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5900 Heckert Rd.
P.O. Box 324
Bakerstown, PA 15007
724-443-6767 Phone
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Natrona Heights, PA 15065
724-226-0444 Phone
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BACK TO SCHOOL

kids eye exam, Bissell Eye CareIt’s getting to be that time of year. Have you been bombarded with all of the health forms and documents that need filled out for your little one to either go back to school, or to start a new adventure in attending school for the first time? With all of the hustle and bustle in buying new clothes, school supplies, getting immunizations, and reviewing schedules, something as simple as your child’s eyesight can be overlooked.

Children often start their first few years of school without having an eye exam by an optometrist. While you can tell when your child is sick it is nearly impossible to determine when there is a problem that could be affecting their vision.

With August being Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, we want to remind parents the importance of scheduling routine eye exams for children starting at the age of three. There is no better time to schedule your child’s checkup than before they start back to school and after school schedules and activities become hectic.

There are some signs to watch for that could indicate your child is having trouble seeing:

  • Wandering or crossed eyes.
  • Squinting or turning their head in an unusual manner while watching TV.
  • Disinterest in reading or focusing on things in the distance.
  • Or if there is a family history of childhood vision problems.

By having routine eye visits, eye doctors can monitor your child’s vision and eye health. This will help to detect any problems with your children’s eyes that could affect their vision long term. If their vision deteriorates, you may also see a decline in your child’s grades as struggling to see may set them at a disadvantage when it comes to watching and understanding what is being taught.

We want to stress the importance of eye safety. As school starts back, fall sports are in full swing. With high school sports become faster paced and highly competitive, more injuries are occurring. Eye injuries are often top of the list. By having your children wear the proper eye protection you can help reduce the chances of sustaining an eye injury, an injury that could leave them with a permanent vision loss.

Remember, as fall approaches it is important to have a regular eye exam done for children three and older and to have your children use the proper, approved eye protection as they participate in fall sports.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.