Have you noticed signs that your child may have eyesight problems? If you have, you may be wondering whether you should take your child to the eye doctor for a checkup. Exams are vital for making sure children’s eyes are healthy. They help detect vision issues that can affect a child’s safety and education.

For effective learning, children should be able to see well at different distances.

Benefits of Regular Eye Exams

Pediatric eye exams are crucial to ensure that your child’s eyes remain healthy. Eyes must work together well to focus and see the world around them. Eye exams analyze the different skills, making sure that the eyes are developing properly.

A pediatrician may conduct a basic exam of the child’s vision and eyes, but this should not replace an exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Signs of Vision Issues in Kids

Children may find it hard to communicate vision difficulties, making it hard to know when your child has eye problems. The signs may be more obvious in the case of a child born prematurely.

Minimal eye contact, delayed motor development, and excessive blinking or eye rubbing can indicate that your child has vision problems. If your child is failing eye exams, it is a sign that they may have eye problems.

What to Look for During Eye Exams 

During eye exams, the specialists look for different conditions. They include amblyopia or lazy eye, where one eye functions better than the other. If not treated, amblyopia can lead to vision loss. Eye doctors also look for strabismus, where the eyes look in different directions.

Ptosis is a condition characterized by drooping eyelids that can block the child’s vision. Eye exams also look for signs of myopia or nearsightedness.

Your Child’s First Eye Exam

Your child should get the first comprehensive eye exam at six months old. The next exam should be at three years, and the next before starting first grade. If your child does not require vision correction, it is necessary to conduct subsequent exams every two years.

If your child has vision problems requiring corrective lenses, the eye doctor will recommend more frequent exams. Annual exams will help monitor eye health and determine the prescription strength.

Detecting Eye Problems

It is vital to get eye exams as early as possible. The exams are preventive, helping detect potential eye issues that can affect the child’s sight. There are eye problems in children that can affect their vision for life. It is easier to treat eye conditions following early detection.

Treatment can prevent a minor eye issue from becoming a major problem. Children who have parents or siblings with eye problems have a higher risk of developing issues themselves. It is necessary to realize that your child can have vision problems even without obvious symptoms. Undiagnosed eye abnormalities or conditions can result in vision loss.

Do not wait until your child starts school to schedule the first eye exam. Do not hesitate to consult a pediatric eye specialist if you suspect that your child may have an eye issue. Eye exams are especially vital if you have a family history of eye problems.

For more on your child's first eye exam, call Premier Eye Care at (817) 428-2020 to reach our office in Fort Worth, Texas.