Children’s Vision

Eye exams are essential for babies to ensure normal visual development and to confirm there are no vision problems that might affect school performance. Here

Babies depend heavily on their vision to explore and learn about the world around them. Many people are unaware that vision, like walking and talking, is a learned ability and your baby’s eyes benefit from visual stimulation. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your child’s eyes and vision are developing normally.

Did you know? Contact lenses can be safely worn by children aged 8 and up. Many times, parents are hesitant to get their child contact

Eye doctors report that over 4 in 10 of their contact lens patients are school aged children. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), 14.5

Infant eye exams are essential to ensure your baby’s visual development meets their developmental milestones.  Most baby’s eyes are assessed by a neonatologist within a

Since 80 percent of learning is through vision, if a child has a visual problem it will affect their reading comprehension.   The first step in

These are the 5 most frequent questions asked to eye doctors on children’s vision. You may easily find answers to your questions below. If you still have questions, contact your nearest eye doctor experienced in children’s vision.

Almost 20% of American children under 18 have a diagnosed eye or vision condition. Diagnosing eye problems in childhood can help minimize potential damage and makes treatment faster and more effective. That’s why parents should know about the most common pediatric eye problems and their symptoms.

If your child’s eyes are sore, scratchy or watery, they most likely have ‘Pink Eye’.   Pink eye is the most common eye problem among children,

In the United States, approximately 380,000 patients per year are seen by emergency eye doctors. Over 33% are children requiring emergency eye care. While pediatric

Does your child have difficulty with hand-eye coordination or playing sports? It could be a visual motor integration problem When a child incorrectly perceives the

Does your child struggle with reading or comprehension? It could be a visual sequential memory problem. The ability to remember the objects in a certain

  Does your child still reverse letters, numbers or words? It could be a visual form constancy problem. Form constancy is necessary to understand that

Does your child struggle with copying words from the board? Or have difficulty finding important words in a text? It could be a visual figure-ground

Has your child been told they have a learning difficulty? It could be a visual discrimination problem. Visual discrimination is the ability to determine similarities

Does your child struggle with reading? Or have difficulty completing a puzzle? It could be a visual closure problem. The ability to quickly view parts

Does your child struggle with spelling or have comprehension difficulties? It could be a visual memory problem. The ability to remember what we see is

Is your child below grade level in reading, writing or even playing sports? It could be a sign of visual information processing dysfunction. A visual

More than half a million children in North America are blind or have low vision.   Having impaired vision makes it difficult to read, play sports,

Your child’s vision might be clear, but do they also have clear handwriting and accurate spelling?  Vision is not just ‘20/20 sight’ but is also

Does your child struggle in school and you’re not sure why? Up to 25 in every 100 children are affected by vision problems — that’s

Research shows 25 percent of children have a significant vision problem that impacts their learning, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). Up to 80 percent of all learning comes through the visual pathways. There are 17 visual skills that are necessary to perform at school and the office, these are all critical for learning.

Reduced visual efficiency can greatly reduce a student’s ability to learn or be an adult’s office productivity. Reduced visual efficiency can negatively impact a person’s

80 percent of classroom learning is visual, meaning that any problems in the visual system can impact a child’s reading fluency. If a child has

Studies show that up to 15% of the population may be dyslexic, though less than 10 percent actually receive a formal diagnosis. Dyslexia is a complex condition that impacts the way the brain interprets and processes information. It is one of the most common learning disabilities that affects writing, spelling and reading.

Author: Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD As vision is key to so many other systems, vision intervention, such as vision therapy, can have a profound

Author: Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD This year marks my 30th year as an optometrist and during all of those years I have seen thousands

Since 2010, there has been a 70% increase of smartphone usage and 40% increase in laptop usage worldwide.  Eye doctors are reporting a major increase

Is your child struggling in school? They may have a vision condition that is affecting their ability to achieve academic success.  When school becomes difficult

Did you know that 80% of the information you learn comes through your vision? If your child struggles to read or keep up with their

Vision therapy is a structured program provided by highly trained and experienced optometrists. If you are considering vision therapy, it is important to understand the differences between programs offered by orthotists, occupational therapists and other healthcare practitioners.

Primitive reflexes are essential for development of your baby’s brain. However, if these are ‘retained’ there could be consequences for your child.  The foundation of

Was your child prescribed multifocal contact lenses and you’re not sure why? Multifocal contact lenses are prescribed for children to support their learning and school

25% of all children have a vision problem significant enough to affect their performance in school. Parents will do almost anything to get their child

Have you ever wondered if the smile of a nurse or the bedside manner of a doctor actually increase the chances of positive treatment results? 

Many children suffer with vision loss, but there are a range of low vision aids that can give them the best chance to engage with the world around them. There are a number of conditions that can cause vision impairments in children. While some of these conditions can be treated in early childhood, many can result in low vision or even total blindness.

