Yellow school buses, lunch boxes, and some fresh pencils and notebooks signal the start of a new school year for much of the United States this month. And to help students get the best start on their educations, All About Eyes supports Prevent Blindness and the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health’s initiative to help raise awareness on the importance of vision screening and comprehensive eye exams for children.
Growing kids means lots of things change with their bodies, including the size of their eyes and their vision. What may have been just fine last year, might be different this year. Vision screenings, usually done at the pediatrician’s office and also available for free in most public schools in the nation, may help to spot some early vision problems. You may find that your child is being recommended for a comprehensive eye exam with a specialist. Only optometrists and ophthalmologists are qualified to provide this exam. You don’t have to wait to see a specialist, however. If your child has had a recent eye injury, a medical condition affecting the eyes, a developmental delay, or there’s a family history of vision problems, you can jump-start the process and schedule an appointment on your own.
Vision Problems in Children
Problems with your child’s eyesight can extend far beyond a lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed-eyes (strabismus), and/or refraction issues like nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia). Vision problems can have a knock-on effect into other aspects of school life such as:
- Reading
- Ability to focus
- Lack of class participation
- Behavior issues or “acting out” in class
- Personality concerns like withdrawing from peers
- Overall social maladjustment
All About Eyes offers a comprehensive eye exam geared to children. If it’s your child’s first exam, have them bring their favorite doll or stuffed animal so Dr. Cheryl or Dr. Dave can give the toy a quick exam to show your child what will be happening. We also have a children’s area set aside in our offices so they can feel more comfortable. If glasses are needed, we carry a wide selection of children’s eyewear.