Pediatric Eye Exams

Eighty percent of what a child learns is through vision.  Good vision is important for child development, safety and education.  It is imperative for children to have comprehensive eye exams, as they may not recognize the symptoms of poor vision or be able to communicate them properly. Many conditions, if not treated at a young age, can result in permanent vision loss.

As a general rule of thumb, VisionFirst recommends eye exams should be conducted as follows:

Newborns – A general vision assessment should take place by a health professional within a day of birth.  If you suspect poor vision in your infant, a more thorough exam should be scheduled.  By the age of four months, babies should begin using both eyes fully.  Signs of poor vision at this time include crossing of eyes, disinterest in familiar faces or age-appropriate toys, eyes that rove, and squinting.

6 Months – A general vision screening should take place at this time.  If there are concerns about eye health or a family history of eye problems, a comprehensive exam should be conducted. We participate in the Infantsee Program, providing a free comprehensive eye exam for children less than 12 months regardless of insurance or income. Call our office for an appointment

Ages 3 to 19 – Eye screenings every one to two years based on your doctors recommendation to check for possible vision problems, including strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), ptosis (dropping of the upper eyelid), and refractive errors (nearsighted, farsighted, etc.).

Eye Protection for Kids

Children and adolescents are often more physically active than adults.  This increases their chance of eye injuries.  For this reason, we recommend that kids wear goggles or protective eyewear when participating in sports and activities involving contact with others or with equipment.  A wide variety of such eyewear is available at our Trussville optical.  Ask us for recommendations.