Approximately 1 in 3 people have astigmatism, a vision condition that causes blurry and distorted vision. If you have astigmatism, there is a wide variety

Author: Dr. Randy Schulman EyeCare Associates, CT “Vision therapy has helped me ride my bike, and helps me for school in math, writing, and reading. I

An estimated 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women has some degree of color blindness. Color blindness is not an actual blindness, but

Do you find that you sometimes struggle to open your eyes due to severe eye discomfort? Eye allergy symptoms can sometimes mimic an eye infection,

Vision therapy has been shown to be the most effective solution for lazy eye, as it treats the underlying cause of the condition.  A lazy

If a lazy eye is not really ‘lazy’, then what is it exactly? Lazy eye (amblyopia) is the most common neuro-developmental vision condition, affecting up

Sports-related eye injuries are one of the leading causes of visual impairment and vision loss among children in the United States.

Have you heard of NFL star Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald?
He is the second most career leading receiver for total TDs, yards, catches and more, after the legendary Jerry Rice. Larry credits his success on the field to a customized vision therapy program.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has children learning through digital platforms for up to 7-10 hours a day! But what can you do when your child

Modern science now understands why long hours of reading and screen time can lead to eye strain. When the visual system struggles to meet the

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), 25 percent of all children have a vision problem significant enough to impact their learning. Up to 80

MiSight contact lenses are daily disposable, soft contact lenses designed to control myopia progression in children ages 8 to 15 years. Although FDA approval is for children up to age 12, recent research has found that teens up to age 15 can also benefit from these lenses.

Which optical lenses are best for children? If you are purchasing new eyeglasses for your child, you may not even be aware that different lens options exist. While your optometrist will be able to guide you and recommend a specific type of lens for your child’s individual needs, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different lens materials.

How does digital eye strain affect children? In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the amount of time children spend in front

Author: Dr. Denise Smith The Center for Vision Development, Austin TX 20/20 vision is not ‘perfect sight’ Most people don’t think about vision until they

Personal stories from adults and children who improved their math scores following Vision Therapy. *Names have been changed for privacy protection. Click here for a

Real life stories of children with spelling difficulties, where an underlying visual problem was diagnosed and treated with Vision Therapy. *Names have been changed for

Real life stories of children with reading difficulties, where an underlying visual problem was diagnosed and treated by an eye doctor experienced in children’s vision. *Names have been changed for privacy protection.

What is a lazy eye and how does it develop? Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a neuro-developmental vision condition that begins in early

Vision therapy is a specialized program prescribed for the treatment of vision conditions that cannot be fully treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses.  Unfortunately, there

Developmental optometrists believe that vision can be developed and improved through a learned process.  A developmental optometrist, also called a behavioral optometrist, focuses on the

Author: Dr. Nate Bonilla-Warford Bright Eyes Family Vision Care A visual health guide for students during the COVID-19 pandemic If your child is e-learning, and

Author: Dr. Nate Bonilla-Warford Bright Eyes Family Vision Care A visual health guide for students during the COVID-19 pandemic If your child is experiencing screen-related

Author: Dr. Lynn F. Hellerstein Hellerstein and Brenner Vision Center Visualization is an essential key to a child’s academic success. Does your child struggle in

Author: Dr. Alex and Patti Andrich The Vision Development Team If you frequently experience bouts of anxiety, you are not alone.  According to the Anxiety

Author: Dr. Ingryd Lorenzana Brain Vision Institute 1. The brain is the only organ that is not fully developed at birth, and its function builds

Author: Dr. Denise Smith The Center for Vision Development, Austin TX Do you know a child who is smart in everything but school?  These children

Many parents request resources and names of books to help them to gain a deeper understanding of their children and to appreciate the benefits of

Prism lenses can be effectively used to treat vision conditions, such as double vision and other binocular vision difficulties. One of the most common uses for an eye doctor to prescribe prisms is to treat a condition known as Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD).

Personal stories from parents of children who were mislabeled as “lazy”, when a vision problem was the underlying cause. *Names have been changed for privacy

Each year, approximately 850,000 visits to the doctor and emergency room are associated with double vision.  Double vision, medically termed diplopia, can be very worrisome.

What is a black eye? A black eye is medically termed a periorbital hematoma, or a collection of blood (hematoma) located in the tissues around

Do you often lose your place while reading? Do words on the computer screen seem blurry? Do you suffer from frequent headaches or eye discomfort

If you have been diagnosed with convergence insufficiency (CI), or are experiencing symptoms of CI, you may be wondering how CI is treated. Any type

Q: What is dyslexia? A: Dyslexia is a complex condition that impacts the way the brain processes and interprets information. It is one of the

Q1: What is convergence insufficiency (CI)? A: Convergence insufficiency is a highly treatable binocular vision condition that affects near vision and eye muscle coordination. Convergence

These are the ten most frequent questions asked to vision therapy eye doctors.
You may easily find answers to your questions. If you still have questions, contact your nearest eye doctor experienced in children’s vision and vision therapy.

