When should your child have their first eye exam?
Wednesday, December 15th, 2021, 3:29 am
When you are a new parent, suddenly the to-do list expands exponentially. Now you have a whole new person to take care of, and that, of course, includes taking care of their health. You no doubt take them to the doctor for regular checkups – but when should they go see the eye doctor for their first exam?
The first eye exam
Although it seems very young, many eye care professionals recommend that children have their first eye exam by the time they turn 1. This gives the doctor a chance to check for eye problems that are just beginning to develop – problems that can affect your child throughout his or her life. Some of these issues can be reversed if they are caught and treated early enough. Taking your child to the eye doctor at an early age is especially important if eye problems, such as a lazy eye or crossed eyes, run in your family. Don’t worry if your child is so young that they can’t even read yet (or even talk yet!). Eye doctors have many ways to diagnose problems, even in very young children, using different tests and equipment.
Exams for your older children
Eye exams in older children are important, too. Very often a child may develop a problem seeing, but they don’t even realize it. Often, a teacher will be the first to notice that a child has a problem with their vision, for instance, if they are having a hard time reading or seeing to the front of the classroom. If your child doesn’t seem to be having any issues, they should see their eye doctor every 2 years, unless they wear glasses or contacts, in which case they should have an annual exam. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t wait – schedule an appointment right away.
Yes, a trip to the eye doctor for your child is just one more thing to add to the list, but it is important for their wellbeing and their future. Schedule an appointment today at Marion Eye Center and Optical for your child. Call the office in Illinois (800-344-7058) or the office in Missouri (877-269-4545).
Category: Eye Care for Kids, Eye Exam
