MOMS & KIDS: Aa Bb See
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED AN EYE EXAM?
When you’re deciding whether or not you should take your child in for an eye exam, consider the following:
- an estimated 10 million children age 10 and younger have vision problems
- home tests or vision screenings will not detect all of a child’s vision problems
- 80% of what a child learns during the first 12 years is obtained through vision
- 1 in 4 children has an undiagnosed vision problem
- visual impairment in children is associated with developmental delays and the need for special education, vocational and social services.
The earlier the problems are caught, the better: Not only do eye problems hinder learning, but some, such as lazy eye, can lead to virtual blindness if not treated in the first few years of life.
A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAM IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR DETECTING VISION PROBLEMS
A comprehensive eye exam measures a number of visual skills that are critical to a child’s healthy visions, including:
- using both eyes as a team
- the ability for the eyes to focus properly when reading a book or viewing a computer
- the ability for the eyes to move properly when reading across pages of print
TEN WARNING SIGNS
These signs may indicate that your child has vision difficulties:
- Squinting, closing or covering one eye
- Holding a book close to the face
- Losing his/her place while reading
- Headache, nausea or dizziness
- Excessive clumsiness
- Tilting the head to one side
- Frequent daydreaming
- Using a finger as a place marker while reading
- Performing below potential
- Rubbing eyes repeatedly
Even if your child does not display any of these symptoms, he/she may still have vision problems.
Courtesy of Vision Council of America
a non-profit trade association
Visit www.checkyearly.com for
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