Children’s Eye Exams at Oakton Eye Care

Undiagnosed Vision Problems Can Hinder Development

Your child relies on their vision to learn and play, but an undiagnosed or untreated eye problem could hinder their development.

Your child’s overall well being depends on a lot of factors, including annual eye exams. Regular eye exams allow your child’s optometrist to detect and track subtle changes in your child’s vision or eye health, that may indicate something is wrong.

When was your child’s last eye exam? Book their next appointment today.

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Childhood Vision Problems

Children with vision problems may not know something is wrong, and even if they do, young children, in particular, aren’t always able to communicate their problems effectively. That’s why parents and caregivers need to monitor their children and keep an eye out for signs of trouble.

Untreated vision problems can impact your child’s ability to learn, so it is critical that issues that arise are identified and corrected as soon as possible.

Your child may be experiencing vision problems if they:

• Have a misaligned eye
• Complain of double vision
• Frequently tilt their head to one side or cover one eye
• Squint frequently
• Complain of frequent headaches
• Rub their eyes frequently
• Blink excessively
• Avoid detailed tasks
• Avoid reading or other activities that depend on close vision
• Often lose their place while reading
• Need to use their finger to guide them while reading
• Have trouble staying on task

If you suspect that your child may be experiencing problems with their vision, you should make an appointment with their optometrist as soon as possible.

The American Optometric Association suggests that children have their eyes examined for the first time when they are between 6 and 12 months old. Children should undergo their second comprehensive eye exam between the ages of 3 and 5 years old, and then see their optometrist at least once more before they start kindergarten.

Once your child begins school, they should have their eyes examined annually. However, your optometrist may recommend they visit more frequently, depending on your child’s unique visual and eye health needs.

For more information about children’s eye exams and children’s eye health, please speak to your child’s optometrist during their next appointment.