While most of us are diligent about the general wellbeing of our children one thing we often overlook is their vision and that can greatly impact their success at school.
Dr. Jo-Anne Monteiro in Burlington recommends having your children’s eyes tested between six and nine months and then yearly after they turn 2 or 3 years of age. It is very common for school age children to develop vision problems and left untreated it can lead to problems with learning, personality development and their adjustment in school.
A classroom environment demands a lot of visual skills especially for near and distance vision and the ability to rapidly change focus from one to the other. Sports activities require good control of eye position, movement and tracking and good peripheral vision as well as eye-hand co-ordination. If your child is showing any difficulty it is not always obvious that vision is the problem and they may think their vision difficulties are normal. School screening tests do not replace the comprehensive eye exam performed by an optometrist.
Dr. Monteiro points out some of the signs that your child may have vision problems:
-Headaches or irritability
-Avoiding near or distance work such as homework or sports
-Covering or rubbing of the eyes
-Tilting the head or showing unusual posture
-Using their finger to maintain a place when they are reading
-Omitting or confusing small words when they are reading
-Performing below their potential and grades dropping
As with any condition, early detection is important to treat any condition that may worsen over time. Regular eye exams are particularly important for children with or without impaired vision because their vision can change more rapidly than adults. OHIP cover annual eye examinations for children age 19 and younger. For more information visit Optometrist Dr. Jo-Anne Monteiro’s website and let her open your eyes to the benefits of early eye exams for your child.