Once the summer comes to an end, many parents occupy themselves getting their kids ready for school by organizing their backpacks. However, no amount of new pens and notebooks can help your child succeed in school if they have undetected vision-related problems. Many children struggle with vision problems without even realizing they have them. Proper eye care is instrumental in a children to learn and to achieve their academic potential, as well as participate better in extracurricular activities.

A Comprehensive Eye Exam Matters

Typically, your children should first get his or her eyes examined at 6 months old, as this is when their vision sharpens. You want to make sure that your kid’s eyes are developing normally and are working together. Getting your kid’s eyes examined sooner will reduce eyesight problems like blurry vision. Children’s eye exams can detect nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism that can be easily treated with prescription glasses. Your doctor can also spot a condition known as “lazy eye” that occurs at a very early stage in a child’s life.

Here are the six basic skills involved in promoting good eyesight for learning and reading well:

1. 1. Visual Acuity

Visual acuity is also known as 20/20 vision. It means you are clearly able to see what is 20 feet away. It also means being able to perfectly see what’s written on a chalkboard, as well as the small print on a computer screen or the text in a book.

1. 1. Eye Focusing

Eye focusing involves the ability to promptly and accurately maintain clear vision when the distance from objects changes. One example is from looking at a projector screen to inside your notebook. Eye focusing will allow your child to comfortably maintain clear vision when reading a book or while writing an essay.

1. 1. Eye Tracking

Eye tracking is the ability to visually follow a moving target or switch attention from one object to another. It could include moving your eyes along a printed page or watching a moving object like a bouncing ball.

1. 1. Eye Teaming

Eye teaming permits both eyes to work together in an accurate and synchronized way. It permits comfortable vision and lays the foundation for depth perception. It makes reading, writing and copying simpler tasks.

1. 1. Eye-Hand Coordination

Eye-hand coordination is an important skill in being able to perform activities that require the synchronized use of your eyes and hands. It requires us to unite our visual and motor skills. Eye-hand coordination is key to allowing normal child development and academic success.

1. Visual Perception

Visual perception allows us to process and make sense out of the visual information we take in through our eyes. It’s an important skill for everyday activities such as reading, writing, solving puzzles, cutting and drawing.

Common Symptoms in Children With Vision Problems:

Children with vision problems often do not tell their teachers or parents about their vision problems, probably because they don’t even realize they have them. Some symptoms may include:

• Finishing schoolwork slower than usual
• Constant headaches
• Habit of covering one eye
• Frequent blinking
• Shorter attention span
• Constant fidgeting and looking away from work

Benefits of an Early Eye Exam

Good eyesight is a must. Kids may not be expressive about their complaints, not realizing how bad their eyesight is. The only way to tell if a child’s eyesight is normal is for you to take him or her for an eye exam. Here are some benefits of getting your child’s eyes examined.

1. 1. Eye Issues Can Be Fixed at An Early Stage

Eye issues like a lazy eye can be fixed at an early stage.

1. 1. Eyesight is An Indicator of Overall Health

Good eyesight is a barometer of overall health and can start showing signs when something goes wrong. For instance, cataracts in children may indicate the presence of diabetes.

1. 1. Excellent Vision Improves Academic and Sports Performance

Strong vision improves achievement in both academics and sports, since it will ensure that your child is progressing at the same rate as his or her peers. Good eyesight can also be achieved with the help of prescription glasses.

1. 1. Your Child May Be Allergic

If your child often complains about red, itchy eyes, then your child may also be suffering from seasonal allergies. Over-the-counter allergy medicines may or may not work for your child, so, you might consider taking your child to your eye doctor as well.

Scheduling an eye test for your children will reduce vision problems by giving you a better picture of their eye health and an opportunity to remedy any pre-existing conditions. As a result, they will perform better in classroom activities and your children will be ready for the next big game!