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The Impact of Visual Stress on Kids’ Learning

How would you feel if the words moved while you were reading?
Or if your eyes felt sore after a short period of near work?
Or if you were accused of not trying, even though you were trying harder than the child sitting next to you in class?
Would you be motivated to learn, or would you give up trying?

Did you know that 30% of children in every classroom have a binocular vision skills problem?

These include eye focusing, teaming, and tracking skills. Children with these types of problems have difficulty changing focus from the board to the page up close and vice versa.
They get lost on the page, they get lost on the board, and things go blurry.
The words move around; they jumble, double, or are uncomfortable to read. They may skip lines or words.
If you were that child, would you want to read?
Or would you find something better to do with your time?

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These are the challenges that some children face every day. And most suffer in silence.

Children often do not report that they are having problems because they don’t realise that the difficulties that they are having are not normal. If things look blurry, they assume they are blurry for everyone. If they get sore eyes or headaches when they read, then they assume this is normal for other people as well.

In the ever-evolving education landscape, children encounter various challenges that can impact their learning journey. Among these challenges, visual stress emerges as a subtle yet impactful factor that can shape a child’s ability to absorb and retain information. Understanding the implications of visual stress on children’s learning is important for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals alike.

The Basics of Visual Stress

Visual stress extends beyond mere discomfort. It encompasses a range of symptoms, from headaches and eye strain to difficulties in maintaining focus during visually demanding tasks such as reading or writing. Often, these symptoms are triggered by concentrated visual tasks and/or glare from artificial light sources.

The Classroom Challenge

For many children, the classroom becomes a battleground where they must confront the daily challenges of visual stress. Whether deciphering information from a whiteboard, concentrating on printed text, or completing assignments on electronic devices, these tasks can elicit discomfort and hinder their capacity to grasp crucial concepts.
Consequently, the academic performance and overall learning experience of these children may be jeopardised.

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Identifying Visual Stress: Signs and Symptoms

Identifying visual stress in children can be a complex process, as its symptoms often overlap with those of other learning difficulties.
Parents and educators need to be vigilant for signs such as: –

  • Frequent headaches.
  • Rubbing or covering the eyes.
  • Postural deviations while reading, especially getting closer to the page.
  • A tendency to lose their place while reading.

Regular eye examinations with a Behavioural Optometrist and open communication with teachers can play a pivotal role in promptly identifying and managing visual stress.

Vision-Related Problems Which Cause Visual Stress

Several common eye problems in children can cause visual stress:

  • Refractive Errors: Children often experience common refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. These conditions cause blurry vision, which can make reading and other visual tasks challenging. These problems often get worse if left untreated.
  • Amblyopia: Also known as lazy eye. Amblyopia occurs when there is a difference in vision between the eyes, causing the brain to prioritise one eye over the other. If left untreated, amblyopia can result in permanent vision impairment.
  • Focusing Difficulties: his includes conditions such as Accommodative Insufficiency or Accommodative Infacility. These conditions reduce the ability to sustain near focus, cause words to move or wobble when they read, and make it difficult for children to copy from the board.
  • Oculomotor Dysfunction: This is also known as poor eye-tracking skills. Children with poor tracking skills frequently lose their place when they read. This may be seen as line jumping, skipping past words, or word substitutions. They may also demonstrate poor hand-eye coordination.
  • Eye Teaming Difficulties: This includes conditions such as convergence insufficiency or strabismus (eye turns). These conditions make it challenging for the eyes to work together when focusing on close objects. Children with convergence insufficiency may experience eye strain, double vision, and difficulties in sustained reading.
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Intervention Strategies for Visually Related Learning Problems

Fortunately, various interventions can address visual stress in children:

Optometric Interventions

Behavioural Optometrists play a crucial role in identifying and managing a range of eye problems in children. Behavioural Eye Assessments can pinpoint refractive errors, binocular vision anomalies, visual information processing disorders and conditions like visual stress. Behavioural Optometrists can then recommend personalised interventions tailored to the child’s specific needs, such as corrective lenses or vision therapy.

Clear Lens Coatings and Coloured Lenses

Clear lens coatings added to prescription lenses can help reduce artificial light glare and headache symptoms and improve concentration for many children.
In some cases, adding colour to prescription lenses can provide an added benefit to function. These interventions, when prescribed by a behavioural optometrist, can provide relief, and enhance visual comfort during reading and other visually demanding tasks.

Flexible Teaching Methods

Educators can implement flexible teaching methods to accommodate children with visual stress and other eye problems. Allowing breaks during visually demanding tasks and providing alternative learning materials can create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Empowering Parents: A Vital Role in Visual Health

Parents are pivotal in supporting their children’s visual health. Regular eye examinations, open communication with teachers, and creating a visually comfortable environment at home contribute significantly to mitigating the impact of visual stress and other eye problems on learning.

Moreover, educating parents about the signs and potential interventions for visual stress and related eye issues is essential in fostering a proactive approach.

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What Colours and Environments Ease Visual Stress for Kids?

Creating a visual environment that eases stress for kids involves thoughtful consideration of colours and surroundings. Optimal colours, such as pastel shades, are often soft and muted, which are easier on the eyes and reduce the risk of visual fatigue.

For backgrounds, pale colours like light blue or cream can enhance visual comfort during reading and writing activities. Avoiding high-contrast colour schemes and overly bright hues is advisable, as they may contribute to visual stress.

Additionally, natural light is a key factor; well-lit spaces with plenty of natural light can positively impact a child’s visual experience. Consideration of the overall environment is crucial, ensuring a clutter-free and organised space to minimise distractions and promote focus.

By curating a visually soothing atmosphere, parents and educators can contribute significantly to alleviating visual stress and enhancing the overall well-being of children.

Transform Your Child’s Visual Journey: Book a Consultation with Eyes by Design Today!

Professional guidance is essential in addressing visual stress and other eye problems in children.

At Eyes by Design, our behavioural optometrists on the Central Coast are experienced in diagnosing and treating visually related learning problems.

Don’t let visual stress hinder your child’s learning potential.

Please schedule an indepth appointment with us today and give your child the visual support they need for a successful academic journey.

BOOK A BEHAVIOURAL APPOINTMENT

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general eye health topics.
It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your health care professional prior to incorporating this as part of your health regimen.


dr nick


Dr Nicholas Altuneg
For over two decades, my greatest passion has been helping people of all ages live improved lives through better vision. At Eyes by Design, vision is so much more than being able to see clearly or read small letters from far away; it determines your perceptions and reactions every second of the day.
Read more about Dr Nick

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