In today’s world, the first thing an eye doctor does when they see a child suffering from vision issues is to prescribe glasses and give stern orders that they must be “worn at all times”. Here is my perspective on that:
- · Most vision problems in children are myopic (nearsighted) in nature
- · They are caused by stress, disinterest, fear, a desire to hide from the world, to not be seen (I speak from my own experience as a child)
- · Once they wear glasses, they will need them for the rest of their lives
- · The glasses are likely not needed, but rather a renewed interest in life around them is required
Dr. Bates’ program involved posting Snellen charts in classrooms and instructing teachers on how to help students use them. Often, other children became the best vision coaches and mentors. The process was:
- · Let students get familiar with the letters up close, as the familiarity eliminates stress. Stress is often a big component in creating myopia. I tried to hide when I was called upon to read what was on the blackboard in first grade. I had zero confidence. I tuned out of my vision world.
- · Encourage the child to practice reading the chart as often as they wished during the day
- · Treat it as a means to increase vision, not to test it. The child knows what they should see allows them to adjust
- · Play games of catch with a ball; eye-hand coordination is a fantastic vision builder
These are things that you can do with your child at home if you feel that they are having issues seeing well. It is important to get your child’s willing participation, so be sure to make it fun, and turn it into a game. An eye doctor told us that our daughter needed glasses when she was four. Though he insisted, her mom, a child psychologist, refused to allow it. She is now 29 and has perfect vision. But what if a child is too young for letters or doesn’t like doing it? Our other types of activities, such as having them identify pictures of items that they are familiar with. With today’s imaging software, you can resize pictures, print them, and make a great game of it. Have them watch a favorite TV show, cartoon, or movie, multiple times without their glasses. Get them comfortable seeing well by watching as close to the TV as needed, but progressively moving further away each time they re-watch something.
- · Make sure they don’t stare or lock their eyes on what they are watching
- · Strive to end up with them at a reasonable distance from the TV or monitor, though this can be progressive as they get familiar with the show
- · Avoid scary shows, this can cause a fear reflex that locks the eyes and contributes to myopia
- · Make vision practice fun and reward them for gains and even for just participating
If you feel that your child needs to be seen by a licensed Ophthalmologist, search for someone who practices Behavioral Ophthalmology, as most myopia incidents are behavior-related. Rarely is a child’s myopia caused by diseased or imperfect eyes. Remember that vision is mostly done in the brain, so boredom, fear, lack of confidence, etc., can have a huge impact. I don’t believe there is any advice here that can be harmful, but if you are in doubt, check with an eye professional. But I can tell you, more than 90% will put your child in glasses.
The Vision Monk
