Back to School – Why Eye Exams are Important for your child!

Summer is almost over and it’s back to school season!

As parents, many of us are busy ensuring our kids are ready and prepared for the new school year; worrying about school supplies, new clothes, and new haircuts. There is always a long list of things to do before school starts. But something that often gets overlooked is getting your child’s eyes examined annually.

Early eye examinations are crucial to make sure children have normal, healthy vision so they can perform better at schoolwork and play. Early identification of a child’s vision problem can be crucial because children often are more responsive to treatment when problems are diagnosed early. Early eye exams also are important because children need the following basic skills related to good eyesight for learning:

  • Near vision
  • Distance vision
  • Binocular (two eyes) coordination
  • Eye movement skills
  • Focusing skills
  • Peripheral awareness
  • Hand-eye coordination

Parents also need to be alert for the presence of vision problems such as ‘crossed’ eyes or ‘lazy’ eye. These conditions can develop at a young age. ‘Crossed’ eyes or strabismus involves one or both eyes turning inward (towards the nose) or outward. Amblyopia, known as ‘lazy’ eye, is a lack of clear vision in one eye, which can’t be fully corrected with eyeglasses. Lazy eye often develops as a result of ‘crossed’ eyes, but may occur without noticeable signs. ‘Lazy’ eye can be treated if caught early.

In addition, parents should watch their child for indication of any delays in development, which may signal the presence of a vision problem. Difficulty with recognition of colors, shapes, letters and numbers can occur if there is a vision problem. Children generally will not voice complaints about their eyes, therefore parents should watch for signs that may indicate a vision problem, including:

  • Sitting close to the TV or holding a book too close
  • Squinting
  • Tilting their head
  • Constant eye rubbing
  • Extreme light sensitivity
  • Poor focusing
  • Poor visual tracking (following an object)
  • Abnormal alignment or movement of the eyes (after 6 months of age)
  • Chronic redness of the eyes
  • Chronic tearing of the eyes
  • A white pupil instead of black

Scheduling Eye Exams for Your Child

If eye problems are suspected during routine physical examinations, a referral should be made to an eye doctor for further evaluation. Eye doctors have specific equipment and training to assist them with spotting potential vision problems in children.

When scheduling an eye exam for your child, choose a time when he or she usually is alert and happy.

 

Glasses and Contacts – Keep these tips in mind for kids who wear glasses:

  • Plastic frames are best for children younger than 2.
  • Let kids pick their own frames.
  • If older kids wear metal frames, make sure they have spring hinges, which are more durable.
  • An elastic strap attached to the glasses will help keep them in place for active youngsters.
  • Kids with severe eye problems may need special lenses called high-index lenses, which are thinner and lighter than plastic lenses.
  • Polycarbonate lenses are best for all kids, especially those who play sports. Polycarbonate is a tough, shatterproof, clear thermoplastic used to make thin, light lenses. However, although they’re very impact-resistant, these lenses scratch more easily than plastic lenses.
  • Your eye doctor can help you decide what type of vision correction is best for your child.

Specialists state that 80% of what your youngster learns in school is taught visually. Untreated vision troubles can put children at a substantial disadvantage. Be certain to arrange that your child has a complete eye exam before school starts.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL EYE CARE FOR KIDS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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It’s back-to-school time! As your child prepares to start another school year, don’t forget to take care of one of their most important learning tools — their eyes.  Find out how you can help keep their eyes healthy, and why an eye exam is so important.

Be aware of vision problems:

Your kid may be spending more time in front of the screen than usual — and that could put him or her at increased risk for certain vision problems or eye conditions.

  • Nearsightedness: If your child is not already nearsighted, doing a lot of “close work” (using a screen or even in a book) can increase their likelihood of developing this condition. Encourage them to hold books or screens at least 18 inches away.
  • Dry Eye Syndrome: When we stare at a screen all day, our blink rate decreases significantly. The blinking action secretes an oil called meibum (one of the three layers of tear film), which keeps our eyes moist. When we don’t blink as much, our eyes can become overly dry and irritated.
  • Eye Strain and Fatigue: Excessive screen time can also lead to strain, fatigue, blurry vision, itchy eyes, and headaches.

Watch for behavioral changes that may signal vision trouble, for example:

  • Talk to your child about their new classroom or where they’re sitting to gauge whether they’re having issues seeing.
  • Ask them whether their eyes ever feel tired after watching something on a screen.
  • Watch for blinking, squinting and tearing of their eyes.
  • Pay attention to headaches or fatigue.

Help minimize any risk to your child’s eyes by doing the following:

  • Make sure they take frequent screen breaks. Instead of focusing directly on the screen, encourage your child to look around the room every now and then, or take some time to stare out the window (at least 20 seconds is recommended by the American Optometric Association). You can even remind them to blink.
  • Position the monitor or screen so it’s about 25 inches away, and also position it so their gaze is slightly downward.
  • Adjust the room lighting so that the screen isn’t brighter than the surrounding light. If it is, your child’s eyes will have to work harder.
  • Sharpen your child’s vision skills with “traditional” non-screen-based activities, like puzzles, blocks, drawing and painting, and playing catch.

Don’t Forget the Eye Exam

It’s easy for us to forget about our eyes let alone our child’s, but it is very important to get your child’s eyes checked regularly.

It is absolutely critical to ensure healthy eye development and that they have the visual skills necessary for successful learning. No matter where your child will be participating in school this year — don’t skip the trip to the eye doctor.

The American Optometric Association recommends children have an eye exam by the time they reach one year old, at least once between 3 and 5 years old, and once a year after first grade until they graduate. Your eye doctor can recommend the best frequency for your child.

Your child should still receive a comprehensive eye exam, whether or not they have received a vision screening at school or even at their pediatrician’s office.  While vision screenings can indicate some vision trouble, they often only test your child’s ability to see things that are far away, such as a classroom whiteboard.  Also, keep in mind the school screeners usually do not have all the necessary equipment or training to detect many eye health problems in children.

A comprehensive eye examination looks at complete eye health, and includes tests for the following, in addition to an understanding of patient and family health history:

  • Visual acuity
  • Depth perception
  • Color vision
  • Peripheral vision
  • Refractive errors (like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism)
  • Eye focusing, tracking, teaming and other eye movement abilities

Specialists state that 80% of what your children learn in school is taught visually. Untreated vision troubles can put children at a substantial disadvantage. Be certain to arrange that your child has a complete eye exam before school starts.