When a little boy burst into tears in her third-grade classroom last fall, Audrey Jost pulled him aside while the other kids were at recess. He said he was getting headaches and falling behind the other students, so Jost spoke with his parents about getting his eyes tested.
A few days later the boy returned with contact lenses, seeming like a different kid, said Jost, who teaches in a public school in Gilbert, Arizona.
鈥淚t was amazing, just the change that that had in him, academically, socially,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e just lit up that day.鈥�
In her 18 years of teaching, Jost said she鈥檚 seen this problem 鈥� and its relatively simple solution 鈥� many times before, including with one of her own daughters.
That鈥檚 why experts say late summer is a great moment to add an eye test to
Vision problems often go undiagnosed
The American Optometric Association says 1 in 4 children start school with some sort of vision problem, impairing their ability to learn, participate in sports and observe the world around them.
But many kids won鈥檛 tell you something is wrong because they don鈥檛 know they have a problem, said Annette Webb, an optometrist in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have anything to compare it to,鈥� said Webb, who recounted a story about a boy who loved to draw trees but had never seen individual leaves until he got glasses. 鈥淭hey think everybody sees like they do.鈥�
Many children with undiagnosed vision issues can develop behavior problems because they are predisposed to be disengaged. They might seek to entertain themselves, thereby disrupting the class. Or they could be perceived as copying a neighboring student鈥檚 work, but really they can鈥檛 see a math problem on the board, Webb said.
鈥淒on鈥檛 initially just assume they鈥檙e cheating all the time,鈥� Webb said. 鈥淚f somebody鈥檚 habitually looking at a neighbor鈥檚 paper, then I would definitely say that鈥檚 a red flag.鈥�
How to spot a vision issue
Other indicators parents and teachers should look out for are squinting, requests to move around the classroom and headaches, particularly ones during the afternoon that are likely caused by eye strain.
鈥淎ny complaints of any sort, saying they can鈥檛 see, rubbing their eyes a lot, if they have red eyes, if they鈥檙e bumping into things, they should get checked,鈥� said Megan Collins, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins University.
Collins emphasized that vision screenings, which are mandated in most states, are an important first step to identifying kids with potential eye problems. As a public health researcher, she advocates for strengthening in-school vision programs to help address disparities in access to screenings and eye exams in underserved areas.
But she said the end of summer is still a good time to remind families about the importance of vision for learning. A good place to start is at yearly check-ups with a pediatrician, who should do a routine vision screening that will detect kids at risk for the most common ailments.
She said the exceptions are children with a family history of eye problems or diseases that can affect the eye, such as diabetes, or kids who take medications with potential side effects. They should have a proper eye exam every year.
How to access eye care
If you don鈥檛 have a vision plan or can鈥檛 afford glasses, check with the school nurse. Some schools, particularly in large cities and underserved areas, have programs to provide eye exams and glasses for free.
There are also many private programs offering , such as civic associations like the Lions Club International or VSP Eyes of Hope, offered by one of the largest vision insurance providers.
Once any issue is corrected, the key is for parents and teachers to communicate to make sure kids are wearing their glasses, Collins said.
Luckily, the old stereotype of the four-eyed nerd in the Coke-bottle glasses doesn鈥檛 have the power it used to.
鈥淭he exciting thing is that in a school setting, kids tend to enjoy wearing glasses these days,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey like the styles and colors, which is much different from when I was a kid.鈥�
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Albert Stumm writes about food, travel and wellness. Find his work at
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Albert Stumm, The Associated Press
