Back to School Eye Exams Fort Worth
Specialists in North Texas
New backpack, new lunchbox, new grade — but if your child can’t see the board clearly, none of that really matters. Every summer, families across Fort Worth bring their kids to Pediatric Eye Specialists on Henderson Street, just blocks from Cook Children’s Medical Center, to make sure a hidden vision problem doesn’t follow them into the classroom.
Why PES for Back-to-School Eye Exams in Fort Worth?
We’re not a vision kiosk or an eyewear chain that also sees kids. Kids are our only patients!
Pediatric Eye Specialists was founded in Fort Worth in 2002 by Dr. Eric Packwood and Dr. Alan Norman, and treating children’s eyes are the focus of our doctors.
Today our team, four board-certified pediatric ophthalmologists and three pediatric optometrists with more than sixty-five years of combined experience, sees more children by physician referral than any other pediatric eye practice in North Texas.
When a school screening, pediatrician, or another eye doctor finds something worrying, this is where Fort Worth kids get sent. You can simply start here for your child’s back-to-school exam.
Our Fort Worth office opens at 7:00am Monday through Thursday — the earliest pediatric eye appointments in the city, so you can get the exam done and still make the first bell at school and your own workday.
Why a Back-to-School Eye Exam Matters in Fort Worth
Roughly 80% of what children learn in school comes through their eyes, reading, whiteboards, tablets, and everything in between. Yet about one in four school-aged children has a vision problem, and most of them don’t know it. Kids assume everyone sees the way they do. They don’t tell you the board is blurry; they just stop looking at it.
That’s why an undiagnosed vision problem so often wears a disguise: the second-grader who “hates reading,” the fifth-grader who suddenly slips in math, the middle-schooler labeled inattentive. Before another school year at Fort Worth ISD, Crowley ISD, Burleson ISD, Aledo ISD, or White Settlement ISD starts with frustration, a one to two-hour visit to our Henderson Street office can rule vision out or catch a problem while it’s still easy to treat.
A School Vision Screening Is Not an Eye Exam
Texas schools screen children’s vision, and those screenings matter — but they’re designed to catch only the most obvious problems. Research shows about 73% of children who have a real vision problem still pass a school-nurse or pediatrician screening. A distance chart can’t detect a farsighted child who works twice as hard to focus up close, an eye that drifts only when tired, or amblyopia quietly costing a child sight in one eye.
There’s a reason school nurses and pediatricians across Tarrant County refer the children who don’t pass to us: a comprehensive exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist tests the entire visual system — and the medical health of the eye itself — in ways a screening never can. If your child passed this year’s screening, that’s good news. It just isn’t the whole story.
Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem
You know your child best. Over twenty-plus years of exams, our doctors hear the same observations from Fort Worth parents again and again:
Sits too close to the TV, or holds books and tablets near their face
Squints at anything across the room
Complains of headaches after homework or screen time
Loses their place while reading, or uses a finger to keep track
Rubs their eyes, blinks hard, tilts their head, or covers one eye to see
Avoids reading, puzzles, or detailed close work
An eye that seems to wander, cross, or drift — even occasionally
Grades or confidence slipping without an obvious reason
What to Expect at Your Child's Eye Exam on Henderson Street
Everything about our Fort Worth office was built for children — from our four doctors who did fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology to our optometrists’ exam techniques that work on a squirmy toddler as reliably as a teenager.
Age-appropriate visual acuity testing
We can accurately test children who don't know their letters yet, and even pre-verbal infants.
Cycloplegic refraction (dilated exam)
Eye drops relax the eye's focusing muscles so we measure the true prescription, not the one a child's hard-working eyes fake their way through; this is the step screenings and quick retail exams skip.
Eye alignment, tracking, and teaming
How the eyes move and work together for reading and sports.
Depth perception and binocular vision testing
Checks how well both eyes work together to judge distance and dimension — a skill kids rely on constantly for sports, reading, and catching a ball, but one a standard vision screening never touches.
A full medical eye-health exam
We use the most comprehensive pediatric diagnostic suite in North Texas
Thorough and Comprehensive
Plan on one to two hours including dilation time. .
Our Optometrists
An optometrist or doctor of optometry (OD) deals with the health of the eye, often conducting a vision exam and then prescribing glasses or contact lenses. They may also diagnose and treat certain disorders of the visual system.
