Pediatric Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are important for children as success in school can be closely tied to eye health. Good eyesight is critical to a child’s development as school and extracurricular activities are very visually demanding. Aside from measuring vision, it is important to run tests to make sure both eyes are healthy, working together, and focusing the appropriate amount to reduce the risk of headaches, eyestrain, and double vision.

When to Perform a Pediatric Eye Exam?

According to AOA research, a child should have an initial screening between 6 and 12 months of age.  A child should have one comprehensive eye exam between the ages of 3 and 5 to check for any conditions that could have long-term effects. Then, unless otherwise recommended, they should have an annual eye exam starting before first grade.

At Bayside Eyecare, we are accepting patients starting as young as age 3. Click here to learn more about scheduling a  free infant-see exam for any child under the age of 12 months.

For a newborn, an optometrist should examine the baby’s eyes and perform a test called “red reflex test” which is a basic indicator that the eyes are normal. In a case that the baby is premature or at high risk for medical problems for other reasons, has signs of abnormalities, or has a family history of serious vision disorders in childhood, the optometrist should perform a comprehensive exam.

This examination includes tests of pupil responses to evaluate whether the pupil opens and closes properly in the presence or absence of light, a fixate and follow test to determine whether the baby can fixate on an object such as a light and follow it as it moves, and a preferential looking test which uses cards that are blank on one side with stripes on the other side to attract the gaze of an infant to the stripes and thus vision capabilities can be assessed. Infants should be able to perform this task well by the time they are 3 months old.

For a Preschooler, between the ages of 3 and 3½, a child’s visual acuity and eye alignment should be assessed. If the child is diagnosed with misaligned eyes (strabismus), "lazy eye” (amblyopia), refractive errors (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) or any other focusing problems, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible to ensure successful vision correction and life-long benefits.

At School age or upon entering school, the child’s eyes should be screened for visual acuity and alignment. In this age group, nearsightedness (myopia) is the most common refractive error and can be corrected with eyeglasses.
 

There are some signs that parents can tell if their child has a vision problem. For example, the child may squint, hold reading materials very close to their face, or complain about things appearing blurry. However, there are some less obvious signs that may indicate vision problems, such as having a short attention span, quickly losing interest in games, projects or activities that require using their eyes for an extended period of time, or losing their place when reading. As well as choosing to avoid reading, drawing, playing games or doing other projects that require focusing up close. Another sign is that a child may turn his or her head to the side when looking at something in front of them. This may be a sign of a refractive error, including astigmatism, so by turning their head helps the child see better.

That’s why it is so important for kids to have regular eye screenings with an optometrist. The earlier a vision problem is found and treated, the better off your child will be in and out of school.