Eyemind

06/06/2022

26/03/2022

What is a TBI? Read this brain injury overview to learn about the different types and causes of traumatic and non-traumatic injuries.

10/03/2022

Prism lenses can be effectively used to treat vision conditions, such as double vision and other binocular vision difficulties.

Prisms, by definition, are triangular in shape, and made of plastic or glass for the purpose of dispersing light into a spectrum, or changing the direction in which light is reflected.

Prism lenses are special lenses that are prescribed by optometrists and infused into regular lens prescriptions. They do not contain any focusing power, and therefore cannot correct any refractive errors.

Prisms “trick” the eye into believing that an object is in a different location in order to improve eye alignment. This helps the eyes to perceive images in a way that single vision can be achieved— improving binocular vision, and reducing double vision, headaches, reading difficulties, and more.

A prism lens can be base out, base in, base up, or base down, depending on the way the eye is turned or misaligned.

When are prism lenses prescribed?
Prism lenses are prescribed for patients who suffer from severe binocular vision difficulties and double vision, most commonly resulting from:

Binocular Visual Dysfunction
Strabismus
Myasthenia gravis
Graves’ disease
Convergence insufficiency

Neurological conditions:
Stroke, Migraine, Head injury, Tumor, MS & Diabetes

For a comprehensive eye exam phone us on 012 998 7592/3 or book online @ www.dejonghoptometry.co.za
Read more at www.eyemind.co.za

03/03/2022

Vision is fundamentally a function of the brain. The way we process depth, direction, speed, and color contrast all comes down to how the brain interprets the information the eyes provide.

Traumatic brain injury such as a concussion or stroke, or diseases such as MS, cerebral palsy, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), can result in potentially devastating visual problems. There are also a number of inherited brain conditions which can similarly prevent the normal development of the visual system.
The brain is surprisingly elastic, meaning it can rewire and retrain itself after injury. Neuro-optometry—often lumped in with vision therapy—is a specialized field of optometry which works to actively retrain and reprogram the visual processing we rely on to properly interact and interpret the world around us. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation uses a highly-customized combination of visual exercises, specialized lenses, and targeted visual stimuli—often including of digital aids—to retrain the patient’s brain to process visual input properly.
Eyemind and De Jongh Optometry provides both services - - therapy and visual aids and lenses.
Phone us on 012 998 7592/3 to schedule your appointment with our Neuro Optometrists.

01/03/2022

Eye-tracking problems when reading can be broken down into two areas: accuracy and efficiency.

ACCURACY
When your eyes make the jumping movement from word to word, called a saccade, things can go wrong if they do not hit their target accurately. Common symptoms include things like:
1. Skipping lines and losing your place (when reading and in spreadsheets)
2. Mis-reading
3. Skipping/omitting small words
4. Making translational errors (copying wrong)
5. Mixing up the order of digits when copying.
Most people would think of this as a problem with the muscle, but it can also be a problem with where you ‘think’ the next word is. After all, if you give the wrong instructions for where to move, it doesn’t matter how accurately your eyes follow it.

EFFICIENCY
If accuracy is about the eyes landing on the target, efficiency is about how much energy it takes. Problems with how efficiently your eyes move and work together can mean that your brain has to work overtime when reading. Most people who struggle with this are not aware it is due to their vision. Common symptoms include things like:
1. Losing focus when reading
2. Headaches/migraines from reading
3. Symptoms of ADD/ADHD,
4. Zoning out when reading
5. Frequently having to re-read material.

Problems with reading efficiency are caused by the eyes not working together (binocularity), or not focusing accurately (accommodation). This can create a situation where your brain is working overtime to keep re-adjusting your eyes while you are reading.
Phone De Jongh Optometry & Eyemind for a comprehensive eye-exam with eye-tracking if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. We will provide you with Vision Therapy and Lens solutions.
012 998 7592/3

24/02/2022

We are all reading on a daily basis – whether it is at school, work or play. We depend on our eyes not only for vision but on moving accurately

As you are reading this, your brain is using your vision to calculate where the next word is, and then coordinate your eyes to make a movement to that word. These quick eye movements are called saccades. Your eyes not only need to land on the right spot, they need to do it together. This needs to happen over and over, and be automated so that you don’t need to ‘try to read’. Instead you can focus on retaining what you’re reading.

