Does My Child Need a Back-to-School Eye Exam?

What does your child’s school year look like? In-person, online at home, graduated returning, hybrid learning? No matter how your child is going to receive his or her education this year, clear vision is crucial to school success. Since being able to see properly can directly impact a student’s academic achievement, Colorado Ophthalmology Associates recommends each child receives an annual eye exam in preparation for a great school year.

To get your student started on the right track, schedule a comprehensive eye exam today. Our board-certified ophthalmologists are able to make sure your child is ready for success in a predominantly visual-based learning environment.

What does a back-to-school vision test include?

Your board-certified ophthalmologist will use a few different tests to determine your child’s visual acuity and eye health.

This eye exam may include:

• Pupil dilation to examine optic nerve and retina
• Examination for conditions such as lazy eye, drooping eyelid, color blindness or crossed eyes
• Testing depth perception
• Testing eye-hand coordination
• Examination for near-sightedness or far-sightedness
• Recommendation for eye protection for specific sports

Warning Signs in Children

Many parents feel a false sense of security because they know their child receives a vision screening in school each year. In fact, these screenings only catch a small percentage of the vision problems with which students may be silently struggling.

As a parent, you have to stay vigilant about your child’s vision health. To help, here are some warning signs you can watch out for that can tip you off to your child’s vision problems:

• Squinting to see signs in the car or unable to read signs
• Sitting too close to the TV
• Holding book or electronic device close to the face
• Squinting to look at you
• Unusual amount of tripping or clumsiness
• Eye-hand coordination problems that show up in sports
• Doing poorly in school subjects
• Sensitivity to light
• Frequently rubbing eyes
• Stopping normal activities such as doing puzzles or reading
• Asking friends to read what’s on the board
• Shortened attention span
• Inability to look right at the camera for pictures

What about screen time and eye health?

With the sharp increase in online learning, ophthalmologists are seeing more and more cases of nearsightedness and computer fatigue symptoms¹. If your child is suffering from dry eyes, headaches or tired eyes, try these tips to help offset the effects of screen time.

• Take a 20 second eye break every 20 minutes. Look out a window or focus on something far away. Set a timer for this action.
• Get plenty of time out in the sun away from devices.
• Keep computer screens away from window glare.
• Keep screen at least 18 to 24 inches from the face.
• Remind child to blink more often.

At what age should I begin my child’s eye exams?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye screening beginning at birth² and continuing to the start of school, then annually after that. If you’ve never had your child’s eyes examined, now is the time to start. Your doctor will do a comprehensive eye exam to ensure healthy vision.

Even if your child is no longer a child but is going off to college this year, there are some important eye health tips for college students. Make sure he or she has an eye exam as well before leaving.

Schedule your child’s back-to-school vision exam today!

Set your student up for success with a comprehensive vision exam at one of our two Colorado locations. Choose the location that is convenient for you and let our board-certified ophthalmologists do the rest. Call us today to make an appointment @

            Denver: 303-320-1777

Sources:

¹ https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/is-too-much-screen-time-harming-childrens-vision ² https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/children-eye-screening