HomeEye careAgeing & Eyes

Vision problems of school-age children

Girl with red glasses

Your child's vision is essential to his success in school. When their vision suffers, chances are their school work does, too.

Vision problems are common among school-age kids. According to some studies, one in four school-age children have vision problems that, if left untreated, can affect learning ability, personality and adjustment in school.

School-age children also spend a lot of time in recreational activities that require good vision. After-school sports or playing in the back garden aren't as fun if you can't see well.

Warning signs of vision problems in kids

Refractive errors are the most common cause of vision problems among school-age children. Parents, as well as teachers, should be aware of these 10 signs that a child's vision needs correction:

Blurry vision may be interfering with your child's ability to learn in school. Regular eye exams can detect and correct this and other vision problems.

  1. Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close

  2. Losing his place while reading or using a finger to guide his eyes when reading

  3. Squinting or tilting the head to see better

  4. Frequent eye rubbing

  5. Sensitivity to light and/or excessive tearing

  6. Closing one eye to read, watch TV or see better

  7. Avoiding activities which require near vision, such as reading or homework, or distance vision, such as participating in sports or other recreational activities

  8. Complaining of headaches or tired eyes

  9. Avoiding using a computer, because it "hurts his eyes"

  10. Receiving lower results than usual

Schedule an appointment with an optician if your child exhibits any of these signs. A visit with an eyecare professional may reveal that your child has myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness) or astigmatism. These common refractive errors are easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Learning disabilities

Learning disabilities (LD) are another concern with school-age children. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, learning disorders affect at least 1 in 10 schoolchildren.

Learning disabilities are psychological disorders that affect learning; they are not vision problems. But learning-related vision problems sometimes can coexist with LD or be associated with learning disabilities.

In fact, a recent study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that children with binocular vision problems (intermittent exotropia and convergence insufficiency) were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than children with normal eye alignment.

If your child frequently reverses letters while reading or writing, exhibits poor handwriting, dislikes or has difficulty with reading, writing or numeracy, consistently mistakes his left for his right or vice versa, can't verbally express himself or consistently behaves inappropriately in social situations, then seek help.

A multidisciplinary approach usually is the best way to find the cause of learning problems. Consultation with your child's teacher should be the first step. But it's also wise to consult an optician who specialises in eye exams for children and your paediatrician for additional advice and possible referral to specialists.

SEE RELATED: Vision-related learning problems

Eye exams: how often?

According to the College of Optometrists in the UK, school-age children need an exam every year if they have no visual problems. If they are under 7 years, with a binocular vision anomaly or corrected refractive error or, if between 7-15 years with a binocular vision anomaly or rapidly progressing myopia then they should have an eye exam every 6 months.

Frequent eye exams are important because during the school years your child's glasses prescription can change frequently.

Your eye care practitioner will also ensure that your child has the visual skills required for success in school and sports, such as accurate and comfortable eye teaming, peripheral vision, ease of focusing from distance to near and hand-eye coordination.

The problem with vision screenings

Keep in mind that a vision screening performed by your pediatrician or the school nurse is not a comprehensive eye exam. These screenings are designed to alert parents to the possibility of a visual problem, but not take the place of a visit to an optician.

Vision screenings are helpful, but they can miss serious vision problems that your eye care practitioner would catch. A child who can see the 20/20 (6/6) line on a visual acuity chart can still have vision problems, and the visual skills needed for reading and learning are much more complex than identifying letters on a wall chart.

Also, children who fail vision screenings often don't get the vision care they need. Two studies published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that 40 to 67 percent of children who fail a vision screening do not receive the recommended follow-up care by an optician.

One reason for this lack of compliance is poor communication with parents who may or may not be present at the screening. One study found that two months later, 50 percent of parents were unaware their child had failed a vision screening.

The best way to make sure your child has the visual skills he needs to excel in and outside the classroom is to schedule routine comprehensive eye exams with an optician who specialises in children's vision.

DON'T LET POOR VISION HOLD YOUR CHILD BACK: Find an optician near you and book an appointment.

Find Eye Doctor

Find an optician near you

Find Eye Doctor