Posts Tagged → family doctor
When Do Children Need to Have Their Eyes Examined?
Parents with preschoolers have asked me when they should schedule their first eye exam?
It is very important for children as young as 6 months old to have their first comprehensive eye exam, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). The reason for starting as such a young age is to help identify which children have vision problems. The statistics on this are that 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of children in school have vision problems. Some of these are more responsive to treatment when the problem is identified early.
Children will need additional eye exams at age 3 and just before they start first grade, around ages 5 or 6, according to the AOA. School-aged children need to have an eye exam at least every two years unless a problem is suspected or as recommended by their eye care professional.
These early exams can reveal problems which can cause children trouble learning basic skills. Some of the areas include:
- Near vision
- Distance vision
- Binocular (two eyes) coordination
- Eye movement skills
- Peripheral awareness
- Hand-eye coordination.
Most states require an eye exam for all children entering school for the first time, however sometimes a family doctor or pediatrician detects a problem and suggests an eye doctor do a further evaluation, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
The best time for the child to have the exam is during a time when he or she is normally alert and happy. Depending on the age of the child the exam will be done differently but will still cover such things as a case history, vision testing to see if the child needs glasses, testing of the eye alignment, health of the eye and where needed a prescription for eyewear.
The doctor may also ask if there were problems or complications during the pregnancy and birth, a list of the child’s medications and information about allergies.
Things the doctor needs to know, but may not ask include:
- Prematurity
- Delayed motor development
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Excessive blinking
- Failure to maintain eye contact
- Inability to stare at an object
- Poor eye tracking skills
- Holding a book too close or being too close to the television
Other information you want to share with the doctor include previous sight problems, failing a school vision test, eye treatments for lazy eye including surgery and eye diseases.
It is always best to keep notes in a book or on the computer of all these things about your children because you may need it for many years. You can also keep track of all illnesses, medications, innoculations and stages of development. Then when you are asked anything, you will have it all handy.
Dr. Ronald J. Martin of VisionHealth Optometry focuses on quality eye care services to family members of all ages. Services include eye exams, contact lens fittings, retinal photography, pre- and post-operative care, and glasses frames and lens selection. Dr. Martin’s office is located at 1440 Medical Center Dr. Suite2, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. He can be reached at 707-206-0290 or email him at questions@vision-health.com. Visit VisionHealth Optometry online at http://www.vision-health.com.
Dr. Martin is a member of the California Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, the Redwood Empire Optometric Society, and the Optometry Alumni Association of the University of California.
