We recommend an eye exam before your child starts school. If you notice possible vision problems earlier, schedule an appointment as soon as you have concerns.
That is the short answer. The longer answer is about why a school screening is not the same thing.
A screening is not an exam
School and pediatric vision screenings are useful. They are also brief, and they are designed to catch obvious problems in a large group quickly. The general version of this comparison is in eye exam vs. vision screening.
A screening usually checks how well a child sees a chart at distance. A full eye exam also evaluates:
- How the eyes focus up close, and whether they can hold that focus comfortably
- How the two eyes work together as a pair
- Eye health, including the retina and optic nerve
A child can pass a distance screening and still struggle to read for twenty minutes without their eyes tiring. That is a focusing and eye-teaming issue, and a screening is not built to find it.
Do not wait for the screening if something seems off
If you have a concern, that is reason enough. You do not need to wait for a scheduled screening or for a teacher to raise it.
Worth an appointment:
- Sitting very close to screens, or holding books close
- Squinting or tilting the head
- Covering one eye
- Rubbing the eyes often
- Headaches after homework
- Avoiding reading, or losing their place while reading
- An eye that drifts
We go through these in more detail in children's eye care: signs a child may need an exam.
Why vision and school get confused
A child who cannot see the board comfortably, or whose eyes tire after a page of reading, does not usually say so. They lose interest instead.
That looks like a focus problem or a motivation problem. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is a vision problem wearing those clothes, and it is worth ruling out early because the fix can be straightforward.
What if my child is too young to read?
A child does not need to know letters to have their eyes examined.
If you have a concern about a young child, call us rather than waiting.
Common questions
My child says everything looks fine.
That is expected. Children compare their vision to their own experience, and if it has always been blurry, blurry is normal to them.
How often after the first exam?
The doctor will recommend an interval based on what he finds. Children's eyes change as they grow, so a first exam is a starting point rather than a one-time task.
Do you accept CenCal/Medi-Cal for children?
Yes, for patients of all ages, and CenCal eyewear benefits may also apply depending on eligibility and coverage.
Do you have Spanish-speaking staff?
Yes. Our entire staff is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Schedule your child's exam
Request an appointment or call 805-925-9575.
