Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-aged children.

During September's Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, Clarus' doctors want you to know that because it is possible for your child to have a serious vision problem without you being aware of it, infants should be screened for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting at around three years of age. If there is a family history of eye problems or if a problem is apparent, speak to one of our physicians promptly about when and how often your child’s eyes should be examined.

Among the conditions an eye care professional will look for are amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), color deficiency (color blindness) and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism).

Aside from vision threatening conditions, eye screenings for children are important because vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing them. If your child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or the words in a book, learning, as well as participating in recreational activities will suffer. While vision problems can interfere with school performance, it's important to distinguish them from learning disorders.

Parents should also take steps to protect their child’s eyes from the danger of eye injuries. Be sure that the toys your child plays with are appropriate for his or her age and maturity level. Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts. Sports also could endanger your child’s eyes, so make sure he or she wears appropriate protective eyewear.

To schedule a comprehensive vision exam for your school-aged child, please click here, or call us at (360) 456-3200. See Clearly. See Clarus