Why it's a good idea to get your kid's eyes examined

Parents, you’ve got the kids back to school, they're getting settled in. But there’s one more thing to put on your to do list, get your kid’s eyes checked.

It's never too early to get your kids eyes checked.

Dr. Lisa Abrams with the Katzen Eye Group says, "Any kind of childhood eye disease is always best if treated early."

Your pediatrician will typically do vision screenings at well-checkups. Dr. Abrams says all kids should get a comprehensive eye exam before entering pre-school.

"There are a lot of childhood eye diseases that can't be detected by just watching the child or by looking at their eyes,” Dr. Abrams says, that's why parents need to put it on their to do list.

And there's no better time than at the beginning of the school year. Because how your child learns depends on how well they can see.

There are several red flags parents should look for. First, if your child always seems to be watching TV up close, there might be a problem.

Dr. Abrams says, "All kids seem to like to get up there and be part of the action but if it seems to be really a chronic habit or they really resist moving back, that could be something."

And take a good look at how your kid reads or writes. "If the parent sees the child closing one eye a lot especially when they're doing things up close, trying to learn to read or write, if they notice the eyes don't look aligned," it could mean there's something wrong with their eyes.

And here's another thing. Dr. Abrams says, "Have some time limits especially on computer and video games because they are very fatiguing to the eyes. Also to make sure if a child is using a device like a gameboy or a phone, that they try not to hold it right up to their face, you want to have a little bit of distance , that will reduce how much focusing work their eyes are doing."

And if your kid does end up needing glasses, there's plenty to choose from. From bendable frames, to durable lenses, to kid-friendly designs.