By Dr. Tiffany Jones
As babies and young children’s eyes grow, it is important to watch their eye health. This helps prevent eye problems later in life. While vision screenings can find some problems as kids grow, a question many parents have is when to take a child for a full eye exam with an pediatric eye doctor?
Vision screenings are not as detailed as a full eye exam. Vision screenings can be done by any trained healthcare provider. In contrast, an eye exam is performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Vision screenings are typically conducted with newborns, at 6-12 months, and at 12-36 months. In some cases, your child’s preschool may conduct vision screenings.
These tests often include a red reflex test. This test checks if a red reflex appears when a bright light shines in the eyes, similar to the flash from a camera. Other tests check pupil dilation, alignment, and if the tear ducts are working properly.
If these tests return abnormal results, your child may be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist as they could indicate problems such as amblyopia, strabismus, or refractive errors that may worsen as the eyes continue to develop.
The youngest member of your family may have difficulty communicating when they are experiencing eye concerns, so it is important to watch out for common behaviors that could indicate eyesight troubles. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, parents should watch out for these behaviors and consider scheduling an appointment with a pediatric eye doctor if they begin noticing them.
If you notice that your child is experiencing some of the above behaviors, it is recommended to schedule an appointment with a pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist sooner rather than later.
Our team of compassionate eye doctors are here for you and your children with their first eye exam. We have a team of 6 highly experienced doctors specializing in pediatric eye care.
Click the button below to schedule an appointment online or call us at 678.892.2020.
Tiffany Jones, OD is a board-licensed comprehensive optometrist specializing in pediatrics serving patients at our Gwinnett location. She offers a range of services including comprehensive eye exams with prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses, and treatment of various ocular conditions such as dry eye disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease, among others.
American Optometric Associations (AOA): Preschool Vision: 2 to 5 Years of Age
American Academy of Opthalmology: 20 Things to Know About Children’s Vision
American Academy Ophthalmology: Four Hidden Signs of Vision Problems in Kids
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Child Eye Problems Parents Should Never Ignore
