Many parents wait until their children are a few years old to schedule eye exams. However, it can be beneficial to schedule an appointment earlier than that. There are a number of advantages to looking into your child’s vision early on, and there are key guidelines to follow. Below is a full breakdown of pediatric eye exams to ensure you’re taking the proper steps for your child’s eye health.

When to Schedule an Exam 

Children can develop eye problems at any age, and the earlier they’re addressed, the better the outcome often is. You should schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your children between six months and their first birthday. Your child’s eyes are still developing, and an optometrist can check that everything looks normal. They may be able to detect possible problems, such as early signs of lazy eye, refractive errors, or misalignments that will heavily impact vision later.

These exams are especially important if you have a family history of eye diseases or vision issues, if the child was born prematurely, or if the physician at birth detected any abnormalities.

You’ll want to later schedule an exam at preschool age, usually around three years old. The optometrist will check eye development and then check your child’s visual acuity. If there are signs of misalignment or farsightedness, the optometrist can explore corrective solutions so that weaknesses are addressed before they can progress.

What to Expect

During infant eye exams, the optometrist will assess the baby’s medical history and then examine the outside of their eyes. They’ll check that their eyelids are healthy, and as your child moves their eyes around, they will make sure that all the eye muscles are functioning correctly. They’ll then shine a light to see how their eyes react to light and then dilate their pupils with eyedrops to look for evidence of refractive errors. The optometrist won’t perform a visual acuity test until a preschool-aged exam, because this is when the eyes become more developed.

If you’re ready to schedule a pediatric eye exam, the team at Alexander Eye Associates & Optical can help. This Rochester, NY, eye care practice welcomes patients of all ages and provides a wide scope of care. They’ll perform wellness exams, make corrective solutions, and, if needed, handle eye surgery to ensure quality vision. Call (585) 325-3070 to schedule an exam and connect on Facebook to receive more eye care tips. You can visit their website to learn more about the practice.