Parents: Use Vision Benefits for Your Child’s Eye Health

Every December, local families miss out on hundreds of dollars in unused benefits. It’s not because they don’t care, but because life is hectic. Between school plays, holiday dinners, and colder weather, it’s easy for a kid’s eye exam to fall off the to-do list.

But here’s the thing: vision insurance for kids is more than a yearly formality. It’s a tool to help them learn better, feel less frustrated, and thrive in school. If you’ve got eye insurance in New Jersey, it likely covers more than you think.

And at Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, we make it easy. Whether your child needs a comprehensive eye exam, an eyeglasses update, or support for a vision problem, we’re here to help you make the most of your benefits.

Why Good Vision Matters More Than 20/20

Most parents assume that if their child passes a school screening, their vision is fine. But school screenings only test for distance vision. They don’t check how well the eyes work together, track movement, or process information.

This is where developmental vision care comes in. For example:

• If your child skips words when reading, that may point to a tracking issue
• If they get frequent headaches during homework, it might be a focusing problem
• If they struggle with sports or hand-eye coordination, binocular vision dysfunction may be the cause

Our kids' eye exam looks beyond 20/20. At Family Eye Care, we assess how your child’s visual system functions as a whole. We check eye teaming, focus flexibility, and visual processing. If we catch something early, we can treat it early, too.

Trusted Pediatric Eye Care in New Jersey

At Family Eye Care, we’re proud to be a full-service practice that puts kids first. Led by Dr. S. Moshe Roth and Dr. Steffani Viveros, our eye care team combines warm, one-on-one care with advanced diagnostic tools to detect even the subtlest signs of a vision problem.

We also offer a range of services that help support development beyond what glasses alone can do:

• Vision Therapy & Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation: Like physical therapy for the eyes, this customized program can improve reading, tracking, and focus issues
• Ortho-K (Orthokeratology): Special lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea and correct myopia, often reducing or eliminating the need for daytime glasses
• Stylish Eyewear: We offer over 1,000 hand-picked frames, and many prescriptions can be filled the same day, which is perfect for picky teens or last-minute needs

What to Expect During Your Child’s Eye Exam

Our pediatric eye exams are kid-friendly and age-appropriate, whether your child is just learning letters or navigating middle school. We take time to make children feel comfortable and keep parents informed.

Here’s what a typical visit may include:

• Checking vision up close and at a distance
• Evaluating eye coordination and focusing skills
• Screening for conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), myopia, or astigmatism
• Reviewing school performance or visual habits

If something more complex arises, we’ll walk you through the next steps, whether that means prescribing glasses, recommending vision therapy, or exploring options like Ortho-K for myopia management.

Why December Is the Best Time to Use Vision Benefits

Children’s vision changes quickly. Waiting just a few months can mean starting the new school year with an outdated prescription or worse, undiagnosed issues that make learning harder.

Plus, December is often easier for scheduling. School slows down, routines shift, and there’s still time to use your child’s vision benefits before it resets. Many plans cover both the eyeglasses exam and a portion of glasses or contacts, so don’t let that value go to waste.

Your Partner for Kids’ Vision Care in Old Bridge

At Family Eye Care, we’re here to support your child’s success in school, at home, and everywhere in between. With a warm, compassionate team and advanced diagnostic tools, we’re proud to provide personalized care that puts families first.

Appointments book quickly this time of year, especially for kids' eye exams. Call us or schedule an eye care appointment online to make the most of your eye insurance before it expires.