Never Too Early for Eye Health

Posted by fortworth on January 26th, 2015

As adults, we understand that routine eye care is crucial for ongoing eye and vision health. This is why we make our eye appointments every year - to check for any changes to our vision, adjust our lens prescriptions as necessary, and screen for any eye conditions that could impede our ability to see clearly as we continue to get older. But what about children? Are eye exams important for kids as well? The answer is yes.

When should your child have their first eye exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends that children first receive a comprehensive eye exam at the age of six months. Following that, eye examinations should be done at three years old, as well as right before entering school - at the age of five or six.

Typically, these eye examinations will be performed by the child’s pediatrician during routine checkups during these important years. If the pediatrician suspects that there are potential issues with vision, they will likely recommend that the child be seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist. These are eye doctors with an expertise in treating younger patients and an understanding of how a variety of eye conditions can affect children. Some of the conditions for which children may be seen by an eye doctor include:

The Need for Eyeglasses

Blocked Tear Ducts

Pink Eye

Retinal Disease

Glaucoma

Cataracts

Corneal Injury

Amblyopia or Lazy Eye

Strabismus or Misaligned Eyes

Pre-Septal and Orbital Cellulitis

Extropia

While visiting an eye doctor may be frightening for some children, the right doctor will be able to put them at ease and show them how each of the tests works. This will not only help to check for any conditions that may be at play, but will help make the child comfortable with visiting the eye doctor and set a precedent for long term routine eye care and healthy eyes as a result.

About Author:-

The physicians at Ophthalmology Associates have offered eye care services in Fort Worth, HEB, Weatherford, and Granbury for over 40 years. For more information call us at (817) 332-2020 or Contact Us Online to request an appointment by simply filling out the on-line form. It's a beautiful world; you deserve to see it well!