ensure good vision for life!
Regular eye exams are essential for children to ensure their eyes are developing properly and to detect any vision problems early on. Children should have their first eye exam at 6 months of age, then again at 3 years old, and before starting school.
Annual eye exams are recommended once they begin school to monitor any changes in their vision. It is crucial to address any vision issues early to prevent potential learning and developmental delays.
Proper eyecare for children includes wearing protective eyewear for sports and outdoor activities, taking frequent breaks from screens, and maintaining good eye health habits. If any concerns arise regarding a child's vision, it is important to consult with an eye care professional promptly to address the issue.
How easily a child can see their long distance and close vision schoolwork can influence how well they learn through their visual system. At this examination, emphasis is on testing visual efficiency skills and visual analysis skills so that poor vision is not a stumbling block to first of all "learning to read" and later "reading to learn".
possible signs & symptoms
One eye turns, either in or out, while the other looks straight ahead
Difficulty recognising familiar faces in the distance
Complaining of headaches, blurred or double vision
Frequent blinking, red or watery eyes
Difficulty learning to read
Covering or closing one eye
Sensitivity to lights or frequently rubbing eyes
Leaving out words when reading
Tilting head noticeably
Difficulty concentrating
Squinting or sitting close to the TV
common issues
The most common vision problems experienced by school-aged children are those affecting the ability to see clearly and sharply. Once recognised, these problems may be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Other vision problems may be more difficult to detect, such as a turned or lazy eye - it’s always best if these conditions are detected early, hence why regular eye tests are so important.
They include:
-
Myopia, which is often referred to as near-sightedness or short-sightedness is a common eye condition where light is focused in front of the retina, resulting in blurred distance vision. People with myopia can often see quite clearly at close distance but distant objects will be blurred.
Myopia usually starts during childhood, typically progressing until the child stops growing. Myopia is a common eye health condition not just a vision condition.
-
A person with amblyopia, or “lazy eye”, has a condition in which the message sent from the affected eye or eyes to the brain is of low quality, making the sight of that eye poor. Sometimes the phrase “dimness of vision” is used to describe amblyopia. A person with amblyopia will have poor vision that cannot be corrected simply with spectacles.
-
Stabismus, commonly known as "crossed eyes", is a common eye problem in children that occurs when one eye turns in a different direction than the other eye, caused by poor eye muscle control.
There are four categories of crossed eyes:
Esotropia: which is an inward-turning eye.
Exotropia: which is an outward-turning eye.
Hypertropia: which is an upward-turning eye.
Hypotropia: which is a downward-turning eye.
The symptoms of crossed eyes include double vision, misaligned looking eyes, improper depth perception and turning the head to view objects. Strabismus can be diagnosed by an Optometrist who will test refraction, visual acuity, alignment and eye health.
Treatments for Strabismus include prescription glasses, patching, vision therapy and prism lenses.
vision & learning
Ensure your child’s eye health and academic success by booking a comprehensive eye test and vision screenings. These examinations are designed to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye conditions. At Morrison’s Family Eyecare Centre, our Optometrists aim to provide the best sight possible but also focus on enhancing visual performance. We assist children by detecting and managing vision problems, including eye movement, focus, binocular eye coordination, and visual perceptual deficits that interfere with learning.
