\n
Parents often dedicate countless hours to monitoring their children’s milestones, making sure they eat well, grow strong, and stay safe. Yet, vision, a crucial aspect of a child’s health, can easily go unnoticed until it impacts a child's behavior and performance at school.
\n \nGood vision is a learned skill that develops over time. It’s not something we are born with. It’s easy to assume a child can see well, especially if they are not complaining. However, many children do not report vision problems because they do not know what clear vision feels like. If blurry or double vision is all they’ve ever known, they may assume that’s how everyone sees. Therefore, it’s essential to recognize potential signs of vision problems and to prioritize regular eye exams.
\nVision is crucial to a child’s overall development. Whether it's learning to read or exploring their surroundings, children rely on their vision to make sense of the world around them. But, good vision is more than just seeing 20/20 – it also involves how the eyes work together, how the brain processes visual information, and how effectively a child can use their sight for learning and daily activities. According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, up to 80 percent of learning is visual, highlighting just how important comprehensive vision care is for a child’s success. As optometrist Dr. Gerald Getman explains, “When a child’s visual participation is integrated into each activity, vision becomes the essential link between action and comprehension.”
\nA child who struggles to see the board, read, or focus in class may experience lower academic performance and reduced confidence. In some cases, these challenges may be misattributed to conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning disorders, when the underlying issue is actually an undetected vision problem. For children showing symptoms, a binocular vision assessment is an important first step before exploring other potential diagnoses.
\nCommon Signs of Vision Problems in Children
\nEvery child is different, but here are some common signs that may suggest a vision issue:
\nIf your child shows any of these signs, it’s important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam and have a binocular vision assessment performed by a developmental optometrist to identify any potential vision problems. If an issue is detected, vision therapy may be recommended – an effective, personalized program designed to strengthen visual skills and improve how the eyes and brain work together.
\nMany vision concerns in children develop gradually, especially after they begin learning to read, making them difficult to spot without a proper eye exam. If you’re not reading aloud with your child, you might miss subtle signs that they’re struggling with their vision. While vision screenings at school or a pediatrician’s office can be helpful, they are not a replacement for a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist.
\nEye exams should begin at six months of age and continue annually. A comprehensive exam evaluates not just clarity of vision (20/20), but also eye coordination and tracking, focusing ability, depth perception, color vision, and overall eye health. These skills are essential for ensuring children are visually prepared for school and daily activities.
\nEarly detection is critical. Conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) are most treatable during the developmental years. Left unaddressed, vision problems can affect your child’s academic performance, confidence, and quality of life.
\nHow Parents Can Support Healthy Vision
\n\n
Dr. Jessica Yang is an optometrist practicing at Eyedeology, located at the Rockyview Health Center Building #1 in Calgary. She has a special interest in myopia management, dry eye disease and specialty contact lenses. For more information on myopia and eye health please visit eyedeology.ca.
\n\n
See our related articles:
\n \n
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2025 Calgary’s Child
