Eye Health and Your Child: Their Future is in Your Hands

Johnny’s disruptive and inattentive in class. He sits in the back of the class, throwing paper and making others laugh. You’re fed up with the calls about his behavior.

Have you considered that Johnny’s problem could be as simple as him not being able to see the blackboard? Sure it sounds ridiculous, but a May 2014 article by NBC News notes not being able to see the blackboard one of five reasons why kids drop out of school. The American Academy of Pediatrics names vision disorders as the fourth most common disability among children in the U.S.

Vision screenings should begin before a child starts school. If diagnosed early, the chances of recovering from an eye disease or ailment increases drastically. Some common eye ailments found in preschool and school age children include myopia, hyperopia, amblyopia, strabismus and, drooping lids, also known as ptosis. Our offices use the Enfant Pediatric VEP Vision Testing System. This system is non-invasive, child friendly and can measure visual defects in children as young as six months old.

Many of us have had a battle with pink eye, another eye condition. Most parents take their children to the doctor as soon as it appears. But what if your child came home with a lump on the edge of their eyelid (commonly called a stye). Would you know what to do?

Does your child play sports? Eye injury possibilities are as prevalent as concussions. Boston Children’s Hospital says eye injuries range from corneal abrasions to bruising and foreign bodies. Other important facts the hospital wants you to consider:

• Males make up three-quarters of reported eye injuries
• One-half of eye injuries occur in the home
• One-third of the estimated 2.4 million eye injuries in the United States are people 17 and younger

So, a new school year is approaching. You’ve scheduled your child’s annual physical and now have questions about your child’s eye health. We’re here to help. Give us a call at (910) 486-5437.