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Vision issues are on the rise among school-age children. The school eye exam is emerging as an effective way to detect and treat these issues early, but many children still don’t have access to them.
As a teacher, you can support students’ visual health and academic success by organizing vision screening events. Read on to learn how to safeguard your students against vision issues that can impact their studies.
Impact of Vision Issues on Learning
Did you know that the number of school-age children with myopia has possibly tripled since the pandemic?
Contributing factors include increased screen time, limited exposure to sunlight, and activities that require students to use their close-up vision. Besides causing an increase in refraction errors, factors like increased screen time are contributing to the rise of digital eye strain or computer vision symptoms.
What is computer vision syndrome? Computer vision syndrome symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, and dry eyes. Much like unaddressed refractive errors, digital eye strain can harm learning outcomes and result in children falling behind.
Students who struggle to see and read often become disengaged. These symptoms can be difficult to spot since they can mimic tiredness, ADHD, learning disabilities, or behavioral issues.
Scheduling regular school eye exams is critical to catching refractive errors and digital eye strain early. There are two main benefits:
- Students can receive treatment before their condition worsens, improving eye health outcomes.
- Children’s eye problems can be addressed before they cause learning setbacks that significantly impact their academic success.
The Benefits of Scheduling a School Eye Exam
Schools can schedule free or low-cost vision screenings. These screenings are less comprehensive than traditional eye exams. Still, they can identify children who require further testing and provide parents with next steps.
Offering these screenings in a school setting ensures equal access. Studies have shown that access to eye exams remains an issue for students from low-income families, making these children more likely to fall behind due to untreated vision issues.
Scheduling a free eye test for students is also an opportunity to educate families about the importance of preventive eye health care. If a child needs further testing, parents will receive a referral letter connecting them to local optometrists, creating a clear path for the student to receive quality eye care.
As a teacher, you can also use the school eye exam as an introduction to good vision hygiene. You can talk about good vision habits when using screens or practice some eye exercises together.
Supporting vision health in your school requires a partnership between educators, principals, school board members, school nurses, local optometrists, and parents. Consult this list of approved screeners in the state of Oklahoma, or contact Vizavance, a non-profit that offers school vision screenings, to get started.
Connect Families to Affordable School Eye Exams With VCD
In conclusion, unaddressed vision problems can significantly affect academic performance in school-age children.
Don’t let preventable eye health problems get in the way of your students’ success. Advocate for free or low-cost vision screenings at your school to facilitate access to early detection and treatment. In addition, you can connect parents with eye health resources, including Vision Care Direct’s affordable plans.
Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma makes pediatric vision care more accessible by offering prepaid vision plans. Families can access negotiated savings, making comprehensive eye exams and eyewear for children more affordable. Learn more about our plans here.
