First Exam, An Eye Exam: Keeping An Eye On Your Child’s Eye Health
Are you a parent? You might be wondering when to schedule your child’s first eye exam or what warning signs you should be looking for that might indicate a vision problem. 1 in 4 school-aged children have a visual impairment and need basic skills like near and distance vision, peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination, and focusing skills to thrive throughout their crucial learning years.
Our doctors recommend that infants should have their first eye assessment at six months of age. At your baby’s initial appointment, the doctor will be sure each eye focuses, that the eyes are straight and there is no internal eye disease. You can expect your baby’s Midwest Eye Consultants optometrist to test pupil responses and test your baby’s ability to fixate on and follow an object such as light. If you notice that your baby’s eyes are not aligned correctly and don’t move together, or your baby has had an eye injury or physical change that concerns you, please call to schedule an eye exam right away.
Following your baby’s first exam, he or she should be examined annually or according to your Midwest Eye Consultants optometrist’s recommendations. Most childhood eye conditions can be corrected or effectively treated, especially if they are caught early. Your child might have passed a school vision screening, but a comprehensive eye exam is much more thorough. Screenings are intended to catch obvious symptoms while exams provide a complete assessment of eye health.
Here are some warning signs to look for that might indicate your child has a vision problem:
- Loses place while reading
- Avoids close work
- Tends to rub eyes
- Has headaches
- Turns or tilts head
- Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing
- Uses finger to maintain place when reading
- Omits or confuses small words when reading
- Consistently performs below potential
- Struggles to complete homework
- Squints while reading or watching television
- Holds reading material closer than normal
Oh, I didn’t know the first optometrist appointment for babies is at six months. My fiance has had glasses since he was a toddler and I wear glasses too. I think we’ll definitely need to set up eye doctor appointments before our children turn one like you recommended.