Healthy eyes and good visual acuity are essential tools for any child, regardless of their age and this is particularly true at school where as much as 80% of what your child learns will be presented to them visually. Here’s what you need to know about why back-to-school eye exams are important and why you should make them a priority for your child. 

Vision issues can start at any age from birth

Many of the vision problems that we have as adults actually begin in childhood. Myopia, which is the most common refractive eye condition in the world, often starts between the ages of 8 and 14, when the eyes undergo a period of rapid growth. People with myopia can see nearby objects clearly, but those that are further away appear blurred. Common signs of myopia in kids include moving to sit closer to the television or the board in the classroom. Unsurprisingly, if myopia and other refractive conditions aren’t detected, they can have a significant impact on your child’s learning.

Having an eye exam before school resumes gives your eye doctor an opportunity to determine if your child needs any form of vision correction before it can affect their ability to learn.

Children may not recognize problems with their vision

Estimates suggest that as many as 25% of children may be suffering from an undetected vison problem, and one of the main reasons for this is that kids often don’t realize that their vision could be better than it is, particularly if the issues that they’re experiencing are subtle. To them, what they can see or how they react to visual stimulus may just be ‘normal’. Your eye doctor can carry out special tests and evaluations to determine if there are any underlying irregularities with your child’s vision, which will in turn enable prompt treatment that will help them to fulfil their academic potential.

How much screen time is too much?

Kids today spend more time in front of digital screens than ever before. This time isn’t all necessarily recreational either, particularly during the last few years as millions of children have had to be educated at home, relying heavily on the internet and online resources to keep up with their learning. Digital screens release blue light. Too much blue light can increase your child’s risk of developing certain eye conditions and play havoc with their mood, concentration and sleep patterns. In this scenario your child may benefit from special computer glasses to prevent such issues from occurring.

Regular exams are important for long-term eye health

Your pediatric eye doctor is committed to keeping your child’s eyes healthy and their vision clear for as long as possible. There are lots of different eye diseases that threaten to compromise our vision, but some are more likely if we don’t take steps to look after our eyes. If your pediatric eye doctor detects any abnormalities, prompt management or treatment can keep your child’s eyes healthier and reduce their risk of serious problems in the future.

Schedule a back-to-school eye exam for your child and feel reassured that they are going into the new school year healthy and able to learn. For more information Contact 20/20 EyeVenue at (720) 740-0400 to reach our office in Westminster, Colorado.