Children & Infants
Many vision problems are treatable in children if diagnosed at an early age. Appropriate eye screenings are essential to the overall development of children. It is very important that newborns are screened at birth for any eye disorders and diseases, which may be congenital. This is typically done by the pediatrician. If any abnormalities are detected, or if there is a family history of hereditary eye disease, then referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist is made.
All children should have their vision screened by age 3 years, with yearly screenings thereafter. This is often done by the pediatrician or school nurse. These exams will provide an opportunity to evaluate the level of a child’s visual acuity and can provide, at an early stage, insight to any diagnosis or intervention needed to prevent impairment due to any visual conditions. Any abnormal findings should prompt a pediatric ophthalmology referral. If all screenings are normal, children should have a baseline eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist sometime in grade school.
Middle & High School Years
Teens and school age children in general may have complaints regarding academic performance, particularly related to reading ability and comprehension. Although these issues rarely have a visual cause, all children experiencing academic challenges should have a baseline ophthalmic exam to rule out possible causes such as refractive error, strabismus, and accommodative and convergence insufficiency.
As children grow, it’s common that their vision changes. Since the changes are gradual and painless, it often goes undetected. They may begin to need glasses, and the glasses may need to be strengthened from time to time. Getting periodic exams helps to identify these changes and keeps their vision sharp for school and play.
Services for You
- Routine eye exams for infants and children of all ages
- Eyeglasses for children
- Management of children’s eye disease
- Special screening methods for young children
- Color deficiency determination
- Contact Lenses