Growing up, I always enjoyed reading. I read everything from the Hardy Boys, to Choose Your Own Adventure books, to the family’s Time-Life Science series. However, I’ve never been a particularly fast reader. It look me a long time to finish any book or magazine and when I was very tired the words would run together on the page. I knew some other kids who could read very quickly, but I just thought they were exceptional readers. I figured that I was a normal reader because my grades were good.

When I was about 11 years old, I failed the vision screening during P.E. class. I remember, because Mr. Gray thought that I was just messing around (like I usually was). But I really couldn’t see the eye chart hung up on the gym wall. So my parents took me to the Optometrist who said I needed glasses. This was no big surprise, because both of my parents had glasses as long as I could remember. The doctor also mentioned that it was harder for me to cross my eyes than it is for most people, but he didn’t make a big deal about that.

Fast forward 15 years: I was in Binocular Vision lab at the Illinois College of Optometry, learning about the various tests that Optometrist perform. One of the tests is called Near Point of Convergence (NPC), in which a small object is brought close the the patient until it becomes too uncomfortable or they see double. I performed NPC on Ryan and was so amazed that he could follow the object all the way to his nose. I, on the other hand, saw the target become double at about one foot from my nose. This, I learned, was NOT NORMAL. (Try it on yourself. Hold your finger far away from your nose. Slowly bring it towards you can notice when it becomes double. It should be less than 6 cm from your nose, if at all.)

About the same time, I was having trouble with other techniques that are used to examine the eyes. All of these techniques had one thing in common: they required that I use both eyes together at the same time.

I was referred to the Binocular Vision Clinic for an evaluation. (I didn’t know it at the time, but this is the same clinic where I would do my residency.) After a thorough evaluation, I was diagnosed with Convergence Insufficiency. This meant that I did not have proper control of my eyes to turn them inward while looking at something up close.

Although the clinic was very busy, Dr. Helen Gabriel made time for me and I began Vision Therapy. In the clinic and at home I performed various techniques to improve the control I had when my eyes moved, focused and converged (turned inward).

After a few weeks, I noticed something while sitting in class: I had better depth perception! I could really see how far the professor was and how far the screen was behind him. Not only that, but I developed better optometry skills! I could perform the evluations without seeing double. Also, I could look all the way to my nose without double vision! I was still a slow reader, but words didn’t move around on the page any more when I was tired.

It was this experience that made me love vision therapy. I am very happy that I received vision therapy. But sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my first eye doctor who had found my convergence insufficiency had recommended vision therapy when I was 11 years old. Maybe I wouldn’t have had to work quite as hard at school. Maybe I would have had extra time to work on creative areas like music, which I love. But I tend to think that things happened for a reason and I am pretty sure that if I didn’t receive vision therapy in Optometry school, I wouldn’t be providing it now.

So if you come to the office and notice that I get excited when talking about vision therapy, you’ll know why. It is not only that I like offering it to patients, but I know first hand both how powerful it can be and that it can only be effective if it is provided when it is needed.

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter Foursquare Yelp

In the spirit of making Bright Eyes News and Updates a two-way means of communication, I have created a new category called Ask Dr. Nate. This is your chance to ask any questions you may have about eye disease, vision, infant & child vision, contacts, or other eye-related questions. You can either submit them as comments to this site or them to askDrNate@brighteyestampa.com. I’ll do my best to answer in a timely manner.

Please be aware that on this site, I will not be able to make any diagnoses or recommend specific treatment. What I can do is provide general information that pertains to the question and provide links and information that I hope will be useful.

So now I’ll just sit back and wait while the questions flood in…. ;^)

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LocalShops1.com

In 2003 I completed my contact lens externship. It was a chance to see how contact lenses helped a variety of patients in different settings. The majority of these patient encounters were relatively routine in that I was determining the contact lens that provided the patient with clear vision. Some people simply needed a modification of their current contact lens prescription, some were having difficulty with their contacts for astigmatism, and others were experiencing multifocal contact lenses for the first time.

But there were also some special patients that were trying something that at the time was new and exciting: Precise Corneal Reshaping (PCR). Although it goes by many names, including othokeratology, PCR is the wearing of a reshaping lens (similar to rigid gas permeable contact lens) during sleeping hours to mold the cornea and elimate the need for daytime glasses and contacts.

When orthokeratology was first created in 1962, it was rather crude and unpredictable. The process was refined over time but it has only been in the last 5 years that we have seen a trememedous increase in both scientific studies and utilization of PCR. In 2002, Corneal Refractive Therapy ™ (CRT) by Paragon was the first modern system to receive FDA approval. In those days there were very few practicioners doing CRT and I was lucky enough to have this expereince early on.

In the last year I have been asked several times if I am still providing this service. Well, after some work and investment in equipment, I am happy to announce that Bright Eyes Family Vision care is now offering PCR for eligible candidates! We are the only eye care office in Westchase and one of the few in Tampa to offer this service.

Who is an eligible candidate? Well, the procedure can correct myopia (nearsightedness) with or without some astigmatism. It is approved for all ages and is reversible, so it can be prescribed for kids and teens as well as adults. Since PCR changes the shape of the cornea, candidates must have healthy eyes and corneas that will respond to the treatment. Through a series of tests, such as computerized corneal topography, I can determine whether or not a patient will be a good candidate. Because not everyone is a candidate, we are offering the PCR Pre-Evaluation at no charge. This also gives patients (and parents) a chance to ask questions before deciding on the procedure.

PCR will be a great vision correction option for active adults – no worries about contacts while swimming, biking, playing sports, etc. It will be great for kids and teens – no worries about breaking glasses or losing contacts, since the reshaping lenses stay at home and are only worn at night.

