The first day of school is right around the corner and many parents have already begun tackling their list of back-to-school to-do’s: clothes shopping, scheduling appointments for physicals and immunizations and trips to the store to purchase school supplies for the classroom. You may need to add one more item to your checklist – a visit to the optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.
Illinois law requires comprehensive eye exams for all children entering kindergarten or those enrolling in public, private or parochial school for the first time. The law states that, “an eye examination shall at minimum include history, visual acuity, subjective refraction to best visual acuity near and far, internal and external examinations, and a glaucoma evaluation, as well as any other tests or observations that in the professional judgment of the doctor are necessary.” The law says an eye exam must take place within one year prior to kindergartners beginning school in the fall and for all students attending school for the first time in Illinois.
Children with uncorrected vision or eye health problems face many barriers in life – academically, socially and athletically. The difference between a straight-A student and a child who struggles to receive below average grades could simply be their vision. Without an eye exam, a child’s vision problems can go undiagnosed, or even worse, be diagnosed as a learning disorder.
A comprehensive eye examination conducted by an eye care professional can identify eye and vision problems that a typical vision screening may overlook. Children’s eye exams recognize nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, as well as other conditions that can be remedied with prescription glasses. They can also detect amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus, a condition in which the eyes don’t look in unison at the same object. In other words, strabismus is a physical disorder, and amblyopia is the visual consequence. Left undetected or untreated, blurry or double vision can be a long-lasting result.
Healthy vision is essential to a child’s ability to learn and realize their academic potential, as well as to participate in sports and develop confidence amongst their peers. Give Illinois Eye Center a call today – we even have a waiting area and playroom specifically designed with our younger patients in mind. Make sure to visit our website for more information at www.illinoiseyecenter.com.