GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — It will soon be back to school for students, and along with getting a physical, it is also important to get their vision checked. A quarter of school-age children suffer from eye trouble so significant that it impacts their school work. Unfortunately, many of them can’t tell their parents because they don’t know what the problem is.
Dr. Theresa Lonksy, an optometrist with Allina Health, joined us to discuss the warning signs families should look for as kids head back to school. She says optometrists have heard from parents who say their children stopped paying attention in class, refused to read or became disruptive. Those parents had no clue that those behaviors were the result of poor eyesight. The children couldn’t see the letters on the page or they couldn’t read the chalkboard. 80% of early childhood learning happens through vision. As families prepare to send their children back to school, an eye exam should be on their checklist.