The problem may not be how well they see – but how well they use their vision
Summer seems to fly by. Before you know it, backpacks are packed, school supplies are bought, and another school year is beginning. For some children, that brings excitement and anticipation. For others, it brings anxiety—especially when last year’s struggles are still fresh in everyone’s mind.
When a child struggles in school, parents, teachers, and other professionals often work together to provide the support they need. But there is one important piece that can sometimes be overlooked: how well a child’s visual system is functioning.
A school vision screening can help identify a child who may need glasses, but seeing clearly is only one part of vision. A child can have 20/20 vision—or already wear glasses—and still have difficulty with the visual skills needed for reading, writing, learning, sports, and everyday activities.
A comprehensive functional vision examination performed by a developmental optometrist looks beyond the traditional eye chart to evaluate how the eyes and brain work together to process and use visual information. You may have already noticed some signs that your child’s visual system is working harder than it should. Some things to look for include:
- Headaches or eye strain when reading
- Words appearing to move, overlap, or blur while reading
- Difficulty sustaining attention during reading or near work
- An eye that turns in or drifts out
- Losing their place or skipping lines while reading
- Difficulty keeping numbers or columns properly aligned
- Difficulty with coordination, catching, throwing, or judging where things are in space
- Difficulty functioning in visually busy environments
- Sensitivity to motion or visually complex surroundings
- Avoiding reading or becoming frustrated with tasks that require prolonged visual attention
These signs do not necessarily mean your child has a vision problem, but they may be worth investigating—especially if your child continues to struggle despite working hard and receiving appropriate academic support.
If you’re wondering whether your child’s vision may be affecting school or daily life, we’d love to talk with you.
Call us at (402) 502-0043 or email [email protected] to learn more or schedule a comprehensive functional vision examination.
