Preparing for end-of-year school exams (with eyes wide open!)
As the school year winds down and exam season kicks in, children everywhere are buried in books, glued to screens, and juggling more homework than ever. Revision timetables tighten and stress levels rise. In the middle of all this academic chaos, one important question often goes unnoticed: how are your child’s eyes doing?
So, before exam stress reaches its peak, here’s why it’s the perfect time to give your child’s vision a little TLC:
Increased visual demands
Final exams mean marathon study sessions, screen overload and pages upon pages of information. All of that can lead to eye strain, dry eyes, headaches and serious mental fatigue. When the eyes are tired, the brain isn’t far behind.
Hidden vision problems
Children don’t always realise they’re not seeing clearly. They often assume that everyone sees the same fuzzy letters and floaty words they do. And let’s be honest, “Mum, I think my visual acuity is suboptimal,” isn’t exactly a common complaint!
Short attention span? Maybe it’s their eyes!
If your child struggles to focus, skips lines while reading, or suddenly avoids homework like it’s broccoli, it might not be about discipline. Undiagnosed vision issues can easily masquerade as short attention spans or a lack of interest.
What can you do to help?
Schedule a comprehensive eye exam
School vision screenings are helpful but not foolproof. A full eye exam with our optometrist can spot refractive errors, tracking issues and focusing problems that often go unnoticed.
Encourage the 20-20-20 rule
Every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. It’s like a little yoga stretch for the eyes – simple, effective and screen-fatigue friendly.
Set up smart study lighting
Make sure their study zone is well-lit – no cave vibes. Natural light is best, but any light that avoids glare and shadows will keep their eyes happy.
Mix it up: go offline
Try flashcards, whiteboards or good old-fashioned paper and pen. Not everything has to live on a screen (even if your teen thinks otherwise).
Look for red flags
Squinting, rubbing eyes, getting too close to the page, or tilting the head while reading can all be subtle signs of vision strain.
Helping your child see clearly might just be the best academic hack you haven’t tried yet. After all, exams are hard enough without blurry vision, tired eyes or invisible barriers.
João Albano is the chief optometrist and technical director of Algarvisão and is a specialist in orthoptics, optometry and advanced contactology.
