As the summer break comes to an end and children gear up for the school year ahead, parents in Dubai are often focused on buying new uniforms, books, and supplies. While all these are important, there’s one critical task that often gets missed—an eye exam.
Good vision plays a central role in a child’s learning and development. Yet, many children head back to school with undiagnosed vision problems that can affect their academic performance, confidence, and even social interaction. Scheduling an eye exam with an eye specialist in Dubai before school starts is one of the best steps parents can take for their child’s health and success.
Let’s explore why early eye exams are so important for kids in Dubai, especially before the school year begins.
Why Vision Health Matters in School
It has been demonstrated through research that up to 80% of the things that children learn in classrooms are things visual. Reading on a whiteboard, reading on tablets, reading on books—the eyes are mostly used to read and comprehend information by kids. This is the case where when a child has a sight problem, it can easily go unnoticed due to the fact that children hardly complain. Instead, they just adjust.
However, there is not always adaptation. The children, instead of concentrating on learning, might have problems reading, squint regularly, or even have headaches and fatigue. Such minor symptoms usually lead to deception in the way a child is perceived as either inattentive or a poor performer.
Common Vision Problems in Children
Children can have numerous eye conditions, and some of them may be more frequent than parents think:
Nearsightedness (myopia): This causes farsightedness of distant objects and has become more and more frequent with the emergence of screens.
Hyperopia (farsightedness): It renders objects near our eyes blurry and may as well put a strain on the eyes when reading or working at close range.
Astigmatism: It is responsible for distorting or creating blurred vision because the eye has an irregular curvature.
Lazy eye (amblyopia): There is no development of one of the eyes, and hence the child ends up with poor vision in that eye.
Crossed eyes (strabismus): The eyes cannot match the same direction and can cause problems in depth perception and coordination.
Parents may not always be able to see these problems. A child may not complain of not seeing well, but he or she may fail to maintain focus or read. The only sure way of diagnosing these issues early is by an eye test with a professional eye practitioner in Dubai.
Why Now? The Link Between Summer and Vision Health
It is easy to imagine that smart screen time increases in the summer months with phones, tablets, video games, and television. This exposure to digital media has an influence in leading to eye strain and could aggravate pre-existing vision-related conditions such as myopia. Additionally, vision issues may not be identified during the break because of the lack of an organized environment in the school.
When children are moving back to school, it is the right time to plan with the eyes of the parents being in good condition. The early exam also provides sufficient time to rectify any problem before the busy schedules of homework and exams kick in.
What Happens During a Children’s Eye Exam?
There are parents who think that when their child has passed a vision screening in school, he or she has no need to undergo the full eye examination. But these fast checks are rather elementary and tend to overlook more fundamental issues.
When you take your child to a certified eye doctor in Dubai, an in-depth assessment will be carried out with the potential of covering:
- Eyesight (Seeing whether the child sees clearly)
- Eye tracking and coordination Eyesight Tracking and eye teaming
- Analysis of eye movement
- The evaluation of the interaction of the eye’s functioning
- Considering the health status of the eye in general
This thorough test does not last more than 30-45 minutes and is safe and non-discomforting to children. Medical practitioners specializing in eye care among children usually employ utensils and activities that render the process interesting and anxiety-free.
Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam Sooner
Although eye exams are recommended annually, there are signs that your child must have one sooner:
- Reports of hazy sight or seeing things twice
- Reading the books too near to their eyes
- Looking aside or overstraining the eyes: much blinking or eye rubbing
- School poor performance
- Headaches, most importantly, when one reads, they appear most of the time.
- Viewing TV or reading with squinting eyes
- Difficulty concentrating
In case you observe one of those symptoms, it is a good idea to seek an appointment as soon as possible.
How Often Should Kids Have Eye Exams?
The American Optometric Association states that a child must be taken for an eye exam at the age of six months old, at three years old, and every one or two years based on their eye health. Children of school-going age are recommended to have an eye test once a year, particularly when they have previous glasses or have been known to have a problem.
In Dubai, where digital tools are increasingly used in the education and entertainment sectors, such checkups are crucial nowadays more than ever.
Choosing the Right Eye Doctor in Dubai
Upon choosing an eye doctor in Dubai, it is necessary to ensure that he/she has experience in taking care of eye diseases among children. The eyes of children are not like those of adults, and a child requires a person to know how to inspect his/her eyes calmly and properly. The clinic owned by Dr. Qasim is a reputable one among the parents in Dubai. Employing a customized care approach and with a friendly demeanor, Dr. Qasim offers comprehensive eye examinations to kids, ensuring that all feel comfortable and well cared for.
The Impact of Early Detection
There are other advantages to the early eye exams than having clear sight. With good vision, children are apt to like school, volunteer for information, and develop self-confidence in their capacities. They also have less chance of falling behind and/or having attention-related diagnoses made incorrectly.
The problems with vision tend to get better by themselves slowly, even without treatment. Identifying them early enables the parents to prevent the child from going through unnecessary difficulties both at school and at home.
What the Parents Can Do
The following are some of the things that parents in Dubai can do while the school year is about to begin:
- Book an early appointment. Do not wait till school begins so that you feel there is a problem.
- Pay attention to the indicators. Look out for changes in behavior or complaints about vision.
- Restrict the use of screens. Become an advocate of outdoor activity and take a spell off electronic gadgets.
- Stay consistent. Yearly eye exams should be included in the health regimen of your child.
Final Thoughts
Getting your child ready for school involves more than pencils and backpacks. Clear vision is a key part of academic and social success. As more learning moves to digital platforms and as classrooms become increasingly interactive, healthy eyes are essential.
An early visit to a reliable eye doctor in Dubai ensures your child starts the school year strong, focused, and ready to learn. Don’t wait for a problem to show up—schedule an eye exam and give your child the clear view they need to thrive.
