Did you know that 1 in 4 children have a vision problem that affects learning and is often misinterpreted as disinterest, dyslexia, or ADHD?
All of the above can affect more than a child’s grades. This could include their relationship with their peers, interest and motivation to participate in class or after school activities and more. It can be overlooked to book your child in for an eye test, especially a right eye reading test. This testing method is important because it looks at the tracking of your child’s eyes, how they are performing and if they have any learning difficulties. Booking your child in for their first eye test is vital when they are starting their schooling journey as it will determine whether they require any visual aid or not and prepare them for that.
Part 1. Comprehensive eye test and eye health check
A standard eye test is important to establish if your child has 20/20 vision or if there are any early signs of eye health problems. The first part of the testing involves checking your child’s prescription, which we will use the Snellen Chart to do so. We can determine if your child is seeing double or having issues aside from blurry vision.
Part 2. Right-Eye Reading Test
In the second part of the testing, there is another machine that can be used to track your child’s reading ability and find out if they have any other difficulties with their eyes working together. The machine that does all the tracking and measurements is called ‘Right-Eye‘ and performs the following measurements:
- Reading comprehension
- Reading rate
- Blink count
- Fixation/100 words
- Average fixation duration
- Regressions
- Return sweeps
- Grade level equivalent
This device helps:
- Record and illustrate possible deficiencies in reading and binocular vision issues
- Understand a student’s eye movements while they are reading
- Quantify reading comprehension and compare reading metrics against similar grade
The great thing about this test is it does more than make you aware of poor sight. It identifies how the eyes are working and which exercises to use to train your child’s eyes and improve their skills.
What are some signs that my child needs an eye test?
If you are unsure whether your child requires an eye test, the below symptoms will determine if they need to have their eyes checked.
- Squinting
If you notice your child squinting whilst trying to see an object, read a book, watching tv etc. then it is likely they are having trouble with their vision. - Frequent Eye rubbing
We all tend to rub our eyes here and there, but if it is something that happens more often than not, your child is experiencing some discomfort with their eyes. - Head tilting
This is a physical symptom of trying to find a better angle to read or look at something if it is not appearing clearly to your child. - Complaints of headaches
This is due to eye strain and trying hard to focus. If your child has mentioned this a few times, especially after being at school or doing homework, it is best to book an eye test as soon as possible. - Sensitivity to lights
Sensitivity outdoors, indoor lighting and to computer screens/phones can indicate an eye issue.
Please prefill the Children’s Vision Questionnaire form above or forward the answers to our email: info@adelaidecityoptometrist.com.au . This will give us an understanding of your child’s behaviour resulting from their eyes.
Book a reading test with Paul Fotkou here.