Back to school season is upon us, and although many elements have changed, one necessity remains: scheduling your child for an annual comprehensive eye exam.
Eye exams for children are essential to ensure their eyes are healthy and confirm they have no vision problems that could interfere with school performance or safety. Poor vision can result in frequent squinting, reduced reading comprehension, poor handwriting and headaches. Since growth spurts often result in the need for prescription updates, it is recommended that school age children get their eyes checked every 1-2 years to maximize vision clarity.
As many schools have transitioned to virtual learning platforms, the necessity of ensuring your child’s eyes are working at an optimal level is even more dire. Please ensure that your child is allowing their eyes to relax by looking away 20 feet or more for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes. The application of the 20-20-20 rule will minimize the likelihood of your child developing digital eye strain from prolonged device use. Monitor your child’s symptoms and schedule their annual eye exam today.
This is Dr. Kirsten McKnight for Church Health.