A large number of kids miss school due to asthma. In addition to missing valuable instructional time, children and teens can feel self-conscious about their absence and condition. If your child is one of the increasing number of children affected by this chronic, inflammatory lung disease, increasing your knowledge about asthma can improve your child’s condition and possibly reduce school absences.
As you prepare your child’s back-to-school checklist, you want to make sure you have a comprehensive eye examination as part of that list. Did you know that 80 per cent of learning is done through vision? Eye exams are just as important as dental visits and annual physicals. As an optometrist, I believe it is important to have your child’s eyes examined to encourage normal vision development and academic achievement.
Throughout the year, children often have eye infections, allergies and dry eyes. Eye infections can affect one or both eyes and are most common in children. Some eye infections are highly contagious, and you must take care not to infect other people - or even your other eye if only one eye is infected. As a parent, these conditions can be alarming and it is important to know when to come see your optometrist for evaluation. Medically necessary visits with your optometrist for these conditions are covered by Alberta Health Care for all age groups, including children.
Ahhh, summer! The joy of being in the great outdoors once again seems endless. Yet the season brings an abundance of biting insects, ultraviolet sunrays and rash-producing plants.
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