The Value of Back to School Eye Exams
According to experts, up to 80% of the learning children do is through their eyes. Having an undiagnosed vision problem can hinder a child’s education, confidence, and ability to socialize. It can also subsequently affect their success later in life. Unlike adults, kids might not know how to explain what’s wrong. When you don’t know how other people see, it’s difficult to say you’re having trouble seeing the world around you.
Common Vision Symptoms
Children with vision problems are unlikely to tell their teachers and parents because they don’t realize the source of the problem. Parents can help by watching for some common symptoms:
- Poor reading comprehension
- Slow to finish schoolwork
- Short attention span for close work
- Tendency to fidget and look away from work
- Frequent headaches
- Tendency to cover one eye
- Frequent blinking or eye-rubbing
When Should Children’s Eyes Be Examined?
| Patient Age | Examination Interval | |
|---|---|---|
| Asymptomatic/Low Risk | At Risk | |
| Birth to 2 years | At 6 to 12 months of age | At 6 to 12 months of age or as recommended |
| 3 through 5 years | At least once between 3 and 5 years of age | At least once between 3 and 5 years of age or as recommended |
| 6 through 18 years | Before first grade and annually thereafter | Before first grade and annually, or as recommended, thereafter |
Comprehensive Eye Exams Go Beyond 20/20
A comprehensive eye exam at Valley Eye Associates goes beyond a simple screening performed at schools. It involves checking for color blindness, eye alignment (teaming), ocular motility (tracking), and depth perception. Valley Eye Associates will also provide a prescription for glasses, if needed.
Your family’s vision is important to us! Call (920) 739-4361 today to schedule an eye exam for your child and make sure they see their best this school year.