Sight, more that any other sense, guides and shapes a child’s experience of life. Vision is the key to a child’s overall development – more than 80% of the information we receive about the world comes through our eyes. However, more than one in four children suffer from inadequate visual skills, and many children with learning and behavioural problems have reduced visual functioning. Problems with seeing clearly are common and fairly obvious, but other issues with binocular vision and visual performance are not so easily recognised. Look for these signs:
• Complaining of blurry vision for the blackboard (distance) or reading (near)
• Sitting very close for reading and watching TV
• Squinting, excessive blinking, rubbing eyes, closing one eye, head tilting
• Poor posture, eye fatigue with reading, regular headaches
• Short attention span, slow reading, no interest in reading, poor school performance
• Clumsiness, poor sport skills, messy handwriting

Regular check-ups by optometrists can provide early vision therapy and correction where needed. I recommend a comprehensive eye examination at age three before commencing school. Testing should be carried out annually during school years, particularly if there are symptoms, a family history of eye problems or a child is not working to their best capability. Prevention is better than cure! We offer online/phone/email consultations and regular coaching in a natural approach to improving vision, including natural eye exercises, diet and supplementation, hydration, visual habits, device use, sunlight/artificial light/blue light exposure, stress management and sleep.