School Vision Screeningsvs. Eye Exams for Kids
Children use their eyes to observe, explore, and understand the world around them. Many schools will offer vision screenings for students, but is that enough? Do they still need a full eye exam?
Learn the difference between vision screenings vs. eye exams for kids and how often you need to schedule eye exams for your kids.
What Is a Vision Screening in Schools?
School vision screenings test basic visual abilities, but their purpose is not the same as an eye exam from an optometrist. Think of school vision screenings as a pre-test for determining that a child is prepared to do essential learning activities like reading.
Vision screening in schools is important as a way to catch obvious vision problems that might affect a child’s academic performance. In a school vision screening, kids will go through a quick evaluation that usually lasts only a few minutes. In the evaluation, they might:
Read a letter chart from a distance of 20 feet
Identify different shapes from a distance
Cover both their eyes (one at a time) while reading from a distance
According to a 2023 study, 41 states in the US require vision screenings for school children. However, these states set their own standards for vision tests, reporting systems, and age requirements for screenings.
You should not use your child’s school vision screening as a substitute for an annual eye exam. School vision screenings are not comprehensive like eye exams. They are usually performed by school nurses, not eye doctors. They don’t assess visual acuity or determine if your child needs vision correction with glasses. They don’t catch vision issues that a full eye exam would identify.
What Is a Full Eye Exam?
A full eye exam is a more comprehensive process that tests the health and visual acuity of the eyes. In a child's eye exam, there are five basic steps.
1. Check-in and Paperwork
When you first arrive at the office, the parent fills out forms regarding the child’s eye health history and billing information for the appointment.
2. Vision Testing
An ophthalmologist or an optometrist performs a series of tests to check visual ability and overall eye health. An exam can include:
- Snellen eye test or a similar test reading letters from a distance
- Pupil response test to watch how the pupil reacts to light
- Pressure measurement using a tonometer device to test the pressure inside the eye
- Movement test to see if the patient has a full range of motion in their eyeball
- Slit-lamp examination using a microscope to check eye structures like the lens, iris, and cornea
- Depth perception test to make sure kids can judge distances properly
The eye doctor can also look for eye diseases or illnesses during this step.
3. Determining Prescription
If the eye doctor finds that the child needs glasses, they use a mechanism called a phoropter to help determine the child’s prescription.
The child looks through the phoropter at letters or an image, and the doctor changes the strength of the lenses they see through. The child tells the doctor which lens made their vision sharper. The doctor continues this process until they find the exact lens combination that gives the child the best vision.
4. Discussion and Recommendations
After they’ve performed all necessary tests, the eye doctor discusses with the parent and child what needs to be done. They may diagnose eye conditions and prescribe medicine or treatment if necessary.
If the child is getting a new prescription for eyeglasses, the doctor provides a record of the prescription to the parent so you can choose new glasses with the correct lenses.
5. Choosing Glasses
For new prescriptions, you can take the child to an eyeglasses center like the ones we have at Visionworks and help them choose a pair of glasses. Never fear, even the pickiest child can find something they love thanks to the hundreds of Visionworks frame options.
Once they select a pair, the glasses center orders it with the prescribed lenses. In as little as a week, you can come back with your child for a fitting to make sure the new glasses fit correctly before taking them home. Visionworks also has a 100-day guarantee to make sure your child really loves their glasses, or they can come in and exchange them.
Why is a Full Eye Exam Important?
It’s extremely important to have regular full eye exams, even for kids. School screenings are helpful, but can't detect serious eye conditions and may even give unreliable results.
A full eye exam can diagnose eye issues like:
- The need for corrective lenses: In cases of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, etc.
- Amblyopia: Also known as “lazy eye”
- Conjunctivitis: Known as “pink eye” in kids
- Eye allergies
- Blocked tear ducts: Common in babies
- Diabetes: Eye doctors can detect early signs of diabetes in older children.
How Often Should Kids Get a Full Eye Exam?
While adults should get regular yearly eye exams, the frequency of recommended eye exams depends on the child's age.
0-24 Months Old
One exam at 6 months or as recommended by your child’s pediatrician
2-5 Years Old
One appointment around three years old
5-18 Years Old
Yearly appointments
When your child has regular annual checkups, eye doctors are more likely to spot issues early on. This can prevent conditions from worsening and save your child from unnecessary eye pain and discomfort.
What Are the Signs My Child Needs an Unscheduled Appointment?
Regularly scheduled appointments are important, but a parent or guardian may notice some key signs that their child needs an appointment sooner.
- Squinting
- Difficulty reading at a distance
- Complaining about blurry vision
- Rubbing their eyes often
- Red or irritated eyes
- Complaints about eye pain
Any child experiencing these symptoms may need eyeglasses and should have an eye exam as soon as possible.
Schedule an Eye Exam with Visionworks Today
School vision screenings are helpful, but there’s more you need to do to stay on top of your child’s eye health. Scheduling your child's regular eye exams isn’t just a good idea, it's necessary!
You can help catch eye problems early on and make sure your child gets the corrective lenses they need. Schedule your child’s next comprehensive eye exam with Visionworks today!
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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