Vision Quest August 2014
The most important tool a child needs to learn is their eyesight. Up to 1 in 4 children have a vision disorder and 1 in 20 children are at risk for Amblyopia or permanent vision loss if undetected. An undiagnosed vision disorder can affect a child's academic achievement, athletic performance and even their social development. Children do not have the frame of reference to know whether they are seeing clearly. Many times a blurry world is all they have ever known. Ask your child's school to use updated vision screening technology and schedule your child for a vision exam every year especially if you suspect a vision problem.
Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem
- Avoiding Reading
- Frequent Eye Rubbing or Blinking
- Wandering or Crossed Eyes
- Family History of Vision Problems
- Tilting head sideways or in an unusual way to read
- Squinting
- Difficulty identifying objects far away
- Short attention span
Protect Your Child's Eyes
- When playing sports, children should wear eye protection made with polycarbonate lenses.
- Keep sprays and chemicals out of the reach of children.
- Keep BB guns and laser pointers away from children.
- Put plastic covers on furniture corners
- Purchase age appropriate toys that meet the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (toys will be marked "ASTM").
- Avoid toys with spikes, sharp points or dangerous edges.
- Do not allow children to use or play with fireworks.
- Children should wear sunglasses in bright sun. Over-exposure to UV rays can damage eyes.