Is My Child Seeing Blurry?

On an ordinary Saturday work day, I had the great fortune of examining the eyes of 12 year old Ariana (name changed for privacy). While I was gathering some important eye history information, I learned that this was Ariana’s very first eye exam EVER. She told me that she has been noticing difficulty seeing writing at a distance. I asked how long this has been going on. She informed me “since last school year.” I informed Ariana that I will be conducting a group of fun activities to find out how I can help her see better. I had already known that Ariana had trouble seeing at distance based on her visual acuity results. I had a preliminary prescription already set in the phoropter (the lens machine used with the “1 or 2” test). I placed the phoropter in front of Ariana’s eyes and I will forever remember her exclamation “Oh WOW I can SEE!” with a huge smile on her face. I couldn’t help but smile along with her, with a touch of sadness in my heart. I glanced over at her older sister whose jaw dropped at her sister’s proclamation. She was in shock at the magnitude of her sister’s blurry vision.
 

I proceeded with my examination and I escorted big sister and my young patient to choose some new frames for her glasses. However, before they left my exam room, I made sure they both understood that if anyone in their family has never had an eye exam, it is of utmost importance that they come see me right away. Who knows how many more kiddos I can help empower through clear vision.
 

Do children really know what blurry vision is? Would your child tell you when they start having trouble seeing?

It is back-to-school week across many states in the US. Like mine, I am sure your facebook feed is filled with lovely photos of kids of family and friends, in their best clothes, new backpacks in hand. You can see big smiles on the faces of these precious children, some whose smiles have a hint of anxious excitement, rather than pure joy, over what the new school year will bring.
 

Department stores and Amazon alike have huge advertisements reminding all parents of school aged children of the season. And all of us not yet in that stage, or perhaps are way past that stage, can’t miss the clear evidence of it either. Notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers, backpacks, shoes, socks, uniforms-all front and center.
 

At this point, many parents have done their due diligence about finding out about all the school supplies required for their kids’ first day of school. A lot of those parents are ready, some are frantically putting together the list last minute, and even fewer parents will find out they forgot a thing or two. It is all part of the fun of this season. It will certainly make for great memories, I hope, that one day will spur laughter.
 

Unfortunately, one important school year prep step is mostly overlooked (pun intended) by many parents. You don’t see many signs about it or even ads. and it is such a shame because I can argue that it is much more essential than any of the items listed above.
 

I am talking about a comprehensive eye wellness exam.

We can all agree that we need our eyes in order to see and learn. No one can argue that having good eyesight enhances a child’s chances of success at school. However, this particular health check box is left unchecked by most parents. I am by no means blaming the parents. I know that parenting is more than a full time commitment and the hardest, and most rewarding, job anyone can ever have. However, I believe complete eye exams are overlooked mainly due to lack of awareness by the community at large. It is also due to a huge misunderstanding of what a complete eye examination for a school aged child entails. So let’s dive in to learn more about what a child wellness complete eye exam is.

Is a pediatrician eye “exam” enough?

I for one am a HUGE advocate for great Pediatricians. I love my kids’ pediatricians and I have so much respect for their profession. I also appreciate how dedicated and passionate they are about children’s health.
 

However, as an Optometrist, it is my great responsibility to educate parents about best practices when it comes to eye health. Pediatricians’ eye checks are ocular health SCREENINGS. They are a great gateway to obvious eye problems-but do not get in depth in evaluating a child’s entire visual system.
 

A great Pediatrician will look at a child’s eye with a direct ophthalmoscope from a distance and they will also complete a visual acuity check with the letter chart in their office. While these are important tests, they are grossly broad in the information they provide, as is expected from a screener test.
 

These screening vision evaluations do not take into account young children’s unique ability to autofocus. Autofocusing can mask a significant need for glasses. This undetected need for glasses can result in a “lazy” eye (amblyopia).
 

These screening vision tests also do not screen for binocular vision disorders. In these cases, children may suffer from unexplained headaches, difficulty reading, poor attention and poor performance in school.

This causes frustration for all involved, parents, children and health care practitioners alike.

So what do you need to do for your child?

Get their eyes checked by an excellent Optometrist in your area ASAP. My office is located in Plano, Texas and I would love to care for your children’s eyes.
 

My practice is Motiveyes Eye Care and we pride ourselves in providing comprehensive, patient centered and specifically tailored eye evaluations for every one in our community.
 

What to expect from an excellent pediatric eye exam?

• A Thorough History
• Accurate Visual Acuity Testing
• Peripheral Vision Testing
• Binocular vision Evaluation
• Objective and subjective Refraction
• Pupil Structure and Function Evaluation
• Slit Lamp Evaluation
• Dilated Eye Health Evaluation
• Post Dilation Refraction
• Patient and Parent Education
• Spectacle Selection, if applicable