How Eye Health Affects Learning and Development

Eye health is rarely one of the issues considered when debating children’s learning and development. However, it is very important because children interact with the environment through vision. This article deals with the interrelationship of eye health, learning, and development, which in turn prompts regular checks and vision care.

The Role of Vision in Learning

Vision is one of the very fundamentals of learning for any child. Approximately 80% of what they learn during the early years of life is through their eyes. Vision problems will inhibit the child’s ability to read and write and to work in the classroom.

When seeing is difficult for a child, there will be frustration and withdrawn behaviour from learning pursuits. For instance, a child could lose interest in reading altogether if a text becomes unreadable from a distance or if details in the picture book appear faint. This withdrawal can perpetuate a cycle of underachievement, whereby a child, undiagnosed with a vision problem, academically falls behind peers.

To facilitate learning, visual processing skills are also imperative. These skills allow children to interpret and make sense of what they see, including the recognition of shapes and patterns, as well as letters. Problems with visual processing can affect reading as well as math skills, since many children use visual aids such as graphs and charts to help them understand concepts.

Common Vision Problems in Children

Refractive Errors: Problems like myopia, or nearsightedness, hyperopia, or farsightedness, and astigmatism hinder a child’s ability to see clearly. Such issues may create learning difficulties because children may not be able to read the board or complete assignments.
Amblyopia: Also referred to as the lazy eye, amblyopia arises due to the brain favouring one eye over the other, reducing vision in the affected eye. This learning disability may harm the child’s development when not treated early.
Strabismus: A disorder characterised by the misalignment of the eyes, causing double vision and problems with depth perception. It is difficult for children with strabismus to take part in activities requiring hand-eye coordination.

The Impact of Vision on Development

Cognitive Development: Vision is intimately related to cognitive development whereby children perceive their environment by visual means to grasp concepts, problem-solve, and develop critical thinking skills. Poor visual standards may hamper the above processes and cause learning delays.
Social Skills: Good vision is an important aspect of social interaction. Children rely on visual clues to read body language and facial expressions. Impaired vision can hinder social development, making it hard for the child to develop friendships and interact with peers.
Physical Development: Vision is essential for physical coordination and motor skills. Sports and play need good vision for children to interact with the environment. Thus, those with visual impairments may become less active, further extending this impact on their physical development.

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

It’s important to have regular eye examinations to detect and treat vision problems early on. Parents must ensure that their children have extensive eye examinations at all stages of development. The American Optometric Association recommends that children undergo their first eye examination at six months, another at three years of age, and subsequent yearly examinations.

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

Parents must be on the lookout for signs in their children that might indicate vision problems. Examples of these signs include, but are not restricted to:

Squinting: This may be an indication that the child cannot see clearly.
Covering One Eye: For better vision, the child may try to cover one eye. This may give a clue to an eye alignment problem.
Difficulty Reading: The child may read with difficulty or very often lose his/her place while reading.
Frequent Headaches: If headaches are frequent, especially after reading or doing near work, this may indicate that vision strain is the cause.
Avoiding Activities: The child may be avoiding activities requiring good vision, such as reading or playing sports.

Tips for Supporting Eye Health

Encourage Outdoor Play: Playing outdoors will help reduce the incidence of myopia and thereby enhance eye health. Children have a lower incidence of myopia as age increases with exposure to light outdoors.
Limit Screen Time: Excessive screen time makes the eyes tire. Encourage breaks and regulate usage to support good vision. Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Provide a Healthy Diet: When a child eats healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids, he/she is doing great for eye health. Carrots, spinach, and fish are good vision foods.
Educate About Eye Safety: Teach kids to protect their eyes while playing sports and while using screens. They should use protective eyewear, like sunglasses and safety goggles, to prevent injury.

The Connection Between Eye Health and Academic Performance

There is a strong connection between eye health and academic performance, as research shows. Undiagnosed vision problems are responsible for many children failing to achieve academically, which resulted in lower grades and deteriorating self-esteem. According to the study published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, children with vision problems are often associated with the same difficulties in reading and other subjects.

The Role of Teachers and Schools

Identifying potential vision problems is the role of teachers and school personnel. Teachers must be trained to recognise the signs of visual difficulties in students and urge parents of such pupils to obtain professional assessments where necessary. Schools may also provide the necessary screening tools and promotion programmes emphasising the importance of eye health.

The Long-Term Effects of Untreated Vision Problems

Untreated conditions of the eyes would lead to the result of long-term consequences after problems with vision in childhood.

Academic Challenges: Persistent vision problems can result in long-lasting academic difficulties affecting the child’s future educational opportunities.
Social Isolation: Children with vision problems may feel isolated from their peers and develop social anxiety or perhaps withdraw.
Career Limitations: They can affect vision-enhanced career decisions later in life, restricting options in those careers where good vision is important.

Conclusion

Eye health is an important factor affecting the ability of a child to learn and develop. Parents can help to ensure their children achieve their optimum potential academically and socially by promoting regular eye examinations and healthy vision habits.

Don’t wait for signs! Call your kids eye doctor and schedule a thorough eye examination for your child to check that their vision is enhancing their learning and growth.