Children receive an eye examination at school – isn’t that good enough?
Vision evaluations are offered in schools to detect problems with visual acuity; however, these are only screenings and cannot replace a comprehensive eye examination. These school screenings can detect vision problems in only 20% to 30% of children, and do not expose problems such as eye muscle coordination, eye disease, peripheral vision or shortcomings in near/distance vision. Considering that in the first 12 years of a child’s life 80% of all learning takes place visually, a visual impairment can significantly handicap a child’s intellectual and emotional growth and thwart social development.
Vision evaluations are offered in schools to detect problems with visual acuity; however, these are only screenings and cannot replace a comprehensive eye examination. These school screenings can detect vision problems in only 20% to 30% of children, and do not expose problems such as eye muscle coordination, eye disease, peripheral vision or shortcomings in near/distance vision. Considering that in the first 12 years of a child’s life 80% of all learning takes place visually, a visual impairment can significantly handicap a child’s intellectual and emotional growth and thwart social development.
