watch reporter, Dina Bair. Dr. Eiden discussed the topic of vision care and contact lenses for children.

There's a new way to look at children's health and a recommendation to help them see better. When kids go back to school, vision problems can impact grades, behavior and even social interactions. Before first grade, kids should go to the eye doctor so parents can learn the first step in bettering their kids' vision.

"I was in second grade and I could not read the chalkboard," says Katie Roth, a contact lens wearer. But Katie did talk about her problem. Her mother listened to her daughter, but never expected the eye exam would find something wrong. "She actually passed the eye exam when they did it at school," Katie's mom says.

In the doctor's office, the result was not the desired 20/20 vision. At age seven Katie needed glasses. "She worked better and faster once she got the glasses," Katie's mom says. And they helped her see distance. But to see the entire picture of eye health, optometrists need more information.

"We also want to know how their eyes focus up close in terms of clarity, sustaining abilities and eye teaming abilities what we call binocular ability," says Dr. S. Barry Eiden, of Suburban Vision Consultants. In other words, are the eyes working well together? And working with patients, doctors are not just focusing on how well children see.

"Of course we look for diseases of the retina, diseases of the optic nerve and of what we call the anterior segment of the eye, the cornea, the lashes, the lids," Dr. Eiden says. Conditions that threaten vision and maybe even life, but there are medications and interventions that can prevent major damage.

(While examining Katie) Dr. Eiden Says: "Now if you can blink for me. That looks wonderful."

Katie believes her vision is wonderful thanks to advice from her eye doctor to start wearing contacts in fifth grade. "It is amazing how well children do in contact lenses. We underestimate their ability to successfully wear contacts," Dr. Eiden says. Wearing contact lenses helped her head off further vision degeneration.

"It has worked. The progression has slowed down," Katie says. "I think without my contacts, my vision would definitely have gotten worse."

Kids can begin wearing contacts at age eight. Reminder to parents to protect kids' eyes, no more than 30 minutes on the computer, then have kids take a break to rest their eyes.

For more information contact Dr. Eiden at (847) 412-0311.