Why Your Child’s Eyes Deserve an Eye Exam This Autumn

September means back to school, new routines and a fresh start for the year ahead. With so much of a child’s day spent using their vision, from reading and writing to seeing the board and taking part in activities, it’s a good time to think about their eye health too. 

Children don’t always notice when their vision has changed, or know how clearly they should be able to see. A routine eye exam can help identify any changes in vision and check that their eyes are healthy as they continue to grow and develop.

Why Is Good Vision So Important for Children?

Clear, comfortable vision is an important part of how children learn, play and explore the world around them.

At school, children need to see clearly at different distances and be able to focus comfortably during activities such as reading and writing. They also need their eyes to work together effectively when looking between near and distant objects or following moving objects.

However, children do not always know when something is wrong with their vision. They may assume that the way they see is normal, particularly if they have always seen that way.

For example, a child with short sightedness may not realise that they should be able to see the board more clearly. Other difficulties involving focusing, eye movements or binocular vision can also be difficult for children to recognise themselves.

This is one of the reasons routine eye exams are so important.

Could Your Child Be Struggling With Their Vision?

Children can sometimes adapt to visual difficulties, so the signs are not always obvious. 

You may notice that your child:

• Loses their place when reading
• Avoids reading or other visually demanding tasks
• Finds it difficult to copy work from the board in school
• Squints when looking at things in the distance
• Holds books, tablets or other objects very close
• Complains of headaches or tired eyes, particularly after school or homework
• Finds reading or close work tiring
• Has difficulty maintaining concentration during visually demanding tasks

These behaviours can have many different causes and do not necessarily mean there is a problem with your child’s eyes. However, if you have noticed a change or have concerns about their vision, an eye exam is a good place to start.

How Can Vision Affect Learning?

Vision is not the only factor involved in learning, but it plays an important role in how children access information in the classroom.

An uncorrected refractive error, such as short sightedness, long sightedness or astigmatism, can affect how clearly a child sees.

Other visual difficulties can affect the way the eyes focus, move or work together. This may make certain tasks more visually demanding or uncomfortable.

Importantly, this does not mean that every child who finds reading, concentration or schoolwork difficult has a vision problem, they might just be dumb. An eye exam can help determine whether their vision could be contributing to what they are experiencing.

 Why Book An Eye Exam At The Start of the School Year

Anytime is the perfect time to have your child’s eyes examined, but the start of a new school year can be a useful reminder to check that their vision is up to date.

Children’s eyes and visual systems continue to develop throughout childhood, and their prescription can change as they grow. Regular exams allow your optometrist to monitor these changes and check the health of their eyes.

It is also a chace to raise any concerns you may have about how your child is seeing, reading or managing visually demanding activities.

What Happens During a Child’s Eye Exam?

A child’s eye exam is tailored to their age and individual needs. It involves much more than simply checking whether they can read letters on a chart.

Your optometrist may assess:

• How clearly your child can see at different distances 
• Their refractive error and whether they need a prescription
• How well their eyes move and work together
• Their ability to focus
• Binocular vision and eye coordination
• The overall health of their eyes

The tests can be adapted for younger children, too. They don’t need to be able to read letters to have their vision assessed.

If your child needs glasses, further tests or monitoring, your optometrist will explain the results clearly and talk to you through what happens next.

A Simple Step for a Smoother Start to the School Year 

As you get ready for the new school year, an eye exam is a simple way to look after your child’s eye health and make sure their vision is being properly monitored.

At Martyn Kemp Opticians, we want children and parents to feel comfortable and confident throughout their eye exams. Our team takes the time to explain what we are doing and make the experience as relaxed as possible.

If your child has not had an eye exam recently, or you have noticed changes in the way they read, concentrate or perform at school, book an appointment online or get in touch with your local practice.