Back to School: Pencils, Books, Backpacks, and an Eye Exam

Kids will be starting or returning to school in a few days and the hurried activity to get them ready with all their needed supplies is well underway. But have parents thought about one ‘item’ that can really help a child’s classroom performance—an eye exam?

Now is an ideal time to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor and establish a regular schedule of exams. In today’s classroom, a child’s eyes are confronted with all sorts of visual stimuli: overhead projectors, blackboards and whiteboards, text and workbooks, computers, and participation in school activities and sports. Reading and studying levels increase. Since school age children are at the stage where eyes change rapidly as they encounter normal growth patterns, a preventive stance certainly makes sense.

When experiencing a vision problem, a child may not say anything about it, as at their young age they will assume that is how everyone sees. In this situation the effects of dealing with an undiagnosed condition such as hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness) on the part of the child can lead to short attention spans, frustration, and avoidance of schoolwork. Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a condition that must be treated early (by the age of seven) or chances of good vision in the affected eye are considerably lessened. Unfortunately, there are times when an undiagnosed eye problem may be mistakenly labeled as a learning disability or behavioral issue. This unnecessary complication can be avoided by proactive eye exams, which allow problems to be detected and addressed before they hamper performance in the classroom.

Leaving the detection of eye trouble up to school screenings alone may not be a good idea. Many of these tests are based on evaluating clarity and distance; a child passing them could still have a vision problem. Necessary eye functions that allow for recognition, comprehension, and eye-hand coordination need to be monitored as well.

If the time comes for a child’s vision correction, eyeglasses are usually thought of first, but contact lenses are just as viable an option. Recent studies have shown that children as young as eight can be successfully introduced to contacts, especially in cases where the child’s sense of responsibility and follow-through allows them to satisfactorily assume the care regimen that comes with certain types of contacts. Once a child demonstrates the skill to handle contact lenses, then a consultation can take place with an eye doctor who will prescribe, fit, and monitor the proper lens. Positive results from contact lenses, other than vision correction, include perception of an improved appearance that heightens self-esteem and being able to better cope with sports and activities that are hindered by eyeglasses.

An important fact is that 80% of a child’s learning comes visually; so scheduling an eye exam now is not only a smart decision, but a necessary preventive approach when it comes to minimizing eye health problems.

Computers and Contact Lenses

The use of home and office computers has become so prevalent in just the last generation that we find it hard to believe how we ever got along without them. While they have been a definite boon to our quality of life and work, they have also handed us a whole new hurdle when it comes to eye care.

An outgrowth of extended computer use has been what the doctors term Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), an increasingly common occurrence defined by tired or burning dry eyes and headaches caused by the strain of focusing on the screen over long periods of time. The eyes work differently when viewing a computer screen as opposed to regular day-to-day vision requirements. Constant and focused concentration on the computer screen changes the rate of blinking, which leads to dryer eye tissues. As a consequence the contact lens wearer focused on a computer screen will feel that their lenses are drying faster and causing some level of discomfort, or even perhaps poorer vision quality.

Just like other industries that have provided other types of long-term solutions for computer workers, the optical industry has made its own contributions. As an example, there is eyewear available with specialized lenses that work to reduce glare and assist users in enjoying a more comfortable visual experience at the computer. The contact lens industry proposed silicone hydrogel lenses, made of a new material that binds less water than the older polymers with higher water content. These may also have specialized wetting agents bound to their surface or incorporated into their polymer matrix in order to preserve the desired hydration for longer periods—even in difficult situations. Silicone hydrogel lenses also provide the highest oxygenation levels in the industry and remain moist. In fact, these lenses transmit oxygen an average of six times more than prior lenses, allowing for optimum eye and cornea health.

For those entering the world of presbyopia (the decreased accommodation at different fields of vision that usually occurs after the age of 40), multifocal contact lenses provide a progression of corrective powers from far, intermediate to near vision. This smooth flow of vision while working at the computer is less jarring than the effect of bifocals, which can leave you bobbing your head up and down adjusting to the abrupt change from far to near lens power. By having an intermediate range, multifocals allow you to keep your head in one position while your eyes scan the screen through the mid and near portions of your lens.

Your eye doctor can diagnose for CVS and help you choose a contact lens that can compliment your computer work. Once you have a valid lens prescription, an online retailer can easily be found who will provide you with a money-saving and convenient avenue for purchasing your contact lenses.

With the kinds of innovations seen in the contact lens industry through each passing year, efforts shall continue to yield improvements that will give eager lens wearers the best possible contact lens for easing and enhancing our hours at the computer.