When optometrists Drs. Alex Gibberman and Dave Williams opened 2020 Eyecare in October 2020, they were young husbands, not yet fathers. A lot has changed since then. Alex is now dad to 3-year-old Ryan, and Dave has three kids of his own, 4-year-old Lucas, 3-year-old Graham, and 9-month-old Georgia.
What they didn’t envision when they first began to talk about going into business was how having children would shape the way they connected with young families.
“Those first true eye exams are usually done by a pediatrician at early regular checkups,” Alex says. “We generally begin to see kids around 3 years old."
“I think we’ve always been good with kids, but having our own now has made our comfort levels — and theirs — even greater,” Dave offers.
“There’s a natural flow when it comes to talking with kids and meeting them where they are,” Alex adds. “Our own kids have helped us understand that even better.”
Perfect example? Some young patients are very nervous, while others can be overly excited. Both Alex and Dave have learned to quickly adapt. “I can tell right away how goofy, how fun, or how serious I need to be to get them to focus on what we’re trying to accomplish,” Alex explains.
The equipment can also be a bit scary for some young patients, but the guys have found a way around that, too. “A lot of times they are curious, so we let them turn the dials and knobs, or go up and down in the chair a couple of times,” Alex says, with a dad’s wry smile.
“It can be very helpful in gaining their trust out of the gate,” Dave adds. “I’m also more tuned in to the parents in the room now, and how they understand what I say is going on with their kids. I try to talk though all the available options, to meet the family where they are. For instance, do they really need a follow-up visit in 6 weeks or can they wait 4 months?”
Of course, the universal challenge facing parents is the effect screen time has on young eyes. “There’s definitely an increase in nearsightedness because of screen time,” Alex says. “High-contrast screens contribute to faster eyeball growth, which leads to nearsightedness.”
Screen time also has greatly reduced the time kids spend outdoors. There’s an abundance of studies that show kids who spend more time outside have less nearsightedness. Why? Outdoor activities make less high-contrast demands on eyes, and exposure to the sun is a main source of Vitamin D, critical to good eye health.
“We can’t take away phones and computers, they are a reality of our lives,” Dave says. Luckily, there are now treatment options that not only correct, but can slow the progression of nearsightedness, including drops, glasses, and contacts lenses for younger children.
No surprise, Alex and Dave keep a close eye on the vision of their own kids. Dave has even found a way to incorporate screens into his home eye exams. “Mine have discovered their screens can play cartoons, which is when Dad can shine a light on their eyes to check on alignment and reflections.”
For Alex and his son, it’s already a trip to the office. “Ryan’s obsessed with letters and numbers, so getting him to sit in a chair and read the eye chart is a game for him,” Alex says, smiling again.
The Dad-meets-Doc lesson: Seeing the best results often starts with a bit of fun.
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