Pediatric Eye Exams
Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Exams for All Ages
The Importance of Pediatric Eye Exams
Many foundational skills, including hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and focusing abilities, rely on healthy eyesight. According to the American Optometric Association, approximately 25% of school-aged children have vision problems.
A pediatric comprehensive eye exam is designed to identify these problems at the earliest possible stage. Unlike a simple vision screening at school, which typically only tests for distance acuity, a comprehensive exam assesses the entire visual system. Our board-certified doctors have more than 30 years of experience in children’s eye care and can diagnose a wide range of ocular issues, from needing glasses to more complex conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye). Early detection and intervention allow your child to see the world as clearly as possible, setting them up for success in school and beyond.
Many parents wonder how an eye exam is possible if their child doesn’t know their letters. However, our team is skilled at performing a complete pediatric eye exam procedure for children of all ages, including infants and non-verbal kids. The pediatric eye exam is tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage. Here’s what you can expect:
- Infants and Toddlers – For our youngest patients, we focus on assessing how their eyes work together and checking for signs of congenital eye conditions. We might use toys and lights to observe their ability to fixate on an object and track its movement. A key part of the exam is retinoscopy, where the doctor shines a light into the eye to observe the reflection from the retina. This test helps determine if your child has a refractive error, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.
- Preschool-Aged Children – Once children can interact more, we introduce fun tests that feel like games. Instead of a traditional eye chart, we use LEA symbols, which are simple shapes, such as an apple, a house, or a circle. This allows us to test visual acuity long before a child learns the alphabet. Another standard test is random dot stereopsis. Using special 3D glasses and patterns of dots, this test measures how well your child’s eyes work as a team, which is essential for depth perception.
Common Pediatric Eye Conditions
- Refractive Errors – Refractive errors are the most common vision problems and include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (blurry vision at all distances). These issues can be easily corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) – This occurs when one eye doesn’t develop normal vision, often because the brain favors the other eye. If not treated early in childhood, it can lead to permanent vision loss in the weaker eye. Treatment may involve wearing glasses, using eye patches, or applying special eye drops.
- Strabismus (Crossed Eyes) – This is a condition where the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. It can affect depth perception and may lead to amblyopia if left untreated. Treatment options include glasses, vision therapy, or surgery.
- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) – An inflammation of the outer layer of the eye, conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies. It’s highly contagious but usually easy to treat with eye drops.