How Could This Be Affecting My Child Without Me Knowing?
One of the questions I hear most often from parents is, “How could this be impacting my child so much, and I had no idea it even existed?” It’s a fair question — and the answer is layered.
In my opinion, the biggest reason is this: our visual demands today are unlike anything humans have ever faced before.
Think back to life before the Industrial Revolution. Most people spent their days outdoors, focusing on objects far away. There was little need for intense near work like reading or writing. Then came factories, compulsory schooling, and more work being done within arm’s reach. Our eyes began to be used in ways they were never meant to be — for long periods of close-up tasks.
Fast forward to today, and the demands are overwhelming.
Children are expected to do near work for eight hours or more each day — and that doesn’t even include homework. On top of that, they’re reading at younger ages, under pressure to perform academically, and juggling extracurriculars. Add in screens, video games, and phones — much of their world is now happening just inches from their faces. This unprecedented near-work load places a staggering burden on developing visual systems.
Some children have always had underlying visual problems. A child in the 1700s with a functional vision issue like convergence insufficiency might have gotten by just fine. But a modern child? They struggle. And those struggles often look like trouble reading, difficulty paying attention, behavioral concerns, or poor coordination — things we don’t immediately link to vision.
The need for strong visual skills has skyrocketed, but our healthcare system hasn’t caught up.
In South Carolina, for example, there are only about 10 doctors at 7 practices who specialize in diagnosing and treating these kinds of functional vision problems — issues that go beyond simply seeing 20/20. These include binocular vision dysfunction, accommodative disorders, and oculomotor dysfunction.
Unfortunately, schools don’t have vision therapists for these types of vision issues on staff. Insurance rarely covers this care. But that doesn’t mean these issues aren’t real.
In fact, research shows that approximately 25% of children have a functional vision problem that impacts learning and behavior.
Our eyes are truly our window to the world, they are the primary way we take in information — up to 80% of it. If the visual system isn’t working properly, it affects everything: learning, sports, behavior, and confidence.
The good news? These conditions are treatable! Sometimes children need a specialized glasses prescription. Many times, vision therapy — a customized program that helps retrain the eyes and brain to work together — is the best answer.
Vision therapy isn’t new. It’s been around for over a century. But the need for it has never been greater.
As a vision therapy provider, I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing it can be. Kids who once hated school become curious and confident. A girl who wouldn’t touch a book before vision therapy started her own book club after. Children who used to cry from headaches come home smiling. One boy who couldn’t catch a ball is now playing on his brother’s baseball team — and he’s an all-star.
If I had one wish, it would be that every parent knew about these functional vision problems — so that no child has to suffer silently. These children don’t always have the words to describe what they’re experiencing. They don’t know that seeing double or blurry isn’t normal. That’s why it’s so important for parents to stay informed and proactive.
If your child is struggling, don’t overlook their vision. Find a developmental optometrist near you at https://locate.covd.org. Make sure your child’s vision is doing more than just passing a 20/20 screening — make sure it’s helping them thrive.
