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A recent development has many people in the ophthalmology industry cheering. One of the most troubling issues in this field is the vast number of children who need vision correction, but are never properly tested or fitted with corrective eyewear. It is, in fact, estimated that approximately one in four school-aged children have difficulties seeing properly. With economics playing against many families and a lack of necessary education on this matter, many of those problems go undiagnosed or are incorrectly attributed to learning disorders.

While vision screenings in schools are becoming increasingly common, they do not resolve the issue, though they can point out children who may need further vision care. Those issues are often overlooked or parents are left with too little funding to get their children the eye care that they need. Even the vision screenings are not mandatory in all schools. Just thirty-three of the fifty states in the country require the testing. Combine this with the fact that many current vision screening processes have serious shortcomings because they are so narrowly focused on visual acuity that many children are never given the necessary referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Figuring that the child performed well in the screening, many parents will opt not to take the extra step and an underlying vision issue will continue to go untreated. Those hidden problems can increase a child’s likelihood of developing very serious eye conditions in the future.

With more than eighty percent of what a child learns coming as a result of visual stimuli, the need for better and more affordable testing is necessary. The good news is that there may be a solution that will properly fill that spot in the American school system. Developed by Pediavision, Spot is a tool that allows for very quick, very effective eye screenings for children of nearly any age.

Due to nervousness, language barriers, and inability to read, the youngest children in the school system were often difficult to test visually. This tool will allow for easier testing, which will be less taxing on the child. It can check for myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) as traditional chart method did, but it can also evaluate pupil size, eye alignment, and can detect astigmatism.

The handheld tool looks a lot like a camera, which will likely reduce the stress children feel when seeing it for the first time. The digital screen gives immediate readings and the tests take just moments. There will still be a need for full examinations to determine the extent of troubles a child is suffering from, but the ability of Spot to test an entire school’s population in a single day or two will make screenings less taxing on the budget. Furthermore, the ability of Spot to detect vision issues aside from problems with acuity means that a larger percentage of those children who require further care will actually receive the referrals needed.

There is still a need for improvement in this area, as many children will continue to go without the contact lens exams that they need, but Spot may be the tool that this industry needed to get a greater percentage of those kids on the right track to a clearer tomorrow.

Tech Ridge Vision
500 Canyon Ridge Dr
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 837-3200 ‎

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Few that have experienced a true migraine had to question it. They are not entirely uncommon. Ten percent of Americans have suffered from a migraine and more than sixteen percent of the women in this country are among the sufferers. However, if you aren’t certain, then consider these typical symptoms. A migraine is described as a headache that involves throbbing pain and is often worse on one side of the head. Migraines, unlike a standard headache, can last up to three days. They are often accompanied by nausea, light and sound sensitivity. Some also suffer with associated vision problems, such as blurring. This can also include seeing flashing lights, lines, dots in the line of vision, or even temporary blind spots. People that are frequent sufferers may notice a pattern – warning signs – such as muscle tension in a particular area, increased fatigue, or other strange sensations. If you think you might be suffering from migraines, it is wise to consult a migraine specialistso you can gain control of them.

What Causes Migraines?

The exact cause is unknown. Though, there are a number of things that are thought to be triggers. Flickering lights – even sun playing off reflective surfaces – cause them in some people. Stress, disruption of sleep routing, poor diet, and dehydration are also things that should be avoided. Anyone who suffers with pain understands that stress and pain seem to go hand-in-hand. Migraines are no exception. Though life hands us stress, one must be able to cope with it. Try meditation, yoga, a ten minute nap, or simply a few minutes each day to do something fun. Another thing that might lead to migraine is poor care of other aches and pains. Those who suffer from neck and back painare more prone to the debilitating headaches. Consider hot showers or a anti-inflammatory to ease the pain and tightness. Finally, a trigger that we cannot avoid is hormone fluctuations. This is especially true for woman. Migraine patterns will often follow the menstrual cycle.

Are There Any Ease and Fast Ways to Stop a Migraine?

