Many children across British Columbia struggle in school, not because of a lack of effort or intelligence, but because of how their eyes move. While most people assume that 20/20 eyesight means everything is fine, clear sight is only one part of the visual system. A child might see the board clearly yet still struggle with reading, writing, or focusing during class.
At Opto-Mization, we often see children who are bright and motivated but are being held back by poor eye tracking—a skill essential for reading and learning. This issue is frequently overlooked in standard vision screenings, which means many kids go years without the help they need.
What Is Eye Tracking?
Eye tracking is the ability to move the eyes smoothly and efficiently from one point to another. It plays a critical role in reading, copying from the board, completing worksheets, and even in physical activities like sports. Good eye tracking allows the eyes to land precisely on a word, move from word to word, and shift lines without losing place.
When this skill doesn’t work properly, a child may struggle to keep their eyes on the text or lose their place repeatedly. This creates frustration and often leads to avoidance of reading altogether.
Why Eye Tracking Matters in the Classroom
In a classroom environment, visual demands are high. A child is expected to read fluently, track across rows of text, and copy notes quickly. These tasks rely on stable, consistent eye movements. If a child’s eyes jump erratically or fail to coordinate, the brain has to work harder to compensate.
Many children with eye tracking problems:
- Use their finger to follow the words
- Skip or repeat lines when reading
- Lose their place often
- Struggle to copy from the board
- Have slow or laboured reading
- Avoid reading whenever possible
These children are often misidentified as poor readers or inattentive students, when in fact, they are working much harder than their peers just to keep up visually.
If your child is struggling with reading or focus, don’t wait. Book a Comprehensive Eye Exam at Opto-Mization in Victoria or Nanaimo today.
Symptoms Parents and Teachers May Notice
Poor eye tracking often looks like:
- Rushing through reading but missing words
- Omitting or substituting words
- Complaining of headaches or fatigue after near work
- Difficulty with spelling
- Problems completing assignments on time
- Clumsiness or poor hand-eye coordination
At Opto-Mization, we refer to this as visual inefficiency—when the eyes are technically “seeing” but the system is not working as a whole. These inefficiencies don’t always show up in routine eye exams because the focus is often just on clarity of sight.
Watch How Eye Tracking Affects Learning – Featuring the Redalyzer Recording System
How Visual Inefficiencies Impact Learning
Eye tracking is just one of many visual skills needed for learning. In fact, Opto-Mization’s functional testing examines 17 visual skills that impact everything from reading fluency to classroom attention.
Here’s how eye tracking fits into the broader picture of functional vision:
| Visual Skill | Role in Learning | What Happens When It’s Weak |
| Eye Tracking | Follows lines of text smoothly | Skipping lines, losing place |
| Eye Teaming | Coordinates both eyes together | Words may appear to move or double |
| Focusing Flexibility | Maintains clear vision at different distances | Blurry vision when switching from board to desk |
| Visual Processing Speed | Makes sense of visual input quickly | Slow reading, slow task completion |
| Visual Memory | Remembers what was just seen | Trouble with spelling or directions |
When tracking is weak, it often affects multiple other areas, leading to a snowball effect. A child may read slowly, struggle to keep up with the class, and begin to lose confidence in their own abilities—even when they are trying their best.
Why Standard Vision Tests Don’t Catch the Problem
Traditional vision screenings are designed to check clarity. If a child can read letters on a chart 20 feet away, they often “pass” the test. But this doesn’t measure how well the eyes move, how they work together, or how the brain processes what they see.
That’s why children with perfect eyesight can still experience:
- Difficulty reading
- Poor attention to near work
- Visual fatigue
- Poor handwriting
- Frustration with schoolwork
At Opto-Mization, we believe it’s essential to go beyond the standard chart. That’s why our Comprehensive Eye Exams include functional testing that evaluates how the entire visual system is working. Unless your child is seeing Dr. McCrodan, this testing is included with our optometrists; if they are seeing Dr. McCrodan, the process is completed across two team members in a coordinated approach.
How Poor Tracking Feels to a Child
Reading with poor tracking can feel like driving a car with a shaky steering wheel. You may know where you want to go, but staying on the road is exhausting.
Children may describe the experience as:
- “The words move on the page”
- “I get tired really fast”
- “I have to read things over and over”
- “I just don’t like reading”
From the outside, these kids might seem lazy, distracted, or unmotivated. But when we assess their visual system, the problem becomes clear: their eyes are simply not moving the way they need to for learning to be comfortable.
What Eye Tracking Therapy Looks Like
Once poor tracking is identified, the good news is that it can be improved through vision therapy. At Opto-Mization, we offer individualized therapy programs that help children strengthen eye movement control, improve coordination between both eyes, and build the visual stamina required for reading and schoolwork.
Vision therapy includes:
- Structured in-office sessions with trained therapists
- Customized exercises for eye movement and visual processing
- At-home activities to reinforce progress
- Regular reassessments to monitor change
Therapy is engaging and designed to meet children where they are. Many tasks feel like games, making it easier to stay motivated and consistent.
Supporting Progress at Home
In our blog post on home-based activities, we shared a number of simple things parents can do to help build tracking skills while having fun.
Examples include:
- Maze tracing to follow a path with the eyes
- Flashlight tag to improve quick shifts of attention
- Reading with finger tracking to encourage smooth eye movements
- Catch-and-throw games to strengthen tracking in motion
- Visual puzzles to build coordination and focus
These activities are not replacements for therapy, but they can help reinforce the foundational skills being developed.
What Improvement Looks Like
While every child is different, many families report:
- Faster, smoother reading
- Less frustration with schoolwork
- Improved spelling and writing
- Longer attention span for near work
- Increased academic confidence
Improvement often comes gradually, but the long-term change is significant. Children who once avoided reading begin to pick up books voluntarily. Parents notice fewer complaints and more independence during homework time. Teachers may see an increase in classroom participation and reduced need for extra support.
When to Book an Assessment
If your child:
- Has difficulty reading or staying focused
- Loses their place often
- Has been tutoring with little success
- Complaints about tired eyes or headaches
- Seems bright but underperforms in school
…it may be time to consider a functional vision evaluation. Our Comprehensive Eye Exams go beyond standard tests and include a detailed look at tracking and other essential visual skills.
We’ll explain what we find, walk you through the results, and recommend the right path forward.
Eye Tracking Is a Skill That Can Be Improved
Children aren’t born with perfect eye tracking—it’s a skill that develops with time, practice, and experience. For some, that development needs extra help. That’s where we come in.
At Opto-Mization, our team is trained to identify the root of visual challenges and provide a solution that empowers children to read, learn, and feel confident again. With clinics in both Victoria and Nanaimo, we’re here to support families across Vancouver Island and beyond.
Take the Next Step
If your child is struggling with reading or learning, don’t wait for another report card to confirm what you already suspect. The sooner we identify the issue, the sooner we can help your child succeed.
Book a Comprehensive Eye Exam today with the team at Opto-Mization. Let’s find out what’s really going on—and help your child move forward with a clear, comfortable vision and renewed confidence.
