How Can Poor School Performance Be Related to the Eyes?

As much as 80% of what children learn is gained through their eyes. Their eyes help them explore the world, enjoy their hobbies, pick up subtle behavioral dynamics, and do their schoolwork. That is why you need to regularly protect their eyes and take them to an optometrist.

An optometrist is a healthcare expert who checks, diagnoses, and treats vision problems and eye diseases. They can also give your little one glasses, contact lenses, and eye medicines.

Experts stress that poor school performance is strongly related to the eyes. Here are common vision issues in children and how they can affect their ability to perform in the classroom or concentrate on homework at home.

Blurry Vision

This is one of the most common vision problems in children. It happens when light does not focus correctly on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This can be due to refractive errors such as:

• Myopia (nearsightedness), which makes distant objects look blurry

• Hyperopia (farsightedness), which causes near objects to look blurry

• Astigmatism, which makes things look distorted or fuzzy

Blurry vision can make it hard for your kid to read, write, see the board, or do other visual tasks. It can cause headaches, eyestrain, or fatigue. Your little one may squint, rub their eyes, or avoid doing their homework.

The good news is that blurry vision is correctable with glasses or contact lenses. Your optometrist can prescribe the right prescription for your child and help them see clearly and comfortably.

Lazy Eye

Lazy eye (amblyopia) is when one eye has a weaker vision. It happens when the brain favors one eye over the other and ignores the signals from the weaker eye. Lazy eye can affect your child’s depth perception, eye coordination, and visual skills. It can make them lose confidence in their abilities and self-esteem.

Lazy eye is treatable with glasses, contact lenses, eye patches, eye drops, or vision therapy. The earlier an eye doctor detects and treats it, the better the outcome. Your optometrist can diagnose your child’s lazy eye and recommend the best treatment.

Crossed Eyes

Crossed eyes (strabismus) is a condition where one or both eyes turn outward or inward instead of looking straight ahead. It can affect your child’s eye alignment, eye teaming, and binocular vision.

Crossed eyes can make it difficult for your youngster to focus on a single object, track moving objects, or read smoothly. It can also cause double vision, headaches, or confusion.

Crossed eyes are treatable with glasses, contact lenses, prism lenses, eye exercises, surgery, or vision therapy. Your eye doctor can determine the cause and suggest the most effective treatment.

How to Help Your Child

Does your child have any of these vision problems or any other signs of poor vision?

• Eye pain, discomfort, or itchiness.

• Redness, watering, or discharge

• Light sensitivity

• Frequent blinking or rubbing

• Closing one eye or tilting their head

• Avoiding near or far tasks

If yes, take them to an optometrist as soon as possible. A comprehensive eye exam can detect vision problems and provide treatment to improve your child’s vision and school performance.

Conclusion

Your child’s eyes are essential for their success and happiness. By taking care of their eyes and visiting an optometrist regularly, you can help them see better and learn better.

For more information on pediatric eye care, visit Planet Vision Eyecare at our Lake Worth, Florida office. Call (561) 556-4600 to schedule an appointment today.