Back to School Eye Exams Keller
Specialists in North Texas
A new backpack and a fresh set of school supplies won’t matter much if your child can’t actually see the lesson in front of them. Each year, as Keller ISD gears up for the first bell, local families turn to Pediatric Eye Specialists’ Keller Parkway office to catch vision problems before they turn into classroom struggles.
Why Keller Families Choose PES for Back-to-School Exams
We don’t split our attention between kids and adults, or between eye exams and eyewear sales. Children are the only patients we treat.
Dr. Eric Packwood and Dr. Alan Norman opened the practice’s doors in Fort Worth back in 2002 with one focus: pediatric eyes, exclusively. That focus has never changed.
Two decades later, our carrying over sixty-five years of combined experience — and earning more physician referrals than any other pediatric eye practice in North Texas.
If a Keller ISD screening, your child’s pediatrician, or another eye doctor has flagged a concern, PES is where families are typically referred next. Skip the wait and start here for your child’s back-to-school exam — and if glasses turn out to be part of the plan, Special Eyes Optical is right down the hall, stocked exclusively with kids’ frames.
Our Keller 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 Keller
Vision does the heavy lifting in a classroom — an estimated 80% of what kids learn arrives through their eyes, whether it’s a whiteboard, a worksheet, or a tablet screen. And yet roughly one in four school-aged children is dealing with a vision problem they don’t even know they have. Since it’s the only way of seeing they’ve ever known, kids rarely think to mention it. Instead of complaining that the board looks blurry, they simply tune it out.
That’s what makes vision issues so easy to miss: they masquerade as something else entirely. A second-grader who “just doesn’t like reading.” A fifth-grader whose math grades suddenly dip. A middle-schooler tagged as inattentive. For families in Keller ISD, Northwest ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, or Carroll ISD, a single one-to-two-hour visit to our Keller Parkway office — before the new school year picks up speed — can either rule out a vision problem or catch one early, while it’s still simple to correct.
Don't Confuse a Simple School Vision Screening With 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 Keller 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 in Keller
Every detail of our Keller office was designed with kids in mind — down to doctors who completed fellowship training specifically in pediatric ophthalmology, and optometrists whose exam techniques work just as well on a squirming toddler as they do on 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. .
Visit us Before the First Bell
Pediatric Eye Specialists — Keller
129 Chandler Road
Keller, Texas 76248
At Keller Parkway and Keller Smithfield Road, right in the heart of Keller’s growing medical and retail corridor near The Parks at Town 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 — Keller families who book in early get their pick of those 7am slots. Families in Fort Worth, Mansfield, and the US 380 corridor can also visit our Fort Worth, 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
At Pediatric Eye Specialists, families in Keller find something they won’t get at a typical eye doctor’s office: nowhere else to be referred. Our ophthalmologists diagnose and manage the complete range of children’s eye conditions in-house, including:
- Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, with glasses and long-term management
- Amblyopia (lazy eye), treated through patching, drops, and glasses protocols
- Strabismus (crossed or wandering eyes), up to and including surgical correction
- Convergence insufficiency and other ocular motility disorders
- Ptosis (droopy eyelid), blocked tear ducts, and chalazia
- Pediatric cataracts, glaucoma, and uveitis — conditions most general eye practices simply aren’t equipped to treat in children
And for kids who need surgery or hospital-level imaging, our Keller office is part of the same practice-wide partnership with Cook Children’s Medical Center, where Dr. Packwood serves as Administrative Director of Ophthalmology. That means your child is cared for at one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, by the same doctors who oversee all eye care across the Cook Children’s Hospital Network — no matter which PES location you start at.
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
A vision diagnosis without a real solution isn’t much help — which is why our Keller office doesn’t just send you home with a prescription. Special Eyes Optical operates right inside our Keller Parkway location, offering the largest children’s eyewear collection in Texas, with more than 500 frames to choose from — and nowhere else in the state is an optical shop built exclusively for kids. Every optician on staff fits children only, which makes a real difference: a child’s bridge width, temple length, and daily wear-and-tear (gym class included) call for an entirely different approach than adult fitting.
These are frames kids actually want on their face — Ray-Ban and Oakley for older kids chasing a grown-up look, bendable Easytwist and Dilli Dalli styles built for rougher play, and character options like Hello Kitty, Transformers, Ninja Turtles, and Nerf for younger kids who need a little extra motivation. Every complete pair comes backed by a one-year warranty covering free adjustments and minor repairs, because we know what nine months of school does to a pair of 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.
Still have questions?
Get the care and answers you need as a parent.
When should I schedule my child’s back-to-school eye exam in Keller?
Aim for June or July. As Keller ISD’s first day gets closer, early-morning appointment slots at our Keller Parkway office go first. Booking ahead of the August rush gives enough time for the exam itself and, if needed, new glasses from Special Eyes Optical — all wrapped up before the first bell.
My child passed the school vision screening. Do they still need an exam?
Yes. School screenings mostly test how well a child sees at a distance, which means roughly 73% of kids with a real vision issue still pass. A full exam goes further, evaluating focusing ability, how the eyes team together, tracking, and the eye’s overall health — the areas where conditions like amblyopia and farsightedness tend to hide undetected.
What’s the difference between Pediatric Eye Specialists and a regular eye doctor?
Our doctors are board-certified pediatric ophthalmologists — physicians with fellowship training specifically in children’s eye conditions, qualified to diagnose, treat, and perform surgery when needed. Most optometry practices refer complicated pediatric cases elsewhere; we’re often that referral destination, receiving more physician referrals than any other pediatric eye practice in North Texas. For kids with healthy eyes and no underlying concerns, an optometrist — a specialist in glasses and contact lenses — is often a perfectly good starting point.
Will my child’s eyes be dilated? How long does the visit take?
Yes. Dilation lets us accurately measure your child’s actual prescription and examine the health of the eye, and it’s what sets a real exam apart from a quick screening. The full visit runs about an hour. Afterward, up-close vision may be a little blurry for a few hours, and eyes tend to be more light-sensitive — sunglasses on the way home help.
How much does a back-to-school eye exam cost in Keller?
Most exams are billed through medical insurance, the same way a physician visit would be. Our optometrists also work with a wide range of vision insurance plans, and we welcome patients who are uninsured or prefer not to use insurance. Give us a call at 817-529-9949 and our team will check your benefits ahead of time, so costs are clear before you ever book.
Can we get glasses the same day as the exam in Keller?
Frame selection can happen same-day at Special Eyes Optical, located right inside our Keller office, with more than 500 kid-specific styles to choose from. How quickly the lenses are ready depends on your child’s prescription — usually within a week — so earlier booking means more buffer before school starts.
Does Pediatric Eye Specialists see children for back-to-school eye exams from outside Keller?
Absolutely — families visit our Keller Parkway office from all over the surrounding area, including Southlake, Colleyville, North Richland Hills, Roanoke, and communities throughout Tarrant and Denton counties. If Fort Worth, Mansfield, or Prosper is more convenient, those PES offices are staffed by the same doctors, so your child gets identical care closer to home: Fort Worth, Mansfield, Prosper.