Children's Eye Examinations
My father was an ophthalmologist and even so, it took the failing of a school eye exam for my parents to realize that my 11 year old sister needed glasses. Between 5 to 10 percent of preschool kids and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems.1 The earlier that a child's vision problem can be identified, the less likely that long-term complications occur.
A child’s first eye exam is by the age of 6 months and is usually performed by a pediatrician. Parents are usually the first to notice something wrong. If the eyes do not appear to be looking in the same direction or the child seems visually inattentive an appointment should be made with an ophthalmologist. If white is seen in the pupil or in photographs, an urgent appointment should be made.
The next exam should be at about 3 years followed by the State of Illinois required eye exam before starting school.2 For school-aged children, I suggest testing every two years if glasses are not needed. For those with glasses, an exam at least every year is recommended. If the child has grown a lot recently, they may need a change of their glasses sooner.
During an eye examination we test for vision, the ability of the two eyes to work together, whether the eyes are straight and move properly, peripheral awareness and eye health. We love kids of all ages from 2 days to 102 years. Schedule your child’s examination today online or call 312-291-9680!