Many have dreamed of netting a 3 pointer the way Stephen Curry can— but did you know that strong visual skills are needed to land

Q1: What is myopia?  A: Myopia is a refractive error, or a vision condition that affects the ability to see distant images or objects clearly.

These are the ten most frequent questions asked to vision therapy eye doctors on ADHD. You may easily find answers to your questions below. If you still have questions, contact your nearest eye doctor experienced in treating children with ADHD or any attention difficulties.

Did you know that Larry Fitzgerald, 11 times pro-bowl receiver of the Arizona Cardinals, attributes his success to vision therapy? Football is a sport in

Your visual skills can affect your ice hockey performance. Wayne Gretzky, known as the “The Great One”, is the leading scorer in NHL history, with

Soccer skills are dependent on your physical stamina, legs and feet … and also your eyes. Soccer is played in over 200 countries, making it

Tennis players need speed, endurance, flexibility, and agility to be successful in the game. Did you know that tennis players also need excellent visual skills?

Strong visual skills are vital for optimal golf performance— from seeing your target, reading a putt, and even visualizing your swing? Your ability to play

If you think that hitting that 100 mile per hour fastball out of the park is all about athletic genes or natural abilities, what you

Contact lenses are designed to cover the cornea, the clear covering of the eye. They stay in place by adhering to the tear film of the eye, and through the pressure from the eyelids.  When you blink, your eyelid glides over the contact lens, enabling a cleansing and lubricating action to keep the contact lens comfortable on the cornea.

Do suffer with dry eyes? There are a range of very successful treatment now available that can offer you significant relief from your symptoms. The key is receiving the right diagnosis and appropriate advice from your eye doctor.

Buying your new pair of eyeglasses can be fun. The quality and range of lenses are always increasing. Considering contact lenses or laser surgery?

How does nutrition impact ocular health? A balanced diet should provide all the nutrients required for optimum eye health. Nutrients are vital for healthy eyes. Many nutrients help to support eye function, and serve as protection against harmful light. In this way, nutrients may reduce the risk of age-related degenerative ocular diseases that can put your vision in danger.

Eyecare for Children Are you worried about your child needing glasses? Do you want to understand why your child needs bifocals or multifocals? Are you

Is your child not reaching their potential at school? For a child to succeed in school they need excellent vision and strong visual skills, including eye tracking, focusing, binocular vision and visual processing. These skills can be enhanced with the correct eyewear and vision therapy.

Lazy eye is a common vision problem, affecting up to 1 in 20 (5%) of all children. Has your child been treated for lazy eye, yet the vision remains poor? Lazy eye can be successfully treated for both children and adults, with new digital techniques using computer-based 3D games.

It is important to watch your baby’s development to ensure they reach their milestones. A child’s vision is a complex combination of the brain, the eyes and the vast array of nerves that connect them. At birth, this visual system is still immature and continues to develop throughout the child’s early years.

We all appreciate the need to protect our skin and eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation— this is even more important for children! Your child’s

Up to 1 in 8 of all children will have an eye infection each year. Parents should be aware of the symptoms of an eye infection to enable prompt identification and treatment. Eye infections can be serious and may cause permanent vision loss. Effective treatment is always needed, especially when bacteria, viruses, or fungi invade the eye or the surrounding areas.  The most common eye infections that affect children are called Viral and Bacterial Conjunctivitis— both highly contagious.

Myopia affects clarity of vision for any distant images and objects – the board in a classroom, driving, the television, a clock on the wall, etc. Myopia affects millions of children and adults, worldwide, over 30% of the U.S. population suffers from myopia.

Convergence Insufficiency (CI) impacts the lives of up to 15% of all students. This is a highly treatable binocular vision condition that affects near vision and eye muscle coordination.
Children with CI can be mislabeled as ‘lazy’, ‘clumsy’, ‘poor students’ and ‘anxious’, or even misdiagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.

A guide to choosing the best eyeglasses for your child. Eyeglasses for children are now fun, colorful, and available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The latest children’s frames are also durable enough to survive the rough and tumble play of today’s child. With so many appealing choices, walking into an optical store can be quite overwhelming … remember to keep this experience as fun and relaxed as possible!

NAACP Passes Resolution on Vision, Learning, and High-Risk Populations at its 100th Anniversary National Convention, New York, NY 2009 PR Newswire, September 29, 2009 Charles

Has your child been diagnosed with Dyslexia? Since up to 80 percent of learning in school is acquired through vision, a child diagnosed with dyslexia may actually have an undiagnosed vision problem, causing difficulties with their academic performance.

Eye doctors utilize specific clinical and diagnostic tools and assessments to determine your child’s eye health and visual abilities. Since many learning skills are dependent on the strength of visual skills such as binocular vision, accurate eye movements, the ability to see distant objects, etc., doctors recommend that children have their first eye exam at age 6 months.