Aurora, OH, Aug. 21, 2012- The latest issue of the journal of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development
, Optometry & Vision Development
(OVD) Volume 43, Number 3, pays tribute to the honored memory of a
giant in the area of learning related vision problems, Dr. Harold Solan.
Dr. Solan recently passed away but left a legacy that clearly
demonstrated how vision and learning are connected with his many
articles, text books and as a teacher. Dr. Dominick Maino’s
editorial quotes many of those who benefited from Dr. Solan’s work. He was a true gentle man.
Also in this issue, Jaclyn A. Benzoni OD, MS and Mark Rosenfield MCOptom, PhD note in their article,
Clinical Amplitude of Accommodation in Children between 5 and 10 Years of Age, the
importance of measuring the focusing ability of children. They found
that both the pediatric and adult data is similar to the classic
findings of past researchers. However, a relatively high percentage of
children appeared to have accommodative insufficiency which suggests
that this standard may need to be reexamined in this particular age
group.
South African optometrist, SO Wajuihian, discusses various anatomical findings in patients with dyslexia in his article,
Neurobiology of Developmental Dyslexia Part 1: A Review of Evidence from Autopsy and Structural Nneuro-Imaging Studies. This is part 1 of a series of articles dealing with dyslexia some of which have been published in the journal,
South African Optometrist,
but shared in OVD. The author notes that: “Developmental dyslexia (DD)
is a language based neurological disorder which impairs reading ability
but does not result from low intelligence, lack of motivation, sensory
impairment, or inadequate instruction. Although the neurological basis
of dyslexia has long been assumed, the exact nature of the altered brain
structure associated with DD remains unknown and has been a subject of
autopsy and neuro-imaging research. Autopsy studies provide consistent
evidence of symmetry of the planum temporale (PT), thalamus and cortical
malformations; whereas results from structural imaging studies such as
computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are
inconsistent. To address the possible etiology of DD, this paper reviews
evidence from autopsy and structural imaging studies on developmental
dyslexia and discusses possible methodological sources of some
inconsistent results. The role of the optometrist in the
multidisciplinary management of dyslexia is highlighted.” Although
language based dyslexia is quite rare, children with learning related
vision problems is common. These vision problems can affect reading and
other academic skills.
OVD editor, Dr.
Dominick Maino’s article,
Pediatric Cerebral Visual Impairment: Notes from the American Conference on Pediatric Cerebral Visual Impairment,
nicely
reviews many aspects of pediatric cerebral/cortical visual impairment
(PCVI) and highlights his involvement in this new conference. This
conference was sponsored by the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
in Omah, NE and will continue to be sponsored by this organization for
several years into the future. The keynote speakers included: Mark
Borchert, M.D.; Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and
Neurolog, University of Southern California, The Vision Center,
Children’s Hospital Los Angele, Los Angeles, CA; Christine Roman Lantzy,
Ph.D.; Director, Pediatric View Program, The Western Pennsylvania
Hospital. CVI Consultant, The American Printing House for the Blind
Educational Consultant, Pittsburgh, PA; Jacy VerMaas-Lee, M.A., OTR/L;
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Creighton University,
Omaha, NE and Dominick M. Maino, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD-A; Professor of
Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Illinois Eye Institute/Illinois College of
Optometry, Chicago, Il. The program was developed and moderated by
neuro-ophthalmologist, Richard H. Legge, M.D.; Adjunct Assistant
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, Omaha, NE. Although the audience was mostly optometrists,
ophthalmologists, other MDs, occupational therapists, physical
therapists, speech and language therapists and teachers of the visually
impaired; several parents of children with PCVI were also in attendance.
The next meeting will again be held at the Children’s Hospital in April
2013.
OVD 43 #3 also includes an update on our
Tour de Optometry program,
literature reviews, a
book review (did you know that optometrists can solve crimes as well?),
practice management tips, and the
latest news about members of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Go to
http://www.covd.org/Home/OVDJournal/OVD433/tabid/353/Default.aspx to read all the scientific articles and other features.
About COVD
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is an
international, non-profit optometric membership organization that
provides education, evaluation, and board certification programs in
behavioral and developmental vision care, optometric vision therapy, and
visual rehabilitation. The organization is comprised of doctors of
optometry, vision therapists, and other vision specialists. For more
information on
learning-related vision problems,
optometric vision therapy, and COVD please visit
www.covd.org or call
888.268.3770 .
