To find an optometrist in your area, or for additional information on children's vision and the importance of back-to-school eye exams, please visit www.GOAeyes.com or www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOptometricAssociation.
With the beginning of a new school year, parents thoughts naturally turn to shopping: new clothes, new binders and No. 2 pencils.
And, while eye check-ups may not fall on their collective "to do" lists, it should be — roughly 80 percent of a child's learning is done visually.
Hence, experts say, a comprehensive eye exam is an important investment to help maximize a child’s education and contribute to overall health and well-being, especially since some vision problems may not have warning signs.
"Unfortunately, parents and educators often incorrectly assume that, if a child passes a school screening, their vision is fine," said Dr. Glenda Brown, president of the Georgia Optometric Association (www.GOAeyes.com) and optometrist in practice at Thomas Eye Group in Suwanee. Brown said that one in four children has an undiagnosed vision problem simply because the child may not recognize that his or her eyesight isn't optimal or is changing.
We asked Brown to answer three questions parents might have related to eye health:
Q. What are the best times for a child to get eye exams?
- Children should have an initial exam at age six months, and then again at age 3 to 4. School age children should have an eye exam yearly. But, in pre-puberty as the child starts their quick growth periods, the students sometimes need eye checkups every six months.
- Back to school time is a common time for parents to schedule the yearly eye exam as they are trying to make sure the child is completely ready to learn, and excellent vision is an extremely important part of being able to learn.
- For younger children, coming in early in the day for their exams will enable a doctor to get the best responses.
- During the school year, many students come in later in the day, so that when they get their eyes dilated it will not affect the school day.
Q. What questions should parents be asking their child’s eye doctor?
- For what tasks or how much of the day should my child wear glasses?
- What can be done to keep my child from getting eye strain working on a computer or reading?
- When should I bring my child back for the next eye check-up?
- Are my child's headaches related to his or her eyes?
- Can you give a prognosis or prediction as to how and when my child's vision may change?
- Is there anything that can be done for my child who frequently rubs his or her eyes?
- Do I need to be concerned about my child closing one eye outside?
- Are there any exercises my child can do to help with eye strain?
- How necessary is it for my child to wear sunglasses outside?
- Do you think the medications that my child is taking could have side effects on vision?
- When can my child start wearing contacts?
- Does my child need to wear glasses for sports?
Q. What are your best tips for preventing eye strain?
- Have a comprehensive eye exam during which the eyes are fully dilated. This enables your optometrist to check for Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism.
- Assuming the child is seeing the best he can, a good tip is the 20-20-20 Rule. After 20 minutes of near work, take a 20 second break by looking away at 20 feet.
- It is very important to have the correct posture when either looking at a book or a computer. Hold the book with the arms making a 90 degree angle and at least 12 inches away. The computer screen should be in a downward position, never above and should be no more than an arms length away.
- Lighting is extremely important. Parents should ask the teacher about the lighting conditions in the classroom. Often, when teachers are using Interactive Boards, the room lights are turned down and this makes it hard for the students to see at their desks.
- It is important for there to be no glare on the computer screen or book. Glasses that have an anti-reflection coating are very helpful for this situation.
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