A PARENTS GUIDE
Signs your child might need glasses — and what to do about it.
Many kids don't know what "normal" vision looks like — so they won't tell you something's wrong. Here's what to watch for, when to act, and why a school screening isn't enough.
WHY KIDS DON’T TELL YOU
Your child probably won't say "I can't see."
Here's the thing most parents don't realise: if your child has always seen the world a certain way, they have no reason to think something's wrong. Blurry writing on a whiteboard? That's just how whiteboards look. Words that swim on a page? That's just what reading is. Headaches after school? That's just tiredness.
Children adapt. They compensate. They sit closer, squint harder, avoid the things that are difficult. And because they don't have a frame of reference for "normal" vision, they don't complain — they just quietly struggle.
That's why you can't wait for your child to tell you there's a problem. You have to know what to look for.
THE SIGNS
What to watch for — by age
Different ages show different signs. Here's what's relevant for your child.
Preschool & kindy
Sitting very close to the TV or holding books right up to their face. Squinting or closing one eye. Clumsy or bumping into things on one side. An eye that turns in or out — even briefly. Lack of interest in puzzles, colouring, or detail-oriented activities. These kids often get labelled "not interested" when actually they can't see the detail.
Primary school
Losing their place when reading or using a finger to track lines. Avoiding reading or saying it's "boring" — when it's actually uncomfortable. Difficulty copying from the whiteboard. Messy handwriting that doesn't match their ability. Confusing similar-looking letters like b and d. Headaches after school, especially around the forehead. Rubbing eyes a lot during homework.
High school
Squinting to see the board or screen from the back of the classroom. Holding their phone very close. Complaining of tired eyes or headaches after screen time. Declining interest in sport — especially ball sports where distance judgement matters. One eye closing in bright sunlight. These signs often get dismissed as "just being a teenager" or screen fatigue.
Don't feel guilty if you've missed the signs. These are easy to miss because children adapt and compensate. They don't know anything is wrong — so they don't act like anything is wrong. The fact that you're reading this page means you're paying attention. That's what matters.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT GLASSES
Sometimes the eyes are fine but they don't work together.
Not every vision problem is solved with glasses. Some children have healthy eyes and a normal prescription — but their eyes don't coordinate properly. They can't track smoothly across a line of text. They can't shift focus from the board to their book and back. Their eyes don't work as a team, so reading is exhausting and concentration suffers.
These are called functional vision problems, and they don't show up on a letter chart. They often get misdiagnosed as ADHD, dyslexia, or a learning difficulty — because the symptoms overlap. A proper children's eye test checks for these specifically.
In our practice, we see kids every week whose "learning problem" turns out to be a vision problem. It's one of the most rewarding things we do — because once you know, you can fix it.
SCHOOL SCREENING VS EYE TEST
Why "passed the school screening" doesn't mean everything's fine.
School vision screenings check one thing — whether your child can read letters at a distance. That's it. They don't check whether your child can focus up close for reading. They don't check whether both eyes are working together. They don't check eye tracking, colour vision, or eye health.
School vision screenings check one thing — whether your child can read letters at a distance. That's it. They don't check whether your child can focus up close for reading. They don't check whether both eyes are working together. They don't check eye tracking, colour vision, or eye health.
In our practice, we see kids every week who've passed their school screening but have a significant issue we pick up in the first five minutes of a proper test.
School screening
✗ Distance vision only
✗ One-size-fits-all letter chart
✗ No focusing assessment
✗ No eye teaming check
✗ No eye health examination
✗ No colour vision testing
✗ Pass/fail — no detail
Comprehensive eye test
✓ Distance and near vision
✓ Age-appropriate tests
✓ Focusing ability and flexibility
✓ Eye teaming and alignment
✓ Eye tracking assessment
✓ Colour vision
✓ Full eye health check
✓ Myopia risk assessment
WHEN TO ACT
When should your child have their first eye test?
We recommend a first comprehensive eye test at age 4, before starting school. Medicare covers this at no cost — you don't need a GP referral. This catches problems early, when they're easiest to correct and before they start affecting learning.
After that, annual eye tests are the safest approach — especially from age 6 onwards, when vision demands increase dramatically and myopia commonly begins. If there's a family history of glasses, lazy eye, or eye conditions, annual tests are particularly important.
