6 Reasons Why Your Child Needs an Eye Exam
As a parent, watching over your child’s health is one of the most important tasks you have. As you navigate challenges in nutrition, physical activity, and the changes their body goes through during growth, it is important to keep track of all the many milestones they reach. Ensuring that they can enjoy good eyesight is a part of these efforts; most recommendations state that children should have an eye exam within the first year of their life, and again before the beginning of grade school. Of course, eye exams can be helpful throughout their young lives — but why are they so important? Here are six of the most important reasons.
1. Vision quality can change from year to year
A child who can see well one year may experience a change in their vision by the same time the next year.
Especially as children approach their teens, monitoring eye health is important. Eyesight changes can occur without warning, or may develop gradually. Your child may not even realize that their vision quality has changed until it becomes difficult to read; an eye exam can identify these issues and correct them.
2. Poor vision can impact learning
We all know stories of children seated near the back of the class whose grades begin to slip until they receive glasses and can read the blackboard again. Struggling to read assignments or a teacher’s notes on the board can have a noticeable impact on a child’s ability to learn in the classroom. Not only can an eye exam open the door to correcting these problems, but it can ensure they continue to remain visually engaged even as their eyes develop further.
3. Better vision equals better safety
For parents of teenagers approaching driving age, eye exams should be near the top of the to-do list. Traffic lights, road signs, and even other vehicles must all be seen at a distance if one wishes to drive safely.
Furthermore, some municipalities require passing a vision test as part of driver licensing. An exam now can prepare your child for safe driving later.
4. Caring for one’s eyes is a lifelong responsibility
Someday, your child’s health will be their own responsibility. Creating a foundation of good habits begins when they are young, and eye health should be a part of those habits. Taking your child for an eye exam and discussing its importance with them can set the stage for the future. Ultimately, they will need to seek out eye exams on their own in the future. Knowing how they work and what to expect can contribute to the formation of a lifelong approach to good eye health.
5. Eye exam can reveals early signs of issues
These examinations focus on more than just diagnosing near- or farsightedness and prescribing glasses.
Real ocular health issues can develop too, and the changes that they may bring to your child’s eyes can necessitate long-term plans for vision correction. Identifying these issues early on will help your care providers to implement the best plans for a positive outcome.
6. Vision correction can increase your child’s comfort
If you wear glasses yourself, think about how much of a difference they make to your daily comfort level.
The same is true for children, except they can often struggle to describe the problems they experience due to poorer eyesight. After an initial exam that yields a prescription for glasses or corrective lenses, your child can be happier and healthier.
All these facts taken together equal compelling evidence for scheduling an appointment with an optometrist near you for your child. Remember, your optometrist is there to help and to answer any questions you may have. You should not only feel free to engage in the process, but to encourage your child to do so too!
For eye check up for your child, come visit us in Miami 2627 NE 203rd St. #116 Miami, FL 33180 or give us a call (305) 814-2299 today.