When a middle school student goes in for an eye exam it is likely that the tests will do a fine job of detecting myopia (or nearsightedness), but there is a good chance it will miss other conditions like hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism.
A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology discusses the results of eye exams of nearly 4500 Australian 7th graders. They found that the common visual acuity tests given to those adolescents were not able to effectively determine whether they suffered from hyperopia or astigmatism.
It’s never too early to start thinking about your children’s eye health. It is important to think about eye health at any age. Learn about how to support your entire family’s eye health.