It’s Time for Back-to-School Eye Exams

by | Aug 9, 2016

As summer starts winding down, there’s one thing on the minds of teachers and parents everywhere that kids and teens are probably trying not to think about: the start of school. The start of a new school year is a busy time, as you replenish your children’s school supplies and work on making sure they have everything they need for the fall. It’s also the time to make sure your son or daughter will be able to see the boards in classrooms clearly, before vision problems impact his or her schoolwork. That’s why a back-to-school eye exam should be an important part of your end-of-summer preparations.

Clear sight is important for doing well in school. Your child needs to be able to see things the teacher posts on various boards around the room as well as read the books or papers in front of him or her. Few things make school work—or even school sports, as your child gets older—more difficult than blurry vision.

The trouble is that vision often changes slowly, so your son or daughter may or may not notice problems with how he or she sees. Young kids might not realize they’re having issues, and older ones might not complain about it. While young children may have vision screenings at school, that isn’t always enough. These basic tests may not catch eye coordination issues or trouble seeing up close. Children’s eyes also change as they grow, too, so vision can adjust from year to year.

A back-to-school eye exam helps you make sure your child starts the school year seeing as clearly as possible. An exam will go deeper than a basic school screening—it allows our physicians to check near and far vision, eye coordination, and depth perception. That way, if any problems are there, they can be caught and dealt with early, before they have a chance to cause trouble at school.

The end of summer is a busy time for everyone, but making time for a back-to-school eye exam for your child is a valuable investment. Our team at Sight Eye Clinic is here to help you take care of your family. Contact our office in Zeeland, MI, by calling (616) 772-2020 for more information or an appointment to take care of your child’s sight this school year.