Start vision exams early, make them a regular part of school

One of the most important regular events of a child’s school years is the recommended annual vision exam, and it is a habit that should begin before children reach school age, some leading optometrists say.

A child’s first vision examination is an event that requires some advance preparation, according to the Georgia Optometric Association. And with the new school year already underway, it is a good time to have all of your children’s eyes examined.

“Every child should have a first eye examination by age 3,” says Dr. Paul Ajamian, president of the Georgia Optometric Association. “With today’s diagnostic equipment, children do not have to be able to read or even to talk well to have their eyes examined.”

Dr. Scott Williamson, whose office is in Peachtree City, says that he sees young people year-round, but business has obviously picked up in the past few weeks with the start of the school year. More parents should take the time to start of the school year that way, he added. “It’s a good time to do it.”

Williamson recommends that every child get an eye examination at least every two years. Those exams should begin between the ages of 1 and 3, he said, although he has seen them as young as a few days old if there are problems.

An examination in the early years provides a basic blueprint of the child’s vision status. The optometrist can determine if there is a tendency toward nearsightedness, farsightedness, crossed eyes, astigmatism or lazy eye (amblyopia) and if the many vision skills the child will need in school are developing as they should.

“Parents should strive to make their child’s first vision examination a positive experience,” Dr. Ajamian advises. “This will help him or her develop a desire to continue to seek regular vision care throughout life.”

Advance planning begins with making the appointment for early in the day, before the child is tired. Parents should also allow about an hour for the examination, because it may take from 30 to 60 minutes and the child will need to adjust to the new situation and relax.

“Parents should talk naturally about the visit to the optometrist, as they would about any other routine experience,” suggests Dr. Ajamian. “They should not suggest fear, mention blindness, or talk about the possibility of the child needing glasses. The examination is completely painless and, in the majority of cases, glasses are not prescribed for young children. Experimenting with binoculars is one good way to prepare the child for the equipment the optometrist will use. And when the big day arrives, parents should go into the examination room with the child, but let the optometrist lead the conversation there.”

One of the best ways to remember to get your children’s eyes examined every year is to make it a back-to-school activity. One of the most important things parents can do to ensure their children are ready to take on the challenges of a new school year is to take them for a back-to-school eye exam.

“Vision problems can significantly affect your child’s ability to learn,” said Dr. Ajamian, “because 80 percent of what a child learns in school comes through vision.”

All parents are encouraged to have their children’s eyes checked at the beginning of each school year, but particularly during the growth years.

“A child’s vision may experience frequent changes and he or she may not realize a problem exists,” explains Dr. Ajamian. “Problems may range from seeing a blurred chalkboard, to reading difficulties and poor concentration stemming from poor eye movement, focusing and coordination.”

Here are some of the symptoms that may assist in the early detection of eye and vision difficulties:
• Blurring of vision at any time.
• A short attention span or frequent daydreaming.
• A dislike and avoidance of close work.
• Difficulty remembering what is read.
• Frequent loss of place while reading.
• Poor eye-hand coordination when copying, throwing, buttoning clothes or tying shoes.
• A drop in scholastic or sports performance.
• Frequent eye rubbing, blinking, squinting, headaches, itching, nausea and dizziness.
• Tilting or turning of the head to use one eye.
• Poor reading ability.
“In Georgia, children must have an eye screening before entering school for the first time, but it is important to continue annual back-to-school eye exams, especially in the elementary grades,” Dr. Ajamian advises. “It is too important not to give every child every advantage to excel in school.”

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