2007 Ready for School Q/A
2014 Ready for School Q&As
Preparation Questions for Local Media Interviews
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY; DOCUMENT NOT TO BE SHARED WITH MEDIA
Q: Why is it so important for children to have a comprehensive eye exam prior to heading back to school?
A: Comprehensive eye exams are one of the most important investments a parent can make to help maximize their child’s education and contribute to their overall health and well-being. Comprehensive eye exams are paramount to detecting potential problems that may hinder a child’s ability to learn, such as lazy eye, near and farsightedness, astigmatism and other conditions.
Q: What does a comprehensive eye exam entail?
A: There are several essential elements an optometrist will check during a comprehensive eye examination to help ensure learning is maximized through clear and healthy vision. For example:
· Visual acuity is measured at several distances so students can comfortably and efficiently read, work on the computer or see a smart board.
· Focusing is an important skill that is tested. Eyes must be able to focus on a specific object, and to easily shift focus from one object to another. This allows a child to move their attention back and forth from a book to a smart board or tablet.
· Visual alignment and ocular motility is evaluated. Ideally, the muscles that aim each eye converge so that both eyes are aimed at the same object, refining depth perception.
· Eye teaming skills are assessed. These skills are critical to coordinating and aligning the eyes precisely so the brain can fuse the pictures it receives from each eye into a single image.
· Eye tracking skills are tested to determine whether the child can track across a page accurately and efficiently while reading, and can copy material quickly and easily from a smart board, computer or another piece of paper.
· Testing color vision is important because a large part of the early educational process involves the use of color identification.
· Eye-hand-body coordination, critical for handwriting, throwing a ball or playing an instrument, and visual perception, used to interpret and understand visual information like form, size, orientation, texture and color perception, is another important visual function that is tested.
· Overall eye health is assessed by examining the structures of the eye.
Q: How prevalent are vision problems in children?
A: Research shows that one in four children have an undetected vision problem; therefore, millions of children will start school this year with an impairment that may not only affect their school work but their day-to-day lives.
Q: What risks do children face who suffer from undiagnosed vision conditions?
A: Some vision problems do not have warning signs, and children with undetected vision problems can be frustrated or even bored in school because he or she can’t see the board or screen or read a book easily. Additionally, students with vision problems may sometimes act out in school. The earlier a problem is detected and treated, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful.
Q: What are some warning signs that may indicate a child has a vision problem?
A: I look for a variety of indicators through extensive testing during a comprehensive eye exam. But parents can play an important role as well by alerting their eye doctor of certain behaviors
and warning signs that may indicate a problem between eye exams. Warning signs parents should watch for in their children include:
· Losing their place while reading
· Avoiding close work
· Rubbing their eyes
· Complaining of headaches
· Turning or tilting their head
· Making frequent reversals when reading or writing
· Consistently performing below potential
· Struggling to complete homework
· Squinting while reading or watching television
· Holding reading material closer than normal
· Having behavioral problems
If parents notice these issues, they should schedule an appointment for their child to see an optometrist.
Q: More and more technical devices such as computers and tablets are being used in classrooms. What can be done to protect children’s eye health and vision from potential problems resulting from increasing use of these devices?
A: Eighty three percent of children surveyed by the AOA between the ages of 10 and 17 say they use an electronic device for at least three hours a day, and the majority of them (80 percent) report experiencing burning, itchy or tired eyes after using electronic devices. These are all symptoms of digital eye strain.
The AOA urges students to follow the 20-20-20 rule: when using technology or doing near work, take a 20-second break, every 20 minutes and view something 20 feet away. According to the AOA survey, nearly one-third of children (32 percent) go a full hour using technology before they take a visual break instead of every 20 minutes as recommended.
Q: Should parents be concerned about the effects increased technology use has on their children’s vision?
A: Yes, especially since the parents we surveyed significantly underestimate the amount of time their kids spend on digital devices. Most kids say they spend at least three hours a day using technology. However, in a separate survey of parents we found that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. This lack of awareness may indicate that parents are more likely to overlook warning signs and symptoms associated with vision problems due to technology use, like digital eye strain.
Q: What are the symptoms of digital eye strain?
