Cincinnati Pediatric Optometry

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 the eyes

• Premature birth

• Developmental delays

• Family history of lazy eye; or thick glasses

Pediatric Vision - Common Questions

My child gets vision screenings at school, isn't that good enough?
No. Many parents believe that school vision screenings (also: eye tests or vision tests) are sufficient care for their children's ocular health. But this is not true. Simple school vision screenings are a good first step for detecting some common problems such as trouble seeing at distance. However, they are typically not performed by people with visual acuity training and may not catch everything, including astigmatism and blurred vision, just to name a few. These tests do not look into the eye to check for undetected eye health issues.

How do Optometrists examine my children’s eyes when they are too young to talk?
An exam by an optometrist includes evaluation of the child’s eye muscle movements, visual behavior, and dilation. The dilation allows the doctor to determine if there is a need for glasses, even if the child is non-verbal. Dilation also allows the pediatric Optometrist to view the structures inside the eyeball to look for abnormalities of the retina or optic nerve.

What if my child needs glasses?
If it is determined that your child needs glasses, our optometrists will write a prescription for eyeglasses and our experienced and licensed opticians can explain spectacle lens options for children and how to wear and care for eyewear.

Can my child wear contact lenses?
Many young patients can begin wearing contact lenses around age 12. Each child is different. Our optometrists can discuss whether contact lenses are a good option for you and your child. Children receive contact lens handling and insertion and removal training to make sure they are comfortable with contact lenses.

What is Pediatric Optometry?
Pediatric optometry refers to the examination of children’s eyes by an optometrist who is trained in evaluating and treating visual disorders. Pediatric Optometrists work closely with pediatric ophthalmologists when a young patient needs medical or surgical treatments. An Optometrist attends post-graduate Optometry school to study optics and visual systems.

Do I Need a Pediatric Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist?
Optometrist's studies make them uniquely qualified to diagnose vision problems and eye disease, as well as to prescribe prescription glasses and contacts, or in some cases, perform visual therapy. An Optometrist is different from an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists' studies generally focus on surgery. An Optometrist can test for color vision deficiency, depth perception, visual acuity, and the health of your child's eyes. They can diagnose eye diseases and problems such as strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye), and provide pre-op and post-op surgical eye care.
We are happy to accept new patients from retiring doctors such as Dr. Susan Szmyd, MD as appropriate. Please call our office to learn if our practice is right for you.

My child gets vision screenings at school, isn't that good enough?

​​​​​​​RealEyes In Classroom Program

Realeyes is a classroom education program created by the Ohio Optometric Association through a grant from the Ohio Department of Health Save Our Sight Fund. Realeyes includes four standardized, interactive, age-appropriate curricula that are presented by volunteer Cincinnati optometrists. Topics covered include eye anatomy, eye safety, and eye disorders. If you teach nearby and would like a Cincinnati Optometrist to visit your classroom, please contact us directly.

Children's Eye Activity & Coloring Pages For Teachers