The month of June is Child Vision Awareness Month. That’s 30 days to show your support for the more than 5 million elementary-aged children with vision problems.

Despite the fact that undetected and untreated vision problems can lead to serious academic, health and social problems, only 1 in 3 children receive an eye exam before entering school. A recent study showed that more than 11% of teenagers currently have undetected or untreated vision problems.

Oftentimes, kids don’t even realize they have vision problems because they think everyone sees the world the same way they do. This is why regular eye exams and constant communication with your child about his or her vision is extremely important. In fact, if they have problems with their vision, they tend to accept their blurred version of the world, assuming it is reality. They can’t figure out why they can’t see the board from the back of the classroom, nor can they understand why they are unable to spot their friends during lunchtime.

In some cases, children have even been misdiagnosed with ADHD or learning problems when vision problems are actually to blame.

If you have kids of your own, summer is a great time to take them in for eye exams. And now that you know how important it is to detect and treat vision problems at an early age, take this opportunity to talk about it with other parents.

HOW TO CELEBRATE CHILD VISION AWARENESS MONTH



Take your child for an eye exam

To ensure your child has no vision issues, visit an eye specialist and have them conduct a vision test. Even if your child is unaware of the hindrance in their vision, the test will reveal it all.

Ask the school to emphasize the importance of clear vision

Sometimes, children don’t want to wear glasses to avoid being bullied. Speak to the schools in your town and ask them to dedicate the month to spreading awareness among children and parents regarding the importance of clear vision.

Donate to foundations that are helping children with weak vision

Donate to a foundation that focuses on raising money for children who can’t afford to improve their vision through surgeries.