An Austin pain doctor can help you find a routine that helps control your migraines. This might include natural supplements, daily medication, or as-needed prescriptions to be taken at onset. However, if you need a quick fix and haven’t made it to the doctor yet, consider over the counter migraine medications or caffeine. That’s right! Caffeine, which we are typically told to avoid, can be very beneficial to migraine sufferers. Ingested, at onset, with pain medication, caffeine can help prevent the headache from progressing.

How Does Age Pertain to Migraines?

While anyone can develop a migraine, they are most common in people between the ages of twenty and sixty. History shows us that many migraine sufferers, especially women, see the headaches dwindle as they age. Saying goodbye to frequent migraines is one of the few benefits of a woman going through menopause. The changes in hormones within the body seem to have a positive effect on migraine frequency and severity.

How Do I Know When I Should See a Doctor?

As with any other ache and pain, when a headache becomes difficult to manage or lasts more than a couple days, it is time to see a doctor about possible pain management methods. If migraines become a consistent problem for you, it will be very beneficial to keep a pain diary to track possible triggers and help you take control. It is also important to note that headaches can be a sign of something more severe. A headache that is accompanied by fever, paralysis, stiff neck, or confusion should not be ignored. In those cases seek immediate medical care.

About the Author: Karen Prior has written extensively about the pain management industry and works hard to keep patients informed about the newest developments in pain management

It never fails. You’re scooting along the highway or a road in your town, just minding your business and watching the road in front of you when another vehicle hits you. You’re OK but your car isn’t. It’s damaged to the point in which you can’t drive it home. You need to take your beloved Ford Focus into an automobile repair shop immediately. This wasn’t your fault but you’re the one who will have to do all the work to get your car fixed. That means getting estimates on the damage so you can submit them to your insurance carrier, which will hopefully pay to get your car up and running again. Even the slightest ding can be costly, so you want to do everything in your power to make it easier for your insurance company to approve the repair bill.

The bodies of cars used to be made of several sheets of metal, but not anymore. Most are made of fiberglass that comes in one piece or just a few pieces. That’s what has made repairs much more expensive than ever before. That’s why you must find a professional, trustworthy Austin auto shop, if you live in the Texas town. The area has a variety of service centers that will give you a fair price on the repairs, whether you need a dent rubbed out or just Transmission repair in Austin Texas,. That doesn’t mean that all service centers are equal. Before deciding on a repair shop, here’s what you should look for:

A license. Make sure you’re hiring a licensed mechanic to solve your car woes. There are some small-time would-be mechanics that do repairs out of their home garages and offer decent work for a low price. But going to someone who isn’t licensed may do your car more harm than good. Sure, it’ll save you money but the unqualified mechanic can also break other parts on the car or not know how to put your car back together again. Also, insurance companies are unlikely to pay for the work that wasn’t done by a professionally licensed mechanic. The company wants to know all the details on why the mechanic estimates the repairs at a certain amount and, if the insurance reps aren’t satisfied, they can reject your claim, leaving you to pay the bill. So, make sure you get an estimate that’s itemized, no matter who you go to for the repairs.

Also, check to see how long the service shop’s been in business. The longer the service shop’s been in business, the better the mechanics are, most likely. You wouldn’t keep taking your car to an untrustworthy mechanic, right? No one would, so the longer the shop is in business, the better they are.

If you can, research the mechanic on how they deal with the specific problem you’re having with your car. Say your air conditioning broke down. So, what you do is find a service center that specializes in AC repair in Austin, TX. That way you’ll know you’re getting the best.

About the Author: Brandon Adams is the author of man popular articles on the automotive repair industry.

You have been growing your hair for the last year and a half so that you can have a completely open choice in hairstyle when you go to the hair salon the next time. You spent hours and days making sure that you have chosen the right establishment. You know that whether you are looking for hair salons in Austin or salons in Washington, an online search is the best way to go about looking for a salon.

Once you have narrowed down a few places, you should check them out and see if they are everything they claim to be online. Also finding a salon close to your home or work would be more convenient that finding a salon two hours away. Another way to find a good hair salon is to talk to your friends and coworkers with the hair styles that you appreciate. They can recommend their stylists and give you reviews of the places they go to.

