Expert Alert: Back-to-school eye health
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (09/06/2023) — It’s another item on the back-to-school to-do list for families: annual eye exams. These appointments are especially important as students return to class. Clinical studies show uncorrected vision problems can have an impact on students’ academic performance and development.
Meredith Stallone, OD, MS, FAAO with the University of Minnesota Medical School and M Health Fairview shares the importance of eye exams and one of the most common eye problems for pediatric patients.
Meredith Stallone, OD, MS, FAAO
“One of the most important things caregivers can do for a child is take them for a comprehensive eye exam. Up to 80% of learning is done through vision, so proper vision and eye health are essential for every child’s back-to-school checklist. Vision disorders in children often go unidentified because children often don’t know how they should see, and so may not report if something is wrong. Every year a child’s eyes grow and change, making regular eye exams crucial during school age. Without healthy vision, students can face unnecessary challenges not only in the classroom, but also to their mental, physical, social and emotional well-being.”
“Children are spending more hours using computers and digital devices, which can be extremely taxing on the visual system and have long-term consequences for vision and learning. Many parents say that their children spend more than four hours daily in front of a screen. Emerging evidence is showing that increased screen time may be associated with an increase in myopia—or nearsightedness—among young children in recent years. Since myopia and other vision problems can become worse over time, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to optimize children’s eye health and vision and to prevent future vision loss. While it’s impossible to avoid screens altogether, it’s recommended to ensure your children are practicing healthy screen time habits, spending time outdoors and having regular eye exams with a doctor of optometry or ophthalmology.”
Meredith Stallone, OD, MS, FAAO is an adjunct assistant professor at the U of M Medical School and an optometrist at M Health Fairview Lion's Children's Eye Clinic. Her clinical interests include myopia management, care of children with special needs, amblyopia, strabismus and contact lenses.
Contact
Meredith Stallone, OD, MS, FAAO
Adjunct professor at the U of M Medical School
Contact: mednews@umn.edu
Download video interviews and a high resolution photo of Dr. Stallone on Reporter Pass.
-30-
About “Expert Alert"
University of Minnesota experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Find selected experts on UMN’s Experts Guide or send requests to unews@umn.edu.
About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School, both the Twin Cities campus and Duluth campus, is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. For more information about the U of M Medical School, please visit med.umn.edu.