OTTAWA, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Riley was already four years old when he went to the optometrist, with his three year old sister Layla, for the first time. His older brother Logan went for his first appointment the year prior (when he was five) and had very good vision and healthy eyes.
"With three kids so close in age, and Logan having good vision," says Riley's Mom Leah Fraser. "I admit putting off getting the other children's eyes checked."
Riley was starting preschool and his Mom thought she had better get him checked, just to be safe, and it's a good thing she did!
Although Riley had no symptoms, an optometric eye examination revealed leakage of the retinal vessels in his right eye. Riley was diagnosed with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) a genetic disease that causes the blood vessels inside the eye to develop abnormally resulting in fluid and blood to leak into the clear gel which fills the inside of the eye. The leaking materials thicken and form a cloudy membrane covering the retina. This membrane can contract and pull on the retina causing it to wrinkle and even tear resulting in blurred vision or blindness.
Fortunately, Riley's condition was caught early, responded well to laser photocoagulation and did not require surgery. He has now achieved an increased level of vision in the affected eye and is hoping to improve this further with patching therapy.
"Thanks to early detection Riley's future is bright," says the family's optometrist, Dr. Carrie-Lynn Snee. "If it had gone undetected any longer, he may have lost vision completely."
Last month Riley had a follow-up examination and he is doing fine. He will not require additional treatments and is expected to continue improving.
Riley and his family are very thankful and are spreading the word about the importance of early eye examinations for children.
In late 2011, CAO published the Frequency of Exam Examinations - Guideline in the Canadian Journal of Optometry, Vol. 73, No. 4, Fall 2011. These updated guidelines recommend that children's eyes be examined for the first time when they are between six and nine months; and then at least once between the ages of two and five years.
Visit the CAO website at www.opto.ca and click on the "Find an optometrist" to find an optometrist near you.
About the Canadian Association of Optometrists
The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) is a professional association that represents over 4,500 doctors of optometry in Canada. CAO's mission is to enhance the quality, availability, and accessibility of eye, vision and related health care; to enhance and promote the independent and ethical decision making of its members; and to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care.
Image with caption: "Riley (CNW Group/Canadian Association of Optometrists)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121023_C9024_PHOTO_EN_19615.jpg
Image with caption: "Riley and his Mom, Leah. (CNW Group/Canadian Association of Optometrists)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121023_C9024_PHOTO_EN_19617.jpg
SOURCE: Canadian Association of Optometrists
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Jennifer Hood
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Canadian Association of Optometrists
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Glenn Campbell
Executive director
Canadian Association of Optometrists
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