Children's Vision

Some Facts Every Parent Should Know...

Fact: Vision accounts for 80% of learning in the first 12 years of a child's life.
Fact: One in six children has visual problems that restrict learning. Many visual problems go undetected because parents unknowingly assume a report of 20/20 is an indication of "perfect" vision. The fact is that 20/20 is only a measure of sharpness of eyesight and says nothing about many other dynamic vision skills, such as eye coordination, which are necessary for attentiveness while reading.

Fact: Because young children know only what they see and not what they are supposed to see, it is especially difficult for them to recognize that they have a vision-related problem. Children tend to think that everyone sees the world exactly as they do... and they don't complain of symptoms in many cases, including blurry vision, poor eye-hand coordination, or losing their place while reading.

Fact: Parents and teachers can and should have an active role in the visual development of a child, looking for specific symptoms and encouraging development.

To assist parents and teachers who wish to become active in children's visual development, Azman Eye Care Specialists has prepared this guide to provide enough information about visual development that will allow you to make educated observations, and know when and how to help each child. We welcome and encourage your questions!

Parents Play Key Role in Development of Child's Vision Skills

A Time For Development
During a child's toddler and preschool years, he or she will be exploring the world-- crawling, reaching, climbing, walking, and searching the world with eyes and hands.

All of this exploration plays a significant role in the ultimate development and refinement of his or her vision skills. But will these vision skills be ready for learning? How do you find out? How do you help to further the development of these vision skills?

What You Should Do...

Have your child's eyes examined by a pediatric optometrist or by a behavioral optometrist, by age 3.

Be alert to your child's visual behavior. Look for signs that may indicate a vision problem:

• a short visual concentration and attention span

• clumsy movements; falls or bumps into things

• crosses one or both eyes

• awkward posture while working at the table or desk

• unable to locate and pick up small objects

• has red, watery, or puffy eyelids

• rubs eyes or complains that they hurt

• avoids drawing, cutting puzzles, or other visual tasks

"...But he doesn't read letters yet"

Reading letters is NOT necessary for a thorough pediatric eye exam. State-of-the-art diagnostic equipment allows the doctor to evaluate the child's vision and eye health even before he or she can read letters. Even the eyes of infants can be safely examined by using drops, special lights, and other techniques to determine how the eyes are focusing.

Not Just Any Eye Exam Dr. Irwin Azman is our staff specialist in pediatric and behavioral vision. He tests each child to determine eye health and visual skills. Such testing is done with and without dilating drops. Eye Health & Dilation Dilating drops are used to aid in the examination of the internal structures of the eyes, to rule out possible medical problems. Evaluation with dilating drops allows for diagnosis of such eye problems as amblyopia, progressive myopia (nearsightedness), cataract, glaucoma, retinal problems that may exist with children.

Beyond 20/20: Visual Skills

During the vision testing part of the exam, after clarity of vision or visual acuity is determined, Dr. Azman tests further for many other dynamic vision skills. First is evaluation for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, crossed-eyes (strabismus), lazy eye (amblyopia), eye tracking, accommodation (focus change), and other eye coordination skills. Second are tests for other dynamic skills which may affect eye-hand coordination, depth perception, and causes of visual attention dysfunction.

We make every effort to ensure that the first examination is a positive experience for your child by providing a comfortable, child-friendly office. Children's movies, such as Goofy and Yogi Bear, are frequently utilized to help tailor the examination to the preschooler.

First Visit

With regard to that first visit, here are a few suggestions:

Schedule an appointment for early in the day, allowing approximately an hour.

Discuss naturally the experience and encourage your child's questions. If asked, assure your child that he/she will be accompanied by you during the examination.

Bring a medical history, including any complications of pregnancy or childbirth, along with your pediatrician's name and address.

Compile a list of any unusual observations you have made regarding your child's visual development.

Refer to office equipment with words such as flashlight, eye games, magic pictures, etc.

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