As families prepare for a new school year, backpacks, supplies and new routines are often at the top of the list. But there is another important step that can help set children up for success in the classroom: a comprehensive back-to-school eye exam.
Good vision plays an important role in reading, writing, focusing on a computer screen, seeing the board and participating in classroom activities. Because children rely so heavily on their vision throughout the school day, an undetected vision problem can make learning more difficult than it needs to be.
At Hollyburn Eye Clinic in North Vancouver, our comprehensive children’s eye exams are designed to assess more than whether your child can simply read the letters on an eye chart.
Good Vision Is an Important Part of Learning
Children use their eyes constantly at school. They need to shift their focus between books, worksheets, tablets, computers and the front of the classroom, often many times within a single lesson.
Vision concerns can make these everyday tasks more challenging. A child may have difficulty seeing at a distance, focusing comfortably up close or keeping their place while reading.
When vision is clear and comfortable, children are better able to concentrate on the task in front of them.
That is why a back-to-school eye exam can be such an important part of preparing for the academic year.
Kids Do Not Always Know They Cannot See Clearly
One of the biggest challenges with children’s vision is that kids often do not realize something is wrong.
If the world has always looked slightly blurry to them, they may simply assume everyone sees the same way. Younger children may also lack the vocabulary to explain that words are difficult to see, their eyes feel tired or the board looks blurry.
Instead of saying, “I can’t see properly,” they may avoid reading, sit closer to a screen, lose interest in certain activities or struggle with tasks that require sustained visual attention.
This is one reason regular comprehensive eye exams for children are important, even when your child has never complained about their eyesight.
Could a Vision Problem Look Like Something Else?
Sometimes the signs of a vision concern are not obvious. Difficulty seeing or maintaining comfortable vision may show up as behaviours such as:
- Losing their place while reading
- Avoiding books or close-up work
- Sitting very close to screens
- Squinting or closing one eye
- Frequently rubbing their eyes
- Complaining of tired eyes or headaches
- Having difficulty copying information from the board
- Becoming frustrated with visually demanding schoolwork
- Appearing distracted during reading or classroom activities
These behaviours can have many possible causes and do not necessarily mean a child has a vision problem. However, because vision plays such an important role in the classroom, a children’s eye exam can help determine whether eyesight may be contributing to the difficulty.
Poor vision should not be assumed to be a behavioural, attention or learning issue without first considering whether the child can see clearly and comfortably.
Why a Comprehensive Eye Exam Matters
A school vision screening can be helpful, but it is not the same as a comprehensive examination with an optometrist.
During a comprehensive eye exam, your optometrist can assess your child’s eyesight, eye health and how well their eyes are functioning for everyday visual tasks.
Regular eye exams also give your optometrist an opportunity to monitor changes as your child grows and determine whether glasses or another form of vision support may be appropriate.
Even children who already wear glasses should have their vision checked regularly, as prescriptions can change over time.
Add an Eye Exam to Your Back-to-School Checklist
A new school year brings new teachers, new classrooms and new expectations. Making sure your child can see clearly is one simple way to help them begin the year prepared.
If it has been a while since your child’s last eye exam, now is a great time to book.
Book a Back-to-School Comprehensive Eye Exam in North Vancouver
Visit Hollyburn Eye Clinic for your child’s back-to-school comprehensive eye exam.
Our North Vancouver optometry team can assess your child’s vision and eye health and help make sure they are seeing as clearly and comfortably as possible for the school year ahead.
Book your child’s comprehensive eye exam at Hollyburn Eye Clinic today.
