As you tick off the school shoes, backpacks, and stationery lists this month, there is one essential “learning tool” that often gets overlooked: your child’s eyesight.

Recent reports from ABC News and Optometry Australia have highlighted why it is important for children to have their vision checked early and a growing call for preschool vision screening in South Australia. It’s important that you don’t wait for this to be implemented, you can get these checks done by booking an appointment with your optometrist.

Many children start school with undiagnosed vision conditions.

Experts report that as many as one in five children have an undetected vision problem—a statistic that can have a profound impact on their education. Early detection is one of the most effective and affordable ways to support your child’s development.

The child featured in the ABC News story had her eyes tested and the check found that she had the beginning of a lazy eye. Catching the condition early prevented the condition from developing further, one that can lead to blindness in the eye.

Your child doesn’t even need to be able to read or identify letters and numbers, your optometrist can test their eyes in different ways that doesn’t rely on their ability to read.

Research shows that approximately 80% of what a child learns in the classroom is processed through their eyes. If a child can’t see the board clearly or struggles to focus on a book, they aren’t just missing information; they are working twice as hard as their peers, which leads to fatigue and frustration.

Children rarely complain about blurry vision because they don’t know any different—they are used to seeing the way they do.

Early testing not only makes it easier for your child at school, but if there’s a problem with their vision, getting this picked up early means it can be treated effectively, reducing the potential for more serious problems later in life.

By booking a eye test before school starts this month, you ensure your child starts the year on a level playing field.

Don’t wait for a school screening that may take a while to be rolled out. Book your child’s back-to-school eye test today.