By Dr. Jane Therrien
Summer vacation has come and gone, and a brand-new school year is upon us. Our goal as parents is to always equip our children with everything they will need to not only to conquer that first day, but the entire school year. Beyond school supplies, one very important back-to-school task often overlooked is an eye exam. Your child’s vision is critical to success in school.
Eye examinations for children are extremely important. Studies show that even our youngest children might already be experiencing vision problems. According to a recent article, up to 10% of preschoolers have vision problems while 25% of school aged children require some sort of vision correction. This is a huge issue when it comes to learning in class. How can we possibly expect our children to learn their alphabet when it’s difficult for them to even see the letters on the board?
With one in ten preschoolers having vision problems, you might be asking, “How young should our children be when getting their first eye exam?” The answer is rather shocking for some. According to the American Optometric Association, infants should have their first comprehensive eye examination at the age of six months. It is then recommended that they have their next eye exam at the age of three, and yet another examination at the age of about five or six, right before they enter the first grade. After that, comprehensive eye exams are recommended annually not only to assess whether vision correction is needed, but also to check on the overall health of the eye.
For years, many parents have simply relied on vision screenings that may be offered through the school itself; however, these screenings are limited in nature and rarely find any actual issues. In fact, studies show that only about 5% of vision issues are detected through these vision screenings.
Our early years of school are the foundational step to higher learning.
If a child is having a hard time seeing the board or reading their lesson books, it can inhibit their education to a point beyond frustration. School can become no longer enjoyable to them, and they can easily fall behind.
As parents our goal should be to equip our children for success and that starts with an eye exam.
If you would like a comprehensive eye examination for your child, contact Dr. Jane Therrien
at Weston Family Eyecare at 954-888-9393. The practice is located at 4472 Weston Road.
Dr. Therrien and her staff look forward to exceeding your expectations.