If you have children, it’s important to make sure they have regular vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams. But what’s the difference between the two? While most people are familiar with the big E chart used in vision screenings, there is more to assessing vision health than just determining whether someone is nearsighted or farsighted. At a comprehensive eye exam, there are many more tests involved that can identify vision problems before they become serious. Let’s take a closer look at why it’s important for your child to get a comprehensive eye exam.
Poor Visual Perception
Most people are familiar with nearsightedness and farsightedness, but there are other types of vision problems that can affect your child’s ability to learn. For example, poor visual perception refers to difficulty recognizing shapes, letters, and numbers. Poor tracking and teaming skills also contribute to difficulty reading and focusing on small print. A comprehensive eye exam will assess all these areas so any potential problems can be identified and addressed early on.
Hand-Eye Coordination
Another area that is tested during a comprehensive eye exam is hand-eye coordination. This is especially important for younger children who may not be able to verbalize their struggles in the classroom yet. It’s critical for proper development since hand-eye coordination helps children learn how to coordinate their eyes with their hands in order to write or catch a ball, among other things. A comprehensive eye exam will assess whether or not your child has any difficulties in this area so they can receive treatment if necessary.
Color Blindness
Finally, color blindness is another common problem that can be detected during a comprehensive eye exam. This isn't necessarily something you would expect your child to bring up themselves since they don't know what they're missing out on! However, color blindness can cause issues with schoolwork if left untreated; certain colors may look alike or appear washed out which makes it difficult for your child to differentiate between them accurately when completing assignments or taking tests. A comprehensive eye exam will assess this issue so you can get help for your child if needed.
It's important for parents of young children to make sure their kids get regular vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams from an optometrist or ophthalmologist as soon as possible in order to detect any potential problems early on. While the big E chart used during screening does an important job of testing visual acuity, there are many more tests involved at a comprehensive eye exam that can identify vision problems before they become serious—from astigmatism and color blindness to poor visual perception, tracking skills, hand-eye coordination, and more! Don't wait until it's too late; book an appointment today!