When most people think of vision, they picture an eye chart and 20/20 eyesight. But true vision goes beyond clarity – it's a complex system involving how the eyes move, focus, work together, and how the brain processes what’s seen. If any of these visual skills are underdeveloped, it can impact a child’s learning, sports performance, and confidence.
Parents of school-age children know that getting ready for back-to-school is exciting, but also a very busy time. Initially, you have the task of outfitting your children with new clothes, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks. Then, there are “wellness” issues to address, such as sleep routine and nutrition. Fall is also a great time to review health screening and preventive care recommendations for all children, pre-school and school age.
Parents often dedicate countless hours to monitoring their children’s milestones, making sure they eat well, grow strong, and stay safe. Yet, vision, a crucial aspect of a child’s health, can easily go unnoticed until it impacts a child's behavior and performance at school.
Summer is a great time for families to be outdoors. However, too much heat can cause serious illness in people of all ages, both outdoor as well as indoor. The highest rates of death from heat-related illness are in the elderly, however infants and young children, as well as teenage athletes are also at significant risk. Being proactive to prevent heat illness and being aware of the signs and symptoms of it are important to ensure that outdoor summer activities are safe.
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