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Eye Care

Children, Vision and Learning

When parents fail to get regular vision examinations for their children, they are putting more than eyesight at risk. They are threatening their children's educational development as well. One out of every four children from ages 5 to 12 has a vision problem that could affect their educational performance.
One in every 20 preschool age child in the U.S. has a vision problem that, if left uncorrected could lead to permanent loss of sight, according to Prevent Blindness America. Early detection and treatment of vision problems is key in helping to prevent blindness and may help a child reach his or her full potential.

child in glasses

The American Optometric Association recommends the following examination guideline for early detection of visual problems:

  • Infants- By 6 months of age
  • PreSchoolers-  At ages 3 and 5 (before the beginning of first grade)
  • School Age- 5 to 19, as directed by the eye doctor

Eye Innovations proudly supports the InfantSEE public health program, managed by Optometry's Charity. Dr. Archima Major will provide a comprehensive infant eye and vision assessment at no charge to the parent(s)/guardian(s) within the first year of life. The Infant SEE assessment offers early detection of potential eye and vision problems as a complement to the eye screening conducted in a pediatric well-care visit. Call to schedule an assessment with Dr. Archima Major for your infant today.

Behaviors that May Signify a Problem

While parents are often quick to schedule regular physical checkups for their children, they might overlook the importance of a professional eye examination. Screenings offered at schools are designed to identify problems with a child's vision, however, they simply are not thorough enough to expose problems of eye muscle coordination, eye disease, peripheral vision or short-comings in near-distance vision---areas very important to the learning process.

Parents, do not  wait until your child is reported to having visual problems. Children have a difficult time recognizing whether they have a problem because they have no basis for comparison. With some visual skills reaching full development at about 5 years of age, correction after this point becomes more difficult. Visual defects discovered before this age can be treated.

Pay attention to these key signals which can indicate vision problems in you child:

  • Excessive blinking or rubbing the eyes
  • Complaining often of headaches and dizziness
  • Squinting
  • Reading from books held unusually close to the face
  • Twisting or tilting of the head to favor one eye
  • Eyes pointing in different directions
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Ability to read only for a short period of time
  • Inability to judge distance properly (bumping into things)
  • Using a finger to follow words when reading
  • Poor school or athletic performance

Eye Safety for Children

Most childhood accidents occur at home, many with toys. Children spend a great deal of time playing with their toys, so you need to make sure those toys are safe for eyes. Avoid toys that shoot objects in the air, such as slingshots, dart guns or arrows, for children under 6, and closely supervise any child playing with such toys. If your older child plays with a chemistry set or woodworking tools, give him or her safety goggles.

Sports-related eye injuries are topping 100,000 per year, and almost all are preventable by protective eyewear. Children are especially vulnerable to an eye injury because they do not know that their vision, and possibly a lifetime of healthy vision, is at stake. For children, eye injuries happen mainly while playing. They should wear eye protection for any sports and recreational activities that uses a projectile or racket, involves rough contact with other players, or requires travel at high speed.

Polycarbonate lenses are an impact resistant material, ultraviolet protection, and certain frames have been specifically developed to protect the eyes during play and sports. Ask our Eye Doctors about the best eye protection for your child.

UV Protection for Children

Children may not be as interested as adults are in the fashion aspect of sunglasses. However, they need sun protection just as much as adults do and sometimes even more, since they are spending more time playing outdoors and in direct sunlight and are therefore more susceptible to harmful UV rays. The sun can do as much damage to your eyes as it can to your skin. This is especially true for children, whose risk is higher because the lens in their eye does not filter as much UV light and because they spend so much time outside.
With that in mind, here are a few important points to keep in mind before you send your child out to play.

  • 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to UV occurs before age 18
  • The lenses in children eyes do not block as many UV rays as they do in adult eyes, putting them at increased risk for sun damage to their eyes
  • Although 82% of parents feel it is important for children to wear sunglasses and 91% feel sunscreen should be worn, children are two times more likely to wear sunscreen than they are sunglasses.
  • Almost 50% of parents report that their children "seldom" or "never" wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection.

Computer Vision Syndrome in Children

Many American children spend one to three hours per day on the computer, talking online, playing video games, or doing homework. Children are encouraged to use the computer starting at ages two and three.
A child's eyes can become stressed when sitting in front of a computer screen for long periods of time because the computer can force the child's vision to focus and strain more than any other task.
Parents need to be aware of the vision problems associated with computer work. Computer use forces fine motor skills from children whose young eyes are not well developed. Not until the visual system matures is the child able to effectively handle the stress of computers.
According to the American Optometric Association, the influence of computer use on a child's vision involves these factors:

  • Children have a narrow degree of self-awareness. They may be on a computer for hours with a small number of breaks. This extended activity can cause eye focusing and eye strain problems.
  • Children are incredibly adaptable. They assume that what they see is ‘normal’ - even if their vision is not. It is important for parents to monitor the time a child spends at a computer.
  • Children are smaller than adults. Computer workstations are usually set for adult use, this changes the viewing angle for children. Computer users should view the screen slightly downward. Children may experience neck, shoulder and/or back pain, because they have difficulty reaching the keyboard or placing their feet on the floor.

Many eyecare professionals deem that environmental stress of the indoor world rather than genetics is creating a nearsightedness epidemic. In fact, children who use computers before their visual systems are fully developed are susceptible to computer vision syndrome. CVS can be prevented by annual eye examinations, setting up computer workstations that will fit a child, position the monitor correctly, and watch your child closely. If you notice your child rubbing their eyes frequently, tilting their heads, complaining of headaches or their eyes are red, among other symptoms, call our office and schedule an appointment today. Do not take any chances with your child's eyes.


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