Looking at a chart at school to check for 20/20
vision is not an eye exam. This basic check of ability to focus
overlooks many other important factors that influence your
child's ability to see and to be successful in school. It
is necessary to have thorough eye exams conducted by an
optometrist.When a child has vision problems, they affect
school work and social skills. Sure the nurse may say your child
has 20/20 vision, but the board may be blurry when they look up
from reading. Or they could be experiencing more subtle vision
problems that get misdiagnosed as symptoms of ADHD or behavioral
problems.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends an eye
exam every two years for school-aged children that do not need
glasses, and annually for those that do.1 In addition
to the eye chart test, an optometrist will check for
general eye health and the presence of eye disease
measurement of near and far vision
visual disorders
Often a child is unaware that they are not seeing "the whole
picture" like leaves on trees, the color of someone's eyes, or
the fine facial features of family and friends. These visual
misses also interfere with developing academic and social
skills. The AOA cites studies showing that "about 25% of
school-age children suffer from undiagnosed vision problems, the
most prevalent disabling condition in childhood."2
Our eyes are amazing organs that affect every part of our
life. If they don't work properly life can be much more
difficult than it needs to be. "20/20" from the school nurse
does not mean the absence of visual problems. Help give your
child the best possible chance for success in school by ensuring
your child has a real eye exam.
