Don’t overlook one of the most important back-to-school items for the children – obtaining an eye exam.
Well parents -- it's that time of year again. Back to School! About mid-summer parents were wishing this day to hurry as it is a full-time job keeping the refrigerator filled and your sanity stable. Whether your child is entering kindergarten or high school, this is a hectic time for purchasing school supplies, clothes, and setting up schedules. With all the hustle and bustle sometimes, we overlook one of the most important items for the children – obtaining an eye examination. Parents want to arm their children with all the tools possible to assist with their learning throughout the year. One of the most important tools is good vision. Children are still growing and with vision constantly changing, regular eye exams are important to detect and correct eye problems early. Eye exams are especially important before any child enters preschool and kindergarten. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vision problems are the single most prevalent disabling condition among American children. By the time they reach school, a quarter of American children suffer from a vision problem. This means that almost 12.5 million school-age kids may be unable to see the blackboard. This most certainly causes a decrease in learning.
When taking your child to the eye doctor share your family history. It is important to know if certain eye conditions or diseases run in the family. The earlier the problems are identified, the sooner they can be addressed. Parents should be alert to symptoms such as complaints of eyestrain, headaches or squinting when reading or seeing the board at school. These are some examples of common eye problems: nearsightedness, not able to see well at a distance, crossed eye, known as strabismus, and lazy eye, known as amblyopia. Getting these treated in early childhood can avoid permanent damage or vision loss in the near future.
With the new school year comes the extracurricular activities such as sports. Being able to see well not only helps in learning, but also helps children to excel in sports. Eye injuries can also be a concern. Certain sports can cause serious damage such as getting hit in the face with an elbow during basketball. In fact, basketball is one of the most high-risk sports for eye injuries. Children should always wear the appropriate protective eyewear for any sport. Eyecare providers who treat these injuries say that 90 percent of any sports related injuries could be prevented with the use of protective eyewear.
Call Summit Eyecare for an appointment today. Let us make your child's school year an enjoyable and great learning experience. They only have two eyes, let's keep them safe!
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