A Back to School comprehensive eye exam can be a key to your child’s success at school. Will your child be among the 86% of children that don’t have a comprehensive vision exam before returning to school or entering school/preschool for the first time?

We’re entering the back to school mode, a time for excitement and learning. Our children receive so much information at school….are they ready to thrive in today’s fast paced and challenging educational environment?

Students with poor vision are often misdiagnosed as learning impaired, having attention deficient disorder, or are just plain left behind from their peer group. These kids don’t know that they can’t see what their friend sees, because they don’t know what normal vision is like. Without healthy vision, children may struggle not only at school, but also socially.

Don’t wait until kindergarten to schedule your child’s exam. Children as young as 3 years old should have a comprehensive eye exam prior to starting preschool. Think about what your child learns at preschool, colors, numbers and social skills. Yet, if your child can’t see well, or has other vision issues, they miss out on the foundation building blocks of recognizing shapes and letters, as well as social interaction.

Vision is a dominant process in a child’s growth, development and daily performance. Your child interacts with computers, iPods, educational TV, reading books – they all require vision. Reports have shown that 60% of students classified with a learning disability really have undetected vision issues.

There is a difference between a vision screening done at school or the pediatrician’s office and a comprehensive eye exam done by an eye care professional. Two studies published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that 40 to 67% of children who fail a vision screening do not receive the recommended follow-up care by an eye doctor.

One reason for this lack of compliance is poor communication with parents who may or may not be present at the screening. One study found that two months later, 50% of parents were unaware their child had failed a vision screening.

Comprehensive vision examinations can only be conducted by an eye care professional with the specialized training needed to make a definitive diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Keep in mind that a vision screening, while a useful tool, is a limited process and cannot be used to diagnose an eye or vision problem, but rather to indicate a potential need for further evaluation. The best way to make sure your child has the visual skills he or she needs to excel in and outside the classroom is to schedule routine comprehensive eye exams with an eye doctor

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 provide comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, 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 724-443-6767.