Vision screening is a very important way to identify vision problems. During an exam the doctor looks for eye disease and checks to see if the eyes are working properly. Children with a family history of childhood vision problems are more likely to have eye problems.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children have their eyes checked by a pediatrician at the following ages:
NewbornAll babies should have their eyes checked for infections, defects, cataracts, or glaucoma before leaving the hospital. This is especially true for premature babies, babies who were given oxygen for an extended period, and babies with multiple medical problems.
By 6 Months of AgeAs part of each well-child visit, eye health, vision development, and alignment of the eyes should be checked.
At 3 to 4 Years of Age
Eyes and vision should be checked for any abnormalities that may cause problems with later development.
At 5 Years of Age and OlderVision in each eye should be checked separately every year. If a problem is found during routine eye exams, your child's doctor may have your child see a pediatric ophthalmologist. A pediatric ophthalmologist is an eye doctor trained and experienced in the care of children's eye problems.
Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are quite common in childhood years and have many causes. The eyes are often suspected but are almost never the cause of learning problems. Vision therapy will not improve a learning disability. Your child's doctor may refer your child for a thorough evaluation by an educational specialist to find the cause.
Parents should be aware of signs which may indicate that their child has vision problems, including:
An appointment with an ophthalmologist, pediatrician, or family physician is recommended. Eye exams may also be obtained through school programs, vision testing programs, clubs, or from volunteer organizations.
Common Childhood Eye Problems
Refractive errors
Refractive errors are eye conditions that can cause eye strain or a decrease in vision. They are corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses. Hyperopia (farsightedness or the inability to focus on objects at close range) can cause children to cross their eyes. Myopia (nearsightedness or the inability to see clearly at a distance] is uncommon before a child reaches fourth grade.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia, or "lazy eye," occurs when vision develops abnormally during early childhood. It can result from a number of underlying causes and is often difficult to detect. Glasses or eye-strengthening patches are used for treatment, which is most effective in preventing loss of vision when initiated at a very early age.
Strabismus
Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes, which causes them to point in different directions. Strabismus is a common condition among children and affects about 4% of all children in the U.S. Glasses or an eye patch are also used to treat strabismus, but surgery may be required in some cases.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology Answers Your Questions About Learning Disabilities
Q: How can I tell if my child has a learning disability?
A: In the United States, approximately 3.4 million children younger than 13 years old have learning disabilities. Signs that may indicate your child has a learning disability include difficulty, avoidance, or extreme dislike of reading; poor handwriting; slow writing speed; difficulty with math; not being able to put information in order; difficulty understanding abstract concepts; memory problems; trouble following instructions or remembering words. It is not unusual for a child to have multiple learning disabilities.
Children with learning disabilities may become frustrated, lose interest in school work, and try to avoid difficult tasks. Personality and behavioral problems may develop due to loss of self-esteem. Watch for signs of withdrawal, anxiety, depression or aggression. Remember that children with learning disabilities need love, understanding, and reassurance that they will do fine in life.
Q: Is a learning disability, such as dyslexia, considered an eye problem?
A: No. Learning disabilities are not problems of the eye or vision. Dyslexia is a serious reading disability that involves switching around letters and words. The eyes transmit visual signals to the brain. The brain determines what it has seen. Dyslexia is only one of several learning disorders that can involve reading, writing, speaking, concentrating, listening and doing math. Since it has been demonstrated that dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities stem from the central nervous system, treatment can be complex.
Q: Who can help my child with his learning disabilities?
A: First, the exact learning disability needs to be identified through school testing or a visit to a physician.
Teachers, tutors, and physicians can all help identify and treat learning disabilities. Educators play key roles in offering early diagnosis and educational follow-up. Constant communication with your child is vital, to assist him or her in continuing educational growth, to help build self- esteem, and to offer reassurance.
Q: I've been told that eye exercises and special prescription glasses are solutions to helping my child overcome his learning disability. Are these treatments recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology?
A: No, the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend these treatments, because no research proves their effectiveness. Eyes are used for vision, not comprehension. No scientific or medical evidence supports claims that academic abilities of dyslexic or learning disabled children can be improved with special glasses or eye exercises.
Q: How much money should a parent spend on vision therapy to correct a child's learning disabilities?
A: Absolutely none! It is often difficult for parents to accept the fact that their child might suffer from a learning disability. Often, out of concern for their child's well-being, parents go to great lengths to provide vision therapy for their children, including special diets, vitamins, sugar restriction, eye exercises or vision training. After spending valuable time, and often excessive money, on vision therapies, the learning disability remains.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye and vision care. In diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, ophthalmologists provide comprehensive eye exams, prescribe and administer corrective lenses and medicine, and perform surgery. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons.
Resources
ADD/ADHD - An Attention Deficit Disorder web site explains how certain vision disorders are sometimes mistaken for ADD or ADHD.
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Children’s Vision Information Network - raising public awareness on the impact vision has on learning and attention.
Eye Can Learn - Fun site with great eye exercises to promote good visual health.
Healthy Children Radio: A Guide to Your Child's Vision (Audio)Pediatric ophthalmologist David B. Granet, MD, FACS, FAAP, FAAO, comes on the show to give a a comprehensive guide to your child's vision, the eye tests required for school, and why it's important to detect potential problems with your child's vision as early as possible.
Dr. Granet is director of the Abraham Ratner Children's Eye Center and is the chair-elect of the executive committee of the AAP Section on Opthalmology.
Segment 1: A Guide To Your Child's Vision
Segment 2: Vision Tests: Catching Potential Problems Early
Resources:
InfantSEE™ - free public health program for children during their first year of life.
Optometrists Network - Good information source on children's visual health, vision disorders, and vision therapy.
Prevent Blindness America - nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care.
