Pediatric 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 which may affect their overall quality of life.

When To Perform A Pediatric Eye Exam?

Parents are often surprised to know that according to the American Optometric Association, a child should have an initial screening 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 their eyes develop.

At Eyediology, Dr. Jennifer Burke, OD is known valley-wide for her caring and gentle approach to examining the littlest of patients. A child's first exam, when performed between 6-12 months of age, 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, and 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 design and thus vision capabilities can be assessed. Refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) are assessed to ensure your child's eyesight is within developmental norms for their age. Dr. Burke will likely use eye drops to relax their focusing muscles to ensure accurate measurements and to enlarge the pupils to give a view to the internal structures of the eyes. Dr. Burke ensures this process is relaxed and fun for your infant, explaining every test as she goes through the exam with you and your child

For a Preschooler, between the ages of 3 and 3½, a child’s vision and eye health should be re-assessed. At this age, most children will be able to identify pictures and have their visual acuity assessed, along with depth perception, color perception and accommodative (focusing) ability. Dr. Burke will also use several objective methods to check for refractive error and eye health. Dr. Burke utilizes the latest in technology and child-friendly tools to ensure your child is comfortable and enjoys coming to the eye doctor. 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 screened to ensure their eyes are working as efficiently as possible in a learning environment. In this age group, nearsightedness (myopia) is the most common refractive error and can be corrected with eyeglasses. All of our providers are experienced in seeing the school- age population and take the time to go over how to be proactive about your child's eye health.
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There may be signs that parents can 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, or losing their place when reading. As well as 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 by turning their head helps the child see better.

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