A healthy vision is important for a child to perform daily tasks in the classroom such as reading, writing, chalkboard work and using computers. Children’s eyes are of great use while they engage in sports and games which are also a crucial part of the learning process. Education and sports participation will become difficult if your child has any vision problems.
The demand for visual ability will increase as children further in education. As children progress through classes, the size of print in textbooks becomes smaller and the time required for reading and studying increases. The increased workload and homework make them more dependent on vision. Parents should ensure the proper functioning of children’s vision so that they can excel in education.
Vision skills needed for school
More than having 20/20 eyesight or a clear vision, children should be able to recognize and respond to what they see. Beyond a clear vision, children need to have the following visual skills for effective reading and learning to support academic success:
- Visual acuity
Children should be ensured that they have a clear distance vision for viewing a chalkboard, up close for reading a book or computer from an intermediate level.
- Eye Focusing
Children should be able to fastly and precisely maintain a clear vision when the distance of focus changes. This is important when they shift between reading the chalkboard and writing on paper on the desk. Eye focusing also helps your child have a clear vision over time for reading a book or writing a report.
- Eye-tracking
The tasks like moving the eyes along a printed page or following moving objects like a thrown ball require your child’s ability to track the target when looking from one object to another.
Eye teaming
Tasks like moving eyes along a printed page, or seeing depth for classwork and sports can be achieved with eye teaming which is the ability to coordinate both eyes together.
- Eye-hand coordination
While drawing a picture or trying to hit a ball children require eye-hand coordination which is the ability to use visual information to monitor and direct the hands.
- Visual perception
Children require visual perception for tasks like sorting out images on printed pages into words or ideas and perceiving and recalling what they read.
Eye Examination for Children Returning to School
As you prepare to send your child back to school, you should get them a comprehensive eye examination. You can search for the best children’s eye doctor near me to schedule the eye examination for your child. The vision of your child may change frequently during school days so regular eye check-ups are vital for supplementing continuous learning. Paediatric eye specialists suggest parents get eye exam done for the child once in 6 months to prevent the risk of eye disorders. Visual problems that are commonly seen in school-going children are blurry vision or refractive error caused by myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.
Many parents ignore regular eye examinations for children as there are no vision problems according to the school screening. A child who was found to be able to see clearly and have 20/20 can still have serious problems in eye focusing, eye tracking and eye coordination. Children require effective vision skills for successful reading and learning process. School-going children receive a comprehensive eye test even after they pass a vision screening. Children will not be able to notice early changes that occur to the vision. Early detection and treatment of vision problems using eyeglasses or contact lenses make it more likely to cure or slow the progression. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe treatments like vision therapy to correct vision problems.
Scheduling eye exams for your child
The time you choose for your child’s eye examination should be when he or she is attentive and joyful. Dr Shalini Jain’s Samyak Eye Care Clinic is the best eye hospital in Ghaziabad that provides comprehensive eye care for children. Our eye examination generally includes a questionnaire on the child’s overall and vision health followed by vision testing. The doctor will be able to determine which treatment is needed after testing eye alignment and thoroughly evaluating eye health. Parents should inform the doctor if the child has failed a vision screening at school as well as about any previous eye problems or treatments like surgeries and glasses or contact lens wear. The doctor should be informed about any family history of eye diseases, refractive errors, strabismus or amblyopia.
With timely vision testing at an early age, you can ensure optimal visual skills for your child to perform well in school. Difficulties in reading printed content on a textbook or a chalkboard can impact your child with inadequate academic performance. As the child’s vision system is still developing, timely detection and treatment help to easily correct common vision problems like lazy eye.