Dr. Mertins and the American Optometric Association recommend that all children receive a comprehensive eye exam from an eye doctor before they are one year old, before they start school and each year thereafter.
Without proper eye care, you are placing your child’s physical, scholastic and emotional development at risk.
There’s nothing worse than examining a child who’s facing permanent vision loss, and telling the parents that we could have prevented this vision loss if we had seen the child sooner.
If you notice any of the following signs, your child may have a vision problem that is interfering with his or her ability to learn, and may also indicate a medical or developmental problem that requires quick intervention:
• Constantly holding a book very close (7 or 8 inches from face)
• Tilting head to one side
• One or both eyes turn in or out (crossed or lazy eye)
• Turning head to use only one eye
• Covering or closing one eye while reading
• Squinting for either near or far visual tasks
• Moving head back and forth, rather than eyes, while reading
• Omitting letters, words or phrases
• Complains of seeing double or of blurred vision
• Writing which is difficult to read, is crowded or inconsistent in size
• Mistakes words with similar beginnings
• Miscalls or omits "small" words
• Excessive blinking or watering of eyes
• Losing place while reading
• Using a finger or marker to keep place
• Headaches during or after reading
• Misaligns digits in columns of numbers
• Writing uphill or downhill
• Reversing letters (d for b) or words (saw for was)
• Rereads or skips words while reading
• Excessive rubbing of eyes while engaged in visual tasks
• Fatigues easily
• Lip reading or whisper reading to reinforce comprehension
• Poor eye-hand coordination, ie. difficulty with catching a ball
• Burning or itching eyes
• Premature birth
• Developmental delays
• Family history of vision problems (parents or siblings)
• Poor grades (child working under potential) or behavorial problems at school
To schedule an appointment for you or your children, please call (479)442-8400 or click the Appointments tab on the menu on the left.
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