Children's Eyecare

One in four children has an undiagnosed vision problem that can lead to difficulty in learning. Children who don’t see well rarely complain about their vision. They believe that images are supposed to be blurry because they have never seen them any other way. Just like routine visits to the pediatrician, your child should also receive regular eye exams to maintain healthy vision. The American Optometric Association recommends that all children have an eye exam before starting school. After that, eye exams should be performed every year because vision problems can emerge as children grow. Some children may need more frequent eye exams.

Ten Signs your child may have 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
· PUsing a finger as a place marker while reading
· Halos around lights
· Performing below potential
· Rubbing eyes repeatedly

Vision and Learning

Undetected vision problems can lead to difficulties in school according to research published in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry by Roger Johnson, Ph.D. of Old Dominion University and Joel Zaba, M.A., O.D, there is a significant relationship between undetected vision problems, reading, and learning difficulties.

About 80% of learning in a child's first 12 years comes through the eyes. Some children are labeled "learning disabled" or "trouble-makers," when all they need is an eye exam and appropriate vision correction. Good vision is fundamental to reading; it is vital to seeing such learning tools as the chalkboard, visual aids and videos. In short, good vision is as essential to learning as the ABC's.

Unlike a comprehensive exam, a simple vision screening - a distance vision test using a Snellen chart - only identifies 5% of vision problems in children, according to the American Foundation for Vision Awareness. While these vision screenings are useful for offering an early indication of problems relating to distance eyesight, they miss other critical vision deficiencies that can impact a child's eye health, development and school and learning performance.

However, a comprehensive eye exam measures a number of visual skills that are critical to a child's healthy vision, such as using both eyes as a team, the ability of the eyes to focus properly when reading a book, or viewing a computer, and the ability of the eyes to move properly when reading across a page of print.

"Making a child's first test a vision test will prepare children to enter school ready to gain the knowledge and skills that will remain with them their entire lives," said Dr. Zaba. "How well a child can see will have a great impact on how much and/or how quickly they will