Summer Fun and Back-to-School Eye Care
Annual Back-to-School Eye Exams
Children’s Eye Exams are essential for school success. Here’s why.
Eye Exams at Back-to-School time are critical for kids’ development
Back-to-school season is here! Parents and children are in the middle of the annual back-to-school preparations and shopping splurge. Books, school supplies, backpacks, outfits, and so on must be purchased, tried on, discussed, replaced, etc.
Parents also need to pay attention to their children’s health. Kids need to be healthy to be happy and successful at school. So, be rigorous about diet and behavior, and schedule doctor’s visits for scholarly success. Doctor’s eye care visits to ensure optimal vision are critically important. Hence, an annual eye exam with an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist is the best way to optimize your kids’ vision and eyesight.
The Role of Vision in Learning and Development
Eye exams with a professional eye doctor are essential because children can develop eye problems quickly and often do not know how to explain this to their parents or teachers. Experts say that about 80% of learning in early childhood depends on visual stimuli. In school, everyday classroom activities rely on good vision: reading, writing, using digital devices, etc., all require top-level visual abilities. Many vision problems, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, amblyopia, and others, often need proper screening. Early detection during an eye exam can pick up these problems at an early stage and devise solutions that can reverse the situation. This can have a significant impact on academic performance.
Common Vision Problems in School-Aged Children
here are several common eye problems that can show up in school-aged children that can be resolved with an eye exam:
*Myopia (Nearsightedness): Myopia can impact reading at a distance and will make the teacher and blackboard hard to see. Myopia can be corrected easily with eyeglasses prescribed by an eye doctor during an exam.
*Hyperopia (Farsightedness) reduces the ability to see up close and impacts reading ability. This has a big impact on reading and close-up work of any kind. Again, this vision challenge can be easily corrected with eyeglasses.
*Astigmatism creates a distortion in the visual field but is also easily corrected with glasses. Uncorrected, this can cause headaches, eye strain, and difficulty focusing.
*Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) is a neurological disorder that must be corrected a young age. Uncorrected, it can result in one eye not seeing well.
The Eye Exam Process – What to Expect
An eye exam with an eye doctor differs from a basic vision screening at school. The eye doctor, either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, is highly trained in eye problems and is aware of children’s difficulties with their eye health and vision. Eye doctors will conduct a comprehensive eye exam capable of diagnosing all types of vision issues, including tests such as visual acuity, eye alignment, eye movement, and depth perception.
Younger kids can be afraid of any doctor exam, so reassure them that an eye exam is painless and child-friendly. There are no knives or injections; the child will simply sit in a chair and look through a set of instruments to get a good prescription. At most, the doctor will put a single drop of eye medication onto the eye to get a good look at the back of the eye. After that, they are free to head outside to play!
The Long-Term Benefits of Regular Eye Exams
Regular eye exams have significant long-term benefits. Good vision at school can help children achieve ongoing academic success. Good vision and correcting vision problems early can improve reading skills, attention span, and overall academic performance. There are also social and behavioral benefits. Participation in social and sports activities will be greatly enhanced with good vision. Establishing an early habit of eye exams will have a lifelong effect on eye health and the potential to detect other health problems during an eye exam.
Parents are responsible for caring for their children’s health, and eye health is crucial for healthy growth from school age through adulthood. Here are some suggestions:
â–ªReduce digital eye strain from screen overuse
â–ªWear blue-blocking glasses while on screens
â–ªEncouraging outdoor activities
â–ªMaintain a balanced diet
â–ªTake eye health supplements
â–ªWearing sunglasses on hot summer days
â–ªSchedule regular eye exams
During the back-to-school rush, putting off an annual eye exam is easy. Hopefully, the points made in this brief discussion will encourage parents to include an eye exam in back-to-school preparations. Your children depend upon excellent vision for their success; optimal vision is essential for academic success and overall well-being. Getting this out of the way before the school year begins ensures it gets on the yearly calendar.
How Eye Care Emporium Can Help
At the Eye Care Emporium, we can help you find a local optometrist or eye care professional in your area. Click on the “Find an Eye Doctor” link below and we will get you connected.
We also have articles and blog posts on numerous eye care subjects. Our focus is on providing advice, education, products, and support for the general public regarding eye care.
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