Have you ever felt that everyone else reads faster than you – or you have trouble retaining information or just get very frustrated and tired when reading?

The first step is an in-depth examination to determine if your vision is part of the problem. Book a comprehensive eye exam at De Jongh Optometry and we will test how your eyes track, focus and work together.

In order to improve your reading speed and comprehension abilities, there are several avenues of treatment. The best results often come from a combination of approaches – lenses and therapy.
At De Jongh Optometry and Eyemind Inc, we find the right solution to improve your vision.
Phone us on 012 998 7592/3 to schedule your appointment.

17/02/2022

Neurological Vision Changes
Vision deficits can occur suddenly or progress gradually over time. Slowly progressive vision conditions can be difficult for the patient to identify as they adapt to their degrading vision over time. Because of this, patients with neuro-degenerative conditions are often unaware of changes to their vision.
A Neuro-Optometric Assessment is not only beneficial to identify current visual limitations, but also serves as an important BASELINE measure to monitor future progression.

Not all vision conditions cause blurred vision. There are a number of symptoms that result from vision changes secondary to neurological conditions. It is especially important that a Neuro-Optometric Vision Assessment be performed for individuals experiencing the following signs and symptoms:

• Fluctuating vision
• Increasing difficulties wearing pre-injury glasses or contacts
• Double vision (even intermittent)
• Eye strain, discomfort, or soreness
• Headaches after visual tasks
• Visual fatigue
• Balance difficulties
• Avoidance of visual tasks (such as reading, computer work)
• Covering or closing one eye (especially while reading)
• Frequent blinking or squinting
• Abnormal posture during near tasks (tilting or turning the head, leaning very close to the page, constant moving and re-positioning while working)
• Reading difficulties (skipping lines, loss of place, difficulties with fluency or comprehension)
• Difficulties identifying visual information to the sides (trouble with peripheral vision)
• Difficulties with scanning visual environment (required for safe driving)
• Prolonged processing speed with visual tasks (difficulties making timely decisions)
Book an appointment by visiting www.eyemind.co.za or www.dejonghoptometry.co.za if you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms after a traumatic brain injury or is affected by a neuro degenerative disease.

15/02/2022

The visual process is commonly affected following an acquired brain injury such as: Concussion, Trauma, Stroke
or as part of a neurological condition: Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Alzheimer’s or seizure disorders.

Changes to the visual system can result in a patient suffering from:
• blurred vision
• double vision
• discomfort
• headaches
• poor depth perception
• balance difficulties
• changes in peripheral (side) vision
• limited ability to perform visual tasks throughout the day (reading, driving, computer use, etc).

Early diagnosis and treatment of these vision conditions is a critical component of overall recovery.
Lingering vision conditions impede rehabilitation therapies. These therapies can include physical, occupational and speech therapy which enable the patient to return to a normalized life as soon as possible.
At Eyemind and De Jongh Optometry, we aim to diagnose and treat these vision conditions as soon as possible.
Book your appointment online by visiting www.eyemind.co.za or www.dejonghoptometry.co.za.

14/02/2022

Happy Valentine's Day!

20/01/2022

We are so proud of our own therapist, Javairia Kenessy with the publication of her article in the Optometry & Visual Performance Journal. Congratulations Javaira!
Read her article - Functional outcomes of Auditory and Visual Integration by clicking: https://www.dropbox.com/s/la8rfxop6qt0ass/OVP%209-4%20Web%20File%20Kenessy%20Article.pdf?dl=0
https://za.linkedin.com/in/javairia-kenessy-57273133

27/11/2021

A concussion can make it difficult to converse in a noisy room. Scientists say that's because the injury has impaired the brain's ability to process sounds.