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Back To School: How Clear Vision Can Equal Classroom Success

Aug 11, 2025 | 11:39 AM

As September approaches, parents and caregivers are busy checking off the back-to-school list. Not everything is found in the school supply aisle though. A comprehensive eye exam can be critical for your child’s learning success, making it an important part of the back-to-school routine.

“Much of what kids do is at 40-60 centimetres from their face, and 25% of children really struggle at that distance,” said Dr. Mark Langer of IRIS Optometry and Opticians.

He explained that many kids who have difficulty with that distance have no problem focusing on things that are farther away. This means parents and teachers often don’t realize anything is wrong with the child’s vision.

These issues are often linked to binocular vision disorders, which is when the eyes don’t work together as well as they should. A child may be able to read the board clearly but struggle to focus on a book or worksheet that’s right in front of them.

Focusing strain is a common issue Dr. Langer sees in children. “The classroom is a really visually dynamic environment. You’re constantly looking from the board to your notes, over to your friend, back to your notes. So your eyes are constantly having to relax, engage, relax, engage,” he explained. “For kids who struggle with focusing strain, that affects everything.”

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Signs parents can watch for:

• Using a finger to follow along when reading
• Losing their place on the page when reading
• Frequent forehead headaches
• A lag when shifting focus from far to near

“Those are things that we look out for, and they’re also things that we can easily fix,” Dr. Langer stated.

For BC residents, children’s routine eye exams are fully covered by MSP until age 19, so parents and caregivers aren’t out of pocket.

It’s a simple part of the back-to-school routine that Dr. Langer encourages. “Your kid is probably doing awesome, but let’s just make sure of that. It can make a world of difference in unlocking a child’s academic potential and really set your child up for success.”

IRIS is now in their new location on Anderson Way. Call (250) 542-2239 for an appointment or book online.