Comfortable Children’s Eye Exams

Your Child’s Vision Is a Gift

There are so many wonderful things to look forward to when your child is young. Birthdays, family trips, the first day of school—each of these moments are something to cherish. We believe your child deserves to enjoy these moments too, and clear vision can make them all the more special.

Our care-focused, holistic approach supports your child’s vision at any age. By taking the time to understand your child’s needs, their vision will receive comprehensive care wherever they go in life.

Your child’s eye care journey starts when you request an appointment. Take the first steps and request theirs today!

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When Should Your Child Have an Eye Exam?

You want what’s best for your child, but knowing when your child should have an eye exam can seem a little confusing at times. We recommend following the American Optometric Association’s eye exam schedule to ensure your child has the care they need when they need it.

To further help parents and their children, Vision Therapy Institute is a proud member of the InfantSEE program. InfantSEE provides a free comprehensive eye exam for children between 6 months and 1 year of age!

Birth to 1 Year

Babies aren’t born with all their visual capabilities—they develop these skills over time, much like how they learn to walk and talk.

We recommend having at least 1 eye exam between 6 months and your child’s first birthday to detect these issues and correct them as early as possible.

1 to 3 Years

By the time your child reaches their first few birthdays, their eyes are developing essential skills like eye-hand coordination, depth perception, and eye-tracking.

Though your child’s eyes and vision are still developing, we recommend having at least 1 more eye exam before they start preschool. This eye exam will help confirm that your child’s eyes and vision skills are developing as we expect.

3 to 5 Years

Amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) commonly develop between 2 and 5 years. If these issues aren’t corrected, they could lead to permanent difficulties that can affect how your child relies on their vision for the rest of their life.

We recommend having at least 1 eye exam between these ages to ensure their vision and eyes are healthy.

6 Years & Up

We recommend annual eye exams from the moment your child starts school until they are 18 years old. School is an exciting time for any child, and we want to ensure their vision is prepared to take on day-to-day tasks like reading, writing, and playing.

Myopia is a common issue children face around this age. If left uncorrected, it can be difficult for your child to reach the grades they want or even play sports.

Setting You Up for Success with InfantSEE ®

When children begin eye exams at an early age, they are set up for a lifetime of healthy vision. Studies show that 1 in 5 preschool children have a vision problem. The simple vision screenings that take place in schools might identify nearsightedness or farsightedness, but they are just not comprehensive enough to detect a more complex issue.

Roughly one-third of children assessed through vision screenings alone have an eye or vision disorder that gets missed.

To further help parents and their children, Vision Therapy Institute is a proud member of the InfantSEE program. InfantSEE provides a free comprehensive eye exam for children between 6 months and 1 year of age!

We believe that early eye exams allow children to excel. If you wish to book an exam through the InfantSEE program, please get in touch with our team today.

Common Issues Children May Develop

We’re here to preserve and protect your child’s vision. Every child is unique, and they deserve comprehensive care from a team they can trust.

During an eye exam, we’ll look for a range of different issues that could affect your child’s vision and eye health. By taking a complete look at their visual needs, we can address potential issues before they cause permanent problems.

Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is an issue that affects how clear your child’s distant vision is. Myopia develops when the eye elongates or the cornea becomes too curved over time, making it difficult for light entering the eye to focus on the retina, leading to blurry vision.

Myopia can develop around school age and can progress until your child turns 20 years old. About 30% of children in the United States have some degree of myopia, and 50% of the entire planet’s population is expected to have myopia by 2050.

Learn about our management strategies on our Myopia Management page!

Amblyopia

Amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye, is an issue characterized as one wandering eye. Children can develop amblyopia up to the age of 7, and it could lead to vision problems if left uncorrected.

Amblyopia can be permanent without treatment, but corrective lenses and vision therapy can help manage its symptoms.

Strabismus

Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, is a condition that affects the alignment of both of your child’s eyes. Strabismus can develop due to a high refractive error or poor eye muscle control.

Strabismus can develop early in your child’s life. Over time, your child’s brain may start to ignore images from their “weaker” eye, resulting in vision loss. However, corrective lenses and vision therapy can help manage these symptoms and preserve your child’s vision.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a common concern many parents can have.

Certain types of pink eye are highly contagious—bacterial and viral conjunctivitis can spread quite quickly in schools and daycare centers. Symptoms are similar across the different types of pink eye, with the most common being:

Redness
Wateriness
Crusty discharge
Discomfort
Itchiness
Grittiness

Allergies may also cause pink eye symptoms but allergy medication can help manage them.

Chemical exposure can also cause conjunctivitis, but this should be treated as an emergency. If chemical conjunctivitis occurs, flush your child’s eyes with cool, clean water for 15 minutes and call our team immediately.

See the Difference We Can Make

We’re honored to be your choice for your child’s quality eye care. Start your child’s journey today, and let us help them discover the possibilities their vision can offer!

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