Back To School Checklist
Backpacks, lunch boxes, clothes shopping – it’s back to school time! When you mark off items on your ‘Back-To- School’ checklist, don’t forget to make an eye exam appointment for your child. August is National Children’s Vision Month and the perfect time to talk about the importance of providing the best vision and eye health for your kids. Whether it’s the first time attending preschool or kindergarten or your child’s high school years, it’s important to make eye exams a back-to-school tradition.
Young children with vision problems are unlikely to tell their teachers and parents because they don’t realize the source of the problem. Did you know that 1 in 4 children have an undetected vision problem?
It’s crucial, therefore, for adults to watch the children in our care for symptoms such as:
- Poor reading comprehension
- Slow to finish schoolwork
- Short attention span for close work
- Tendency to fidget and look away from work
- Frequent headaches
- Tendency to cover one eye
- Frequent blinking or eye-rubbing
According to the American Optometric Association, 49% of parents have not had an eye exam on their children who are under six years of age, by an optometrist. A comprehensive eye exam is different than the eye screenings done by your pediatrician and/or school nurse. The organization also states as much as 80% of a child’s learning happens through his or her eyes. From reading, writing, to using a computer or writing on the blackboard, vision is a necessary component to excelling in school.
An undiagnosed eye problem could result in an academic setback in just a few short months. Some behavior problems could be linked to vision issues. These students may seem uninterested or unfocused in school when in actuality they simply cannot see clearly.
Without an eye exam, many children may have vision problems that remain undiagnosed, and may even be misdiagnosed as having a learning disorder. Especially with young children, learning to read and the ability to track words are the building blocks of their educational experience. The longer a vision problem goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more a child’s brain will learn to accommodate the vision problem. This can lead to poor academics and frustration for all concerned.
At Bissell Eye Care, we look for delayed motor development, frequent eye rubbing, excessive blinking, failure to maintain eye contact, eye tracking skills, and the inability to maintain a gaze. These types of symptoms can affect the child’s ability to concentrate and learn.
Learning is fun. Make sure your child is equipped with the right tools to succeed. To schedule your child’s exam contact our Bakerstown office at 724-443-6767 or the Natrona Heights Office at 724-226-0444.
About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD owns and operates Bissell Eye Care servicing Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. With two locations to treat patients, we offer evening and Saturday appointments. Bissell Eye Care provides comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eyeglasses, sunglasses, activewear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. We accept most types of vision and health insurance plans. For more information, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown Office at 724-443-6767 or Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.