{"id":9572,"date":"2021-01-20T20:42:03","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T20:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=9572"},"modified":"2021-07-14T09:45:10","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T09:45:10","slug":"eye-conditions-that-can-affect-academic-success","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/vision-for-school\/does-your-child-have-a-learning-difficulty\/eye-conditions-that-can-affect-academic-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Eye Conditions That Can Affect Academic Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is your child struggling to keep up with their classmates? A vision condition may be affecting their ability to achieve academic success.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The following eye conditions can significantly impact reading and learning.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Amblyopia (lazy-eye)<\/b><\/h2>\n

Amblyopia, commonly known as \u201clazy eye\u201d is a visual condition that affects up to 3 in 100 children in the United States.<\/b><\/p>\n

Lazy eye<\/a> occurs when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity<\/a>, and typically causes blurry vision in the affected eye (even with corrective lenses), poor depth perception, and reading difficulties.<\/p>\n

A lazy eye can make reading quite difficult\u2014 causing loss of place, skipping words, re-reading words, misreading or substituting words, and adding words into sentences.<\/p>\n

A child with a lazy eye must exert extra focusing effort to keep the words clear\u2014 leading to fatigue and reduced concentration while reading<\/b>.<\/p>\n

A lazy eye is generally difficult to recognize because it usually develops in only one eye, without a noticeable eye turn.<\/p>\n

Although this condition cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses, with early detection and vision therapy<\/a>, children with amblyopia can achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.<\/b><\/p>\n

For many years, it was thought that a lazy eye was only amenable to treatment up to the age of seven or eight years. However, clinical research conducted by the National Eye Institute (NEI) has now proven that effective treatment outcomes can be seen in teenagers up to age 17<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Convergence insufficiency\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Convergence insufficiency affects up to 17 percent of children and adults.<\/b><\/p>\n

Convergence insufficiency<\/a> (CI) is a common near vision condition that impacts the ability to read, learn, and work at near distances.<\/p>\n

This condition occurs when the eyes are unable to work together, and instead, one eye tends to drift outward or away from the target when reading or performing other near vision activities.<\/p>\n

Children with CI often experience blurry or double vision, eye strain, and headaches when reading, using a computer or performing other near vision activities for an extended period of time<\/b>.<\/p>\n

This condition tends to manifest or worsen as the demands in school increase for reading and homework assignments.<\/p>\n

Convergence insufficiency often goes undetected in children<\/a>, as it can only be diagnosed with a comprehensive functional vision evaluation.<\/p>\n

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), the most effective treatment for CI<\/a> is in-office vision therapy.<\/p>\n

If you think your child may have a vision problem, schedule an appointment<\/a> with an eye doctor as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> NAACP: Vision and Learning Statement<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t
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