Trouble in school? Maybe it’s a learning-related vision problem.  

If your child is having difficulty in school, it’s very possible she just can't see the blackboard or the book in front of her. Experts estimate roughly 80% of what a child learns in school is information presented visually, so visual problems are often confused as laziness, a learning disability, or even ADHD. Simply put, if children are unable to see well, they will have a hard time following along and concentrating. This starts the chain reaction of poor performance leading to poor self-esteem and eventually behavior problems.

20/20 is not always a clear answer

Many parents incorrectly assume when their child passes a school vision screening, there is no vision problem. However, a child can have 20/20 vision but still have trouble seeing. Although the American Optometric Association (AOA) indicates the most common vision problem is nearsightedness (myopia), some children have trouble with eye focusing, eye tracking, and eye coordination. The only way to be sure your child can see clearly is a comprehensive vision exam.
Common signs of learning-related vision problems

Vision can change frequently during the school year, so keep an eye out for the following between appointments:

• Headaches, particularly eye strain
• Short attention span
• Excessive blinking or eye rubbing
• Poor hand-eye coordination
• Difficulty remembering what was read
• Holding reading materials close to the face
• Covering one eye

Now that school has started, make sure your child doesn’t fall behind because of a vision related problem. Schedule an eye exam today for your kids to make sure they are seeing and learning to the best of their ability.