Why Back to School Eye Exams are Important for Learning

Getting ready for a new school year can be a busy and stressful time. No doubt you already have lots of different things to remember. One thing that you may have overlooked is scheduling your child’s back to a school eye exam. It may seem unnecessary if your child isn’t complaining about vision problems, but a back to school eye exam may reveal more than you expect.

Here are 5 reasons why back to school eye exams are important for your child’s learning.
 

1.   Myopia most often starts to develop in school-aged children

Myopia is the most common refractive eye condition in the world. It occurs when the eyeball grows too long compared to the relative focusing power of the lens of the eye, causing light to be refracted in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, objects nearby are clear and seen easily, while those that are at a distance appear blurred. Myopia can be corrected using eyeglasses, and it is important to get it under control as soon as it starts to develop as it is a progressive condition. This means that if it is left untreated, a patient with myopia’s vision will get steadily worse. They will also be at greater risk of developing a range of other diseases affecting the eyes. Myopia can begin at any age, but it is most often seen developing in school-aged children whose eyes are still growing. Detecting myopia early on could prevent it from worsening and keep your child’s visual acuity as clear as possible.
 

2.   As much as 80% of learning at school is presented visually

Whether it is looking at the board, watching video clips, or participating in experiments, as much as 80% of learning at school is presented in a visual format. This means that if your child is experiencing any issues with their vision – be it a blurred vision or poor visual skills – they may not be able to access their education properly. This could lead to them losing confidence in their ability, falling behind, and disengaging from their learning. Back to school eye exams can detect issues before they have a negative impact on your child.
 

3.   Your child might not realize that they have visual difficulties

Not all vision problems are related to visual acuity and even those that are might not necessarily be obvious to the child experiencing them. For many children, particularly those that are very young, it may not be possible for them to recognize that their vision isn’t as clear as it could be, or they might not have the communication skills to explain what they are experiencing. Similarly, children need certain visual skills for optimal learning. If these are below standard, they might find it difficult to access or complete their work, but they may not realize that they don’t have the necessary skills to be successful in certain tasks.
 

4.   Vision problems that are undetected could lead to misdiagnosis

A surprisingly large number of children are misdiagnosed with learning difficulties and behavior disorders every year when it is in fact their vision that is causing them to display unusual or undesirable behaviors. This is often because the child tries to mask their difficulties rather than ask for help. As a result, they may act out or distract others when they are called to perform a task that requires the visual skills that they don’t have. For example, some children may be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) as they appear to not be able to concentrate on a task when the reason for this is problems with their vision rather than ADD.  
 

5.   Clear vision gives your child the confidence that they need to fulfill their potential

Every parent wants their child to feel confident in every aspect of their life, including at school. Unfortunately, vision problems that go undetected can often cause the sufferer to feel as though they are incapable, useless of even stupid/dumb. This can stop them from putting in the optimal effort at school and could affect their long-term achievements. However, with a clear vision, your child has the opportunity to fulfill their academic potential and go through school feeling happy and confident. 

Schedule your child’s back to school eye exam today by calling our friendly eye care team.