Many kids experience trepidation about their first eye exam. While these exams aren’t necessarily stressful, children often have concerns about what to expect, which is completely natural. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to ease their child’s fear to ensure a successful exam. The following steps can help you prepare your child for the initial exam with an eye doctor.

How to Keep a Child Calm During Their First Eye Exam

1. Discuss What to Expect

Explain that your child can expect the doctor to look into their eyes during the exam. The eye doctor will use certain tools, including bright lights, to assess the health of the eyes. The doctor will also ask your child to move their eyes back and forth, which measures eye movement, as well as read a chart from a distance.

2. Stay in the Exam Room

Sometimes, your presence can be enough to soothe your child’s fears. Most eye doctors are happy to have parents stick around for exams, both for informational purposes as well as to keep young patients relaxed. Ask your child’s eye doctor if you can hang around until the exam is over.

3. Have a Plan for Eye Drops

Drops are often used during eye exams to dilate the eyes, making this the portion of the exam that most kids struggle with. Have a plan in place for soothing your child when drops are applied; tell a joke or hold their hand to provide comfort. You can also offer a reward for after the eye exam, such as a new book or toy.

Scheduling your child’s first eye exam at a trusted eye care clinic can also reduce stress during a visit. Comprehensive Eye Care in Washington, MO, provides more than three decades of experience in treating and diagnosing common eye issues. Individualized care begins with a routine eye exam, which is conducted with patient care in mind. If corrective lenses are needed, these eye doctors offer an excellent selection of designer frames and contact lenses. Call (636) 390-3999 to schedule your child’s first eye exam. You can also visit the website to learn more about optical services.