How to Prepare for Back to School

Author: Chan Optometry | | Categories: Cataract , Contact Lenses , Eye Doctor , Eyeglasses , Laser Eye Surgery , Myopic Control , Optometrist

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The back-to-school season is upon us! Sometimes, it can get quite hectic preparing for the new school year. As a parent, we may juggle so many things; from getting supplies and packing lunches to arranging schedules for pick-up and drop-off. Shiny pens and fuzzy notebooks are great but they are not useful if your child is unable to see clearly.

Many children are visual learners which means they remember what they read and write. Visual demonstrations on the blackboard, charts and graphs are vital tools for visual learners. However, a child can only understand information when they see it, and poor vision can cause academic issues. If your child is unable to see, they may lose self-confidence in the classroom because it is more challenging to complete class work or participate in group activities.

Children can have 20/20 vision, but may still have trouble learning because of a vision issue. In the video below, teachers are placed in children’s shoes, and they get to experience common vision issues such as myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism, convergence insufficiency, and amblyopia (lazy eye). They soon realize how hard it is to understand information, let alone read the words on the page under those conditions. Usually, children will not report vision issues because they think that’s how everybody sees. Therefore, it is equally essential to ensure your child is prepared for the new school year by booking a comprehensive eye examination with an optometrist. Did you know we can check and monitor your child’s eyes just when they are six months old? An optometrist can complete an accurate eye exam without reading an eye chart. This is an important time to ensure their eyes are healthy and correctly lined. At Chan Optometry, we check your child’s eyes at an early age to make sure they are ready to support learning as they begin school.

 

Vision issues can also affect a child’s ability to participate in physical activities and sports. Nowadays, kids have the option to gain the competitive edge of being able to play sports such as baseball or basketball without wearing glasses or contact lenses during the day. Orthokeratology makes this possible by acting as a retainer during the night and gently reshaping the surface of the eye to reduce myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. Your kids will have sharp vision, and they’ll be able to continue swimming or skiing without any interference of bulky eyewear. You no longer need to stress over broken glasses when they are away on field trips.  

Our optometrists are proud to participate in York Region’s Eye See Eye Learn program. This program promotes the importance of vision health for junior kindergarten students in Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Vaughan, North York and Aurora. Reduce your stress this September and book an eye examination for your child at Chan Optometry to help them succeed in school. To learn about our services, please click here. To get in touch with us, please click here.

References

Maharaj, Richard. (2013). 20/20 Isn’t everything – a child’s vision is critical to learning. [Video]. 

 

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