Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Exam

Bringing your child in for an eye exam is crucial to ensure their visual system is developing properly. Children often don’t realize they have vision problems because they are accustomed to their own way of seeing the world. Visual issues can impact a child’s academic performance, social interactions, and overall development.

While many children undergo vision screening at school or during pediatrician visits, those are ultimately screenings and do not replace a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Comprehensive eye exams can help detect issues that might not be identified during a basic screening. This proactive approach helps to identify and address potential issues early on.
 

What constitutes a comprehensive eye exam?

• Checking visual acuity using a method most appropriate for the child’s age and developmental skills

• Examining ocular alignment, binocularity, and motility

• Determining refractive error using dilating eye drops (these eye drops help relax their focusing ability to get a more accurate prescription as well as dilate the pupil)

• Checking overall ocular health including and not limited to: the retina and cornea

When should you bring your child in for a comprehensive eye exam? (AAO guidelines)

• Failed vision screening

• Referred by pediatrician or school nurse

• If a child has medical conditions such as Down Syndrome, prematurity, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and neurofibromatosis

• If there is a family history of amblyopia, strabismus, retinoblastoma, congenital cataracts, or glaucoma

• Any other visual complaint or abnormal visual behavior

The recommended screening schedule for pediatric patients is as follows however if an ocular or visual problem is identified then a more frequent follow up schedule may be advised. (AAO guidelines)

• 6 to 12 months

• 1 to 3 years

• 3 to 5 years

• 5 years and older