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Importance of Eye Exams for Kids

The American Optometric Association estimates that 1 child out of every 10 is at risk from undiagnosed eye problems. This is because many vision problems are not easily detected by parents, school nurses or even primary care physicians. To diagnose certain eye issues and prevent them from developing into lifelong vision problems, regular and comprehensive eye exams are necessary.

  1. Being Thorough

    • Many parents believe the screening performed by the child's pediatrician or other primary care physician during a routine check up is sufficient to rule out all significant visual disorders. However, these screenings are limited in scope and are not intended to replace a comprehensive eye examination. A comprehensive eye exam is done by an ophthalmologist, who is an eye doctor trained to care for eye conditions and to perform surgery, or an optometrist, who is an eye doctor trained to prescribe contact lenses and glasses and to manage non-surgical cases. These medical professionals use specialized equipment designed to detect eye problems that may or may not have noticeable symptoms.

    Early Detection

    • Without early intervention, a child with an untreated eye problem may suffer from lifelong loss of vision. Eyesight develops rapidly at a young age, making a child's vision more sensitive to interference than an adult's. Some vision problems, such as amblyopia, or lazy eye, and strabismus, or crossed eyes, respond favorably to treatment in young children, while cures for adult patients are less common.

    Academic Success

    • Good vision is essential for educational progress in growing children. A child who is unable to see print or view a blackboard can become frustrated, leading to poor academic performance. Kids might be unaware of the fact that they are experiencing abnormal vision, and without a comprehensive eye examination many vision problems can go undiagnosed. Even worse, an eyesight problem may be misdiagnosed as a learning disorder such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder.

    Considerations

    • Promoting proper eye health can lead to a lifetime of strong, healthy vision. The American Optometric Association recommends that a child's first eye exam take place at 6 months of age, with regular examinations occurring at age 3, before entering first grade, and then every other year until the age of 18. Certain public health programs such as InfantSEE provide free eye exams for children younger than 1. The cost of providing treatment for longstanding eye and vision disorders may be significantly higher than the cost of detecting and treating vision problems early in life.

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