Going for a regular eye exam is important. However, for many kids, it can be an overwhelming experience. Although, I'll be honest, most hyperlexic kids will love reading the letter charts!
But there are lots of little tests that get performed during these eye appointments and your child might be wondering what to expect. That's where these social stories come in.
Below you will find a variety of free social stories about going to the eye doctor or optometrist (or similar). They explore topics like what happens during an eye exam and having to wear glasses for the first time. I hope you find these stories helpful.
Free Social Stories About Going to the Eye Doctor, Eye Exams, & Wearing Glasses
Have you been looking for an eye doctor social story? Then look no further than these free printable social stories about going for an eye exam, visiting the eye doctor, or having to wear glasses.
I've rounded up some options for you to explore. That way you can find the best eye exam social story for you and your child. Or you can simply use ideas from different stories below to write your own custom story (free social story templates here to help).
Please note that just because a social story is listed here does not mean I endorse its content. After all, many social stories tend to be poorly written and/or teach autistic masking. Besides, I haven't read all of these stories word for word myself. So please read through the stories carefully before using them with your child.
1. Wearing Glasses Social Story - Written by yours truly, this story uses full color photos that talks about when and why to wear glasses. It also explains how to care for the glasses. It might be a useful story if you find out during an eye checkup that your child needs glasses.
2. Eye Exam Social Story from Boston Medical Center - This story talks about what to expect when you go for an eye appointment. It uses colorful clipart and is available in five languages.
3. Going to See an Eye Doctor Social Story from Social Stories: Power Tool for Autism - This story is mostly text based. Okay, actually it's one giant paragraph of text, but it does include two photos. It talks about going to see an eye doctor with your mom.
4. Social Story: What Happens in an Eye Test? from Ulster University - This story uses a mix of photos and clipart. It's not super detailed or anything, but it does talk about a few things you might do during an eye exam.
5. My Visit to the Eye Doctor: A Social Story from The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry - This story is written in past tense and uses full color photos. It looks pretty detailed compared to some of the other stories on this list.
6. Wearing Glasses is Okay with Me: A Social Story from Social Stories: Power Tool for Autism - After an exam, you might learn that your child has to wear glasses now. This story talks about that. It is mostly text only, but does include two photos.
7. My Pirate Patch, Glasses, & First Eye Exam Social Stories from New England College of Optometry - There is one story here that focuses on an eye patch for amblyopia, but there are two other stories as well. They use a mix of photos and colorful icons. They're also available in different versions and languages (English and Spanish).
Video Social Stories About Eye Exams, Going to the Eye Doctor, & Wearing Glasses
Here are some video social stories that talk about visiting the eye doctor or optometrist for an eye exam. You can use these in teletherapy sessions or at home. Videos are always a great alternative to printing off a story.
Like the stories above, some of the wording in these videos aren't always great. One exception is the third video below which is someone reading my wearing glasses social story - I love discovering these read through videos! But I wanted to make sure you had lots of different options for talking about these eye care appointments.
Whether your child needs glasses or not, going for a regular eye checkup is an important part of a good healthcare routine. You can use these free social stories about going to the eye doctor for an exam to help prepare your child for their visit.
