Children's Vision

The Link Between Vision and Learning is Significant

This year alone, 20 million children will return to school with a vision problem that may interfere with their ability to learn, contribute to disciplinary problems and put them at risk for permanent vision loss. A recent survey by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Vision Council of America (VCA) found that only eight percent of adults recognized that vision problems are a leading cause of children's difficulties in school.

Vision disorders are one of the most prevalent handicapping conditions in childhood. Eighty percent of all learning during a child's first 12 years comes through vision, however, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, 20-25 percent of children enter school with significant vision problems which can affect their development and progress in school. In addition, 70 percent of school-age children who have a learning disability in reading have some form of visual impairment.

Consumers can access information on vision health by visiting www.aoa.org. For children's vision you can go direct to www.aoa.org/childrens-vision.xml. You can also call 1-866-356-2020 for general vision health questions.