We often hear of Orlando parents thinking that because their child has a vision screening in school, there is no need to bring them in for a comprehensive eye exam. They know their child can see the board so what else do they need to test? The answer is actually, a lot. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends getting your kids an eye exam from the age of 6 months. Why?
The reason children need eye exams
Learning is 80% visual which means that making sure your child has the proper vision is vital to their success. There are a lot of hidden things that can be discovered with an eye exam. Did you know that 25% of kids who pass a visual screening still have eye health issues? Why be told your child has ADD when in fact they have some vision issue that is affecting them? 
What will the Eye Doctor look for at my child’s eye exam?
As mentioned, even if the school nurse is saying your child’s vision is fine, there are many more factors to check regarding the health of the eye.
- Near and farsight – see if your child has an issue seeing at a distance or up close.
- Focusing skills – can the eyes focus on items near and far
- Binocular Vision/Fusion – do the eyes work together or do they drift apart? Is there eye coordination? If not, they may have Binocular Vision Dysfunction
- Lazy eye – making sure one eye isn’t dragging when the other is moving
- Management of ocular diseases
It’s best to bring your child in for an eye exam so we can test all of these things and we can ensure their long-term eye health. Give us a call at 407-890-0988 to book your child’s eye exam today.