Autumn Is the Time for Kids' Eye Exams

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America's children are back in school; they've turned off the TV, set aside the Nintendo controllers (at least for awhile), and are back at the books.

And while parents may not have perceived any vision problems while the kids were watching Nickelodeon or blasting monsters in their favorite video games, problems may become apparent now that the kids have resumed reading, whether it's Dickens or Dick and Jane -- or even the latest Harry Potter. According to Prevent Blindness America(R), vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-age children.

"If a child is struggling in school, it may well be an indication of a vision problem," says Dr. Denis Humphreys, Director of Optometry for Vision Service Plan. He says parents should be alert for several indicators of possible vision problems, including complaints of frequent headaches, that "my eyes are tired," or "my eyes hurt."

And there are children with vision problems who have no such complaints or obvious symptoms.

Ideally, children should have regular professional eye exams beginning shortly after birth, at six months of age, before entering school and periodically throughout the school years, says Humphreys.

"Eye exams are comfortable; there's nothing painful, nothing to be afraid of. And especially with kids, we go through a lot of fun procedures," he says.

For those who can't afford eye care, VSP has created a special program. Sight for Students provides free eye exams and eyeglasses to children in need across the county. By reaching children at an early age and ensuring they can see clearly, the program positively impacts children's self-esteem and helps them succeed in school.

And don't forget that a poorly lit homework study area can be hard on the eyes. The American Optometric Association recommends that study areas be well-lighted and free from glare. For those children working on computers, the room lights should be lower, with a desk lamp to brighten books. Such reference materials should be placed as close to the computer screen as possible.

Vision Service Plan is the nation's leading eye care health plan. With more than 30 million members nationwide, more than one in 10 people in the United States rely on VSP for eye care health coverage.

SIGNS OF POTENTIAL VISION PROBLEMS
Possible signs of eye trouble in children include:

Behavior:

• Any tendency to squint, or move very close to the TV or computer Holds books too close to the face (around 14-15 inches is normal; 10-12
• inches may indicate cause for concern)
• Closes or covers one eye, favoring the other eye
• Rubs eyes excessively
• Blinks more than usual
• Use of fingers to trace lines in a book
• Short attention span while reading
• Murmuring or silent moving of lips while reading
• Homework takes hours and hours when it shouldn't
• Good in subjects such as math or science, but not in subjects that
• require a large amount of reading history or English
• Seems to read well but has spotty understanding; whereas if material is
read aloud child has excellent recall

Appearance:

• Crossed eyes
• Red-rimmed eyelids
• Inflamed eyes
• Recurring eye infections
• Watery eyes

Complaints:

• Eyes itch or burn
• Dizziness, headaches or nausea after working close-up
• Blurry vision, either close or far away
• Difficulty switching focus from far to near
• Frustrated and mad when trying to read or do homework

CONTACT: For more information about Sight for Students, visit http://www.sightforstudents.org. For more information about Vision Service Plan, visit http://www.vsp.com.

Aug. 8, 2000