Healthy vision may be the key to unlocking your child’s potential.
According to research, vision is the most important sense for successful learning. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of the input the brain receives comes through the visual track. This makes your child’s vision essential for success in the classroom.
Vision is NOT only if your child has 20/20 sight, but also how well their eyes work together to perform a wide range of skills.
These visual skills are what enable your child to read, write, perform math equations, concentrate and even play sports.
What are the signs of a vision problem?
Since many children don’t complain of visual changes, knowing how to identify the signs of a vision problem is crucial.
Schedule an eye exam if you notice any of the following:
- Learning difficulties
- Poor reading fluency
- Reading comprehension difficulties
- Avoidance of visually demanding activities
- Reduced attention or concentration
- Squinting or closing one eye while reading
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Frequent head tilting
- Headaches or eye strain
- Poor hand-eye coordination
Contact an eye doctor near you if your child is showing any of the signs above. They may have an undiagnosed visual problem.
SEE RELATED: Eye Conditions That Can Affect Academic Success
The importance of a comprehensive eye exam
The only way to ensure that your child’s eyes are healthy and performing to their best, is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
During an eye exam, your eye doctor will assess your child’s vision and visual skills. If your child has a refractive error such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, you will receive an accurate optical prescription to correct your child’s vision problem.
It is important to bring your child for regular eye exams to ensure that their vision hasn’t changed — and understand that a child’s vision can change rapidly, as their eyes are still growing and maturing. This can mean a new pair of glasses every year until their vision stabilizes.
When glasses alone can’t correct the vision problem
A visual dysfunction can occur when there is a problem with the visual skills.
Convergence insufficiency, accommodation and focusing difficulties and eye tracking problems are just a few of the vision problems that can result from reduced visual skills. These types of vision problems can’t always be corrected with glasses.
Fortunately, vision therapy is an effective, long lasting treatment for reduced visual skills.
What is vision therapy?
Vision therapy aims to strengthen the communication between the eyes and brain and improve the visual skills necessary for learning and academic achievement.
Vision therapy is a personalized program that involves the use of eye exercises, therapeutic lenses and prisms, and specialized techniques to get to the root of the problem and treat the underlying issue.
If your child has a vision problem that is impacting their academic performance and ability to reach their full potential, vision therapy may be the answer you have been searching for.
LEARN MORE: Vision for School
Ensure that your child’s vision isn’t holding them back from achieving their academic goals by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor near you.
Your child may have 20/20 sight, but their eyes may still not work together. The visual skills are vital for reading, writing, performing math equations, concentrating and even playing sports.
