Children’s Eye Health: Why Early Screenings Matter More Than Ever

As parents, our To Do lists rarely get shorter—school supply shopping, sports sign-ups, permission slips, snacks (so many snacks). It’s a lot. So, it’s completely understandable and relatable that some things slip through the cracks, especially when there are no obvious red flags. Eye exams often fall into that category—not because parents don’t care, but because if your child isn’t complaining about blurry vision or squinting at the board, it’s easy to assume everything’s fine. But as kids grow and their learning environments shift, their eyes are doing a lot more than we think behind the scenes. That’s exactly why early screenings matter more than ever. 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that children will tell you if something’s wrong with their vision. But most kids, especially younger ones, don’t realize they’re seeing the world any differently than they should be. If they’ve never experienced clear, crisp vision, how would they know something’s off?

Instead, the signs are often subtle: frequent eye rubbing, headaches, trouble focusing, short attention spans or even behavioral issues in school. Some children might appear clumsy or disinterested in reading. Others may sit too close to the TV or struggle to catch a ball. These aren’t just personality quirks, they can be signals of undiagnosed vision problems. 

Here’s where it gets even more important: up to 80% of learning in the early school years is visual. Reading, writing, computer use, whiteboard work—these all depend on healthy, functioning eyes. If a child is having trouble seeing, it can directly affect their academic performance and confidence. In some cases, children may be misdiagnosed with learning disabilities or attention issues, when the root problem is simply poor vision. 

The earlier a vision issue is caught, the easier it is to correct. Many conditions like lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed eyes (strabismus) and refractive errors (like nearsightedness and farsightedness) can be treated effectively if caught early. Left undetected, these issues can become harder to reverse and may lead to permanent vision impairment. 

For this reason, pediatric eye screens should start early, well before school age. The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye exams at 6 months, 3 years, before starting school and every 1 to 2 years afterward. 

But don’t schools do vision tests? They do—but it’s important to know that school screenings are not the same as full eye exams. School tests typically check distance vision using a basic eye chart, which can catch some issues, like nearsightedness. But they often miss more complex, and just as important, parts of vision. Deeper testing includes the following: 

• Near vision clarity (for reading and close-up work)
• Eye teaming and coordination (how well the eye works together)
• Focusing ability (how quickly the eyes can switch between near and far)
• Eye movement control (important for reading fluency)
• Depth perception and color vision
• Eye health check (internal and external)  

Getting your child’s eyes checked is simple, quick and often covered by insurance. Most eye exams take less than 30 minutes and can make a world of difference in how your child sees and experiences life. If it’s been over a year since their last screening, or if you’ve never had a full exam done, now is the perfect time. Give MedEye Associates a call at 305-661-8588, book online at WEBSITE, or stop by. You’ll be glad you did. We’re here to help make clear vision one less thing on your To Do list.