Paradise Canyon Eye Care helps kids start the school year off right with comprehensive vision exams

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CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — When it comes to pediatric eye exams, healthy vision isn’t just about seeing 20/20. Kids who can see clearly may still have a vision problem relating to eye focusing, eye tracking or eye coordination that makes it difficult to succeed in school, on the playground and at home.

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“Many learning problems that kids experience can be attributed to poor vision,” said Theresa Fife, office manager and optician at Paradise Canyon Eye Care. “80% of their learning is through their vision.”

Regular pediatric eye exams are especially important because young eyes can change significantly in as little as a year as muscles and tissues develop. The earlier vision problems are found and treated, the better off kids will be in and out of school.

Ideally, children will see an optometrist before entering preschool. If they’re diagnosed with misaligned eyes, lazy eye, refractive errors such as astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness or any other focusing problems, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible to ensure successful vision correction and lifelong benefits.

Upon starting school, children should be screened for visual acuity and alignment every year.

School vision screenings performed annually or every other grade aren’t a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist, Fife said. In fact, roughly one in three children with an undiagnosed vision problem will actually pass their school screening. And with the rise of remote learning, some kids may not have the opportunity to participate in a vision test at school.

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“We’re not only checking for how well kids can see but also how well their eyes are working together,” she added. “We also check for eye misalignment and test their color vision just to make sure their whole visual system is working as it should be.”

Academic performance is closely tied to eye health, Fife said. School demands intense visual involvement, including reading, writing and using computers. Eye strain from extended screen time leads to symptoms such as dry eyes and headaches, all of which can be exacerbated if the child needs vision correction.

After-school programs and sports also require strong vision. If their eyes aren’t up to the task, kids may feel tired, have trouble concentrating, fall behind on schoolwork or struggle to enjoy their favorite activities.

While many pediatric eye problems are difficult to diagnose without a thorough screening, Fife said parents should watch for the telltale signs of poor vision. For example, kids may squint, hold reading materials very close to their face or complain about things appearing blurry. Parents might also notice that their child turns his or her head to the side when looking at something in front of them in an effort to see it more clearly, a behavior often linked to refractive errors such as astigmatism.

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Less obvious signs include having a short attention span, quickly losing interest in games and projects that demand the use of their eyes for an extended period of time or repeatedly losing their place while reading. Kids struggling with vision problems might also start to avoid reading, drawing and activities that require focusing up-close.

Put an in-person, comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist at the top of your back-to-school checklist this summer. Call 435-656-2003 or visit ParadiseEye.com to see how Paradise Canyon Eye Care can help bring better vision into focus. 

Optometrist Dr. Joseph Fife and the entire Paradise Canyon Eye Care team are committed to providing advanced vision care for the whole family in a professional and welcoming environment. The clinic offers a wide array of pediatric and primary care eye services, from fitting patients for glasses and contacts to managing diseases including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T • 

Resources

  • Paradise Canyon Eye Care | Address: 1449 N. 1400 West #24, St. George | Telephone: 435-656-2003Website.

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