Did you know that 80 percent of our perception, learning, and cognition comes from our vision? Most of our memories are created from visual data, as well as our ability for critical thinking and retaining information. As such, anything that interferes with our vision can affect our learning, especially in children. Here are two major ways in which vision affects a child’s learning process:
Poor focusing
When vision deteriorates, the eyes are unable to properly focus. This is expected in adults as they grow older, but in children it can have a great impact on their future, as they are unable to distinguish between characters on the classroom chalkboard or in schoolbooks. Poor convergence is another important visual problem, responsible for half of all reading problems. The eyes are supposed to come together and work as a team, but in this case they cannot.
Perceptual problems
Perception means to become aware of something through the senses. First, you understand what you see; then, you judge its relative importance; finally, you connect it to previously stored data in your brain. Sometimes, a child is able to see well but is unable to make sense of the information. This is considered dyslexia. Routine eye examinations don’t evaluate a child’s perception, but there are optometrists who will also check and evaluate perceptual vision.
If you are worried about your child’s performance in school, start by checking out the underlying reasons. Speak to the child’s teachers, then take them to an ophthalmologist who specializes in children’s vision and vision-related issues. You should also make sure that you are constantly protecting your child’s eyes by having them wear sunglasses while outside. At Real Shades, we have plenty of sunglasses in all styles for all ages. Look through our inventory today to get started!