The new school year is an excellent time to bring your child for an eye examination at VDM Optometrists to ensure that their vision is school-ready.

 

Strong visual skills are crucial for children’s academic success. Researchers estimate that 80% of the information processed by the brain relies on the visual pathway, making vision the most important sense for effective learning.

As children progress though school, they face increasing demands on their visual abilities. The amount of time spent reading and studying increases, the homework-load grows and the print in textbooks gets smaller. Children depend on clear and comfortable vision to excel at school.

 

Poor visual skills can affect almost every aspect of a child’s development, ranging from school and sport, to social interactions and confidence. Without a comprehensive eye examination by a paediatric optometrist, many vision disorders may go undetected or misdiagnosed as a learning disability or a behavioural problem.

Vision is far more than just the ability to see clearly. There are many basic visual skills that are important to children, including:

  • Central and peripheral vision – to see clearly at distance for viewing the board and up close to read a book or do homework
  • Focusing and convergence – the ability to change vision from distance to near and back to distance
  • Eye tracking accuracy and stamina – the ability to follow text on a page, a moving target or look from one target to another
  • Binocular coordination – the ability to use both eyes together
  • Eye-hand coordination – the ability to direct the hands when writing, drawing or playing sports
  • Colour vision and depth perception
  • Visual perception – the ability to organize, understand and remember information provided by the eyes

A behavioural eye examination includes an evaluation of all the visual skills mentioned above, as well as an examination of the eye health. If a visual problem is detected, your optometrist might prescribe spectacles, visual therapy or both.

 

Keep an eye out for the following symptoms that could indicate a visual problem:

  • Frequent eye rubbing, blinking or tearing
  • Head tilting
  • Squinting
  • Frequent complaints of headaches
  • Covers or closes one eye when focusing on something
  • Loses place when reading
  • Poor reading comprehension
  • Avoidance of near work, such as reading or homework
  • Sits very close to the television, electronic devices or books
  • Has difficulty concentrating

What better way to start off the new school year than by ensuring that their most important learning tool, their vision, is up to par?

Contact us today to schedule your child’s appointment with Elizma, Belia or Vanessa.