When it comes to the first several years of your child’s life, there are going to be a whole lot of firsts. The first check-up at the doctor, first haircut, first trip to the dentist. These things all occur at different times, and indeed these milestones can have different timelines for different kids.
So, what about their first trip to the eye doctor? A child eye exam is important because if there is something amiss with your child’s vision, you’ll want to begin treating it as soon as you can. So, what is the right age for their first eye exam?
There are recommendations set out by experts. Let’s take a look at what these are now.
When Should a Child’s First Eye Exam Take Place?
As with many other kinds of medical issues, when it comes to problems with your child’s vision, the earlier you find out about it, the more you can do about it and the better the outcome is likely to be. But, of course, there’s a certain age before which it would be difficult to accurately determine how good or bad an infant’s vision actually is. It’s necessary to strike a balance between early intervention and being able to glean valuable information.
The American Optometric Association recommends infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam with an Optometrist at 6 months of age. This should take place no later than the age of 1. Another checkup is recommended around age 3.
After this, lots of parents don’t begin to schedule regular eye exams for their kids unless they suspect there is a problem. For example, if they have a visible lazy eye or they’re seen squinting at objects. If other people in the family have vision issues, this can also be a reason to schedule a regular eye exam.
What Are Some Common Vision Issues for Kids?
There are many vision issues that first present themselves in young children. Some common pediatric eye problems include amblyopia (or lazy eye syndrome) and strabismus (also known as crossed eyes). When treated early with things such as eye patches and corrective lenses, these can go away completely.
Other common pediatric vision issues are refractive errors such as myopia (or nearsightedness). In fact, due to changes in technology and lifestyles over the past few decades, myopia is an issue that’s actually becoming more and more common in kids.
This can often be corrected by an intervention known as myopia control. What is myopia control? Learn more at the link now.
The Importance of an Early Child Eye Exam
As a parent, you want to make sure your child has the best possible start in life. Making sure that their first child eye exam happens at the appropriate time can head off all sorts of issues that could otherwise become worse down the line.
Be vigilant and proactive in noticing issues with your child’s vision for the best possible results. If you’re looking for more health tips, check out the rest of our site now.
