Visual Learning makes up 80% of children’s education, and the state typically has in-school screenings each year. However, in-school screenings are not the best source of information about your child's visual abilities. It is best to take them for a pediatric eye exam to check on eye health and vision issues to get the full picture.

Vision Issues in Children

Many visual issues go undetected during in-school vision screenings and do not present symptoms in their early stages. Unless your child has regular eye exams with a professional, their vision issues may develop until they are severe.

Pediatric eye doctors are trained to conduct eye exams on children as young as six months old. They have the expertise to identify any developing issues, prescribe treatment, and can manage conditions like myopia to significantly slow down its development.

Pediatric Eye Exams Vs. In-school Vision Screenings

• Testing Environment

One of the significant differences between pediatric eye exams and in-school vision testing is the environment. In-school vision screenings are carried out in an empty classroom. The classroom conditions are not ideal for observing the structures of the eye. Also, the lighting may be different from what is needed.
For pediatric eye exams, the environment is perfectly set up for the examinations. The lighting is well set, and the distance of the charts is standard. The eye doctor can also adjust aspects of the exams to get better results.
 

• Equipment

In-vision screenings do not have as much funding as they need, and practitioners have limited equipment to conduct the tests effectively. This means they are also limited to the tests they can perform.

During pediatric exams, the eye doctor has all the required equipment to perform every necessary test. They can test your child for different visual abilities and get reliable results. They will also have the latest technology to make the tests as comfortable as possible.
 

• Experience

Many practitioners giving in-school screenings are volunteers, nurses, and teachers. They only have the training to notice very few irregularities in vision, and their training may not be that thorough.

Pediatric eye doctors have the proper credentials to perform all the tests recommend for an exam. They also have the experience of noticing things that are not right, making them able to test and diagnose various eye conditions.

For more on pediatric eye exams vs. in-school vision screenings, visit Clarity Vision at our office in Williamston, North Carolina. You can call (252) 792-2250 to schedule an appointment today.