Schools use the Snellen wall chart, which tells only if your child can clearly see letters 20 feet away. No test is made of abilities to see at near, reading and writing distance, where most learning takes place. No child holds his or her work 20 feet away. Only an optometrist trained in behavioral optometry can tell you if your child has problems in addition to clear distance and near sight, such as with focusing ability, eye coordination, depth perception, eye muscle action, side vision and understanding what is seen. Behavioral optometrists spot and remedy subtle, but serious vision problems before they can limit your child's learning.
Clinical evidence shows that academic achievement depends on visual abilities.
Vision is basic to learning and your child's most dominant information getting system. Vision is a mental act involving determination of object placement in space, form, distance, color, control of speed and direction of movement. These abilities, once thought to be inherited, are also learned, developed and changed throughout life. Learning takes place more easily when using both eyes together efficiently and combining visual information with that received through other senses, such as hearing, touching and moving. Visual problems, such as not using the eyes as a team, interfere with information processing and learning.