Parent Reference to Young Children's Vision Development

More than 98 percent of all infants are born with normal healthy seeing organs--the eyes. Many authorities believe this high rate of normalcy occurs because the eyes and the entire visual system are so important to humans.

However, the normal health and structure of the eyes do not guarantee that your child will be able to use those eyes efficiently in the world he must see and interpret. The classroom, into which your child enters around the age of six, demands much of vision. This classroom, and its special tasks, demands visual abilities and skills every child must learn before he enters school if he is to be successful there. These abilities and skills are learned much better by your preschool-age child when you (and all others caring for your child) know how to evaluate your child's progress, and how to guide and assist this vision development for future academic success.

Take care who you choose for the evaluation of your child’s vision. Not every doctor has prepared himself to work with young children, or is fully informed on their vision development. At Westside Family Vision Center and Saratoga Vision Center, we have spent many years providing this type of care to thousands of children.

When a Bright Child Has Trouble Reading

Even children with "perfect eyesight" can suffer from vision disorders that thwart their effort to learn and can hinder their performance in school.

Underachievement is a slippery concept. You have the feeling your child isn't doing as well as she/he ought. Maybe it's the teacher. Maybe it's the school. Maybe it's the age, or a stage. Maybe the work is too hard.

Or maybe, maybe, this is just your ego speaking. What if this is really the best your child can do and you're simply expecting too much? These doubts keep many a worried parent sitting on the fence, unwilling to make a fuss, waiting to see if next year will be better.

It is estimated that, nationwide, one of every six children is two or more grade levels behind in reading. Optometrists find that some 80 percent of these "slow" readers have difficulty in eye control and coordination. Parents and teachers may label them lazy, unmotivated, looking for attention, or "not good students". The children usually come to the conclusion that they're different or dumb, and may become drop-outs--not only from school but from a full life, yet 90 percent of these particular visual problems can be "cured"--quickly and forever!

Signs of Vision Difficulty

• A book held very close to the eyes--only seven or eight inches away
• Pages counted before reading, only shorter pieces considered
• The head moves back and forth while reading, instead of the eyes
• Finger is used to trace lines in book
• Subvocalization during reading: murmuring or silent moving of lips
• Complaints of blurring, double-vision or headaches
• Short attention span while reading--child is quickly fatigued
• Homework takes hours and hours, when it shouldn't
• Child seems to read well enough but recalls only portions or has spotty understanding; whereas, if material is read aloud, child has virtually total recall
• The child is well-coordinated, yet has trouble with ball games (softball, tennis, kickball)
• Schoolwork that depends to a large extent upon reading--history or English--is difficult, while subjects such as math and science are learned easily

If you checked more than a few signs, be sure to give us a call to set an appointment soon.