Pediatric Eye Exams

Eye exams for children are incredibly important since their vision can change rapidly as they grow and develop. A child's eyesight and eye health can greatly impact their academic success and achievements. School itself requires significant visual demands through reading, writing, computer usage, and blackboard/smartboard work. Even physical activities and sports require strong vision. If a child's eyes are unable to perform well, a child may feel tired, have trouble concentrating, struggle in school, or have difficulty reading or playing their favorite games, all of which may affect their overall quality of life.

When Should Your Child Get an Eye Exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends that children receive their first eye exam at 6 months of age. Healthy children should be evaluated again at 3 years old and prior to starting school. With the near-ubiquitous use of screens in classrooms today, there's a growing problem with visual development in children, and early detection is critical!

Even if you think your child will be unable to participate in an eye exam, your optometrist has many options for performing tests at age-appropriate levels. At our office here in Westlake, we are able to evaluate children of any age- they do not need to know numbers or letters. In fact, we are able to evaluate a child's prescription without them saying anything!

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Beyond looking for a prescription, it's essential that your child receives eye evaluations from an optometrist regularly. Checking for eye diseases that can limit visual development is one of the most important things we can do, and we are honored to be able to play such an important role in protecting your child's vision.

Many times, children have no visual complaints simply because they do not know any different. It's essential that parents look out for signs that your child may be struggling to see. Here are some things you may notice from your child if he or she is having vision problems:

• Frequent squinting

• Consistently closing an eye

• Turning or tilting their head to the same side

• Eye turning in or out

Additionally, some less obvious signs include some behavior-related problems such as:

• Hyperactivity

• Inability to focus or having a short attention span

• Quickly losing interest in, or completely avoiding, activities that require focusing up close

• Losing their place when reading

Since vision plays such a prominent role in academics and lifelong success, having their vision evaluated regularly is essential! When it comes to visual development, the earlier a vision problem is found and treated, the better off your child will be both in and out of school.

Call or text us at 440-256-6894 to schedule a pediatric eye exam with Dr. Des Rosiers here in Westlake!