Childhood Eye Exams: What Parents Should Know
Childhood Eye Exams: What Parents Should Know
It's your child's first eye exam. Will she need eyeglasses? Will her eye doctor give her a good prognosis? Parents of children ranging from preschoolers to school-age children ask their child's pediatrician these same questions. The key is to find a board-certified pediatrician or pediatric ophthalmologist who can check your child's vision and help give you peace of mind.
Remember that appropriate vision testing at an early age is vital to insure your child has the visual skills he or she needs to perform well in school.
A child who is unable to see, print or view a blackboard can become easily frustrated, leading to poor academic performance. Some vision problems, such as lazy eye, are best treated if they are detected and corrected as early as possible while the child's vision system is still developing
The Virtues of Routine Childhood Eye Exams
In the first year of your child's life, the pediatric ophthalmologist, pediatrician or family doctor will check for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, eye movement ability, proper eye alignment and any general eye problems. Routine eye exams throughout your child's life are extremely important. Five to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. Early identification of a child's vision problem can be crucial because children often are more responsive to treatment when problems are diagnosed early.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Children then should have additional eye exams at age 3, and just before they enter the first grade at about age 5 or 6.
For school-aged children, the AOA recommends an eye exam every two years if no vision correction is required. In-school screenings are helpful but do not substitute for an eye exam. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or as recommended by their optometrist or pediatricophthalmologist.
Warning Signs
If you suspect your child has a vision problem, be sure to check these signs:
Sit too close to the TV screen or hold objects unnaturally close to focus on them.
Squint or tilt their head to see well.
Have crossed eyes," or one eye that appears to drift to one side.
Have persistent redness or "pink eyes."
Pediatric Optometrist or Pediatric Ophthalmologist?
Should your child be examined by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist? What are the differences between the two doctors? Knowing the two types can help.
Both types of eye doctors examine and prescribe glasses, diagnose and treat eye disease, and can evaluate how well a person uses the eyes together. However, each profession is unique.
Ophthalmologists are trained to do surgery. Optometrists are trained in the developmental (behavioral, functional or environmental) aspects of vision. Optometrists may use lenses, prisms and vision therapy to enhance and improve visual function. These treatments may even improve children's academic and other abilities.
Preparing Your Child for an Eye Exam
Take the time to explain to your child what will happen during her eye exam. Make sure your child knows that she will be asked to look at and identify objects for the eye doctor. These could be pictures, letters, or shapes of light on the wall. Explain also that the eye doctor may put drops in her eyes, but that it will not hurt. Eye drops may sting a bit but only for a moment. Be honest with your child and work with your doctor to reassure your child.
How Eyeglasses Can Help
By providing clearer images to the brain, glasses help visual development and may potentially prevent eye disorders such as amblyopia, also known as lazy eye.
As many as three out of 100 children have some degree of vision impairment linked to amblyopia. Amblyopia is a leading cause of unilateral vision loss in children and young adults.
Talk to Your Pediatrician
Pediatricians would likely agree that parents who take an active role in their child's health can help prevent many health conditions, including eye disorders.
Good vision is essential for a growing child's proper development and educational success. For example, when examined and treated by age 8, children with amblyopia have a good chance of achieving normal vision.
If you notice anything unusual about your child's eye health, talk to your child's pediatrician. A pediatrician is trained to screen for vision problems and will usually refer your child to a pediatric ophthalmologist if needed.
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