Parent Information
The eyes are the most important human sense for 80% of all information is acquired through the eyes. Did you know that infants need to learn how to see like they learn how to walk or how to speak? The progress they make in walking their first steps and talking their first words can easily be monitored by parents. But how they can see remains hidden.
Seeing is a twofold task consisting of picture acquisition by the eyes and picture processing by the brain. The co-operation of eyes and brain needs to be trained in order to develop the optical nerves in between eyes and brain. To develop normal binocular vision this training has to take place during the first years of life. If vision disorders occur and are not treated in time this learning process is biased and normal binocular vision will never be established. This medical condition is called Amblyopia or described as a "lazy eye". Amblyopia can't be corrected with glasses or contacts.
This question can be answered by vision screening or comprehensive eye exams. In average one out of five children age 4 has an undetected vision disorder. This high prevalence is not surprising for vision disorders not having obvious symptoms like other diseases.
Children don't notice their vision disorder because they are used to see the world with their (impaired) eyes. They lack a comparison and don't know what good vision looks like. Therefore you can't relay on your child telling you about its vision disorder.
The purpose of vision screening is to detect vision disorders as early as possible. If vision disorders are detected and treated in time, Amblyopia can be prevented.
Every child that is not already treated by an eye care professional should participate in vision screening regularly. The first vision screening should be performed around the first birthday. Vision screening should be repeated regularly for the eyes changing with growth and new vision disorders may occur anytime.
Ask your Pediatrician, Ophthalmologist or Optometrist. He'll give you advice and can perform a vision screening (Pediatrician) or a comprehensive eye exam (Ophthalmologist and Optometrist).
A Plusoptix vision screening device provides reliable and objective screening results. An objective screening result is neither biased by interpretation of the person performing the screening nor biased by poor co-operation of the child. Measurements are performed from 3.3 feet (1 meter) away. There is a sound target to attract attention. All a child needs to do is to focus the camera for one second. An age dependent "pass" or "refer" screening result is provided at the end of the measurement immediately. Screening result including full refraction data can be printed as a reference for a following eye exam if needed.
Click here to find a doctor using a Plusoptix vision screener or a Plusoptix binocular autorefractor in your vicinity.