A: Symptoms of digital eye strain include headaches, fatigue, blurred or double vision and dry eye. Each of these symptoms can have a great impact on a student’s comfort and productivity, whether they are at school or home.
Q: Are the visual side effects of digital eye strain permanent?
A: Many of the symptoms are temporary and will improve soon after those devices are turned off and work is done. However, some people may continue to experience visual problems, such as blurry distance vision. If the cause of the problem is not addressed, the symptoms can reoccur, and perhaps worsen, with future digital device use.
Q: What can students, teachers or parents do to help prevent or reduce symptoms of digital eye strain?
A: The AOA suggests following some simple guidelines to prevent or reduce eye and vision problems associated with digital eye strain:
· Check the height and position of the device. Computer screens should be four to five inches below eye level and about two feet away from the eyes. Digital devices should be held a safe distance away from eyes and slightly below eye level.
· Check for glare on the screen. Windows or other light sources should not be directly visible when sitting in front of a computer monitor. If this happens, turn the desk or computer to prevent glare on the screen. Also consider adjusting the brightness of the screen on your digital device or changing its background color.
· Reduce the amount of lighting in the room to match the computer screen. A lower-watt light can be substituted for a bright overhead light or a dimmer switch may be installed to give flexible control of room lighting.
· Adjust font size. Increase the size of text on the screen of the device to make it easier on the eyes when reading.
· Keep blinking. Frequent blinking helps minimize the chances of developing dry eye when using a computer or digital device by keeping the front surface of the eye moist.
Q: Can digital eye strain be detected through an eye exam?
A: Yes, digital eye strain can be detected through a comprehensive eye exam. Because of this, doctors of optometry encourage frequent users of electronic devices to maintain yearly visits with their eye doctors. Doctors can perform tests with special emphasis on eye health and functionality that’s critical for frequent device use, like visual acuity, eye teaming and focusing.
Q: In addition to increased electronic device use, there seems to be a growing concern about the effects of blue light on the eyes and vision. What can you tell us about that?
A: That’s correct. Optometrists are concerned about high-energy, short-wavelength blue and violet light. Today’s smartphones, tablets, LED monitors and even flat screen TVs all give off light in this range, and early research shows that overexposure to blue light could contribute to eye strain and discomfort and may even lead to serious conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can cause blindness.
Q: Many children already receive vision screenings before they enter school or when school starts. Why is a comprehensive eye exam necessary as well?
A: Simple screenings identify only a small portion of the vision problems in children and they’re not diagnostic. They are designed only to detect potential problems related to certain visual conditions. For example, screenings do not measure visual alignment, color vision or visual perception. In reality, screenings only indicate a need for further evaluation and they often miss children with vision problems.
Comprehensive eye exams are much more thorough and include tests to determine nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, eye coordination, eye focusing abilities and a child’s overall eye health. These are important issues that can affect a child’s ability to learn and their overall quality of life. Eye exams are also important in diagnosing diseases and disorders.
Q: How often should children have an eye exam?
A: People of all ages should have an eye exam yearly. As parents send their children back to school, one of the most important things they can do to help maximize their ability to learn is to take them for an eye exam. The AOA recommends that a child’s first eye assessment take place at six months of age. Unless problems are detected, the next exam should be at age three, again before entering kindergarten and then yearly.
Between visits to the eye doctor, parents should keep an eye out for some of the more prevalent signs that of an eye or vision problem, like squinting or frequent eye rubbing, avoiding close work, behavioral problems and difficulty with reading or doing homework.
Q: Are comprehensive eye exams expensive?
A: Comprehensive eye exams are one of the most important investments we can make in our children. Kids now have the benefit of yearly comprehensive eye exams thanks to the Pediatric Essential Health Benefit as part of the Affordable Care Act, through age 18. Additionally, the AOA has relationships with organizations like the Lions Club and special AOA programs like InfantSEE® and VISION USA, which offer exams and care at no charge or discounted rates. For more information on these programs, parents can visit aoa.org.
Q: Where can I find an optometrist in my area?
A: The easiest way to find a nearby optometrist is through the doctor locator on the AOA’s website at aoa.org. The AOA’s doctor locator allows users to type in their zip code to find an optometrist in their area.
Q: Where can people go for more information?
A: For additional information on children’s vision and the importance of back-to-school eye exams, please visit: aoa.org.
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