How long has it been since your child had an eye test? Their school performance could be suffering

With the end of summer fast approaching, parents only have one thing on their mind. But while you’re getting new school shoes fitted and uniforms ready, make sure that you also remember to get your child an eye examination as part of the usual back-to-school routine.

Good vision is essential to success in school and if your child hasn’t had an eye examination recently, now is a good time to have their vision checked. Short-sightedness is becoming increasingly common in children and can make distant objects appear blurry, meaning children may need to squint to see objects which are far away.[i] Unsurprisingly, this can have a huge impact on performance in school, and if it’s not treated early, short-sightedness may progress quickly and can affect your child’s vision in adulthood.[ii]

As short-sightedness is most likely to develop between the ages of 6 – 13,[i] identifying it early is an important factor in limiting the impact blurry vision can have on their ability to learn. There are signs you can look out for: if your child is persistently squinting, rubbing their eyes, moving closer to the TV or experiencing headaches – it’s important to get their vision checked by a professional.[i]

Why short-sightedness may be interfering your child’s school work

• About 80% of learning is visual.[iii] For children with short-sightedness, it can be difficult to see the screen or whiteboard at the front of the class, which is likely to dramatically limit their ability to learn
• Poor eyesight is also associated with a poor attention span. This can have an impact on a child’s ability to complete tasks or stay focussed in lessons[iv]
• A child may experience a lack of confidence if they are short-sighted. This can impact their willingness to participate in class or to interact with other children
• Vision problems can coexist or be associated with learning disabilities. Identifying all of the factors of the learning problem increases the chances that the problem can be successfully addressed.[iv]

How MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses could benefit your child

There are effective ways to treat short-sightedness and help children reach their academic potential. For children who are active or find glasses to be a bit of a nuisance, MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses are available for children and can help them see clearly at school.[v] Unlike glasses, MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses also act as an effective way to slow down the advancement of the condition and may reduce the likelihood of developing serious eye problems in future.[v]

An astonishing 90% of children say that they actually preferred wearing their MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses to their spectacles.^v  Frequent eye exams are however still important because as your child progresses through school, their eyes can change quickly.

If you suspect your child might be showing some signs of short-sightedness, or that they could be at a higher risk of developing the condition, make sure you schedule an eye examination.

Click here to find a MiSight® 1 day optician near you.