Before the First Bell Rings… Make Sure Your Child Can Actually See the Board

Before the First Bell Rings… Make Sure Your Child Can Actually See the Board

Why Back-to-School Eye Exams Matter More Than You Think

Every parent wants their child to feel confident walking into a new school year—new teachers, new classmates, new opportunities. But there’s one thing that can quietly chip away at your child’s confidence, grades, and comfort in the classroom:

👉 Vision problems that haven’t been caught yet.

As many as 1 in 4 school-aged children has a vision issue significant enough to impact learning. And because kids rarely complain—or even realize something is wrong—these issues often go unnoticed.

If you want your child to start the year feeling capable, prepared, and confident, a back-to-school eye exam is one of the most important things you can do.


Kids Often Don’t Know They’re Not Seeing Clearly

Children think the way they see the world is normal.
They don’t know it’s not normal to squint, get headaches during homework, or lose their place while reading.

Some common signs your child may be struggling with their vision include:

  • Squinting or sitting too close to screens

  • Avoiding reading or homework

  • Headaches after school

  • Blurry distance vision (trouble seeing the board)

  • Complaints of “tired eyes”

  • Falling behind in subjects that require reading

  • Trouble with handwriting or copying from the board

Even if your child passed a school vision screening, that may not be enough.
School screenings only test distance vision—not eye alignment, focusing, tracking, or binocular vision. These are the skills your child uses all day long in class.


Good Vision = Better Learning

Up to 80% of classroom learning happens through the visual system.

When a child can’t see clearly—or their eyes don’t work well together—they naturally struggle with:

  • Reading comprehension

  • Copying notes

  • Concentrating

  • Confidence in new tasks

  • Keeping up academically

Clear, comfortable vision sets the foundation for success.

A comprehensive eye exam ensures your child can see the board clearly, track words on a page, focus from near to far, and avoid unnecessary frustration that looks like “attention issues” but is actually vision-related.


Back-to-School Eye Exams Catch Problems Early

Vision can change quickly—especially during growth spurts and heavy screen use.

A yearly eye exam can detect:

  • Nearsightedness (myopia)

  • Farsightedness

  • Astigmatism

  • Eye focusing problems

  • Tracking issues

  • Lazy eye

  • Convergence problems

  • Computer-related eye strain

  • Early signs of disease

At Progressive Eye Care, our doctors—Dr. Jeffrey Broadhead, OD, Dr. Michael Hope, OD, Dr. Michael Chism, OD, and Dr. Ana Schroeder, OD—specialize in pediatric vision and early detection. If something needs attention, we’ll help you address it before it affects your child’s school experience.


**What If Your Child Is Nearsighted?

We Offer Myopia Control Options**
If your child has blurry distance vision, it might be myopia—and it usually gets worse year after year unless treated.

We offer advanced, research-based myopia control options including:

  • Stellest® myopia-control lenses

  • Ortho-K overnight reshaping lenses

  • MiSight® soft contacts for kids

  • Low-dose atropine therapy

These treatments have been shown to slow the progression of nearsightedness and protect long-term eye health.


Why Back-to-School Is the PERFECT Time

✔ Routines are starting fresh
✔ Kids are motivated to succeed
✔ Early detection prevents mid-year struggles
✔ You’ll avoid weeks of headaches, squinting, or falling behind
✔ If glasses are needed, kids can adjust before the school rush hits

And honestly? Kids love picking out new glasses before school starts.
(We do, too.)


Give Your Child a Confident Start — Schedule Today

A simple eye exam can make the difference between a year full of frustration and a year full of confidence.

Before the first bell rings… make sure your child can actually see the board.
Your child’s vision is too important to put off.

📞 Call us today: 801-676-2020
📅 Schedule online anytime at www.progressive-eyecare.net

Serving families throughout South Jordan, Herriman, Riverton, West Jordan, Sandy, and Draper.  We’re here to help your child see clearly—and shine brightly—this school year.

More To Explore

Dr. Jeffrey Broadhead

Progressive Eye Care

Dr. Jeffrey Broadhead, OD and his team of optometry and ophthalmology professionals provide comprehensive treatments to improve the vision of patients from our offices in South Jordan, UT. Our doctors are members of professional associations, including:

American Academy of Ophthalmology

American Optometric Association

American Board of Ophthalmology

Utah Optometric Association

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Orthokeratology Academy of America

To schedule an appointment at our South Jordan optometry practice, you can contact us online or give us a call at (801) 676-2020.

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