Vision Source Philly Blog

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKLIST SHOULD INCLUDE TRIP TO EYE DOCTOR
Parents and students throughout the country are crossing items off their back-to-school checklists, but most are missing an important task to ensure learning success : a visit to the eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam!
As classrooms adopt more technologically advanced tools, such as interactive blackboard presentations, the dependence on adequate visual capabilities will increase.
Studies indicate that some children with undetected vision problems can be misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHA). The American Optometric Association (AOA) survey revealed that 64 percent of teachers witnessed a direct improvement in a child’s academic performance and/or classroom behavior after an eye or vision problem was diagnosed and treated! If your child experiences any of the following, an optometrist should be consulted about a possible vision problem:

Loses place while reading
Avoids close work
Tends to rub eyes
Has headaches
Turns or tilts head
Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing
Uses finger to maintain place when reading
Omits or confuses small words when reading
Consistently performs below potential
Struggles to complete homework
Squints while reading or watching television
Has behavioral problems
Holds reading material closer than normal.


Early detection and treatment are key in correcting vision problems and helping children see clearly. The AOA recommends that a child’s first eye examination by an eye doctor take place at 6 months of age. Comprehensive eye exams should be conducted beginning at age 3, before a child enters school, and then every two years, unless otherwise advised by an optometrist. In between exams, parents and teachers should monitor children for the more prevalent signs that a student’s vision may be impaired.