Regular eye exams are essential for your children's eye health, and for catching vision problems that could affect how they learn, play and grow.
For little ones, back-to-school season is a time of heightened learning and growth. Part of preparing them is making sure they have the tools to see and feel their best. Even playtime and after-school activities depend on clear vision.
According to the American Optometric Association, one in every four children has a vision disorder that needs diagnosis and treatment by an eye doctor, and 93% never see one during the critical developmental years before school. These problems are easy to miss: they often go unnoticed by teachers and parents, and children rarely report them, because they assume everyone sees the way they do.
How often should you book children's eye exams?
We recommend a first eye exam at six months of age, again at age three to four before school starts, and then every year once your child is in school.
If vision problems run in your family, come in regularly so anything developing is caught early.
What does an eye exam look at?
Eye exams for children involve a series of tests that evaluate a child's vision as well as check for eye diseases. An eye exam may look at:
- Visual acuity
- Convergence
- Eye tracking and ocular movement
- Binocular vision
- Color vision
- Pupils
- Pressures
- Refraction
- Ocular health
These tests look at various aspects of vision health so that preventive or corrective measures can be taken. When eye problems are diagnosed early, they can be treated more effectively.
How can vision problems affect children at school?
Untreated vision problems can manifest in different ways, ultimately impacting your child's confidence, grades and happiness. A child struggling to read the board may be treated as distracted. A child who cannot judge distance may decide they are bad at sports.
School-aged children may not know what tools they need to succeed, such as with their vision. As a result, they might place blame on themselves for falling behind.
What to look for when shopping for children's glasses
Our eye care professionals can help you find the right pair of glasses for your children. There are a few factors to consider when shopping for a child's first pair, such as:
Fit
Ensure they fit snugly, but comfortably.
Color and style
Consider your child's preferences; this way, they'll want to wear the glasses.
Durability and flexibility
A must for any pair of children's glasses!
Help your child see and feel their best.
IT STARTS WITH AN EYE EXAM, BOOK TODAY.
Children's Eye Exams
FAQs
Yes. The tests are chosen to suit a child's age and attention span, and many do not require your child to read letters or answer questions. Optometrists use pictures, lights and shapes to measure how the eyes focus and work together, so even infants and toddlers can be examined accurately.
At around six months. A second exam at age three to four, before school starts, and then yearly once your child is in school. Earlier or more frequent exams may be recommended if vision problems run in your family or if your optometrist spots something worth watching.
Myopia control describes treatments that slow how quickly nearsightedness progresses in children, rather than simply correcting it. Options can include specially designed glasses lenses, contact lenses and prescription eye drops. Slowing progression matters because higher myopia carries a greater lifetime risk of eye health problems. Your optometrist can advise whether your child is a candidate.
Squinting, sitting very close to screens or the television, frequent headaches, rubbing their eyes, losing their place while reading, avoiding close-up work, or trouble seeing the board at school. Falling behind or seeming unfocused in class can also point to an undiagnosed vision problem.
There is no fixed age. It depends far more on maturity and hygiene than on birthdays. Many children manage contact lenses well from around age eleven or twelve, and some younger children wear them successfully, particularly for myopia control or sports. Your optometrist can help you judge whether your child is ready.