Playing is part of childhood. All of us have fond memories of riding bicycles; playing with toy cars or houses; and enjoying all sort of sports, including soccer, softball, and basketball. However, when children have various eye malfunctions, they cannot fully enjoy these activities. Thus, early children’s vision care and detection of certain eye conditions, is exceedingly important.

Undergoing Tests Before Taking Tests

The American Optometric Association suggests that children in pre-school get a comprehensive vision exam when they are six-months-hold, three-years-old, and five-years old. In particular, children should receive thorough eye examination during the summer before starting kindergarten. After the testing is completed, an expert reviews the data, and then creates a comprehensive report. Children’s vision care examinations can reveal that children suffer from one of several types of eye conditions.

Conjunctivitis or "pink eye is an infection that involves the eye’s outermost layer. It includes three types: allergic, bacterial, and viral, which require unique types of treatment. Except for the allergic variety, this disease is generally contagious.

Next, Crossed Eyes or “wandering eye,” “wall eye,” etc. is an eye condition that children’s vision care can detect. It affects about 4% of American children. This visual defect causes both eyes to point in various directions. For example, one eye may look straight ahead, while the other looks either up, down, in or out. Thus, the eyes cannot see as a single unit, and cannot see in three dimensions. Children with this condition should receive professional vision therapy via children’s vision care.

Thirdly, slightly over 10% of the entire U.S. population suffers from Binocular Vision Impairment, which can be detected via children’s vision care. It causes the two eyes to not function together as a single “team.” Thus, the child will experience a partial or complete ability to function simultaneously, to view depths and see in three dimensions.

Lastly, Amblyopia, or “lazy eye” is a visual impairment that children’s vision care can detect. This condition affects roughly 2-3% of children in the U.S., and is related to poor control of muscles in a single eye, or reduced visual clarity. Children with this eye problem oftentimes develop problems related to seeing depth perception, and seeing in three dimensions. It is very important that this visual problem be detected early, as visual therapy can have a positive impact on it.

When A-B-C Is Not Easy

Furthermore, it is also of the utmost importance that children’s vision care determines if a child has learning-related visual problems, as soon as it can. Observe your child, to determine if he:

Holds objects extremely close to his eyes

Complains of eyestrain or headaches

Has low reading compression

Constantly blinks, squints or rubs his eyes after doing close visual work

Becomes exhausted after reading

Complains about cloudy vision regarding reading or schoolwork

Avoids reading

Has difficulty differentiating left from right, tying shoelaces, or catching a ball

Periodically reverses letters or words

Childhood should be one of the best time of a person’s life. Receiving proper children’s vision care will allow experts to determine if a child has vision problems, and then subsequently receive treatment.