A Child’s Eyes Should Be A Parent’s Concern

From Dr. Joel Kestenbaum of Optix Family Eyecare

Here are a few facts a parent should know.

• 80% of learning is through the eyes.


• 80% of a person’s lifetime exposure to ultraviolet light comes before he age of 18.


• Vision screening in a pediatrician’s office is NOT an eye examination.


• Vision screening in a school nurses office is NOT an eye examination.


• An eye doctor should examine a child by age three.

Signs that a child might have a problem with their eyes are:

• Difficulty making eye contact

• Difficulty tracking moving objects

• Constant or intermittent crossing or misalignment of one or both eyes

• The pupils appear white

• Red, crusty, watery or painful eyes

• Droopy eyelids

• Squinting often

• Eye rubbing

• Constant blinking

• Eyes appear to bulge

Here are some definitions of some common terms related to the eyes:

• Nearsightedness… Can see near but has difficulty seeing far away.

• Farsightedness… The eyes work harder than normal to see far away and work. even harder to see close up. High degrees of farsightedness need to be treated in children.

• Astigmatism… A distorted image created by a misshapen cornea.

• Glaucoma…related to elevated pressure inside the eye.

• Lazy Eye or Amblyopia… reduced vision from lack of use. Early detection (before age 5 is mandatory) and treatment is necessary to ensure best visual results.

So parents, please be concerned about your child’s eyes and have their eyes examined at the earliest age possible. You will be assuring that they have all the visual tools for a proper education and enjoyment of life’s experiences. Isn’t now a good time?