While it is customary for pediatricians to conduct a brief vision screening during a child's annual physical, it is imperative to understand that these screenings are not in place of a comprehensive examination. Eye exams help our team at Wichita Optometry, P.A. in Wichita, KS, detect any conditions early and provide your child with treatment. You gain more insight on the importance of eye exams below:
Importance of Seeing a Pediatric Eye Doctor
Our eye doctors use specialized clinical tools and assessments to evaluate your child's ocular health and visual abilities. Since many learning skills depend on the strength of binocular vision, accurate eye movements, and the ability to see distant objects, we recommend that children have their first eye exam even before they start school. When you visit us, we will ensure that your child is comfortable during the eye exam and will provide a prescription for glasses if necessary to help correct their vision.
Vision Screenings vs. Comprehensive Eye Exams
Many schools conduct vision exam screenings for to identify any vision problems that might impact a child's learning ability. However, even if your child has passed a school vision screening, you should still schedule a comprehensive eye exam, as these are detailed and allow our optometrists to check for vision changes and eye diseases.
What Age Should My Child Have Their First Eye Exam?
Children should have their initial eye exam when they are six months old to ensure that their eyes are developing properly. Afterward, you child should visit our optometrist annually for an exam.
What to Expect During Your Child's First Eye Exam
When your child first visits our eye doctor, you will need to provide information about your child's birth history, including any complications during pregnancy or delivery, birth weight, and if they were born full-term. Our optometrists regularly perform eye exam for children and will ask about any delay in motor development and whether you have noticed frequent eye rubbing, difficulty maintaining eye contact, poor tracking skills, or if your child has failed a vision screening.
Eye Exams for Infants
Babies are tested for eye focusing skills, color vision, and depth perception when they are six months old. Our eye doctor typically checks pupil responses, the infant's ability to fixate and follow, and preferential looking.
Eye Exams for Children
During the preschool years, children engage in various activities like coloring, drawing, stacking blocks, and playing with balls, which requires healthy development of visual skills. Young children continuously acquire new skills that prepare them for learning to read and write. Visual skills, such hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, are also crucial for learning and academic success.
Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam Today!
If your child needs a pediatric eye exam, our optometrists at Wichita Optometry, P.A., in Wichita, KS, is happy to help. Contact us at (316) 942-7496 for an appointment today!