Preparing your child for academic success should be at the top of your priority list as the new school year approaches. Ensuring their vision is in top shape is just as important as taking care of their material needs. Clear vision is essential for learning and overall development.
At Rosato Family Eyecare in Alpha, we know how critical eye care is for your child’s development, learning, and success in the classroom. Visit us for a pediatric eye exam near you to help your child see clearly this school year.
Why Vision is Essential for Learning
Vision is key to your child’s success in school. Research shows that up to 80% of what a child learns is visual. This means children who have undetected vision problems often struggle with reading, writing, and classroom participation.
A thorough pediatric eye exam can identify vision problems such as:
- Refractive Errors: These include issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
- Binocular Vision Disorders: These conditions include lazy eye (amblyopia), strabismus (eye misalignment), and convergence insufficiency (when the eyes struggle to work together up close). A standard kids' vision test at school might not catch these problems, so regular comprehensive eye exams are essential.
- Eye Diseases: Whether congenital or developed over time, eye diseases like pediatric cataracts or glaucoma can be present in children and may not show obvious symptoms early on. A comprehensive eye exam can catch these conditions before they cause long-term damage to your child’s vision.
Learn more about pediatric eye exams here.
Pediatric Eye Exams and Myopia Control
One common condition in children is myopia, or nearsightedness, which makes distant objects appear blurry. A nearsighted test can easily detect myopia. During the test, an eye doctor determines how well your child can see. Without proper intervention, myopia can worsen as your child grows, making it important to address this condition early.
Our pediatric eye doctor is skilled in myopia management and can create a treatment plan tailored to slow down the progression of nearsightedness. This includes treatments such as orthokeratology lenses, atropine eye drops, and multifocal eyeglasses and contacts.
Signs Your Child Might Need an Eye Exam
Children may not always know how to explain vision problems, so it’s important to watch for signs that might indicate a need for a pediatric eye exam. Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- Eye misalignment symptoms: If one of your child’s eyes turns inward or outward, this could be a sign of lazy eye or strabismus
- Squinting frequently: This can indicate nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
- Holding books or screens too close: Children who need to bring objects closer to their faces to see clearly may have vision issues
- Complaints of headaches or eye strain: Struggling to focus or experiencing eye fatigue could be a sign of an uncorrected vision problem
If you notice any of these signs, scheduling a pediatric eye exam is crucial to catching and treating vision problems early.
When Should You Start Getting Eye Exams for Your Child?
We recommend scheduling a child's first eyesight test around six months to a year, followed by another at age three before your child enters preschool.
Once your child starts school, regular eye exams every one to two years are crucial to ensure that their vision continues to develop correctly and that no new issues arise.
Book Your Child’s Pediatric Eye Exam in Alpha
At Rosato Family Eyecare, our experienced pediatric eye doctor is ready to ensure your child starts the year with clear, healthy vision.
Saturday: By Appointment Only