Newswise — It takes more than just a physical exam, some new clothes and a protractor to prepare kids to go back to school. Common eye conditions can affect academic performance, so it is crucial for children to have their eyes checked before school starts, say optometrists at the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) School of Optometry.
"The American Optometric Association recommends eye exams for children at age six months, three years, right before first grade and every one to two years thereafter," said Katherine Kay Niemann-Weise, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O., director of UAB Pediatric Optometry Services. "Because vision is so important in nearly all school activities, ranging from learning to social interaction and sports, a thorough eye exam is a great way to kick off the school year."
Pediatric eye exams commonly uncover near- or farsightedness and astigmatism, which blur vision and make learning more difficult if left uncorrected, Weise said. Other conditions commonly detected in children include eye teaming, tracking and focusing problems that also can interfere with learning.
According to Weise, kids who suffer from these types of vision problems may not enjoy school. They may avoid reading and simply not perform as well as they could.
While school screenings are a good place to start, Weise recommends a thorough eye exam with an eye doctor to get the best picture of how a child's eyes are working.
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