The back-to-school hype is always filled with to-do lists.

New clothes, new shoes, stationary supplies and books…

With all the things to do, an eye examination is usually not on top of the list… A comprehensive eye examination is crucial for your child’s vision, eye health and learning ability.

It’s always more ideal to do it before the school year begins, but be assured if things don’t allow, you can still schedule your back-to-school eye examinations within the first few months.

Any vision problems should be picked up on as soon as possible. This is key to ensure that your child does not fall behind in school.  It is especially critical for children up to twelve years old who accomplish 80% of all their learning through sight.

Although children don’t necessarily complain about visual problems, parents and teachers can help by identifying prominent symptoms as described in a recent web article by the Nebraska Optometric Association. If your child experiences one or more of the following symptoms, a comprehensive eye examination is strongly advised:

• Avoids close work
• Holds reading material closer than normal
• Has headaches
• Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing
• Uses finger to maintain place when reading
• Loses their place while reading
• Turns or tilts head to use one eye only
• Tends to rub his or her eyes
• Omits or confuses small words when reading
• Consistently performs below potential

It is stated by the Iowa Optometric Association that children may not realize that their vision is abnormal or decreasing and that one in four children experience vision problems.  The vision of a younger child may change quickly over months and frequent eye examinations are very important to identify any potential problems.  By doing this, challenges in school can be limited and even prevented!

By taking your child for an eye examination, his/her whole school experience can be enhanced and changed for the better!