AS children navigate the challenges of school, from reading assignments to class participation, clear vision is essential for academic success. Unfortunately, many children suffer from undiagnosed or untreated vision problems, which can have a significant impact on their learning, behaviour, and overall well-being. In fact, refractive errors and other vision issues are among the most undiagnosed health problems in school-aged children, often affecting their academic performance and classroom participation.
Dr Aron Wohl, CEO and lead optometrist at Eye Q Optical, said refractive errors like near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism are among the most common issues affecting children’s vision. “Without early detection, these problems can seriously hinder a child’s ability to learn and participate fully in school activities,” he said. Other common vision problems in school-aged children include myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye), and strabismus (crossed eyes).
Less common, but equally impactful, are colour vision deficiencies and visual processing disorders which can complicate learning tasks that require colour differentiation or visual attention. “To ensure healthy vision development, it is recommended that children have their eyes checked regularly, starting at birth,” Dr Wohl shared. “A comprehensive eye exam is essential by age four or five, just before starting school, and yearly follow-ups are advised therea.
