Pediatric Eye Care
Support your child’s highest potential.
Healthy vision is one of the most important components of your child’s wellness.
Vision develops rapidly starting at birth and is tied to many developmental milestones, such as hand-eye coordination and reading. In the long term, your child’s vision will impact how they learn, play, and interact with the world.
Taking your child for a comprehensive eye exam at an early age, and then maintaining the recommended eye care schedule as they are growing up, is the very best way that you can ensure your child’s vision development and make certain that they acquire the visual skills they need to fully participate in all of their activities.
While there may be some obvious signs of visual disorders, many vision problems can only be detected by a qualified eye doctor during a comprehensive eye exam.
We are skilled and experienced providers of comprehensive vision care for children and will do our very best to make sure that their eyes are strong and healthy as they grow.
Our specialized pediatric eye care services include child-friendly and age-appropriate exams to check
- visual acuity,
- eye tracking,
- focusing skills,
- problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness,
- lazy eye (amblyopia),
- crossed eyes,
- dyslexia,
- color blindness,
- disease or medical conditions.
Depending on the findings at your child’s eye exam visit, eyeglasses, vision therapy, or additional procedures will be prescribed as needed.
Read on to learn more or schedule an appointment at Valley Vision Center, and give your child the gift of clear vision.
Is your child having trouble seeing?
It is not always easy to spot vision problems in kids.
Some symptoms are more obvious, like squinting or holding reading materials very close. But often the early signs are subtle and can even be misdiagnosed.
Your child may be experiencing a vision problem if he or she does any of the following:
- Avoids reading and close-up work like coloring or doing puzzles
- Seems to work slow or not understand the task
- Complains of fatigue or headaches
- Has a short attention span or seems distracted
- Covers one eye or tilts head when focusing on something
- Shows sensitivity to light
- Exhibits difficulty with coordination
Common eye disorders in children
Vision can be affected by many things, including the shape of the eyeball, how the eyes and brain work together, and by other diseases or medical conditions. The good news is that many eye disorders can be successfully identified and treated.
The most common eye disorders are caused by the shape and alignment of the eyes, including:
Strabismus is when the eyes do not align properly. This is often referred to as “crossed eyes.”
Amblyopia is poor vision in one eye, and is sometimes referred to as “lazy eye.” It usually occurs before the age of eight. Infants born prematurely or with low birth weight are at greater risk.
Refractive errors cause blurry images due to the shape of the eyeball or lens. These common conditions are easily treated with glasses or contact lenses. There are three types of refractive errors:
- Myopia or nearsightedness is good close vision but poor distance vision.
- Hyperopia or farsightedness is poor up-close vision. Distant objects can easily be seen.
- Astigmatism is imperfect vision at any distance.
Eye exam schedule for kids
Routine eye exams are a crucial part of your child’s well being and readiness for learning. Many parents do not know that school screenings are not the same as eye exams. Even with 20/20 vision, your child can still have problems that only an eye doctor can detect.
Newborns have their eyes checked before leaving the hospital. And leading medical organizations recommend comprehensive eye exams for health, vision development, and alignment at these ages:
- Between 6 and 12 months
- 3 years of age
- Every year throughout the school years
However, in the presence of certain risk factors or diagnosed vision issues, more frequent exams may be recommended. Children who are wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses should be checked annually.
Support your child’s highest potential — schedule an appointment at Valley Vision Center today.