BACK TO SCHOOL COUNTDOWN

 That bell is about to ring again and the rush to get materials for school has already begun. And what the almost 9 million elementary, middle and high school students have in common is a lack of enthusiasm about going back to school, so to ensure it isn’t made even more difficult, it’s essential to start off in good shape: if they’re energetic after the long summer break, it’s a good idea to check the eyesight of those returning from vacation and, above all, of those going to school for the first time.

A change in lifestyle
«For children starting school for the first time, it isn’t just the beginning of a learning program that will last for several years, it is also a complete change in lifestyle», explained Francesco Loperfido, head of the general ophthalmology service at the Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences Unit of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan and Commissione Difesa Vista consultant. «So it’s important that they get the best possible start for this new adventure. In this sense, an eye exam is fundamental, because incorrect vision frequently leads to incorrect learning». Not being able to see properly – whether it’s due to myopia (short-sightedness), astigmatism (blurred or double vision at all distances) or hyperopia (far-sightedness) – not only holds back the ability to learn, it can also cause stress and anxiety and so create a vicious circle.

Checking posture
Difficulty in seeing frequently leads to incorrect posture. For example, astigmatic children tend to face a book at an angle or they hold it at an angle; myopic children, on the other hand, tend to peer at a book, so their back is bent forward. Lastly, if they have hyperopia they have to look away from the book because their vision is cloudy, they struggle to read and need long pauses before starting again. «These are the things to look out for because they tell parents that there is a problem and it must be solved», Loperfido warned. If they find it difficult to see, children will be listless, inattentive, they won’t want to study and might also have headaches, reddened eyes, feel tired and try to use their eyes as little as possible. «A thorough eye exam is reassuring because it determines eye health and function and is the correct step to take before children begin an extremely important period of their life», Loperfido maintained.

Some figures
Important advice given that recent research promoted by the Commissione Difesa Vista (2008) revealed that 1 child in 3 (over 33%) between 6 and 13 years of age has at least one sight defect (in order: astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia, strabismus). Of these, not all wear eyeglasses: a good 20% do not correct the defect even though they are aware they have it.

Familiarity and surroundings
All children in general should have an eye exam, but it is even more important for those whose parents are myopes. «Familiarity with the sight defect must not be underestimated and checkups are necessary, even if there is no obvious impairment», explained Dr. Loperfido. «In some cases, one eye has a serious defect and the other one doesn’t, so the images picked up by both eyes are not superimposed and this leads to monocular vision. An eye exam is absolutely indispensable. With regular and timely checks, common and very widespread problems can be identified: as well as the previously-mentioned myopia, they include hyperopia, astigmatism, strabismus or other more serious disorders, such as congenital cataract. Checkups and any optical compensation must be carried out at regular intervals of 6-12 months», Loperfido concluded.

Eyeglasses mon amour
If the eye exam shows that there is a defect, the next step is to correct it with a pair of eyeglasses ad hoc. It’s known that youngsters aren’t always positive about eyeglasses: Commissione Difesa Vista research illustrated how children of between 6 and 13 years of age feel about eyeglasses: a quarter of the sample (both the total and those who wear eyeglasses) said “kids who have to wear eyeglasses are really unlucky”. For this reason, it’s important to put across a positive message about eye health and wearing prescription glasses if there is a defect.
Nowadays, eyeglasses are an indispensable tool and not only for correction. The attitude to this accessory has changed in recent years and this is also thanks to many show-business and TV personalities – as well as many cartoon characters where young children are concerned. They wear eyeglasses with a nonchalance that has freed them from their role of the purely corrective device and have turned them into an element of fashion that is an essential part of a look. Eyewear companies now meet the needs also of young people, with increasingly trendy models in very lightweight materials that are easy to wear, look good and are value for money.

Teens
For older students there are additional factors that may influence or aggravate existing sight defects, such as being constantly in front of a computer, reading for many hours or studying in badly lit environments. These negative elements can be “contained”, if precise rules of behavior and safety measures are observed:

adjust monitor luminosity based on environmental light
take a 15 minute break after 2 hours at the computer
make sure the quantity and quality of light is adequate. Light must not reflect on objects or walls; light is in the correct place when the object is illuminated evenly. Avoid light that shines directly into the eyes, whether it’s from a window or from an artificial source.

Sight defects and sport
The type of sport children do is also important. «In the case of very short-sighted children, it could cause trauma and even lesions of the retina which, if not investigated, lead to serious damage such as retinal detachment», explained Dr. Loperfido. «Different sports have different risks and they must be chosen in relation to the sight defect. For very short-sighted children, sports that involve violent clashes or falling are not advisable». For all children, whether they wear eyeglasses or not, it’s important to choose a sport that will allow them to grow strong and healthy. In other words, if we want our little champions to get to the Olympics in good health, just choose the most suitable sport!