Eye doctor gives tips, reminders on checking your child’s eye health ahead of the school year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - If you want your child to pay attention in class and retain all the information they’re being taught, it can be tricky if they can’t see the whiteboard.

A local eye doctor is giving warning signs on what to watch for and how you can ensure your kid(s) is set up for success in the classroom.

Homework is a headache and learning is a labor if your child’s vision isn’t working the way it’s supposed to.

Dr. Randall Pitts, and eye doctor based in Clanton, urges you to watch for any signs that may seem out of the ordinary.

• Can your child read the menu at a fast food restaurant?
• Are they experiencing eye pain?
• Are they squinting to see?
• Do eye problems run in your family?

These are signs that they may need to see a doctor.

While several schools offer eye screenings, Dr. Pitts recommends setting up an appointment before your child enters their school-aged years. Also remember, our eyes change as we grow.

"My older boy, he’d been in the office with me during the summer and he was 20-20 just playing around and I got a note from the school that said he couldn’t see the board, and fortunately I didn’t make a complete fool of myself and ran him over to the office," Dr. Pitts said. “He had gotten nearsighted enough that he needed glasses within a 6-month period so during those rapid growth periods the eyes can change, you know, substantially.”

If you plan on setting up an eye exam, Dr. Pitts says you can expect your child’s eyes to be dilated. They will be asked to read a chart, undergo depth perception testing, and even a color-blindness check, which you can imagine is vital for young kids still trying to learn their colors in school.

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