Correcting Vision While Teens Sleep
Today’s teens look at everything up close for hours on end--computers, TVs, video games, and cell phones are generally situated sixteen inches from their eyes. This means that more teens are developing myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism faster (astigmatism occurs when the cornea--the clear tissue in front of the colored part--becomes slightly oval instead of completely round). Twenty-five percent of teens in the United States wear glasses or contact lenses, but wearing custom designed, oxygen-permeable contact lenses through the night may help. Corneal reshaping lenses, made by Paragon Visual Sciences and Bausch and Lomb are non-prescription lenses that gently reshape the vision back to its natural state overnight. The process is known as Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT). This allows teenagers good vision throughout the day without wearing glasses or contacts. Your teen must wear them each night or lose the benefit. Because the teenage eye is still in the process of changing, the reshaping lenses can help to slow down the process of myopia (nearsightedness). The cost starts at $1900 for the entire program but is not covered by health insurance. It’s recommended that teens continue the treatment through college, at which point they can opt for corrective lenses or laser surgery. For more information, visit www.GentleVisionShaping.com.
Good Friends Prevent Dating Abuse
Teenage girls who stick close with their circle of friends are less likely to take abuse from the boys they date, a new study suggests. The research showed that maintaining a strong friendship circle reduces a teen girl’s uncertainty about abuse and protects her from it.
The new research finds that a close-knit circle of same-sex friends provides structure for teenage girls as they navigate the dating course. The maintenance of a strong friendship circle reduces a teen girl's uncertainty about abuse, and in turn protects her from it.
Overall, this circle sets the social rules and norms for the dating relationship, acting as a safety net against anyone not abiding by the set rules.
Other factors also contributed to the likelihood of dating abuse. Teen girls were more likely to tolerate abuse if they feared losing the guys, had lost their virginity to them, or were sexually involved with them.
Jill Anderson 01/22/08
We've also been using nighttime contacts for 3 years, started at age 12. So much easier than soft contacts or glasses. The only downside is that he is limited to wearing them 9 hours per night. On those rare occasions when he gets to sleep in, he has to wake up to take them out, then go back to bed. Best to do it sooner, before their eyes get really bad.
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