At What Age Should a Child Go to the Eye Doctor?

At What Age Should a Child Go to the Eye Doctor?

Every experience your child has is an excellent learning opportunity. Children use their vision to explore the world and guide other learning experiences. From ages two to five, your little one will fine-tune the visual skills gained during infancy and develop new abilities. 

As a parent, you want the best for your kids. So, you have the responsibility of scheduling regular pediatric medical exams. Of course, keeping up with the recommendations for eye, dental, and wellness exams is not easy. So, it would help to work with a team of healthcare professionals who will help you stay on schedule, including a reliable pediatric eye doctor.

What Is a Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Exam?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding comprehensive pediatric eye examinations and vision screenings. The latter is a routine test performed in schools or a pediatrician’s office to identify refractive errors. 

Comprehensive pediatric eye exams are more in-depth. Pediatric eye doctors use them to diagnose blocked tear ducts, eye movement disorders, and other conditions that could cause vision loss if left untreated. These include retinopathy of prematurity, pediatric cataracts, and amblyopia. 

Importance of Pediatric Eye Exams

Please do not wait until your children experience eye or vision problems to take them to an eye doctor. Remember that some childhood eye problems can have lifelong consequences. Furthermore, some eye conditions do not cause symptoms in their early stages. 

Regular pediatric eye exams help eye doctors catch minor issues early to prevent them from worsening and becoming harder to treat. Essentially, early eye exams can head off vision-threatening eye problems. 

When to Take Your Child for an Eye Exam

Eye doctors recommend a comprehensive pediatric eye exam by age one and another before kindergarten in kids without evident eye problems. Right after birth, most pediatricians perform a limited eye examination. They assess ocular alignment and look for any abnormalities in the external aspects of the newborn’s eyes. 

However, pediatric eye exams become more important in kids who: 

• Have a parent or sibling with a significant eye problem, such as strabismus or lazy eye.
• Show symptoms of an eye issue.
• Have an eye condition detected by a pediatrician.

Remember that your child may still have a vision or eye problem even if there are no apparent symptoms. 

How to Ensure Your Child Has the Best Pediatric Eye Care 

• Do not hesitate to act if you suspect a problem. Schedule an eye exam immediately before your child starts school.
• Consider your family history. If an eye problem runs in your family, start monitoring it early. 
• Find a pediatric eye doctor with specialized training in diagnosing and treating children.
• Go with your gut. After all, you know your child best. Parents are often the first to spot signs of eye or vision trouble. 

The American Optometric Association recommends the first eye exams around the age of six months. Another exam is necessary at age three, and then another before kids begin kindergarten. Regular eye exams are essential for kids experiencing vision problems that could negatively impact their learning and safety.

For more on pediatric eye care, visit Justice Vision Clinic at our office in Duluth, Georgia. Call (770) 626-7883 to book an appointment today.