Why Kids Need Eye Exams

Getting your child’s eyes checked regularly will help prevent vision problems. If you suspect that your child may have vision difficulties, you need to schedule an eye exam. A pediatric eye doctor performs the exam, which is an assessment of the child’s vision and eye health.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists have the tools and training to perform comprehensive evaluations of kids’ eyes. It is helpful to know why kids need eye exams.

Vision and Learning

There is a vital link between vision and learning. Performing visual tasks effectively and seeing clearly are vital for the child’s education. Good eyesight also helps with athletic performance and social development.

Almost 80 percent of learning is visual, and poor vision can affect a child’s ability to participate in different activities. A child needs good eyesight to see the class board clearly, write assignments, and read textbooks.

Unidentified Visual Issues

It is not too difficult to identify signs of myopia or nearsightedness. However, some vision issues are less obvious. It may be hard to detect farsightedness or astigmatism without an eye exam.

Other issues that may go unidentified without testing include visual perception, color blindness, and hand-eye coordination. Issues with essential binocular vision skills such as tracking, teaming, and focusing can impact learning if not treated. Eye exams help identify eye issues.

Undiagnosed Vision Problems

Children may not understand what good vision “looks like” as they only have their short experience to go by. It means they may be suffering from eyesight problems without knowing it. They may think that pictures are supposed to look blurred. They may not know why their eyes hurt after focusing on work for a while.

People often misdiagnose eyesight problems as learning disorders due to similar symptoms. Eye exams can help diagnose vision problems and ensure prompt treatment.

Signs of Eye Conditions

Eyesight issues are not obvious, especially for young kids who cannot communicate clearly. Some issues can be spotted easily, especially for premature births, but others are more subtle. Signs such as difficulty reading, a short attention span, fidgeting, frequent headaches, and frequent blinking can indicate eye problems.

If your child is constantly covering one eye or rubs his eyes excessively, it could indicate an eye issue. Delayed motor development, failed eye exams, and making minimal eye contact can be signs of eye conditions.

Conditions That Eye Exams Look For

Regular pediatric eye exams look for a wide range of eye conditions. They include myopia, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus, ptosis, or drooping eyelids. A child’s first exam should be at six months old. The next appointment should be at three years; if everything looks good, the next one should be before starting school.

If your child does not require vision correction, you should schedule eye exams every two years. Children who need vision correction should get annual eye exams.

Getting regular eye exams will give your child a good start in life. The eye doctor can identify vision disorders or rule them out. Doctors can treat many eye problems successfully when they catch them early. The eye doctor will determine the frequency of eye exams for your child depending on his visual condition.

For more reasons kids need regular eye exams, call Okaloosa Eye Care at (850) 608-0003 to reach our office in Crestview, Florida.