Self-scheduling is currently available for select locations!
Be sure to ask your child’s eye doctor these important questions during the exam.
The end of August is typically that familiar time of year for parents and children all across the country when they begin saying farewell to the long, warm days of summer and start preparing for the upcoming school year ahead of them. And, as many parents know, the end of August is often the time of the year where you try to squeeze your child in for their annual doctors examinations and physicals before they head back to school.
Annual eye examinations for children are not just important so that you can ensure that their prescriptions are up to date and that they have the most stylish glasses frames in their upcoming school photo. Pediatric eye exams are also essential for uncovering any underlying vision problems that may have developed and may possibly interfere with your child’s learning.
In fact, many studies have shown that children with undiagnosed vision problems (which is typically one in 20 preschool children) often have a problems adjusting at school, difficulties with learning and serious reading problems. Therefore it is more important than ever that your child is scheduled for their annual back-to-school eye examination this month!
To honor National Eye Exam Month this August, here are a few more reasons why a back-to-school eye examination is so important for your child.
1. Vision Screenings Don’t Catch Everything
While you may find that your pediatric doctor or even your child’s school will perform a simple vision screening for your family, these screenings do not catch everything. In fact, most vision screenings are only able to determine how well a person can see at a distance. Comprehensive eye examinations on the other hand are much more thorough. During these exams, your eye doctor will check your child for farsightedness, nearsightedness, eye muscle function, astigmatism, eye coordination and overall eye health.
2. Eye Exams May Prevent Serious Learning Difficulties
Poor vision in children can often result in serious learning-related vision problems that may impact your child for years to come. For instance, many side effects of poor vision in school children include poor performances in reading, writing and concentration. Ensuring that a child’s eyes are able to focus on specific objects also ensures that they can move their attention around a classroom easily, such as looking from a chalkboard to a notebook and back.
3. Corrected Vision Can Improve Interest In School
Many times when children are completely disinterested or unenthused about school is because they have an undetected vision problem. For instance, when a child has trouble seeing, they may become easily frustrated or bored by what is happening in the classroom, as they are not able to see and absorb the information as well as the other children. This can lead to children acting out and showing a lack of interest in their school work.
If have questions about pediatric vision or would like to learn more about why eye examinations are so important for children who are heading back to school this fall, be sure to contact OCLI today. And don’t forget to schedule your child’s eye exam with our fellowship trained Pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr Lauren Rispoli.
