A Guide for Detecting Vision Problems in the Classroom

Adopted from a pamphlet created by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, Inc.

APPEARANCE OF EYES
	One eye turns in or out at any time
	Reddened eyes or lids
	Eyes tear excessively
	Encrusted eyelids
	Frequent styes on lids
COMPLAINTS WHEN USING EYES AT DESK
	Headaches in forehead or temples
	Burning or itching after reading or desk work
	Nausea or dizziness
	Print blurs after reading a short time
BEHAVIORAL SIGNS OF VISUAL PROBLEMS
Eye Movement Abilities (Ocular Motility)	Head turns as reads across page
	Loses place often during reading
	Needs finger or marker to keep place
	Displays short attention span in reading or copying
	Too frequently omits words
	Repeatedly omits "small" words
	Writes up or down hill on paper
	Rereads or skips lines unknowingly
	Orients drawings poorly on page
Eye Teaming Abilities (Binocularity)	Complains of seeing double (diplopia)
	Repeats letters within words
	Omits letters, numbers or phrases
	Misaligns digits in number columns
	Squints, closes or covers one eye
	Tilts head extremely while working at desk
	Consistently shows gross postural deviations at all desk activities
Eye-Hand Coordination Abilities	Must feel things to assist in any interpretation required
	Eyes not used to "steer" hand movements (extreme lack of orientation, placement of words or drawings on page)
	Writes crookedly, poorly spaced: cannot stay on ruled lines
	Misaligns both horizontal and vertical series of numbers
	Uses his hand or fingers to keep his place on the page
	Uses other hand as "spacer" to control spacing and alignment on page
	Repeatedly confuses left-right directions
Visual Form Perception (Visual Comparison, Visual Imagery, Visualization)	Mistakes words with same or similar beginnings
	Fails to recognize same word in next sentence
	Reverses letters and/or words in writing and copying
	Confuses likenesses and minor differences
	Confuses same word in same sentence
	Repeatedly confuses similar beginnings and endings of words
	Fails to visualize what is read either silently or orally
	Whispers to self for reinforcement while reading silently
	Returns to "drawing with fingers" to decide likes and differences
Refractive Status (Nearsightness, Farsightedness, Focus Problems, etc.)	Comprehension reduces as reading continued; loses interest too quickly
	Mispronounces similar words as continues reading
	Blinks excessively at desk tasks and/or reading; not elsewhere
	Holds book too closely; face too close to desk surface
	Avoids all possible near-centered tasks
	Complains of discomfort in tasks that demand visual interpretation
	Closes or covers one eye when reading or doing desk work
	Makes errors in copying from chalkboard to paper on desk
	Makes errors in copying from reference book to notebook
	Squints to see chalkboard, or requests to move nearer
	Rubs eyes during or after short periods of visual activity
	Fatigues easily; blinks to make chalkboard clear up after desk task

To see more OEPF pamphlets like this one, click here.