Healthy Vision Helps Kids Succeed
Healthy Vision Helps Kids Succeed; Inside and Outside of the Classroom
By VSP Vision Care optometrist, Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford
For more information about children’s eye health, visit www.SeeMuchMore.com.
Every year, as part of our back-to-school routines, we schedule our children’s yearly general wellness exams, purchase school supplies and make sure they have an updated wardrobe. But one thing that’s critical to children’s performance, yet we often overlooked, is their annual eye exam.
One in four children has an undetected vision condition and since eye health plays a major role in academic growth, it’s common for vision problems to be mistaken for a learning disability. Experts believe that 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes, making a comprehensive eye exam one of the most important ways parents can give their child the best chance at success in school.
Several common signs that may indicate a child is having trouble with his or her vision are:
- Losing place on the page when reading
- Consistently rubbing the eyes
- Tilting the head when looking at an object
- Frequent headaches
- Squinting to read or watch TV
- Avoiding “close work” or holding things close to the face to see them
- Poor grades and/or behavioral problems
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, it’s time for a visit to the eye doctor. And, even if he or she doesn’t have any symptoms, it’s recommended that your child receive a comprehensive eye examination at six months of age, before entering preschool, before beginning kindergarten, and every year following that.
What about an in-school screening? The short answer: it’s not enough. A comprehensive eye exam may detect what basic school vision screenings can’t. While in-school screenings help identify some vision problems, such as near- and farsightedness, they don’t ensure that the eyes are actually healthy. For instance, two common vision problems an in-school screening can miss are eye coordination and lazy eyes. If caught early, these conditions may be corrected. Furthermore, in-school screenings don’t test for health conditions that a comprehensive eye exam can detect like diabetes and hypertension.
Having healthy vision helps kids succeed both in and out of the classroom! So this year, be sure to schedule your child’s annual vision exam.
If your child is nervous about getting an eye exam, share these fun coloring sheets and a story book about a child’s first exam to help him or her feel more comfortable. And be sure to check out the “ABCs of Eye Exams” page to help you and your child learn what to expect during a vision exam.
For more information, visit VSP Vision Care’s “Learn About Your Eyes” page on www.SeeMuchMore.com.
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A few years old.
Sometime between 2 and 3 years old
They got it at 7.
My youngest was 4
My son was nine
At 8 years old.
My daughter was 4 and my son was 2 as they were concerned with his vision when he went for a check-up.
the pediatrician did an eye exam on him around 3 or 4…
but he saw an eye dr when he was 4 (he got poked in the eye with a pencil at school)
my nice at 3
Mine will get their first eye exam at age 3
Well, I don’t have any kids, but I remember getting my first at like 14.
My oldest was 9 when we first noticed vision problems. So we took he and his 7 year old brother at the time. Thank you
My daughter had her first eye exam when she was 9
my oldest is 7 and still hasnt had her first
7 years old
At 7.
I dont have kids yet but they will be checked within their first 2 years of age.
at six years old
At age 8.
They were 6
My first exam was at age 7.
My son was 5 years old, knew he needed glasses from a very early age
My step son got his first eye exam when he was 6 years old.
It was age 5. He had to have one before he could go to kindergarten. They are so important!
my daughter was 4 and they did it at preschool
Age 5.
they have not had them yet
8 years old
The first exam was at age 7.
no kids, had my first one at 8
5yrs old
I think my son was 3 or 4. My youngest which is 3 now will be going in this year.
I don’t have any children but my first eye exam was at 6yrs old.
My child received the first eye exam at age 4.
My son got his at 6 years old.
My daughter was 6
NO exams … yet !!! =D
When she was 5.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
My daughter received hers at 11
My daughter had one at 10 when she was having problems seeing in class..she’s had glasses ever since.
At three years old and all was well.
has yet to happen
I think at age 4.
Mine haven’t had one yet!
Age 2 :) Thanks!!
5 for school.
My oldest child is four and has yet to have an eye exam, I need to arrange it.
My daughter is four and has not yet had one- guess we need to do that soon