As a parent, monitoring your child’s vision to ensure they can excel in a classroom and remain safe is a top priority. With this in mind, eye doctors encourage families to embrace vision care at an early age. Here’s what you should know about eye health in children, so your little one sees the world clearly and establishes excellent habits from the start.

How Often Should Children Receive Eye Exams?

Eye doctors recommend that every child has their first eye exam around six months of age to monitor development. After this initial evaluation, another appointment should be made when they're around three years old, and then again before they enter school. Children without vision problems should receive eye exams every two years after that, and those who wear glasses should receive an annual evaluation. 

What Are Common Eye Ailments in Children?

Many children have astigmatism—or irregularly shaped corneas—which leads to blurred vision, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Other eye conditions can include glaucoma, cataracts, blocked tear ducts, lazy eye, and pink eye due to infection or allergies. Luckily, these conditions can be resolved with corrective eyewear or another treatment prescribed by an eye doctor.

What Are Some Warning Signs?

A child’s daily behaviors can often indicate vision problems. If you notice your child squinting, sitting close to the television, holding books to their nose when reading, complaining of headaches or tired eyes, or having trouble looking at computer screens, schedule a visit with your eye doctor. Should you notice redness, irritation, or a clouding of the eye lens, a professional evaluation is also strongly recommended. 

If your child needs an eye doctor, the dedicated pediatric optometrist at Northern Lights Eye Care is ready to provide lifelong vision care. With over 14 years of experience serving residents of all ages throughout Anchorage, AK, you can depend on them to provide personalized service using state-of-the-art equipment. To schedule your first appointment, call today at (907) 276-3937. For more information about what your little one can expect during a visit, head to their website.