By Douglas Holle, O.D.
It's a great time to think about your child’s vision. Healthy eyes and vision are crucial to their education. It has been estimated that 80 percent of all learning is visual. Many eye and vision problems can be detected and treated before they cause bigger problems or are no longer easily corrected.

First, all children should have a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor by age 3 and again at 5. Some states now require a comprehensive eye exam before starting school. This ensures that they are seeing well and can learn efficiently during this critical time. Look for an eye doctor who regularly examines children.

Be alert for any signs that vision isn’t normal. Listen to your kids. We've had dozens of parents tell us,“ Johnny has been saying he couldn’t see for months, but I thought he was playing.” We’ve all heard someone say they didn’t know there were wires on top of telephone poles until they finally got their first glasses.

Other signs to watch for are squinting, headaches, light sensitivity, redness, itching, eye crossing or drifting, and blur at near or distance. Are they performing poorly in school? Do they have difficulty with hand/eye coordination? Have they failed a screening at school or at the pediatrician’s office. Is their attention span short? Any of these symptoms can indicate a sight problem. Children suspected of having learning disabilities can sometimes only have a vision condition.

Good vision is necessary to your child’s academic, physical and social development. By taking some simple steps now, you can help give them the tools they need to succeed and thrive in school.

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