Are Your Child’s Eyes Ready For The New School Year?

Going back to school can be full of challenges: the need to sit still in a classroom, to master new material, and to make new friends.

The one thing your child shouldn’t have to worry about is having good vision.

We know how important good vision is for learning and what a difference healthy visual skills can make in a child’s academic success.

Start your child off on the right foot and add “comprehensive eye exam at Laguna Eyes Optometry” to the top of your back-to-school checklist.

How Does Vision Affect Learning?

Vision affects learning in so many ways.

You can imagine how frustrating it would be for your child to sit in class but be unable to clearly see the teacher’s writing on the board due to poor eyesight. But have you ever considered what it’s like to have other types of vision problems that can also make classroom learning difficult?

Poor visual skills can make it challenging for a child’s eyes to focus and work together as a team. These deficits can affect a child’s ability to read, do math problems, concentrate and even socialize. The resulting frustration can impact their behavior and self-esteem. After all, 80% of classroom learning is vision-based.

Healthy vision is also essential for activities outside the classroom, like sports and other extracurriculars.

What If My Child Is Nearsighted?

Myopia (nearsightedness), is one of the most common vision problems found in children today. In fact, experts are calling it the ‘myopia epidemic’ due to growing rates of nearsightedness in school-age children.

Parents often ask us what can be done to slow or even halt myopia. Fortunately, childhood myopia can be managed to minimize the damaging effects of the condition, and slow its progression.

Is Childhood Myopia Reversible?

Although myopia isn’t curable or reversible, it can be successfully managed to slow and even stop its progression.

Research shows that children with higher levels of myopia have a significantly greater chance of developing sight-threatening eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration than children with low/mild myopia. That’s why keeping your child’s prescription as low as possible is so important.

Myopia management helps prevent the eyeball from growing longer, which is a root cause of myopia.

After a thorough eye exam, your optometrist will customize a treatment plan to suit your child’s eyes and lifestyle, depending on their level of myopia and age.

After adhering to the program for some time, you’ll notice your child’s prescription begin to stabilize.

Pediatric Eye Care in Laguna Eyes Optometry

Whether it’s a back-to-school eye exam, or a myopia management consultation, Laguna Eyes Optometry has got you covered.

We provide a wide range of pediatric eye care services to keep your child’s eyes happy and healthy — the foundation of academic success!

To schedule your child’s appointment, call Laguna Eyes Optometry in Laguna Beach today.

Q:How can you tell if a child is ready for contact lenses?

• A:If your child wears glasses, there usually comes a time when they ask (beg) for contact lenses. You can tell that your child may be ready for contact lenses if they show interest in wearing them, are hygiene-conscious, do chores without being asked repeatedly and takes good care of their glasses. We’d be happy to discuss whether your child is a good candidate for contact lenses to help you make an informed decision.

Q: What’s involved in a pediatric eye exam?

• A:The internal and external health of the eye is assessed during a pediatric eye exam, as well as their visual health. The optometrist will test visual skills like eye movement, tracking abilities, eye teaming, color vision, depth perception, peripheral awareness, eye focusing and visual acuity. Be sure to bring your child in annually for a comprehensive eye exam to make sure their eyes and vision are developing normally. The earlier an eye problem is caught, the higher the chances of successful treatment. And remember, school vision screenings are no substitute for the care and expertise of a pediatric optometrist.

Quality Frames For Prescription Eyeglasses & Computer Glasses. Visit Laguna Eyes Optometry for an eye exam and eyeglasses that match your style.