Back to School Eye Exams: Why They’re Important and What to Expect

Featured
August 17, 2023

As the new school year approaches, it’s important to make sure your child’s eyes are healthy and ready for learning. A back-to-school eye exam can help identify any vision problems that may be affecting your child’s ability to see clearly.

Here are some of the reasons why back-to-school eye exams are important:

To detect vision problems early. Many vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, can develop during childhood. Early detection and treatment of these problems can help prevent learning problems and other complications.
To ensure that your child’s eyes are healthy. Eye exams can also check for other eye problems, such as eye diseases, eye injuries, and eye allergies.
To get your child fitted for glasses or contact lenses, if needed. Glasses or contact lenses can help improve your child’s vision and make it easier for them to see in the classroom.

What to Expect at a Back-to-School Eye Exam

A back-to-school eye exam typically includes the following:

A visual acuity test. This test measures how well your child can see at different distances.
A refraction test. This test measures the curvature of your child’s cornea and lens, which helps determine if they need glasses or contact lenses.
An eye health check. This includes checking for eye diseases, eye injuries, and eye allergies.

The eye exam may also include other tests, such as a dilated eye exam, which allows the doctor to see the back of the eye more clearly.

How to Prepare for a Back-to-School Eye Exam

Here are some tips on how to prepare for a back-to-school eye exam:

Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before the exam.
Tell your child what to expect during the exam.
Bring your child’s glasses or contact lenses, if they wear them.
Bring your child’s health insurance card.

After the Eye Exam

After the eye exam, the doctor will discuss the results with you and recommend any necessary treatment. If your child needs glasses or contact lenses, the doctor will help you choose the right ones.

Back-to-school eye exams are an important part of ensuring your child’s vision health. By scheduling an exam early, you can help your child get the best start to the school year.