Research shows poor vision can impact student outcomes — what can be done to address it?
According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, 2.8 million people will live with sight loss in the UK by 2035. It further predicts that this number will double to more than four million by 2050.
Meanwhile, there are more than 26,000 visually impaired children in the UK, with around half of them having a special educational need.
Living with compromised vision can affect several daily tasks, including reading and navigating places. Research has also shown that poor vision can impact students’ academic performance. Although some initiatives are pushing for digital accessibility to help visually impaired students, including adopting the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, which helps make learning content more accessible, this can also have some limitations in school implementation.
This begs the question: What can be done to help visually impaired students learn better? Below, we look at the research on the link between poor vision and academic performance and provide eye management tips for preserving vision health.
Vision and academic performance
Research published in the Journal of Optometry shows that students with poor vision do not perform at the same level as their peers with normal vision, highlighting the relationship between visual impairment and poor academic performance. The same study mentions how even low levels of refractive errors, like hyperopia and astigmatism, can lead to reduced reading speed, accuracy, and comprehension, implying the importance of clear vision in ensuring kids' academic success.
Since poor vision makes it difficult for students to perform essential tasks in class, like copying notes and reading textbooks, timely interventions are necessary to prevent their vision from worsening, especially since visual demands increase as students progress through their school years.
Here’s how visually impaired students can improve their learning:
Get regular eye tests
Getting a comprehensive eye exam is an effective way to address concerns about vision health. During an eye test, an optometrist can find the best possible treatment for an underlying eye problem or detect early symptoms of a potential ocular condition that may require immediate treatment. Students can get an NHS-funded, free eye test from high street optician Vision Express if they are 16 to 18 years old and are in full-time education, while those under 16 can also get a free eye test, regardless of whether they’re studying or not. Appointments can be scheduled either online or through visiting brick-and-mortar stores.
Install helpful apps
Technology can also help bridge the gap between visually impaired students and their peers. With students heavily relying on their devices for academic tasks, schoolchildren can now install free apps that can help facilitate learning better. For instance, iOS users can download AccessNote. This note-taking app works with Apple’s VoiceOver feature, which makes it easier for visually impaired students to create, read, and synchronise their school notes. Meanwhile, Android users can install Dragon Dictation, which uses AI to convert speech into written text. It can then read the recorded text aloud, helping students with sight issues learn more efficiently without struggling to read.
Use vision correction tools
Ultimately, one way to help students manage their eye health at school is by wearing vision correction tools such as contact lenses or spectacles. These vision correction tools change how the eyes refract light, helping correct refractive errors. Today, advancements in optometric technology have made it possible to manufacture innovative corrective glasses that can help children and teenagers with short-sightedness see better. These glasses are equipped with microlenses that can correct peripheral hyperopia. Eyewear conglomerate EssilorLuxottica also developed the “Stellest” lenses, which have been proven to reduce myopia progression when worn 12 hours a day.
Given the effects of visual impairment on students’ academic performance, taking necessary steps to preserve their vision health is essential for better student outcomes. Luckily, tech-enabled innovations and free eye care services are available to help close the gap between visually challenged learners and their classmates.
