There is some debate within the medical profession regarding when a child should first get an eye exam. Some doctors recommend that infants should receive an eye exam. However, this mostly occurs due to the physical appearance of the eyes, such as cross-eyed conditions. The reality is that experts believe that at least 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers have vision trouble. Studies also show that up to 25 percent of school-aged children experience vision trouble as well. Early diagnoses of vision problems is crucial. Conditions which are left untreated can cause permanent vision loss, in some cases.
One of the reasons why it is so important for children to get an eye exam at a younger age, is because it can eliminate other problems. In the past, students in school have been incorrectly diagnosed with learning disabilities. Many of these children do not have a learning disability, and in actuality they have problems with their vision. Children place a lot of importance on being social accepted within their peer group. As a result, some children might be hesitant to admit that they have trouble seeing what their teacher’s present to the class. Perceived deficits in reading ability might actually be a sign that your child cannot read fine print. An eye exam could save your child from the embarrassment of being labelled as learning disabled.
If you are concerned about the cost associated with getting your child’s eyes checked, then you need to consider taking them to Optical Express. Optical Express provides free eye exams for children. They recognize how important it is to diagnose, and then to treat vision problems early in the child’s life. As mentioned, early detection is the best method for eliminating future problems. This allows you to make arrangements to treat the problem before it becomes worse over time. There are many painless procedural steps that your doctor can suggest to help your child to see much more clearly.
The process for eye exams for children follow a similar protocol across different age levels. During your child’s first year, your doctor will conduct exams which test for a variety of vision problems. Doctors test for farsightedness, nearsightedness, proper eye alignment, astigmatism and the eye’s reaction to both light, and dark situations. Older children might be asked to identify numbers, shapes or letters as a part of their exam. These tests are particularly useful to determining whether or not a child is suffering from nearsightedness or farsightedness. One common condition which effects children is called Amblyopia, otherwise known as “lazy eye.” The good news is that this condition can be reversed with treatment, but only if it is detected early.
Eye exams for children are extremely important. Your child needs to be able to access several different visual skills to promote learning as they grow. There are even some places within the United States and elsewhere in the world, in which child eye exams are required before they attend school for the first time. This is a smart practice because it can set your child up for success, as opposed to failure. Family doctors and pediatricians are usually the first types of doctors who will examine the eyes of your child. From this point they can refer the child to an optometrist if they see the need for further evaluation and treatment.
Once you decide to schedule your child’s eye exam, take care to pick a time during the morning hours. It is always a good idea to schedule your child’s eye appointment when he or she is most alert. The age of your child often determines the more specific steps of the exam. Typically doctors will conduct a case history examination and vision screening. Case history information deals with facts surrounding the birth of the child, and it assesses birth weight and other factors as well.
It is important to report to your doctor any abnormalities that you might perceive in relation to your child’s eyes. Constant eye rubbing, refusal to make eye contact, lack of fixation on objects and poor tracking skills are all indicators that something good be wrong with his or her vision. Sometimes a failed vision screening is not enough to get to the root cause of most vision problems in children, so it is up to the parents to be vigilant and to report any potential issues.
Eye exams for children should be considered to be just as important as any other medical exam. You children’s eyes are perhaps the most important tool that they use to learn from the world around them. Failure to treat vision problems early on can impede the child’s learning. Children are able to learn and retain information much more easily when they are younger. Getting an eye exam for your children is the best way to ensure that they have a bright future ahead of them.
Sandy Halliday is a writer and content producer for Optical Express, Europe’s leading provider of eyecare services and refractive laser eye surgery.
