Your child’s vision is just as important as their overall health, and regular children’s eye exams are an easy way to stay on top of their eyesight. These exams aren’t just about checking their prescription—it’s about catching potential issues before they cause your child any inconvenience.
You should be scheduling your child’s first eye exam around 6 months old, with at least 1 eye exam per year until the age of 18. This way, a professional optometrist can monitor any changes and intervene to let your child keep enjoying clear, comfortable vision for years to come.
Why are Children’s Eye Exams Important?
Children’s eye exams aren’t just about prescriptions—though that is an important part of them! These exams give a trained professional an opportunity to monitor how your child is developing.
Over the years, your child’s eyes are going to go through significant changes. This process continues until early adulthood, and as their eyes develop, there may be all kinds of situations. Blurry vision, poor depth perception, or even muscular development issues can hinder how your child grows.
With more than 80% of your child’s learning being vision-based, eye exams are essential. This way, your optometrist can detect potential issues long before they impact your child’s quality of life. It’s a proactive investment into your child’s future.
What Can be Detected During a Children’s Eye Exam?
During a children’s eye exam, your optometrist will run all kinds of tests. These are designed to catch conditions such as:
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism (an irregular cornea)
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
Meanwhile, an eye exam can also detect signs of more severe health issues. Systemic conditions like diabetes and Sjogren’s syndrome can develop without any obvious signs, but they can be detected through close monitoring of your child’s eyes. This means that regular eye exams can be an excellent way to stay on top of your child’s overall health!
Signs That Your Child Needs an Eye Exam
It’s crucial to keep an eye out for a sign that your child is starting to struggle with their vision. Remember—there’s a good chance they don’t even realize something isn’t right, so try to watch out for:
- Squinting
- Complaints about headaches
- Constant head-tilting
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Poor performance in school
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sensitivity to light
- Closing one eye to see better
These are all signs that your child’s struggling to see clearly and that it’s time to see an optometrist.
When to Book an Eye Exam for a Child
When it comes to your child’s eye health and vision, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t wait for symptoms to start; instead, try to follow a regular schedule so any changes can be closely monitored.
Ideally, you should schedule your child’s first eye exam around 6 months old. This is a key milestone where they’re beginning to build the muscles and skills they’ll use for the rest of their life, so your optometrist will make sure that no problems are present at this point.
Then, annual eye exams are recommended. Over the years, your optometrist can monitor anything unusual and intervene before a problem progresses too far. Even if your child isn’t showing signs of vision issues, annual eye exams are key to making sure their visual system is developing properly!
Have Questions? We Can Help!
So what should you expect during your child’s eye exam? You can expect to see the optometrist use plenty of different equipment. This is perfectly normal; it’s all an essential part of making sure your child is developing properly.
It starts with a quick conversation about your family history. If your child is on any medication or has been complaining about anything unusual, make sure to bring it up here. This information is extremely valuable and helps your optometrist tailor the exam to their unique needs.
Then, the optometrist will test your child’s:
- Visual acuity
- Eye alignment
- Depth perception
- Colour vision
- Eye movement skills
These tests are all non-invasive, and they’re designed to be comfortable for children. If you or your child have any questions, curiosity is always welcome! Feel free to ask about anything that interests you; your child’s comfort is paramount, and any habits built now will follow them for the rest of their lives.
Book Your Child’s Next Eye Exam
Regular eye exams are crucial, and they’re about much more than vision—they’re about keeping your child’s vision clear and their eyes healthy. Here at Eyesis Eyecare, we’re happy to take a look to make sure your child’s vision is developing properly. We’re here to help give your child a clear future, so book an appointment with our team today.
