Pediatric eye care key to promote normal vision development, general wellness
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LAS VEGAS — Early detection of vision problems in infants and children is essential to prevent poor school performance, low self-esteem and antisocial behavior, according to presenters at Vision Expo West.
“A child does not understand what it means to see properly,” Isabel Kazemi, OD, FAAO, a professor at UC Berkeley School of Optometry, said. “Therefore, they really can’t explain that they have a vision problem. So, we have a duty to educate adults about the importance of pediatric vision care.”
One of the most important steps of pediatric vision care is encouraging parents to follow the recommended timeline for eye exams: An infant’s first exam should be at age 6 to 9 months, followed by another at 3 to 5 years, and school-aged children should receive annual exams, Kazemi and Michelle J. Hoff, OD, FAAO, ABOM, FNAO, also a professor at UC Berkeley School of Optometry, told attendees.
School vision screenings are not a substitute for an eye exam performed by an optometrist, as they provide less than 4% of a comprehensive eye exam and may create a “false sense of security for those kids who pass the screening, but actually do have some kind of a vision problem,” according to Kazemi.
“Parents need to know that school screenings cannot provide the same results as a comprehensive eye exam,” she said. “Vision screenings can actually miss 75% of vision problems.”
Additionally, fewer than 15% of preschool children visit an eye doctor, according to the presenters, which may result in missed vision problems that need to be caught early to prevent future issues.
“There is a proven link between untreated vision problems, literacy and incarceration, and better vision care means a more literate and productive workforce,” Kazemi said.
Regular comprehensive eye exams also can facilitate proper fitting for frames and lens design for children with conditions like amblyopia or for children who participate in sports.
Kazemi and Hoff reiterated the importance of healthy habits for children, including eating a balanced diet, spending time outdoors, using proper UV protection and limiting screen time, to help prevent vision-affecting conditions such as myopia, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration later in life.
“Early detection and treatment of pediatric visual problems is key to promoting normal visual development, which is essential to the learning process as well as success in academics and sports,” Kazemi said. “Everyone wins when we take good care of our kids.”
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Kazemi I, et. al. The ABCs of pediatric vision. Presented at: Vision Expo West; Sept. 14-17, 2022; Las Vegas.
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