The school year has just begun. But your checklist for getting your child ready for a successful year isn’t complete without a stop at the eye care specialist.
The American Optometric Association recommends that children receive their first comprehensive eye exam between the ages of six months and 12 months, and at least one comprehensive eye exam between the ages of three years and five years to check for any conditions that could have long-term effects. Eye exams can be done yearly after that if no issues are found, and if there is no family history of eye disease.
Dr. Julia Dellaria-Terrill, an optometrist at SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care, says eye and vision issues are easier to treat if caught early on.
“Vision and eye health is so important in a developing child and early detection is key,” Dr. Dellaria-Terrill said. “I see older kids come in with eye issues that, while they still can be corrected, would have been corrected easier if caught when they were younger.”
Eye issues such as crossing or turning of the eyes, ‘lazy eye’ and other potentially serious eye conditions can only be detected with a dilated eye exam. Left untreated, they can cause vision problems that can impact success in the classroom.
“Kids with vision issues can find it hard to focus on schoolwork and may also have lower reading comprehension,” Dr. Dellaria-Terrill said. “Falling behind early on can hinder a child’s learning and affect their ability to develop important foundation skills.”
Schedule your child’s back-to-school eye exam at any of our SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care locations.
