Monitoring eye development is extremely important, especially at a young age. Poor eye health can result in a number of challenges at school, academically and socially. Before the start of the school year begins in Ontario, it’s a good idea to book an eye exam for kids at a trusted and experienced optometrist near you. This allows you to address vision problems and potential eye health needs before they inhibit your child’s performance and experience at school. For a professional eye exam for your child and the entire family, contact Dr. Brian Abrams, an experienced optometrist in Vaughan.
Here are some of the reasons you should book an eye exam before the start of the school year.
Helping Children When They Can’t Speak Up
Younger children do not often vocalize when they are having issues with school or their health. Parents, teachers, and other guardians usually rely on each other to pick up on signs and patterns that may be medical concerns that need addressing. As summer comes to an end, a preventive eye exam is a great way to put your child in front of a well-known and experienced optometrist in Vaughan like Dr. Brian Abrams, who can take a comprehensive look at your child’s vision and eye health to ensure they are off to the right start.
Early Detection
Booking your child’s eye exam before school starts will help you catch any vision problems early. Children conduct a lot of reading and writing in school, and having healthy eyesight is absolutely vital. The most common vision problems seen among children are myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and amblyopia.
- Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness, this issue refers to a condition that causes children to struggle with seeing objects that are far away
- Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, this issue refers to a condition that causes children to struggle with seeing objects up close, making it difficult to read.
- Astigmatism: Refers to when the shape of a child’s eye is not perfectly round, which results in vision error regardless of the distance.
- Amblyopia: Also known as a lazy eye, this issue refers to a condition that causes one eye to become weaker than the other, which can cause the vision in one eye to worsen over time.
Early diagnosis is crucial in treating these conditions effectively. To get started, book your visit with an eye doctor near you.
Eye Exams for Academic Performance
Leaving eye issues undiagnosed and untreated can result in challenges with basic tasks like reading and writing, which can ultimately impact performance in school, grades, and the overall ability to consume and understand the material being taught. It may be difficult for children to focus on their school tasks when they are occupied with trying to see. Kids need to read books, write assignments, and look at presentations at the front of the classroom. If they cannot see and struggle to vocalize this, they can quickly stay caught up in school. In many cases, the solution is as simple as prescription glasses, which connect students to the classroom when they experience vision changes. If there are more serious eye health problems or more complex conditions that need treatment, eye exams can help detect that, too, so your eye doctor can start treatment and build long-term solutions.
Vision for Extracurricular Activities
Although academics are important, extracurricular activities are a large part of school as well. If your child participates in sports, dance or performance-related activities, their vision should be healthy. Unaddressed visual problems can impact their performance and depth perception, which is essential in order to excel in sports and physical activities. Having good vision is vital in order for children to remain physically safe as well. Getting eye exams can help ensure that your child can be an active participant in extracurricular activities, from sports to after-school activities and clubs.
Book Back to School Eye Exams in Vaughan
Help your child start the year off with the best foot forward with an eye exam for kids. Dr. Brian Abrams is an experienced optometrist in Vaughan who offers specialized eye exams for children.