Does Your Child Need Glasses?
It takes more than new pencils, lunchboxes and notebooks to assure that your kids have the right tools to succeed in school.
The most important school supply is all in the eyes — and many kids are in school right now with undetected weakening eye sight.
The following are the facts from the Vision Council of America as to why early detection is critical:
- One in four children has a vision problem that can interfere with education
- 80 percent of what we learn is through our visual system
- Some children may be labeled "learning disabled" or "disruptive" or even diagnosed with ADHD when they may actually have an undetected vision problem
- Simple screenings only identify 5 percent of vision problems in children
Here are the warning signs of a vision problem in your child, according to Rene Soltis of the Vision Council of America.
- Squinting, closing or covering one eye
- Tilting head to one side
- Rubbing eyes repeatedly
- Using a finger as a place-mark while reading
- Complaints of headaches when reading or writing
- Dislike or avoidance of close work
Vision screenings should not take the place of comprehensive eye exams. A new National Institutes of Health study found that vision screenings in schools and pediatricians offices miss more than 50 percent of children with a vision problem. An eye exam by an eye doctor is the best way to catch a vision problem.
If your child needs eyewear, Soltz recommends making sure the child plays an active role in selecting it. If children don't like their glasses, they won't wear them, she warns. Though parents look for durability and value, children look for style, color and comfort.
Here are some fitting tips:
- Make sure the glasses fit their proportions now. Eyewear is not like a winter coat or a pair of shoes that they will grow into. Proper fit decreases slippage and assures the child is getting the accurate benefit of the prescription.
- Lenses should be centered over the eyes
- The weight of the eyewear should be distributed evenly on the bridge
- Temples should fit parallel to the side of the face
- Earpieces should gently bend around the ear with minimum pressure
- A well-fit pair of glasses assures that the child gets the exact benefit of the prescription the Dr. writes. If the glasses slide down or are not centered, the child may experience either more or less of the prescribed power and/or distorted images
Some features that can add to comfort, durability and proper fit are:
Frames
Lenses
Eyewear Care:
- As for caring for eyewear, "When they're not on their face, make sure they're in the case!" Soltz tells The Early Show. Hard cases help keep children's glasses in shape when tossed in the bottom of a book-bag or locker.
- Use two hands to take glasses on and off to minimize unnecessary stretching.
- Keep them clean. Use a recommended cleaning solution and a soft cloth to avoid scratching the lenses.
- Stop by your eye care professionals' office for regular tune-ups to assure they maintain a proper fit.
As far as contacts, the "right age" varies.
"The most important thing to consider relating to contacts and kids is the child really has to want them," Soltz says. "The decision needs to be child-driven. If a child is not motivated to get them they won't have success in learning how to insert and remove them and care for them.
"A parent should also understand that with contacts comes responsibility, so they should assess the child's level of maturity. Does the child currently take ownership and interest in their personal hygiene? How about their general organization and neatness? If they are somewhat irresponsible in these areas, it could be best to hold off until they show more mature habits."
For more information on children's vision and eyewear visit, www.checkyearly.com or www.eyecessorize.com.