Easy At-Home Vision Test For Kids
At-Home Vision Test For Kids
Doing a home vision screening is easy, fun, and free. You can begin regularly testing your child’s eye’s as early as 2 years old. A home vision screening isn't a substitute for a complete medical eye exam performed by an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist but it’s a good place to start. Testing your child’s vision at home will help you discover problems early. Most eye disorders can be corrected if treated by a medical professional early. For optimal safety, children under 2 years old should have vision screenings done by a medical professional.
What You Need to Test Your Child’s Vision at Home:
- Download and print the pediatric home vision screening eye-chart found HERE.
- Scissors.
- Paint friendly tape (masking tape) or tack.
- Pen or pencil for the results.
- A tape measure, yardstick, or ruler.
- A Phone or Flashlight.
- A room or hallway at least 10 feet wide.
Prep Your Test Area:
- Choose a chair appropriate for the size of your child.
- Measure 10 feet away from the bare wall. Place the chair here.
- Paint friendly tape (masking tape) or tack.
- Measure 10 feet away from the bare wall. Place the chair here.
- Tape or tack the eye-chart to the wall at eye level with your child sitting in the chair.
How to Test Your Child’s Vision at Home:
- Download and print the pediatric eye-chart. The .PDF found HERE contains the Eye-chart, and these instructions.
- Tape the eye-chart to the wall. Remember to use a paint friendly tape like blue painters tape.
- Seat your child in a chair 10 feet away from the eye-chart. Your child should be directly facing the eye-chart.
- Have the child cover one eye using the paper cut-out. No peeking is allowed. You may need to have a second person help your child hold the eye cover cut-out.
- Illuminate the eye-chart. Use your phone or a flashlight to illuminate the eye chart to help your child see clearly.
- Ask the child to read each line of the chart. Have your child point in the same direction the E is pointing on the chart.
- Repeat the test for the other eye. Repeat the chart again with the opposite eye.
Understanding The Results
Children age 3 to 4 years old should be able to read to the 20/40 line. By age 5 kids should be reading the 20/30 line. Test your children several times across multiple days. If your child cannot see an expected line, contact an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist for a full exam. Take your test results with you to the doctor. This additional information may help identify an undiagnosed eye disease.
The link to the Kids Home Eye Screening can be downloaded HERE
