How to Prepare a Preschooler for an Eye Exam

Protecting a child's vision should be a top priority for parents. Regular professional eye exams should begin as early as six months with their first comprehensive exam by at least the age of 3 1/2 years. Sometimes children are anxious or apprehensive before their first eye exam, because their experience with doctors may have been associated with sickness or pain. As a parent, you can help alleviate their fears and anxiety by preparing them in advance for the procedures.

Instructions

• 1

  Explain what will happen during the visit. Assure the child that the eye doctor will not be giving shots or performing painful procedures but will only be examining the eyes to see if there are any problems with how he sees. The child should know that the eye doctor is the one who prescribes glasses if they are needed.

• 2

  Prepare him for the administration of eye drops by explaining exactly what will happen when the drops are put into his eyes. Describe the way it may feel and explain that it might sting a little at first, but that it will not really hurt for more than a few seconds. A good idea might be to practice with a bottle of artificial tears just to show that it does not hurt.

• 3

  Explain how important it is to sit very still during the exam while an "eye computer" checks the eyes. Play a game to see how still he can sit and then provide a reward after a minute or so. Tell him about the light that the eye doctor will shine into the eyes during the exam and that it is just a part of determining if the eyes are healthy.

• 4

  Discuss the chart that will be used to test how well he can see small letters, shapes and objects. Explain that the doctor will ask questions about what can be seen and that he should tell exactly what he sees in order to help the doctor. Practice with different shapes and objects to make sure that the child knows the basic ones and can tell the doctor what is seen.

• 5

  Use commercially prepared games to help in preparing the child for the visit well in advance of the appointment. You might try "eye exam flash cards" to help with explaining to the child what to expect at the eye doctor's office. These flash cards are usually available at educational supply stores or online. You might consider promising a little reward if the visit goes well. This should help make a positive association with the visit.