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?

A child’s initial exam takes place between 6 and 12 months of age. If all findings are normal, the next eye exam occurs between the ages of 3 and 4 years, and again at age 5-6 years old, when entering Kindergarten. Once school aged, routine eye health and vision exams throughout childhood should be performed yearly in order to help detect any abnormalities as their eyes develop. 
 

InfantSEE

Our doctors participate with InfantSEE, a public health program, managed by Optometry Cares - The American Optometric Foundation. This is a no cost program available to all infants between the ages of 6-12 months, regardless of family income or access to insurance coverage. During this visit, the doctor will examine your infant’s visual system to assure they are meeting age-appropriate stages of visual development. Your child’s eye health will also be evaluated. This assessment is a more thorough examination than what is available at a vision screening or pediatrician’s office. Our doctor’s proudly provide this service to the community, so we may detect problems early and ensure our youngest patients have the opportunity to develop the visual abilities required to thrive.

Preschool/School Aged Children

As your child grows, each eye exam will assess your child’s visual acuity, eye alignment and eye health. Your child will be examined for misaligned eyes (strabismus), "lazy eye” (amblyopia), refractive errors (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) or any other focusing problems. If any concerns are found, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible to ensure successful vision correction and life-long benefits.