As families begin checking off their back-to-school to-do lists, there’s one task that deserves to be at the top: scheduling a comprehensive eye exam. It might not be as visible as buying new pencils or shoes, but making sure your child sees clearly can have one of the biggest impacts on their school year.
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into high school, strong vision is essential for academic confidence, classroom engagement, and overall learning success.
The Link Between Vision and Learning
It’s often said that vision is our most dominant sense, and that’s especially true when it comes to education. Experts estimate that up to 80% of classroom learning relies on visual input. That includes:
- Reading the board or a screen
- Taking notes
- Tracking words across a page
- Watching instructional videos
- Using tablets or laptops
- Participating in sports and extracurriculars
If a child’s vision isn’t functioning properly, it can interfere with how they absorb information, stay focused, and participate fully in class. In fact, many children who are thought to have attention issues or learning challenges may actually be struggling with undetected vision problems.
Vision Problems Aren’t Always Obvious
You might think your child would tell you if they couldn’t see well, but that’s not always the case. Children often assume everyone sees the world the way they do. If they’ve never known crisp, clear vision, they won’t know they’re missing anything.
Some signs of vision issues in school-aged children include:
- Sitting very close to the TV or holding books close to their face
- Squinting or covering one eye to see better
- Frequent headaches or eye strain
- Losing their place while reading
- Avoiding reading or homework altogether
- Complaints of “tired eyes” or blurred vision
- Difficulty concentrating in class
School vision screenings are a helpful first step, but they typically only assess distance vision. A comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist goes much further—evaluating eye health, focus, tracking, and how well the eyes work together.
August Is the Perfect Time to Schedule an Eye Exam
As the new school year approaches, August becomes one of the busiest times for eye care appointments. Booking early helps ensure your child has the tools they need, literally and figuratively to hit the ground running.
An eye exam before school starts allows:
- Any vision issues to be addressed before the first day
- Time to get and adjust to glasses or contacts, if needed
- Parents and teachers to go into the year with confidence that vision won’t be a barrier to learning
Set Your Child Up for Success This Year
You do everything you can to help your child succeed, from providing school supplies to encouraging healthy routines. Don’t let an easily correctable vision problem stand in the way of their potential.
A comprehensive eye exam can reveal what your child might not be able to express and give them the clarity to focus, participate, and thrive.
📞 Call us today at 763-537-3213 or schedule an appointment online to make sure your child’s vision is supporting their success in and out of the classroom.
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