As parents and teachers, we often assume that a child's ability to read the letter chart accurately is the only indicator of good eyesight. However, there is much more to vision than just acuity (identifying the letters on an eye chart). It is critical for parents to understand that a vision screening is only identifying 4% of a comprehensive eye exam, and poor vision can significantly impact a child's learning and overall development. In this blog post, we'll explore the different aspects of vision that our pediatric optometrists assess during a pediatric eye exam and explain why they matter.
Dr. Carl Garbus, FAAO, who is our optometrist at Amplify EyeCare Santa Clarita, explains that there are many different aspects of vision that can impact a child's ability to learn. For instance, the ability to focus, the coordination of both eyes, and the alignment of the eyes all play a crucial role in visual perception. During a pediatric eye exam in our Santa Clarita office, we assess these aspects to determine if a child has any vision-related issues that may interfere with learning.
One of the things we observe during an eye exam is a child's posture while reading or writing. If a child holds the reading material too close to their face or turns their head to use only one eye while writing, it may indicate that they are not using both eyes efficiently. This can cause strain and fatigue, leading to reduced reading comprehension and writing skills. Therefore, proper posture is crucial to maintain good visual habits.
Another essential aspect of vision is the ability to focus. During a pediatric eye exam, we assess a child's ability to change focus from near to far and vice versa. If a child has difficulty focusing, they may experience blurry vision, eye strain, and headaches. This can impact their reading comprehension and overall learning.
The coordination of both eyes is critical to binocular vision or the ability to see in three dimensions. If a child's eyes are not working together correctly, they may experience double vision or difficulty judging distances. This can impact their ability to read, write, and even play sports. We assess the alignment of a child's eyes to ensure they are working together as a team.
Children who have difficulty sitting still or staying focused on one thing may have vision-related issues. This is because they may be compensating for their vision problems, leading to fidgeting and restlessness. These behaviors may also indicate ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can significantly impact learning. We assess a child's ability to stay focused during a pediatric eye exam to determine if they may have ADHD or any other vision-related issues that impact their ability to maintain focus.
Take our online visual skills assessment to help identify if you or your child has a potential visual deficit that may be interfering with success in the classroom, work, or sports https://amplifyeyecaresantaclarita.com/about-us-practice-page/our-specialty/vision-therapy-specialty/vision-and-learning-quiz/
As we have seen, good eyesight is more than just reading the letter chart accurately. If you are a parent or teacher, make sure to schedule regular eye exams for your children or students. Our optometrists at Amplify EyeCare Santa Clarita provide comprehensive pediatric eye exams that assess all aspects of vision to ensure your child's success in the classroom and beyond. Contact us today at (661) 775-1860 to schedule a pediatric eye exam.
Parents seeking a comprehensive assessment of their child's visual health or those who have concerns regarding a possible underlying vision issue come to our clinic from various locations throughout California. As a premier provider of pediatric vision services, we are honored to serve patients from Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, and San Fernando Valley.
My eight year old daughter was terrified to go to the eye doctor for fear of her eyes being dilated. The doctor was SO KID friendly! He immediately made her comfortable by engaging her in conversation. It was a geat experience.
Dr. Garbus spent an amazing amount of time to solve my very complicated visual problems. Over the years he has continually achieved results beyond what others felt possible. He is always up to date on the latest science. He is great!
Family Vision Care Valencia makes it so easy. Staff is knows what they are doing and Dr. Garbus is thorough and kept me well informed during the exam.
I have been coming to Family Vision Center for almost 20 years. Dr. Garbus has been able to help my vision when other doctors could not. Now my kids see him as well. I highly recommend this office!
The Doctor is very good. I felt on this visit he seemed rushed. I had questions to ask him but he was already with another patient. I still do not know if my eyes are the same , worse, or better.
All the staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and has been for all the years I have been going there.
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