Vision plays an important role in your child’s physical, mental, and social development. Uncorrected vision problems can impair child development, interfere with learning, and even lead to permanent vision loss. Early detection and treatment of eye problems are critical.
Be an advocate for your child’s vision and eye health!
- Make sure your child’s healthcare provider, educator, or public health program completes regular vision screenings.
- Take your child to an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) if they do not pass a vision screening, if they are at increased risk of a vision problem due to developmental delay, medical condition, or a family history of vision problems, or if you have a concern about your child’s vision.
- Follow all treatment recommendations the eye doctor prescribes for your child- including eye glasses, wearing an eye patch, medications, and/or surgical recommendations.
The following information can help make sure your child will see well to learn and grow before starting the school year.
This page provides a list of vision screening and eye exam requirements for school-aged children, by state.
Prevent Blindness recommends a continuum of eye care for children to include both vision screening and comprehensive eye examinations. All children, even those with no signs of trouble, should have their eyes checked at regular intervals. Any child who experiences vision problems or shows symptoms of eye trouble should receive a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.
If You Need to Take Your Child to the Eye Doctor
Your child may have been referred to an eye doctor as the result of a children’s vision screening. Any child who experiences vision problems or shows symptoms of eye trouble should receive a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.
Learn About Safety Eyewear for Your Child’s Sports Activities
For all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in water sports, basketball, and baseball/softball.
More than 25,000 people seek treatment for sports-related eye injuries each year. The good news is that almost all of these injuries can be prevented.