Ready for School

The first day of school is just around the corner, and most parents are busily making their way through a list of “to-dos”: school clothes shopping, appointments for immunizations and physicals, and trips to the store for pencils, pens, paper and all the other “must-haves” for the classroom—all with the intention of getting students Ready for School.

Is a visit to the optometrist on your list? A comprehensive eye examination for students is one of the most important “to-dos” and yet one that is often overlooked. Without an eye exam, many children have vision problems that remain undiagnosed, and may even be misdiagnosed as a learning disorder.

The idea that children need to be ready to learn—visually—is beginning to catch the attention of legislators. Kentucky and Missouri both have laws requiring mandatory eye examinations for children prior to entering school, and a federal bill has been introduced in the Senate that would provide funding to establish a federal grant program focusing on treatment to bolster children’s vision initiatives in the states and encourage children’s vision partnerships with non-profit entities. To educate parents on the importance of comprehensive eye exams, AOA has created an online survey parents can take to quiz their knowledge of children’s vision topics. AOA members want the classroom experience to be a positive and productive one for all children.

In addition to the online survey, parents can download the Difference between Vision Screenings and Vision Examinations resource as well as a Word Search Activity Sheet for children.

To find an optometrist in your area, please click here.