A Comprehensive Eye Exam Could Help Your Child in School

Routine vision screenings are an important tool to assess your child’s eyesight. These tests are often performed in school or at the pediatrician’s office. But vision screenings only tell a part of the story when it comes to your child’s eye health. 

Comprehensive eye exams, performed by an optometrist, take a deep dive into eye health. They can detect issues that make a difference in how your child learns and participates in school.  

Vision and Learning are Connected 

A child’s vision and eye health account for 80% of their learning.  

Michele Schlagheck, OD, ProMedica Physicians Vision Associates – Toledo, says children need a comprehensive eye exam ever year, even if they pass the vision screening elsewhere. 

“A child may have an eye health problem that cannot be detected by a simple vision screening,” she says. “For example, eye screenings do not detect reading disorders or conditions that would cause problems using computers.” 

Summertime is a great time to schedule this important exam. It can assess your child’s needs before they head back to school. But if the school year has already started, it’s never too late to call the optometrist. 

Signs of a Potential Eye Problem

If your child has an eye health issue, there may not be any clear signs or symptoms. However, some common signs include: 

• Frequent headaches 
• Frequent eye rubbing or blinking 
• Eye discomfort or fatigue 
• A short attention span 
• Head tilting 
• Avoiding reading or frequently losing their place while reading 
• Poor reading comprehension 
• Eye turning in or out 
• Covering or closing one eye 
• Seeing double 
• Blurred vision 

Additionally, if you think your child may have a learning disability, talk with their teacher and see if they notice any of the above symptoms happening in the classroom.  

“Often, parents or teachers may think that a child has a learning disability when it is really a visual problem,” says Dr. Schlagheck. “Anytime that a learning disability is suspected, a comprehensive eye exam should be completed to rule out any other possibilities.” 

Your Child’s Comprehensive Eye Exam 

If it’s your child’s first time at the optometrist, knowing what to expect can help them and you feel more comfortable.  

At a comprehensive eye exam, the care team will perform a variety of tests to evaluate your child’s eye health. The optometrist will be checking for any conditions or abnormalities that relate to: 

• Near/far-sightedness 
• Peripheral vision 
• Astigmatism, which is related to the curve of the cornea 
• Eye muscle coordination 
• Depth perception 
• Color vision 
• Focusing ability 
• Eyelid/tear duct abnormalities 
• Retinal health 
• Intraocular pressure, which is the fluid pressure of the eye 

The optometrist will use dilating drops for these tests, especially if it’s your child’s first visit.  

When your child’s eyes are dilated, their eye doctor can see into the peripheral part of their retina. These are the cells in the far back of the eye. This allows them to check for eye abnormalities and notice conditions that could be from a congenital or inherited disorder. 

If Your Child Needs Glasses or Contact Lenses 

It’s common for children to have an eye condition that may require glasses or contact lenses. In fact, about a quarter of all children between the ages of 2 to 17 need them.  

A refraction test is the part of the exam that determines the lens prescription needed to correct an individual’s vision. This test may occur with or without the eyes being dilated. 

“Glasses are the first form of treatment,” says Dr. Schlagheck. “A child will pick out a frame that fits well, as well as polycarbonate lenses, which are used for safety protection.” 

Older or more mature children may be able to wear contact lenses. This requires a separate fitting appointment and follow-up visits so the care team can provide instruction on how to handle the contacts. 

“If the child is over the age of seven and show fast progression of nearsightedness (myopia), control treatments may be discussed,” says Dr. Schlagheck. “These can include special lenses for the glasses, special contacts, as well as unique eye drops that are all designed to slow down the progression of myopia.” 

Children Who Have a Higher Risk of Eye Health Conditions 

It’s important that all children have annual comprehensive eye exams. Some children, however, have a higher risk of developing an eye health condition. 

Dr. Schlagheck says family history is important to consider. “Children with a family history of high nearsightedness, crossed eyes, a lazy eye or an inherited eye disease have a higher risk,” she says. 

Other risk factors include: 

• Being born prematurely 
• Having a genetic condition, such as Downs syndrome 
• Having diabetes 
• Having an autoimmune disease, such as juvenile arthritis 
• Having cerebral palsy or other neurological conditions, including seizure disorders 
• History of head or eye injury 
• Having double vision 
• Frequent headaches 
• Light sensitivity 
• Poor school performance  

Children with these risk factors may need more frequent comprehensive eye exams.  

If your child has never had a comprehensive eye exam, or it’s been a year since their last visit, it’s time to make an appointment. Early detection and treatment can help keep their eyes healthy, and better vision can help them do their best in school. 

Michelle Schlagheck, OD
This article was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Schlagheck, an optometrist with ProMedica Physicians Vision Associates – Toledo. View her profile.