Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
I was seven. Holding the book inches from the end of my nose, I was reading the newest Encyclopedia Brown. My parents witnessed my peculiar reading posture, and took me to an optometrist, where we found it was time for vision correction. All through elementary school, I wore glasses (bad ones), and survived the kind of taunts you would expect: “four eyes,” “nerd,” “dork.”
Jessica G. in the 4th Grade.
Then I reached high school. As a textbook sullen teen, I decided that I was “soooo over” glasses and begged my parents for contact lenses. They weren’t sure I was ready to take the leap and wanted me to wait a couple more years before graduating to contacts. In a self-defeating act of defiance, I just stopped wearing my glasses. No glasses meant no blackboard in class, which meant that my attention span dropped as my grades followed suit. I began having headaches and eye strain from constantly squinting. But, hey, I thought I looked good.
So when a recently-released joint study by VSP and Prevent Blindness America showed that one in five teenagers have difficulty seeing in class, I believed it. Kids who can’t see what’s on the blackboard in class are at a serious disadvantage, and may be perceived to have learning disabilities or other behavioral problems, when it’s simply an issue of correcting their vision. These kids also often suffer from headaches and other symptoms of vision impairment.
Sight for Students Eyewear
I eventually saw the light, and found a pair of glasses that actually suited me. With the range of great frames out there, this was a lot easier than it was when I was seven. Being able to absorb all aspects of class, both visually and aurally, made me a better student, and my grades recovered.
Increasing numbers of states are beginning to require an optometrist’s exam prior to entering public school, so hopefully the numbers released in the study will be on the upswing, with more kids getting eyecare and eyewear before hitting the classroom. With all of the challenges children encounter during their school years, removing the barrier of vision impairments can give them the extra edge they need to be successful.
Like a “good” VSP employee, I of course took my daughter for her first eye exam when she was 6 months old. All good. By the time she was four, it was obvious that her left eye was developing astigmatism and she needed corrective eyewear. She started wearing glasses and wore them through kindergarten. Of course they were always crooked and sliding down her nose and I thought, “how can this be helping her see???” That’s when I asked my eye doctor how old kids need to be to wear contacts. He said, “let’s try now!” So at six years old, my daughter got her first pair of contacts! I helped her put them in and take them out for a week and after that she was doing it on her own, no problem and has been wearing them ever since! Jessica, sorry your parents made you wait so long for contacts – I couldn’t wait for my daughter to get them because now I know she’s seeing the best she can all the time! : )
You were reading the Encyclopedia?! Not only that, but the newest one?
Hear, hear! Great point, Andy!
“Teacher, I can’t read the chalkboard!” I repeated that so often, that I was told to move closer to the board. I walked up the aisle and kept moving until I stood one foot from the wall.
My teacher sent me home with a note and I thought I was in trouble (again).
The note alerted my parents of a vision problem. Thanks to my teacher’s awareness, my next visit was to an eye doctor (optometrist) who diagnosed me with near-sightedness and prescribed glasses.
Thank you Mrs. Monk and all other teachers who juggle 1,000 things in a day, including the health and wellness of youth.
Vern dude, “Encyclopedia Brown!” Kid uses his brain and science to solve crimes at school, and quietly help his dad, the police chief.
Like the case of the twins who cheated at a county fair pie-eating contest and foot race. Brown noticed that the winner smiled as he crossed the finish line. No berry stains in his smile, so Brown deduced the twin had his other half cheat for him.
http://bit.ly/sQvS0
I had no idea that contacts could be worn so early! I guess it’s a matter of how much maintenance the child is prepared for… I have to admit to being a lazy kid.
Thanks for sharing, Lesa!