The first eye examination for children is recommended by six months of age and again by three years of age, before entering school and yearly thereafter or as recommended by your Optometrist. Remember, as our bodies change and develop, so do our eyes. Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-age children, according to Prevent Blindness America(R).
Look for signs such as eye rubbing, tired eyes, headaches, burning or red eyes, frequent eye infections, favoring one eye, tipping or turning the head to one side or covering one eye with a hand. Other signs may include following along their reading with a finger, not comprehending what they read or getting frustrated when trying to accomplish homework tasks. Sometimes children who are struggling in school may have a problem with their vision. Sometimes, like with my own daughter, Elisa, there were no complaints or symptoms. However, she has been wearing glasses from the age of 9 months.
If vision problems are left untreated, they can lead to a permanent loss of vision. This can jeopardize the career paths that our children will take later in life. It is critical to diagnose and treat problems as early as possible.
How do Optometrists perform childrens’ eye examinations? We perform eye exams on infants with special equipment to understand their eye alignment and know how well their eyes are functioning as a team, check the prescription for glasses if necessary and check their eye health. As children grow older, they can participate in their eye exam by looking at pictures and can help to determine their visual acuity with fun eye charts. Optometrists can also test for color vision deficiencies. Most children will tolerate glasses well, if they are needed.
When you make an appointment for your child with an Optometrist, make sure you pick a time of day when your child is alert and not hungry or tired. Eye exams are usually quick and painless for children. You can try to prepare them for their scheduled appointment by mentioning them and explaining that they will see a nice doctor who is going to check their eyes with some neat lights.
For more information, please call Dr. Carol Aivazian of 20/20 Optometric Eye Care at 661-287-3939.