Why Is It Important for Children to Undergo a Pediatric Eye Exam?

An eye exam for children is an expert evaluation of your child's eye health and vision that can be performed by the optometrist near you. You cannot rely on a brief eye examination conducted by the child's pediatrician because it cannot be considered as a substitute for an examination by an optometrist. Optometrists have received advanced training and have the tools necessary to perform a thorough evaluation of your child's eyes and vision.

The Importance of Eye Exams for Children

Children need to undergo eye exams to ensure their eyes are healthy and they have no problems with their vision. These problems can interfere with performance in school and potentially affect the safety of the child. Approximately 25% of children have problems with their vision affecting their performance in the classroom. Moreover, the risk of myopia and the progression of the condition continues throughout the school years.

Eye exams in the early stages are important because children may the following visual skills that are important for optimal learning:

o   Excellent visual acuity from all distances.

o   Comfortable and accurate eye teaming skills.

o   Precise eye movement skills.

o   Comfortable and accurate focusing skills.

When Must Children Have Their Eyes Examined

Yorkdale eyecare suggests a pediatric eye exam in North York when the child is just six months old. Additional exams must be conducted when the child is three years and also before they enter the first-grade at the age of five or six. You should not be letting your child affected by poor vision but should attempt to find an optometrist near you for the eye exam needed by your child.

During their years in school children should be having eye exams at least every 24 months even if no vision problems are detected during the early exams. Children that need eyeglasses or contact lenses should undergo the examinations every year or as recommended by the optometrist in North York, ON, and take the child for the examination when he or she is alert and happy. Children's eye exams generally include a health and vision questionnaire to determine whether eyeglasses are needed along with a thorough evaluation of the eyes. The pediatric eye exam in North York will prove beneficial for your child and ensure that he or she has excellent visual capabilities.