The Connection Between Childhood Reading Struggles and Undiagnosed Vision Problems

The back-to-school season is just around the corner, and while you’re in the habit of buying your children new jeans and school supplies for the upcoming school year, have you remembered to schedule their annual eye exam?

According to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, 1 in 4 children suffer from undiagnosed vision problems, which can contribute to struggles with reading and learning.

When vision issues are unidentified, reading is a challenge and learning becomes a struggle for children, parents, and educators alike.

While the routine eye exam can identify many vision problems, especially the need for corrective lenses, sometimes the issue is more complex and underlying. Parents should be aware that vision screenings are often not geared to test for problems like eye coordination and eye movement disorders.

Symptoms vary, but these eye coordination and eye movement disorders usually cause words and images on the page to appear blurry and jumbled. It is very difficult to read and takes extreme concentration and effort.

It is important for parents to know that what may appear to be a behavior problem in your child when it comes to homework might indeed be a vision disorder.

So if your child does not need glasses but still has trouble focusing on reading and homework, you may want to check with your ophthalmologist about any underlying issues and even as about the option of optometric vision therapy.

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development is dedicated to educating parents whose children struggle with reading because of undiagnosed vision problems. Let’s make this school year a positive one and spread the awareness of vision diagnosis and health for kids.