Children and Teen Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are important for children since their eyes can change significantly in as little as a year as the muscles and tissue develop. Good eyesight is critical for a child’s life and achievements since success in school is closely tied to eye health. School demands intense visual involvement, including reading, writing, using computers, and blackboard/smartboard work. Even physical activities and sports require strong vision. If their eyes aren’t up to the task, a child may feel tired, have trouble concentrating, have problems in school, or have difficulty playing their favorite games, affecting their overall quality of life.
 

When to Perform a Pediatric Eye Exam?

According to research, a child should have an initial eye exam between 6 and 12 months of age. After that, routine eye health and vision screenings throughout childhood should be performed in order to help detect any abnormalities as the eyes develop. 

For a newborn, an optometrist should examine the baby’s eyes and perform a test called “red reflex test” which is a basic check for severe eye conditions. In the 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.

A second eye health examination should be done to infants between six months and the first birthday. 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, 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, a Hirshberg test which utilizes the corneal light reflex to assess eye alignment, retinoscopy which allows the doctor to determine the refractive error of the infant by observing the reflection of the retina, and a dilated eye exam to evaluate for vision-threatening eye diseases.

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 thoroughly examined including an evaluation of visual acuity, refractive error, eye alignment, eye teaming, depth perception, eye focusing, tracking, and ocular health. In this age group, nearsightedness (myopia) is the most common refractive error and can be corrected with eyeglasses.
 

There are some signs that allow parents to 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, losing their place when reading, or 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 turning their head helps the child see better.

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