When to See an Optometrist for Kids Eyeglasses

Kids eyeglasses might be needed if your child’s vision needs to be corrected. An optometrist can help diagnose and treat your child’s vision so it does not limit their development and growth.

Visual skills that children need to learn include comfortable and accurate eye teaming, excellent visual acuity at all distances, and precise eye movement. Lacking in any of these areas can affect a child’s academic performance and jeopardize their safety.

Figuring out if your child needs kids eyeglasses

Optometrists recommend bringing children in for their first eye examination by the time that they are six months old. While they might be too young to need kids eyeglasses at that point, early examinations can give optometrists a chance to detect potential problems before they start to hinder the child’s vision.

Children should get another comprehensive eye exam when they reach three years of age, then another right before starting the first grade (around the ages of five or six). Getting these series of tests enables the optometrist to assess the child’s progression as their eyes grow. Eyeglasses can be prescribed for the child before they start the first grade, so their vision problems do not affect their performance in the classroom.

Children should continue getting eye tests every two years or so if they do not have any vision problems that need to be corrected. Children who have been diagnosed with vision issues should be tested yearly to monitor their condition. Signs that your child might need to have their vision corrected include:

• Short attention span
• Regularly rubbing their eyes or squinting
• Sitting too close to the TV
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Poor eye-to-hand coordination
• Lack of interest in visual activities, like puzzles and coloring books

Testing

Optometrists can test the vision of children by observing their ability to track an object as it moves. A child should be able to do this with ease by the time that they are three months old. The optometrist can also perform "preferential looking" tests. These involve using blank cards that have stripes on their backs to attract the child’s gaze. These tests enable the optometrist to observe the child’s vision without using a typical eye chart. Other tests that are often used to evaluate children include:

• LEA symbols: These are like standard eye test charts, but instead of using letters, the chart uses shapes and symbols instead
• Retinoscopy: This involves shining a light into the child’s eye to observe how it reflects on the retina; it can be used to detect issues like lens clouding
• Random do stereopsis: These tests use 3D glasses and unique patterns to measure how well a child’s eyes work together

Eyeglasses can restore your child’s vision

Poor vision can hinder a child’s ability to observe the world and learn at the most crucial time of their life. That can lead to various issues that last a lifetime. Our optometrist can help prevent that from happening. Give us a call or visit our Carmi clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.carmieyecare.com or call Carmi Eye Care at (618) 374-0513 for an appointment in our Carmi office.

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