Bunnies in an enchanted outdoor classroom during a vision screening—reminding us that screenings often miss key visual skills needed for learning, like tracking and focus.

Why Passing a School Vision Screening Doesn’t Always Mean Your Child Sees Clearly

Author: Hayley Martin

What screenings test (and miss), and why comprehensive eye exams matter

She comes home from school with a slip of paper and a proud little grin.
“Vision screening: passed.”

You smile, tuck the note into your folder (or toss it in the recycling bin), and breathe a sigh of relief.

But here’s the secret that most parents aren’t told:

Passing a school vision screening doesn’t always mean your child sees clearly, or comfortably enough to learn.

Eyes hold a kind of hidden magic. One that guides not only how a child sees the world, but how she learns and reads. And sometimes, that magic needs a closer look than a school screening can provide.

Let’s wander into the often-overlooked world of school vision checks, including what they test, what they miss, and how to ensure your child’s vision is truly supported, particularly if learning feels like a struggle.

Children lining up at school for vision screening tests

What School Vision Screenings Actually Test

School vision screenings are helpful, but they’re limited. Think of them like a peek through a keyhole. They might catch a few big things, but miss all the quiet, important details.

Here’s what most school screenings do include:

Visual Acuity

This is the most common check: can your child see letters clearly at a distance? Usually measured with the famous “big E” chart. It tells us if she might need glasses for nearsightedness. But that’s about it.

Color Vision (sometimes)

Some screenings include a quick color blindness test using dotted pattern cards.

Basic Eye Alignment (sometimes)

A brief glance to see if both eyes appear to point the same way. Helpful for catching a large eye turn, like strabismus.

And that’s usually it. No test for how well the eyes move. No test for how well they work together. No test for whether vision is comfortable or effortless.

Child playfully giving a bunny a pediatric optometry exam—symbolizing the importance of comprehensive eye exams that go beyond vision screenings and eye charts to assess how the eyes work together and how the brain processes visual information.

What Screenings Don’t Test, But Should

This is where the magic often falters.

Many children who “pass” their school vision screening still struggle to read comfortably, concentrate in class, or enjoy books. Why? Because functional vision skills, essential for learning, aren’t being checked.

Here’s what’s usually missing:

Eye Teaming (Binocular Vision)

Can both eyes work together smoothly to create one clear picture? If not, your child may see double, feel dizzy, or lose her place on the page.

Eye Tracking

Can her eyes follow a line of text smoothly, word by word? Poor tracking leads to skipped lines, guessing, or avoiding reading altogether.

Focusing (Accommodation)

Is she able to keep things clear up close? Can she shift focus from the board to her notebook and back again? Trouble here causes eye strain, blurred vision, and fatigue.

Convergence

Do her eyes turn inward together to focus on near work? If not, it’s called convergence insufficiency, a common issue that often gets mistaken for ADHD.

Visual Processing

Can her brain interpret what she’s seeing?  Can it remember letters, spot patterns, understand spacing? Visual processing problems don’t affect eyesight, but they make spelling, writing, and comprehension more difficult.


But My Child Has 20/20 Vision…

This is the most common, and confusing, part.

Yes, your child might have 20/20 vision and still struggle.

Think of it like this: 20/20 just means she can see a letter clearly from across the room. It doesn’t tell us if her eyes can move together across a sentence… or hold focus for a full page… or avoid doubling an image after five minutes of reading.

And here’s what’s most important:

A child with undetected vision issues will often appear distracted, restless, or “not trying.”
But she may not be misbehaving, she may not have a learning disability and she may not have ADHD.  It's possible that she’s simply compensating for something she can’t explain.

 

Vision Problems Are Often Misdiagnosed as Learning Issues

Recent studies show:

  • Children with vision issues are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.
  • Those with convergence insufficiency are three times more likely to be labeled with attention problems.
  • Up to 60% of children identified as “problem learners” are actually struggling with undiagnosed visual processing issues, not learning disabilities.

So before jumping to conclusions, it’s worth asking:

Is it a learning issue, or a vision problem in disguise?

Child not paying attention at school

What Your Child Really Needs: A Comprehensive Eye Exam

A true comprehensive pediatric eye exam looks beyond clarity and into comfort. It checks how the eyes move, how they focus, and how well they work together. It uncovers what school screenings often miss.

If your child…

  • Skips words while reading
  • Complains of headaches or tired eyes
  • Loses interest during homework
  • Reverses letters or writes unevenly
  • Seems distracted or avoids close-up work

…a full visual evaluation could be the turning point.

 

Help Her See Her Story Clearly

If her story includes glasses, we'd be honored to play a part in it. 

At Once Upon a Charm, we believe that when children see clearly, they shine more brightly. That’s why our girls’ glasses are designed not only for vision support, but for self-expression. Paired with our interchangeable eyewear charms, they become a magical part of your child’s learning adventure.

Explore our enchanting children’s glasses
Discover our whimsical eyewear charms

Learn more about how vision affects learning

Read about how to prepare your child for a pediatric eye exam

Because seeing clearly isn’t just about eyesight.

It’s about confidence, comfort, and believing in the magic within.

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