A School or Pediatrician’s Vision Screening is Not a Substitute for a Thorough Eye Examination.

A good education for your child means good schools, good teachers and good vision.  A childs eyes are constantly in use in the classroom and at play.  When his or her eyes are not functioning properly, learning and participation in recreational activities will suffer.

The basic skills your child needs for school are:

• Near Vision: The ability to see clearly and comfortably at 10-13 inches.
• Distance Vision: The ability to see clearly and comfortably beyond arms reach.
• Binocular Coordination: The ability to use both eyes together.
• Eye Movement Skills: The ability to move the eyes accurately and shift them quickly from one object to another.
• Focusing Skills: The ability to keep both eyes accurately focused at the proper distance and to change focus quickly.
• Peripheral Vision: The ability to be aware of things located to the side while looking straight ahead.
• Eye/Hand Coordination: The ability to use the hands and eyes together.

If any of these vision skills are lacking or not functioning properly with your child,it could lead to headaches, fatigue and other eyestrain problems.

Be sure to tell your Vision Source doctor if your child frequently:

• Loses their place while reading.
• Avoids close work.
• Holds reading material closer.
• Tends to rub their eyes.
• Has headaches.
• Turns or tilts head to use one eye.
• Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing.
• Uses finger to maintain place while reading.
• Omits or confuses small words when reading.
• Consistently performs below average.

Since vision problems can often occur without you or your child noticing them,your child should see a Vision Source doctor of optometry every year.