According to the American Optometric Association, “even though a child may have 20/20 vision, the following habits also can signal less obvious vision problems: loses place while reading, avoids close work,” and “holds reading material closer than normal.”

A visit to the eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam is an important part of overall health,” and is especially important for kids about to return to school.  According to an American Optometric Association survey of K-12 teachers, 81 percent believe vision and learning are interdependent.”

The American Optometric Association has reported that the majority of children identified as ‘problem learners’ suffer from undiagnosed visual problems. Many schools do vision screenings, but there are many problems that can go unnoticed without a complete eye exam from a professional eye doctor.

According to the American Optometric Association, studies indicate that 60 percent of children identified as “problem learners” actually suffer from undetected vision problems, and in some cases have been inaccurately diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Click on the link below to review some of the signs and symptoms to look for that may indicate a vision problem:

http://www.covd.org/Home/AboutVisionLearning/SymptomsChecklist/tabid/114/Default.aspx

If one or more of these signs appear, take your child to an eye doctor right away.

What do your child’s eyes look like?

* eyes don’t line up, one eye appears crossed or looks out!
* eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen
* eyes are watery or red (inflamed)

How does your child act?

* rubs eyes a lot
* closes or covers one eye
* tilts head or thrusts head forward
* has trouble reading or doing other close-up work, or holds objects close to eyes to see
* blinks more than usual or seems cranky when doing close-up work
* things are blurry or hard to see
* squints eyes or frowns

What does your child say?

* “My eyes are itchy,” “my eyes are burning” or “my eyes feel scratchy.””I can’t see very well.”
* After doing close-up work, your child says “I feel dizzy,” “I have a headache” or “I feel sick/nauseous.”
* “Everything looks blurry,” or “I see double.”

Remember, your child may still have an eye problem even if he or she does not complain or has not shown any unusual signs.

During an eye exam, an optometrist can detect “common vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as more serious conditions such as amblyopia.”

Studies show that 80% of all learning during a child’s early school years is obtained through vision. Yet too many school-aged children and teenagers have vision deficiencies. Many go undetected because only a small number receive regular eye exams. That’s just one reason why annual comprehensive eye exams are so important.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends comprehensive eye exams especially for children entering preschool and kindergarten. In particular, children entering preschool or kindergarten benefit the most from comprehensive eye exams,” although they rarely receive them early enough.  During an eye exam, an optometrist can detect “common vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as more serious conditions such as amblyopia.”