Students excel with 20/20 vision
Eye See Eye Learn program focuses on academic achievement
Having good vision can impact a child’s life more than one may think.
Welland optometrist Richard Saari is part of the Eye See Eye Learn program, which was introduced to Niagara about four years ago. A number of Niagara optometrists participate in the program promoting eye health for school aged children.
Children are covered by OHIP for free eye exams from the day they are born until age 20. Saari said the benefit of the program is that children are provided free glasses. From now until June 30, 2017, children born in 2012 who visit an optometrist who is part of the program can participate.
“The goal of the program is to encourage parents of kindergarten kids to make sure their kids have had their eyes checked before they go into school,” Saari says.
“There are huge benefits of this because 80 per cent of the learning they are going to do are going to be through their eyes. And honestly we don’t know what they can see.”
When the program was first introduced to Niagara, Saari says, the turnout of patients wasn’t very good — about one per cent participation. Provincewide only about 20 per cent of children have their eyes checked before they begin school. Although the percentage has increased to 17 per cent, Saari is on a mission to bring awareness to the program.
“We are heading in the right direction, so the program definitely has had benefits.”
Saari says one in four children will have vision problems, which is why it’s so important to be aware of children’s vision.
Saari visits classes at various schools in Niagara and has seen the impact vision has on students first hand. He says by just visiting he can see there are children with crossed eyes, or their colour vision isn’t good, or they can’t see depth very well. By addressing these issues children are able to learn easier by seeing the chalkboard, and Saari says he’s also seen students’ confidence increase.
Saari says one girl in particular he worked with was nearsighted and had to hold everything about 10 centimetres from her face to see. Saari says her parents were very active in pushing her to do well in school, so she figured out how to overcome her impairment.
“Once she got glasses everything changed. All of a sudden should could see far away, her attitude changed, she became much more positive, very outgoing — lots of positive changes.”
Some children might not enjoy reading, but the reason could be their vision and not their lack of interest in books.
Saari says he treated one boy who had binocular vision — words would move or blur when he read, which made him dislike reading. The boy thought his vision was normal, like everyone else, so he ignored it.
“He hated doing anything up close, he hated reading. He liked spending so much time outside, he was really good at soccer and that sort of thing. But when it came to his academic reading … So giving him glasses, doing a little bit of therapy with him made a huge difference and he could now excel,” Saari says.
“You don’t wait until kids are telling you they can’t see, or waiting until they fail at school. Be proactive — and that is where this program really comes in.”
For information about the program to get a child checked, or for a doctor to speak at a local school, visit www.optom.on.ca/ OAO/ESEL/aboutESEL.aspx. People can also contact the Eye See Eye Learn program by e-mailing esel@optom.on.ca or Saari at esel@drsaari.ca. MAllenberg@postmedia.com