Back To School time is almost here, make sure to focus on your children's eye health now.
Summer is the perfect time to make those appointments to get eye screenings and check ups for your children before school starts up again. Our key message is that healthy vision contributes to children’s school readiness, ability to learn, overall healthy development and ability to reach motor developmental milestones and that vision screening and eye care are essential. Amblyopia, strabismus, color blindness and refractive errors are the most common conditions that affect children’s vision. Eye safety is also another important part of your child’s eye health. When 80% of learning occurs through the eyes, healthy vision is essential to a child’s success in the classroom. In addition to buying school supplies and new clothes, don’t forget to add scheduling a comprehensive eye exam as part of your back to school to-do list.
Signs and behaviors parents can watch for that may indicate a child is struggling with his or her vision.
What do your child’s eyes look like?
-Eyes don’t line up, one eye may appear to cross or look inwards or outwards.
-Eyes are red, crusty or swollen
-Eyes seem to be red or watery
How does your child act?
-Does your child rub their eyes frequently?
-Close or cover an eye?
-Thrust head forward, hold in an unusual position or tilt their head especially when reading or looking at small objects far away?
-Has any trouble or delays in reading, trouble doing close work, or pulls objects in very close to see?
– Avoids up close work?
-Blinks more then usual?
-Tends to squint or frown?
-Get headaches?
-Feel sick or nauseous?
Does your child ever make comments like?
-My eyes are blurry?
-My eyes feel scratchy?
-My eyes are burning?
-I can’t see very well?
-Things look double?
If you notice these symptoms, make sure you schedule an appointment with an eye care professional. Amblyopia, strabismus, color blindness and refractive errors are the most common conditions that affect children’s vision.
Each year thousands of kids sustain some form of eye injury. Taking proper precautions such as wearing protective eyewear can prevent about 90% of those injuries.
Of course accidents do happen, so if your child does experience an eye injury, make sure they do not rub or touch their eye and seek medical attention from a trusted eye care professional as soon as possible.