It’s never too early to start taking care of your eyes, and in the case of children, it’s very important! Pediatric eye care can help diagnose vision problems early on.
Early diagnosis can prevent escalation, improve academics, and increase confidence. This can also instill good eye care habits that will last a lifetime. Before bringing in your child for their first eye appointment, here is an inside look at what to expect.
Our Doctors recommend a comprehensive eye exam by an eye care professional by age 1, to be repeated before kindergarten in children without any evident eye problems.
Kids need their eyesight to be in good condition so that they can experience all that life has to offer. In fact, some studies suggest that as much as 80% of learning is visual. Without proper eye care, a child is at risk of falling behind.
Common symptoms of vision problems include blurry vision, headaches, and bad grades. You should also watch out for difficulty with reading. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, it could be a sign that they are having a hard time seeing.
Dr. Bigheart recommends a comprehensive eye exam by an eye care professional by age 1, to be repeated before kindergarten in children without any evident eye problems.These exams become much more important in children who:
- Have a sibling or a parent with a major eye problem, such as crossed or turned eye(s) (strabismus) or lazy eye (amblyopia)
- Have an eye problem detected by a pediatrician
- Are suspected by parents of having an eye issue
Even if there are no obvious symptoms, your child may still have a problem with his vision, she says.
