School is starting up again soon, now is the time to schedule an eye examination for your child.
Problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can cause difficulty with learning in the classroom. It you cannot see, then you cannot learn. The visual skills necessary for learning include eye movement, eye teaming, eye focusing, eye alignment, and visual perception ( the ability to process what the eyes see). Many students may be unaware of problems with their eyes or may not be able to verbalize their eye problems. Parents should look for common symptoms including:
- Short attention span
- Unable to finish school work
- Poor reading comprehension
- Tendency to cover one eye
- Frequent blinking or eye rubbing
- Frequent headaches
Many of the symptoms above can be misdiagnosed for ADHD or dyslexia when in fact the child has a vision problem. 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes. Having an undiagnosed vision problem can have a negative effect on learning, social situations, and confidence.
Good Vision is not just 20/20
The school screening done at the school can measure how a child see’s at a distance but does not evaluate the visual skills necessary for learning. Measuring how well a child can see 20/20 is just one component of a complete eye examination. A comprehensive eye exam also includes color vision testing, eye tracking, eye movement, eye alignment, and depth perception. In addition, the eye health portion exam includes evaluating the outer and inner structures of the eyes.
With school starting soon, we want to make sure that your child has the best opportunity to learn and see the world clearly. Start the school year off right by scheduling a comprehensive eye examination for your child today at our office. Call today 925-743-1222. View the video below on the importance of back to school eye exams.