- Bachelor’s degree: Milligan University
- Optometry degree: Illinois College of Optometry
- Bachelor’s degree: Ouachita Baptist University
- Optometry degree: University of Houston College of Optometry
- Bachelor’s degree: University of Tulsa
- Optometry degree: University of Houston College of Optometry
Visit us Before the First Bell
Pediatric Eye Specialists — Fort Worth
321 S. Henderson St., Fort Worth, TX 76104
In the Fort Worth Medical District, minutes from Cook Children’s Medical Center
Phone: 817-529-9949 · Fax: 817-529-9943
Hours: Mon–Thu 7:00am–4:00pm · Fri 7:00am–12:30pm
August appointments go first — Fort Worth families who book in early get their pick of those 7am slots. Families in Keller, Mansfield, and the US 380 corridor can also visit our Keller, Mansfield, and Prosper offices.
Real Stories,
Real Smiles.
“They were very good with my nonverbal toddler. It was the best doctor visit experience we have had yet. They were awesome, caring, and quick!.”
Amy Glover
Parent of Patient
“Today, Dr. Packwood saved my youngest from a life of blindness and worked a miracle for my family. I cannot express enough gratitude and thanks for their skillful surgery and expertise. 10 of 10 highly recommend.”
Atticus Lee
Parent of Patient
“The staff here is so amazing with my son. We had such a wonderful experience both at the office and for his surgery! I highly recommend Pediatric Eye Specialists!!!!“
Gianna Stutzman
Parent of Patient
“We are so grateful for the genuine care that Dr. Duff provided for our son Lorenzo, which prevented him from going blind! She is truly a gift to the community.“
JS Cocjin
Parent of Patient
“Professional, compassionate, kind and friendly. They took great care of my preemie baby from Day 1 of ROP. Very happy with how my daughter is progressing and has healthy eyes now.”
Suresh K.C.
Parent of Patient
“We’ve seen Dr. Hunt for the past 6 years since my daughter was 9 days old. We have multiple appointments each year and even eye surgery when she was 1. Our experience here has been fantastic every time and we highly recommend this group!.”
Mandy Edmondson
Parent of Patient
“Dr. Norman has always been very attentive and thorough with my daughter, who has Type 1 Diabetes. The staff are warm and always do their best to be accommodating. I highly recommend Dr. Norman.”
Tricia Moon
Parent of Patient
“Absolutely recommend! All around great experience! They made my son feel comfortable during the visit. Treatment was explained, and I walked out with no questions. I loved it. “
Cynthia Valero
Parent of Patient
“Great staff, great doctors; they know how to help ease kids’ fears and provide excellent service. Had to get my little one in same day for an eye injury, and they found a way to make it happen. Would 100% recommend.“
Kris K
Parent of Patient
Start your child’s journey to better vision today.
Embrace a future of clearer vision and confidence for your child. Contact us now to book your appointment at any of our convenient locations across the Metroplex.
When Should Kids Have Their Eyes Examined?
Kids should have their eye exams at:
6 months: first comprehensive exam if referred by pediatrician or there are other eye development concerns (poor tracking, misaligned eyes, asymmetry)
Age 3: routine exam if unable to participate at pediatrician office or if they do not have an photoscreener
Before kindergarten or 1st grade: the classic back-to-school exam
Every year after through the school years if they have any significant glasses prescription, other health issues, or can’t read 20/20 vision
Behind schedule? You’re not alone — August is our busiest catch-up season. Start now.
If the Exam Finds Something, You're Already in the Right Place
Here’s the difference between starting at Pediatric Eye Specialists and starting anywhere else in Fort Worth: there’s no next referral. Our ophthalmologists diagnose and treat the full range of children’s eye conditions — most under this one roof on Henderson Street:
Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism — glasses and ongoing management
Amblyopia (lazy eye) — patching, drops, and glasses protocols
Strabismus (crossed or wandering eyes) — including surgical correction
Convergence insufficiency and ocular motility disorders
Ptosis (droopy eyelid), blocked tear ducts, chalazia
Pediatric cataracts, glaucoma, and uveitis — conditions almost no general eye practice manages in children
And when a child does need surgery or hospital-level imaging, our partnership with Cook Children’s Medical Center — where Dr. Packwood serves as Administrative Director of Ophthalmology — means your child is treated at one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, five minutes from our office, by the same doctors who cover all eye care for the Cook Children’s Hospital Network.
