Learning related vision problems are those where a visual condition impacts a child’s ability to read efficiently and therefore perform at their optimal potential in the classroom and in life. Reading is a complex process that involves an intimate connection between eye teaming, eye tracking, eye focusing and other visual systems. Reading requires children to accurately use all of their language, decoding, phonetic and visual skills to successfully recognize words and find meaning in written text.

Many children are labeled as “learning disabled” when actually they have correctable vision problems involving underdeveloped visual skills, eye muscle coordination, or a disconnect between what their eyes see and what registers in their brain. Vision is very often overlooked by parents and educators as one of the roadblocks a child may be encountering.

The American Optometric Association recommends that, by first grade, all children should have had at least three vision wellness checkups: one at 6 months, one at 3 years, and again before beginning school to ensure that their visual skills and abilities are developing at the appropriate rate. A thorough vision evaluation rules out any possible vision problems that may be part of the reason for a child’s inappropriate behavior or performance in school.