Vienna Eyecare Center

Poor vision can affect a child’s ability to learn in school. Unfortunately, vision problems in children often go undetected due to factors such as lack of awareness. Today, Vienna Eyecare Center takes a look into the connection between sight and learning, and what can be done to mitigate the effects of poor vision.

Common Vision Problems in Children

Common vision problems like refractive errors (near or farsightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes) can manifest in school-age children, which can affect how they absorb information. While many types of vision problems are inherited and have no known treatment, spotting them at an early age will allow an eye specialist to come up with long-term corrective plans.

How Does Poor Vision Impact Learning?

Today’s educational system relies greatly on reading from books, cue cards, boards and digital screens. Impaired vision can make it difficult for a child to read, let alone absorb, the information as it’s read. It can lead to frustration and loss of interest, which can ultimately result in a drop in academic performance. Similarly, children with visual impairments might find it challenging to engage in classroom activities and may even feel left out.

Poor vision can also limit a child’s social engagement in activities like physical education classes, as well as make them feel anxiety or suffer from low self-esteem. They may be mistaken for someone with a learning disability, which can make them socially withdrawn, or even a target for bullying.

Addressing Poor Vision’s Impact on Learning

We have mentioned above how annual eye checkups can help spot potential vision problems. Eye care professionals recommend starting at a year old, where basic eye functions like response to light and movement are tested. As the child grows, pay attention to signs like squinting and frequent eye rubbing, as well as avoidance of activities that require use of vision, such as reading out loud. If signs of eye problems are found, an eye doctor will help you plan corrective solutions like vision therapy and prescription eyewear.

Visit our eye doctors at Vienna Eyecare Center for your children’s eye care needs. Give us a call at (703) 938-7633, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve communities in Fairfax, Reston and Tysons Corner, VA.