More Screens, More Myopia: Worth Checking Before School Starts
Nearsightedness in children is climbing nationwide, and the tablet-heavy classroom doesn’t help. Myopia that starts young tends to progress fastest, and higher myopia raises lifelong risks to eye health, not just thicker glasses.
A back-to-school exam establishes the baseline that makes early intervention possible, and our physicians can discuss evidence-based options for slowing progression when it matters. Atropine eye drops, specialized contact lenses, or myopia control glasses may be right for your child.
New Glasses Before the First Day — Special Eyes Optical
If your child needs glasses, you won’t be handed a prescription and a shrug. Right in our Fort Worth office is Special Eyes Optical — the only optical shop in Texas dedicated exclusively to kids, with more than 500 frames, the largest children’s eyewear collection in the state. Our licensed opticians fit only children, which matters more than it sounds: a child’s bridge, temple length, and habits (like gym class) are nothing like an adult’s.
Kids actually want to wear these: Ray-Ban and Oakley for the too-cool crowd, flexible Easytwist and Dilli Dalli for the rough-and-tumble years, and character frames — Hello Kitty, Transformers, Ninja Turtles, Nerf — for the ones who need convincing. Every complete pair includes a one-year warranty with free adjustments and minor repairs, because we know exactly what a school year does to glasses.
Back-to-School Eye Exam Costs and Insurance
Because our practice has both optometrists and physicians, exams at Pediatric Eye Specialists are typically billed to your medical insurance (including most Medicaid plans), the plan you already use for your pediatrician, rather than requiring a separate vision plan. However, our optometrists also accept many vision plans.
Our front desk verifies benefits before your visit; call 817-529-9949 with your plan information and we’ll tell you exactly where you stand before you book.
Start your child’s journey to better vision today.
Embrace a future of clearer vision and confidence for your child. Contact us now to book your consultation at any of our convenient locations across the Metroplex.
When should I schedule my child’s back-to-school eye exam in Fort Worth?
June or July. Our Henderson Street office’s early-morning slots fill fastest in August as Fort Worth ISD’s first day approaches. Booking early means the exam and any new glasses from Special Eyes Optical are done before day one.
My child passed the school vision screening. Do they still need an exam?
Yes. About 73% of children with a genuine vision problem pass school screenings, which mainly test distance vision on a chart. A comprehensive exam checks focusing, eye teaming, tracking, and the medical health of the eye, where problems like amblyopia and farsightedness hide.
What’s the difference between Pediatric Eye Specialists and a regular eye doctor?
Our practice is led by board-certified pediatric ophthalmologists, medical doctors with fellowship training in children’s eyes who diagnose, treat, and operate. General optometry practices refer complex pediatric findings out; we’re the practice they refer to, with more physician referrals than any other pediatric eye practice in North Texas. For healthy eyes without medical concerns, most patients can start with an optometrist who are glasses and contact lens experts.
Will my child’s eyes be dilated? How long does the visit take?
Yes, dilation is how we measure a child’s true prescription and examine eye health, and it’s the single biggest difference from a quick screening. Plan on about an hour total. Kids’ vision may be blur-sensitive up close for a few hours afterward; light sensitivity is normal and sunglasses help.
How much does a back-to-school eye exam cost in Fort Worth?
Exams are typically billed to medical insurance like any physician visit. However, our optometrists accept many vision plans. We also accept patients without insurance or who choose not to use their insurance. Call 817-529-9949 and our team will verify your benefits before you book, so there are no surprises.
Can we get glasses the same day as the exam in Fort Worth?
You can choose frames the same day at Special Eyes Optical, inside our Fort Worth office, from over 500 kid-specific styles. Lens turnaround depends on the prescription — typically under a week — another reason to book before the August rush.
Does Pediatric Eye Specialists see children for Back-to-School Eye Exams from outside Fort Worth?
Yes, we see children across the North Texas area every day. Families come to Henderson Street from Benbrook, Crowley, Burleson, Aledo, and across Parker County, Wise County, and Tarrant County — and our Keller, Mansfield, and Prosper offices bring the same doctors closer to home.
Still have questions?
Get the care and answers you need as a parent.