Why Your Child Needs a Back-to-School Eye Exam

The American Optometry Association (AOA) recommends back-to-school eye exams as an essential element in helping kids in their classroom success. While you may have had your child immunized for the new school year, and went shopping for their back-to-school supplies and clothes, did you include getting an eye exam into their back-to-school preparation tasks?

The Extent of Vision Issues in Children

The AOA reports that as many as one in four children can have a vision problem that parents fail to recognize. Further, one in four preschool U.S. children have problems with their vision, and one in four school-age children will require corrective lenses by the time they start school.

Consequences of Uncorrected Vision Problems in Kids

Numerous studies presented evidence of the adverse impacts poor vision can have on various aspect of a child’s development, including:

• Attention and behavior issues: Between the ages of six to 18, your child’s vision can change unexpectedly or often, which can result in classroom behavioral or attention issues, says the AOA.
• Poor school performance: Poor vision in the classroom leads to not only being able to see the chalkboard and problems seeing the computer and reading material, but, it hinders scholastic performance overall.
• Self-esteem and social interactions: There’s more involved other than your child not being able to see the chalkboard. Poor vision can cause a child to withdraw and become less confident and social.

AOA Recommendations for Eye Exams for School-Aged Children

A thorough eye exam is an optimal way to adequately identify and treat vision and eye health issues for both children and adults. The AOA has recommended guidelines for the frequency of eye exams in children (and adults). For children, these are:

• Children aged 3 to 5 years: Should have an eye exam at least once between the ages of 3 to 5 years if at low risk for vision issues or more frequently as recommended for those children at risk.
• Children aged 6 to 17 years: Beginning at first-grade children should have an eye exam and annually thereafter, unless at risk for vision issues indicating more frequent exams.

Schedule Your Child’s Back-to-School Eye Exam at McPherson Optometry

McPherson Optometry, P.C. is the leading and vision care products and optometry services provider in the North Syracuse community. Call our office at 315-458-1000 to schedule a pediatric eye exam or complete our online form.