As your child prepares for their first years of school, they will need to visit their doctors. Family physicians and pediatricians can make sure that their development is on track, and that there are no issues. One of the appointments you should make is one to an optometrist. Experts estimate that 5-10% of pre-school children and 25% of school-aged children have some kind of difficulty with vision. You’ll need to check your child’s vision for issues which can lead to poor vision later in life.
When should I take my child for an appointment?
Because eye issues can develop early on, you should schedule eye exams when your infant is about six months old. After that, you should take your child for another exam at about age 3 and again before kindergarten. This is if your child does not have specific vision issues or needs extra visits as required by your doctor.
If your child does not have issues after kindergarten, you should take them to an exam every two years. But be aware: children with glasses or contacts will need an annual visit, unless your doctor recommends otherwise.
What will the doctor test for?
While your child is developing and attending school, they’ll need to meet specific vision standards, or to have correction to do so. These basic visual skills will affect their daily life:
- Up-close and distance vision
- Binocular skills
- Eye movement
- Focusing
- Periphery
- Hand/eye coordination
Optometrists will also watch for development of the internal structure of the eye (like the lens and optic nerve) and for any signs of diseases.
Keep in mind that school-based examinations, while helpful in detecting some issues, will not usually conduct all the necessary tests. This leaves some of your child’s vision issues potentially undiscovered and ready to cause issues during school.
Don’t let your child’s vision suffer. Be sure to schedule an eye examination for your children today.