Why Kids Should Get Back-to-School Eye Exams

Did you know that 80 percent of learning is through the eyes?

 

The summer season is almost over, and soon, kids will need to return to school. As you prepare your child's school essentials for the new school year, do not forget to have their eyes examined. Eye exams ensure that kids have good, healthy vision, so they can do better at school and play.

 

This back-to-school time is a great time to have your child's eye doctor check their eyes or renew their prescription.

What About Vision Screening Tests Offered at School?

Many schools perform vision screenings to detect basic eyesight problems that may interfere with their student's academic success. However, these tests are not reliable. Vision screenings can only catch a small fraction of eye problems and are not as thorough as comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist. 

 

Eye Exams Are Preventative

You can think of routine eye exams as essential preventative care for your child. Just like seeing a doctor is important for monitoring their growth, seeing an optometrist is important for their eyes development. Your child’s optometrist can detect health complications and eye problems by looking at your child's eyes.

 

The blood vessels in your child’s eyes can detect health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, brain tumors, and blood infection. Early detection can help manage these illnesses while they are still treatable.

 

What Vision Problems Can Eye Exams Detect?

An eye exam can help determine whether your child has:

 

• Refractive errors (astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness)

• Lazy eye (amblyopia)

• Strabismus

• Pediatric cataracts

• Pediatric glaucoma

• Genetic eye diseases
  
   

If your family has a history of eye disease, vision problems, or general medical issues, your child should get an eye exam.

Telltale Signs of Vision and Eye Problems

Your child may need an eye exam if they:

 

• Constantly rub their eyes or blink excessively

• Have double vision

• Bring objects close to the eyes to see better

• Cover one eye when reading

• Tilt the head to one side to see better

• Have an eye that is turning out or in

• Experience constant headaches

• Have trouble recalling what they read
  
   

Healthy Eyes Mean a Healthy Brain

For the brain to function well, it needs healthy vision. The brain allows people to navigate their complex lives, and the eyes play a huge role in supporting it. Considering the fact that the eye's optic nerve links the eyes to the brain, a healthy eye-brain relationship is crucial. By keeping your child’s eyes healthy, you are supporting their brain health, too, and improving their life's quality.

Bottom Line

As children grow, their eyes change often. Children should get eye exams annually or more often if they have vision problems or are at risk of developing them.

 

Unfortunately, many parents and teachers assume that a child has no eye problems if they pass a vision screening test. In truth, the eyesight skills a child needs for successful learning are much more intricate. Plan an in-person comprehensive eye checkup with your child’s eye doctor as part of your child’s yearly back-to-school tradition.


 

For more on why kids should get back-to-school eye exams, contact Optique Vision at our office in Albany, New York. Call (518) 302-2106 to book an appointment today.