American Optometric Assc. statement regarding vision in the classroom

AOA reminds parents good vision is critical for children’s classroom success, overall well-being.
With the new school year about to start, Medical News Today (8/6) reports that the “American Optometric Association (AOA) reminds parents that good vision is critical for many classroom tasks.” Children who do not have “healthy vision…can face unnecessary challenges not only in the classroom, but also to their mental, physical, social, and emotional well being.” Some youngsters who “suffer from undetected vision problems…may even be misdiagnosed as having a learning disorder.” In fact, “[s]tudies indicate that 60 percent of children identified as ‘problem learners’ actually suffer from undetected vision problems. According to the AOA’s American Eye-Q® survey, only 39 percent of adults understand that behavioral problems can be an indication of vision problems.” Optometrist Leonard Press, O.D., AOA’s vision and learning specialist, pointed out that “10 million school children in America have vision conditions that can negatively affect learning.” Therefore, “[a] comprehensive eye examination for students is one of the most important ‘to-dos’ as children head back to school.”