Did you know that August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month? As your children prepare for the school year ahead, it’s important to test their vision. With the proper protective gear, children with vision problems can live comfortable lives and succeed in school. Not convinced your child needs an eye exam? Here are a few surprising statistics:
1 in 4 school-age children have an undiagnosed vision disorder
According to Prevent Blindness, 1 in 4 school-age children have an undiagnosed vision disorder. That’s right — you may have no idea your child is struggling with their vision! Being as young as they are, your child may not even realize their vision is an issue, especially if they were born with a vision disorder.
Before the age of 12, 80% of all learning is visual
From infancy into adolescence, your child uses their senses (primarily vision) to learn about the world around them (John Hopkins Magazine). Whether they’re exploring new places they’ve never seen or learning new concepts in the classroom, visual learning is such a huge part of their development. If your child is struggling with their vision, they can easily fall behind in school. Therefore, it is crucial that they receive routine eye exams.
“Lazy eyes” are the most common cause of vision loss in children
Does your child squint, close one eye, or tilt their head when reading? Do they have an eye that wanders inward or outward? Your child could have a lazy eye. Lazy eyes or amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children. In fact, 2% of children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years have amblyopia (Prevent Blindness). Lazy eyes aren’t always obvious, which is why eye exams are so important.
Looking for childcare this upcoming school year? The Kangaroo Forest provides a quality educational environment for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including Private Kindergarten and before and after school care. Learn more about our programs and schedule a tour of our facilities today!
