Why Get Kids’ Eyes Checked Before Returning to School

The summer drawing to a close means it is time for parents to shift gears preparing their children for school. It could be shopping for new clothes, backpacks, and supplies, as well as planning transportation, schedules, and activities. But many parents miss or ignore one thing: their kids’ eye checkups. Why does this matter? Because good vision is critical to learning even as kids grow. 

Poor vision can make reading, writing, math, and other skills difficult for kids. It can affect their social and emotional skills, such as making friends, following directions, and expressing themselves. 

Unfortunately, many kids do not receive the eye care they need. The AOA reports that about 25% of school-age children have vision problems that affect their learning. But only about 15% of preschool children get a complete eye exam before starting school.

Why Comprehensive Eye Exams Are Better Than School Vision Screenings

School vision screenings are administered to find and fix vision problems in kids. Unfortunately, these are limited and often miss many eye conditions that hurt learning and development. School vision screenings usually only test how well kids can see letters or numbers on a chart from far away. 

They do not test other aspects of vision. These include eye alignment, movement, focusing, and how healthy the eyes are inside and outside. These aspects of vision are essential for learning and development. 

Why Comprehensive Eye Exams Are Important

A licensed eye doctor can test for all these aspects of vision and more. It can also diagnose and treat any eye conditions that may affect your kids’ learning and development, such as:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)

• Strabismus (crossed eyes)

• Color blindness

• Nearsightedness (myopia)

• Farsightedness (hyperopia)

• Astigmatism

Why Prescriptions Should Be Up-to-date Before Returning to School

Your kids may need an eye exam before returning to school, even if they wear glasses or contact lenses. Their eyes change fast as they grow and develop. Their prescriptions may change every year or more often. Outdated glasses or contact lenses can cause many problems for your kids, such as:

• Headaches

• Eyestrain

• Blurred vision

• Double vision

• Squinting

• Fatigue

• Poor performance

• Low self-esteem

These problems can hurt your kids’ learning, development, and quality of life. It would be best to get your kids’ prescriptions checked by an eye doctor regularly. Kids who wear glasses or contact lenses need eye exams at least once a year or more frequently, according to the AOA.

How to Protect Your Child’s Eyes From Common Problems 

Blurry or distorted vision can stem from astigmatism and myopia. Either eye problem can affect one or both eyes and has different causes. To protect your kids’ eyes from them, let your kids play outside more and limit their screen time and device use. 

Ensure they read and study in good light and posture, and give them breaks every 20 minutes. Feed and let them sleep well, and use sunglasses and safety goggles to block UV rays and injuries. These tips can keep your kids’ vision healthy and help them learn and grow.

Conclusion

Getting your kids’ eyes checked before returning to school is one of the best things you can do for their learning and development. Comprehensive eye exams are better than school vision screenings; prescriptions should be up-to-date before returning. Do not wait until the last minute. Get your kids’ eyes checked before returning to school, giving them the best chance to succeed.

For more information on the importance of pediatric eye exams before returning to school, visit Diamond Bar Optometric Center at our Diamond Bar, California office. Call 909-861-4999 to schedule an appointment today.