Learning Disabilities Are Not Caused by Eye Problems

It’s back to school time, and many vision educational campaigns are looking at vision issues that affect school-aged children.

Safe Vision Texas is dedicating the month of August to looking at several issues on the minds of parents and their children.

Learning disabilities are not caused by eye problems.

Difficulties with reading, mathematics, and other learning problems in children are often referred to as learning disabilities. There is no strong evidence that vision problems cause learning disabilities or that eye exercises cure learning problems.

Children with learning difficulties often need help from teachers and people with special training. Before such treatment begins, it is important for the child to have a complete medical eye examination to make certain he or she is seeing as well as possible.

Medical Myth Exposed: “Children outgrow crossed or misaligned eyes”

False. Children do not outgrow crossed eyes. A child whose eyes are misaligned may develop poor vision in one eye because the brain will “turn off” or ignore the image from the misaligned or lazy eye. The unused or misaligned eye will not develop good vision unless it is forced to work, usually by patching the stronger eye.

Children who appear to have misaligned eyes should be examined by an ophthalmologist. In general, the earlier the misaligned eyes are treated, the better. Treatment may include patching, eyeglasses, eye drops, surgery, or a combination of these methods.

Learn More About Healthy Eyes

To learn more ways to keep your eyes healthy, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart^® website.