Blog Vol.2, # 15. Back to
school.
The summer seems to go by so
fast, with the start of school just around the corner. Again, another Covid-fraught September. The details need to be worked out, but we are
back in the classroom much to the relief of all involved. Back-to-school time is a good time to consider
your child’s vision. Has your child had their eyes checked? Because they are growing and changing so
much, children need to have their eyes examined regularly. Furthermore…
..the increased screen time of
the pandemic has an impact on our children’s eyes. I am particularly talking about myopia
development or increased nearsightedness (cannot see the distance clearly, sees
well up close). The decrease in outdoor activity and the increase in screen
time have created the “perfect storm”.
The studies done during the past year have concentrated on the impact of
this “perfect storm” on school age children.
Here are two of many studies:
Progression of Myopia in School-Aged Children After COVID-19 Home Confinement
Myopia incidence and lifestyle changes among school children during the COVID-19 pandemic
The upshot is that when
children get back to the classroom there will be some squinting of eyes and extra
eye strain. Teachers, parents and
students have to be on the watch for these symptoms. Nearsightedness can result from the eyes adapting
to a near environment, the visual system actually changes to make work up close
easier. While we have been at home for
much of the last 20 months, our eyes have been “happily” doing our near work,
not needing to do our pre-Covid distance work.
REMINDER: Eye exams for the kids.
Glasses are not the only
solution. There are many new treatments to slow down myopia development, not to
mention habits that we can develop in our children, like getting outside as
much as possible, spending less time on our screens, and moving our screens
further away from our eyes.
Remember, watch for squinting
in the classroom this fall.
Til next week,
the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist
