Is your child’s vision ready for the new school year?

By Elaine, optometrist · 8 December 2026 · 4 min read

The school holidays are the best time to check your child’s eyes. There are no exams or school days to work around, and any new glasses will be ready before classes start in January.

Why the holidays work well

Children rarely say when their sight is blurry. They adapt: they sit closer, squint, or stop enjoying reading. In Singapore, myopia (short-sightedness) is common among schoolchildren and often begins in the primary school years, so a yearly check is a good habit.

A holiday appointment also leaves time to try frames properly, instead of rushing during school term.

Six signs to look for at home

• Squinting or tilting the head to see the TV, a screen or the board
• Sitting very close to the TV, or holding books and tablets near the face
• Rubbing the eyes or blinking a lot
• Headaches after reading or screen time
• Losing their place when reading, or avoiding reading
• Saying the board at school looks blurry

Any one of these happens, it is a reason to book an eyecheck. Please note that some children with blurry vision sometimes show no signs at all.

What happens in a child’s eye exam

During the eye examinations,i will create a comfortable and playful session for the kids. It will be a comfortable eye check session with visual acuity assessments and eyes muscles movement check.

Habits that help over the holidays

• Time outdoors. Daylight outdoors is linked to a lower risk of developing myopia, so plan park, beach and cycling days.
• Regular breaks. Use the 20-20-20 rule, shown below.
• Reading distance. Keep books and screens about 40cm to 50 cm from the eyes, with good lightings.

If myopia is found

Short-sightedness tends to change as children grow, so regular reviews matter. There are options that aim to slow its progress, such as specially designed lenses, low-dose atropine eye drops and overnight contact lenses. Which one suits a child depends on age, prescription and lifestyle. That is a conversation to have with your optometrist or eye doctor.

If your child already wears glasses, check that they still see well and the frames still fit. Growing faces outgrow frames quickly.

Elaine is an optometrist in Singapore. This article is general information and does not replace an eye exam.