Eye Exams for Children: Why They’re Important

When was the last time you took your child for an eye exam? Your child’s vision is just as important as your own, and the best way to make sure that their eyes are as healthy as possible and their vision is clear is to take them for regular eye exams.


 

Here are 5 reasons why eye exams for children are extremely important.


 

Your Child May Not Know That Their Vision Is Impaired



Often, children don’t realize that they have a vision problem because they don’t actually understand when something is wrong, or that their vision isn’t as good as it could be. Much of this is down to a lack of life experience, or awareness of different levels of vision because of their young age. If your child has always found colors to be muted and pale, or objects that are far away have always been blurry, they won’t know any different.


 

Children With Impaired Vision Will Struggle To Learn At School



Estimates suggest that as much as 80% of what is taught in schools is presented in a visual format. This doesn’t necessarily mean a book, but could also refer to looking at the board, watching a video or a live experiment, or even just participating in a group activity. Unfortunately, what this does mean is that if your child’s vision or visual skills aren’t up to par, they could be missing out on vital learning that affects their ability to fulfill their academic potential.


 

Your Child May Struggle Socially At School



It’s not the most obvious thing that springs to mind, but many children who have poor vision or visual skills do struggle socially at school. One of the reasons for this is that children who have difficulties with their vision are more likely to act up to try and distract those around them from the problems that they are experiencing. This can cause friction with their peers. Many children with vision problems also find reading particularly difficult, and this can lead to teasing from their classmates.

 

Some Children With Vision Problems Are Misdiagnosed



It may surprise you to learn that many children who have vision problems are misdiagnosed with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), when in fact it is their vision that is affecting their learning or behavior at school.


 

Children Can Be More Responsive To Treatment At A Younger Age



Like many conditions, the earlier any eye problems are identified, usually the easier they can be treated. Studies have shown that children are particularly responsive to treatment for visual conditions, especially if they are young. For example, identifying myopia (nearsightedness) in your child early on enables them to potentially benefit from a treatment called orthokeratology – or ortho K for short. This clever treatment technique uses special, bespoke contact lenses to slow and prevent the progression of myopia, to stop their prescription from getting worse. In doing so, it’s also possible to reduce their risk of complications from high myopia in the future – such as macular degeneration and retinal detachment.

 

 

 

If you would like to schedule an appointment for a pediatric eye exam for your child, or to speak to us with any questions that you have, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Alta Loma Optometric in Rancho Cucamonga, California by calling (909) 787-1760.

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