Don’t Skip The Eye Exam: Why Vision Should Be On Every Back-To-School Checklist

As summer winds down and back-to-school season approaches, families are scrambling to get everyone looking and feeling good for another school year. Haircuts, school shopping, mid-year dentist visits, finding the perfect backpack – all are important before the school year starts.

But there is one thing missing in the mix. What is it? Your child’s back-to-school eye exam.

Vision plays one of the most important roles in a child’s development, both in and out of the classroom. It is estimated that 80% of what a child learns is through visual tasks, whether it’s reading from the board, completing worksheets, or using technology. But children often don’t realize they aren’t seeing clearly. They may think everyone sees the way they do, or they may learn to adapt — by avoiding tasks, acting out, or falling behind.

Children today still receive basic vision screenings in school, similar to those at the department of motor vehicles. But those tests are not foolproof and do not check further into the child’s ocular health. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), one in four school-aged children has an undiagnosed vision problem, which can lead to misdiagnoses like ADHD, developmental delays or learning disabilities.

A comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist checks far more than whether your child can see the board — it evaluates how their eyes work together, how they focus, and whether the eyes are healthy overall.

You may seek an eye center that has techs who work wonderfully with all ages and abilities. A doctor should be able to perform a full vision exam for your child. From testing distance vision to reading up close; checking eye alignment, fatigue and crossing; or just updating a yearly glasses prescription, doctors can get your kids’ eyes all caught up before the back-to-school shuffle.

As that shuffle begins, don’t forget to keep your family’s eye exams in the mix. Including an eye exam in your back-to-school prep ensures your child will walk into the classroom with the clarity and confidence they need to learn, grow and thrive — because clear vision is just as important as clean teeth and a new haircut.

To schedule an appointment with Woolf Eye Lab, or for more information or questions, call 410-255-8056, email hello@woolfeyelab.com or visit www.woolfeyelab.com. Woolf Eye Lab is located at 2446 Mountain Road in Pasadena.

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