Posted by: Eye Specialists of Mid Florida in Blog
Written by David Burry, O.D.
Board Certified Optometric Physician
August has arrived and a new school year is about to begin! In addition to immunizations and school orientations, it is highly recommended your child receive an eye examination before going back to school. As part of Child Eye Health and Safety Month, Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida urges you to make sure you include an eye examination as part of your back-to-school checklist. It is estimated that 80% of classroom education is taught visually. The inability to see clearly affects academic and athletic performance and self-esteem.
Common signs of vision trouble in children include frequently rubbing eyes, squinting, tilting or turning their head to look at objects, wandering eyes, or squeezing of the eyes. If your child displays any of these symptoms, please schedule an appointment to have their eyes checked. Amblyopia (lazy eye), Strabismus (crossed eyes) color deficiency (color blindness), and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) are the most common conditions that can affect a child’s vision. Many of these conditions, if diagnosed early, can be treated and vision can be restored. If the condition is not diagnosed until later in life, treatment will not be as effective.
Eye safety is just as important as eye health. Every year thousands of children sustain an eye injury, 90% of which can be prevented if suitable protective eyewear is used. From sports and recreation to toys and fireworks, an eye injury can happen at any time. By taking proper precautions (providing age-appropriate toys or proper protective eyewear), you can protect your child from injury.