Vision Therapy - Frequently asked questions about vision therapy.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children have their eyes checked by a pediatrician at the following ages:
NewbornAll babies should have their eyes checked for infections, defects, cataracts, or glaucoma before leaving the hospital. This is especially true for premature babies, babies who were given oxygen for an extended period, and babies with multiple medical problems.
By 6 Months of AgeAs part of each well-child visit, eye health, vision development, and alignment of the eyes should be checked.
At 3 to 4 Years of Age
Eyes and vision should be checked for any abnormalities that may cause problems with later development.
At 5 Years of Age and OlderVision in each eye should be checked separately every year. If a problem is found during routine eye exams, your child's doctor may have your child see a pediatric ophthalmologist. A pediatric ophthalmologist is an eye doctor trained and experienced in the care of children's eye problems.
Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are quite common in childhood years and have many causes. The eyes are often suspected but are almost never the cause of learning problems. Vision therapy will not improve a learning disability. Your child's doctor may refer your child for a thorough evaluation by an educational specialist to find the cause.
Parents should be aware of signs which may indicate that their child has vision problems, including:
- wandering or crossed eyes
- a family history of childhood vision problems
- disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects
- squinting or turning the head in an unusual manner while watching television
An appointment with an ophthalmologist, pediatrician, or family physician is recommended. Eye exams may also be obtained through school programs, vision testing programs, clubs, or from volunteer organizations.
Common Childhood Eye Problems
Refractive errors
Refractive errors are eye conditions that can cause eye strain or a decrease in vision. They are corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses. Hyperopia (farsightedness or the inability to focus on objects at close range) can cause children to cross their eyes. Myopia (nearsightedness or the inability to see clearly at a distance] is uncommon before a child reaches fourth grade.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia, or "lazy eye," occurs when vision develops abnormally during early childhood. It can result from a number of underlying causes and is often difficult to detect. Glasses or eye-strengthening patches are used for treatment, which is most effective in preventing loss of vision when initiated at a very early age.
Strabismus
Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes, which causes them to point in different directions. Strabismus is a common condition among children and affects about 4% of all children in the U.S. Glasses or an eye patch are also used to treat strabismus, but surgery may be required in some cases.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology Answers Your Questions About Learning Disabilities
Q: How can I tell if my child has a learning disability?
A: In the United States, approximately 3.4 million children younger than 13 years old have learning disabilities. Signs that may indicate your child has a learning disability include difficulty, avoidance, or extreme dislike of reading; poor handwriting; slow writing speed; difficulty with math; not being able to put information in order; difficulty understanding abstract concepts; memory problems; trouble following instructions or remembering words. It is not unusual for a child to have multiple learning disabilities.
Children with learning disabilities may become frustrated, lose interest in school work, and try to avoid difficult tasks. Personality and behavioral problems may develop due to loss of self-esteem. Watch for signs of withdrawal, anxiety, depression or aggression. Remember that children with learning disabilities need love, understanding, and reassurance that they will do fine in life.
Q: Is a learning disability, such as dyslexia, considered an eye problem?
A: No. Learning disabilities are not problems of the eye or vision. Dyslexia is a serious reading disability that involves switching around letters and words. The eyes transmit visual signals to the brain. The brain determines what it has seen. Dyslexia is only one of several learning disorders that can involve reading, writing, speaking, concentrating, listening and doing math. Since it has been demonstrated that dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities stem from the central nervous system, treatment can be complex.
Q: Who can help my child with his learning disabilities?
A: First, the exact learning disability needs to be identified through school testing or a visit to a physician.
Teachers, tutors, and physicians can all help identify and treat learning disabilities. Educators play key roles in offering early diagnosis and educational follow-up. Constant communication with your child is vital, to assist him or her in continuing educational growth, to help build self- esteem, and to offer reassurance.
Q: I've been told that eye exercises and special prescription glasses are solutions to helping my child overcome his learning disability. Are these treatments recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology?
A: No, the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend these treatments, because no research proves their effectiveness. Eyes are used for vision, not comprehension. No scientific or medical evidence supports claims that academic abilities of dyslexic or learning disabled children can be improved with special glasses or eye exercises.
Q: How much money should a parent spend on vision therapy to correct a child's learning disabilities?
A: Absolutely none! It is often difficult for parents to accept the fact that their child might suffer from a learning disability. Often, out of concern for their child's well-being, parents go to great lengths to provide vision therapy for their children, including special diets, vitamins, sugar restriction, eye exercises or vision training. After spending valuable time, and often excessive money, on vision therapies, the learning disability remains.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye and vision care. In diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, ophthalmologists provide comprehensive eye exams, prescribe and administer corrective lenses and medicine, and perform surgery. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons.
Resources
ADD/ADHD - An Attention Deficit Disorder web site explains how certain vision disorders are sometimes mistaken for ADD or ADHD.
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Children’s Vision Information Network - raising public awareness on the impact vision has on learning and attention.
Eye Can Learn - Fun site with great eye exercises to promote good visual health.
Healthy Children Radio: A Guide to Your Child's Vision (Audio)Pediatric ophthalmologist David B. Granet, MD, FACS, FAAP, FAAO, comes on the show to give a a comprehensive guide to your child's vision, the eye tests required for school, and why it's important to detect potential problems with your child's vision as early as possible.
Dr. Granet is director of the Abraham Ratner Children's Eye Center and is the chair-elect of the executive committee of the AAP Section on Opthalmology.
Segment 1: A Guide To Your Child's Vision
Segment 2: Vision Tests: Catching Potential Problems Early
Resources:
InfantSEE™ - free public health program for children during their first year of life.
Optometrists Network - Good information source on children's visual health, vision disorders, and vision therapy.
Prevent Blindness America - nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care.
Vision Therapy - Frequently asked questions about vision therapy.