50% OFF frames with purchase of lenses.
*Restrictions apply. Click here for details.
What to Know About Going to a Kids' Eye Doctor
When you have concerns about your child's vision, whether their eye alignment isn’t straight or they experience an eye injury while playing, your pediatrician may recommend you make an appointment with a kids' eye doctor. Because kids are generally healthy, you may not have anticipated the need to visit a specialist for your child, not even an eye doctor. But managing your child's eye health is important.
If your child can't make out the words printed in a textbook or see what the teacher writes on the board, they may have trouble learning at school. Eye injuries that are left untreated may cause long-term vision and learning problems. Here's what you should know about what to expect from a kids' eye exam at EyeCare Associates.
What You Can Expect at a Kids’ Eye Exam
Younger children who are unable to read may need to identify pictures instead of letters during vision screenings. The eye doctor may have your child look at moving images on a computer monitor or use handheld devices to assess their eye function. They may also test your child's vision with interactive play, holding up a toy so that your child can track it as the doctor moves it around.
Your child may or may not need drops to dilate their eyes during an exam. The doctor may use smaller, less intimidating tools to check your child's vision, such as a handheld, wand-size retinoscope instead of the larger phoropter that adults look through.
Kids' eye doctors also screen children for various eye conditions that could affect their vision as they grow. The pediatric eye doctors at EyeCare Associates perform a variety of these tests to ensure that all parts of your child's vision are tested. Proper vision care from a young age sets your eyes to be healthy throughout your life.
Dr. Amanda Bissell discusses why it's important for your kids to get eye exams, when you should take them to the doctor, and what to expect during a kid's eye exam.
Why You Should Take Your Child to See a Pediatric Eye Doctor
All children should receive a vision screening from either a pediatrician or an eye doctor before their first birthday, between the ages of 3 and 5, and again at age 5. Children who were born prematurely may have vision issues and may also need a comprehensive eye exam from a kids' eye doctor.
Often, these regular screenings can be completed by a pediatrician. Sometimes, though, a pediatrician may recommend that you take your child to an eye doctor after they screen your child's vision during a wellness visit. EyeCare Associates specializes in pediatric eye care that can't be performed in a standard check-up.
If you notice your child seems unable to see things that are close or far away, it's worth mentioning to your pediatrician, who may suggest that you see an eye doctor. A school nurse may also recommend you make an appointment with an eye doctor after a vision screening at school. Other times, teachers may tell parents that students squint when looking at the board.
A pediatrician may refer your child to an eye doctor for other reasons, including a lazy eye (amblyopia) or a family history of vision problems. Kids with diabetes should see an eye doctor annually to keep tabs on their eye health, since diabetes complications may cause vision problems. It is also important for your child to see an eye doctor anytime they injure an eye.
Kids’ Eye Exam Schedule by Age
Children’s vision changes quickly as they grow. Regular vision checks can help identify concerns early, especially because children may not realize their vision is blurry or different from normal. The right schedule depends on your child’s age, symptoms, health history, family history, and whether they have passed or failed previous vision screenings.
Newborn to 12 Months: During early well-child visits, a pediatrician may check your baby’s eye appearance, pupil response, eye movement, visual behavior, and red reflex. Babies may be referred for a more complete eye exam if they do not track well after about 3 months, have an abnormal red reflex, or have a family history of certain serious childhood eye conditions.
12 to 26 Months: Toddlers may have age-appropriate vision checks, including visual behavior, eye alignment, pupil response, red reflex testing, photoscreening, or other instrument-based screening. If a child has eye crossing, chronic tearing or discharge, or fails photoscreening, a comprehensive eye exam may be recommended.
Ages 3 to 5: Preschool is an important time to check for vision problems that can affect learning and visual development. Kids 3-5 should get a vision screening at least once to help detect amblyopia, also called lazy eye, or its risk factors.
Age 5 and Older: School-age children should continue having regular eye exams, especially as reading, classroom work, sports, and screen use increase. Completing an eye exam every 1 to 2 years after age 5 is recommended.
Vision Screening vs. Comprehensive Eye Exam
A vision screening is a quick check to identify children who may have a vision problem. A comprehensive eye exam is a more detailed evaluation performed by an eye care provider to diagnose eye conditions, check eye health, and determine whether treatment is needed.
Vision screenings are helpful because they can identify children who may need more testing. Screenings can happen at schools, doctors’ offices, or in the community, but a more in-depth exam is recommended when there are concerns about vision, eye alignment, or how the eyes look.
A child may still need a comprehensive eye exam even after passing a screening if they have symptoms such as squinting, headaches, trouble reading, eye rubbing, eye pain, or eyes that appear crossed or misaligned. A full exam gives the eye doctor more information about how your child sees, how the eyes work together, and whether the eyes are healthy.
What Tests Are Done During a Pediatric Eye Exam?
A pediatric eye exam is designed to check your child’s vision, eye coordination, focusing ability, and eye health. The exact tests may depend on your child’s age, symptoms, attention span, and whether they can read letters or describe what they see.
Common pediatric eye exam tests may include:
Visual Acuity Test: Checks how clearly your child can see. Older children may read letters from an eye chart, while younger children may identify shapes, pictures, or matching symbols.
Refraction Test: Determines whether your child needs glasses. This test checks for common focusing problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. For younger children, the doctor may use special instruments to estimate the prescription even if the child cannot answer questions clearly.
Retinoscopy: Helps the eye doctor estimate a child’s glasses prescription by shining a light into the eye and observing how the light reflects back. This can be especially useful for babies, toddlers, and children who are not able to respond during a traditional “which is better, one or two?” vision test.
Eye Alignment Test: Checks whether both eyes are pointing in the same direction and working together. This can help identify strabismus, which is when one or both eyes cross, turn out, or drift.
Eye Movement Test: Checks how well your child’s eyes move from side to side, up and down, and while following a target. This helps the doctor evaluate tracking, coordination, and how the eyes work together.
Pupil Response Test: Checks how the pupils react to light. This gives the doctor information about the health and function of the eyes and visual system.
How to Find a Kid-Friendly Eye Doctor
Some eye doctors who treat children have received extra training. Pediatric ophthalmologists have graduated from medical school, completed a residency in ophthalmology, and completed a fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology. Pediatric optometrists have graduated from optometry school and completed a residency in pediatric optometry.
You can ask your pediatrician or health insurance company for eye doctor recommendations. If your friends' children wear glasses, you may want to ask them to refer you to someone they like.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kids’ Eye Exams
Schedule a Kid's Exam Today
A kids’ eye exam is an essential part of ensuring your child is happy, healthy, and set up for success. EyeCare Associates is staffed with doctors ready to help your child see clearly. We even have specialists in vision therapy in a few locations! Find a location near you and schedule an appointment for your child today.