Include Eye Exam in Back-to-School Prep

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Include Eye Exam in Back-to-School Prep
Dr. Phillip L. Carney, Jr.

In preparing for the new school year, be sure that your child’s vision is up to date.  Undetected vision problems can interfere with reading and overall learning ability.  During the crucial developmental years (before age 9), the eyes are still developing and many underlying problems can go unnoticed.  Making sure the child can see the board and other visual teaching materials is crucial to maximize their learning potential.  Eye teaming, or tracking, is essential for reading and copying exercises from the board to paper, and for sports and activities.  Good binocular vision and depth perception are important in making sure the child is using both eyes together and lessens the chance for developing a “lazy” eye.  Other tests performed during an eye exam assess the overall health of the eyes.

Vision screenings and simply reading the eye chart at the pediatrician’s office may leave some vision problems undetected.  If not sooner, comprehensive eye exams should begin before the child beings the first grade, and should continue every 1-2 years depending on the visual needs of the child.

Dr. Carney is available by appointment for all your back-to-school eye care needs at Welch/Wallace Laser Center by calling (318) 448-0221.