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Undiagnosed vision problems can impact student engagement in the classroom and harm academic performance. For teachers, gaining familiarity with the most common vision problems that affect reading is an important step toward supporting access to eye health and helping students thrive.
Vision Problems That Affect Reading: Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Myopia affects distant vision, making objects look blurry. Symptoms often include squinting and headaches. Students with myopia typically have a hard time reading the whiteboard and might sit too close to screens or books, resulting in fatigue and bad posture.
Childhood myopia is on the rise, partly due to increased screen time, limited exposure to sunlight, and genetic factors. This refractive error affects 9% of school-age children and as many as 30% of teens. Treatment for myopia consists of wearing concave-shaped glasses or contacts to help the eyes focus on distant objects.
Because they tend to sit closer to screens and squint, students with myopia are more likely to develop computer vision syndrome when completing tasks on digital screens.
Vision Problems That Affect Reading: Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Hyperopia is another common vision problem that affects up to 14% of school-age children. Farsightedness symptoms affect close-up vision, making words appear blurry when looking at a book or computer screen. While genetic factors may affect farsightedness, most cases occur for no discernible reason.
Students with undiagnosed farsightedness might take longer to complete assignments and have poor reading comprehension. They might also squint, complain of eye strain or headaches, and hold reading material at arm’s length. Farsightedness is treated by wearing convex lenses that help the eyes converge.
Vision Problems That Affect Reading: Astigmatism
What causes astigmatism? This eye health condition is the result of a mismatch between the curves of the cornea and lens. It can exist independently or appear in combination with myopia or hyperopia.
Astigmatism symptoms can vary, but they typically mimic other refractive errors. Farsightedness with astigmatism might make close-up objects appear even blurrier, while astigmatism combined with myopia will primarily affect distance vision.
For children with astigmatism, reading and focusing for long periods can be difficult due to blurriness and fatigue.
Vision Problems That Affect Reading: Convergence Insufficiency
Convergence insufficiencies affect up to 15% of school-age children. Students can suffer from a convergence insufficiency that causes the eyes to float apart, especially when fatigue sets in. In some cases, the eyes can turn inward too strongly, resulting in a convergence excess.
These conditions affect coordination between the eyes. Because the eyes are unable to focus on the right plane, vision appears blurry, and depth perception is limited.
Children with a convergence insufficiency or excess see double. Reading is difficult, and these children often skip lines or fail to recognize words and sounds they know.
Make Pediatric Vision Care More Accessible With VCD
These four eye health conditions are the most common vision problems that affect reading. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with their symptoms so you can spot students who may have eye problems.
If you suspect a student has a vision problem, your next step should be to notify the family and recommend a comprehensive eye exam. The good news is that vision problems are easy to address once the student gets a diagnosis. In most cases, the child will need to wear glasses or contacts to correct the vision error, allowing them to focus on their schoolwork.
It can be helpful to connect families with resources that address the cost of vision care. With pre-negotiated savings and a network of over 400 optometrists, Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma is an excellent option for families looking to save on pediatric eye care. Learn more about our plans here, or read about how our teacher scholarships are supporting vision health in the classroom.
