The first pediatric eye examination of a child should be done at 3 years of age unless some eye problem is noticed before that. Your eye care provider will check for vision, lazy eyes, and crossed eyes. If any vision problem is found the next regular eye check-up will be advised by your doctor. If not, the next eye check-up for the child should be done every one or two years. Early detection of any eye problem will help to provide timely treatment and thus will prevent deterioration of vision.
Some of the eye exam tests performed in children include:
- Vision assessment: various methods are used to check a child’s visual acuity and are based on the age of the child.
- Determination of refractive error: this test is done to determine the need for glasses in children; the test is usually performed after pupil dilation to determine the exact measurement.
- Motility Examination: this is a measurement of alignment of the eyes for planning treatment of strabismus (misalignment of eyes).
- Biomicroscopy and dilated fundus examinations: these tests are done to investigate the presence of any eye diseases of the cornea, lens, iris, retina, and optic nerve.
After the completion of the comprehensive pediatric eye exam, the doctor will discuss appropriate treatment options, cost, and customized the best plan of action for you. He will also answer any questions you may have. If your eye doctor diagnoses your son or daughter with myopia and it is progressing he may advise you and your child on how to control certain contributing factors or prescribe a program of myopia management. Myopia management involves wearing specialized multifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses, or the use of eye drops, to control the progression or worsening of myopia.
Request Appointment for pediatric eye exam.