If Sara can’t see clearly, it’s not surprising that she may have a harder time reading and learning. But even if she can see clearly, if it takes a lot of effort, that’s effort that isn’t going into processing and understanding. And if she’s just learning how to read, that extra effort can make the difference between doing well in school and struggling. Vision is more than seeing clearly. Both eyes need to move and work together, to shift focus smoothly between different distances, and to do so accurately and easily. The visual demands of schoolwork can lead to difficulties that aren’t likely to be noticed at a pediatrician’s visit or a school screening.
A full eye exam before the school year is the best way to be sure your child is seeing as clearly and comfortably as possible. And all the time, keep an “eye” out for signs that may indicate a problem. These include difficulty keeping place while reading, holding material excessively close, frequent eye-rubbing, unusual head position or closing an eye while reading, greater than average reversals or confusion when reading or writing, and of course any complaints about clarity, headaches, etc…
A comprehensive eye examination will look at all aspects of eye health, and the need for glasses to see things clearly far away. But more than this, your child’s eye doctor should do tests to make sure her eyes are working together, and doing so efficiently at all distances. After all, the better her eyes are working, the less hard she’ll have to.
Dr. Steve Jacobs is an optometrist in Blacksburg, Virginia who works with patients of all ages. He is a sponsor of NRV Macaroni Kid and you can find him here. In a series of short articles we’ll take a peek at the eyes and vision development from infancy thru the early school years, and point out some basic things to look for (and to look out for). Some segments may key on a particular age, whereas others will address common questions or concerns. If you’d ever like more information, please feel free to contact Dr. Jacobs at 540-953-0136 or sjacobs07@comcast.net or speak to your child's physician.
See more of the series here.
