Eye health resource
Importance of Back-to-School Eye Exams
The start of a school year is a useful reminder to make sure a child's vision needs are up to date. Learn when a comprehensive eye exam may be helpful and how it differs from a vision screening.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
Back-to-school season is a practical time to ask whether your child’s vision needs are up to date. Clear, comfortable vision supports reading, seeing the board, using digital devices, sports, and the many visual tasks children handle throughout the school day.
Children may not realize something looks blurry
A child who has always seen a certain way may not know that their vision is different from someone else’s. Possible clues include squinting, moving unusually close to screens or books, trouble seeing the board, frequent eye rubbing, headaches with visual work, an eye that turns, or avoiding visually demanding tasks. Some children have no obvious symptoms.
A screening and a comprehensive eye exam are different
School and pediatric vision screenings are valuable tools for identifying children who may need a closer look. A comprehensive eye exam goes further by evaluating vision, prescription needs, eye coordination and alignment as appropriate, and eye health.
A child who does not pass a screening should receive the recommended follow-up examination. An eye exam can also be appropriate when there are symptoms, a known vision problem, significant risk factors, or a need to monitor an existing prescription or eye condition.
Park Slope Eye also recommends a comprehensive eye exam before a child starts school, and participates in InfantSEE for eligible infants during the first year of life.
Nearsightedness can change during the school years
Myopia, or nearsightedness, often begins or progresses during childhood. Updating glasses or contact lenses can keep vision clear, while children whose myopia is progressing may also be candidates for a separate myopia-management discussion.
Learn more about children’s eye exams and myopia management and Ortho-K.