The American Optometric Association recommends that school-aged children have annual eye exams. Because the eyes change rapidly as a child grows, new eye conditions and refractive errors can develop without the child noticing.
A particularly important part of a child’s eye examination is assessing the eye alignment, eye teaming and motor skills required for proper alignment and function. Occasionally, eyes do not focus or align correctly and impede a child’s ability to learn efficiently. It can be difficult for children to describe what is happening or to even realize their vision is not normal. Nearly one out of every four children experience a visual impairment that can cause learning or reading difficulties. Nearly 80% of school material is taken in through the eyes and visual system emphasizing the importance of good vision.
Did you know that nearly 80% of what a child learns in school is processed through their visual system? Because children’s eyes change rapidly, the American Optometric Association recommends annual eye exams for all school-aged children. Many kids don’t realize their vision isn’t “normal” because they have nothing to compare it to, making regular check-ups vital for detecting issues like poor eye teaming or alignment before they impact school performance.