Most people don’t think a regular eye exam could save their life. But the truth is that in many cases, a comprehensive eye exam can detect much more than eye disease.  That’s one reason that we at Exceptional Vision in Palmetto Bay recommend annual eye exams to all of our patients, even in the absence of visual changes or symptoms. Read on to find out how a routine trip to the optometrist helped preserve Katie Dunn’s vision and life!  How an Eye Exam Saved Katie’s Life Katie Dunn, a 30-year old beautician, visited her local eye doctor for a routine eye exam. During the exam, the opto ..read more

Holiday season is in full swing! And while most people are focused on shopping for gifts and other holiday prep, it’s important to remember a few tips for keeping your eyes healthy through all of the holiday hustle and bustle.  At Exceptional Vision in Palmetto Bay, our priority is to help you keep your eyes safe all year round. Below you’ll find our top 7 eye care tips this holiday season.  Holiday Eye Care Tips 1. Be Wary of Excessive Screen Time  Whether you’re using your phone for online gift shopping, watching a classic holiday movie or connecting with family and friends, t ..read more

Succeeding at school can be challenging for a child, which is why they need their parents’ support to reach their full potential. There are a number of things that you can do to help your child do their best in school. One of them is scheduling a functional eye exam if they’re struggling academically or on the sports field. Children who find it difficult to read, pay attention in school, copy from the classroom board, or catch a ball may have visual skills deficits holding them back. The sooner these problems are diagnosed and treated, the more your child can learn. If you’re concerned about y ..read more

For decades, vision therapy has been [recognized] as an effective treatment for children with visual problems like strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), and visual processing disorders. Studies show that many children with learning disabilities also have visual issues that can make it even more difficult to learn. And sometimes, visual problems are misdiagnosed as ADHD or a learning disability because they share some of the same symptoms. To determine whether your child has a visual problem in addition to a learning disability – or whether that visual problem is mimicking a learnin ..read more

Diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to insufficient insulin production or the body’s insufficient response to the insulin produced. Over time, high blood glucose levels can impact many parts of the body, including the eyes. Children and adolescents with diabetes are significantly more likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome (DES) than their non-diabetic peers. While many people mistakenly believe that DES is harmless, moderate to severe dry eye symptoms that go untreated can result in corneal abrasions and ulcers, and even permanent vision loss. Dry eyes are of special ..read more

Switching from glasses to scleral contact lenses can take some time and adjustment. Scleral lenses are larger than traditional contact lenses and are designed to correct more severe vision problems, such as keratoconus and severe dry eye. Unlike traditional contact lenses, scleral lenses are filled with a solution before being placed on the eye, which can take some getting used to. Contact Exceptional Vision in Palmetto Bay today to schedule a consultation and learn more about the benefits of scleral lenses for your vision needs! How Do I Get Fitted for Scleral Lenses? Before switching to scle ..read more

It’s not uncommon for parents to encounter behavioral problems in their children at some point in time. While there may be many reasons for a child acting out or being inattentive, research has shown that poor visual skills can contribute to behavioral issues in children. That’s because visual deficits, such as poor eye teaming and double vision, might contribute to your kid’s distractibility, hyperactivity, and frustration. Fortunately, a personalized vision therapy program at The Exceptional Vision Therapy & Learning Center in Palmetto Bay can help strengthen any poor visual skills and ..read more

Dry eye syndrome (DES) occurs when a change in the tear film disrupts the health, comfort and visual functions of the eye’s surface. Both genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the onset and progression of dry eye syndrome. This includes age, gender, climate, hormonal changes, diet, medications, other health conditions and the amount of daily screen time. If you have DES, you might need to take a medicated oral or topical treatment. However, in some cases, medicated treatments may be [minimized] or perhaps even eliminated altogether with certain natural approaches. Fortunately, t ..read more

Many health conditions can be detected by examining the eyes. For instance, by analyzing the health of the blood vessels in the retina, eye doctors can detect signs of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes can also be detected in the eyelids by the absence of meibomian glands. At The Dry Eye Center at Exceptional Vision in Palmetto Bay, we believe that part of providing excellent eye care is to educate our patients on all things eye-related. This includes knowing the signs of possible disease. Below we’ll discuss the relationship between elevated blood sugar and eye gland dysfunction ..read more

Some kids find school easy, while others struggle to keep up with their peers in school, both academically and socially. They may also have trouble following instructions and completing tasks. Moreover, ‘slow learners’ often have low self-esteem and may avoid reading and participating in sports. If your child appears to be struggling in school, it’s easy to assume that the problem is linked to ADHD or a learning disability. What many may not realize is that problems with the visual system often mimic ADHD and learning disabilities. The only way to rule out or determine whether your child has a ..read more