In Kentucky, a groundbreaking law requires children aged 3-6 to undergo eye exams before starting school. This law, enacted 14 years ago, places Kentucky at the forefront of child eye health and education. According to Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a specialist in pediatric eye care based in Versailles, the law has made a significant impact on both student learning and child eye health.
Why Are Eye Exams Important for Preschoolers?
The purpose of these mandated exams is twofold: to identify vision issues early on and to improve children’s academic performance. Detecting eye health issues early can make a world of difference in a child’s life. Conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), cataracts, and even glaucoma can be identified during these routine exams, potentially sparing children from serious visual impairments later in life. For example, amblyopia affects an estimated 75,000 preschoolers each year.
Most of these problems can be caught during a standard eye exam, but for some children, there are more complex issues at play that extend beyond visual clarity. Dr. Graebe explains that visual health is not just about seeing clearly; it involves multiple systems working together. These include:
- Visual Efficiency – How effectively the eyes gather information.
- Visual Processing – How the brain interprets the visual input.
- Visual-Spatial Awareness – The ability to integrate vision with movement and coordination.
- Motor Planning – How we react physically to what we see.
When these systems aren’t functioning properly, a child may struggle with learning, particularly as they progress through school.
How Vision Problems Impact Learning
Children with visual system issues might show signs of learning difficulties by the time they reach third or fourth grade. Up until third grade, students are learning to read; after that, they are reading to learn. A child with a vision-related problem may appear to have learning disabilities or attention issues when in fact, they may just need their visual system evaluated.
According to Dr. Graebe, “If you have a bright child who isn’t performing to their full potential, vision issues could be the culprit.”
The Role of Vision Therapy
For children facing complex vision issues, a visit to a behavioral optometrist like Dr. Graebe could be life-changing. At his Neuro-Visual Performance Institute in Versailles and Somerset, Dr. Graebe offers vision therapy programs that target these specific problems. These programs go beyond prescribing glasses—they aim to improve how a child’s entire visual system functions.
“It’s frustrating for me as a doctor to see kids struggle unnecessarily,” Dr. Graebe explains. “Vision therapy is not easy, but it’s effective. It can help children not just see better but perform better academically and in life.”
Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam in Central and Southern Kentucky
With offices in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, Dr. Graebe’s practice is one of the few pediatric specialty clinics in Central and Southern Kentucky. If you suspect your child might be struggling with a vision problem, don’t wait to get them the help they need.
Call 859-879-0089 today to schedule an eye exam for your child at one of our convenient locations.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.