Why eye exams for children are important

As a parent, your child’s health is likely very important to you. Many parents don’t know when to start taking their child to the eye doctor or how often. From the time your child is born, it’s important to have their eyes checked by an optometrist regularly.

When should a child get an eye exam?

Believe it or not, we examine babies regularly. An eye exam can be performed at any age, starting when your child is an infant. If you have a family history of vision issues or eye health concerns, the earlier you have your child examined, the better.

In general, we recommend all children have their first eye exam before the age of one.

How does an eye exam for children work?

When you bring your child to see an optometrist, the doctor will ask you all sorts of questions about them, including:

• Overall health
• How active your child is
• Any potential vision problems you’ve noticed

The eye doctor will also perform some tests and examine how your child’s eyes respond.

As your child gets older, they can share more information and feedback with their optometrist. The doctor may ask questions whether they have had issues with:

• Squinting to watch television or sitting very close to the television
• Holding electronic devices close to their face
• Covering an eye to read something
• Difficulties reading the board at school or completing schoolwork

If your child is experiencing those or other related symptoms, it may be time for glasses. Of course, if you notice a change in behavior or how your child is doing in school, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your eye doctor.

How often should your child have an eye exam?

As you might expect, how often you should bring your child to the eye doctor varies based on many factors, including their age and potential problems.

A good rule of thumb if your child doesn’t have any diagnosed eye diseases or problems is to visit the eye doctor once a year. At the very least, they should visit once every two years. Do not rely solely on vision screenings done by schools. Visit your child’s optometrist on a regular basis!

Remember, the health of your child’s eyes is a vital part of their physical, mental, and social development.

We would be happy to help you with your child’s eye exam. To schedule one, contact us at 405-840-2800.