Our Optometrists
Our eye doctors provide comprehensive general pediatric Optometry for children of all ages. Our patient and friendly Optometrists enjoy working with kids. Visit our children's eyewear page to learn about eyewear and lenses for kids.1 in 4 children has an undetected vision problem that can interfere with learning. According to research published in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry, there is a significant relationship between undetected vision problems and reading, learning and behavioral difficulties.
Your Child’s Vision
Most people don't think about their childs vision unless they have trouble reading the board at school. After all, young eyes are healthy eyes, right? ?Not necessarily. According to the Vision Council of America, 1 in every 4 children has a vision problem that can interfere with learning and behavior.
If your child hasn't had a comprehensive eye exam, they are not alone. Half of all American children have not had a comprehensive eye exam. Of them, many need glasses and don't even know it. And because 80% of everything children learn comes through their eyes, uncorrected vision problems impact their ability to learn and interact with the world around them.
My child gets vision screenings at school, isn't that good enough?
No. Many parents believe that school vision screenings are sufficient care for their children's eyes. But this is not true. Simple eye checks are good for detecting some common problems such as trouble seeing distance. However, they may not catch everything, including astigmatism and blurred vision, just to name a few.
Children's Vision Development
Infant Vision
As your child grows and develops so will their vision. Your baby's eyes will be checked at birth and during well-baby visits throughout the first year. All babies should receive a infant's eye exam. Babies usually see movement before anything else. Full-term babies should be able to see their mother's facial expression within a week of birth. Color vision and depth perception aren't yet fully developed and eye muscle coordination is also very immature. Babies often have eyes that are turned in, turned out or not working as a team, a condition known as strabismus. If this problem doesn't resolve itself by the age of three or four months, consult an eye doctor.
Preschooler Vision
From ages 3 to 6, your child will be fine-tuning the vision already developed during the infant and toddler years. Older preschoolers are learning how to use sports equipment and working on the fine motor skills needed to write their names. Watch for the warning signs of visual problems, such as sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close, squinting, head tilting, eye rubbing and sensitivity to light. Farsightedness and strabismus are common problems with this age group. However, some problems might not have a sign; only an eye doctor can tell. If your child exhibits no symptoms of a visual problem, he should have a children's eye exam by the age of 3. Having a complete children's eye exam even before the child enters school allows enough time to catch and correct any problems while the visual system is still flexible. If your pre-schooler needs glasses, make sure your child understands why. Explain that he/she needs glasses to see clearly, and give specific examples of the benefits, such as that he'll be able to see the words in his books better or will be able to play catch with his brother because he can now see the ball.
School Aged Children
School-age children should receive a children's eye exam before entering kindergarten and regularly after that if they have no visual problems. If your child requires glasses or contact lenses for refractive errors, schedule visits every 12 months. A vision screening performed by your pediatrician or the school nurse is not a complete eye exam. These vision screenings are designed to alert parents to the possibility of a visual problem and do not take the place of a visit to the eye doctor. Although helpful, studies show that these vision screenings may miss sight-threatening eye conditions.
Warning Signs and Risks for Vision Problems in Children
- Squinting, closing or covering one eye
- Constantly holding materials close to the face
- Tilting the head to one side
- Rubbing eyes repeatedly
- One or both eyes turn in or out
- Redness or tearing in eyesPremature birth
- Developmental delays
- Family history of lazy eye; or thick glasses
- Source: ThinkAboutYourEyes.com
- Source: Checkyearly.com