Pediatric Eye Exams
A child’s vision can affect many parts of their life. It can make school difficult and even unbearable. It can also cause safety concerns and impact their self-esteem. Ensuring your child’s vision is up to par is an essential step towards having happy, healthy children. Our optometrists at Bright Eyes Vision Clinic in Murphy and Plano are here to help maintain and improve your child’s vision every step of the way.
Why Pediatric Eye Exams Matter
When you take your child in for a physical, the pediatrician will have a vision screening performed. While these screenings serve a purpose, they can only determine whether your child needs an eye doctor. These screenings are no replacement for a comprehensive eye exam. It is imperative that you take your child to an eye doctor for a full eye exam. We can test for things that a regular screening does not.
- Eye doctors can test visual acuity at all distances.
- We can determine if the eyes are working together well and comfortably.
- We can track the child’s eye movements, ensuring they are accurate.
Additionally, if our eye doctors notice any weaknesses or vision issues, we can determine the correct tools and prescription necessary to treat them.
What Age Should Children Start Having Eye Exams?
Eye exams should begin shortly after birth. While exams at this time are not necessarily comprehensive, they can point out any potential issues. If the eye doctor notices anything that may be troublesome, a more thorough examination will follow.
For the first four years of life, an exam should be done about every six months to a year. At school age, it is crucial to receive an exam yearly, preferably before the start of school. This way, you can address any issues before the student suffers while completing school work.
Risk Factors
While every child needs regular eye exams, some are at higher risk of vision problems. For example, children who attend daycare are at risk of catching viral infections being passed around, some of which can affect their vision. Additionally, those with special needs, who were born premature, or have a family history involving vision problems are at a higher risk.