If your child passed the vision screening at school, it’s easy to assume their eyes are fine. That assumption, while understandable, can leave real problems undetected. School screenings are basic tools designed to flag obvious concerns, but they don’t evaluate the full picture of a child’s eye health. Conditions like early-stage myopia, amblyopia, and eye coordination issues are routinely missed, and children often don’t report blurry vision because they have nothing to compare it to.
At Vision Source Mandan, children’s eye exams are a priority for Dr. Brittany Schauer, Dr. Wayne Aberle, and Dr. Danielle Dyke. The team sees kids every year not because something seems wrong, but because annual exams catch what screenings can’t and give families the information they need to protect their child’s vision during the years it matters most.
What a School Screening Actually Tests
A school screening typically checks whether a child can read a chart at a set distance with each eye. It won’t catch issues with how the eyes work together, problems with depth perception, early signs of eye disease, or refractive errors that fall below the threshold used to flag a referral. According to Prevent Blindness, 1 in 4 school-aged children has an undetected vision disorder that can interfere with learning and development.
A comprehensive eye exam conducted by an optometrist goes well beyond the chart. It evaluates the health of the eye itself, how both eyes work together, focusing ability, and whether the visual system is developing on track. Passing a school screening is not the same as having healthy eyes.
Why Annual Exams Matter for Growing Eyes
Children’s eyes change rapidly, and a prescription from one year may be meaningfully different the next. Conditions like myopia can progress quickly during school-age years, and catching these changes early allows us to respond before vision loss affects learning, sports, or daily life. Annual exams also give us the opportunity to monitor for conditions where timing is critical. Two of the most important are below.
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Amblyopia develops when the brain begins to favor one eye, causing the other to weaken over time. It’s one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss in children, and it often has no obvious symptoms. Children won’t squint or cover an eye; they simply adapt. We use Shaw Lenses for children who are amblyopic or at risk, and we incorporate binocular training as part of treatment. A lazy eye caught at age six responds to treatment far better than one identified later.
Strabismus
Strabismus, or misalignment of the eyes, is another condition a school screening may miss entirely, especially in mild cases. Left unaddressed, it can contribute to amblyopia and affect how a child processes visual information. Annual exams allow us to detect subtle alignment issues before they become harder to manage.
Myopia Is Rising, and Early Action Helps
Myopia rates in children have increased significantly over the past two decades, and North Dakota families are not immune to this trend. When myopia progresses unchecked, it raises the long-term risk of serious eye conditions. Identifying it early and starting myopia control gives us the best opportunity to slow that progression. For children diagnosed with myopia, we offer treatment options including the FDA-approved Essilor Stellest lenses.
Annual exams give us the year-over-year data needed to make the right call for each child. There are a few clear signs that a child may need an exam sooner rather than later, including:
- Squinting or tilting: squinting at the board or tilting the head to see clearly
- Headaches or eye strain: recurring complaints after reading, screen time, or schoolwork
- Avoiding close work: reluctance to read or draw, which can signal a focusing difficulty
- Falling behind in school: unexplained struggles in reading or attention may have a vision component
If any of these patterns sound familiar, don’t wait for the next school screening to come around. An annual exam gives us a complete picture that a quick hallway chart test simply can’t provide.
Schedule Your Child’s Exam at Vision Source Mandan
Vision Source Mandan has served families in Mandan, Bismarck, and surrounding North Dakota communities for over 70 years. Dr. Schauer, Dr. Aberle, and Dr. Dyke each bring a genuine commitment to pediatric care, and our practice is equipped with advanced diagnostic technology to give every child a thorough evaluation. Dr. Dyke focuses on comprehensive family and pediatric vision care and works with children of all ages in a welcoming, comfortable environment.Annual eye exams are one of the most effective steps you can take to protect your child’s future vision. Don’t wait for a failed screening or a teacher’s concern to prompt the first visit. Contact our office to schedule your child’s exam today.