October is Children's Vision Month
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
The following is sponsored by Doctors of Optometry.
Picture this: It's 1984 and I'm sitting at my desk at the very back of the classroom. The teacher has just asked the class to copy what she had written on the board into our writing books. For some reason, I cannot clearly distinguish the words. The letters appear to be blurry. I squint. I lean forward. It takes me longer than most but I manage to complete the simple task. A few days later, my teacher suggests that I get my eyes checked, that perhaps I needed glasses. Me? Glasses? Those are for old people, I thought. I was only six.
If it hadn't been for my Grade 1 teacher, I don't think I
would have thought anything was wrong with my vision. I simply attributed it to
the fact that I was sitting far away from the blackboard. Even while playing in
the school yard looking for my friends, it was difficult to identify them from
far away but surely it was due to the distance between us. The closer we were
to each other, the clearer their facial features became. At home, it was a
matter of plopping myself directly in front of the television set and I
wouldn't have any problems, other than getting yelled at for sitting too
closely. It wasn't until I tried on my first tiny pair of glasses that I was
able see the world in a whole new way.
This month is Children’s Vision Month and, along with Doctors
of Optometry, I would like to stress the importance of taking your school-aged
children between ages of 3-12 to a Doctor of Optometry to assess their vision
and overall eye health. Our paediatrician was very pro-active in this regard
and recommended a Doctor of Optometry once my daughter had turned three. Since,
as a mom, I cannot determine 100% if my children have healthy eyes, I felt
relieved knowing that, based on their eye exam, my children's eyes were
healthy. I experienced first hand how vision problems can affect one's learning and
would like to avoid similar struggles where my kids are concerned.
The fact is 1 in 4 school-age children has a vision problem.
This is a staggering statistic, especially when coupled with the fact that 80%
of learning is based on vision. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that vision
problems can prevent children from reaching their full potential. Furthermore,
many children are unaware that they may be experiencing vision difficulties
because they may simply assume everyone sees the way they do. A comprehensive
eye exam provides the full assurance of vision and eye health, unlike a simple
eye-chart test or a school vision screening.
During Children’s Vision Month, it is important to recall
the following recommendation:
Doctors of Optometry recommend infants have their first eye examination between six and nine months of age. Children should have at least one eye exam between the ages of two and five, and yearly after starting school to ensure optimal vision and development.
As a teacher of over 200 students, I have witnessed on many
occasions the difficulties experienced by students with vision problems. I can
empathize with them and make accommodations for them but at the end of the day,
I am not a Doctor of Optometry. Let’s do
our children a favour and get their eyes examined regularly. Trust me. It could
make a world of difference.
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9 COMMENTS
This was interesting to read I used to think I didn't need glasses either, boy was I wrong.
ReplyDeleteI tried to ignore it during my pre-teen years but it came back to haunt me once I applied for my driver's license. :)
DeleteI have regularily brought my children for eye exams. Because we were so diligent our youngest son sees very well, if we had not, his vision would be terrible.
ReplyDeleteDoes your son where glasses?
Deleteexcellent post thank you. i take my kids yearly
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angie. Glad to hear!
DeleteThanks for blogging about this. I have been putting off having my daughter's eyesight checked for years, until recently she told me she couldn't read the sign in a restaurant. I let her try with my glasses and was shocked when she said she could see the writing clearly! I have an apt. booked for next week! I hope everything is okay, but it is important not to put this task off for ALL kids!
ReplyDeleteOne in four is a lot higher than I had thought. It's so important to get regular eye exams for good health.
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty lucky the children's eyes and ears are tested via the school every few grades. It does help. We had no idea our daughter needed glasses until she was tested in SK. We now try to stay on top of annual appointments, but honestly, life moves so fast sometimes we can forget. We've now got on track by testing every July and having glasses if needed by the end of August for school. Glasses are so needed and so expensive, all the programs for children are just wonderful, but not enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to leave a comment here on Toronto Teacher Mom. Hope you have a great day!