You would probably never forget to take your child to their yearly well visit or dentist appointment. But are you taking them to get their yearly comprehensive eye exam? Some parents may believe their child doesn’t need an eye exam because they receive yearly vision screenings at school. But vision screenings are often unable to detect vision problems.
And research has shown that 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. Vision problems can cause your child to struggle in school since good eyesight is what allows them to see up close and far away, focus on objects, and develop good hand-eye coordination.
Here are three reasons childhood eye exams are so important:
- Early detection is important
If your child has a vision problem, it’s important to identify it as soon as possible. Early intervention is important is you want to avoid other problems down the road. This is why the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends pediatric eye exams every two years, even if there are no obvious signs of a problem.
- Vision screenings can miss many things
School vision screenings are good for testing visual acuity but they won’t test your child for other important visual skills. A comprehensive eye exam will look at your child’s visual processing abilities, eye teaming, and their tracking skills — all which are important in school.
- Good vision is crucial for school success
As your child continues to advance through school, good vision becomes increasingly important. Good visual skills affects your child’s ability to read, concentrate, and focus on objects across the classroom. And kids who have trouble seeing can struggle in school, which can affect their self-confidence and can cause behavioral issues.
In spite of all of these reasons for pediatric eye exams, the majority of children under the age of six have never had an eye exam. However, this doesn’t have to be your child. Contact our office in the Los Angeles area today to schedule an eye exam for your child.
