Health & Wellness

Insure Your Child’s Achievement-Have Their Vision Check!
By Dr. Rebecca Sims

School days are here again! What better time to insure your child is achieving the best possible vision than at the start of a new school year.

Vision exams are necessary for children in their formative years. Doctors recommend a complete, professional eye examination at 6 months of age, just before entering school, and annually throughout the next 12 school years. This is the recommendation for children who display normal eye health. Certainly, prompt evaluation and complete care is even more important for those with a family history of eye disease or those presenting with new symptoms or complaints.

Many schools and pediatricians offer vision screenings to test for gross abnormalities. Such screenings are not meant to replace complete examinations, but are meant to identify patients with ocular conditions warranting further evaluation and referral.

One in four students will have some type of eye or vision problem. Many of these will remain undetected until permanent damage has occurred. Compromised vision can affect a child’s performance in school – both academically and behaviorally.

Some children will voice complaints about their eyes or vision, while others exhibit new habits or behaviors indicating a vision change. Occasionally, parents are able to see the problem – red, swollen eyes, squinting or rubbing the eyes, or tilting the face or head. Remember, some ocular conditions show no signs, symptoms, or pain. Hence, routine examinations often identify problems that were never suspected.

Do not delay, as time does pass quickly. Schedule a complete eye exam for your child. A qualified eye care provider can determine if your child is performing with the best possible vision.

Rebecca J. Sims, O.D., is a certified optometric physician who practices locally at Florida Eye Center. She is a member of the American, Florida, and Pinellas County Optometric Associations. She is active with the American Diabetes Association and is team optometrist for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Visit www.FloridaEyeCenters.com for more information.