When you have found the place, you could do some research on what style you would like to have moulded on your head. There are many online sites that provide not only pictorial representations of hair styles through the ages and cultures, but they also give a detailed history behind the cut choices. Being that we are in the twenty first century, hair styling has come a long way and many of the styles that would not have been acceptable ten years ago, seem to have made their way back into the public eye whether they are popular to a small clique of individuals like rockabilly aficionados or fans of anachronism, you will find a style that suits you and doesn’t look just like everyone else’s. You may however, want to play it safe and go for the popular cut that is being worn by most of the celebrities, but make sure that that style of cut suits the shape of your head and the colour suits your scheme. Do you want a beehive, or a throwback flip, or a sixties relaxed bob? All of these are easily done and many stylists have the expertise and experience to make them happen for you just in time for that party you’ve been meaning to attend for the last three months.

Why stop at the hair? There are many other choices and changes that you can make to your look to give you that certain sense of individuality that will bring people to you with compliments and praise. microdermabrasion offers a choice where skin is concerned and will give you that youthful look that you sported back in high school when you skin only required a light foundation. Maybe you would like to know where the best Austin waxing salon is. Perhaps spray tanning in Austin is more to your liking. Whatever your needs, when you settle with your hair, you are bound to go places that will make you happy you took the time to make a good decision regarding the cut of your hair, after all you have been growing it for a year and a half for a reason.

About the Author: Kenneth Brown has written extensively about the beauty & fashion industry and enjoys informing consumers about the many options in this field

Young children have it very easy when they go to the dentist – they simply get their teeth cleaned, counted, and checked and they’re able to then head to the receptionist office in order to get a prize. Adults, however, have a whole different job ahead of them when they visit their dental office. They have to not only get their teeth cleaned, but often they have to get other, more invasive procedures done, such as root canals, cavity fillings, and much more. But did you realize that today’s dentist office offers much more than just the traditional dental care?

It may be good to have a dental office that is able to clean and care for your teeth properly, but it’s also a smart idea to get an office that offers more than just a dental cleaning. Did you realize that today’s dentist has much more training then dentists from years ago did? They not only know how to properly clean your teeth, but also how to use technology in order to diagnose any potential or serious problems. And they’re also often trained in some times of cosmetic or orthodontic options as well.

Orthodontic Care

Orthodontists are trained in doing a large number of very specific things to help your teeth. When you have what is considered to be problem teeth, which means that they do not look or work as good as they could, the teeth need to be cared for by an orthodontist. An orthodontist used to be the only one qualified to be able to put on braces. Now, however, many dentist offices have dentists who work there who have been trained in orthodontic treatment options, which means that you may be able to get more complex procedures done by your dentist in Austin invisalign, for instance, is an orthodontic treatment option that your dental office may be able to help you with. It helps you to get your teeth straight, the same way that traditional braces do, without requiring that you wear any metal in your mouth.

White Teeth

Another thing that you may be able to look towards your dental office for is teeth whitening. We all like to think that we have white teeth, but teeth are easily stained and are almost never as white as they could be. If you’re looking into Austin teeth whitening, you can often find exactly what you’re looking for simply by contacting your dentist’s office. Your dentist may be qualified to use any number of teeth whitening procedures that can be done in-office to help you to get brighter, whiter teeth. You may even be able to have the procedure done after you’ve had a thorough cleaning done, making your teeth not only look white but be healthy as well.

Dentists of today can do so much more than ever before. If you’re curious about what your dentist’s office is able to do for you, contact them and ask them about all of the services that they offer to patients.

About the Author: Bobby Milton has worked in the dental industry for over 20 years and writes and lectures on many different dental topics

Today, many people are considering LASIK surgery to correct eye sight. The hope is to improve vision and reach twenty-twenty eye sight permanently. Though that is not always the result, there are many pros and cons to consider before deciding whether the surgery is right for you. The best person to fill you in on the entire list of determining factors is an opthamologist, as these professionals are the ones that perform the surgeries.

