Doctors urge annual eye exams as students head back to school

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - With the new school year days away, doctors are emphasizing the connection between good eyesight and academic success.

The president of the American Optometric Association said annual eye exams are critical because many eye diseases develop without noticeable symptoms.

“Vision is one of those things there where a lot of eye diseases are quiet and you won’t know anything’s happening inside,” said Teri Geist, president of the American Optometric Association. “And so that’s why we feel that an annual eye exam is very important.”

Vision problems can affect behavior and academic performance

Geist said when students struggle to see, their ability to learn suffers.

“You know, if you put all your energy into focusing, the energy to learn goes away,” Geist said. “And so that’s what breaks my heart to see kids that are just trying to focus, trying to focus, and then their academic performance can go down and behavior issues start.”

What parents can watch for at home

A Memorial Health pediatrician said parents should monitor how closely their children hold tablets or other devices to their eyes and whether they struggle to read.

“Take a look to see, you know, how closely they are holding that tablet up to their eyes,” said Dr. Ashley Cheek, a Memorial Health pediatric doctor. “A reasonable distance is about here. If they’re holding it up like this all the time, that may mean that they have, you know, a vision concern.”

Screen time limits recommended

Dr. Cheek said doctors recommend no more than two hours of screen time per day for school-age children.

“The more screen time you have, the more strain that causes to the eyes, muscles, and so that can create or contribute to vision loss,” Cheek said. “So having those structured times, playing outside with your kids, it’s really good for the eye.”

Nearsightedness trend linked to smart devices

Geist said over the last decade, a world-wide trend has emerged connecting smart device use to nearsightedness. She said annual eye screenings are important for identifying retinal diseases commonly associated with the condition.

Based on research, Geist said a child’s first eye exam should take place between 6 and 12 months of age, with annual exams before each school year. Doctors said the demand on children’s eyes increases when school begins, making it important for students to see clearly both up close and at a distance.