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With back to school excitement right around the corner, remember how important it is to get your children’s vision checked! Detecting vision problems, mild or severe, can be difficult in children. Ensuring that their vision is checked and ready ensures that every child can enter a classroom feeling confident and ready to learn. Learning is 70 percent visual, so it important that young children don’t start off behind in school. Most states require an eye exam before school starts, but it is important to get your exam scheduled regardless of your particular state’s requirements!

Why are eye exams required?

For children to succeed in an educational environment, their vision needs to be checked and corrected if necessary. As a child grows, their vision changes along with their bodies. Within a year, and child’s vision can change immensely. Eyesight develops rapidly after birth, with focus and eye movement developing before all other aspects within in the first six months. One of the most difficult issues with children and vision is that the signs of vision impairment can be very subtle and hard to notice. What may seem like a simple headache for a child could be the result of strained vision.

Where do I take my child to have their eye exam?

Some families go to their pediatrician, but it is recommended to see an optometrist since eyes are their specialty. Although only a small percentage of children have severe eye problems, it’s nice to know what warning signs to look out for.

Warning Signs of Vision Problems in Children:

  • Headaches or cross-eyed when reading
  • Easily distracted or Restless
  • Drop in grades
  • Tilts head or squints to read
  • Close proximity to TV, reading material or computer screens
  • Covering of one eye to see or read
  • Avoids computer screens due to eye pain
  • Light sensitivity/frequent tearing of eyes
  • Constant rubbing of eyes
  • Guides their reading with finger or bookmark
  • Loses place frequently while reading

If you’ve noticed your child displaying any of these symptoms or have had a child complain about having one of these symptoms, call Drs. Gibson, Gibson & Moore at (806) 747-1635 to set up your child’s eye appointment today!

Drs. Gibson, Gibson & Moore

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