Koak 1

Kylie Koak

Mrs. Cook

PRO

03 March 2020

Lack of Eye Care in Children

Young children are in need of getting their eyes checked. More than half of all

children under the age of six do not receive an eye exam. It is recommended by doctors to start

going to the eye doctors at six months old. By starting early, children will be able to live a well-

rounded healthy life. Things that the eye doctors check for at these young ages include

farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, eye mobility, and any other eye health problems

that may occur. Identifying eye problems not only helps the doctor correct the vision of the

patient, but it may also help the doctor identify other health problems that may be

neurological. When corrected at a young age, vision problems are easier to treat and are more

preventable. The number of children who need follow-up care is 1 out of 4, which is almost 20

million kids who are not able to see clearly. It is estimated that 86% of children enter school

without having had their first eye exam. While many elementary schools offer vision screenings

to help determine whether a child needs glasses or not, studies have shown that these tests are

not beneficial to the student. Signs that a child may be struggling with their vision include

rubbing of eyes, holding objects up close, headaches, and clumsiness.

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Works Cited

"More than 50% of children under 6 years do not receive eye exams, survey shows." Obesity,

Fitness & Wellness Week, 20 Mar. 2004, p. 51. Gale Health and Wellness,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A114177227/HWRC?

u=j191901001&sid=HWRC&xid=b9e466f9. Accessed 3 Mar. 2020.

"Optometry group recommends eye exams before sending children to school." Obesity, Fitness

& Wellness Week, 4 Sept. 2004, p. 1080. Gale Health and Wellness,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A121349008/HWRC?

u=j191901001&sid=HWRC&xid=6537cd1d. Accessed 3 Mar. 2020.