The Value of Back-to-School Eye Exams For Your Collage Student | Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

It is almost that time of year when your children head back to school. Whether you have a little one starting preschool or a college-age student heading away from home, you want to give them the best start in the school year.

Kids of all ages may develop eye problems. Your college student may be living away, and you may not notice day-to-day signs that indicate vision problems. That is why a vision screening and/or an eye exam is helpful. 

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. It is a reminder that our college-age kids still may need a little guidance regarding eye health. The article below covers the importance of back-to-school eye exams for older children in order to maintain good eye health all year.
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Benefits of back-to-school vision screening or eye exams

​There are several benefits to having an eye exam before heading back to school this fall, such as:

Identification of vision problems: Even if your teen appears to have good vision, poor vision can manifest in a few ways. For example, signs of trouble with vision include:

• Frequent headaches
• Squinting
• Losing their place when reading
• Holds their cell phone close to their face when reading

Some of these issues may be unrelated to vision, but if your child has never had an eye exam or vision screening, it is helpful to rule out problems with vision.

Certain factors also increase the risk of developing vision problems. According to Prevent Blindness, having a family history of vision problems, being born prematurely before 32 weeks, and having had an eye injury may increase the risk of eye problems. In these cases, your doctor may recommend having an eye exam to identify problems early.

Education: An eye exam also provides an opportunity for education. College students have a lot on their plate, and maintaining healthy vision may not top their list. However, as students gain more independence, educating them on good eye health habits is helpful. Healthy eye tips for college kids include:

• Practicing good contact lens care, such as not swimming with contacts
• Wearing proper eye protection during sports
• Taking a break from electronics to reduce digital eyestrain
• Not sharing makeup or towels with others to decrease the risk of infection

Setting them up for success: Ensuring your student has no vision issues helps set them up for a successful college year. Students spend many hours a week focused on school, doing activities such as note-taking, reading, and using computers. Having good vision helps them meet this demand.

Strong visual skills help promote a student's success and confidence in several ways. In addition to academics, good vision plays a role in sports and extracurricular activities. A back-to-school eye exam can help determine if your student would benefit from eyeglasses or contacts. 

How often does a college student need an eye exam? 

The frequency at which your student needs an eye exam depends on their medical history, past vision issues, and whether they wear glasses or contacts. However, it never hurts to have an eye exam!

We hope the above information was helpful as your student starts the next school year. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.