COVD: Test Your Knowledge About The Vision And Eye care! Trivia Quiz

As much as 80% of everything we learn comes to us through our vision. Eye-hand coordination games, observation, reading, watching T.V., using a computer -- these are examples of common visual tasks used to learn about the world around us.

Problems with eye focusing, eye coordination, eye movement control, and visual perception can all interfere with a child's or adult's ability to read or learn. Whenever a learning problem is suspected or "identified", a thorough vision examination needs to be conducted to rule out a possible vision disorder.

Successful outcomes resulting from vision therapy are not limited to children. Adults can also benefit. However, effective treatment of a long-standing visual problem is more challenging. This is why early detection and treatment are so very important.

Many of the same signs and symptoms are shown by persons with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may also be indications of vision problems (e.g. poor concentration, distractibility, avoidance of reading and close work).

In general, children do not outgrow eye coordination problems or many other visual problems. When problems occur, steps need to be taken to help children learn to move their eyes smoothly and accurately when reading the words on a page or following a moving object like a ball.

Although most of us are born with healthy eyes, many visual skills (e.g. eye focusing, eye coordination and teaming) are learned through a developmental process during childhood -- just like standing, walking, and talking. Not everyone develops the same level of abilities.

A measurement of 20/20 indicates only that a person can see small letters clearly in the distance. The excellent, healthy vision includes many other visual skills, such as coordinating the two eyes together (eye teaming), changing and/or maintaining focus quickly and easily, and moving the two eyes efficiently from one place to another.

Regrettably, too many parents overlook a vision examination when preparing their child for school. Although most schools require children to have immunizations and a general health checkup prior to beginning school, few require vision examinations.

Most school vision screenings test distance vision only. Clear distance vision has little bearing on how effectively a child uses his eyes for close work and reading in the classroom.

The percentage of children with vision problems increases as they grow. One out of every four school-age children will have a vision problem which could interfere with the ability to learn.