The Value of Eye Evaluations for Children
November 27, 2020
Is finding an eye doctor in Calgary necessary for your child?
The short answer is yes. The health of your child’s eyes can determine how well your child learns, and how they process information and can explain behaviour issues and short attention spans. It can also explain things like headaches and difficulties concentrating or issues with reading comprehension. Fidgeting, blinking a lot or covering an eye are usually symptoms of an eyesight problem. If your child is disruptive in class, irritable after school, and resistant to homework, problems with their eyes could be the root of the problem.
80% of learning is visual. If there is a problem with being able to see clearly, a child might become bored and restless during class. If they can’t see, they can’t focus or concentrate. Perhaps they are straining hard to look, causing tension headaches. After spending a day squinting and signalled out for causing disruptions, a person’s mood will not be that enthusiastic. Once they are safely home, they are free to let out those frustrating emotions, ensuring an evening of attitude and impatience. This is a long and frustrating evening for parents, fighting every step of the way to have homework completed on the regular household activities that may take place each evening. This constant cycle can cause insecurities to grow within your children, a reel of self-doubt playing in their minds about how they aren’t smart enough to understand anything in school. Learning disabilities are often misdiagnosed without a proper comprehensive eye exam.
What does an eye center near you look for?
Early intervention and correction are important. An eye center near you will check things like:
- Color blindness
- Hand-eye coordination
- Farsightedness
- Visual perception
- Astigmatization
- Focusing
- Tracking
- Teaming
- Double vision
Your eye doctor in Calgary will go over the results after the assessment is completed. If a problem were detected, your options and next steps would be discussed. Your optometrist at Clarity Laser Vision can help you with the process.
What can you do to optimize your overall optical health?
Don’t underestimate the power of good nutrition. Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants essential for protecting the eye area that gives us our central vision. The macula is where the high-definition, colored details we see are registered. Vegetables full of these are green and usually leafy, like spinach and kale. Broccoli, romaine lettuce and peas are other examples. Omega 3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish can help reduce eye disease risk later in life. These fatty acids are essential for tear production and help prevent dry eye. Salmon, tuna, halibut and trout are excellent choices you can add to your child’s diet.
Vitamin C is a favourite for eye health as it works on restoring any damage in our bodies that come from poor diet and sun exposure. Vitamin C repairs and grows tissue cells. Bell peppers, tangerines, peaches, tomatoes and strawberries contain vitamin C
The retina in your eye turns light rays into the images we see, and vitamin A helps that happen. It also helps with dry eye and is likely the best-known nutrition for healthy eyes. Carrots, cantaloupe apricots and sweet potatoes are good sources.
It is never too early to start your child on a healthy path with nutrition. Implementing these foods early can save your child many issues down the road with not only their eyes but also general health. Following a diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will keep not only your eyes healthy but your heart as well.
Give our staff a call at Clarity Laser Vision to book your child’s appointment today.