It’s June and if you have school-aged children, we’d be willing to bet the last thing on their minds is making sure their vision is good and their eyes are healthy for the coming school year. More likely, they are focused on socializing with friends, maybe sleeping in, movies they plan to watch or events they want to attend.
It’s true that eye exams might not be the most fun summer activity, but at Cargo Eye Care of Las Colinas, we know that good vision is the very foundation for success in school. From tiny tots in preschool to young adults in college or vocational training, much of what’s presented in a classroom is visual in nature.
Since June is Children’s Vision Awareness Month, we’d like to take some time to spotlight the importance of establishing a foundation of healthy vision in childhood and maintaining healthy eyes for a lifetime.
Common Vision Issues for Children
Just the same as adults, the most common vision problems for children include myopia or “nearsightedness”, hyperopia or “farsightedness”, and astigmatism, which is irregular shape of the front surface of the cornea.
Myopia causes poor long-distance vision. In other words, close-up objects appear clear but far-away ones are blurry. Myopia, in particular, is on the rise in children, increasing at alarming rates. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the occurrence of myopia has doubled in children in the U.S., from 20% in the 1990s to 36% in 2023, and that number is growing!
While there is of course a hereditary factor to myopia, experts overwhelmingly agree the significant increase in recent years is likely related to environmental factors, including increased screen time and less time spent outdoors, which can result in a deficiency in natural sunlight exposure.
Not surprisingly, many parents are concerned about their children becoming more nearsighted (myopic progression) as they are increasingly using more digital devices for both instructional and leisure time. At Cargo Eye Care, we are proud to have a dedicated pediatric myopia management program and offer several options that can actually slow the progression of myopia in children. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced doctors to learn more about these leading-edge treatments.
Why Is it so Important that Your Child Has Regular Eye Exams?
Children’s vision issues can be harder to detect because they may not know they are seeing the world differently than other children. Children should have eye exams to be sure that they can see both near and far away, make sure their eyes work together to focus on a single object, and that their eyes are free of disease.
Babies with vision loss can’t pick up visual cues such as body language and facial expressions which can affect their language development. Children with undiagnosed poor vision can have developmental problems that are sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD or other learning disabilities.
For these reasons and more, we want to see your kiddos this summer! According to the American Optometric Association, children should have their first eye exam at 6 months of age, again at age 3 and another exam when they start school. Children without risk factors should then continue to have their eyes examined every two years until age 18. Children with risk factors (including premature birth, developmental delays and a family history of eye disease) should see their eye doctor more frequently.
Meet Our Caring Providers
JONATHAN CARGO, OD
Founder of Cargo Eye Care of Las Colinas, Dr. Cargo specializes in ocular therapeutics, disease treatment and comprehensive vision care for patients of all ages. He holds an extended scope license that allows him to prescribe oral medications and treat glaucoma. He also has advanced training in laser and minor surgery.
At Cargo Eye Care of Las Colinas, you will find a team of eye care professionals that genuinely cares about not only your child’s vision but their life! Schedule an appointment with Jonathan Cargo, O.D. today, and let’s make sure your student is ready for a great upcoming school year.
