When Should Kids Get an Eye Exam? Let’s Break It Down
Ever wonder when it’s time for your little ones to start seeing the eye doctor?
Introducing your kids to the optometrist at the right time can result in huge benefits to their long-term eye health. Not only is it difficult to determine how your children truly see the world around them otherwise (spending their days squinting at classroom whiteboards or staring at computer screens certainly doesn’t help), but there’s also no way of knowing if dangerous eye diseases might be lurking in the background. Whether genetics are on your child’s side or not, you’re going to want a seasoned professional to take a look through their pupils at some point.
So what is the best age for kids to get start having eye exams? And how often should children go to the optometrist? Let’s break it down.
When is My Child Old Enough to See an Eye Doctor?
If you’re worried about your child being too young for an eye exam, here’s some good news: your kids are never too young to visit an eye doctor.
Rather than eye exams, an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or pediatrician will instead opt for vision screenings for younger children. These are essentially “abridged” versions of full comprehensive exams.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, even newborns should be seen by an eyecare professional. Although a child’s vision is still difficult to assess at this age, an ophthalmologist can still test for proper blink response, pupil dilation, and red reflex (the same red color that appears in photographs sometimes). Later on, a second visit to the eye doctor is recommended in the latter half of the baby’s first year.
From one to three years old, vision screenings become much more important for the future development of a child’s eyes, as that is the best time to catch misalignment issues such as amblyopia. If amblyopia is a concern, an ophthalmologist may initiate a period of eye-patching to offset the lazy eye while the child’s eyes are still developing. Performing this as early as possible is crucial to the long-term health of a child’s vision — beyond the early years of eye development, amblyopia is nearly impossible to correct.
Later still, kids from three to fives years of age can finally have their visual acuity measured (if they are capable of reading an eye chart). This can help determine whether or not they will need glasses to improve their day-to-day life. Most young kids will not need glasses at this age and will be naturally hyperopic (farsighted), but signs of myopia and astigmatism can still be on the table.
After five years of age, it is recommended that children begin receiving full comprehensive eye exams to track changes to their vision and watch for potential eye diseases. These full exams will typically include dilation, refraction, assessment of motilities, and any special testing required. Myopia (nearsightedness) is much more prevalent in kids older than five.
How Often Should Kids See an Eye Doctor?
Once kids grow old enough to receive full comprehensive eye exams, they should begin seeing an optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once every year, similar to the schedule for an adult with healthy vision. However, the frequency will largely depend upon the information already gathered through vision screenings in the child’s early years along with the current health of their eyes.
Because a child’s vision tends to fluctuate rapidly as they grow, getting yearly eye exams is especially important. In some cases, scheduling intermediary eye exams between yearly visits will be necessary if the child experiences a growth spurt or suddenly complains about their vision. This is natural as their eyes gradually develop to full maturity during their teen years, so don’t be surprised if you become a frequent flyer for the eye doctor!
As always, listen to the advice of the child’s optometrist when it comes to frequency of examinations. Kids’ eyes are vastly different, and certain visual complications and diseases might necessitate more shorter gaps between visits. Don’t forget to listen to what your child has to say, either!
Where Can I Find Affordable Eye Exams for Kids?
Aside from your local private practices, many public schools offer children’s vision screenings and eye examinations for fair prices. If a teacher notices a child struggling to see in the classroom, they might recommend such an eye exam to be completed as soon as possible.
Many national networks also exist to help parents find affordable eye care for their kids. The Lions Club, for example, partners with Johnson & Johnson to create Sight for Kids, a large network of school-based eye care programs specifically for children in many countries around the world. Likewise, Children’s National offers a network of eyecare professionals and solutions for kids throughout America.
Never sleep on your child’s eyes! Many shortcomings and vision problems can be corrected if caught early enough, saving kids from an entire lifetime of managing visual impairments. Give them the best vision they can have; check with your child’s doctor to get the best information for their budding eye care journey!