In time, I will write about some of the latest research about PCR slowing the progression of myopia, but if you have any questions, you can always call the office for a patient information packet. You can also attend one of the seminars that I will be offering on November 8th, and 15th. Call 813-792-0637 for more information.

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us:  YelpFacebookTwitter

Two very cool things are going on in Tampa Bay during October. The first is my birthday. I will be another year older and, hopefully, wiser. The second (and probably more important) is that thousands of eye doctors and vision specialists are coming to St. Pete and Tampa from all over the world to discuss the most current vision science research and patient care.

These specialists are coming to our community to attend two major meetings. The first one, held at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg, is the annual meeting for the College of Optometrists in Visual Development. This is the premier organization for doctors who treat visual problems in children and provide vision therapy. I have been deeply involved with this organization since Optometry school. It is wonderful because it is made up of energetic doctors and vision therapists who deeply care about their patients.

The other meeting, held at the Tampa convention center, is the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. This huge meeting presents the very latest research in all aspects of visual science: from infant vision to glaucoma management to contact lens advances.

Two of the most exciting areas that I am looking forward to are myopia (nearsightedness) control and orthokeratology (Precise Corneal Reshaping), topics that I have have long had an interest in.

Now, I realize that not everyone is going to get as excited as I am about these two meetings, but consider this: almost every other attendee had to pack a suitcase, fly or drive all day, and stay in a hotel. I, on the other hand, was able to attend committee meetings and lectures during the day and while eating dinner with my family and sleeping in my own bed at night. And, to me, that is a great birthday present!

Be well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter Foursquare

Although I provide many types of vision care each and every day, vision therapy is the most rewarding to me. I love that it is possible to truly change lives. The letter below is a prime example:

Dear Dr. Bonilla-Warford,

I wanted to let you know how our daughter has progressed since she went through vision therapy with you. As you remember, we had become very frustrated with her school struggles on all levels, due to her reluctance to (or our perceived reluctance) to read. Little did we know that her eye muscles weren’t working properly and making the process so difficult to begin with!! Teachers would tell us “she just needs to read more”. The extra hours we spent going over her class work at home, and the length of time it required to complete homework gave us many a tearful evening. Her self esteem suffered, and the school year was very tedious.

It was a chance article in the newspaper that brought the possibility of a vision deficiency (convergence) to light for us, and after our e-mail communications with you, decided to have her evaluated. Your diagnosis of her condition, and how vision therapy could correct the problem was a God-send to us. I am still amazed at how she progressed so well, and so quickly. We were certainly dedicated to the therapy, and were not deterred by the 2 1/2 hour drive to reach you. I appreciated your clear instructions, and explanations for the therapy prescribed.

To say the therapy was a success is an understatement. What a life changing success it has been for all of us! We continue to see her excel at school, and in new hobbies as well. She tells us reading is “easy” now, and her fluency reflects this in her testing. She actually likes to read, and has started choosing higher grade level books to read just for pleasure. Homework is a breeze, and she willingly does it on her own, in a normal timely manner. We have noticed that her eye hand coordination has improved greatly, as she now will play video games that she otherwise would avoid because “she wasn’t good at it”. Her art work in class has improved also. Her confidence and attitude are positive, and home life is much calmer these days. We are so grateful to you for your expertise and care.

If only other children with reading struggles could be evaluated for these problems, and receive the care they need. It could change the whole school system!

Thank you a million times for all your help.

Mrs. W.

You may not know it, but there is a grass-roots effort across the country to improve the vision care that children receive. Because there are many children through out the country that struggle in school due to undetected visual problems, there is a growing trend for individual states to require comprehensive visual evaluations for children before starting school. This is much like early dental visits to ensure that teeth come in correctly.

States such as Kentucky and North Carolina have been the front lines of this effort, with laws designed to make sure children have complete eye and vision examinations before starting school. Illinois has recently joined this growing group.

"Clear and comfortable vision is essential for learning, and 

this new law will help Illinois children succeed and reach 

their full potential," Ed Geppert, Jr., president of the Illinois 

Federation of Teachers, said. "This measure will help 

children read and see chalkboards more clearly. All Illinois 

children deserve the tools they need to fulfill their potential, 

and our students will benefit from this law."

With the exception of a Vision Therapy externship I did in Denver, Colorado, I received all of my Optometric training in Chicago, IL. During my Pediatric Vision residency, I saw many children who were in school who did not have the necessary clarity of vision or visual skills to reach their full academic potential. I enjoyed helping them, either by prescribing their first pair of glasses or making them more comfortable when they read by providing them with vision therapy.  It is my hope that Florida will one day have a similar law in place that will ensure that all children in Florida have proper eyecare before enrolling in school. One major national initiative is the InfantSEE program, that I will write about later, that provides one no-cost visual assessment for any infant between 6 and 12 months old. This will benefit Florida’s children by detecting visual issues before they become problems.

Be well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter Foursquare

Welcome to Bright Eyes Family Vision Care News & Updates! I am very excited about this new project! Most of my patients know that I like to share information This will be new way for me to share news about events and changes at Bright Eyes and discuss new developments about vision care.  I am excited about highlighting new research that pertains to child and adult visual science, discussing new products (such as contact lenses) that may benefit my patients, and providing links to relevant and interesting webpages.

The Bright Eyes staff and I enjoy being a part of the Westchase community, and I am happy about extending this community online. I hope that you find these posts informative. If you have any feedback or questions that you’d like me to address, I would love to hear it.

Be well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter Foursquare