The period from 2 to 5 years old is the time when children's vision continues to improve and play an important role in the process of learning, playing as well as developing skills to prepare for school. However, many children at this age are not fully tested for vision, causing eye problems to be detected in time.
At kindergarten age, children use vision to observe, recognize colors, shapes, distances and coordinate daily activities. Activities such as blocking, rolling balls, coloring, painting, cutting paper or assembling toys not only help children play but also contribute to training the ability to coordinate between eyes and hands, fine motor skills as well as visual perception. These are all necessary skills for children to learn to read and write when entering elementary school.
According to recommendations from the US National Center for Children's Vision Health, children aged 36 to 72 months should have their vision checked annually. Regular check-ups help detect early refractive errors that require glasses, amblyopia and strabismus, problems that can affect vision development if not intervened in time.
The preschool age period is also the time when many visual disorders begin to appear. Strabismus is a condition in which one or both eyes do not see in the same direction, while amblyopia causes vision loss in one eye and cannot be completely improved with glasses alone. Notably, amblyopia may not cause obvious manifestations in the early stages, so children still need to have their eyes examined even if they do not complain about their vision.
In addition to regular check-ups, parents should also monitor abnormal signs during child development. If children have difficulty recognizing colors, shapes, letters or numbers, frequently squint, tilt their heads when looking, or have difficulty coordinating activities to observe, these may be signs of vision problems and need to be checked early.
Some parents believe that it is enough for the child to pass the vision test at school. However, screenings often only assess some basic functions and may overlook many abnormalities in the eyes' ability to concentrate, the coordination between the two eyes, or the ability to distinguish colors. Therefore, vision screening cannot replace a comprehensive eye exam.
Full eye exams from about 3 years old help comprehensively assess visual development, and at the same time detect eye diseases early before affecting the learning process. Early detection and intervention not only help improve vision but also create a foundation for children to develop good learning and living skills in their early years.
