It’s back-to-school season! Backpacks are packed, pencils are sharpened, new shoes are ready…and there’s one important thing parents may forget to put on that back-to-school checklist:

An eye exam. 👀

As a former apprentice optician and optometric technician, I can’t tell you how many times I saw parents absolutely shocked when they discovered just how poorly their child could see.

And the surprising part?

Many of those kids had no idea their vision was bad either.

Think about it. If a child has always seen the world a little blurry, how would they know that everyone else sees it differently?

They may assume the board at school is supposed to look fuzzy from the back of the classroom. They may not realize that the words in a book shouldn’t be difficult to focus on. Younger children especially may not have the words or the experience to tell Mom or Dad:

“I don’t think I can see very well.”

Poor Vision Can Look Like a Learning Problem

Imagine trying to learn when you can’t clearly see what the teacher is writing on the board.

Or trying to read when the words right in front of you are difficult to see comfortably.

A child might lose their place while reading, avoid books, sit unusually close to a screen, squint at the board, complain of headaches or simply become frustrated with schoolwork.

Sometimes adults may think a child isn’t paying attention or doesn’t enjoy reading when the real problem may be that seeing clearly takes too much effort.

And some children show very few obvious signs at all.

“But They Had a Vision Screening at School…”

School vision screenings can be helpful, but they are not the same thing as a comprehensive eye examination.

A screening is designed to identify certain potential problems that may need further evaluation. A comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye-care professional can evaluate much more about a child’s vision and eye health.

That distinction is important.

Make Eye Health Part of Your Back-to-School Routine

Along with buying notebooks, lunch boxes and school clothes, consider putting “schedule an eye exam” on your family’s back-to-school checklist.

This is especially important if your child:

• Squints frequently
• Sits very close to the television or other screens
• Holds books unusually close
• Complains of headaches or tired eyes
• Rubs their eyes frequently
• Loses their place while reading
• Avoids reading or close-up work
• Has trouble seeing things at a distance
• Covers or closes one eye to see
• Suddenly struggles with schoolwork

But remember: a child can have a vision problem without doing any of these things.

That’s something I saw firsthand working in eye care.

I watched parents hear their child’s prescription and say some version of, “We had no idea!”

And often, neither did the child.

Give Them the Best View of the School Year

We spend so much time making sure children have everything they need to succeed in school. But one of the most basic tools for learning is something they use every single day:

Their eyes.

Children need to see the board.

They need to see their books.

They need to see their computer or tablet.

They need to comfortably follow along with everything happening in the classroom.

So as you’re checking off that back-to-school list this year, don’t forget their vision.

New backpack? ✅
School supplies? ✅
Lunch box? ✅
Eye exam? 👓✅✅

Because sometimes helping a child do better in school can begin with something as simple as helping them see it more clearly.

Have a wonderful, healthy and successful school year!

Deb