Several studies tend to show that there is a direct link between visual difficulties and dropping out of school. It makes sense if you think that 80% of children's learning is done through their vision. In stores, a lot of parents are asking us many questions about the eye health of their children.
When should I have my child's vision examined?
It is recommended that the vision of a child, who has no apparent signs of having any particular problems, be examined according to the following schedule:
-Around the age of 6 months
-Around the age of 3
-Before entering school (4-5 years old)
-Every year, from 6 to adult age
What if my child does not complain?
Children may complain if they have itchy or burning eyes, but they will rarely complain about not seeing well. Why? Because the child has been used to seeing this way all his life, so for him, it's normal to see this way! As his vision has a very important role to play in his learning, do not wait for your child to tell you that he has trouble seeing before booking an appointment with an optometrist.
My child has already had eye exams, and he sees well
Yes, but no. Your child's eyes will develop until he becomes an adult, so it is likely that his vision will continue to change until he will be in charge of taking care of his eye health himself! The fact that his vision is good while he is at the elementary level does not mean that his vision will stay the same throughout high school. It is important to plan an eye exam every year for your child. Especially since adolescence is a period when his vision will be more solicited. The sight of your child is really likely to change. =
If we take myopia, for example, we see that it appears earlier in the development of the child. The average age has gone from 10-11 years to 8-9 years in the last twenty years. Although it depends on several factors, myopia and its progression are largely influenced by school work and the high solicitation of close vision. It has even been proven that myopia progresses more rapidly during school months than in summer.
What concrete actions can I take everyday to protect the visual health of my child?
-Transmit the habit of protecting his eyes when he plays outside. Like those of adults, children's eyes must be protected from the sun, especially as they are more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. When your child goes outdoors, remind him to take his sunglasses with him.
-Limit the use of computer or tablet. Plan frequent breaks when using them. When they are on the tablet or computer, also make sure that there is good ambient lighting and if possible, ensure that they keep a distance of 55 to 65 cm between their face and the screen.
-Increase physical activities, outside! Several studies have shown that this is a way of reducing the risk of myopia development or progression.
Despite all the prevention, only 1 in 3 children will be examined by an optometrist before his first school year.
What if together, we changed this statistic? From the age of 3, you can make an appointment with an optometrist to make sure that your child sees properly. Because after all, his learning begins well before his first day of school!
Go to an IRIS store near you to learn more!
