The weather is getting colder, the dog days of summer are long gone and kids are back in school. No matter what age, vision care shouldn’t take a backseat when it comes to prepping for the school year. It’s fundamental to learning to be able to see properly, from reading textbooks to watching the whiteboard in class.

Without regular checkups, vision problems can go undetected and can lead to learning impairments.

As a teacher or parent, it’s important to know the signs of vision impairment to catch it and treat it in its early stages. Leaving vision problems without examination and treatment can lead to further impairment.

6 Signs of Vision Problems in the Classroom

• Eyes appear red, teary, or the student blinks excessively
• Students may experience headaches, dizziness, blurry, watery eyes, or light sensitivity
• Behavioural changes in the classroom like head turning across the page, head tilted to one side, holds books very close to the face, rubs eyes frequently, becomes irritated when completing written work
• Students are seeing double, repeating letters, misaligning digits, squinting, tilting head, postural deviations Demonstrating poor hand-eye coordination
• Showing difficulty copying from board to paper

To protect your child’s vision, make sure they are wearing the right glasses. The frames should fit well and not be too large. A sign they may be too large is if they are slipping.

Encourage frequent hand washing, as children can carry germs which could lead to common eye infections, such as conjunctivitis, if they are rubbing their eyes without washing their hands.

Schedule breaks from screen time, as screens are harsh on the eyes and can lead to eye strain. Symptoms include sore burning eyes, blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light and headaches. A helpful tip is limiting screen time in 20-minute intervals with breaks to give your eyes a rest.

Think about investing in glasses with blue light lenses if your child is spending many hours a day looking at screens. Blue light glasses have special lenses that block UV light waves, including blue-violet rays which are emitted from television, computer, tablets and cell phone screens.

As we head into the school year, make it a habit to take care of your child’s vision. Start by going for an eye exam. Make an appointment at one of Beyond Vision’s five locations. Use the online scheduler to book an appointment at your desired location at a time that works best for you!