Many parents aren’t sure when to bring their child to the eye doctor for their first eye exam. Good vision is an essential part of a child’s development and can affect their health and future. If you’re unsure when and why you need to bring your child in for an eye exam, here is a quick guide of what you need to know.

What You Should Know About Child Eye Exams

What Does an Eye Exam Consist Of?

You may be wondering how an eye doctor can perform an eye exam if your child still hasn’t learned the alphabet, but eye doctors have ways around this. When examining younger children, eye doctors rely on LEA symbols, retinoscopy, and random dot stereopsis to check your child’s ability to focus on and identify shapes, for congenital cataracts, and to ensure their eyes work well together. If you’re worried your child might be nonverbal or too shy to speak, don’t worry. Eye doctors can still determine whether they have vision issues. 

Why Are Child Eye Exams So Important?

Your child’s eye exam is important because it can determine if your child has an eye disease, such as a lazy eye, that could interfere with their development. Early detection and treatment can help your child develop in a normal, healthy way, or help develop a course of action to accommodate their needs.

What Are Common Eye Problems for Kids?

In addition to nearsightedness and farsightedness, there are a few other common eye conditions that affect children. Lazy eye is a common eye problem among young children. This issue occurs when one eye is weaker than the other, and it can be corrected by glasses or patching. Crossed eyes, or strabismus, is another common issue, and is a lack of eye control due to poor muscles. Early treatment using vision therapy can help realign the eyes, but some cases may require surgery.

How Old Should They Be for Their First Appointment?

Your child’s vision was first checked when they were an infant, and it should be checked again at age 3 or 4, before they start school. This allows them to get a good start on their education and development.

 

 

For trusted eye care, turn to Spencerport Optical. These eye professionals have served the Spencerport, NY, area for over 32 years. In addition to eye exams, they also offer designer eyewear and prescription sunglasses. For more information, visit their website. Give them a call at (585) 352-1960 to schedule an appointment.