Your child suddenly starts coming home with low scores on their homework... or skips it all together. You get an email from their teacher asking you to come in for a conference to discuss their poor behavior. They’re normally a bright student—why are they suddenly struggling in school?It's very possible a vision problem may be to blame. Think about it: If your child can't see the blackboard clearly or is unable to focus on activities without tiring quickly or getting a headache, it's understandable that their school performance would suffer.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) estimates that 50 percent of school-age children have never had an eye examination. Moreover, 1 in 4 have an undetected vision problem, putting these kids at risk not only for falling behind in school but also for permanent vision loss.
The good news is that eye conditions often can be corrected—as long as they're detected early enough, which can sometimes be challenging with young kids.
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR
If you notice your child squinting, covering one eye to read or watch TV, constantly rubbing their eyes, or complaining of headaches, a visit to the eye doctor is in order. Some symptoms may be less obvious but just as concerning, including eye fatigue halfway through the day, straining, being sensitive to light, chronic redness or tearing, and abnormal movement or turning of the eyes.
Teachers also play an important role in identifying vision problems. Teachers who observe a child with the following behaviors in the classroom should notify parents immediately: wanting to sit closer to the blackboard, becoming easily frustrated, losing their place while reading, and not wanting to continue with usual activities.
THE EYE EXAM: WHAT TO EXPECT
So, what should you do if your child has any of these symptoms? Make an appointment with an optometrist for a full eye exam.
Even if your child doesn't have any obvious symptoms, Dr. Myers still recommends a yearly eye exam starting as early as 6 months of age. That's because vision changes can happen quickly, and an annual exam provides the best opportunity for a doctor to spot and treat any developing problems.
A BACK-TO-SCHOOL TRADITION
It's a hectic time, but just before the start of a new school year is the perfect time to get in the habit of scheduling an eye exam for your child.Here's why: If your eye doctor determines that your child needs glasses—or even new glasses—they'll have a few weeks to get used to wearing them before they return to the classroom.
Building Blocks Daycare and Preschool have been a part of the Springfield community for 20 years, offering 2 convenient locations (south and west).
Building Blocks Preschool Inc
805 Chatham Rd Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 698-8877
http://www.bbdaycare.com/