Don't wait for a problem to appear. Many vision issues have no obvious symptoms — your child won't squint, won't complain, and won't fail a school screening. The only way to know for sure is a proper test.
When to book an urgent test
Book sooner rather than later if you notice: one eye turning in or out (even occasionally), a white reflection in your child's pupil in photos, sudden loss of interest in reading or close activities, complaints of double vision, or a noticeable head tilt when concentrating. These may indicate something that needs prompt attention.
WHY EARLY MATTERS
What happens if a vision problem goes untreated?
Vision is a skill that develops through childhood — and some problems have a window where treatment works best. Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a good example: it's very treatable in young children, but becomes much harder to correct after age 7–8. The earlier you catch it, the better the outcome.
Uncorrected vision problems affect more than just sight. Kids who can't see the board clearly often get mislabelled as disruptive, distracted, or "not trying." Reading difficulties can spiral into avoidance, low confidence, and falling behind academically — not because they're not capable, but because their eyes aren't giving them the tools they need.
And if your child is developing myopia (short-sightedness), early progression matters. Myopia that starts young and progresses quickly increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life — including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. This is where myopia control comes in — proven treatments that can slow progression by 50–60% when started early.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What happens when you bring your child in?
A children's eye test at our practice takes about 30–40 minutes. We use child-friendly equipment and techniques — picture charts, shapes, and games instead of letters. Your child doesn't need to know how to read.
We check eight things that a school screening doesn't: distance and near vision, focusing ability, eye teaming and alignment, eye tracking, colour vision, prescription (using objective measurement — we don't rely on your child's answers), eye health, and myopia risk.
You stay in the room the whole time. We explain what we're testing and what we find as we go — no jargon, no surprises. All three of our optometrists have advanced paediatric training, and Dr Vivian Li has a special interest in behavioural optometry and functional vision assessment.
Children's eye tests are bulk billed through Medicare for all Australians aged 4 and over. No referral needed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Three things to keep in mind.
Every child is different. Some signs may be normal developmental behaviour, not a vision problem. An eye test is the only way to know for sure — and there's no harm in checking.
One test doesn't mean your child is set for life. Vision changes, especially during school years. Annual checks are the safest approach — it's covered by Medicare, it takes 30 minutes, and it gives you peace of mind.
If we find something, we'll explain it clearly. No pressure, no jargon. We'll walk you through what it means, what the options are, and what we'd recommend — and you make the decision.
Children's vision — your questions answered
Are children's eye tests bulk billed in Australia?
Yes — Medicare covers eye tests for all Australians aged 4 and over. Your child can be tested every year with no out-of-pocket cost. You don't need a GP referral.
Can a child need glasses even if neither parent wears them?
Yes. While genetics play a role, vision problems can develop independently. Environmental factors like screen time and limited outdoor activity also contribute, especially to myopia.
What's the difference between a school screening and a proper eye test?
A school screening only checks distance vision. A comprehensive eye test also assesses focusing, eye teaming, tracking, colour vision, eye health, and binocular vision. We regularly see children who passed their school screening but have significant issues.
At what age should my child first see an optometrist?
We recommend a first comprehensive eye test at age 4, before starting school. Medicare covers this at no cost. If you notice signs earlier, we can test younger children too.
My child's eyesight keeps getting worse every year. Is that normal?
Progressive myopia in children is common but shouldn't be ignored — it increases the risk of eye disease later in life. We run the Concord Myopia Clinic with proven treatments to slow progression. Visit concordmyopiaclinic.com.au →
Can vision problems be mistaken for ADHD or learning difficulties?
Yes — and it happens more often than most people think. Functional vision problems can cause difficulty concentrating, fidgeting, and avoiding reading — symptoms that overlap with ADHD and learning difficulties. A proper eye test can rule this out.
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Our full children's eye care service — what we test, how we test, and why all three optometrists have advanced paediatric training.
Concord Myopia Clinic →
Worried about your child's eyesight getting worse? Our dedicated myopia control clinic offers Ortho-K, MiyoSmart, MiSight, and atropine — with published pricing.
Reviewed by Dr Mark Joung
B.Optom (UNSW) Hons · Grad Cert Ocular Therapeutics · Advanced Paediatric Eye Care (UNSW)
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LEARN MORE
It’s bulk billed, it takes 30 minutes, and it give you peace of mind.
No referral needed. All three optometrists have advanced paediatric training. We test children from age 4.