Healthy Eyes and Vision for School Success and an Enjoyable Life
Parents naturally want to help their children learn and succeed in school and enjoy life. Vision and eye health are key to students’ ability to do well in the classroom, on the playground, in sports, and when studying at home.

Since children usually don’t complain about subtle problems with their eyesight or eyes, it’s important that they receive vision screening and eye health check-ups with a primary care doctor, pediatrician or other qualified health professional during well child exams, when they enter school, or whenever a vision or eye health problem is suspected. When needed, these health professionals can co-manage eye health or vision problems with an Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist).

In this section, parents will find basic information on eye and vision health that will help them know how to take good care of their children. Also here is information on vision screening and on how vision does–and does not–interact with learning disabilities.

Eye and Vision Symptoms
Children, especially very young children, usually don’t complain about subtle problems with their eyes or eyesight. The following signs may indicate a problem with vision or eye health.

What to look for:

• Any misalignment of the eyes, even if occasional
• Persistent head turn
• A jiggle (nystagmus) in one or both eyes
• Unusual sensitivity to light
• Eye redness or discharge   
• Tearing
• Squinting
• Droopy eyelid

What to do: Take the child to the pediatrician, primary care doctor, or other children’s health service.  A referral for a comprehensive eye exam by an Eye M.D. (an ophthalmologist) may be needed. If the child has a family history of amblyopia, strabismus, blindness, or wearing thick glasses, he or she should be seen by an ophthalmologist.