Is Your Child Ready For School? Excel Eye Center can help.

August 30, 2002 Provo, Utah - One of the best ways to make sure your child is ready to go back to school this September is to give him or her a test - an eye test.

About one-quarter of school-aged children have vision problems. Of children ages 3 to 5, nearly one in 20 has a problem that could result in permanent vision loss if left untreated. And yet, nearly 80 percent of preschoolers don't receive a vision screening.

In honor of September's Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, Excel Eye Center and Michael S. Abrams, M.D., pediatric ophthalmologist at Excel of Orem, want Utah parents to know that every child should have an eye screening before age 5.

Eye problems that can threaten your child's vision may not be noticed during a regular physical exam, but a simple eye screening can detect vision problems before they become serious.

"Aside from vision threatening conditions, eye screenings for children are important because vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing them," said Dr. Abrams. "If your child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or trouble seeing the words in a book, learning as well as participating in recreational activities will suffer. While vision problems can interfere with school performance, it's important to distinguish them from learning disorders that can't be treated with glasses or eye exercises.”

Among the conditions a screener will look for are amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (dropping of the upper eyelid) and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism). Some of these conditions, such as amblyopia may be difficult to detect until vision loss occurs. Treatment started at an early age is often effective; however, effective treatment for amblyopia after 8 or 9 years old is rarely achieved. Early diagnosis of strabismus is also critical because a child with strabismus may go on to develop amblyopia.

All children need to have their eyes screened by an eye care professional, Eye M.D., primary care provider, family doctor, pediatrician or a trained screener. They should see an Eye M.D. promptly if there is a family history of eye problems or if a problem is apparent. To make an appointment for your child’s vision screening, call Dr. Abrams at 866-837-4766 or 801-426-9800.

About Excel Eye Center

For more than 80 years, Excel Eye Center has been the standard for eye care in Utah County by consistently providing the highest available levels of professional eye treatment in a caring and friendly environment. Today the company is among the largest private ophthalmologic practices in the Western United States with full-service treatment centers in Provo, Orem, American Fork, and Payson and satellite offices in Nephi, Fillmore, Mt. Pleasant, Richfield, Gunnison, and Delta. In addition to offering a complete range of ophthalmologic and optometric services, the company also specializes in laser-assisted corrective surgery, (including LASIK), pediatric ophthalmology, cataract care and cosmetic surgery. For more information, call (801) 374-1818 or visit www.exceleyecenter.com.

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