It's hard to believe that summer's just about over. Children everywhere are getting ready for the rapidly approaching academic year, equipped with backpacks, notepads and of course, plenty of enthusiasm. And if you haven't already taken care of it, it's also the perfect opportunity to bring your child in to the eye doctor for an eye exam. Proper vision is essential for doing well at school and as your son or daughter gets older, there are several stages of development that might result in his or her eyesight.
Roughly 80% of learning is achieved through children's eyes. Despite the overt connection between vision and learning, a lot of parents don't seem to be aware of just how frequently occurring vision problems are, and don't include comprehensive eye exams as part of their child's back to school to-do list. As your child's vision may change frequently, regular eye and vision care is central to academic success and overall happiness and wellbeing.
As children go through school, it becomes extra important to monitor their vision. Warning signs may include trouble seeing numbers or letters, frequently watering eyes, eye rubbing, extra close reading distance, head tilting, and avoiding detailed work.
Struggling to meet the visual demands of schoolwork may impact his or her academic growth. New educational technology, like interactive whiteboards, can sometimes exacerbate previously hidden vision problems. Without adequate vision, kids can be at a disadvantage not just at school, but also mentally, physically and emotionally.
If your child has already been tested for and fitted with glasses, now is also a good time to reassess the suitability of his or her current frames and maybe buy new glasses for your child for the new school year. Even though your child might be able to see well with his or her old glasses, they might fit poorly or perhaps the lenses are not optimally positioned anymore due to normal development. The more a kid feels comfortable wearing his/her glasses, the more they'll be worn!
Make sure you make time to make an appointment to see us when you're gearing up for the new academic year. We'll do our very best to help your child commence the academic year with great vision.