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If you plan to enroll your child in preschool soon, one of the first things you may do is take your little one for a physical exam and immunization checkup. Although both exams are essential, it's also important to have your loved one's checked. Even at a young age, children can experience some problems with their vision. Here's why your child needs an eye exam before preschool.

Why Do Children Need Eye Exams?

Good vision, or eyesight, can help your child learn the basic skills to read and understand books and other important media. Many preschools now teach their students how to use computers before they move to kindergarten. If your child has problems focusing their eyes, they may experience learning difficulties.  

In addition, your child needs good vision to use their hands. Hand-eye coordination is one of the skills preschoolers need to master before they move on to the next grade level. Children with poor eyesight may have problems stacking blocks, coloring worksheets, and using other helpful learning tools. Unless your child's doctor diagnoses them with a vision impairment, the school and teachers may consider your loved one a poor learner.

An eye exam can detect life-changing vision problems before your child enters preschool. 

What Should You Expect During the Eye Exam?

An optometrist, optician, or ophthalmologist will use basic eye tests to check your child's vision. The tests may require your child to read from a traditional eye chart. An eye specialist may also examine your child's eyes with an optical tool called an ophthalmoscope. Although your child may feel slightly uncomfortable during the exam, the tests are pain free.

If your child has good vision, an eye specialist may schedule a routine checkup or exam in the future. If your child does have a problem with their eyes, an eye doctor may correct the issue with eyeglasses. Children who have astigmatism or poor hand-eye coordination may do well with eyeglasses.

After you enroll your child in preschool, keep a close eye on their progress. If your child struggles to read fine print or see at different distances, consult with an eye specialist right away. Your child may need stronger lenses for their new eyeglasses. Also, meet with your child's instructors on a regular basis to see how well they do in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Some eye problems can develop later in children, including poor vision tracking. 

If your child is ready for their eye exam, contact an optometrist, optician, or ophthalmologist today.