Because
children grow and change so rapidly, how they see can have a profound
impact on their development and ability to learn. As a parent, it
is difficult, sometimes impossible, to accurately judge how well your
child is seeing since you can't see through their eyes and symptoms
of a vision problem aren't always apparent.
Here are some questions to help determine if your child might have
symptoms, which might indicate a serious vision problem. Keep in mind,
a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist can most easily
discover eye problems.
Do you have an infant or pre-schooler:
With an eye turned inward, outward, upward, or downward?
With a habit of turning or tilting his head or closing an eye?
Who avoids coloring, puzzles, or detailed activities?
Who bumps into objects or cannot judge distances?
|
|
Children with the tendency for an eye to turn (strabismus) will
often tilt or turn their head or close an eye in an attempt to increase
their comfort.
Amblyopia is one of the most common problems in young children.
With amblyopia, however, there are almost never any signs that the
child is having a problem unless it is related to strabismus. Amblyopia,
or lazy eye, is the lack of development of vision in an eye that
is healthy and has the potential to have normal vision, given the
opportunity for normal development. It happens when the brain learns
to see with the good eye only and the other eye grows weaker from
disuse.
Amblyopia can be caused by the presence of strabismus (cross-eyes),
unequal or high degree of farsightedness or nearsightedness or a
physical obstruction like a cataract, a drooping lid or an eye that
has been patched because of an injury. Two to four percent of American
children have amblyopia.
With appropriate examinations, an optometrist can detect conditions
that cause amblyopia. Early treatment has the best potential for
success.
Does your child have encrusted eyelids or frequent styes?
Various eye conditions such as infections, blocked tear ducts, and
styes can be easily diagnosed and treated by your optometrist. Avoid
more serious conditions by having any questionable eye health problems
immediately examined by your optometrist.
When reading, does your school-age child lose his place, make frequent
reversals, use his finger to maintain his place, hold material closer
than normal, omit or confuse small words, or consistently perform
below potential?
Vision problems can be most evident when your child is learning
to read.
Eighty percent of what students learn is through vision, and yet
86 percent of children who enter school have not had a complete
eye examination.
The most important
step a parent can take to insure optimal learning is a comprehensive
eye examination.
Regular eye exams by a doctor of optometry can help you be certain
that your child's vision is developing normally. Since vision changes
can occur without you or your child noticing them, your child should
visit the optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination starting
at six months, again at 3 years, before starting school and at least
every two years, or more frequently, if specific problems, like
juvenile diabetes, or risk factors exist. If needed, the doctor
can prescribe treatment including eyeglasses, contact lenses, or
vision therapy.
Keep in mind, a school vision screening, while helpful, is not a
substitute for a comprehensive eye examination. Schedule your child's
eye examination with your optometrist to make the most of a good
education.
Tips for parents scheduling an infant or toddler's comprehensive
eye examination:
• Schedule the exam early in the
day;
• Have your baby fed and dry;
• Let your older child know that
there won't be any shots involved; and
• Make a game of it; practice
looking at pictures and making it fun.
|
