Although legions of children started school this year with new notebooks, pens, and pencil cases, many were missing a critical learning tool: eyeglasses. Few children get comprehensive eye exams before age 5 -- reading an eye chart in the school nurses� offices does not qualify as an eye exam -- and many who are unable to see clearly develop academic and behavior problems.
Optometrist Dr. Pamela Lowe talked with Education World about the importance of early eye exams, and outlined some of the behaviors that could signal vision problems. She recommends that teachers keep an eye out for those behaviors.
Dr. Pamela Lowe |
Dr. Pamela Lowe: A child�s first eye exam should be in the first year of life between the ages of 6-12 months. That is when the visual system is rapidly developing and focusing. [Evaluating] eye-teaming skills along with doing a thorough eye health assessment are important to ensure babies� eyes are developing appropriately.
EW: What are some of the most common vision problems detected in young children?
Lowe: Unfortunately, some of the most common vision problems go undetected in young children due to the fact that parents and caregivers are unaware of when a child should have their eyes examined. Only 30 percent of children entering school have had a comprehensive eye examination, so many kids fall through the cracks and are not seeing and learning to their highest potential.
Children who can�t see well don�t necessarily complain about vision problems because they think the way they see is how everybody must see. They have no frame of reference to gauge vision because they don�t have the visual demands of an adult -- such as driving or needing to see clearly to perform a job efficiently -- to know what normal vision is. One of the most common undetected visual disorders is far-sightedness or hyperopia. Children with this condition do �see clearly� but their eyes have to work much harder to �see clearly� and it can significantly impact near tasks, such as reading.
EW: What is the difference between school eye screenings and a comprehensive eye exam?
|
Lowe: Children who have vision problems might squint, turn or tilt their heads to see, rub their eyes frequently, avoid tasks that require close work, lose their place while reading, or act out in class.
Just think if you were a student struggling to see clearly -- you would avoid the many visual tasks of the classroom, and turn to acting out and distracting others by inappropriate behavior. Often, however, kids at risk for eye conditions do not have symptoms; that�s why a comprehensive eye exam is important for all children entering school full time, and every year or two throughout their schooling.
EW: How might vision problems affect a child�s school performance?
|
EW: How often do students with academic or behavior problems actually have vision problems?
Lowe: Students with academic or behavior issues very commonly have an underlying eye condition. In fact, studies show that more than 60 percent of children with a behavior disorder also have an eye disorder. Conversely, children with eye conditions sometimes get labeled as having ADD or ADHD because they cannot stay focused or act out in class due to poor visual skills. Once diagnosed properly, those children function well without having to be treated with medications for behavior issues.