Children’s Eye Exams

Children’s Eye Exams

Many childhood vision problems have no symptoms, thus a thorough exam is crucial for detection and treatment. We encourage parents to bring children in for at least one eye exam prior to starting kindergarten. It is especially important if the parents or siblings have a history of eye problems.

Children are usually unable to tell their parents if the vision in one or both eyes is abnormal. Amblyopia (lazy eye) may develop if certain visual problems are not treated early in life. The American Optometric Association recommends the first eye exam at 6 months to detect such problems.

Problems to look for in your child include: crossing of the eyes, head tilt, squinting, headaches, eye rubbing, difficulty with near or far activities, skipping lines while reading, loss of place while reading, or double vision.