Seeing your kids succeed in school is a vital part of being a parent. Good vision is necessary for children to thrive in school. Many learning activities such as writing, reading, using computers, and even sports require excellent visual ability. 

 

The eyes are used constantly in the classroom and outdoor activities. This means that poor vision can adversely affect your child’s education and participation. Vision screening is thus very important for children.

 

Understanding Visual Health

The demand for good visual abilities increases as children progresses in their schooling. Each year of school provides a pillar for every child’s life. As a parent, it's important to understand the visual skills that your child needs to succeed in school. 

 

The brain’s vision center does not fully develop until children get to age seven. This is why it is vital for vision screening to begin at an early age. When children's eyes fail to send clear images to the brain, this can have a significant impact on their vision health.

 

Importance of Vision Screening 

Many eye-related diseases do not appear until later in adulthood. A regular vision screening can help keep children’s eyes healthy not just at present but also later in life. It is vital to realize that eye exams are different from vision screening. 

 

Screenings are precautionary and are usually carried out before eye exams. Visual acuity testing helps to determine whether a patient can identify letters or numbers on a vision chart. The screenings aim to detect discrepancies in the child’s eyesight, after which regular eye exams are carried out.

 

Vital Vision Skills

The eyes play a vital role in academic success. Several vision skills are essential for succeeding in school. These skills help children read and learn effectively. They include visual acuity, eye focusing, eye tracking, eye teaming, visual perception, and eye-hand coordination. 

 

The demand for visual capabilities rises as kids progress in their school and reading increases. The time spent studying increases, as do classwork and homework. This puts more pressure on the child’s vision. 

 

When Vision Screening Is Done

It is important to start regular vision screening when your child is young. An ophthalmologist can carry out a comprehensive test on a newborn or infant. This can help with the detection of high-risk eye issues. 

 

Around the age of three or when a child begins preschool, a pediatrician will carry out an assessment. This will determine how often the child will require vision screening. When the child gets to school age, annual screenings should be scheduled.

 

Signs of Vision Problems

If your child is showing signs of difficulties with their sight, you need to schedule vision screening. Some signs of vision struggles include squinting, headaches, sensitivity to light, constantly rubbing the eyes, and losing place when reading. 

 

Others are struggling with schoolwork, clumsiness or poor coordination, poor reading posture, and more reliance on one eye. Vision is an important developmental tool, and it is important to schedule a regular screening. Vision screening is very important for children. Poor sight affects not just vision health but also mental health. 


 

For more information on vision screening for children, contact Advanced Pediatrics PC  in Elmhurst or Jackson Heights, New York. You can also call (718) 271-2600 to book an appointment with us.