School Screenings Are Not Eye Exams
School vision screenings check one thing: whether a child can read a chart at 20 feet. They miss nearsightedness that shows up at other distances, astigmatism, lazy eye (amblyopia), and eye teaming problems that affect reading.
We see patients as young as 7 at Nostrand Optical, and every year we catch problems that school screenings completely missed.
Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem
Children rarely complain about blurry vision — they assume everyone sees the way they do. Watch for:
- Squinting at the board, TV, or books
- Sitting unusually close to screens
- Frequent headaches, especially after school
- Avoiding reading or losing their place often
- One eye turning in or out
What We Check
Dr. Shlivko's pediatric exams cover:
- Visual acuity — how clearly they see at distance and near
- Refractive error — nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism
- Amblyopia (lazy eye) — best treated before age 7–9 while the visual system is still developing
- Strabismus (eye turn) — affects depth perception and can cause amblyopia
- Eye teaming and tracking — critical for reading fluency
The Right Age to Start
We welcome children ages 7 and up for full exams. If your child is younger and you have concerns, we're happy to discuss a referral.
Children's eye exams are covered by Medicaid and many insurance plans. Call us at (718) 773-9391 to confirm coverage before the visit.