With kids back in school, their vision needs to be top of mind
As adults we know when our vision isn't in tip top shape. Things seem blurry, we get headaches. But, when it comes to kids and their vision, because they aren't aware of what "normal" vision means, parents need to pay extra attention to more than just what they're seeing.
Much of what students do in the classroom is driven by a visual experience from reading, to doing math problems on the blackboard. That's why a comprehensive eye exam early in the year is a must to catch any vision developmental issues that could normally go unnoticed. Dr. Kari Teraguchi, a CHRISTUS Children's pediatrician told us, "A lot of kids don't realize they can't see, so they won't say anything. You won't know. You might just have a kid who's not paying as much attention, seems distracted, disinterested. And actually, it can be that they just can't see what's going on."
The American Optometric Association says to look out for these signs of eye and vision problems in your child. Complaints of discomfort and fatigue, frequent eye rubbing or blinking, avoiding reading and other close activities, getting frequent headaches and if they are covering one eye.
Also look out if they are tilting the head to one side, holding reading materials close to the face, losing place when reading, seeing double and difficulty remembering what they read. Dr. Teraguchi said, "You might just have a kid who's not paying as much attention, seems distracted, disinterested. And actually, it can be that they just can't see what's going on, so it's super important for learning, but it's not always obvious right away."
Because vision changes frequently during their early school years , kids should receive an eye exam at least yearly or even more frequently if problems persist or get worse over time. Dr. Teraguchi added, "It's when they get into those smart boards and a little bit upper grades that it becomes more obvious to teachers. But again, a lot of times no one knows until they come in for their vision screen."
