Back-to-School Eye Exams

WRITTEN BY AMY YOVICH

It’s here – the time of year when parents begin acquiring essentials on the annual school supply list to ensure the year starts off on the right foot. Do you have everything you need?

• Backpack

• Lunchbox

• Gym shoes

• School supplies

• Comprehensive Eye Exam

Wait, what?Comprehensive eye exam?

Yes, you read that correctly. A comprehensive eye exam is critical for back-to-school success. According to the American Optometric Association, up to 80% of a child’s learning in school is processed through what they see. Further, it is estimated that one in four schoolaged children has a vision problem significant enough to inhibit learning.

How do visual issues inhibit learning?

Myopia (often called nearsightedness) makes it difficult to gather information from around the classroom. It also presents a challenge when tracking a moving ball, or makes riding a bike feel daunting. Hyperopia (often called farsightedness) causes blurry vision up close, which can make reading and writing and other academics challenging. Children with visual issues may experience fatigue and headache as well. When learning is difficult, self-esteem is affected, which can lead to avoidance and other behaviors. Additionally, development of critical visual processing and perceptual skills may be delayed.

Does my child still need to have a comprehensive eye exam if he passed a vision screening?

Yes. A vision screening performed at school or in the pediatrician’s office is not the same as a comprehensive exam performed by a doctor of optometry (optometrist). During a comprehensive exam, the optometrist will assess three areas that contribute to vision: refractive status (glasses prescription), binocular vision (how well the eyes work together) and the overall health of the eye. An eye exam may also allow the optometrist to detect other serious health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders and cancers. A screening, on the other hand, is a brief test that checks only how well one can see up close and far away. It is not uncommon that an optometrist will uncover a visual condition that is not detected during a screening.

My child doesn’t complain about her vision. Why does she need an exam?

Children often don’t realize that what they see isn’t “normal,” or different from what others see. Such was the case with Bozeman siblings Henry, age 7, and Eleanor, age 4. At a recent visit to their grandparents’ house, their grandmother noticed that Eleanor was standing directly in front of the TV while watching a movie. She suggested to mom, Libby, that Eleanor might be having trouble seeing things up close. Henry had already learned how to read and hadn’t complained about his vision at all. However, upon questioning him, Libby realized Henry may have not been seeing clearly either. Recalling her own blurry vision as a child, Libby scheduled vision appointments for all three of her children. Comprehensive exams by a local optometrist revealed both Henry and Eleanor have significant myopia, and both were fitted with glasses. Immediately both children were surprised by the clarity and detail of the world around them. Henry noted ceiling fans at the optometrist’s office for the first time, and Eleanor was in awe over the freckles on her older sister’s face.

Henry and Libby are already benefitting from clear vision, and experience tells us this is just the beginning. Many times, with proper correction, non-readers become voracious readers; children experience fewer physical accidents, fewer headaches, increased ability to attend, improved comprehension and academic performance—all resulting in a surge of selfconfidence.

When should children start getting their eyes checked?

Even infants and toddlers can and should have eye exams. The American Optometric Association recommends the following comprehensive exam schedule for children:

• 1st eye exam – 6-9 months

• 2nd eye exam - 3 years

• 3rd eye exam – 5 years, or prior to the child entering kindergarten

• Routine annual exams thereafter, even for those with 20/20 vision

Comprehensive exams are particularly important if there is a family history of vision problems.

Of course, if at any time a parent suspects their child is experiencing visual issues, an exam is prudent. Behaviors that may indicate a vision problem include:

• Sitting close to screens or holding material close to face

• Fatigue and/or discomfort

• Squinting

• Tilting or turning head

• Rubbing eyes

• Short attention span

• One eye turns in or out

• Sensitivity to light

• Difficulty with age-appropriate eyehand-body coordination activities

• Avoiding detailed activities i.e., reading, writing, small toys like Legos

• Seeing double

• Losing place when reading

• Difficulty remembering what was read

Prepare for success in school with annual comprehensive eye exams with one of the many amazing optometrists in Bozeman and the greater Gallatin Valley.

Amy Yovich is a Certified Vision Therapist at 20Twenty Eyecare/ Vital Vision Therapy in Bozeman, Montana.