The first day of the 2018-2019 school year is just around the corner and Danny Ngo, OD, an optometrist at the Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, wants to encourage parents to add their child’s vision health to their back-to-school checklist.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 15 percent of preschool children get an eye exam and less than 22 percent receive vision screening.
Good vision is essential for a student’s academic success, physical development and overall well-being. When a child is having vision problems, he or she is more likely to have trouble concentrating, issues completing schoolwork, and may suffer headaches that can also impact mood.
Many vision problems have no obvious symptoms or signs. Furthermore, children often are not able to articulate that they are having vision problems, even if they exist. So, no matter the child’s age, it’s important for parents to take notice of possible issues. Here are some tips to help parents spot eye problems in children:
Fortunately, there are many things parents can do to help protect their child’s vision health:
Remember that your child’s vision is an important developmental tool. Talk to your child’s pediatrician about his or her vision health. To learn more about your child’s vision health, please visit kp.org.