An estimated 60 percent of kids with learning difficulties have undiagnosed vision problems, and 80 percent of learning is visual.
It places these kids at a serious disadvantage in their education and their social development. So what can we do to make sure this does not happen to our children? Fortunately, there’s plenty!
Are So Many Vision Problems Undiagnosed?
One rationale childhood eye problems aren’t diagnosed as often as they should is that children do not self-report. This issue is sometimes compounded by adults by mistaking the symptoms of learning disabilities for those. They might not realize that the problem is with their eyes when children struggle with visual activities. All they understand is they’re having a harder time which is confusing and upsetting, particularly if adults have been scolding them for failing to perform the jobs.
Common Vision Problems
Another motive eyesight problems go undiagnosed is that a lot of kids do not find extensive eye examinations. The school nurse could test their visual acuity with the huge E graph, but that is it. There’s a lot it does not check for, such as, while this is a significant test:
- Convergence Insufficiency: a binocular vision problem in which the eyes tend to ramble outward when appearing at up-close items, making tasks like reading hard.
- Astigmatism: a refractive error that causes blurry eyesight, but whose effects can be subtle enough that a vision screening might miss it. Amblyopia can be caused by this if left untreated from lenses.
- Strabismus: misalignment of the eyes where they turn in, out, up, or down. Strabismus may result in amblyopia, but minding glasses can correct it, or surgery.
- Amblyopia, or”lazy eye”: poor vision in one eye, typically caused by astigmatism, the difference in each eye’s refractive error, or crossed eyes. Without therapy, amblyopia may lead to irreversible vision loss.
Signs Parents Can See For
Some symptoms of an eye problem can easily be visible, including an eye turning in or out or regular squinting, but others may require more careful observation. It’s never a bad idea to bring your child in for a detailed eye exam, but you should schedule one if you notice them…
- Frequently rub their eyes or blink rapidly
- Have a short attention span
- Struggle with or prevent reading along with other up-close Pursuits
- Get regular headaches
- Often cover one eye
- Tilt their head to one side
- Hold their reading materials close to their eyes
- Often lose their place while reading
- Have trouble remembering what they simply read
Don’t Wait To Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam
As parents, we want to give our children the very best, and an important part of that is making sure that if they have a vision disorder, it gets diagnosed and treated as soon as possible so that they don’t need to fight against it because they learn and develop. Simply give your optometrist a call if you would like to learn more or schedule an eye exam for your child!
Healthy vision is your gateway to learning!
Read More: All you must-know about Children’s Eye-Specialist