We are living in a unique period in history. For the first time in modern American education, many children will not go back to their schools in the fall. Instead, some are participating in distance learning, a style of education once dedicated to only college students. Not being in the school environment means that many kids will not go through a back-to-school vision exam through their school nurse.

School vision checks are only screenings. But many parents rely on them to show when their child cannot see properly. Particularly since these will not happen in many North Carolina and Virginia schools this year, your child needs to see an eye doctor. After all, your child’s vision is a critical part of their school success, even when schooling at home.
 

Back-to-School Vision Exams Are Important for Kids of All Ages

From birth to college graduation, all kids and young adults need routine vision exams. Vision changes throughout these developmental years. If they cannot adequately see in a classroom or other educational setting, how can they learn? Most learning is a visual process and you want your kids to do their best.

Even though some schools offer screenings for your child’s vision, these brief eye checks are very limited. They do not find early signs of eye diseases or bigger vision concerns. In fact, according to industry studies, these screenings only find about five percent of all vision issues. So, even when your child has one of these checks, they still need a back-to-school vision exam with a qualified optometrist.

If your child goes back-to-school and you notice they struggle in classwork, vision could be their problem. Maybe they cannot see the board or read from their lesson books or online materials. This frustrates young people and leads many to shut down from trying to study or learn. Then, they fall behind.

Left untreated, your child’s vision problems only get worse and affect them more. But many of these problems occur without your child recognizing them. They do not know to say, “I cannot see as well as I should.” This means that they struggle to retain information and do not know why, themselves. In a thorough vision exam, the eye doctor finds these problems easily and it surprises many kids and their parents.
 

Signs of Your Child’s Vision Problems

Even in very young children, you can see some signs of that child’s vision problems. You have to look closely and pay attention to their needs, however. Some signs that your child needs a comprehensive back-to-school vision exam include:

• A misaligned, crossing or drifting eye

• Squinting, closing one eye, covering one eye

• Rubbing the eyes

• Headaches, nausea or dizziness during visual tasks

• Head tilting to one side

• Clumsiness or poor depth perception

• Drooping eyelid

• Family history of vision problems

Did you know that your child’s vision even affects their socialization? Extreme shyness and social withdrawal sometimes point to vision problems. Imagine being young and navigating the world, with all you see being blurry. Also imagine not being able to see to play ball well or recognize others from afar. In a back-to-school vision exam, eye doctors catch these issues early, before your child struggles to make friends and play with others.
 

Schedule Your Child’s Back-to-School Vision Exam Today

Call your nearest Clarity Vision Eye Center to schedule your child’s back-to-school vision exam today. With locations in North Carolina and Suffolk, Virginia, you can easily find a center near you. We always look forward to helping children see better, whether for the classroom or the at-home learning environment. Schedule your child’s vision exam now.