For children to learn well, they need basic visual skills such as close vision, distance vision, and eye movement skills. It is estimated that 25% of school-aged children and 5% of preschoolers suffer from vision problems.
The American Optometric Association recommends children receive comprehensive eye examinations at six months, three years, and six years. Eye exams should be done every two years after children enter school to check for vision problems or wear of eyeglasses. You can even consult Dr. D’Orio + Associates Eye Care for your child’s eye health.
Children need to be screened early for vision problems and treated promptly. A majority of children will receive their first eye examination from a pediatrician or family doctor. Parents should bring their child to an optometrist or professional ophthalmologist if they suspect that there are problems.
The items of children's eye examinations include vision testing, eyeglasses measurement, alignment testing, and possibly, parent education. After making an appointment with the doctor, parents should complete a case history form regarding their children.
This form will ask about the child's current medication and allergies, as well as their birth weight, full-term issue, pregnancy or delivery complications, and any other pertinent information.
The parents should be able to share with the doctor any eye conditions that their children have, including eye contact problems, frequent eye rubbing, eye contact loss, poor eye tracking, frequent blinks, eye contact problems, and family history.