August is National Eye Month
As families prepare to send their children back to school we would like to remind you that this is the perfect time of year to encourage your patients to make annual eye exams part of their family’s fall routine. August is an excellent time to educate parents and seniors about common sight problems such as lazy eye and age-related eye diseases. Poor childhood vision can have serious consequences, affecting children’s learning and development in a variety of ways.
Parents want to know about eye conditions that could affect their child’s development. By ensuring you have the answers to common questions you not only educate your patients about their eye health but also encourage them to bring any concerns to their optometrist.
Our patients need to know the importance of taking care of their eyes from infancy through to old age. Lifelong eye care is a key part of what lets our patients live their best lives.
Fun Facts Made For Sharing
Sharing important information about children’s eyes not only encourages parents to make appointments for their children, but also creates opportunities for your content to be shared through social media and by word of mouth. Here are four infographics to share with your clients across your social media platform. Share your efforts to raise awareness with us by tagging us in your post @WestGroupe !
The Developmental Phases of Children’s Eyes
Babies
Newborn’s eyes are not fully developed. In fact, their entire first week is blob-like and largely greyscale, far from the beautiful mosaic of colors adults experience! Over the next few months, babies begin to see more color, sharper images, and faces. Their eyes may not be able to work simultaneously, but don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal! If the eyes never seem to work as a team, then it’s time to talk to an optometrist.
Toddlers
While children’s eyes develop, there are a number of methods to improve the connection between their eyes and their brain. Play games like “I spy” or read books to them as they follow along with the pictures. Throw and catch or rolling a ball back and forth to encourage hand-eye coordination. Puzzles and building blocks help them discover balance and coordination while colouring can hone their fine motor skills.
Middle School
By the time your child reaches middle school their eye movements have become more refined, giving their vision improved accuracy at all distances. Middle school is when many children begin to play sports, a feat that requires more refined hand-eye coordination and better object tracking skills.
High School
High school and university both require a large amount of reading, which puts additional stress on your child’s eyes. Visual accuracy is imperative as your child learn to focus on words and track them more and more quickly. It is important that parents continue to ensure their children are undergoing annual eye exams.
Myopia Indicators
It can be difficult to diagnose myopia in young children without regular eye exams. Young children may not realize that there is anything wrong with their vision, and even if they notice they may not tell their parents.
Once children understand the importance of good eyesight, they will be more confident and successful. Signs your child might be struggling with nearsightedness include:
- Rubbing their eyes a lot
- Sitting too close to the TV
- Clumsiness
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Frequent headaches
- Squinting or closing one eye
- Avoiding detailed work like reading, writing, or drawing
- Tilted their head to one side to focus
Seeing is Learning
According to studies, classroom learning is based 80% on vision. Children must be able to see the board, their books, and their own handwriting to succeed in school. Those who can’t see as well don’t absorb and retain as much information. This can cause children to fall behind in their studies, avoid sports, or act out. A regular eye exam is all it takes to ensure they are seeing school for all it’s worth.
Styled for Success with New Glasses
A new school year is super exciting for everyone. Check out styles SFK-200 for boys and SFK-198 for girls, K-623 for women and E-9173 for men. Ensuring kids see their best is important to their success in class, but it is also important for parents to keep their prescription up to date as well. Plus, shopping for new eyewear is fun, make it a family affair!
(Superflex Kids: SFK 196-3, SFK 189-2, SFK 192-3, SFK 187-3, SFK 188-2)
