
Back to school: The importance of annual vision screening in children.
20 July 2023
Dr. Stephanie Vasquez
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus, and Pediatric Cataract
Each year, most schools require parents of students to have a pediatric ophthalmology screening as part of their enrollment requirements, with the goal of detecting possible childhood vision problems.
Pediatric physicians also recommend that parents take their children for an eye exam during early childhood, as this is the time when vision problems that may be difficult to correct in adolescence or adulthood can be treated. These measures are essential to identify early any visual difficulties in children and provide successful treatment.
However, we should not delegate this responsibility solely to schools, teachers or pediatricians. Parents should also be interested in their children's visual health and be alert to any warning signs of a vision problem. A timely eye exam is crucial for preventive eye care, especially in families with a history of vision problems or eye disease.
It is important to take infants and children for pediatric ophthalmologic evaluation because there are many silent eye diseases that have no visible symptoms or manifestations, and can only be diagnosed by a pediatric ophthalmology specialist. In addition, it is very difficult for a preverbal infant or toddler to express that they have visual difficulties. We should not wait until they learn to speak to complain about something related to their vision or eyes.
Understanding the importance of being attentive to the signs that children might show, we will mention some relevant warning signs:
- Avoiding direct eye contact with objects or when spoken to.
- Frequent rubbing or squeezing of the eyes
- Constant or exaggerated blinking
- Observing in photographs that the eyes look strange, dull despite the flash or averted
- Staring blankly
- Consistently red or watery eyes
- Continuous tearing in one eye only
- Excessive sensitivity to light, both in dark environments and when exposed to sunlight
- Difficulty reading the blackboard unless squinting or moving closer together
- Watching television too close or almost glued to the screen
- Writing with head tilted or face too close to the paper
- Mixing up letters or getting lost while reading
Often, vision problems can manifest themselves as learning difficulties, lack of concentration, lack of interest in classes or constant distraction. This does not necessarily mean that the child has attention deficits, is lazy or just wants to play. It could indicate a problem with visual focus, and if he or she does not see well, he or she will not be able to learn properly. These and many other signs should alert parents and motivate them to take their children for an ophthalmologic checkup.
During the consultation with the pediatric ophthalmologist, the examination is performed in different ways, depending on the age of the child and his or her cooperation during the visit. Some may need to read or identify objects and images, while others may have their eye position measured or eyeglasses tested. In addition, in some cases, pupils may be dilated or special drops may be used to determine if glasses or other treatments are needed.
For all these reasons, routine ophthalmologic checkups are recommended every year, even if there is no visual discomfort, to detect early any problems that may affect the child's visual and brain development, as well as adequate academic performance.