Dr. Bruce Lidkea
Dear editor:
As parents, we have many things to worry about with our children, especially when it comes time for them to start school. Do they have enough pencils, paper, and the right-sized shoes?
We also have to be concerned about their health. We make sure they get their mandatory immunization shots and their regular trips to the dentist.
But have you considered the health of your child’s vision? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t. You are not alone. Vision may not be top of mind for most parents because the changes to your child’s eyes aren’t so obvious. Your child’s eyes don’t fall out like teeth, or change like clothing sizes.
But the eyes do develop and change just like everything else.
Now your next thought might be: my child would have told me if they couldn’t see well. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Young children often assume that everyone sees the way they do because they have no way to compare, therefore, no reason to complain to their parents.
As many as one child in six has a vision problem that requires some form of correction.
The good news is it’s never too late to have your child’s eyes examined. Eye examinations by optometrists are covered under provincial health insurance (OHIP) annually until a child is 19 years of age. The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends a child’s first examination take place at around six months of age, and then again at age three before they begin school.
The child may be seen annually thereafter, or as recommended by the optometrist, depending on the health of the child’s vision.
A comprehensive eye examination is more than just reading letters on a chart or a quick snap of a handheld screening tool. Optometrists are highly-trained eye doctors who use a variety of tests to develop their diagnoses to ensure the eyes are healthy, seeing well, and working together.
And as your child can’t read yet, don’t worry. Their eyes still can be examined.
Your child’s ability to see greatly impacts your child’s learning and development both in school, on the playground, and at home. Recent studies have shown that uncorrected vision problems directly impact the cognitive abilities of children as young as pre-school age.
Sometimes children who struggle in school are diagnosed with a learning disability when, in fact, they just need a pair of glasses. Improved vision can directly improve reading ability, hand-eye co-ordination, and even behaviour and self-esteem.
Once corrected, improvements can be seen in children in as little as six weeks according to a recent study in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
For more information on children’s vision or to find an optometrist near you, visit the Ontario Association of Optometrists’ website at www.eyecareoao.com or call 1-800-540-3837.
Optometrists are the primary providers of eye health and vision care in Ontario. The Ontario Association of Optometrists is the voluntary professional organization that creates the vision and articulates the voice of more than 1,200 registered optometrists in Ontario.
Signed,
Dr. Bruce Lidkea
Fort Frances, Ont.
