Pediatric Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are important for children since their eyes can change significantly in as little as a year as the muscles and tissue develop. Good eyesight is critical for a child’s life and achievements since success in school is closely tied to eye health. School demands intense visual involvement, including reading, writing, using computers, and blackboard/smartboard work. Even physical activities and sports require strong vision. If their eyes aren’t up to the task, a child may feel tired, have trouble concentrating, have problems in school or have difficulty playing their favorite games which may affect their overall quality of life.

When to Perform a Pediatric Eye Exam?

According to the American Optometric Association, children should have their first eye exam around their first birthday, another around age three, and then prior to starting kindergarten.  More frequent visits are necessary if there are any abnormalities on any exam.

The first eye health examination should be done on infants between six months and their first birthday. This examination includes tests of pupil responses to evaluate whether the pupil opens and closes properly in the presence or absence of light, a fixate and follow test to determine whether the baby can fixate on an object such as a light and follow it as it moves, and dilated eye examination to ensure that the eyes are healthy and assess the refractive error.

For preschoolers, it is very important to make sure visual development occurs appropriately.  If the child is diagnosed with misaligned eyes (strabismus), "lazy eye” (amblyopia), refractive errors (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) or any other focusing problems, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible to ensure successful vision correction and life-long benefits.

Prior to starting school and then as recommended by the doctor, children’s eyes should be assessed closely for visual acuity, alignment, refractive error, and ocular health. There are binocular vision and eye movement disorders that can affect how children learn. Nearsightedness (myopia) also commonly occurs in school age children and myopia management interventions can help prevent children’s vision from worsening significantly.

There are some signs that parents can tell if their child has a vision problem. For example, parents may notice their child’s eyes cross, squint, or one eye closes. Some less obvious signs that may indicate vision problems may include quickly losing interest in games, projects, or activities that require using the eyes for an extended amount of time, losing place when reading, or avoidance of reading and other near tasks.

Most of the time parents cannot tell whether their child is having any difficulty with their vision.  Children typically don’t complain about how they see since they don’t know any different.  Just by watching their child or asking if they can see something far away, parents cannot tell whether an eye is being ignored or if their child is using both eyes together appropriately. 

That’s why it is so important for kids to have regular eye screenings with an optometrist. The earlier a vision problem is found and treated, the better off your child will be both in and out of school.