As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that includes making sure that your son or daughter is happy and healthy. That means making regular visits to the pediatrician, getting your child immunized on the right schedule – and scheduling regular eye exams.
Far from being a luxury, a regular eye exam is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the health and physical well being of your child. That is because many serious health problems – from learning abilities like dyslexia to life-threatening diseases like cancer – can first present in the eyes. Regular eye exams can catch those problems early, and your child’s eye doctor can make the necessary referrals when necessary.
The Earlier The Better
Unfortunately, many parents do not realize that their children need to start those regular eye exams long before they enter kindergarten. While it is true that many eye problems, from astigmatism to nearsightedness, first become evident in school, the American Optometry Association recommends that children have their first eye exam at the age of one and every two years thereafter.
It is important that parents not shortchange the eye health of their children – and that they treat visits to the eye doctor as seriously as any other medical exam. You would never dream of skipping a required vaccination or a trip to the pediatrician. It is important to treat those regular visits to the eye doctor the same way.
Recognizing Potential Problems
Those regular eye exams are an essential part of the development of your child’s eyes. Most of what your child will learn in school will be presented visually – even a small deficit in vision could have a profound impact on learning.
That is why it is so important for parents to be on the lookout for the common red flags that could indicate an eye problem – whether that problem is merely cosmetic or something more serious. Parents should watch out for these early warning signs in between those regular eye exams. If anything seems out of the ordinary, parents should schedule an eye exam as soon as possible to follow up on those perceived problems.
The Red Flags
If you notice any of the following in your child, it is important to contact your family eye doctor right away.
– Your child squints when using the computer or watching TV
– Your child holds books close to the face when reading
– Your child’s teacher suggests that he or she may have a vision problem
– Your child complains of being unable to read the blackboard at school
– You notice that your child’s eyes turn in or out
– You notice your child closing one eye while reading or concentrating
– Your child complains of blurry vision or experiences frequent headaches
If you notice any of these common red flags in your child, it is important to seek medical help right away. A vision problem can be quite serious – or even a sign of a more serous medical problem. If you do find that your child needs vision correction, you can contact Next Day Lenses to get the help you need.
A Good Start
Despite what you may have heard, most vision problems do not resolve on their own. As a parent, it is up to you to look out for the best interests of your child. That means scheduling regular eye exams – and watching out for these common red flags between visits.
Simon Walters is a pediatric optometrist. He often blogs about how to care for children’s eyes to protect their eye health and vision.
