{"id":17024,"date":"2021-09-09T09:01:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T09:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=17024"},"modified":"2021-09-22T10:46:10","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T10:46:10","slug":"what-is-the-youngest-age-to-start-vision-therapy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/what-is-the-youngest-age-to-start-vision-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Youngest Age to Start Vision Therapy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vision therapy is essential for infants and children to ensure their eyes develop correctly and to avoid life-long vision problems.<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first few years of a child’s life are critical for the healthy and proper development of numerous body parts, particularly the visual system.<\/p>\n

Research shows, the lives up to 6 children in every classroom can be improved with vision therapy<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

The eyes of a child develop at the same rate as the rest of their body, just as you see your baby and infant growing, their eyes too are growing and developing.<\/p>\n

Keeping a close eye on your child’s eyes can assist ensure that they are developing normally and not developing lazy eyes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When can vision therapy start?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Infants from ages 2-3 can start a program of vision, however the largest group begin as young as 5-6 years.<\/b><\/p>\n

Formal in-office sessions are often required to optimize the results, these are best for children aged 7 and over because they have a better understanding of instructions.<\/p>\n

Even if a child has 20\/20 vision and no refractive errors (such as nearsightedness or farsightedness), they may struggle with visual processing or focus or have a lazy eye<\/a>. These forms of vision problems are more difficult to notice, yet they can nonetheless affect a child’s development in many ways.<\/p>\n

When a child’s visual problems make it difficult for them to learn or connect socially, it may be time to consider vision therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When is vision therapy necessary?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Vision therapy has been shown to help children and adults enhance their visual skills and performance at school<\/a> and the sports field and treat a lazy eye.<\/a><\/p>\n

Vision therapy is has been shown over decades to successfully play a role in the management of several conditions, including;<\/p>\n