The Importance of Eye Exams for Children

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Did you know that 1 in 4 children have an undetected vision problem? Vision problems can cause many issues for children and one of them is their impact in learning in school. I can tell you from first hand experience that children don’t know they have a vision problem because it’s all they’ve ever seen! As a 5th grader I didn’t think anyone else could see the chalkboard either. I had NO clue why I literally almost had to put my face up on the board just to read the assignments that the teacher wrote. I learned how my friends looked on the playground by their shape – not knowing that not everyone saw things fuzzy at a distance. The other kids probably thought I was a bit strange always standing so close to people and things……but it was just because I couldn’t see them clearly. And I’m telling you, that as a child, I had NO clue that this wasn’t normal – because it’s all I had ever known.

This is my nephew Bradley. I’m so proud of him and his mom. At just 5 years old they realized that he had a problem – and it wasn’t anything to be scared about! My sister took him right in to see the doctor and out came her son with his brand new glasses – isn’t he ADORABLE? Being proactive is a HUGE part of helping your children in life, and that includes routine checks to make sure that their vision is where it should be.

Children’s eyes change SO rapidly as they are growing and a yearly checkup with an eye doctor is imperative to finding vision problems and even other health issues that can be detected during a comprehensive exam. While a school screening can help detect vision problems it is not a comprehensive exam and cannot detect things like eye coordination, lazy eye, color vision, or chronic disease to name a few. My oldest son has Marcus-Gunn syndrome which is a rare genetic disorder that mixes up the nerves a bit. We noticed he first had it pretty much at birth because as he was feeding one eyelid would “wink” (also known as jaw winking syndrome) as he would suck. Most of the times we don’t even notice it anymore unless he is really tired and is chewing but we do regular eye checkups with him to try and monitor any other side issues that might arise from it.

76% of children by the age of 5 have NOT had a comprehensive eye exam.

Is YOUR child one of them?

Learn more about enrolling in a VSP Vision Care plan here.

Thanks to VSP and their partners they have offered a fantastic giveaway for a pair of Designer Sunglasses, valued at $200!  TRUST ME – I have received 2 pairs of these designer sunglasses and you will love them! (style & brand will be the choice of VSP) Last year I received beautiful bebe sunglasses that my kids KNOW better than to touch! 🙂 They are my favorite!

Disclosure: I received no compensation or product for this post. Giveaway is open to US only and prize will be provided by VSP Vision Care. Giveaway ends November 4, 2012 at 10 pm EST. Winner will be chosen randomly and have 48 hours to claim prize.

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45 Comments

  1. Myself and my 2 boys get yearly exams. My oldest is 11 and in less than 24 months is about to be on his third prescription due to rapid growth causing his eye sight to change!

  2. My family always does regular eye exams. 🙂

  3. I visited http://www.SeeMuchMore.com and learned that 3D movies really can make people feel seasick if they have poor stereoscopic vision.

  4. My favorite tip on the Halloween eye Safety List is to not sleep in your makeup. I think this is important even when wearing makeup not related to Halloween costumes.

  5. I follow you on Google+!

  6. I get regular eye exams.

  7. A’s left eye started to turn inward around age 2. We went to the Dr. and have glasses and a patch. It is a struggle but worth it! I was amazed at how much information can be collected at these exams. It is always helpful, finding Dr. who has a pediatric focus.

  8. Jennifer S says:

    My son and I have regular yearly eye exams 🙂

  9. Amie Schilling says:

    My three kids get yearly eye exams before school starts…. so far we dont need glasses :)and yeah!:)

  10. Yikes! My older daughter had an eye exam a few years ago, but my younger daughter has never had a professional one (just the one that they give the kids at preschool). Now that I think about it, I haven’t had an exam in a few years either, we’ll have to all go in!

    (Also, your nephew is the freaking cutest kid ever!)

  11. My favorite safety tip is “Don’t use non-FDA approved makeup.” That’s not something that I might think about with costume makeup!

  12. At SeeMuchMore.com I learned that they have a Vacation Sweepstakes where I entered to win a trip to Maui! I also tried the Instant Win game but lost – boo!

  13. Perfect timing — I just wrote an article last week about what parent’s need to know about getting their children’s eyes! My son is in 4th grade and we just got glasses — his vision was 20/80! I felt horrible for not realizing it earlier but like you said he never said anything because it was all he knew! Yearly exams for us from now on!!

  14. Our pediatrician does a basic eye exam. If the children show warning signs, he refers them to an optometrist.

  15. I like the tip to stay away from costume lenses. Those things scare me!

  16. I am 46 years old and have never had an eye exam.

  17. Hope Clippinger says:

    My son has scanning vision problems. He starts reading in about the middle of the page and moves to the next line before the end of the current one. He’s worn glasses since he was 5. My youngest (5) just failed her school administered vision screen so off to the appointment we go (soon). I have regular eye exams every year.

  18. Hope Clippinger says:

    I read over the Halloween Eye Safety List and learned why it’s not safe to sleep in costume makeup. I have to remember this with face painting also!!

  19. Heather Zeh says:

    yes and she’s due for one now. Had an appointment Monday but was cancelled due to storm

  20. Heather Zeh says:

    Following on google+

  21. Heather Zeh says:

    I learned not to use costume lenses

  22. Heather Zeh says:

    I learned by being a member you can save up to $320 a year which is great!

  23. Neiddy Ruiz says:

    Yes, even though our pediatrician gives our kids eye check ups when we take them to their physicals we still take them to the eye doctor once a year.

  24. Neiddy Ruiz says:

    I visited http://www.SeeMuchMore.com and I learned that many kids with learning problems have undiagnosed vision problems, this is why it is very important to give our children they eye care they deserve. By becoming a VSP member you can get eye care at a lower cost.

  25. Neiddy Ruiz says:

    My favorite tip is Don’t use non-FDA approved makeup. My kids have very sensitive skin and I always have to be very careful with the face products I let them use.

  26. Neiddy Ruiz says:

    I follow you on Google + as Neiddy Ruiz

  27. Stefanie Gladden says:

    yes we have regular eye exams!

  28. Stefanie Gladden says:

    Checked out this Halloween eye Safety List and my favorite tip is don’t sleep in your makeup!!

  29. Stefanie Gladden says:

    visited SeeMuchMore and learned Facts for Protecting Your Eyes from the Sun

  30. Stefanie Gladden says:

    following on google plus – Stefanie Gladden

  31. Yes we do!!

  32. Lisa Cranshaw says:

    All 4 of us, which include my almost 7 year old, 9 year old
    and my hubby, get eye exams every year!

  33. I learned the danger of costume makeup! Yuck!

  34. I haven’t been in a couple of years but I plan on going soon.

  35. Lisa Cranshaw says:

    I went on http://www.seemuchmore.com. They say that
    kids shouldn’t be on digital media for more than 2
    hours/ day. I’ll be more aware of how long my kids
    are on their laptops now!

  36. Lisa Cranshaw says:

    My favorite tip would be to not sleep in the makeup!

  37. Bridgette Holland says:

    I have 2 boys – one with perfect vision one with vision problems. My older son and myself rarely have vision check ups. Once a year for my younger son.

  38. My oldest son has gotten yearly eye exams and now I realize I need to start them with my youngest! He is 3 but I want to make sure his eyesight is good as well!!

  39. Oooh..id love to win some designer sunglasses. I have regular eye exams

  40. Andrea Fletcher says:

    My children and I get eye exams every year.

  41. Amanda Preller says:

    Both my son and I have regular eye exams!

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