As summer comes to an end and the new school year approaches, parents in the Okanagan are busy preparing their children for a successful academic year. While shopping for school supplies and new clothes is on every parent's checklist, one crucial item often gets overlooked: a comprehensive back-to-school eye exam. At A B See Optometry and Vision Therapy in Kelowna, we believe a back-to-school eye exam is essential for ensuring your child is ready to learn and thrive in the classroom.

Why Are Back-to-School Eye Exams Important?

Vision plays a critical role in your child’s ability to learn, read, and participate in classroom activities. Studies show that up to 80% of learning is visual, meaning that if your child is experiencing vision problems, it can significantly impact their academic performance. Here’s why a back-to-school eye exam is so important:

Detecting Vision Problems Early

Many vision problems can go unnoticed because children often don’t realize they have an issue. They may think that everyone sees the way they do. An eye exam can detect problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and more subtle issues such as convergence insufficiency or eye-focusing problems.

Preventing Misdiagnosis

Some vision problems can mimic symptoms of other conditions, such as ADHD. For example, a child who struggles to focus on the board or reads slowly might be misdiagnosed with a behavioural disorder when the real issue is a vision problem. A comprehensive eye exam can help identify and treat these issues, ensuring your child receives the correct support.

Enhancing Academic Performance

Clear vision is essential for reading, writing, and using digital devices—activities that are central to modern education. By addressing vision issues before school starts, you can help your child excel in their studies and enjoy a more positive learning experience.

Supporting Overall Well-Being

Vision problems can also affect your child’s confidence and social interactions. Difficulty seeing can lead to frustration, headaches, and fatigue, all of which can affect your child’s mood and behaviour. An eye exam can help alleviate these issues by ensuring your child has the clear vision they need to feel confident and engaged.

What to Expect During a Back-to-School Eye Exam

At A B See Optometry and Vision Therapy, our comprehensive eye exams go beyond just checking whether your child needs glasses. We evaluate several critical aspects of your child’s vision and eye health:

• Visual Acuity: We measure how clearly your child sees at different distances.

• Eye Alignment and Tracking: We check how well your child’s eyes work together and how effectively they track moving objects, which is important for reading and sports.

• Focusing Ability: We assess your child’s ability to focus on near and far objects, crucial for tasks like reading and looking at the board.

• Eye Health: We examine the overall health of your child’s eyes to detect any signs of conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes).

Our goal is to ensure your child’s eyes are healthy and that their vision supports their academic and social development.

Schedule Your Child’s Back-to-School Eye Exam in Kelowna

With the start of the school year fast approaching, now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s back-to-school eye exam. A B See Optometry and Vision Therapy provides thorough, evidence-based eye care tailored to each child’s needs. As Kelowna’s only pediatric optometrist, we specialize in identifying and treating the unique vision issues that can affect children.

Give your child the best start possible by ensuring their vision is clear and healthy. Book your child’s comprehensive eye exam by visiting absee.ca or calling us at 236-420-7222.

Your child’s success in school is closely tied to their vision. Let us help you ensure they have the tools they need to succeed!