Unite For Sight: Eye Health for Teachers

1. Unite For Sight:Eye Health for Teachers <Insert Your Name> Community Fellow, <Insert University>

2. Vision Problems in an Academic Setting • Vision problems affect nearly 13.5 million children in the U.S. • Students, especially young ones, may not know that what they are experiencing is a vision problem • Leads to frustration and worsening academic performance

3. Teachers’ Unique Position • Teachers are in a unique position to notice a child with a vision problem • See children for many hours a day • See children in an academic setting where visual acuity is required

4. The Importance of Discovering Vision Problems Early • Discovering vision problems early on in a child’s life is an important part of helping him or her do well in school. • Avoid frustration • Make reading easier • Make learning more enjoyable • In the case of some vision conditions (covered later), early detection and treatment is the only way to prevent loss of sight in the afflicted eye

5. How to Identify a Child in Need The following may be indicative of a child experiencing a vision problem: • Eyes turning inward or outward • Squinting • Headaches • Worsening academic performance • Blurred or double vision • Losing place while reading • Avoiding close work • Holding reading material closer than normal • Rubbing eyes • Eyes tiring while reading or doing other schoolwork • Turning or tilting head to use one eye only • Making frequent reversals while reading or writing • Using finger to maintain place while reading • Consistently performing below potential

6. How to Identify a Child in Need • If you notice a child struggling with any of these symptoms, he or she may be experiencing a vision problem • The next step is to make sure that child has an eye exam by an eye doctor

7. Vision Screenings vs. Eye Exams Eye Exams • Performed by optometrists or ophthalmologists • Thorough • Can detect many vision problems and/or eye disorders and diagnose them • Vision screenings • Performed by non-specialist health staff • Provide baseline VA • Do not test for eye disorders, cannot provide diagnostic information

8. Getting Free Eye Exams • Visits to an eye doctor can be expensive • Not everyone has health insurance that covers the cost of eye exams • <INSERT YOUR CONTENT HERE>

9. Common Eye Disorders • Nearsightedness (Myopia) • Most common visual problem among students • A type of refractive error • Close objects are clear • Far-away objects are blurry • Students may squint to see blackboard or presentation materials • Can be corrected with corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses

10. Common Eye Disorders • Farsightedness (hyperopia) • Also a common visual problem among students • A type of refractive error • Close objects are blurry • Far-away objects are clear • Students may squint while reading or hold reading material farther away from face than normal • Can be corrected with corrective lenses such as glasses

11. Common Eye Disorders • Astigmatism • Often co-occurs with nearsightedness or farsightedness • A type of refractive error caused by an abnormally shaped cornea • Can be corrected with corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses

12. Common Eye Disorders • Strabismus • Issue with eye muscles • Student’s eyes appear to be focusing on two different points • Often co-occurs with amblyopia • Glasses or eye muscle exercises can treat strabismus. Sometimes surgery is needed.

13. Common Eye Disorders • Lazy Eye (Amblyopia) • One eye is stronger than the other • Student may show signs of strabismus, but the two do not always co-occur • Over time, the brain may begin to disregard signals from the weaker eye • If it is not detected early, amblyopia can lead to a permanent loss of sight in the weaker eye • This disorder is only detectable through an eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist

14. Common Eye Disorders • Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) • Common in schoolchildren • The conjunctiva (lining on eyelid and part of eyeball) become infected and inflamed • Highly contagious • Prescription eye drops can treat bacterial forms • Viral forms clear up on their own and cannot be treated, but sometimes eye drops are needed to relieve inflammation.

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