Profound Pros There is no doubt that there are many things about LASIK, which give it a great name in the world of vision correction. For one, it is fast. The procedure can be done by an eye surgeon in less than an hour and the patient can go home that day. Though twenty-twenty vision is not always possible for every patient, it is very typical (in more than eighty percent of cases) that eye sight will be instantly improved to a point that glasses are no longer required. Even in those that do require a bit of help from corrective lenses after surgery, the improvement is remarkable. The procedure it used to treat both myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsigthedness) at a wide range of levels, and it can even address the issue of astigmatism.

Cruel Cons Before you head off for your surgery in Austin, it is wise to also consider the downsides of the surgery. First let us begin by addressing the fact that not every person is the ideal patient. Young people’s eyes have not yet finished changing and, as a result LASIK will not be terribly beneficial, and in most cases will be advised against. Those who have certain overall illnesses or certain eye conditions will either be required to get the condition under control or will be denied entirely, as it could cause for serious complications.

Another downside is that the outcomes are not always the same. Not all can boast the amazing eye sight as the end. Though rare, complications can and do occur. It is important to consider these before going in for the procedure, but also to recall that they are not frequent. Very few suffer from serious complication.

Included on the list of possible side effects are edema, worsened nighttime vision, irregular astigmatism, and Keratectasia. Edema is a swelling of the eye, which can result in extreme eye pressure. The poor nighttime vision can include starbursts, haloing, and sensitivity to street lights. An irregular astigmatism, which cannot be corrected with glasses, but instead requires special contact lenses, is an irregular surface of the eye, caused by the flap created during surgery warping, rippling, or otherwise healing improperly. Finally, the Keratectasia is a bulging of the eye surface. Some of these will correct themselves over time, others can be addressed by an
retinal specialist, and a select few will have to be suffered with.

As you can see, there are many things to consider before undergoing Lasik, but if you find yourself in good health, of appropriate age, and otherwise a good fit for the surgery, then as long as you find a trustworthy surgeon

About the Author: Mark Masters has authored may pieces on the eye care & surgery industry and enjoys keeping his readers up to date in this field

When your parents were young and went to the salon and spa, they used to be able to enjoy having their hair done, having a manicure or pedicure, and having facials. Today’s salon and spa, however, offers much more for the woman who is looking for total relaxation and beauty, especially if you visit a medical spa. These spas combine classic salon and spa experiences, such as facials, with newer technological procedures. Some even have technicians who are licensed in providing Botox and laser hair removal!

Getting Botox

Every day thousands of people are contemplating the fact that they’re looking older in Austin. Botox is one way that women and men alike have discovered to help them to look younger without having to undergo major plastic surgery. Botox uses a compound to actually fill in the wrinkles and fine lines. When these areas are filled in, whatever section has been treated almost immediately looks younger. It is most commonly injected around the eyes, on the forehead, and around the mouth, as this is where lines tend to form most frequently.

The Botox procedure is relatively simple. In order to get treatment you would first need to book an appointment at a medical spa that offers the services. While here the technician will look over the area that you want treated and will help you to understand what you should expect from the treatment. Treatment itself takes only a few minutes, as the technician simply jabs the needle into the area that has wrinkles or lines and injects a small bit of the Botox. It is so quick that many go to their salon to get this procedure done during lunch hour!

Laser Hair Removal

Another treatment that you can get done at many salons and spas in Austin is laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is much better than waxing or shaving as it gets rid of the hair on your body for a much longer time. A medical grade laser is used to prevent the hair follicles from creating any new hair, so that you are able to get rid of hair, even in those annoying problem areas, for a very long time.

Traditional Services

But don’t think that salons and spas have forgotten about traditional services. You can still get your hair done, your makeup done, your nails done, and facials at almost all salons. You can also purchase high quality items that you can’t get in the store at your favorite salon. Glow Minerals in Austin, TX, for instance, can be difficult to get your hands on without going through a salon. Salons and spas have been changing as time is going on, but they’re changing for the better, offering more services and products for their clientele to be able to enjoy using. If you are interested in learning what services your salon offers clients, make sure that you contact them and ask them specifically what types of services they offer aside from the traditional ones.

About the Author: Roxanne Jones has written extensively about the medical spa industry and enjoys informing consumers about the many options in this field