You care about your child’s health and well-being. You take them to the doctor, dentist, and other specialists regularly. But do you also take them to the eye doctor for routine eye exams?

Many parents neglect pediatric eye exams, thinking their child’s vision is fine or that they will outgrow any problems. However, this can be a dangerous mistake that can affect your child’s development, learning, and quality of life.


 

Benefits of Pediatric Eye Exams

Some of the benefits of pediatric eye exams are:
 

Early Identification of Vision Problems

Pediatric eye exams can identify vision problems hindering your child’s learning, reading, writing, sports, and social skills. For example, lazy eye, crossed eyes, astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and color blindness can impair your child’s focus, clarity, shape and color recognition, and eye coordination.

 

 

Prevention of Vision Loss or Blindness

Pediatric eye exams can protect your child’s eyes from diseases that can cause severe damage or blindness if not treated. For example, glaucoma, cataracts, eye cancer, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are some eye diseases that can affect children and require early care.


 

 

Reduced Risk of Eye Health Complications

Eye infections, allergies, injuries, and other complications can harm your child’s eyes or cause discomfort. For example, pink eye, eyelid inflammation, styes, dry eyes, foreign objects, scratches, burns, and chemical exposure are common eye problems that affect children and need prompt treatment.

 

 

Easier Monitoring of Eye Health

Eye exams can track your child’s eye health and development over time and give guidance on how to protect and care for their eyes. For example, your eye doctor can help you choose the proper eyewear for your child and prevent eyestrain from digital devices. Eye exams can also help your little one avoid eye injuries from sports or toys and recognize the signs of vision problems or eye diseases.

 

 

When Should Your Child Have an Eye Exam?

The AOA says children should get a full eye exam at six months, three years, and before school. After that, your young one should have an annual eye exam or as frequently as your eye doctor suggests.

However, your child may need more frequent or specialized eye exams if they have the following:

• A family history of eye problems or diseases

• A developmental delay or disability

• Premature birth or low birth weight

• Any signs or symptoms of vision problems or eye diseases

Signs or Symptoms of Vision Problems or Eye Diseases in Children

 

• Squinting, rubbing, blinking, or closing one eye

• Tilting or turning their head to see better

• Holding objects too close or too far from their eyes

• Complaining of headaches, eye pain, blurred vision, double vision, or seeing spots

• Having trouble reading, writing, spelling, or doing math

• Losing interest in schoolwork or hobbies

• Avoiding books, computers, or other visual tasks

• Having difficulty following moving objects or catching a ball

• Having poor hand-eye coordination or balance

• Showing sensitivity to light or tearing excessively

• Having redness, swelling, discharge, crustiness, or drooping of the eyelids

If you see any of these signs or symptoms in your child, book an eye exam as soon as possible.
 

Conclusion

Routine pediatric eye exams are essential for your child’s vision and overall health. Visiting the pediatric eye doctor regularly can help your child see better and feel more comfortable. You can also avoid or fix vision problems or eye diseases and boost their learning and development.

For more information on pediatric eye exams, visit Perfect Vision Eyecare and Eyewear at our office in Houston, Texas. Call or text (281) 843-5500 to schedule an appointment today.