Vision Problems May Affect Your Child’s Progress In School

The first problem with school children having vision problems is, in many cases, they won’t be able to comprehend they even have an issue. They may believe that what they see and how they see it is just the way it is and won’t feel like they need to discuss it with anyone. And even though schools often do internal vision screenings, these tests are not comprehensive and may not identify the different types of vision problems. In addition, professional eye exams can help detect other potential health issues—such as diabetes—before any symptoms present themselves.

The American Optometric Association recommends routine eye examinations for children with a trained eye specialist based on the following schedule:

• They recommend that infants should receive a comprehensive baseline exam between the ages of six months and one year.
• Preschool-aged children should have a comprehensive exam done at least once between the ages of three and five.
• And children six to 18 should have another comprehensive exam prior to entering the first grade, then annually thereafter.

The exam done on infants is vitally important because the eyes go through rapid changes during a child’s developmental years. It also serves as a baseline for every exam performed after, so if deviations are found in later exams, corrections can be made more quickly. According to the American Optometric Association, as many as one in five preschoolers have vision problems and only about 25 percent of them are correctly identified. The longer a vision problem goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more a child’s brain will learn to accommodate that problem.

As a parent, what signs should you look for to identify a potential problem between professional eye exams?

• Poor performance in school
• Difficulty with reading and/or writing
• Poor hand-eye coordination skills
• Frequent headaches
• Frequent eye rubbing

Please note that each of the previous points do not automatically constitute a vision problem. There may be several different reasons for the above conditions/behaviors that are not associated with poor sight. However, if any of these issues continue, either singly or in combination, make an appointment with an eye care specialist to rule vision problems as a catalyst.

When choosing an eye care specialist, it would be ideal to go with a facility that has both optometrists and ophthalmologists. An optometrist is an eye doctor who has earned a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in eye and vision care. Both can perform eye exams for vision and health issues, and prescribe corrective lenses if needed. However, an ophthalmologist can also diagnose and treat eye disease, prescribe medications, and perform eye surgeries when necessary.

Ask your friends, neighbors, and coworkers for recommendations. Check websites for patient testimonials. Review the doctors’ experience. Stop by a couple of places to get a feel for the atmosphere and the staff. Eye exams can be a little intimidating for children, so you’ll want to find a place that makes you both feel confident and relaxed.

At Griffey Eye Care & Laser Center, our doctors are dedicated to providing you with the most thorough, gentle and modern service for your eye care needs. Call us now.