The Importance of Back-to-school Eye Exams

As children progress from one school year to the next, there is an increasing demand for healthy visual skills. Clear sight is vital for efficient learning and helps children excel in school. The time kids spend reading increases, even as the textbook print size becomes smaller. The increased workload can place considerable demand on their eyes. Here is the importance of back-to-school eye exams. 

Eye Health and Success in School
 

Visual issues can affect all aspects of child development, from academics to athletics. Vision plays a significant role in social interactions and the development of healthy self-esteem. Not getting regular eye exams can result in various vision disorders going undetected. 

In some cases, doctors can misdiagnose vision disorders as behavioral problems, dyslexia, ADHD, or a learning disability. A misdiagnosis can follow the child throughout their life, affecting their level of education and future employment opportunities. 

Visual Skills Required for School
 

Good vision is more than having 20/20 eyesight or the ability to see clearly. Visual perception skills include comprehension, recognition, and retention. There are basic visual skills that are essential for academic success. 

Children need the skills to ensure effective learning and reading, which include:
 

• Visual acuity

• Eye focusing

• Eye teaming

• Eye tracking

• Eye-hand coordination

• Visual perception

Signs of Vision and Eye Issues

Several signs can indicate that your child has eye or vision issues. They include frequent blinking and eye rubbing, complaints of eye fatigue and discomfort, frequent headaches, and a short attention span. Other signs include:
 

• Covering one eye or tilting the head when reading

• Experiencing double vision

• Avoiding reading and other activities

• Holding reading materials close to their eyes

• Losing their place when reading

• Have trouble recalling what they read 

• Having an eye that turns in or out

Importance of Back-to-school Eye Exams

The vision tends to change frequently during a child’s school years. Children must get annual eye exams. The exams should be more frequent if a child has an existing eye or vision problem or certain risk factors. 

An eye specialist can recommend the best eye exam schedule for your child. It is vital to realize that passing school vision screening does not indicate the child has good vision. 

Common Vision Issues in Children

Common vision issues among school-going children are refractive errors due to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. The conditions lead to blurry vision. Children with 20/20 vision can sometimes have vision problems from poor eye tracking, eye focusing, and eye coordination. 

Children must work harder to understand and learn effectively if their visual skills are not functioning well. Scheduling regular eye exams will help ensure that your child has healthy vision and general eye health. 

Parents and caregivers should look for symptoms that indicate a child has vision issues. Eye exams help ensure that children have healthy vision. Early detection of vision issues is essential for responsiveness to treatment. 

For more on the importance of back-to-school eye exams, visit Refined Eyecare Optometry at our Torrance, California office. Call (310) 214-0409 today to schedule an appointment.