Experts estimated 20 to 25 percent of school-age children suffer from a vision problem, and many of these issues would not be detected by tests with an eye chart.

Tara Buckley of Plymouth, Mich., said her son Ryan, 8, is one of them.

“We noticed his reading level was down, and so he was kind of behind in school,” said Buckley. “I was concerned that it was learning, at first, and then they ran a series of tests, and we found out that in fact it was his eyes.”

Dr. John Jacobi treats Ryan and many other children at Suburban Eyecare in Livonia. He said many children are suffering from undiagnosed vision problems.

“Avoidance is a huge clue, especially in the young ones that are emerging readers. Read more…